Green & Clean

Not that being part of a trend is ever a good reason to start or learn something new, but if it helps you move forward by being part of the “in” crowd, then you really need to plant your own edible garden this year.

That’s right, having your own vegetable garden is now trendy. In fact according to the 2009 Edibles Gardening Trends Research Report conducted by the Garden Writer’s Association (GWA) Foundation, over 41 million U.S. households, or 38 percent planted a vegetable garden in 2009. So, aside from its popularity, do you need some other reasons to grown your own food?

* The GWA’s survey found that the main reason given for increasing or maintaining edible gardening last year was to supplement household food supply — to help them save money on food. That alone is a very powerful reason.

* There is nothing more local than food grown in your own backyard, your windowsills, or on patio containers.

* Growing your own fruits and vegetables means that you know exactly what does and does not go into your food and exactly where it comes from.

* You will get healthier in a number of ways. Not only will you end up eating more fruits and vegetables, but you will be getting added exercise. Did you know that you can burn as many calories in 45 minutes of gardening as you can in 30 minutes of aerobics? And, working in the garden reduces stress.

* You will get a bigger variety of your favorite fruits and vegetables because you can choose from hundreds of different varieties and you can grow the things you like the best.

* You can teach your children or grandchildren where their food actually comes from and that it doesn’t come from the supermarket but from the soil, the earth that we all depend on.

Already have a garden?? Check out our 15 Homemade Organic Gardening Sprays and Concoctions That Actually Work

You already know if newspapers, tin cans, or plastic bottles get picked up on your curb for recycling, but what about similar items?

Chances are phone books, aluminum foil, and other hard-to-know-what-to-do-with items can be mixed in with your curbside recycling.

Every town has different rules so you’ll need to check with your local waste or sanitation department to find out the specifics for your area.

In most cases, it’s easier to recycle these five unexpected items than you might think.

1. Phone books. If your city takes mixed paper, then phonebooks can generally be recycled, according to Jennifer Berry at Earth911. Be sure to remove magnetic inserts or any other non-paper elements before you toss. Has the Internet rendered the yellow pages obsolete in your home? You can choose not to have directories delivered in the first place or limit how many you receive. Here are 17 creative things to do with phone books for those who prefer to reuse or can’t easily recycle.

2. Aluminum foil. It’s just as recyclable as aluminum cans, but not accepted by all municipal programs. Check with your local waste department before you throw foil in with your metals. Make sure it’s clean first. Many people wash foil off with soap and water and reuse it for storing food. Or try crumpling up old foil and throwing it in the clothes dryer to reduce static cling.

3. Aerosol cans. You can include EMPTY aerosol cans with other metals. If it has any product in it don’t toss it in your bin. Ask your local recycling center if they’ll accept partially filled cans or bring them to your local hazardous waste facility.

4. Labels. Labels aren’t a problem on bottles and cans, says Berry, because recycling facilities are already set up to handle them so no extra steps are needed. It’s also okay to throw slightly dirty glass, plastic, and metal containers into your bin. So don’t let that lime wedge or last bit of peanut butter stop you from tossing a container into your recycling bin.

5. Metal clothes hangers. Some communities, such as New York City, Phoenix, Houston, and Portland, OR, accept metal clothes hangers in curbside bins. In most cities there are plenty of recycling centers where you can drop them off. Better yet, bring them back to your local dry cleaner so hangers can be reused.

By Lori Bongiorno
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The microwave has become a must have appliance, especially for those who live a fast paced lifestyle.  Nowadays, about 90% of Americans have a microwave and use it at least once a day.  With that in mind, you should think twice before cleaning it with products that could be harmful to your health.

The easiest way to green clean your microwave is to simply fill a microwave safe bowl with 2 cups of water and heat it in the microwave for 5 minutes.  Let it cool for 2 minutes and carefully remove the bowl using a oven mit.  Then all you have to do is wipe it clean with a cloth.

Why this works:
The steam from the heated water loosens all the food particles stuck to the walls of your microwave.

Leave a comment with any other green cleaning tips you would like to share!

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Whether you chose linoleum flooring for its no fuss functionality, the soft feel underfoot, its distinctive look, or its green attributes, you definitely want to clean and maintain your floors in an eco-friendly while protecting the indoor air quality in your home.

Real linoleum—as distinct from synthetic versions or vinyl—is made from all-natural materials, including wood flour, rosins, ground limestone, powdered cork, pigments, jute and linseed oil. As such it is one of the greenest flooring options out there today. The GreenFloors.com website reports that old linoleum—including scraps and remnants from the production process—can be recycled to create new sheets of the stuff. And given that it is made from natural materials, linoleum is practically carbon neutral, and the energy created by incinerating it at the end of its useful life is almost equal to the energy needed to create new linoleum.

Given how green linoleum is, cleaning it with harsh synthetic chemicals and maintaining it with polymer-based waxes just wouldn’t be right. Luckily there are alternative ways to help keep your linoleum floor looking good for decades without compromising the environment or shortening your own life span in the process.

When green cleaning linoleum it’s best to sweep, dust-mop or vacuum your linoleum floor frequently in order to cut down on the amount of abrasive dirt around that can build up and compromise the finish. As for actual cleaning, use a damp mop with a mild all natural liquid dish soap and warm water. Adding a half cup or so of vinegar to the rinse water will increase shine if that’s the look you’re going for. The best way to deal with tough stains is not by scouring; instead make a paste of baking powder and gently wipe with a wet rag until the stain fades away.

To get rid of scuff marks, dip a sponge in jojoba oil and rub lightly before wiping up completely. Pencil erasers can also work wonders on linoleum scuff marks.

As for what to avoid, stay away from solvent-based products which can soften and damage linoleum and typical floor cleaning solutions will leave a sticky residue behind.

In terms of wax, there are several greener varieties now available. Livos’ BILO is a paste wax designed for wood, cork, tile and—you guessed it—linoleum. It is derived from beeswax and linseed oil and produces a semi-gloss finish after buffing. Like all Livos products, BILO is made from organic ingredients and is 100 percent biodegradable and safe for humans, animals, air, water and soil.

For those willing to commit to periodic occasional maintenance, linoleum flooring should last decades if not longer. And given its relative low-cost and ease of installation, some consider linoleum the “green flooring for the masses.”

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In the developing world, access to potable water is a big issue, but it’s not just staying hydrated that proves difficult. Even access to washing water can be limited, requiring women and children to carry heavy loads of laundry across long distances. Enter the Swirl.

A multi-colored, multi-functional device, the Swirl, designed by designaffairs STUDIO, is meant to make doing laundry just a little easier. For washing, the ball is loaded with dirty laundry and carried to the water source. Once filled with water, washing happens simply by rolling it home; as the user walks and rolls the ball, the rotation washes and scrubs the clothes. Put the ball in the midst of a congregation of children, and the laundry might get done as part of a soccer game.

But it’s not all fun and games. The Swirl also doubles as a water carrying device, making a positive impact on the daily livelihoods of those that live in remote areas far from water; the device is both functional and empowering.

Photo courtesy of www.designaffairs.com

Design STUDIO also designed the Swirl with the community in mind, making the aim of the device to “enhance a social cultural relationship between women and children.” Making a stronger connection within communities is an essential part of sustainable development and makes this simple design certainly an ingenious one.

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Before you head out to your local boutique to purchase your valentine’s day evening wear consider these Eco sexy lingerie pieces:

Enamore

Bring out your inner pin-up girl with Enamore’s flirty Annabel camisole and short set, made with white ruched stretched organic silk camisole and fastened with a pink satin bow.

Stella McCartney

Stella McCartney’s Clara Whispering Chemise is an understated classic with detail. It can be found — along with fair trade sex toys to mix it up — at the Roddick sisters’ upscale sex boutique Coco de Mer in New York City. McCartney’s collection is made with made with organic cotton, silk, and chiffon and her elegant designs show that sustainability and high fashion can go hand-in-hand.

Eco Boudoir

Eco Boudoir’s organic padded bra with French knickers are ideal for the fierce at heart.

Loup Charmant

Loup Charmant’s organic cotton designs are simply elegant. Wear this sheer slip with next to nothing or nothing at all and exude sensual pleasure.

T-Luxe

T-Luxe lingerie uses sustainable fabrics including soy, organic cotton, and organic silk, all colored with low impact, natural dyes. Energy consumption during production is offset through carbon offset programs.

Pictured: T-Luxe organic “Anniversary Nightie.”

g=9.8

White it may be hot inside it is still winter–and quite nippy outdoors. Suit up appropriately with g=9.8’s sexy thigh-high leg warmers.

g=9.8 lingerie is made from LENPUR, a sustainable textile made from white pine tree clippings processed with enzymes into fiber. The wood fiber is made from sustainably managed wood and only certain parts of the trees are chosen, while harvesting coincides with normal pruning.

Jonano

Jonano’s organic cotton and bamboo Ecolux Kimono Wrap is ideal for the slow reveal, try 50 Ways to Please Your Lover.

Knickers in a Box

Panties by Knickers in a Box are handmade with the Designer’s collection of rare and vintage fabrics — from jute to organic Indian paper silk. These undies are individually designed, limited edition, and come wrapped in eco-friendly tissue paper–the option to forgo the special packaging is also available.

GreenKnickers

Bring out your inner child with these ruffled panties by GreenKnickers, locally made with organic cotton Gusset with recycled fabrics.

Luva Huva

Luva Huva’s hand made Magnolia knickers with a matching bra are hand made with end of line fabrics, remnants, and cut-offs that would otherwise go to waste.

So there you have it..10 options for a green & sexy lingerie.  Read more from Treehugger

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Oven cleaning is one of my least favorite chores.  I always seem to wait until I’ve burnt endless amounts of food in there before i decide to give it a good cleaning.

Before I started green cleaning my home, my first thought was to go out  and purchase a convention oven cleaner.  However, chemical oven cleaner is loaded with toxic ingredients, including ethers, ethylene glycol, lye (sodium and potassium hydroxide), methylene chloride and petroleum distillates. The products are harmful to skin and eyes, and the fumes are very unhealthy.

Here Is How To Green Clean Your Oven:

All You Need Is Baking Soda and Water: Coat the inside of your dirty appliance with a paste made from water and baking soda. Let this mixture stand in your oven overnight. Then put on your gloves and scrub the oven with a brillo pad and wipe clean with a reusable cloth.

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