I received an e-mail today from a dog-owner asking about where she might be able to find an eco-friendly Halloween costume for her Pomeranian.

I hadn’t heard of anything on the market, so I began a Google search and came up empty handed. But I did find some online boutiques selling doggie clothes made from sustainable fabrics such as organic cotton, reclaimed cotton and hemp. Some of these could easily be turned into costumes.

That doesn’t mean your pooch (or kitty, or goat or…) has to wear something – gasp – conventional. (The reality is that even for humans, green costumes are hard to come by.) But If you remember that “green” is more than buying organic, you’ll see just how many eco-options you and Fido actually have. For example:

• Buy (or acquire) the costume used. Don’t know where to look?  Check out Craigslist or Freecycle, or better yet, log on to our new community pages and connect with other pet owners looking to buy, sell, trade or donate pet costumes.
• Make a costume from materials you already own (or can find used).
• Consider going without, or at least seeing if something stuffed at the back of Fido’s closet will work. If not, borrow your human baby’s tutu or other clothing item. You might not have to “make” anything at all!

Have you seen eco-friendly pet costumes on the market? Do you have other ideas you’d like to share? Add your comment below. (We’d also love to see photos of your animals in the Halloween spirit! Post them here.)

Love the photo? It was taken by our talented and generous photographer, Holli Dunn!

Check out our article on greening Halloween in the latest edition of Just Cause magazine, available for free online here.

If you haven’t read Just Cause yet, do. You’ll be inspired.

Here’s a little out them (in their own words):

JUST CAUSE is a magazine about solutions. Sure, we’re facing a lot of problems in this world, but we’re pretty sure that if we focus on the solutions, we can solve the problems. We bring you stories of individuals, organizations and businesses that are doing something GOOD, and you can join them!

We’re a tad irreverent, totally optimistic, occasionally sarcastic and absolutely convinced that we can change the world. What’s more, we’re convinced it can be fashionable, funky, fun and smart. We like business, shopping, eating, playing and all the same things that you do, and we’ll help you do all those same things in a way that is, at least, “less bad.” Maybe even downright “just!”

Using Random.org, we randomly chose our winner for costume giveaway #1. Congratulations to Wenonah for winning the first of three fabulous, 100% cotton Halloween get-ups for baby from Harrison’s Halloween Costumes.

Thank you, Harrisons for your contribution to the early Halloween fun!

Disappointed that you didn’t win?

Buy your own Harrison’s costume here, or enter our second of three Harrison’s giveaways. Yes, we have more!

Here is the scoop:

Celebrate your baby’s first Green Halloween with an adorable, 100% cotton get-up from Harrison’s Halloween Costumes! Designed by a hip Californian mama looking for cute and spooky costumes for parents, grandparents, and gift givers with a sense of humor.

Five styles available:

“Frankenbaby” (cute Frankenstein)
“Dracula” Vampire
“Scary Spider”
“Witchie” girl witch dress
“Vampira” girl vampire dress

Sizes 0-6 months only.

How to win?

All you need to do is reply to this post. Easy!

Stay tuned for your third and final opportunity to win a Harrison’s costume. (We’ll also be announcing additional opportunities for more great, Green Halloween gear.)

Harrison’s Halloween Costumes are the only 100% cotton (non-petroleum-based) baby costumes that we’ve seen on the market. They’re available for sale at CastlesNCrowns.com.

For other safe, eco-friendly costume ideas, visit our costume page.

Winners chosen at random. Comments must be received by SEPTEMBER 18TH at 11:59am PST. Must be at least 10 entries. One per person, please.

For the last two days, we’ve  promised to share the easy-to-make, healthy face paint recipe from our book, Celebrate Green! Creating Eco-Savvy Holidays, Celebrations and Traditions for the Whole Family.

So (drum-roll, please) here it is! Direct from page 100…

Make your own perfectly natural face paints

A test performed by Washington Toxics Coalition and a Seattle-area investigative reporter found that even children’s products labeled as non-toxic may be laced with known toxins such as lead. Store-bought, non-toxic face paints are no different and can expose you and your children to an array of chemicals and preservatives, including BHA, formaldehyde, kohl (due to lead), phthalates, and parabens, which the Environmental Working Group states, can disrupt the hormone (endocrine) system, and [in one report] were found in the breast cancer tumors of 19 of 20 women studied. Given that most face paints and pencils contain parabens, your best bet is to make them yourself. You might just save some money doing it this way too.

To DIY-for face paints:

• 1 tsp cornstarch
• ½ tsp water
• ½ tsp all natural diaper rash cream, such as the California Baby brand (we know, we know, it sounds weird, but it works)
• 1-2 drops natural/ organic food coloring

In a small bowl, mix water and cornstarch. Add baby cream and food color and mix a bit more.

Budget101.com can also help to turn you into a Hollywood worthy make-up and wardrobe artist with their list of do-it yourself, chemical-free or easy to alter recipes for all your kids costume requests, from the sweet to the gross and ghoulish.

Not the DIY type?

Purchase mineral-based makeup from EcoMom.com or TerraFirmaCosmetics.com.

(Photo by Holli Dunn)

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Have you made your own face paints? Have another recipe you’d like to share? We’d love to hear it. Add your comment, below.

Yesterday we promised we’d share with you the incredible work by photographer Mark Jordan, the artist taking belly painting to a whole new level.

Here’s a peek at some of his photos (which he has give us permission to share):

To see the entire gallery with even more amazing images, click here.

Please note: Mark Jordan’s photos are not to be used, or sold without his permission. Images may be purchased by contacting the photographer.

Want to whip up some of your own safer-than-store bought belly (or face) paints? Stay tuned for tomorrow’s recipe feature from our book, Celebrate Green!