This month’s featured product is the ever-versatile Root Wood Large Compartment Platter. Enjoy 35% off this hand-carved dish through the end of March!
Each one is crafted from a Shan Mu tree stump leftover from logging in central China, meaning that no trees were cut down for the sole purpose of making them. As implied above, this platter makes it easy to set out some veggies and dip when you have guests over. Guests love appetizers! In addition to being delicious, they can help alleviate awkward conversation, or even serve as a topic of discussion themselves. But if you’re looking for some more creative alternatives to the usual carrots-and-Ranch duo (not that there’s anything wrong with that!) here are a few other serving suggestions to fill your new root wood platter. Lemon-Pesto Goat Cheese Dip: There is no one alive who does not love goat cheese. Spoon some of this dip (which includes soft goat cheese, sour cream, pesto, lemons and pine nuts) into the center, and surround with baby carrots, simple crackers, sliced bell pepper and celery. Tzatziki: Whether you pronounce it “YEAR-oh” or incorrectly, the sauce commonly served with the Greek pita-and-lamb sandwiches is pretty tasty on its own. With yogurt, cucumbers, fresh dill, garlic, and lemon juice, tzatziki makes a light hors d’oeuvre that goes well with soft pita wedges, baked pita chips, and sliced veggies such as red bell pepper. Homemade Onion Dip: You could buy some french onion dip at the supermarket, but that lacks a little je ne sais quoi, no? As far as onion dips go, this one boasts a “World’s Greatest” label that is well deserved. Serve with crudités or maybe some favorite chips. Hot Fudge: After dinner has been served and enjoyed by all, it’s high time to set out some sweeter samplings. Make a bit of this chocolate fudge ahead of time, and you can simply clean off the root wood platter and put out some strawberries, marshmallows, graham crackers, and banana slices for dessert! Use toothpicks for dipping.
Other ideas include: spicy queso served with different varieties of chips, sun-dried tomato dip with crusty baguettes and crackers, or creamy peanut butter dip with apples, banana, and pretzels. Or anything else you can think up! For years, environmentalists have urged consumers to cut back — or eliminate — bottled water consumption. Bottled water robs from our limited supply of fossil fuels for the process of manufacturing and transporting a product by and large destined for a landfill, since only about one in six reach recycling facilities. Simply refilling them presents another problem: a chemical in the plastic called phthalate seeps into the liquid as the bottle gets older, potentially causing certain negative health effects. But we all need to drink more water, right? So why not invest in a good reusable bottle instead? These days there are a plethora of options on the market — from basic bottles to innovative, portable filtration systems. Here are just a few:
The least complicated solution to on-the-go hydration has to be this simple model by Kleen Kanteen. Made with lightweight, food-grade stainless steel, it won’t taint the taste of your water no matter how many times you use it. Plus, it comes in a bunch of glossy colors.
You’ve probably seen this quirky design by Camelbak, which boasts a no-spill mouthpiece that locks into place for travel. But did you know it can filter your water, too? The Groove model includes a filtering mechanism inside the straw that removes chlorine and unpleasant tastes and odors from potable tap water. It’s a good choice for those who are picky about how their water tastes.
Maker of popular water filtration systems Brita has their own version of the filter bottle at a slightly lesser price point. Find it at Target!
If you often find yourself in the middle of the woods, lake, swamp, river, underground cavern, or some other area with doubtful water quality, behold the Lifesaver Bottle. Designed in response to recent global natural disasters, it isn’t just a water filter — it’s a water purification system, removing all microbiological waterborne pathogens in addition to chlorine and sulfur in about a minute. The replaceable filter has a lifespan of about 4,000 liters, so it’s built to last a while. Which is a good thing, considering it will set you back $150. But urban travelers will find reusable bottles handy as well. You know what passes through security with no problem? An empty water bottle. No more buying overpriced drinks in the terminal or on the plane — not to mention wasting disposable bottles at the checkpoint — when you can just refill from the drinking fountain! Dr. Seuss’ beloved Lorax has always spoken for the trees. But now, with the upcoming release of Universal Pictures’ animated feature, he’ll be advocating low-power washing machines and eco-friendly baby diapers, too.
The concept of the movie tie-in is not a new one. Mutually beneficial to the studio and the companies it partners with, it’s the marketing strategy that would usually result in giving kids plastic Bar-ba-Loots and beanie Swomees with their fries and chicken nuggets. But Universal has chosen to be more selective. The Lorax’s moniker will only appear to promote businesses that have made a commitment to offering eco-conscious goods. The studio has gathered almost 70 sponsors to spread a message of environmental awareness, as the book originally intended. For example, the Environmental Protection Agency will use the Lorax to promote appliances with its Energy Star label, and green household products supplier Seventh Generation will label many packages “Lorax Approved.” In Amsterdam, the Hortus Botanicus garden is creating a Lorax-themed path for visitors, showcasing endangered tree species. “Our partners needed to legitimately be in the environmental space,” Universal’s president of partnerships and licensing, Stephanie Sperber, told the Associated Press. “The brands and messages had to ring true to the Lorax story.” IHOP, in addition to putting green eggs and ham on the menu, will be distributing seeds for planting. And Universal has also added green lifestyle tips — such as buying local produce and reusing water bottles — on its website that, “together, will make a big difference.” Watch the movie trailer below! It seems like you need a different cleaning bottle for everything that could possibly need cleaning: surface solution for countertops, soap scum remover for the shower and bathtub, glass cleaner, toilet bowl disinfectant. But a lot of these products can be easily replaced with simple mixtures of ingredients you probably already have in your kitchen!
Not only can you slim down your arsenal of cleaning products (and save on buying them) by making some yourself, but you can limit household exposure to hazardous chemicals. According to the US Environmental Protection Agency, many cleaning products may cause skin, eye, and respiratory irritation, and some contain an ingredient that has been linked to reproductive dysfunction. Concentrated forms of some products are also toxic, which can create a storage problem for households with children. But with a little baking soda, vinegar, and water, you can conquer just about any spill or stain. Here’s how: General surface cleaner Pour one part white vinegar and one part water in a spray bottle. Shake to mix, then use with a sponge or cloth to clean and disinfect — vinegar is a natural disinfectant with acidic properties that kill bacteria and mold. It’s also gentle enough for use on hardwood floors. (Of course, to be safe, always choose a small test spot first.) Undiluted vinegar may also be used to cut through grease and more stubborn messes. Surface scouring solution In a bowl or a jar, mix three parts baking soda and one part water into a paste. Use a sponge to spread onto a surface, letting stand for 10-15 minutes if necessary. Scrub with sponge, and rinse with water to remove. Good for showers! Glass and chrome Mix one part rubbing alcohol, one part water, and one part white vinegar in a spray bottle. Wipe with a cloth. Isopropyl alcohol evaporates quickly to avoid streaks, and is also a natural disinfectant for faucets and toilet bowl handles. Toilet bowls Mix four parts vinegar to one part baking soda, pour into toilet bowl, and let sit for 5 minutes. Scrub with toilet brush and flush to rinse. Carpet cleaner Spray with undiluted vinegar to disinfect and scrub with a damp cloth. Alternatively, you can sprinkle baking soda directly onto stain, and spray with hydrogen peroxide until surface foams. Let stand 1-5 minutes, then scrub with a damp cloth, repeating as necessary until stain is removed. Vacuum once dry to remove any residual baking soda. Walls Sticker residue can be removed by sponging vinegar onto the offending spot and rubbing away after 15 minutes. Clean crayon and pen marks by applying baking soda to the wall with a wet sponge and scrubbing lightly. Rinse with water. Crafted from the Albizia Saman tree, which grows abundantly in Southeast Asia as well as parts of Central and South America, our Buddha Wall Panel depicts The Enlightened One in beautiful eco-friendly wood. Lumber derived from the Albizia Saman is commonly referred to as Monkey Pod, Rain Tree, or Saman — we call it Monkey Pod. It’s a durable material suited for placement indoors or out because of an interlocking grain pattern that prevents the tree itself from cracking in regions with low humidity levels.
The panel evokes a serene feeling, and will remind you about the Buddha’s teachings on enlightenment through meditation in your day-to-day life. Simply put, Buddhism is based on an idea that inner peace can be achieved by recognizing that suffering exists but also that it has a cause and can be lessened with wholesome intentions and actions. The Buddha, who is said to have traveled throughout India during the 5th century BCE, warned particularly against greed, hate, and self-delusion.
At four feet tall by two-and-a-half feet wide, the hand-carved panel has been divided into three sections lengthwise for ease of hanging and shipping. It’s also available in three stains — a warm tung oil honey tone, a darker walnut, and a light whitewash — to best match your decor, and provide a daily reminder to live well. Click here for purchasing information!
Jan
30
Etsy’s Green GoodsWe’ve got you covered as far as eco-friendly wood furniture and décor goes, of course, but if you’re looking to make your whole life a little greener, Etsy has quite a selection of upcycled and eco-conscious goods to choose from! The online marketplace is also an oasis for vendors offering vintage finds (whose environmental benefits we have already discussed).
Coffee lovers everywhere will smile upon this concept: the reusable cup sleeve. Keep it in your car, purse, or at work — wherever you find yourself in need of a cup of joe-to-go — and start saving a little more cardboard from the trash. They’re available in an array of adorable prints from Etsy user beyondquilts.
User PapierLapin crafts what she calls “a self-mailing invitation” out of 100% post-consumer fiber. By printing on all sides of the envelope, she’s eliminated the need for the actual invitation card, allowing you to save on paper and cost of materials. Design your own invitation or ask PapierLapin to personalize them for an extra fee. Put away the paper bags, and start packing lunch (or snacks!) in one of these delightful reusable bags (pictured above) available in a variety of prints and sizes. Or, if you’re dining at home, pour yourself a cool drink into one of these recycled wine bottle glasses. As an alternative to synthetic dryer sheets, try a reusable “dryer ball” made from felted wool. Along with reducing static, the wool helps draw moisture away from clothing so you won’t need to run the dryer as long. Adding a drop of scented oil gives clean clothes a refreshing aroma, too. And lastly, you can add an extra touch of eco-friendly bamboo to your home with these clothes hangers, which mimic the style of typical dry cleaning ones to prevent unwanted creases. Would you live in a house made out of hay? In Alabama, a group of professors and architecture students has been devising inspiring ways to reuse materials in homes and community buildings since 1993. The project is called Rural Studio, and was founded by Auburn University professors Samuel Mockbee and Dennis K. Ruth to give students practical experience in the field. Each year the group implements designs for four or five modest (but innovative) buildings in rural Alabama. Hale County, where the studio operates to the west of the University’s main campus, is one of the state’s poorer regions, with a significant proportion of its residents living below the poverty line. The Rural Studio aims to provide affordable yet well-constructed buildings for people in this community and impart lessons of social responsibility and fairness on its student participants, who leave school to live near the studio. To cut costs, many projects utilize found materials such as broken concrete, road signs, hay barrels, and salvaged wood. The Yancy Tire Chapel, for example, features walls made from 900 recycled tires, which were filled with dirt and tied together before being coated in stucco and topped with a roof of salvaged pine from a nearby house. The open-air chapel is built into a bluff overlooking a natural wetland landscape.
Another building, the Butterfly House, was built for Anderson and Ora Lee Harris in 1996 and is now occupied by the couple’s daughter. The placement of windows and walls in the house was carefully calculated so the interior may be heated and cooled passively, without use of mechanical power. Its roof is angled to collect water into a tank that may be used for laundry, and some of the siding was salvaged from a razed church.
Click here to see all nineteen years’ worth of projects! When it comes to buying clothes, few options say Reduce, Reuse, Recycle as much as choosing from racks of things other people don’t want. Finding a sweater at a thrift store means that sweater will not end up as trash so soon, but be granted a new life in your closet for another year or few to come! And what’s more, after spending an hour sifting through hanger after hanger, you’ll have a true appreciation for your finds — or steals, really, since secondhand shops are wonderfully inexpensive. You may not be able to pick up the most recent trend, but you’re almost guaranteed not to find anything your friends, or your friends’ friends, already own. If you’ve got a couple hours to spare this weekend, why not try your hand at the art of thrift shopping?
For novices, here we present a step-by-step guide: Step 1: Locate a thrift shop(s) Typing “thrift store [your city]” into Google is usually the simplest way to find a few local shops. Otherwise, search Salvation Army, Goodwill, or Volunteers of America online for locations. Make sure to check the hours — Salvation Army, for example, is generally closed on Sunday — and be sure you’ve located a retail store as opposed to a mere drop-off spot. Keep in mind that, like the mall, Saturday afternoons can be crowded and should be avoided if you prefer quieter shopping escapades. Step 2: Pack an iPod and hand sanitizer While this step is optional, it will maximize your enjoyment of the thrifting experience. Perusing every rack on your list can take at least an hour, so why not plug in some headphones and have fun with it? The hand sanitizer may or may not be necessary, but it’s nice to have. Those hangers might have been around the block a few times. Step 3: Arrive and grab a cart You will want to find a cart because there will be many articles of clothing that you A) are not sure if you like and B) are not sure will fit. Try them on. If it works, then you have a new $2 blazer! And bragging rights. Step 4: Have a broad idea of what you need Beware this one common pitfall of thrift shopping, and perhaps the most devastating. If you walk in with a specific cardigan in mind — navy blue with gold buttons, maybe — you will not find such a cardigan. If you walk in thinking that you simply need a blue-ish cardigan to go with your khaki shorts, you will likely be more successful. Most shops organize their massive volumes of clothing by type (button-downs, sweaters, jeans, pants, etc.) and then, within each category, by color. Don’t narrow your vision! Think broadly, or in terms of occasions — a shirt for a specific night out, for example — and you’ll be happier in the end. Step 5: Begin the search For best results, look at everything. If you need a black skirt, look at every one on the rack, and some grey ones besides. You never know what amazing, designer-label frock is hidden like a diamond among the more rough-hewn. And if you find something almost perfect, keep in mind that you can always enlist the help of a tailor. Skirts can be shortened and jackets taken in, still for under the price of new ones. Happy hunting!
Dec
31
Skiing a Green SlopeThe holiday season of 2011 is coming to a close — no more carols, lights, or ugly sweaters! You may feel a wave of relief, glad for the peace and maybe a quiet weekend without plans. But, if you live in Michigan like we do, you may soon realize that four to five more months of winter stretch before you, as seemingly endless as the grey, gloomy sky. You may start thinking about taking a nice mid-winter vacation. How about a ski trip? Many resorts around the country, and the world, are adopting more eco-friendly operations systems. In Spain, a Dutch company is even hoping to open an entirely self-sufficient ski resort in sunny Barcelona within the next five years. The resort would recycle liquified natural gas normally warmed with seawater from a temperature of about negative 238 degrees Fahrenheit, and then emptied into the bay. Instead, cooling energy provided by the gas would be harnessed and channeled toward the resort, which would also utilize solar panels for its other energy needs. Awesome, right? But since that’s a few years off, here are some stateside suggestions on where you can relax at an eco-conscious resort. An organization called the Ski Area Citizens’ Coalition provides ratings based on how well western U.S. resorts address habitat protection and energy issues. These are their top three:
Located near Lake Tahoe in California, this 4,000-acre resort incorporates energy-efficient power sources into nearly every aspect of its operation. A geothermal heat pump, designed uniquely for the resort, powers its 12,000 square foot children’s center, and various “heat exchange” systems are used to cool certain elements (an ice rink, for example) while heating others (such as a swimming center). The resort also offers educational outreach programs to teach visitors about its conservation efforts.
This Colorado facility implemented a “green building” policy in 1999 to conserve energy and lessen its impact on the local habitat. Its employee housing is LEED Platinum certified, and a restaurant on the premises was awarded LEED Gold. Many Aspen employees contribute a dollar per week to the Environmental Foundation, which funds projects to maintain clean water and air, and the facility is actively pursuing other ways to provide renewable energy for itself with wind and solar power.
The 2,000-acre Utah facility uses biodiesel in all of its off-road vehicles and to power its ski lifts and offsets 10% of its power usage with Renewable Energy Credits. Water used to cover the slopes with snow is taken from nearby lakes, where it returns in the springtime as it melts. Additionally, many of the raw ingredients that go into dishes at the resort’s restaurants and cafes are sourced locally, and adheres to a forest management plan set up by the Utah State Forester in 1986 to maintain a healthy natural environment for years to come. Now that the Season of Giving is fully upon us, do you find yourself scrambling to think of one more present, send one more card, or plan your menu? It wouldn’t be the holidays without a little last-minute frenzy, but as you’re wrapping up all your preparations, here are five quick tips to make your holiday a little greener:
1. If you’re planning a big meal, consider the ingredients in each of your dishes. Are you using seasonable produce for the region you live in? Shop at local farmer’s markets where you can, and avoid using fruits and vegetables flown in from a tropical climate to help reduce energy used for transportation and refrigeration. 2. If you’re going to be traveling this season, remember not to wrap gifts before boarding your flight! The TSA may open and search any of your bags — including wrapped Christmas gifts — so pack some gift wrap separately to avoid paper waste. 3. Speaking of gift wrap, last week we showed you how to use cloth that your recipient can repurpose on his or her own. But if you’re short on fabric, try reusing some other common household materials such as leftover wallpaper or sample swatches, old road maps, or sheet music. Newspaper might seem like a last-minute alternative to gift wrap, but a foreign newspaper can give a gift a quirky, offbeat look. Baskets are also a good alternative to paper gift bags. 4. For that impossible-to-buy-for person still on your list, think about gifting them with an experience — a class they might enjoy, for example. Check out a local community college or community center for listings. 5. Just open a card from someone not on your list? Consider reciprocating with an e-card, the eco-friendly alternative to snail mail! Paperless Post offers creatively animated cards that you can personalize with a family photo and message for a lesser fee than paper cards with postage (and some are free!). |
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