I can remember it all so clearly: singing along with the man himself, Captain Kangaroo, “Super, sensational, special and new; The Captain is coming with something for you!” And then, if I was lucky enough, out would come Mr. Green Jeans, in his signature emerald suit, ready to introduce the latest member of his menagerie. Tis true, Mr. Green Jeans was one of my first introductions to the world of animals, and an awareness of animal personalities, lives and environments (Could that be why I so desperately wanted to be a veterinarian in those early years? Quite possibly!).

As I grew, so did my love of Mr. Green Jeans -- and my admiration of his wardrobe choices. In the 80’s, I freely admit to owning more than one pair of actual green jeans (with socks to match!). In the 90’s, I may or may not have written Nirvana lyrics in green ink all over a pair of faded and artfully ripped jeans (which I occasionally paired with equally torn green and black argyle tights).

These days, I still like my jeans green -- but in manufacture, not color. Luckily for me, there is no shortage of companies who are now producing these iconic pants with an eye for the green. They are exploring ways to use sustainably harvested materials, organic cotton, all natural dyes, and much more, all in the interest of better serving the original Mr. Green Jeans, Earth.

Here is a quick rundown of some of my favorite brands on the market today: