Sometimes I think, “Wouldn’t it be great to change the way things are?” Well, yes it would, aside from the huge responsibility were it possible.
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Greener Apparel from the Bottom Up
Years ago, I slipped and fell in the Sierras on a backpacking trip because my beloved and comfortable hiking boots had traveled so many hundreds of miles on my feet that they had nearly slick soles. I condemned those boots to the landfill — oops! Turns out that I’m not Goody Two Shoes after all, since it takes more than 50 years for leather shoes to break down in a landfill. Apparently, they will still be there for some time after I’m gone. Older and wiser now, I bought a quality pair of hiking boots to replace them. But with wisdom and age, also comes wider feet. Every time I…
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Upcycling Windows & Doors – Urban Gardening Projects
Upcycling — has become increasingly common among city dwellers due to its ease, accessibility and artsy appeal.
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8 Ways to Reduce Your Water Waste
Water is wasted waiting for the shower or sink to warm up, on the slow leak you have in the toilet bowl that you never knew about and from sprinkling your lawn every day.
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Chicken of Eggshells
Kyle Bean is a U.K. artist with a passion for craft as is apparent in his innovative chicken sculpture made of eggshells.
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Are Commercial Car Washes More Eco-Friendly?
In the last decade, Americans have been encouraged to take a second look at their recycling habits, what eco-friendly products they buy and how they are supporting environmentally friendly companies. Did you know cleaning your car in a commercial car wash is considered far more eco-friendly than washing it in your driveway? Located in the heart of Portland, EcoCarwash is one of many places you can take your car to make it sparkle like new, while doing something good for the environment at the same time. Here are a few reasons why taking your car to any car wash is a good call to make. Saving Water While Washing When…
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Astute ‘Adoornment’
Cabinet Doors Become Artist’s Canvas Bright colors, a love of nature, a sense of delight, and a practiced hand all contribute to the look and feel of Elizabeth See’s oil paintings. At first glance, her work appears to be rendered on traditional materials. Closer examination will reveal that she uses discarded cabinet doors and cut-offs from woodworking production as the canvas for her art. The BZ Corner, WA artist takes repurposing seriously and is constantly on the hunt for scrap wood and disused cabinetry. It is as natural for her to befriend nature by keeping usable materials from the landfill as it is for her to sit quietly studying the…
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Wood in the Course of Human Events
Wood has got to be one of nature’s most miraculous gifts to the human race. We have depended on wood for fuel, tools, weapons, and shelter since before the dawn of history. Even in this high tech world of the twenty first century there is wood everywhere, in one form or another, no matter if we are flying across the country at 30,000 feet, riding in a subway beneath the streets of Manhattan, or sitting on the sofa in front of the TV set. The sad fact is that wood has been with us for so long and is present in so many different forms that we no longer notice…
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Tips for an Eco-Conscious Wedding
Weddings are a huge and expensive undertaking and can leave an even bigger footprint on the environment. More and more couples are looking for ways to be more environmentally friendly which can be difficult since weddings are typically associated with hyper-consumption and produce a great deal of waste. Invitations, decorations, food, travel, etc. the list is endless. Unfortunately, many items at a wedding only get used once and are tossed. By incorporating any number of these suggestions for an eco-conscious wedding, you’ll be doing your part to sustain the earth while being a role model for others.Invitations and PaperCutting down on paper invitations is one of the easiest ways to…
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The RINSE Project Helps Wineries Reuse Wine Bottles
Cowhorn Winery in Applegate Valley, Oregon has teamed up with Wine Bottle Renew to establish a powerful new bioregional program called ‘The RINSE Project.’ The project cuts per-bottle costs and reduces wineries’ carbon footprints by recycling used wine bottles and preparing them for industry reuse. Some 300 million cases of wine are sold in the United States each year and the wine bottles from about 210 million end up in landfills. As the first Southern Oregon winery to ship used bottles through the RINSE Project, Cowhorn Winery aims to help change that and cut its carbon footprint in the bargain. In addition to cleaning, packing, and shipping wine bottles for…
