LaurenZ's Profile

Great comments! I went through the same dilemma when we chose ours and ultimately decided that something that was durable and timeless would be the best way to go. I think a lot of times it comes down to weighing the embodied energy of the product with how long it's going to last. The US-made recycled products are great too, but from what I've found are incredibly expensive and outside the range of most homeowner's budgets. Hopefully that will begin to change though.

@bangs, it might depend on the brand of planters. I have two of the Boskke's and they're great! You're right though...not all plants like to hang upside down (we've had so-so luck with herbs but good luck with our orchid).

@sillahee, I believe the class was offered by Teach Street...

@wseattlemom, not a houseboat! Just a small house that we're trying to make the most out of. =)

I believe that buying local and handmade products is part of a green lifestyle. These two factors eliminate a large portion of what makes many products unsustainable but yes, ideally those products are also made of responsibly obtained and non-toxic materials. While the Etsy listing doesn't get into specifics, it would definitely be great if Steven could weigh in on where he sourced his plywood.

@infomofo, the first line of defense would be to ensure that you have proper ventillation in the space. If you do, moisture-laden air will be less of an issue. We have a piece of artwork made from cardboard in our bathroom and sprayed it with a clear, arcylic finish before hanging it up. It's been about 3 years and no problems!

@jennysilentg - yup, the fridge is a Summit. Ours is about 5 years old, but I actually like the newer versions a lot better!

@ Put A Bird On It - I was actually expecting this comment. =) Our house was really in not-so-great shape when we bought it (we actually saved it from being torn down and replaced with a McMansion). We think it must have been a logger's cabin or something because there was no "charm" to save and all sorts of problems and issues that had to be fixed. Our house is small and by redoing the kitchen (which was very nonfunctional) we were able to add a second bedroom in without adding on to the house which was more "green" to us than preserving something that didn't work, used more energy, etc.

@LauraInCancun - Yes, it was really unattractive!

@monkeylizard - Thanks for the comment. We definitely salvaged, recycled and reused material where we could. We joke that the old growth douglas fir framing was the nicest part of our house (and is one reason we chose to expose the old joists in the living room).

@berkeley.loves.grey - If we sent you the old cabinets it would just be a pile of lumber! Unfortunately, they were built into the space so they had no real frames and were not in good condition. We did salvage the '60s era unpainted wood ones to reuse as storage in our garage.

@amandalc, good question! I think the key is to cut them in small enough pieces that come back out with a little shaking. I cut mine a little too big and might need to add some boiling water to help break them down a bit. =)

Great comments and I'm glad to hear people weigh in on charcoal chimneys.

I really believe that living green is about educating yourself and making the best decisions in any given situation. Even though there might be better/simpler ways to solve a problem without buying a specific product, I believe there is a benefit to displaying a more environmentally-friendly product right next to a more toxic one. While the merits of a particular green product are always debatable, showing consumers that there is an option might be the eye opener they need to understand that the standard product is toxic/unsustainable in the first place. (In other words, maybe someone wouldn't think twice about buying a bottle of lighter fluid until they saw that there was another option.)

And I'm glad that this can be a forum to discuss and offer up additional ideas or suggestions. Everyone's experiences are different and sharing what's worked and what hasn't is a great resource!

@Arkay, I've heard good things about the Mitsubishi Mr. Slim units too!

@username26, these items were chosen because they either contain recycled content, or are constructed of durable, weather resistant materials (a big issue when it comes to anything outdoors). We're definitely not advocating that people buy things they don't need, but if someone is looking to buy a specific item this is one way of showing that there are more responsible options out there.