Ready to Trade on Swaptree

A NOTE FROM JENN: Good morning Greenies! It is Monday morning now and I just wanted to say that things with Swaptree were all taken care of yesterday. The confirmation email, though indicating it was sent at 6:00 AM, did finally arrive sometime after noon. I was able to confirm and start listing items for trade.

I wanted to simply test the service for the moment so I listed just one book in my ‘have it’. Sadly no one on the service had this item in their ‘want it’ list so I am unable to receive any trades just yet but I’m sure that will come soon! I also added a book to my own ‘want it’ list and will be excited when I can have it arrive at my door!

Customer service was quick to return my email as well, although they didn’t have to do much considering it worked itself out. Because the site is free (no special envelopes to buy and no money is exchanged) and the only expense is when shipping an item (can we say Media Mail?) this allows Swaptree to suggest all kinds of trades -- movies for CDs, books for video games, etc. -- not just a one for one which is nice.

So I am amending my Leaf Rating on this cool company and concept to a Four Leaf Rating!

Everyone has extra stuff lying around -- DVDs, books, video games and CDs -- the thing you used a million times, read and won’t read again or just plain didn’t enjoy. But what is a person to do with all this brand new merchandise? Trade it on Swaptree!

The company makes it super simple to exchange your merchandise, in fact it is only a three step process! First, register. This will only take a few seconds and the information is minimal (you can also connect with friends on Facebook). Next, add items you want and list items you have to trade. Finally, all that is left to do is swap!

Now, I am a little bummed that I can’t share the whole experience with you because I never received the confirmation email (it is required to click on to activate the account) despite repeated attempts, a change in emails and contacting the customer support folks.

This is not to say it doesn’t work for some however so don’t be alarmed! My friend Bridgete was the one who suggested I become a swapper as she was able to sign up and suggest the site to me. It is legitimate and there are some cool items to be had, I just can’t get to them yet.

Hopefully the good folks at Swaptree will get me a return email so I can give a proper rating based on the entire experience, including being able to swap! But for now, based solely on the concept of it as well as my sign up experience, I have to give Swaptree a Two and a Half Leaf Rating.

I hope to hear from you Swaptree, I am looking forward to bumping your leaves up as soon as I can get active with this very cool concept! ♥love♥

How to Celebrate Earth Day?

This Thursday marks the 40th anniversary of Earth Day, a day marked to celebrate and embrace the planet we live on as a living and breathing entity. Here in the United States, the day falls on April 22 each year and has been an important teaching day to talk about the environment sine it was first proposed in 1969.

Even people who are not traditionally known as “Green” tend to do something better for the planet on Earth day but that leads me to the question in my post title…how should we celebrate?

Since I am a proudly self-proclaimed Greenie I already do a whole bunch of the things that are suggested as ways to show some eco love -- work from home most of the time, eat far less meat (almost none in fact!), use CFLs, wash in cold water, reduce/reuse/recycle, buy second hand or from local shops as often as is practical, unplug items not in use, do as much shopping on one day as possible to avoid multiple gas emission days, walk whenever possible, etc -- so what should an eco-attuned gal such as myself do to celebrate this momentous day?

Some of you may be having a similar problem right now considering my readers over here are certainly savvy environmental lovers who don’t just hug trees, they plant them too! But this leaves all of us with the difficult task of trying to determine the best way to do even more in honor of the planet; and it is just 3 days away, yikes!

I am stumped! If anyone has suggestions I am all ears! PLEASE give me some recommendations for ways to celebrate on Thursday and I will be forever grateful!

Getting More Involved with My Important Community!

Good morning! Just wanted to share a quick update with everyone over here; you are now looking at the proud new News and Views Co-Editor for the EcoEtsy Team blog. Hooray!

These folks are awesome, as I have pointed out numerous times before and will most certainly point out again, and always have such fresh ideas to share. It makes me really proud to be a part of their team, not to mention completely psyched and honored that one of the Co-Leaders of the team (a very good Greenie friend) EcoKaren actually approached me to take this on. Wow, thanks so much Karen!

The mantra of this team is a dedication to the three R’s -- Reduce, Reuse, Recycle -- and the spectacular members take it even further than that (in my opinion) by truly embracing Greenness as a lifestyle! Members will make their own laundry detergent and tea bags, re-gifting is strongly encouraged and homemade snack recipes are passed around like no thing!

News and View will run every Monday (my Co-Editor in Green and I are working out our schedule now, I’ll keep you informed!) and the team leaders are in process of ramping up the blog, so this coming Monday should be the unveiling of all things fresh over there.

I encourage everyone, whether you have an Etsy account or not, to get over to the Team EcoEtsy Blog and start reading!

See you all over there on Mondays but don’t worry folks, GLR will still be going strong!

Produce Bags Are Perfect For…

Every once in a while I like to discuss the ways to extend the lifecycle of something that may be deemed as not as awesome for the planet so today’s topic is produce bags. These thin, usually transparent, plastic bags have not been as aggressively marketed for replacement as their two handled take-it-home counterparts, so most of us end up coming home with a handful of them every time we hit the store.

There are designers of canvas, nylon, even woven jungle vine sacks out there who specifically create these types of bags and although I really want to remember to buy some I have yet to do so. Even me, the Greenie, ends up sometimes home with plastic.

So what do I do?

First of all I try to reuse them as long as possible AT the store. After a couple of trips I will wash them out & dry them and stick them right back in the reusable shopping bags in my car. I will do this until they spring a small hole (usually after about 5-8 trips on average depending on the volume & item placed in the bag). That way they get a good long life and I figure I save about 30 - 48 bags in total (6 bags per trip on average).

When I think that they have outlived that part of their journey I then transfer them right into my trash cans. The bathroom, office and living room in our house make use of small trash cans for convenience sake. Produce bags are like a perfect fit for these cans to protect the bucket from make up remover, food wrappers or even gum from smearing the bottom.

Because this trash is never heavy it’s alright if there is a small hole in the bag when it goes into the can. And because they are clear they don’t mess with the attractiveness of the style of the buckets. I leave them in there and just dump the trash out into our large bag until there are too many pieces of gum or other sticky things attached to the sides; that is usually after about a month. I estimate this saves an average of 3 new bags per week.

All told by utilizing these produce bags over and over again I estimate my personal plastic bag savings as about 9 per week, an average savings of about 36 bags in a month. I would like to try to start purchasing reusable produce bags in the future but for now I am proud to do what I can to make the most with what I’ve currently got.

Also I am going to try to keep an eye out to see just what kind of produce bags my store uses as I discovered The Brenmar Company while researching this article. These folks offer pre-rolled produce bags to consumer stores that completely biodegrade in 3-5 years in a landfill because they make use of oxo-biodegradation.

For more information on oxo-biodegradation.

What creative uses have you found for produce bags?

Home Improvement Projects from Reused and Upcycled Materials

Over the past couple months, Matt and I have been completing a few minor home improvement updates, upgrades and modernizations to our rental apartment. One of the most important upgrades we have made has been the mattress topper that we replaced.

Since I am not only a Greenie but a novice seamstress as well, it only seemed right to do something functional with the old one. After all, just because it had outlived its useful life on top of the bed, did not mean it could not be turned into a wonderfully functional addition to a couple areas around our home.

All I had to do was cut it up!

This bench seat came from my grandparent’s home. It was originally designed as a phone table due to the attached shelf. We placed it in a small nook in our mudroom and hung my Van Gogh “Starry Night” print above it but it just didn’t feel homey; I knew there was unlimited potential for this space.

We decided on a beach theme since both of us are beach lovers so I wanted a fabric for the cushion that would help draw attention away from the somewhat yucky vinyl floor. With a perfect sized scrap left over from a prior project, I set out to create the seat cushion.

After taking a basic measurement of the seat opening, I cut the foam to match. I then cut each fabric piece at ½ inch larger than the foam on all sides and stitched all but a three inch opening on one of the seams. The seams were pressed open and turned right side out, foam was inserted and using an inside stitch the opening was closed.

The vase was acquired at a discounted irregulars shop and the grasses are faux so they will last for ages. The sand came from a garden supply center and the blown glass starfish was a birthday gift this past June. Matt and I had taken a ride to a favorite beach spot and collected a whole slew of rocks. I also snapped a few photos of the ocean while we were there and one was pretty enough to frame.

Voila!**

We plan to acquire more rocks to fill in the rest of the corner behind the vase, as well as the strip of missing flooring at the far back wall and I will likely stain the bench to match the frame color.

It is true that almost all of these items are newly purchased and only the components of the cushion were reclaimed, but every time we walk in the back door now it is like we are in our own little beach sanctuary. It is calming and relaxing and that is the main thing we were going for. We both love it and know it is a design that will last through the years in our home; and it was all inspired by creating a cushion out of reclaimed materials from the hand me down bench.

Luckily however, I will find about 100 other uses for the foam pad…

The first of these projects will be as cushioning for 5 chairs around the house -- my sewing chair (being recovered) and our 4 kitchen chairs (which will be covered for the first time and using a painted drop cloth for the fabric. I will report on that one soon!)

What outdated materials have you breathed new life into?

**Please note our house is completely out of level and plumb so unfortunately everything is a little crooked.

The EcoBags Series -- Day Three: Reusable Canvas Bags

In the final day of our continuing series I am going to be reviewing this super sturdy canvas bag that EcoBags has sent me to try out. It is a fun bag and definitely does the job.

You probably all remember I reviewed another reusable bag in the past; for trips to the grocery store that would still be my first choice because it has the reinforced square bottom but this canvas bag from EcoBags is going right into my car so I don’t forget it when shopping for everything else!

The straps impressed me because they are long enough to go over my shoulder. Most canvas bags only provide hand held sized straps so this will be ideal when out walking around a fall festival or craft fair or even at the mall. The seams on his bag are double stitched to avoid fraying, just like their produce bags.

Also the same as with the produce bags, the more of these that are purchased, the price will come down. One bag sells for $16.00 but two or more are only $13.99 each. For a printed and unlined canvas shoulder bag I was impressed with the price point. Additionally, a portion of the purchase price is donated to the Environmental Media Association.

This is just one of many options available in the canvas bag line; the printed line alone offers twenty fun designs. All the canvas bags are created from responsibly harvested cotton and this one in particular is 100% organic.

I am a little concerned at the cost, as I have seen bags that have more pockets and a similar size selling for less.

Overall I am thoroughly excited to have my car canvas tote to ensure I never go with paper or plastic again and feel this bag is deserving of a Four Leaf Rating!

Thanks for keeping a responsible eye on the planet through use of your socially and environmentally responsible practices and products EcoBags, I can not thank you enough for the opportunity to test out your cool products! ♥love♥

Eco Fashion Friday Halloween Series Costume Creation Tips

Here are some more tips in the continuing series here at GLR about how to create a more eco-friendly Halloween this year!

eHow has a great article on ways to be Earth friendly this Halloween. My favorite tip of all here is raiding the closets of family and friends. Some clothing buried deep in an older family member’s closet could be perfect to complete a retro look, or pieces from their collection might just be the perfect accent like a brooch or a nice pair of shoes.

Get creative in your own closet! Last year my husband, in the business for thirteen years, went as an Out of Work Mortgage Banker. He got dressed as he normally would for work but put on pants that had shrunk, wore a pair of really scuffed shoes, un-tucked one side of his collar shirt, buttoned it askew, tied his tie haphazardly and messed up his hair. I think he even had a folded up resume in his pocket. It was hilarious and timely and did not cost a dime.

Trade costumes with a friend. One of the biggest bits of waste on Halloween is in fact the costume. Worn for just one night then given away we can greatly increase the lifecycle if we hold onto it and exchange with a friend or colleague the following year.

If you must buy new, think of going with something handmade. One of our favorite shopping experiences here at GLR is the community of unparalleled artists and designers over at Etsy. I typed the words “Halloween costume” into the main page search field and got a hit of just under 13,000 results. Chances are there will be something there to suit every need or desire imaginable. Not only is it nice to support independent artists but most items are going to be one of a kind (OOAK) so you won’t arrive at the party in the same outfit as a friend!

Sew your own. In a week or two I will be sharing the makings of the costume I am creating for myself this year out of a little creativity and a couple T-shirts. I am still working on sketches and the overall concept but stay tuned for at least half of a costume created from very simple sewing techniques as well as extremely inexpensive items from thrift shops or my very own closet!

Photo thanks goes out to Judi FitzPatrick Studios again. Thanks Mom!

3M Command Hooks Get a Facelift

Recently while shopping for some home improvement items to help liven up our new-ish apartment we picked up some curtains. I had intended to make curtains from material I already have but as I was going through my stash it turns out that much of the large bulk fabric I had I already used for various other projects so in this instance it was essential to buy new.

As a side note, luckily I was able to reuse the curtains we had in our prior bedroom in our current bath as well as our living room panels in the living room here. The main issues of concern now were the bedroom and closets.

Our apartment is a modified railroad style, meaning it is in one long rectangle and the common length of hallway houses doors to each space. Here is the basic floor plan I drew up while acquiring items for the move:

The bedroom resides in a little nook just big enough for our bed and a couple of small tables but the doorway is a wide open archway measuring about 84” across. When we first moved in I had this idea to create a movie theater-esque design using heavy red velvet panels, a matching scalloped valance with gold trim and tie backs in the same gold with huge tassels. It seemed fitting for us.

So while shopping, when I came across some heavy, deep maroon, velvet curtains with already attached 2” wide nickel grommets I was in heaven! It looked as if the dream for a theater theme was coming to fruition. I knew it would be relatively simple to locate the cording, tassels and trim at my local craft shop but what to use for tie back hooks?

We checked out the home improvement section but nothing seemed right. We headed for the décor aisle and there they were; 3M Command Timeless removable hooks in brushed nickel.

I was impressed right away. I have long been a lover of these hooks because Matt and I move so much and they: 1. leave no holes in the wall and 2. always come with us to the next place. I have only ever used the white plastic version however as they tend to reside mostly in our kitchen for things like potholders and hand towels. I had no idea they came in metal!

I picked up two, one for each tieback, and fully intend to hit the craft store later this week to acquire the trim and tassels. Once I have created the final look and attached the hooks to do their thing for a while I will come back and post a proper review of their true usefulness. I am looking forward to completing this project this weekend!

When Extraneous Items are Parodied

As Greenies we all attempt to do our very best to use as few ‘one and done’ disposable products as possible right? Well recently I began seeing commercials for a new item that strikes me as convenient yet ultimately another in a long line of one use land fillers, the Colgate Wisp.

Wisp is a compact tooth freshener and toothpick in one, no water is required to brush teeth and it is so tiny it will fit in just about any purse or pocket (although with that sharp point I might suggest that the guys toss it into a wallet or other protective case), Colgate suggests it is good for brushing on the go.

The brushes are sold in a four pack and are suggested to retail for about $2.40, which to me seems awfully steep considering I can pick up a regular sized cheapy brush and travel sized toothpaste for about the same or less. The only difference is, to use a brush and paste, water is required.

Colgate recommends using each brush in the pack no more than once. Yikes! Since the entire piece (including the packaging, sans the cardboard insert) is created from PET plastic this product is going to hang around the landfill a whole lot longer than the fresh breath achieved through its use.

This is not a product I can even feel comfortable granting a Half Leaf Rating to because it is so clearly detrimental to the planet. I am so sorry Colgate but in times where the entire world is thinking in the manner of Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, this product simply misses the mark.

I came across a video while doing some research for the item and it made me chuckle for its outlandish parody of the Wisp. I will let you be the judge if I was incorrect in too quickly judging the limited use of this item.

Musician Seth Glier Gets a Little Green on Tour

Everyday more and more musicians are getting on board with the fact that touring Greener is not as tough as one might think so when I read about Seth Glier making the jump I was totally excited to feature his story.

My mom turned me onto Seth’s music some time ago after seeing him in Marblehead. My mom played his cd Space for me in the car and I was blown away. Not a chance this kid was only about seventeen, his voice was amazing! I became an instant fan and started following him on Facebook right away.

About a week ago I saw his update that he was about to kick off this tour dubbed G3 - Glier Goes Green: Offsetting the Trouble Tour. I was completely intrigued and looked into it. Turns out, not only is Seth doing all he can to create a 100% carbon neutral tour, he is asking his concertgoers to do the same.

Some of the awesome initiatives include:

☼ Using recycled or sustainable papers for marketing materials
☼ Soy/veggie inks and sustainable fabrics (organic cotton, hemp, bamboo) for all tees
☼ Purchasing energy credits (wind power) to offset his carbon emissions
☼ Using email as opposed to paper
☼ Touring in a Hybrid vehicle
☼ Reusing cups/plates/utensils instead of disposable options
☼ Visiting Farmer’s Markets and other local produce vendors at every stop on tour
☼ Guiding concertgoers to a forum where they can discuss carpooling to shows
☼ The Trouble Makers (street team coming soon) meeting with fans to plant trees locally

In addition to these solid efforts Seth and his street team kicked off their Green tour in Athol, Massachusetts by literally getting a down and dirty by planting trees, flowers and shrubs in Fish Park. He invited his fans to bring their own shovel and plant of choice then pitch in to not only beautify the town but to add some oxygen into the air. Hooray!

This tour continues through, well it appears next year on his website! He has tour dates posted all the way up through the 2010 South by Southwest (SXSW) Festival in March.

I hope that the Green efforts Seth and all are initiating this month as they hit the road to rock this amazing country will continue on every day. Thanks for being a forward thinking member of the musical community Seth, I greatly look forward to checking out the show this fall at one of your many Massachusetts locations!
♥love♥

On the Move with NorthStar Moving Corporation

Almost all of us have done it, Matt and I personally joke we are professionals now, college kids are about to do this en mass - moving. Most of us think of moving as a hassle or a headache and many of us also understand the environmental impact this activity can have on the planet due to emissions alone, never mind the lifecycle of boxes or the trucks, and even Greenies may not be thinking of the impact the facility itself will have. So who do we turn to in this stressful time to ensure not only that we remain calm and cared for, but that our planetary impact is low? Well NorthStar Moving Corporation may drive bright red trucks but look closer and all you will see is Green!

Based out of Los Angeles, California, NorthStar Moving is in a prime location but do not let the Southern California address fool you! Although their primary geographic focus is moving folks from the Los Angeles area, they are looking to expand their service in order to move anyone, anywhere. Oh, and they are doing it all in trucks that run on biodiesel.

After the conversion, and once it became clear that the old trucks were harmful to the planet, yet impossible to convert because of their current age and wear, NorthStar Moving hooked up with E-Cycle Environmental to break down and recycle the oldest trucks. E-Cycle also assists by offering a more eco friendly option for folks who are moving and getting rid of bulky, potentially harmful items (such as televisions, computers, etc).

Additionally all the new trucks were outfitted with lift gates that run on battery power as opposed to the engine. Emissions can be further reduced as the truck does not need to be running constantly during a move, the lift will operate while the truck is off. This is a very cool innovation and one I believe is exclusive to NorthStar as I can not find another company that indicates they do this yet.

Of course the awesomeness does not stop at the trucks and their fuel source.

All of the boxes the company sells are created from recycled materials but get this, they will also grant a 25% discount if you bring your boxes back to be recycled. Then the next person can re-purchase those boxes also at a 25% discount. Taking advantage of both moving boxes are sold at a 50% of rate, sweet!

The storage facilities utilize wooden storage compartments (made from recycled materials!) that are stacked in order to save on need for space as well as materials and the warehouses take advantage of natural light (through use of skylights) which helps to save on electricity as well.

All this is well and good but without strong customer service and attention to the client’s needs even the most eco-friendly company will not last very long. NorthStar has been in business for about 15 years and they not only offer a basic door to door moving service but also literal Red Carpet, luxury moving service. These folks have moved everyone from budget conscious college students to Hollywood heavy hitters like Angelina Jolie, Chuck Norris and Eva Longoria.

Not to mention their work with Hollywood Green Team, Sustainable LA** and the pre Oscar Green Carpet party this year. These services truly set them way apart from any other Green moving company out there never mind the fact that they treat everyone the same no matter what their moving budget is.

I spoke with a company representative to see what types of offerings they have at this time and for those in need of a storage solution now is an excellent time to take advantage of NorthStar’s services because in addition to their deal of $49.00 per month for a 5' x 7' x 8' high unit, you are also going to get the first month free. Yippie!

I am completely impressed with the company model that NorthStar is structuring here and like I said, since Matt and I move more often than the average family it is pretty safe to say I will be utilizing these services at some point in the not too distant future myself.

With such an innovative approach and strong planetary focus NorthStar is well deserving of a Four Leaf Rating!

Keep up the amazing work!
♥love♥

** The Downtown Film Festival runs from August 12 - 22 primarily located at the corner of 7th & Figueroa. Sustainable LA is a full day of Green awesomeness that includes speakers, films, parties and advice (all free!) and it takes place on Thursday August 20 from 10AM - 11PM at the Ernst & Young Plaza. If you’re in the area I highly recommend checking it out!

Eco Fashion Friday Featured Designer Enuwbe

As a member of Team Eco Etsy it pleases me to locate and feature other team members who showcase their amazing work, so when I came across Enuwbe’s shop I was immediately impressed. Using only organic, sustainable and recycled or reused items throughout the shop, Jen states that she is attempting to toss absolutely nothing into a landfill. Nice!

Personally, I am a nut for comfy clothing - cotton, bamboo, any fabric that is soft and will move with my body - so to see that organic cotton is the number one material of choice here definitely draws me right in. Normally I need to touch an item but for some reason I can just tell how comfortable these clothes will be simply from a photo. It makes me want to curl up and drink some Yerba maté tea on a cool fall morning, come home from the beach all cozy and comfy, or cover up after a relaxing yoga class. Simple comfort.

Enuwbe has the right idea with shipping by utilizing recycled materials of all kinds from business cards to shipping boxes. When selecting the fabrics she uses, Jen does not simply see that it is organic cotton and grab a bolt, she researches the company for their own sustainability and consciousness prior to purchasing. Then she utilizes every last scrap of material she purchases by creating the item, using scraps for appliqués and the teeny pieces unusable for clothing she turns into stuffing for pet beds. Very cool.

My one and only concern is the cost of her items. Not to say that for the time and effort Jen puts into this shop and each hand made piece that the prices are not reasonable, they are, just for the average gal they are a touch high. Most tops hover in the $40 - $69 range, dresses and skirts from $65 - $95, pants $47 - $69 and her cuffs are $14 (they have a pocket too, sweet). There are also maternity clothes, shorts, accessories and one formal dress available in the shop.

With such a strong focus on the planet and sustainability I am awarding Enuwbe a Four Leaf Rating!

Keep up the amazing work Jen, I can not wait to test drive that hoodie pictured above!
♥love♥

Zen Habits Always has Something Inspiring to Read

I have been subscribed to the blog Zen Habits for a few months now and enjoy receiving updates in my email every day because there is generally something uplifting, inspiring or just awesome involved in every single post. Today of course was no different.

Here is an excerpt from the blog:

“This is the addition to “Omit needless things” that is necessary: not that you have as little as humanly possible, but that every thing you do have counts… In anything you do, see if you can apply these principles. There’s no need to get obsessive about it, of course, but it’s always useful to examine what we do, how we do it, and whether we really need to do it.”

The post discussed our need to omit superfluous stuff be it physical things in our homes or offices, foods we ingest or even the goals we set out for ourselves. This minimalist lifestyle is one I attempt to live in most areas of life but reading someone else’s take on the subject really got me thinking about what is needless in my life and exactly what I do about it.

I am the worst offender of two things -- committing to way too many plans and allowing food to spoil in the refrigerator.

As you have all been reading I have been quite busy with Green Leaf reviews of late but that is just one area of my business. I am also a painter (as in wall treatments, not on canvas) and a writer. I have been working on all of these things simultaneously in addition to spending time with family and friends and keeping up with everyone and everything (paying bills on time, reading blogs, grocery shopping, etc). After a while the pace takes a toll and it is vital for me to find a way to blow off steam.

Matt and I take a walk almost every night which really helps my mind decompress. True that in essence it is another plan but we spend the time talking about our day and releasing any of the stresses we had allowed to sneak in. In the midst of go-go-go we both really look forward to that twenty minute span of time that is reserved for no one but us.

Not only does this allow us to purge the chaos from our minds by laughing about it but the endorphins from the exercise are a double benefit!

We now plan weekly meals to reduce the over spending on, and needless waste of, extra foods we never eat and go bad in the fridge. I write out a list of meals we will have for dinner and all of the ingredients used to make them. Things we can not make right away are frozen and as I make the meal it is checked off. Meals that leave a lot of leftovers are put in small containers and one or the other of us has it for lunch the following day. I guess one might say we reduce, reuse or recycle our food.

Not only has this cut down greatly on the food that goes bad, it has helped us save a lot of cash and fat by not eating in restaurants for lunch or dinner all the time!

These two things are small steps but steps none the less toward a simpler life.

Other things I do to cut out needlessness:

- Turn off the television (the over stimulation causes brain chaos!)
- Unplug things not currently in use (why drain the planet too?)
- Continuously remain aware of every action I take
- Smile and laugh, a LOT (happiness is lighter than negativity trust me!)
- Sell, donate, trade and / or share

I have a long way to go before my home will look as simple as the photo on the Zen Habits blog post but I am working on it by starting with the two areas where have the greatest issues and it truly feels great!

I hope all of you will read the rest of today’s post over at Zen Habits.

In case this post wasn’t enough to convince everyone how much extra there really is out there I strongly encourage everyone to check out the Story of Stuff again. If you’ve never seen it believe me it is a total eye opener.

GreenSol Offers up its Water in a Plant Based Bio Plastic Water Bottle

Oh yes, you read that correctly! There is a brand new movement in the plastics industry and its initials are PLA -- plant based, poly lactic acid, plastics. GreenSol is leading the charge in producing a more ecologically responsible choice for their water bottles and I was lucky enough to get my hands on one.

Bottled by Nature’s Bottles in Pacifica, CA and filled with natural spring water from Private Spring Water, GreenSol is certainly attempting to live up to their tag line: “Saving the Earth One Bottle At A Time”.

The bottle is made from 100% renewable and sustainable resources (PLA is created from corn starch), consists of no petroleum, is said to biodegrade in a maximum of 90 days when placed in a commercial composting facility, only utilizes 35% of the average fossil fuels and emits approximately 75% less greenhouse gas during manufacture. If composting is not an option the bottles can always be recycled the old fashioned way.

When this bottle of water was shipped to me it was done so in minimal corrugated cardboard packaging (which it was requested I reuse of course!) and protected by corn based packing peanuts. I was informed that the product is made available for larger events and recycling bins are also provided to expedite the renewal of the material.

Major named companies are getting on board with GreenSol from Quaker to Microsoft, REI to Walmart. I can see why. I opened up the water and immediately noticed…well…nothing. There was no after taste like I sometimes experience with standard plastic bottles, it felt just as sturdy and .

One concern is that the cap is not PLA but a PET based. Nature’s Bottles does address this on their website and indicates they are looking into various solutions for a safe and stable alternative. The label however is PLA but another concern is that the glue used to affix it is not mentioned online as being plant based.

With such a focus on turning the table on the “disposable” mindset through use of natural products that will quickly biodegrade to house their water I am granting GreenSol a Four and a Half Leaf Rating!

Very, very impressive! I will feel comfortable re-using this water bottle to fill with my tap water for as long as it lasts.
♥love♥

Eco Fashion Friday Featured Designer Angela Pennock of Marang97

Based out of Santa Fe, New Mexico Marang97 is a unique shop indeed as Angela utilizes ambiguous material such as T-shirts and buttons and fashions them into some of the most adorable and feminine accessories I have seen in ages. Her fine art isn’t so bad either. I admit, I am hooked!





The first thing I noticed in Angela’s shop is that every section utilizes recycled materials be it shirts, yarn or paper, Angela is fully committed to finding a way to breathe new life into formerly loved pieces. There are many items to choose from in this shop (upwards of fifty) and they range from pins like the one above to rings as well as fine home art to market totes.

She ships internationally and as a member of Team EcoEtsy you can bet your item will likely arrive in some extremely creative recycled packaging. Perhaps one of her very own envelopes! Even better news, Angela ships internationally and her cost to ship is low. Speaking of low cost, the price for one of her adorable, standard size brooch pins is only $7.50. I would spend more than that for something half as cute and made from brand new materials at a department store!

The only tiny drawback I could see was she does not show photos of the back of the items and I like to get a sense for how it will attach to my clothing. Due to this I am granting the first ever Four and One Half Leaf Rating!

Keep up the amazing work Angela, thanks for helping to protect the planet through your art.
♥love♥

Eco-Fashion Friday Featured Designer - Stephanie Teague of Pretty Birdie

When I came across Stephanie Teague’s shop Pretty Birdie on Etsy I was intrigued. Her photos were really well done and they drew me right into her shop. But after reading her policies and shop information I was even more eager to get back and write up her review!


Pretty Birdie is based out of Greensboro, North Carolina and has been open for five years. Stephanie is clearly committed to not only the planet but the satisfaction of her clients as she has a very reasonable policy on returns, even on custom orders. Although she may use the pattern of a piece again, each item is one of a kind as all her fabrics are 100% recycled, upcycled and reused. One might even say then that every piece is custom!

The primary item available in the shop is dresses. With a current stock of eleven to choose from she has something for just about everybody from sun dresses to more modern shapes. Many of the items utilize fabrics such as vintage draperies (like the photo above), flour sacks, quilts, leather and even upcycled cotton pillow covers!

On average the prices for couture, which will never be seen on another person, are extremely reasonable as they hover in the range of $165 with some more and some less.

Due to the fact that the prices might be slightly out of the realm for many I must grant Pretty Birdie a Four Leaf Rating but it is the only reason. I am uber impressed with the talents Stephanie possesses and her strong attention on the planet through her strict use of recycled materials. I strongly encourage everyone to check out her online shop.

Keep up the great work Stephanie, the planet will be forever grateful. ♥love♥

Fused Plastic and Salvaged Fabric Laptop Bag

As a gal who enjoys whipping out the sewing machine and also someone who ends up with way too many plastic bags (regardless of using our reusable ones most of the time) I am very happy to have come across this video tutorial. This looks fairly simple, not too many steps, and will be a very personalized item. So cool!

Fun Eco Shops

Usually the first place I go to locate fabulous Earth friendly items is Etsy because it is easy to search and as a seller on the site I like to do the give and take. There are always some shops that stand out or items that blow me away and when I come across them I think “How cool this is an Earth friendly item!” Some of my current favorites are below. With the spring on its way, but winter still very much hanging on, some might be wishful thinking but I encourage everyone to get out to some of these shops and check out more of their awesome little goodies!

The Fairies Nest


The Hole Thing

Lucky Sustainables

Infusion

Anderson Soap Company

Recycled materials, bamboo fiber, all natural materials and upcycling are all methods or mediums used to create these fine items.

My Favorite Diva Continues to Support This Cause!

Charmaine has been instrumental in providing tips, ideas and links over the past couple months and not only had I given her huge kudos for those rockin good links but I certainly asked if she would be interested in becoming a contributor to our little Green home. She did decline as writing reviews and wordy type posts are not her style but she did say she is more than happy to still send on anything and everything she finds that could be a good story for GLR. I was overjoyed she was still interested in helping out!

To date, Charmaine has likely provided me with over fifteen potential story ideas, at least ten fantastic links and turned me on to a handful of fascinating eco blogs and her unwavering support just keeps coming! I interviewed her ages ago because not only is she a serial blogger but one heck of an environmentally conscious Interior Designer as well. Do not be shy in getting in touch with her regardless if you live in Oregon or not, she is fully able and happy to travel (and at this time of year I would bet she is going to be your new best friend if you fly her out to work in Hawaii). Below is a reprint of some of my interview with Charmaine from July of 2008. Links to her information can be found at the end of the interview.


Who or what influences your work and why?

My work changes as I change, as my interests grow, so I would have to answer: life. Fifteen years ago I was focused on antiques, which led selling, which led to decorating, which led to design. Designing has been the most rewarding to me because I’m not a follower. I get the most satisfaction from creating my own work rather than copying page 18 of a popular design catalog.

Who or what inspired you to become a Designer?

A customer from one of my antiques shows admired my sale displays and asked me to consider decorating her home. That job led to others, which eventually led to design.

Why was it so important to go green?

Global Warming is very real. This is the only planet we have and this is our chance to save it. As a designer, I believe salvation begins at home. Making your home and lifestyle as green as possible…what better way to save the planet.

How did you approach your first client with green design concepts? How long ago was that and were they receptive?

My first choices for products are always green so my approach is straight- forward. Being green is my modus operandi, and it’s what I offer my clients. As long as it fits within their budget, clients are receptive. If they balk at the price, I simply suggest the next best green product instead.

Where did your first inspiration come from?

When I was a kid, my mom had a coffee table made out of an old wooden door, complete with vintage hinges and knobs. I remember the delighted laughs when guests would see if for the first time, and inevitably knock on “the door”. It opened my eyes to the possibilities of reusing items, turning something old into something new. This philosophy is the core of my design style.

What have you incorporated into your lifestyle to facilitate going green and conserving energy?

I have always lived a green lifestyle. Lately, the biggest changes have come about due to the rising gas prices. We live in a semi-remote area, so driving long distances is a necessity. I consolidate my trips to town (30 miles each way) which makes for long days of running errands, but saves gas and money and reduces carbon dioxide emissions.

What is important to you about conservation and preserving our environment?

I think the most important thing is to influence the nay-sayers. Our planet is in crisis, people need to understand this and make the necessary changes to save it. Little things will make a difference. It’s one of the reasons I sell vintage goods and supplies. Items can be re-used in ways they were not originally intended. Jute webbing can be used in lieu of ribbon to make a simple chair tie, skeleton keys and clock parts can be turned into jewelry…the list is endless.

What are you currently working on?

My current project is personal…for the last year my husband and I have been remodeling our home. Last summer we bought a five-acre piece of property in the High Desert of Central Oregon. With our budget, buying this much land in the most expensive part of the state necessitated a low cost home...a 1980 double-wide trailer.

There was no beauty in this home. None.

This project has been my biggest design challenge to date. We gutted the entire inside…salvaging and donating items to the Habitat for Humanity resale shop, recycling wood and scrap metal as we went along. We tore out the cardboard and plastic ceilings, rewired and re-plumbed where necessary. We hired a crew to sheetrock over the nasty paneling and then I coated the walls and ceiling with both low VOC (Devine) and no VOC (Yolo) paints. We ripped out the germ riddled plush carpeting and laid Eco-Timber solid bamboo flooring (using a non-toxic glue) throughout the entire house. We tore out (and recycled) aluminum slider windows, replacing them with energy efficient ones. We repurposed antique furniture into a vanity sink cabinet and linen closets rather than buying new pieces. The kitchen cabinets were purchased from a company who offered a green line of cabinetry. Paperstone (countertops made using 100% recycled paper and a non-toxic resin) was installed in the kitchen. Ten of the light fixtures we installed were found at second hand stores or purchased off Craigslist. We salvaged, reused and repurposed many items making our remodel as green as we could afford, and as beautiful as possible.

What Green Product would you recommend to our readers?

Paperstone (Countertops made with 100% recycled paper)

What is your best going green tip?

Shopping locally. It keeps money in the local economy, which in turn creates jobs, promotes community development by creating charming, walk-able town centers which reduces urban sprawl, pollution, traffic, etc.

How would your friends describe you?

Creative, innovative and loyal.

Do you have a website or online presence that showcases your work?

Currently my online presence consists of my Etsy shops:

High Desert Diva where I sell small vintage items

High Desert Supplies where I sell vintage and new supplies for assemblage art

and my blog

I plan to have a design website within a year.**

** Charmaine does have an operational website Charmaine Manley Design.

Photographs courtesy of Donna Pizzi and Philip Clayton Thompson of Blackstone Edge

After the Holiday Comes the Clean Up and Clear Out of Toys

In my house we live by the ‘one out one in’ rule. If I purchase something new it is generally due to the fact that something else has completely worn out, broken, or become outdated to a point where it is no longer functional and has already made its way to a recycling center or charity. Since it is just my husband and I there are far fewer family members to determine the supposed need for the item in question. Even though we do not have children we do own some board games, stuffed animals of sentimental value and other items that are deemed “kid”. These items are a small portion of our overall possessions but for those with children it becomes necessary to locate an alternate solution for all of the toys the children in question no longer find appealing.

A friend of mine collects all of these toys and other items her children outgrow in a given year and sells them on craigslist to families who are looking for a toy in that growth stage at a reduced cost. She collects this money over the course of the year and uses it to completely finance their summer vacation. In the past few years she, her two sons and a friend have been taking tours of all the major league baseball parks in the country, seeing games and touring the cities they are located in. The trips are a lot of fun for everyone and they are making far greater memories by selling these items instead of placing them in boxes in the attic.

Not all people have the desire to spend their time uploading photos and descriptions of items onto an internet selling or auction site but there are many additional ways to recycle without going through all of those steps. Why not check in with local preschools, public schools, churches, hospitals or other charitable organizations to see if they would be able to utilize the toy in question. Another great way to recycle a toy is to check with local community organizations to see if there are families who have fallen on hard times and are in need of assistance. For new families in the neighborhood why not put together a gift basket of formerly loved toys that are still in great shape. This will help the family save a great deal of money and introduce the child to something they may not have had the opportunity to acquire otherwise.

Earth911 is a website dedicated to discussing the benefits to recycling just about anything from toys to bicycles to eyeglasses. They provide great tips for recycling parts of children’s toys like batteries or electronic components. As the world of technology improves, toys can become outdated faster but throwing them away leads to tons of e-waste being placed in landfills. Recycling these toys will help keep over half of all toxic waste out of landfills and stop potential pollution of waterways. In addition it will ensure less air pollution as emissions are not being released to construct something new.

Now that the holidays are winding down families are attempting to find space to store all of the new items that have come into their home and one of the easiest ways to do it is to recycle the old. What may seem boring to one child might just be the best gift ever to another.