Although the title of this post does make it sound like I'm about to take off on the hilarious thread going on over on the geezer adoptive parent group, GAARP, about adoption from other planets ... I'm asking permission now to post some of the amazingly creative comments here as a testament to the brilliance of older adoptive parents ... this will be a rather down-to-earth composition.

(If you are looking for writing from me on interplanetary adoption, you can click here and here for former posts on the topic of adopting 'outside the familiar' and what it takes to be a 'universal family'.)

I'm afraid today's 'green' doesn't come with antennae, bleed green or explode on exposure to Jell-O. It's 'green' as opposed to loaded with toxic substances, and a goal many parents are striving toward.

In an interview with ABC, Peggy O'mara, publisher and editor of Mothering: Natural Family Living, speaks about the growing attraction of natural products, organic foods and such, and how demand for items like cloth diapers and wooden toys is helping to build an industry providing for 'green parenting'.

In 2005, $206 million was made in from sales of organic baby foods, and that figure rose by 21.5% in 2006.

According to O'mara, one third of new parents are 'going green', and for very good reasons.

The Environmental Working Group, EWG, a watchdog for all that's potentially toxic in our world and more, has an ever-growing laundry list of dangers our kids face.

This article, for instance, on the risks to children from exposure to arsenic routinely contained in wood products like those used in making playsets, and this on toxins in teethers and bath books could inspire any parent to go the way of sock horses.

"Companies are allowed to test their own products without testing by EPA [federal Environmental Protection Agency] or other agencies," said Bill Walker, the group's [EWG] vice president.

"Ten to 15 years down the line, we find out [toxic] products are in our bodies and the blood of our unborn children. Then we do backtracking of banned substances. We're pushing for a change in approach, so you put the burden of proof on the manufacturer that the product is safe. Moves to cut down on toxic toys is a good trend," Walker said.

"This is not a fad. People are now realizing that chemicals are ubiquitous in our environment."

This month's edition of 'Mothering' includes the year's list of America's Top Ten Green Schools, some great recipes for healthy eating, and links to breaking news on vaccine trials, breakfast cereal standards and more.

We are, however, still left with questions on the viability and health benefits of breastfeeding a child adopted from Io, one of the moons of Jupiter. The three shard-filled mouths are daunting, but if a family really wants to go green ...