12 Sustainable Gardening Ideas From Landscape Design Pros

12 Sustainable Gardening Ideas From Landscape Design Pros

Really Cool Headboard

Here is a great idea for making a recycled headboard!

Source: inspirebyap.com via Patty on Pinterest

Blue August

This month on planet green they are dedicating a large amount of their programing to the oceans and water conservation. They are calling it Blue August. Visit their website for some great programing that will be shown during this month:

Planet Green

Also on the bottom of the above link is a link to a water footprint calculator. Check it out!

Enjoy Blue August!

Coffee Cozies - An EveryDay Eco Change

After ordering your grande coffee with room for cream (or other variety of coffee drink you prefer) you grab a cardboard coffee cozy to keep your paws from being burned by your hot hot cup.

Stop, and think for a moment. Although the cozies are made from mostly recycled paper products, do you recycle them when you are done with your drink? Most people would answer no and I am just as guilty as most.

There is hope though! I along with a variety of other crafters have started making their own versions of of the coffee cozy. These cozies are made out of everything from fabric to yarn. they are attached to key chains and worn as wrist bands.

Here are my versions:



Reusable coffee cozies are wonderful for the environment. The can be used over and over and over again!! If you want to make a small change or take baby steps changing to a reusable coffee cozy is a great way to go.

(These coffee cozies are now on SALE!)

Featured Seller: Green Works

My next featured seller is Maura of Green Works. She is located in Belfast, Northern Ireland.

Her Etsy shop is http://www.GreenWorks.etsy.com and she also has a flickr site at http://www.flickr.com/people/greenworks/.

Items Sold: Four tshirts so far. We sell organic tshirts with silk screen printed
designs and recycled/re-purposed art.

What makes your shop Eco-friendly or organic based?: Using predominately organic and eco friendly materials, sourcing materials from ethical suppliers who support fair trade and sustainable farming/production.

What do you do everyday that is green? : Don't have a car so we walk, use low energy
lights, buy as much local organic food as we can, use rechargable batteries, recycle household waste, reuse packaging materials and recycle repurpose as much as possible, have a lot of second hand furniture( so do I!) and give unwanted clothes/furniture etc either to friends or local charity to redistribute rather than send to landfill ( I love donating; it's donating is good for the earth and the soul!).

Favorite Book : Alice in Wonderland
Favorite Movie : Wizard of Oz
Favorite Color: Red

Favorite Item in Your Shop: The artwork - Moss is favourite so far - just love the
fact of making something out of scrap materials -
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=11048445

My favorite item in your shop: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=11593426

An Etsy Shop that you think should be featured that is not your own: LAVENDERDRAGONHERBS
- http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5158752

Featured Seller: A Second Chance

The latest featured seller A Second Chance located in Virgina, but is on the road a lot touring.

Her shop is http://asecondchance.etsy.com. Her myspace is http://www.myspace.com/jesspillmore and her other site is http://WeAllDeserveOne.com.

Items Sold:
100% Recycled/Recrafted hand knitted accessories. Unique, custom made pieces made from reclaimed yarn from forgotten sweaters.

What makes your shop eco-friendly or organic based?:
All my materials are recycled. I also purchase them from local thrift stores (which benefit multiple charities) when I'm on the road. I use all waste/scraps from my products and donate 10% of all proceeds to KIVA.org

What do you do everyday that is green?:
Tour 250+ days/year in my Prius. Shop locally. Recycled. Conserve energy & water. Educated myself on new ways to make a difference.

Favorite Book: Fast Food Nation (right now)
Favorite Movie: Truly, Madly, Deeply; American in Paris
Favorite Color: Green

Favorite Item in Your Shop: That's hard but... I love my shrugs.

My Favorite Item in her shop: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=7748094

An Etsy Shop that you think should be featured that is not your own: jodieflowers.etsy.com


Thanks for being Green!!

Featured Seller: BoxWoodGoods

The next Etsy seller to be featured is Elena LeBel. She is located in Malibu.

Her Etsy Shop is http://www.boxwoodgoods.etsy.com. She has another site also, http://www.boxwoodgoods.com.

Items Sold:
Eco-happy goods for home and personal use

What makes your shop eco-friendly or organic based?
We use sustainable resources such as hemp, soy, bamboo, repurposed kuba cloth and vintage obis to make alternatives for stuff that we use everyday

What do you do everyday that is green?
Never use paper goods!

Favorite Book: Pride and Predjudice
Favorite Movie: Moonstruck
Favorite Color: Green, of course!

Favorite item in your shop: Pillows

My favorite item in her shop:
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=9109251


An Etsy Shop that you think should be featured that is not your own: Stepping Stones

Thanks Elena for being Green!

Featured Seller: Laurie Ryan

The next feature is Etsy seller Laurie Ryan. She is located in Norfolk, VA.

Her Etsy shop is http://www.laurieryan.etsy.com and her other site is www.PhotosbyLaurieRae.com.

Items Sold:
Images, cards tote bags

What makes your shop eco-friendly or organic based?
Tote bags to reduce the use of plastic.

What do you do everyday that is green?
Try not to waste anything and walk more. (Walking is great exercise! Great for you’re environment and you!)

My favorite item in her shop:
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=9799344


Thanks Laurie for being green!

Featured Seller: SoulShineJewels

The next seller is Amanda from SoulShineJewels. She is located in Maryland.

Her Etsy Shop is Shop http://soulshinejewels.etsy.com. Her myspace is http://www.myspace.com/lettingyoursoulshine and her website is http://www.soulshinejewel.com.

Items Sold:
She sells all types of my jewelry in holistic, healing shops and spas and yoga/Pilates studios. She just started on etsy and sold 6 pieces, sea glass, and
heamitite jewelry.

What makes your shop eco-friendly or organic based?
I live a green life from the food I eat, to the products I use on my body, and the products I clean with. I grow an organic garden every year and raise organic egg laying chickens; my dogs eat natural food too!(*organic puppies rock Amanda!*) My sheets on my bed are even organic. I believe in recycling and reusing as much as possible. I try to help and give back to mother earth! And my jewelry is made with nature’s bounty and organic pieces!

What do you do everyday that is green?
Everyday I eat organic, use organic body care and clean organic. I recycle and reuse.

Favorite Book: The Wind Is My Mother~By, Bear Heart
Favorite Movie: The Secret
Favorite Color: Green

Favorite item in your shop:
Love them all! but if I had to pick the paua shell necklace!

My favorite item in her shop:
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=9903113

An Etsy Shop that you think should be featured that is not your own.
Gaiaconceptions


Thanks Amanda for being Green!

Feature: Eco Kate

The next feature is Kate of EcoKate. She is located in central New Jersey. (*tip* buying local can reduce gas use, reducing pollution as well)

Her Etsy Shop is http://ecokate.etsy.com. Her blog is http://www.njgreenwedding.com and her other shop website is http://www.shutterkate.com.

Items Sold:
Eco-Friendly dish cloths, knitted/crocheted pieces made of recycled yarn, and other items made of recycled materials (i.e. plastic bags).

What makes your shop eco-friendly or organic based?
So far I've sold three sets of eco-friendly dish cloths. The cloths are made of cotton, and are around the size of sponges. They're great because you simply throw them in the wash when they need a cleaning themselves and they're ready for another round of dishes! I also sell knitted ipod socks made from 100% recycled yarns. I just started making bowls out of recycled plastic bags as well, which can be used to hold random small items around the house.

What do you do everyday that is green?
Well, my home is powered by 100% sustainable energy. (Awesome Kate!) I walk/ride my bike wherever possible which is fairly easy b/c of my location. I use earth friendly cleaning materials, as well as organic soaps and shampoos whenever I can. When I eat meat I make a point to go for the organic stuff so that it's free of hormones and hasn't had antibiotics used on it. Same goes for veggies: I buy organic whenever I can afford it! Recycling is another thing I live for. Any and everything that crosses my path and can be recycled WILL be recycled. I mean, the list goes on and on. I'm obsessed with reducing my impact on the planet immensely.

Favorite Book: Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austin
Favorite Movie: Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
Favorite Color: Maroon
Favorite item in your shop:
This iPod Nano sock with hood: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=10176733

My favorite item in her shop:
I think these recycled plastic bag bowls are a wonderful idea!
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=10009318

An Etsy Shop that you think should be featured that is not your own:
Kootsac's! http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5621296

Thanks Kate for being Green!

Environmental Design

The definition of Environmental Design According to Wikipedia.

Environmental design is the process of addressing environmental parameters when devising plans, programs, policies, buildings, or products. Classical prudent design may have always considered environmental factors; however, the environmental movement beginning in the 1960s has made the concept more explicit.

Environmental Design has been defined: "We live in the world by design. Creating the everyday environment in which we live involves complex systems of cultural meaning, visual communication and the use of tools, technology and materials. As a field of study, Environmental Design encompasses the built, natural, and human environments and focuses on fashioning physical and social interventions informed by human behaviour and environmental processes. Design asks us to find answers to the most fundamental of human questions: how should we live in the world and what should inform our actions? This complex endeavor requires an interdisciplinary approach."[citation needed]

Environmental design in the old-fashioned sense develops physical environments, both interior and exterior, to meet one or more aesthetic or day-to-day functional needs, or to create a specific sort of experience - the focus being the human-designed environment. Environmental design includes such specialties as architects, acoustical scientists, engineers, environmental scientists, landscape architects, urban planning, interior designers, lighting designers, and exhibition designers. In many situations, historic preservation can be added to this list. Another recent addition to this general area might be "disability access".

Eco-Frienldy Sale!

This weekend I will be having an Eco-Friendly Sale in my Etsy shop.

Free Shipping to Ohio and States that Border it.
The sale starts Friday July 18th and ends Sunday July 20th.

Why is this sale Eco-Friendly?

I am offering free shipping to anyone who lives within the bordering states of Ohio. Shopping local is a great green way to decrease the amount of fuel and shipping cost in money terms and in terms of expenditure on the environment.

Shipping cost in general have a huge toll on our environment from the carbon emissions to the packaging used. Buying from people in your community and surrounding areas can cut shipping's cost on the environment.

Shopping from a seller who is only a state away is going to have less of an impact that buying something from a chain store that is down the street. Many large chain stores often import there items from countries that are hundreds and thousands of miles away. Buying from a small business, like those on Etsy, you can cut your impact on the environment by a large chunk.

What States are Involved?
I am located in Ohio and the most Eco-friendly shipping would involve Ohio the states that neighbor Ohio. This includes: Ohio, Pennsylvania, Indiana, Kentucky, West Virginia, and Michigan. If you live outside of these states (e.i. Canada) and can prove that your location is a shorter distance than any of the furthermost distances in the states mentioned, I will give you free shipping as well.

How do I get my Free Shipping?
I will check each order received this weekend and send a revised invoice to those who qualify. DO Not pay until you have received your revised invoice.

I'm Addicted to Paper Towels!

(originally posted on Design to Save the World)

I'm Addicted to Paper Towels!

Earlier today while preparing a marinade for tonights dinner, I had a revelation: I am addicted to paper towels. I found myself using way too many paper towels as I wiped the counter down, as I washed my hands. I knew that we should be using more cloth towels but I never really counted how many I used.

The other day I had questioned how fast we were going through our roll. I had not realized it was so fast until I looked at the roll today, half filled. My mom always tried to use cloth towels. I was raised not to waste things. Somehow the convenience of wasting paper caught up with me.

It was so much easier in college just to take another sheet off the roll. I never had time to do loads of laundry. Now that I'm not in school I have more of a set schedule (even though retail is not as set as I would like it to be). I find I have more time to do laundry and clean.

A lot of people use paper towels daily in their cleaning cooking when they would just as easily use a cloth towel or old shirt as a rag. If all the people that use towels as cleaning tools used an old t-shirt instead the usage of paper would decrease significantly.

It is such a simple thing to do and I have pledge to break my addiction. I have added a hook in the kitchen over the sink for a towel to dry my hands. I am going to cut up some old t-shirts to use for dusting and cleaning.

I just hope that people read this blog and see how paper towels are a big waste of resources.

Buying Local is very Green!

If you want to try and reduce CO2 emissions and cut down on waste, try buying local. This means buying things that are produced withing your state, city, town or local community. Many of our favorite shopping places ship large quantities of products across the country and world with no thought of the impact that the fuel it takes to make these long journeys has on our environment.

Not only are there problems with upholding US product codes producing items in other countries but it takes a huge amount of fuel to get these products to our stores. The cost on the Earth as well as the finacial cost of this use of fuel is stagering.

Buying local can cut those costs and enrich your own community. It also envokes pride in ones own state, city or town. Pride is something our country is lacking right now. We need to spread our pride in our hometowns like wildfire.

Etsy has a great tool thaht I urge all to use. It is the "shop local." http://www.etsy.com/shop_local.php

All you need to do is enter your city and state and it will show you an abundance of sellers in your area! Go ahead and try it! Its fun to see how many creative people live around you!

Design to Save the World

I'm sure I have talked about it before but I have another blog.

www.designtosavetheworld.blogspot.com

I have been trying to turn it into a resource for people to find Eco-friendly, organic and green products. Each day I have posted a different seller in a spotlight to share their work. It is not a length feature just something for people to check out and get an idea about teh seller and what they offer.

It is important to me to share sellers that have similar values as I do about the environment. Please stop by my other blog and fill out the survey if you feel you are an eco-seller. I'm trying to be able to do it everyday and will notify you when I post a feature.

If you are not an etsy seller please fill out the survey and add the information you think I should share about you and your eco products. I welcome all to fill out the survey.

Thanks so much!

New Blog

I have started a new blog that focuses on green design. Please chack it out!

Design To Save The World

Thank you!!