drop by bit

Tree Theory Bags 'Harvested From the Urban Landscape' : Opening and on-sale this Friday!

2009-06-17T10:17:00.000-07:00

This spankin' new company: Tree Theory Bags, addresses the topic of waste streams, reuse and revitalization of used materials with their new messenger bags and satchel designs.

They create their bags from materials 'harvested from the urban landscape': the tons of billboard vinyls lying in dumps and by ripping out old seat belts from the junkyard cars.

This product design concept is popping up more and more on the smaller production scale, and its so refreshing! Tree Theory Bags are made in Chicago, my backyard! Why rip those precious materials from Mama earth when there are plenty of usable materials lying all around us just waiting to be discovered. It ties right into the movement of only buying used items, but repurposed new items are ok in my book.

Revitalize! Reuse! Design! Their opening is this Friday too! Check it out!

Announcement! Crystal's going to grad school

2009-06-09T20:44:00.001-07:00

So, beginning in August, I will be writing from Karlskrona Sweden, where I will be attending the Blekinge Institute of Technology. Yay! I'm joining their masters program for a really long title...'Strategic Leadership towards Sustainability'. I should be learning buckets of stuff for exciting new posts.

Ocean wind turbines: good, bad or both?

2009-06-07T19:24:00.000-07:00

Imagine slender white windmills grazing the ocean's horizon. They produce a steady flow of power to the land nearby letting you cook your dinner and wash your clothes with power generated by the wind. It's not just a dream anymore, although it isn't quite a reality yet either; as these are more expensive than the turbines on land).

While harnessing ocean's current and it's constant wind patterns may seem like a good answer to our energy dependency concerns, there are a few things we could think about (that I haven't really heard discussed yet, let me know if you have!) Would these wind farms affect aquatic life? They must stretch deep into the bowels of the ocean to anchor, perhaps disturbing the ecosystem. What material would they be made of? Would it leach into the water? Some folks are concerned about 'views' and that is a valid point too. We already see so much of our land cluttered with buildings, sidewalks, infrastructure, do we want our oceans teeming with it too?

I'm not trying to knock wind turbines on the ocean, I think its actually a fantastic idea. But I wonder ... if those who put in the first roads saw what our landscape is today, would they have done things differently?

Its just as important to design for today as it is for tomorrow.

keeping clean

2009-05-24T06:31:00.000-07:00

Along with Crystal I have been working to develop some household cleaning recipes that are non-toxic with a reasonable half-life. I've tried a variety of concoctions, most resulting in some form of sticky or sludgy product that doesn't really work out that well. Through all of this experimenting, I have come up with a system: I buy white vinegar and baking soda in bulk - The biggest packs they have at Costco, I keep a spray bottle of diluted vinegar on hand for surfaces, and I add baking soda whenever I need to scrub something off. These ingredients work fantastic on counters, stove tops, as a laundry boost, as a drain maintainer, as a pest deterrant, and then some.

Unfortunately, sometimes all of my scrubing and experimenting go nowhere, and I'm still not satisfied with the cleanliness of my tub, or my clothes. If I feel like I have to have something from the store I go here:
www.epa.gov/dfe/pubs/projects/formulat/formpartc.htm

happy cleaning!
Gisele

Craigslist, what a sharing world

2009-04-09T18:08:00.002-07:00

My friend Linsey directed me to one of the nicest craigslist ads. This ad is an endearing example of how we thoughtfully make the world better: less stank in your fridge after vacation and healthy food in anothers tummy. This particularly looks like a sweet arse veggie soup finished off by a grilled pineapple dessert. Yum!

local food: in illinois legislation!

2009-03-13T10:23:00.000-07:00

Did you know that Agriculture is Illinois' largest industry but 95% of that is exported? Now a days it seems everyone is sucking in that deep expansive breath and focusing a little more on what's under our noses. The Illinois Local and Organic Food and Farm Task Force is promoting legislature that will help keep 20% of the Illinois' food consumption LOCAL! With the local food network well underway on niche buyers, this will expand the focus on prisons, universities, and mental health centers.
This is going to help Illinois farmers have more diverse thus sustainable farms, reduce oil used for transportation and encourage awareness of what local foods are!

Revitalized Objects

2009-03-05T10:11:00.000-08:00

I am in love with slash jealous of Sarah Cihat's work. So beautiful! Its all found ceramics from resale shops/thrift stores, and she gives them a new identity through glazing techniques.

This brings me to discuss: I don't get the 'Going green! Getting rid of everything!' ad's on Craigslist. I totally support if you need a new table, buying a new bamboo table (rapidly renewable material) and I also support buying something that totally exists and updating it (a la Sarah's rehabbed plates). But come on, getting rid of everything to buy all new 'stuff' is a point missed.

Let me digress, I found these on craigslist, so these people aren't landfilling their old things by any means. I simply think this shows how the 'green movement' is being marketed in such a way that reduces this movement to consumerism and a way to sell us more schtuff, and more labels to sort through: low fat/ organic/ green.

Where we choose or choose to not put our cash is one of the most impactful votes we can give, daily. I totally appreciate Sarah's work and the new value she has given to old things!

What's your footprint?

2009-02-24T10:07:00.000-08:00

So, I know you see these things all the time, but it's always good to get a little reminder. Here's a really fun carbon footprint calculator from earthday.org:

http://http://www.earthday.net/footprint/index.html

I used all the advanced options and, even though I think I'm doing a really great job, I'm consuming 3.5 planets. Although, they don't give you extra brownie points for composting, rainwater harvesting, or having your own garden.

Green How-to

2009-02-21T10:51:00.000-08:00

This is a really great website with every kind of project imaginable. You kind find every kind of green home project imaginable - and those you never even considered.

I really love this modular water jug shelving. (Not that I recommend buying all that plastic for water.)

Happy browsing!

www.instructables.com

Better shower curtains

2009-02-17T18:53:00.000-08:00

Dilemna: My shower curtain liner needs to be replaced, but I'm so tired of buying new vinyl liners. I have tried washing the liner but it still has little spots and its now ripped. Plus, these vinyl liners, however monetarily inexpensive they seem at the time, we do end up paying for them in the long run. And not just by buying many throughout our lifetime, but paying for the time it takes them to decompose in the landfill...and since they are typically PVC, well, they don't really decompose, at least not in our lifetime.

Solution: a hemp shower curtain

These don't even need a liner! From what I have read (I am saving up to buy one now) they will get wet like any fabric but Hemp is naturally antimicrobial, durable and machine washable. It also is PVC and VOC free (vinyl liners off gas so much! Not good for you, and the manufacturing process is not good for the ozone.)

When you are in the market for replacing your vinyl liner, think hemp!

There are many products out there...try to get something organic and made in the USA.

Sustainable Chocolate

2009-02-05T19:09:00.000-08:00

Chocolate makes you feel good, yes?

The chocolate industry's back of house operation may not make you feel so cozy. Chocolate, like coffee, is grown in more exotic climates. With population, thus demand (of everything) constantly increasing, so does the amount of space it takes to grow things and effort it takes to produce them.

Growing cocoa, if done irresponsibly, can encourage rainforest deforestation, child labor, unfair wages, and heavy use of pesticides. This is a sad that chocolate can't help go away!

We can help choose better chocolate practices by choosing organic and fairtrade chocolate. So look for these symbols:

USDA Organic: help ensure your cocoa isn't grown with herbicides, pesticides, and other nasty things that can pollute water ways, the air and your body. It promotes more sustainable farming practices.

Fair Trade Certified: Ensures that fair labor practices are used, and that the farmer gets compensated an honest and livable wage. Also supports good labor practices (no child labor)

The Rainforest Alliance: helps promote saving the rainforest, and not cutting it down irresponsibly to grow crops. Its very hard to get what we cut down back!

These organizations can't change things on their own though! It will take consumer awareness to ensure that these organizations are making the difference. They have helped us with the first step, which is identifying good practices! Now we have to take their cue, and support these practices. Consumers unite! YOUR DOLLAR CAN EQUAL THE DIFFERENCE!

Lets turn on Disposable Culture

2009-01-22T07:37:00.000-08:00

We are a disposable culture. Can you find room to disagree?

While it can be a pain to bring with you everything you might need in one day, its our responsibility to at least try to be aware of the things we are throwing away, that really we don't need to be using or tossing in the first place.

Eating out is a large instigator of this culture: aluminum foil, plastic/styrofoam containers, wax paper, plastic sporks, paper/plastic bags all for one meal? Well, lets turn our daily coffee and lunch into a saving grace.

Things like To-Go Ware can make this choice easier; as this cute as a button flatware set, simply rolls right up and slips into your bag. The cutlery is made from bamboo, and the pocket is made from post consumer recycled plastic bags. This company has other things to reduce the impact of our to-go culture as well, like stainless steel containers and cotton carriers.

What else can we do to be plastic free? I had a list of my own, but I found another blogger who agrees.

Remember, reducing our impact on the earth can certainly be a feat. If you take little steps every so often, you can begin changing our collective not-so-awesome way of doing things and make it a better place. Drop by bit, everyone, drop by bit.

Mini Greywater

2009-01-13T06:53:00.000-08:00

I ran across these kits the other day when I got distracted in my job hunting.

You can attach them to your existing plumbing and divert the water to flush your toilet. The great thing about these is that they are so simple. You don't have to go through some massive ordeal to reconfigure your plumbing - it just installs in your bathroom.

The downside - these kits run over $400, and the estimated savings is only about $25 annually. The other potentially fatal flaw; they're hideous. I don't know how many people will install them under their Kohler pedestal sink. Maybe in an enclosed vanity . . .

check it out here:www.watersavertech.com

Tata Nano, the $2500 micromobile

2009-01-09T11:14:00.001-08:00

Its teeny, its cheap, it gets 50mpg, its $2500, its the Tata Nano.

Yes, it still takes fossil fuels to make this baby go. But for everyone buying gas guzzling, fume emitting cars, this is a great option...Right now its only available in India, so stay tuned.

Its small scale relates to our massive auto population, bigger is bye bye and smaller gives the roadways a chance to breath and for the auto scape to not be (so) imposing (if that is possible). So for anyone that is going to buy a cheap beater that won't get good mileage and will off gas a ton, this is your option!

Its just what the doctor ordered in the name of personal transportation.

Sidenote: I am also seeing an emergence of 100% electric cars (think Tesla). Even though this is a fossil fuel source too, you can purchase alternative energy to charge your vehicle. This is the way I hope to go in the future, if I ever buy a car. As a whole, we need to keep telling the government we want more alternative energy sources, like wind power, for our homes.

But lets not forget about the beautiful bicycle and public transportation. They should be our first go-to modes of transportation. The more we support them, the more their networks will grow and the easier they will be to use for everyone.

Resolutions

2009-01-05T08:43:00.000-08:00

This year I sat and pondered a whole list of things that I wanted to change about my life and improve. The list turned into a long, meandering one that ranged from petty hopes like “improve my body shape” and “make more money” to more altruistic things like “save the planet” and “achieve world peace”. Of course there is no one, best, course of action. So, I took a look at it big picture and came up with this one: Live Moderately.

Simple, right? At least it seems so on the surface. But applying this concept, across the board, to my life, and the attitudes of this country as a whole, we could begin a wave of change. Think about it. Here’s the first citation for moderate at m-w.com:

1 a: avoiding extremes of behavior or expression: observing reasonable limits b: calm , temperate

So, think, what would happen if, as a culture, we all started behaving moderately? What if we were moderate spenders? Moderate drivers? Moderate meat eaters? Where would we be if everyone drove the most fuel efficient vehicle possible, only spent the money they earned, and only ate beef once a week?

I’m going to try it. Our house is increasing the number of vegetarian meals on the menu, eliminating expenses on electronic entertainment and sticking to our one-teeny-car that doesn’t hold the car seat and a passenger at the same time (this doesn’t sound like much of a feat when you live in Chicago, but in the California Exurbs it’s near impossible). We will also work on the little things like; checking out books from the library instead of buying disposable paperbacks, not picking up printed literature that we will just dispose of later, checking the thrift store first when we’re looking for clothes, and shopping on Craigslist instead of at IKEA.

How about you?

Plastics: Micro scrubbing beads

2009-01-04T09:23:00.000-08:00

I love to exfoliate like the next lady...but do you know that many exfoliating face washes have little plastic beads that you are rubbing all over your face and then pouring straight down the drain and into the water way? Oh yes, its true. And more often than not they don't get filtered out of the water system because they are so small, and they go right into the ocean fills as described into the post below.

So one small thing we can do is not to buy these products, and instead buy products with natural exfoliants.

Its ashame that consumers even have to watch out for this...these companies should not even be allowed to sell plastic beads that are meant to go straight down the drain. They know they don't decompose, they know that wildlife are feeding on them, which means we are feeding on them too. In the closed loop world we live in, they are basically permitted to contaminate us in a law abiding way. Oy times a million.

Plastics: the never ending story

2009-01-04T08:49:00.001-08:00

Kind of disturbing? There are so many petroleum based products in our lives: most of them in the form of plastics: and many we don't even know or think about! So how can we take care of the massive amount of throw away products that consume our lives, the land fills and the ocean fills if we really aren't aware of how much they define the way we live?

Many of these plastics end up in ocean fills, which are humongous tide pools of current that draw in so much trash that there is a huge floating piles of it thousands of miles wide. The most well known is The Great Pacific Garbage Patch. I read about this in The World Without Us, by Alan Weisman. In one terrifying chapter Alan describes that the plastic problem will not solve itself, as they have only been around 50 years or so, will most likely take thousands of years to disintegrate (into what we do not know), and knowing their outcomes is impossible because they will far out last us.

Saran wrap, laundry detergent, grocery bags, chip bags, shampoo bottles, food containers, packaging material, trash bins, cd and dvd cases, records, toothbrushes, micro scrubbing beads in your face wash, toys, pens, cups, bowls, furniture, building parts. so. many. things.

So what to do? It can be kind of overwhelming trying to figure out how to live symbiotically with the earth, when our society is set up on the basis of a disposable culture. My advice is to take care of one thing at a time. First, I did away with plastic grocery bags by getting the Baggu.

Next Step: plastic bags at the grocery store that you put produce in. You can try something like this, or I am sure you can find your own bags at home! Most of the time, I don't even use any bag when getting produce. Sometimes the checkout clerk won't so happy, but do you really need the bag?

What do you do to reduce the plastic in your life?

Chickens are in this year . . .

2008-12-21T13:48:00.000-08:00

In Northern California, backyard chickens are the latest accessory. They have by far surpassed the Prius in popularity contests among the eco-conscious housewife set. They make an amusing addition to the household. Happy chickens will give you an egg a day once they are mature. Another benefit - you can feed them all of your veggie table scraps and use the chicken poop for your compost. What a time saver!

Actually, backyard chickens have been around here since the last wave of planet savers came through in the seventies. Here's an article from the la times about a local flock that is creating havoc: http://www.latimes.com/news/local/traffic/la-me-chickens8-2008dec08,0,6832003.story.

I have run across these fellas a few times myself. They're just a few miles away. I find it refreshing when a chicken stops traffic - even if I am in a hurry.

gisele

City Chickens: eggs a la backyard

2008-12-15T10:55:00.000-08:00

Some friends and I have been dreaming about having chickens in our backyard for some time now. Can you just picture waking up on a Saturday morning, having a piping cup of coffee and reading the BBC, and then going out back, 10 feet from your door to harvest some eggs, go inside crack them in a pan and golden sunny side up eggs completes the morning. Eggs fresh from the backyard, you know where they came from, you know what the chickens eat and they are so delicious its like wandering through a Haruki Murakami novel in your mouth?

Well, you can legally keep chickens in your backyard in Chicago. Currently there is no blog or website that shows this, but you can attend a class near the city to show you how to care for your new lovelies. And check out this blogger from California that has been following this movement.

Seeing the local agriculture movement break into the city scape is not only giving us some edible landscaping and beauty, but is allowing us to appreciate how our food gets to us from farm, or backyard, to plate.

10 things fungi do for us

2008-11-29T12:40:00.000-08:00

BBC says at best, check out the article here.

Do it yourself: laundry detergent...coming soon

2008-11-28T08:28:00.000-08:00

I am working on a few projects right now, for some upcoming posts. I have been thinking to myself what else I can cut out buying at the store, that I can do myself at home? I have been thinking about this because I would like to be self sufficient. What if the current industrial manufacturing process just fell apart? I know this is unlikely to happen, but if it did, I would like to know I could survive, and maybe even have clean clothes. Leading to my first upcoming project: home made laundry detergent.

Laundry detergent can get a bit expensive. Its pricey to ship which is reflected in the price, especially if you buy liquid detergent (you are paying to ship water). Both laundry and dishwashing detergent can negatively affect your surrounding waterways too; by leaching phosphates. Phosphates are known to stimulate algae blooms which suffocate plant and animals in the rivers and streams.

So by using a detergent with no phosphates, and less or no surfactants (this causes foam when waterways churn) we will be affecting the water quality less. One of the biggest peeves I have heard is when 'eco soap' doesn't foam; but soap that foams a little or none does the same thing their foamy peers.

The One Percent: Calling all designers!

2008-11-11T19:05:00.000-08:00

The One Percent is an organization launched by Public Architecture in 2005, to allow designers and architects to give their time, creativity and care to non-profits in need of costly design services, pro bono.

"1% of an 8 hour work day is 4.8 minutes. Over the course of a 2,080-hour traditional work year, it amounts to just 20 hours per person per year."

Considering that that's the amount of time you spend brushing your teeth, it makes sense that you can also help a brother, lady, doctor, patient, teacher, kid...out.

Even if this isn't for you, I am positive that we were all inspired this week by President-Elect Obama's victory, and I see much more do-gooding coming to an everyone near you.

(this pie chart is 1% of your time in a year)

CSA Boxes, support your local farmer!

2008-10-31T10:18:00.000-07:00

CSA: Community Supported Agriculture

What is it? In Chicago I use freshpicks to deliver a full box of fresh fruits and veggies from various local farms to me, every other week. Its chock full of amazing goodies, and they usually add in one or two small surprises (one week it was wild mushrooms, another homemade spaghetti sauce!)

Why is it good? You are supporting local farmers, you will be eating in season good, because its local, you will be able to experiement with fruits and vegetables you wouldn't normally pick up at the supermarket, and be able to spout off a jillion ideas for a parsnip to your friends.

What does it cost? Well, through freshpicks, you can determine the portion of food: and its $25 or $40 dollars...or you can shop through their (reasonably priced) offerings and make your own box! Deliver is an extra $5, not bad!

Perks? You can specify no dairy, no carrots, or only food from Illinois. They work with you to get you exactly what you want.

Last week I went and visited one of their large suppliers of milk: Traders Point Creamery, and there will be more on the excursion soon!

Go to Local Harvest to find a CSA near you.

Save Those Nutrients!

2008-10-28T11:22:00.000-07:00

This week while you’re walking around the city enjoying the crisp fall air and delighting at the leaves tumbling down the street, take a moment to think ahead to next year. Instead of letting the street sweeper brush them all away, capture the nutrients of those fall colors for your garden next spring. A leaf compost pile is one of the simplest composts you can do. All it takes it the right container, those pretty crinkled leaves, a little activator, and time.

You can buy a compost bin at just about any mega-improvement store these days, but they are a little pricey for what is fundamentally a dirt holder. Instead, try making your own from salvaged or simple materials. I made this one from 10’ of chicken wire, 6 twist ties, and four metal stakes. It took me about twenty minutes to build – the biggest chunk of time going to hammering in the stakes. You can also try using an old garbage can, palettes, etc. My mom made a beautiful compost bin a couple years ago out of sticks woven into a huge basket. It also doubles as an art piece.

Here are the steps to start your spring garden compost:
1. Build an aerated “container”
2. Put down a layer that will allow air to circulate around your compost. I used sticks. You could also use a couple boards, spaced out bricks, etc.
3. Add leaves
4. Water them down
5. Add a heating agent like manure or bone meal
6. Repeat

Leaf composting is a great way to live locally and keep a little extra out of the landfill. Without food waste your compost should stay rat free. Have fun and happy Fall!

Vampire Electronics: save 75% of the energy you use!

2008-10-22T18:15:00.000-07:00

Vampires can be sexy, but vampire electronics are not. Vampire electronics suck on energy instead of blood, and consume more energy than you use when your appliances are ON! Yes, this means even when your electronics are in the off position they are sucking away on the neck of your electricity bill. It is unfortunately our appliances weren't designed to stop consuming energy when in the off position & still plugged in. But alas, even designers don't think of everything.

If you are too lazy or forgetful (like me) to be plugging things in and out all the time, try the smart power strip by Gaiam. It basically acts a shield to protect your electronics from wasteful energy use. It may cost $39 dollars but you will save on that in your electricity bill, if you have your entertainment system plugged into it. Even better, it reduces your carbon footprint, and maybe you can feel better about your Nintendo, Playstation, Wii and whatever other game console you have plugged in all at once :)

Guerrilla Gardening

2008-10-20T18:54:00.001-07:00

I know you want to do it. Gardening that is. But you live in the city with a small patch of grass or weeds or maybe marigolds in the back yard and you have nowhere to plant your tomatoes and hops and rosemary! OMG what to do.

Guerrilla gardening may be your answer. By far the most fantastic idea I've seen in a while. I have been yearning for years to begin a community garden, to join with fellow fresh vegetable lovers to plant pretty things and pick them to eat orgasmically in just a few weeks. But this idea is better...plant something in patches of mud or grass left untended or left to be ugscape (ugly scape: ie: nothing nice to look at); and plant something pretty!; whether it be a flower or a vegetable or an herb! And then many more people than you can enjoy that little plot that was previously mud or pebbles. Check out the guerrilla gardening website, then get excited, and THEN start your own group. Beautify your neighborhood & mine, pretty please?

Canning Tomatoes: a beginners how to

2008-10-19T14:27:00.000-07:00

I have finally gotten over the scary hump of canning tomatoes, and just did it. Very rewarding I must say! I wanted to do this so I could still be eating local produce (as much as possible) through the winter. Canning is an excellent way to support your local farmers and have their nutricious foods preserved for your winter

fare. *I do not have a camera right now, so the following pictures were taken with my computer, and aren't the most amazing. My apologies! Many folks who can regularly have canning equipment: I do not. So don't be afraid to try to use what you already have! First, go to your farmers market, garden or store and get your tomatoes! Today I used 10 lbs of beefsteak tomatoes from a farm in Michigan. They were only 2 dollars a pound too, which is fantastic.

Step 1: Santize your jars. I used a mixture of what I had lying around: wide and narrow mouthed mason jars. My jars have a lid and a ring that you use to seal the jar. Santize by either placing in dishwasher or a large pot of boiling water for 5 minutes.

Step 2: Boil a large pot of water for de-skinning the tomatoes. When the water is boiling submerge the tomatoes until you see their skin crack. (My beefsteaks boiled for about 5 minutes before their skins broke).

When the tomatoes skin is broken, place them in an ice bath, so they can cool down for you to peel them. When they are cool enough you should be able to pull the skins right off.

The peeled tomatoes can either be cut into chunks or pured. I prefer to do halved tomatoes in my larger jars; find they are more versatile this way.

Now fill your jars within 1/4" of the top, make sure the top is clean (you can wipe with a paper towel or clean rag) put a tablespoon of salt in a large jars and a teaspoon in the small ones. Place the lids on the jars and you are going to boil the jars standing up in a very large pot of water. The tops of the jars need to be submerged. Some people do this from 5 - 40 minutes. I do it until the top is popped in (so when you press down it does not click any more, you might even hear a POP! while its in the water bath.) If the top hasn't popped by 40 minutes, you take take it out and it should pop in a few hours. This made 3 large & 1 small jar of diced tomatoes AND 1 large and 1 small jar of tomato puree.

Efficient Lighting: LED's!

2008-10-10T09:56:00.000-07:00

What's the story about the lighting in your workplace/ store/ restaurant/gallery? Is it energy efficient? Will it pay itself back? Does it get rebate incentives from the state?

Check out eco-story's LED lighting solutions!

-You will increase the life of your current galogen or incandescent bulb by 35000 hours!

-Easy install (screw baby screw)
-No mercury or other harmful substances!

-Tax credits available for installation cost!
-Custom Manufactured to your lighting needs: Kelvin color, beam spread, and light output.
-Return on Investment of 1.3 year on average.

Also, if you are interested, you can call them and they will create a spread sheet showing your savings over time AND they will help you find a rebate in your area.

If this isn't incentive to use less energy for your lighting plan, I don't know what it.

MoSS: Next weekend!

2008-09-26T16:04:00.001-07:00

"The Museum of Sustainable Style features clothing, accessories, and furniture that inspire and respond to current form and function necessities, without compromising our environmental abilities to meet future needs." (from the MoSS website, I couldn't have said it better myself)

I am looking forward to this show! Its October 2-5, free admission, and a panel discussion taking place on the 4th. I hope you can make it!

Local Food Knowledge

2008-09-23T17:08:00.000-07:00

I have been hearing about this book for sometime, but finally picked it up after I wanted to start a fall garden and everyone's advice I sought went in a different direction. So I called a friend, who just moved to Cali and has the greenest thumb I know and she said 'Oh I don't know, let me find this book, I always use it as a garden reference'. This book was Animal, Vegetable, Miracle By Barbara Kingsolver. I bought it, read it, and won't think of my garden in the same way again. Also, I have been vegan for sometime: mostly because I never had the time to look into local foods. Even though I won't eat meat again, this book gave me a new perspective on local foods, food origins, and has made me rethink my approach to my diet: and how my diet affects our world.

I have much more to say, but I'll let the book speak for itself. (Its much more interesting!)

Boomerang Houses for everyone

2008-09-16T19:11:00.001-07:00

This home has a small 1000sf footprint, and its green & gorgeous as well!

Using the curves of an Aussie boomerang as a design concept, the home uses growing grass roof & walls, and has a structural resistance of 8.0 on the richter scale. If you are ever building a new home, its important to consider the area you are building in, what types of materials are suitable for that area, are they local materials?

2008-09-15T16:58:00.000-07:00

So everyones on the reusable bag kick by now, right?

I sure hope so, as plastic & other disposable bags use resources that we don't really need to be using, and they cause negative environmental impacts as well.

Well check out the lovely baggu

Look at all of these colors! Everytime I remember to bring my baggu I get really excited! Yes, that might be a little dorky, but its the little things, right?:)