Decades before the word became an "it" term, I was a greenie.

Way back in elementary school, there was a teacher who emphasized the importance of not wasting water and energy because they aren't endless resources. It really struck me, and stuck with me. It was the foundation of my eco-being.

It's been ages since I've used plastic grocery bags and aerosol products, or left lights on in an empty room. But in 2002, I really stepped up to the (recycled) plate. That's when my daughter, Sofia, was born. I tell folks that because her name isn't Paris Hilton and she's not a trust-fund baby, I want to leave her a beautiful planet.

Appropriately, during Earth Week, it all rather came full circle.

I did my first of what I hope is my next big thing: Talking to elementary school students about the importance of respecting and nurturing Earth. After all, it's the only planet we have. I'm sharing info with them in hopes of saving our planet. You know, have them fix what we've mucked up.

I had my first Team Green Scene program in Sofia's first grade class, then sprinkled my "teachings" in several other classes in her school. The students were engaged and engaging. Talk about renewable energy.

I asked if they would help me teach others — friends, neighbors and family — about saving our Earth and if they'd be part of my Team Green. Happily, not one declined my offer. Included in the program is story time, a DVD about recycling, and time to exchange ideas. I also give each class a can for recycling paper (there's an awful lot of paper flying through schools). I'm hoping to expand the program.

Now as I walk around the school, I'm excitedly pelted with enthusiastic updates: "I'm recycling;" "I picked up some trash yesterday;" "Mr. Blue is already full!" (Mr. Blue is the name I gave the recycling can, explaining that he was mighty hungry for scrap paper, so please feed him daily.)

One of my favorite "testimonials" was from a teacher, whose first-grade daughter is now clearly a member of my Team Green Scene. The teacher said, "I keep hearing about Mr. Blue and how she needs to take shorter showers now. And, she's even turning off the water while I'm washing dishes." I apologized, but not-so-secretly giggled with delight that the words were already in play.

From this day forward: Prime wedding season is approaching, so here's one gift idea from the eco-charitable aisle. Visit www.justgive.org and make a donation to the charity the wedding couple cares about. The site has an easy-to-use guide to help find what you want among the thousands of charities. You can also select and personalize a Give Now gift card. The San Francisco company was founded in 2000, and has been recognized by Forbes as one of the Best of the Web.

Eco-tasty: Who knew organic could be so yummy? I recently tried a couple products from Alter Eco (love that name), which offers a full line of dark chocolate, extra virgin olive oil, rice, quinoa and sugar. I tasted (make that chomped) the delicious Dark Twist Chocolate, which surprises the taste buds with bits of crystallized orange peel. And, for the first time, I cooked quinoa (pronounced keen-Wah), a South American grain packed with a hearty taste and lots of protein. Even my 7-year-old liked it. You can find Alter Eco products throughout the Bay Area, including Whole Foods and Andronico's. For more information, visit www.altereco.com.

A better bottle: I haven't used disposable plastic water bottles for a couple years, opting for Earth-friendly tumblers. Now, there may be a fine combo in PerfectBottles, which collapse to the size of a hockey puck. We recently tried one out, and my 7-year-old daughter really liked it. While I love the collapsible option, the plastic didn't feel sturdy enough for me. Still, it's a great idea and certainly offers convenience for those on the go. The 16-ounce bottle can be refilled more than 1,000 times. A pack of four costs $29.95, including tax and shipping. Order via www.perfectbottles.com.

Reader input: I'm in no way an environmental expert, although I do plenty of reading to get my green musings, and sometimes I get good info from readers, too. After last month's column touting cleaning wipes, Ron Klemens was concerned about my endorsement. He said in his e-mail that the whole "concept of 'throw away' conflicts with the green movement." I agree, and keep that in mind. The eco-friendly wipes I recommended should be used smartly, say just for the bathrooms. Save the suggested reusable cloths to clean other rooms. There's a lot to keep track of, I know; let's just try to keep a decent balance.

Green idea brewing: Those who like a green cup of Joe will be happy to hear that Starbucks is about to make major points with Mother Earth.

By the end of the year, the coffee giant plans to make its plastic cups more eco-friendly, reducing the plastic content by 15 percent. By 2015, the goal is that 100 percent of the cups will be reusable or recyclable. In the meantime, have Starbucks put your drink in your own tumbler and get 10 cents off the cost. For more information, check out www.starbucks.com.

- Trine Gallegos

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