I am going to confess something. When my first child, Hannah, was a baby we used disposable diapers. We clad her little bottom cheap throwaway diapers that we bought in bulk, then we turned them into little sausages using our Diaper Genie. It was fast and easy - I'll say that much. But I was not entirely happy with the choice. There was a lot of diaper garbage each week - diaper garbage that is still sitting in a landfill today, 5 1/2 years later. Diaper garbage that will likely still be sitting in that landfill 1000 years from now.

I did some research when I was pregnant with my second child, Jacob. And I made the decision to switch to cloth. They are super-cute and much easier to use than they used to be (no pins!). In the long run, they are far cheaper than constantly buying disposables. Most importantly, I believe that cloth diapers are have a much lower environmental impact.

While I think that cloth is clearly the more sustainable choice, it's not as clear-cut as one would hope. Studies show contradictory data. Some claim that the water and energy used in washing cloth makes its environmental impact roughly equal to disposables. Others cite the number of tons of disposables added to landfills each year, or how many trees were cut down to make them. If you want to read about it yourself you can check out articles here, here, here, and here.

Before I got started with cloth diapers I did some reading. You can find some good articles online that explain what types of diapers are out there, and discuss the various pros and cons. I like this one and this one. Then I checked out some online reviews to see what other people thought. Finally I went shopping online and ordered a few diapers to try out.

I bought my diapers new. If you wanted to do this more cheaply, you can buy second-hand at Diaper Swappers, on craigslist, or even at local kid swaps. You can also make your own diapers, or re-purpose old sheets or receiving blankets. By no means do your diapers have to break the bank.

I ended up trying 11 different diaper styles and models. I tried contours and fitteds, pocket diapers and all-in-ones. I have tried diapers with snaps and diapers with velcro. One size diapers and sized diapers. I've also tried 4 different types of diaper covers, a wet bag for travel, and a reusable diaper pail liner. I can see why my husband found cloth diapers confusing at first!

Out of all of the diapers that I tried, my one-size pocket diapers have remained my hands-down favorites. Jacob is 2 years old now, and we've been using the same diapers all that time. They've fit him well from the time that he was a 7 1/2 pound newborn, up through being an active, 26 pound toddler. They're straightforward to use, they contain the leaks (even at night) and they dry very quickly.

OK, so they're cute, but the real issue is dealing with the dirty diapers, right? After all, you can't just throw them away. And the laundry pail, doesn't it smell? That's what I was worried about, and it was my husband's biggest concern about cloth diapers.

When babies are still exclusively breastfed, their diapers can just go directly in the wash. And that breast-milk poop smell isn't bad at all. Once babies and toddlers are eating more solids, then the poop is more of an issue. Generally, I just shake any poop off into the toilet and flush before putting the diaper in my diaper pail. I use a washable liner in my diaper pail that just gets dumped into the laundry with the diapers, which makes the laundry pretty easy.

There is a bit of regimen to laundry (pre-wash cold, regular wash hot, extra rinse hot), but it's manageable. I often hang my diapers to dry in nice weather, since the sun acts as a natural bleaching agent. This reduces the wear and tear on my diapers, and uses less energy, so it's a green choice, too. In fact, I like hang-drying my diapers so much that I've started hang-drying other laundry, too. Washing diapers has been a gateway to other sustainable choices.

While there might be some mixed evidence, I feel better about my choice to use cloth diapers than I felt about my choice to use disposables. I am definitely a convert at this point.

What about you? Have you used cloth diapers? What do you think about the environmental impact of cloth vs. disposable? I'd love to hear!

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You can catch up with Amber's adventures beyond the diaper pail on her blog at Strocel.com.

I've recently had the chance to visit two very different dairy farms in my area. And thinking about the two farms has made me consider my views on agriculture and dairy cows.

The first farm that I visited was Little Qualicum Cheeseworks. It's a small farm that produces cheese on-site, using the milk from its own herd of cows. The cows spend most of their time outdoors, grazing in the pasture. Their diet is supplemented in the winter with hay and silage, during the time they can't be outdoors. The farm has an SPCA certification that means its animals are well cared for. They also actively work to preserve their farm's habitat and reduce their carbon footprint.

The farm at Little Qualicum Cheeseworks looks very much like I expect a dairy farm to look. Cows outside and a traditional milking parlor inside, where milking happens twice a day.

The other farm that I visited is Bakerview EcoDairy. It is a demonstration farm, which means that its aim is to educate the public about dairy farming, and where their milk comes from. It is brand-spanking new, and has a lot of innovative approaches. For example, their cows are milked by a robotic milker, which is available around the clock. When the cows want to, they approach the milker and they are milked. They also have access to an automatic brush, which I saw several cows using. Their barn has rubber flooring and cushioned 'cow mattresses' for laying on, and temperature and humidity are controlled.

The EcoDairy is installing an anaerobic digester, which will convert the cows' waste into fuel for energy and high-quality fertilizer. There is low-energy lighting, flooring made from recycled tires and rainwater collection off the roof. But the cows are inside all of the time, and their diet is specifically controlled. This ensures that they produce milk at a consistent quantity and quality. The 'indoor pasture' didn't look much like what I expected a dairy farm to look like.

I consume dairy products. In fact, I consume a lot of dairy products. I love cheese and ice cream and yogurt. My kids drink milk, and I have it on my cereal. Seeing the cows that produce that milk was really informative. While neither dairy was organic, both took a lot of care with their animals, and tried to tread lightly on the earth. Both farms also welcome the public 7 days a week, and so I expect that their standards are quite high.

I really appreciated that the cows at the EcoDairy had the freedom to set their own milking schedule, and had access to so many comforts. I didn't like that they were always inside, except for the couple of months when they don't produce milk. I really appreciated that the cows at Little Qualicum had access to pasture as much as possible, but as a nursing mom myself I can imagine that the farm's milking schedule might not always work for every cow.

Regardless of where you stand on these farms in particular, or dairy farms in general, one thing is clear to me. It's important that we know where our food comes from. It's important that we know how it's produced, and what sort of impact it has. So I am really glad that I toured these farms, and I hope to tour more in the future. I'm learning a lot, even if I don't have all the answers.

Have you ever toured a farm? What were your impressions? And what do you think makes for a 'good' farm?

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You can catch up with Amber's regular adventure, on a farm or at home in the suburbs, on Strocel.com.

In less than two weeks more than one-thousand bloggers of all ages, races and yes, sexes will descend on New York City. Ushered in on a cloud of anticipation, excitement and social media they will spend two days learning, connecting and yes, partying.

This year, as in years past, BlogHer is working to implement important green initiatives conference wide — an exciting development in and of itself — and paired with the cooperation of individual attendees and the coordinated efforts of every blogger who travels to the conference we can have an even greater impact on the environment for the better! Here's how to make a difference:

Pack Light - There's a reason airlines weigh your baggage. Heavy luggage requires more fuel to transport. Simplify your wardrobe, slim down your selection of shoes. Not only can you save the environment, you may just be able to skip the luggage claim altogether by carrying everything on the plane with you.

Reusable Bottles: Not Just for Water - Pack your liquid toiletries, such as shampoo and conditioner, in reusable travel-sized bottles instead of purchasing single-use minis or using the hotel's complimentary supplies.

Cab Pool - Utilize that social media network you've worked so hard to build. Connect with other bloggers who are flying into New York City around the same time you are and cab pool to the hotel to save both money and fuel. Better yet: take a shuttle.

Snack Smart - A couple reusable bags of trail mix can go a long way in saving packaging if hunger strikes between home and your destination.

Do you have green travel tips to add to our BlogHer '10 guide? Leave a comment!

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Diana Prichard is the Managing Editor of 5 Minutes for Going Green, a Freelance Writer, Owner of the small, sustainable farm Olive Hill and Food Columnist at Try Handmade.

Cloth diapering is one of my favorite ways to be green. For as many fears as people have about getting started with cloth, it is honestly much easier than you think it is. I always tell everyone that even my husband is a huge fan of them. (Seriously, isn't it always the guys who are the most squeamish?!)

Well, for those of you who are ready to get going, or have a few and want to stock up on a few more, my favorite site has a huge clearance sale going on right now! Swaddlebees puts items in their clearance store a few times a year and I almost always grab up a good pile. I even noticed that they have feminine pads available this time around.

Some of the items are listed as being irregular, and while at first I was hesitant, I have never had the slightest problem with a single product. These are great prices, people, so snatch them up as soon as you can because they go fast!

This post was initiated by me only and I am not getting anything in compensation. However, if Swaddlebees or Blueberry would like to send me some free diapers, I am always up for that…

You know that old saying, "When the going gets tough, the tough get going"? It's inspiring in theory, but let's be honest here; sometimes, when the going gets tough, even the tough get overwhelmed, frustrated and feel at least a little bit guilty when their actions fall short of their ideals. Summer is one of those tough times for me. It's a season that has been full to the brim with commitments from work to recreation since… well, since humans have had leisure time anyway.

In fact, I don't know who coined the phrase "the lazy days of summer" but around here when the sun gets hot and the days long, they're anything but lazy. Before I know it, I'm pulled in too many directions, spread too thin, and find myself in positions where greener choices become harder and harder to make; even more so than in the cooler months. Soon the guilt sets in. "I'm an editor for a green site!" I tell myself while mentally wagging my finger in front of my own nose. I should not be struggling with this! How can I blog about being green if I'm NOT green? And pretty soon I'm paralyzed in a vicious cycle of frustration; spinning my wheels and getting no where.

This year, as the season wears on, I'm finding it doesn't have to be so hard however, and trying to make up for lost time. Our home, our activities and our choices may not be as green as the grass in our lawn but we're getting there even in the hottest months. And because I'm certain I can't be the only woman — especially among mothers — out there who is struggling to green her summer year after year, here's how:

Realize Focus is Finite - Women are infamous for their gross overestimation of the reach of mortal focus. Serving on three PTA committees, coaching a little league team, keeping a reasonably clean home, attending all of the Open Houses in a tri-county area — even for those whose kids you barely know — planning and executing a family vacation, keeping in touch with friends, and squeezing in time to shower and sleep while working full-time and often more has somehow become the norm rather than the overachieving minority. But our focus is finite and because we often fail to realize that it bears repeating no matter how many times you've read it. When all of the above takes precedence little room is left for anything else, including the greening of our homes and lives. There are those women who seem to have infinite focus, who do it all and have it all, but keep in mind one of the things they have is probably help — paid or otherwise. Determine how much focus you have to give and tailor your commitments to that, not the other way around.

Prioritize - No matter how diligent you are in limiting your commitments there will always be things that spring up and require your attention. Learn to prioritize and know what things you can afford to neglect ahead of time to reduce stress when this happens. You may even consider keeping a running list of things that you could ignore or delegate in short order if you needed to. And even better yet, delegate some of those things now — or do away with them completely if you can.

Streamline - Create systems, systems and more systems. Once we realize our focus is finite and we prioritize our commitments we often find that there are still too many things and too little focus. Systems that streamline the repetitive tasks that take up our day can free up some of our focus for other endeavors; making the most of the limited resources we have gets us through each day and moving towards our goals.

Kick Romance to the Curb - No, not the kind you share with your partner. Ideals are an excellent jumping off point for goals and as a self-described Type A and an idealist to a fault I would never tell you to do away with your idealism entirely. That said, romantic ideas that spring from those ideals can be more damaging than skipping all of the above steps added together. Don't let romanticism get in the way of reality. Don't let guilt get the best of you. Know that failures happen and move forward, don't dwell. Chances are one pack of paper plates or a couple of bottled waters on a last minute outing to the zoo aren't — in the grand scheme of things — a deal breaker. Just strive for a better option next time.

How do you "get going" when the going gets tough? Share your Green Summer tips and tricks with me in the comments!

Plus: Join me tomorrow for some of the summer systems that are helping us green without guilt.

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You can read more about and by Diana, who stumbles often in her quest for green, at her self-titled personal blog On Olive Hill.