Archive for the ‘Eco’ Category

Home Decor – Trash to Treasure

Thursday, April 22nd, 2010

To create cool home decor on a budget, look no farther than the closet. Cast-off clothing and linens can be transformed into a multitude of home decor items such as decorative pillows for the sofa, large floor pillows or rugs, framed or unframed art, and placemats, napkins or coasters. Old luggage or a briefcase that is no longer used can be combined with legs or set atop a base to serve as functional furniture with built-in storage. Use your imagination and reuse potential trash to make home decor treasures.

[photo by: denise carbonell]

Recycled Clothing

Simple throw pillows can be made from any shirt, blouse or cardigan sweater. Cut the garment straight across just under the sleeves and sew closed at the top and bottom. Use the buttons as the opening to insert a pillow or to cleverly store linens or out of season clothing.

Frame decorative motifs or interesting fabrics and hang as art. For larger pieces, mount on stretcher bars and hang without framing. Use the ample fabric from a full skirt or dress to sew a matching set of placemats, napkins and coasters for everyday dining or a special occasion. Cut stained or torn garments into strips and weave a rug. (more…)

How to Sugar Preserve Edible Flowers

Monday, April 19th, 2010
A sunflower, a typical sign of summer.

Image via Wikipedia

Beautiful, edible decorations can be made for a variety of occasions such as garden parties or weddings. All that is needed are organically grown edible flowers and two simple ingredients.

To sugar preserve flowers, start with edible flowers that have been organically grown without the use of pesticides. Pansies, violets and nasturtiums are all good choices. To be completely safe, grow the flowers yourself.

Prior to picking the blossoms, assemble all needed equipment and supplies. For this project you will need scissors, a paper towel, a small bowl of egg white, a small bowl of super-fine sugar, a small paintbrush, a large plate and a cookie sheet covered with parchment paper.

Pick the flowers in the morning while it is cool outside. Cut the stems as short as possible and lay the blossoms on a paper towel to dry. Keep the batches of picked flowers small as the sugaring process is time consuming and must be completed in one sitting.

Gently hold each flower by the back and coat thoroughly with egg white, using the paintbrush. Ensure that no part of the front, back or sides is missed. Hold the flower over the plate and sprinkle with sugar until completely coated both front and back. Lay the blossom on the plate if necessary to complete this step. Gently bump or blow on the flower to remove excess sugar. (more…)

Simple Composting at Home

Friday, April 16th, 2010
Compost
Image by mjmonty via Flickr

Composting at home is good for the environment. Not only does it provide a nutrient-rich amendment for the soil in the garden or flower beds, composting also reduces the amount of waste that must be hauled to a landfill. Most everyone, even folks with a tiny garden, can find a place to compost.

Composting is not difficult. Basically, a compost pile is comprised of carbon and nitrogen. The carbon component breaks down slowly and is supplied by dry materials such as fallen leaves and dead plants. The nitrogen comes from green materials that break down quickly such as grass clippings or weeds. For the best compost, a mix of the two is needed. Items that should never be added to a compost pile include meat and dairy products or human and animal waste.

There are a variety of inexpensive and easy ways to begin composting. The easiest option may be to simply heap yard waste and plant-based kitchen scraps and egg shells in a corner. Simply add to the pile as more material becomes available and turn it over once each summer. Each spring, dig the finished compost from the bottom and add to the garden. (more…)

Eco-friendly Solutions to Garden Pest Problems

Wednesday, April 14th, 2010
Ant tending aphids
Image via Wikipedia

A variety of insects are drawn to the garden environment. Unfortunately, some of these visitors can be quite damaging to the plants that are growing there. While pest problems are a common garden occurrence, there are many environmentally friendly ways to combat and control unwanted pests.

Preventive Measures
One of the easiest ways to deal with pest problems is avoidance. Prevent certain pests through the strategic placement of companion plants known to repel various unwanted visitors. For instance, marigolds interspersed with tomatoes or peppers effectively repel nematodes in the soil while garlic may be used to control aphids on roses. Based on garden composition and typical pests, determine which companion plants are appropriate.

Personal Action
Many small infestations can be thwarted through hand-picking. Examine plants regularly for signs of pests and remove any that are found. Carry a jar half filled with soapy water through the garden to hold the insects that are removed. Small insects, such as aphids, can be smashed right on the plant.

Natural Enemies
Garden pests often have specific natural enemies. For instance, aphids can be controlled with lady bugs while the praying mantis has a especial fondness for caterpillars but will happily devour many species of harmful insects. (more…)

Do It Yourself: Sewing Spree!

Wednesday, March 17th, 2010

Imagine this: you are preparing for an important party, you want to look fabulous and original. You open the closet, sift through everything you have stored there and come up with nothing that you would like to wear – everything was either seen already or unfit for the occasion, your mood, your partner’s outfit or whatever else. The only way out of the situation is a quick jaunt to the mall in search of something new that you will probably wear only this one time. A new addition to the pile of clothes that is overflowing from your closet every time you open it. But it can’t be helped, right? It might come in handy someday.

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Compostable Plastic? Made of Sugar?

Friday, February 26th, 2010

In light of dwindling oil supplies worldwide and an ever-increasing need for plastic food packaging products, very exciting news was recently published in the British press. According to a story in the Telegraph, British scientists have developed a compostable plastic made from sugars derived from non-edible plants. Using various grasses and fast growing trees, Imperial College London researchers have successfully changed glucose from these plants into a polymer suitable for plastic production.

Plastic_Cups (more…)

Live More Ecologically Every Day

Sunday, February 21st, 2010

Recycling_bins

Choosing a lifestyle that has the least possible negative impact on the earth’s dwindling resources makes good sense. Strive to use resources wisely and eliminate waste whenever possible. There is much that each individual can do on a daily basis to live more ecologically.

Buy Quality

When purchasing any new item, consider quality along with price. From an ecological standpoint, it is much better to pay more for a durable, high-quality item than to buy a less expensive alternative that may soon need to be replaced. This often makes good economic sense over the long-term, as well. To even further reduce the use of resources, look for second-hand alternatives or repurpose an existing item to meet the current need. (more…)

How to Prepare the Garden for Spring

Friday, February 19th, 2010
Gymnaster savatieri
Image via Wikipedia

After the harsh conditions of winter, preparing the garden for spring is important. For maximum beauty and enjoyment later in the year, follow these five basic steps:

  • Perform a general clean up, including a thorough weeding. Remove and discard fallen leaves or branches, dead annuals and any other debris from the lawn areas or flowerbeds. Weed all areas while the ground is moist and weeds are small and immature.
  • Prune roses, perennials, shrubs and trees, as appropriate. Consult a detailed gardening guide for specific recommendations based on the age and type of plant. In general, most perennials that were not cut back in the fall can be pruned to ground level once new growth is evident at the base. For roses, prune only if mature. (more…)

Starting a Windowsill Herb Garden

Thursday, February 18th, 2010
Potted Herbs
Image by atl10trader via Flickr

Growing a windowsill herb garden is easy and fun! Best of all, if located in or near the kitchen, fresh herbs are always close at hand during meal preparation. All that is needed are a few pots filled with good potting soil, the chosen plants and a sunny windowsill. To make the herbs really happy, add organic liquid fertiliser and a tray with a layer of gravel to the list.

The first step is to select the spot. While there may be only one sunny window available, if there is a choice, select the most convenient window that has adequate sunlight and space for the plants. For best results, a south-facing window is needed.

Next, chose which types of herbs to grow. Consider what recipes are favoured and grow herbs to enhance these dishes. Basil, parsley, oregano, rosemary, sage and thyme are popular favourites. Although herbs can be grown from seed, this takes time. To speed the process, consider buying small plants at the nursery. (more…)

Reducing Paper Waste at Home

Monday, February 15th, 2010
Facial tissue box cover
Image via Wikipedia

Most paper comes from trees, a valuable resource that should not be wasted. Unfortunately, a lot of paper does go to waste. Consider the amount of newspapers, magazines, bags and boxes that are thrown away each day. There are several ways, however, that the average person can reduce paper waste right at home. Just follow these simple tips:

Opt for Non-Paper Alternatives

Use napkins made of cloth and real plates daily for meals and snacks. Purchase several sets of melamine dinnerware for use at casual parties and picnics. Use paper towels only when absolutely necessary for hygienic reasons and consider using a cloth hankie rather than paper tissue. Forego luxury toilet paper in favour of brands made from recycled fibres. Buy or make several reusable cloth shopping bags and have one handy at all times. (more…)