Green Tip Tuesday: Apartment Therapy's Guide to Socially Responsible Shopping

Apartment Therapy  is one of my all-time favorite blogs. Its full of both aspirational and practical decor ideas. And as you may have guessed, I get really excited when my favorite design, decor, and shopping blogs feature sustainability tips! In June, Apartment Therapy came out with its 6 Steps to Socially Responsible Shopping. It is a great read - I highly suggest checking it out.

New Perspectives: Edible Flowers in Your Backyard

Image courtesy of Vegetable Gardener

When it comes to edible plants, people usually think of vegetable gardens and farms, but what manydo not realize is that the flowers we grow for beauty can sometimes have another purpose. Here are a few examples of flowers you may have in your yard that you could take a bite out of, if ya want:

1. Rose  – Everyone knows what a rose looks like, but did you know they were edible. Rose petals make a great colorful addition to salads and rose hips, the round part of the stem right below the bloom, are full of vitamin C. Rose hip tea is tasty and nutritious. You can also make jams and jellies out of rose hips and petals.

2. Lotus – The beautiful blooms and sweet pads of this pond plant are often the reason we have them, but there is more to the lotus than meets the eye. The seeds of the lotus plant were prized by Native Americans for their flavor and nutrition. You can eat them raw or roast them for a tasty treat. Make sure to remove the green centers before eating for the best flavor. Underwater shoots also form tubers which are eaten much like a potato. These are best to harvest in late summer or fall.

3. Sweet Alyssum  – The tiny clusters of white flowers mean that this little plant could be in your spring garden bed. But unlike its name the flavor of this plant is more like horseradish. A member of the mustard family, the flowers, stems, leaves and seed pods of this plant can be added to dishes for a spicy flavor. The leaves can also be cooked like mustard greens.

4. Canna Lily –These large flowering plants are hardy and colorful so it is no wonder so many homes have them in their gardens. The large leaves look much like banana leaves and can be used similarly to wrap food for cooking. The young shoots are edible if cooked, but the roots of the plant are your best bet for food. These tubers have even higher starch content then potatoes and can easily be ground into gluten free flour.

5. Redbud  – Last on our list is actually a flowering tree. The redbud’s flowers appear directly on the branches in the spring and are edible. Open flowers have a sweet flavor and a beautiful purple-pink color. After the flowers drop off seed pods appear. These pods can be used just like pea pods in stir fries and other dishes. After a couple of weeks they become hard and unpalatable, so harvest quickly!

This is a guest post by Liz Nelson from WhiteFence.com. She is a freelance writer and blogger from Houston. Questions and comments can be sent to: liznelson17@gmail.com.

Warby Parker is One-for-One

Me, learning about Warby Parker's One-For-One Program

Image courtesy of Brian Annis at Warby Parker Boston

Warby Parker makes this year's it sunglasses and reading glasses. The super-chic company just opened a showroom on Newbury St. this spring. The boutique  shows off the company's modern, stylish, and most importantly, affordable, aesthetic. But, my favorite part of Warby Parker is that all of their glasses are one-for-one (meaning that for every pair purchased, a pair of reading glasses is donated to someone in need). Ethical and fashionable? Sounds perfect! Check them out!

Happy Fourth of July!

image courtesy of pugslope

Review Wednesday: Should You Avoid Retinyl Palmitate?

image courtesy of www.annmariegianni.com

Today, rather than a product review, we are going to explore a common product ingredient, so you can make informed shopping decisions. I hope that the "ingredient spotlight" feature will become a monthly column, so let me know what you think! First up: retinyl palmitate. 

Last week while researching my review of Gabriel Moisturizing Liquid Foundation, I noticed that the main reason the product got a bad rating from the Environmental Working Group Skin Deep Database was because it contained retinyl palmitate - this got me curious.

Retinyl Palmitate is a vitamin A supplement often used in skincare products. It is also added to milk to add back the antioxidants lost during the fat-removal process. However, high doses of topical retinyl palmitate have been linked to cancer in lab animals. For this reason, EWG has rated the ingredient 8, or high hazard (on this 1-10 scale, the most dangerous chemicals are rated a 10). 

Adding to this concern, the EWG website explains that when retinyl palmitate is exposed to UV light, it can break down into toxic free radicals, which can also lead to cancer, or speed tumor growth in existing cancer. So when wearing this product, or other products containing retinyl palmitate, make sure to avoid sun exposure (check your sunscreen labels to make sure they don't contain this ingredient). FDA also raised a concern that extensive, daily skin application of vitamin A creams may build up in the woman’s body a high enough level of Vitamin A that may be toxic to the developing fetus. 

However, a 2010 study concluded that that retinyl palmitate is safe except for in very high doses. The American Academy of Dermatology has concluded that the ingredient does NOT cause skin cancer (even in sunscreens). 

Conclusion: There is still major confusion about this ingredient. I have decided that I will continue to buy products that contain this ingredient, but that I will use them sparingly (as indicated on the product label, or less), and will try to purchase retinyl palmitate-free sunscreens just in case! 

Green Tip Tuesday: How to Be an Eco-Savvy Party Guest

source image courtesy of JessicaBellMadeThis

It is cookout season! Lots of fun outdoor parties going on, especially with the Fourth of July holiday on Thursday. Here are some tips to keep in mind while attending BBQ's (if you're the host, read  how to throw a green party for the 4th)

1. Mind your drink. Recycle all bottles and plastic cups. If you don't see a recycling bin, ask the host if there is a bag or container that is for recyclable items. If you plan to have more than one drink, reuse the same cup. 

2. Choose your meal wisely. Skip the burgers and dogs, and stick to the vegetarian options. After all, summer parties are known for some mean potato salad!

3. Bring an ethical hostess gift. Organic wine, fair trade coffee, local fruit are all great eco-aware gifts that your host will love. 

4. Wear something eco/ethical as a conversation starter. Just got some sweet Warby Parker sunglasses? Tell your friends about WP's one-for-one program. Or when someone compliments your bracelets from Ten Thousand Villages, tell them about the product's origin.

5. Be a tidy guest. If you are walking around, grab stray bottles and trash and dispose of them properly. Not only will your host appreciate this, but plastic/glass is more likely to end up in the recycling rather than the trash. 

6. Carpool or take public transit to the party. 

And of course, have fun! 

New Perspectives: How to Make an Indoor Garden

image 

It is hard to beat the calm that comes with being surrounded by plant life and natural beauty, but in cities like Boston, having a large garden in your condo is not always feasible. Luckily, indoor gardens have quickly grown in popularity over the recent years as more and more people crave the fresh look of greenery in their small space. Now, there are easier ways to get the green you love inside your condo or apartment without taking up your entire living room.

• Plant a pot of herbs – Herbs are perfect for condos because they do not require a lot of space to thrive. Assorted herb pots make great centerpieces or accents on windowsills. Better yet, the plants you grow are useful in your kitchen! With a pot of assorted herbs, you can bring some life into your home while saving money at the grocery store on ingredients used to spice up your foods every day.

• Try a hydroponic system – If you do not want to muddy up your condo with soil, try a hydroponic system. This system uses only water to allow plants to grow. The systems have been shown to cost less, use less water and space, and produce more than soil plants. Depending on the type of system you have, you are able to grow vegetables and flowers in a hydroponic system. Ask at your local gardening store for more details about what is available in your area.

• Get some vines – Plants that grow upwards instead of outwards make for perfect window coverings. By using a trellis and small planter, you can create a unique look in any room with vines. If your space is sunny, try your hand at growing cucumbers or grapes. If your space is small or not well lit, try flowers that grow on vines. 

• Turn your walls into a garden – In recent years, artists have created magnetic planters that hang on your wall or refrigerator by the strength of a magnet. These small planters can grow plants that do well inside of these small sized pots. Some examples of what people grow in magnetic planters or planters that hang on your wall are herbs or small shrubbery. This is a unique way to instantly add some life into your home and spruce up your bare walls. 

Living in the city can feel cramped and crowded, making it difficult to grow a thriving garden. With these indoor gardening tips for condos, you can transform your living space into one that has a vibrant, fresh new look.

About the Author:

Joyce Del Rosario works as a Community Outreach Specialist at Open College of Art and Design, one of the leading providers of accredited online interior design courses. She is also an interior design blogger.