Interactive Photo Tour: The MODERN LIVING Showhouse

Missed us at Dwell on Design this year? Or maybe you walked the 2010 MODERN LIVING Showhouse in Los Angeles and want more info on the eco-friendly products you saw? (more…)

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The MODERN LIVING Showhouse

We’re here at Dwell on Design at The MODERN LIVING Showhouse. Presented by Electrolux, and available for auction on eBay with proceeds to benefit Global Green USA, the house has been packed with attendees since the show opened (if you’re in LA, we’ll be here through Sunday – come by for a private tour!). (more…)

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Seed-To-Table

Ever wonder how to get more involved in the ever-growing farm-to-table movement, aside from vowing to personally taste test everything on the menu from each new restaurant? Thanks to a tip-off from Daily Candy, it’s easy – get even more local… as in, your own windowsill. (more…)

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Rain, Rain, Go Away

We’re all keeping a tight rein on our water usage, though for most of us, the thought of harvesting rainwater as an urban dweller seems nearly impossible. But Sydney-based architect, Sally Dominguez, has designed the Rainwater HOG, a modular water storage unit small enough for us city folks. (more…)

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Red-Hot and Recycled

From potted plants to window box herb gardens, you fill your inside with as much of the outside as possible – only trouble is that your secret garden is starting to resemble grandma’s greenhouse (or are we projecting?). Add a little spice with these Crate and Barrel exclusive cayenne vases ($19.95 each). (more…)

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It’s for the Birds

Even if ornithology isn’t your thing, it’s hard not to be lured by colorful fluttering outside a window.

Outdoor birds can provide hours of watch-time (for both you and your cat) so why not provide them with digs that are just as green as your own? Check out this birdhouse from Doctors Foster and Smith, which is made of 100 percent recycled milk jugs and is suitable for any small bird to nest in. Particularly perfect for wrens and chickadees, the roof can be opened for cleaning and the house comes with a wire hanger to dangle from branches.

The recycled birdhouse retails for $19.99. Certainly less expensive than investing in the indoor alternative and guaranteed to be better for all!

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Composting Just Cleaned Up

Composting has multiple benefits but can be a noxious proposition, if not dealt with properly. BioBag now offers a system that will rid you of the unwanted odor of rotting waste, while preserving the fresh nutrients you need to feed your backyard compost. (more…)

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Avenge Your Garden

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The start of spring means we get to don our gardening gear once again and spend some quality time playing in the dirt. Unfortunately, weeds love the sunshine and warm weather as much as we do, and so our annual tug-of-war against them begins. Of course, we wouldn’t dream of putting toxic chemicals on our greens, but we have noticed that many natural and organic products don’t always do the trick. Luckily, EPA-certified Nature’s Avenger Organic Herbicide is coming to the rescue of our gardens, patios, driveways, and every other place we want weeds to stop growing! An organic herbicide with a citrus oil base, Nature’s Avenger has stood up in numerous tests against the leading synthetic herbicide as well as beating out other alternative and natural herbicides. It’s also biodegradable, quick working, and has the added bonus of leaving the smell of an orange grove in its wake.  Nature’s Avenger is approved for organic production and is safe around kids and pets, so you can make tending your garden a family affair.

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Wood You Like Some Protection?

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To make sure your exterior woods are sustainable – meaning protected from water, swelling, warping and weathering – you need a good finish, and by “good” we mean a safe alternative to the toxic, flammable ones generally employed to do the job. That’s where Soyguard water repellent and sealer – free from harsh solvents and harmful VOCs (less than 50/L) – comes in. It utilizes a natural solvent, derived from soybean oil, to deeply penetrate the surface and encapsulate wood cells with a protective resin coating that’s safe for kids, pets and the environment, and is impervious to termites. Soyguard has the added effect of slightly darkening the wood, thereby enhancing its natural beauty. That’s getting the job done right!

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I Want Worms in My Apples

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Who knew kitchen scraps turned worm fodder turned plant fertilizer could be as physically beautiful as it is beautiful for the planet?  DHLoveLife has the sleekest worm dwelling we have ever seen (though beauty does have a price…about 900 bucks). Made from bamboo on the outside and recycled rubber on the inside, this is an all around sustainable system. Your garbage is digested by your “pet” worms and they in turn transform your trash into a powerful plant supplement in the forms of worm castings and worm tea. Check out the easy spout for collecting the potent tea on Daryl Hannah’s “beautious bamboo worm bin.” Really, composting never looked so good. With these invertebrates pumping 5 hearts each, there is plenty of love to go around! To read more about worm composting, click here.

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