Last year, in one spectacular leap, the metro area around Burlington, Vermont went from having zero “natural parenting” stores to two in the space of the month. Of course, this was about three years too late to save me from fruitless trips to the local kiddie stores, including blank stares when I asked about non-toxic crib finishes. (I once had a well-groomed sales lady at an Ethan Allen insist that there was no such thing as a child-safe, non-toxic finish. Gack.)

So imagine my delight when suddenly there was not only a helpful, local place to scout out natural products, but two! First to open was the friendly, sunlit space at BeBop Baby Shop. (Check out their adorable organic wash mitts in two of our baby gift boxes! End plug.)

Shortly thereafter, Sprout, a mainstay in Brattleboro, opened a second store on Burlington’s Church Street Marketplace. Well, Church Street is the pedestrian mecca of this corner of the world, a true delight to people-watchers, foodies, and shoppers alike. The arrival of an amazing child’s bathroom and separate nursing lounge, all wrapped up with natural products galore, was like Christmas in August. And now it’s gone!!

Can I say again how awesome the bathroom was? A real toddler-sized toilet, lots of space, a great diaper-changing counter, a child-sized sink—oh, and adult sized versions in the room, too, so you could pee in tandem. I would have taken a camera, except that’s exactly where my sense of humor would give my mother a heart attack. (You put photos of MY grandson using a TOILET on the internet?!! And you used a word like “pee” in a written document?!?!)

So now I feel guilty for using Sprout as the Bathroom Mecca of the Farmers Market Saturday while only rarely buying anything. But despite my preschooler’s romance with the Plan City garage in the play area, I can’t exactly teach my kids to expect toys all the time. And the rest of the store was filled with items I have from Baby #1. So there’s not much to do besides wonder why all baby gear looks better designed and infinitely cooler once your first child turns one.

And, of course, one of the problems with running a eco-conscious household is that you are cautious about consumerism and don’t make a large number of impulse purchases…which doesn’t exactly help support green businesses. Bother. Sprout, I bid you a fond farewell.

Now will someone make up a potty trainer’s Google map for Burlington, VT and send it to me? Please?