The three little pigs knew a thing or two about building houses; with a big bad wolf prowling around they had to. Brick – good. Wood – not so good. Straw – forget it. But if a wolf is not threatening you there are many reasons why you might want … Read more
If you already own a home that you love but are concerned about how your living impacts the environment, there are a few upgrades you can preform to reduce the amount of energy used on a daily basis and make your house into a more sustainable, green home for as … Read more
One of the by products of mushroom farming is mushroom compost. More precisely, the compost that the mushrooms were grown in that no longer has enough nutrients for mushrooms but plenty of nutrients left for the garden and landscape plants. Mushroom Compost Mushroom compost is made specifically for mushroom farming … Read more
Aquaponics can be an intimidating concept for the home gardener but it really is no more difficult than caring for an average fish tank with the added benefit that you could eat both the fresh garden produce and the fish. Aquaponics is a sustainable food production system that combines the … Read more
That new paint smell may be giving you more than a short-lived headache. Common household paints contain more than 300 known toxic chemicals including gas compounds, especially glycol ethers, which are emitted from wet and dry paint. These gas compounds are known as Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) and contribute to … Read more
Most of the highly developed spaces that human beings create and inhabit are not exhibit biodiversity: large industrial farms, sprawling lawns, concrete-covered city blocks. When we go outside, in nature, we see examples of biodiversity and that is one reason that natural spaces are so valuable; they demonstrate to us … Read more
The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) was started in March of 2000 by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). In essence, LEED provides owners and operators with a framework that aids them in identifying and then implementing a greener method and options for not only construction, but design … Read more
Oscar the Grouch got it right: worms are fabulous. And like Oscar the Grouch, composting with worms – also known as Vermiculture – is great for kids. Most kids love the slimy, the silly, and of course what kid could pass up the opportunity to talk about (and participate in … Read more
Land for gardening is often difficult to come by, especially for apartment dwellers. But if you are lucky enough to have even a small outdoor space, such as a patio or balcony, you can optimize your gardening capacity by utilizing the concepts of vertical gardening. A Guide to Vertical Gardening … Read more
Eco-friendly living isn’t always so straightforward. Small efforts do add up and make a difference. Here’s 5 easy ways to reduce your carbon footprint. Eat local. The local food movement is one of the best and easiest ways to reduce your carbon footprint. Reducing the transportation costs of the food … Read more
Windmill electricity is a green, renewable energy sources that has been around for many years but like all sources of renewable energy, it has begun to rapidly make its way into modern day living. From reusable batteries made popular in the in 1980′s to the new solar panels now making … Read more
Over 270 000 organic farmers have stood up and sued Monsanto, a corporate agricultural giant. This was done with the help of the Organic Seed Growers and Trade Association. The paperwork was submitted on the March 30th, 2011. Organic Farmers Monsanto is a huge multinational agricultural biotechnology corporation, founded in … Read more
Rainwater harvesting is the collection and storage of rainwater; in countries or regions that have low rainfall it’s a significant method of supplementing water supplies. In many less developed societies rainwater is often the main source of drinking water,[1]so rainwater collection is vital. Catchment structures dating back to 3000 BC … Read more
The definition of greywater is (excuse the pun) something of a grey area. The Environment Agency in the UK describes it as ‘wastewater from showers, baths, washbasins, washing machines and kitchen sinks.’ Some exclude washing machine and kitchen sink water, or call it ‘dark grey water’, but as long as … Read more
Biodegradable plastic In 2009, the United States generated 30 million tons of plastic waste. Thirteen million tons was plastic containers and packaging, 11 million tons was durable plastic goods, and 7 million tons was non-durable goods, such as plates and cups. Only seven percent of this plastic waste was recovered … Read more