eco friendly
Schwartz and Architecture Impress friends with your new skills. Once you discover the joy of sipping your morning coffee while watching your hens forage in the backyard, or pick the freshest, sweetest peas from your own backyard for dinner, you will hardly be able to restrain yourself from sharing your new hobbies with friends. Try hosting a canning party, a batch cooking club or even a neighborhood group with others interested in suburban or urban homesteading to make connections with others in your area.
Ball Canning Discovery Kit - $11.99 Preserve your harvest. So, you have a bountiful backyard harvest. Now what? Time to learn a skill that was second nature to many of our grandparents: canning and preserving. Whether you decide to try one special chutney or jam, or make a big batch of tomato sauce and freeze trays full of berries and peas, canning is a lost art that deserves to come back. The National Center for Home Food Preservation is a comprehensive resource for information on safe canning and preserving methods.
Try ornamental edibles for a productive front yard. Twining vines of peas, deep purple leaves of kale, dramatic artichoke flowers, bright chili peppers and tender chives can all make lovely additions to a front yard. Gates and fences provide a natural support for climbing peas and beans, and if you mix perennial flowers in with your edibles, most people will walk by none the wiser.
Choose quality materials. Finally, think about every aspect of your project with that first "r" — reduce — in mind. We're currently renovating a house in Philadelphia built in the 1700s. The floors are original; the plaster is original; the brick front is original. By using materials that last, such as brick, we reduce the number of times a home needs to be renovated. And that means less waste and less energy used making new materials (and less work for contractors like me). Of course, there will always be work building for a growing population and serving people's changing needs and tastes. I just hate tearing out a cheap floor that lasted only 10 years.
Nansulate LDX Clear Lead Encapsulation Coating for Lead Abatement - $84.95 I know what you're thinking: "Kenny, you just got done telling me not to let my airtight home be filled with VOCs, and now you're telling me to bring crusty old building products into my house and leave the old lead paint on them for charm?" Yes, but there's one more step. If you want to safely coexist with surfaces that may be covered in lead paint (and any painted surface from before 1978 should be considered a risk), you can encapsulate the lead by using a product like this one from Nansulate. It has a very low level of sheen, so you won't even know it's there. And you can get that rustic look without endangering your family.
Buy a bath fan. What's the most important thing in a bathroom? It's hard to argue with a toilet and some running water. But after those (and before you add a shower), you need a bath fan. I'm amazed at how many bathrooms I go in that don't have one. A window is not enough, and a small noisy fan that nobody wants to turn on is not going to do you any good. Buy a good, quiet bath fan, and if it doesn't have an occupancy sensor, wire it with a separate timer switch. A fan should run for at least 10 minutes after you leave the room for odors and 20 to 30 minutes after a shower. Make sure it vents to the outside. Though it's important to have a certain level of moisture in the air in your home, it's not good to have it all in one place. Vent your bathroom and your paint will last longer, you won't run the risk of mold growth and cleaning will be easier.
At West End Recycled Recycling Bags - $30 Make recycling easy for guests. Set out clearly marked bins in an easy-to-access location before the party to ensure that all of those cans and bottles make it to the proper place.
greenfeet.com Disposable Bamboo Utensil Set - $8.49 Go biodegradable. If you want the ease of disposables but still have a conscience, choose biodegradable utensils like this bamboo flatware. Bonus: You can actually reuse these several times, to make them go a bit further.
Element Grill - $489.98 Upgrade your small-space grill. If you thought your only option for grilling on a tiny patio was one of those tailgating-style charcoal grills, you haven't seen this sleek number from Fuego. Slim enough to tuck into the tightest spot, this propane-fueled grill is impressively powerful for its size, handling everything from steaks to pizza with ease.
Replace an outdated AC system. With the summer months approaching, now is the perfect time to assess air-conditioning systems. If you are installing or replacing central air, look for an Energy Star label with a seasonal energy-efficiency ratio (SEER) of 13 or greater, which is the new standard, though older models are still being sold. New window air conditioners are nearly twice as efficient as older ones, so springing for a new unit could cut your home cooling bill in half this summer. Look for an energy-efficiency ratio (EFR) of 10 or more for window AC units.
Install low-flow fixtures. Most low-flow showerheads and faucets aerate water, which means you use less energy heating it. There is often no need to replace an entire sink — the important part is the aerator (the screw-on tip of the faucet), which determines maximum flow. This simple, cheap part could save you a bundle on hot water costs. See the hot water info page on the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) site for more on this topic.
Use cloth napkins for everyday meals. If you reach for paper napkins at every meal, consider swapping them for a cheap set of everyday napkins. I recommend getting a dark color like chocolate brown or a fun print that will hide stains. To prolong their use between washings, pick up a different napkin ring for each family member.
Reduce waste. If you managed to cut down on some packaging waste per tip number six, bravo! The next step is to think about reducing the food waste that usually gets tossed in the bin. Composting is easier than you might think, and once you start creating your own "black gold" (compost), your garden will thank you. Learn how to get started making compost and make your own DIY compost bin for $15 on Simple Mom. Don't have a garden? Some cities provide food waste containers that are collected along with other recycling bins and used in a city composting program. Contact your town to see if there is a program in your area.
Cut down on packaging. Requiring a bit more attention than the ideas up to this point, becoming aware of packaging on everyday items you purchase is something that can be developed over time. A great place to start is by choosing a few ingredients from the bulk bins rather than the aisles of the supermarket. You will usually save money by buying in bulk, and storing grains and beans in glass jars in the pantry is easy, pretty and practical.
5. Reduce your reliance on paper towels. If you find yourself reaching for a paper towel to clean up every last spill and drip, this may be a tough step to tackle. I recommend stocking up on a huge bundle of dish towels and placing them in strategic spots throughout your kitchen. Even if you keep a roll of paper towels in the closet for extra-messy scenarios, if you can use a cloth towel 75 percent of the time, you will be doing great.
4. Gradually replace plastics. Any time you notice a plastic container that has lost its lid, has stains or cracks, take the opportunity to toss it in favor of a glass container. I am a big fan of glass nesting bowls with lids — they can be used for meal prep and storing leftovers, and can be safely microwaved, too (remove lids first).
Let's take using cloth towels instead of paper towels for cleanup: Excuse: "Some things are just too gross to wipe up with cloth." Solution: Use really cheap rags for messy chores and throw them right in a hamper in the kitchen. Also, don't be afraid to replace old rags from time to time — and go ahead and keep a roll of paper towels hidden away for emergencies. No one said you have to go cold turkey.
IKEA Ljusa Flashlight, Hand-Powered - $4.99 You won't need to remember to keep extra batteries on hand with this cute little hand-powered flashlight from Ikea. Stash a few around the house and leave an extra in the car for roadside emergencies.
Hayneedle Weston Hand Juicer - $27.99 Some juicing purists believe that the heat from a typical electric juicer takes something away from the freshness of raw juice — this hand-cranked version will keep your juice as fresh as possible.
Clipper USA 19-Inch Reel Mower - $599 Plan a greener garden in more ways than one this year by trading in your gas-powered mower for a traditional reel version. Perfect for smaller yards, this classic push mower will give you your workout while trimming the grass.
BoostTurbine 2000 Backup Battery Pack - $59.99 Being able to use your cell phone in an emergency is key. Now you can always have backup power with this sleek little hand-cranked power generator from Etón in your pocket.
Handy Manual Shredder - $45 This sleek little hand-cranked paper shredder could be all you need for handling small amounts of paper — and it looks so cute that you won't have to hide it.
Pigeontail Papervore Coffee Table This coffee table doubles as a paper shredder and as a conversation piece. Insert the paper on top, crank the handle and watch as ribbons of paper fill up the acrylic base.
Tiffin Food-Carrier Set - $11.95 Green Gifts Make the next gift you give good for the earth too. Uncommon Goods. This site offers creative handmade, recycled and "upcycled" gift ideas for everyone on your list. Product pick: This tiffin set contains everything you need to pack your lunch in style. The carrier is made from recycled cotton scraps, and the tins are stove and dishwasher safe.
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