Funky list of repurposing Ideas

Do you happen to have old cassette tapes lying around? What about chairs, skis, coat hangers, cd cases, or even a piano? All of these things are given a new uses in Twisted Sifter's huge list of 50 Creative Ways to Repurpose, Reuse, and Upcycle Old Things. Check it out! Some of the ideas are kind of silly, (like the piano-turned-garden fountain pictured above) but some of the ideas come in handy for everyday activities too!

Grow Food in Small Spaces

Today's guest post comes from a fellow blogger, Paul Taylor. Paul Taylor started www.babysittingjobs.com which offers an aggregated look at those sites to help families find sitters and to help sitters find families easier than ever. He loves writing, with the help of his wife. He has contributed quality articles for different blogs & websites.

image of a vertical garden courtesy of www.europlanters.co.uk

When it comes to organic food, expensive is usually the first thing that comes to mind. However anyone can grow their own organic foods no matter where they live. How is that possible? Well, try these easy gardening tips for small spaces:

1.      Window boxes – Window boxes are the easiest way for anyone to grow their own food. It doesn’t require special tools either. Anything can be made into a window box. Recycled yogurt containers and other reused items are easy to use as planters. Plant your seeds and set them in a well-lit window and they will grow, hopefully, year round. Just make sure to keep them moist as indoor air is usually drier. You can grow herbs, vegetables and even small trees inside your home without using any pesticides.

2.      Grow lights – Another way to grow plants if you have no outdoor space is by using grow lights. Grow lights can be purchased at home improvement and gardening stores and online. These lights help plants of all shapes and sizes to grow healthy even with no real sunlight. Pair with a growing table for a spread that traditional gardeners would love.

3.      Vertical gardens –If you have a small outdoor space like a balcony or porch, then vertical gardening is for you. You can use a repurposed shelf or even a pallet to grow plants along the wall. Just fill it with dirt and let the sunshine in. You can also hang pots from the wall to keep your area usable and still productive.

These are just a few of the ways that anyone can have an organic garden, no matter how small of a space they have. We can all grow some of our own foods and live healthier, greener lives. 

Book Suggestion: Four Fish by Paul Greenberg

image courtesy of Fourfish.org

I am halfway through Four Fish by Paul Greenberg, and I'm not even going to wait until I'm done to recommend it - I can already tell you it is a must-read! It is a detailed explanation of how salmon, bass, cod, and tuna became our four main food fish and the environmental consequences of a globalized seafood industry. Seafood is one of our healthiest animal food choices, but we are running many species to extinction, leaving fish farming and genetic engineering as the only viable way to feed human populations. I especially admire Greenberg's ability to look at the issues from many angles. After reading the first few chapters, I feel as though I have a well-rounded knowledge of things like salmon farming and "fair trade" seafood. 

image courtesy of pages.vassar.edu

Nail Polish & Pregnancy

There are lots of rules and guidelines that pregnant women abide by in order to best protect the health of their child. Many women avoid any unnecessary chemicals, deciding that it is worth it to skip a couple hair dye jobs and meals of overly processed foods. But what about nail polish? Should pregnant women avoid manicures?

Most traditional nail polishes are rated between 5-7 on the EWG SkinDeep Database (Moderate - High hazard), but since nail polish is not applied to the skin, or  purposefully ingested, the potentially harmful chemicals are not easily absorbed into the body. But if you are a nail biter - these chemicals should be of concern to you. Unfortunately, many nail polishes contain dibutyl phthalate and toluene which are both linked to reproductive toxicity and endocrine disruption. FDA research has also shown that  methyl methacrylate and acetonitrile break down into cyanide when ingested.

Kim Kardashian (a role model for many young women around the world) recently posted pictures of herself biting her nails on Instagram. The star recently announced she is expecting a child with Kanye West.

If you don't bite or pick at your nails, and you paint them in a well vented area, its safe to have painted nails during pregnancy. Otherwise, try non-toxic nail polishes, like Knocked Up Nails which is specifically formulated to be safe for pregnant women.

500th Post!

Thank you to my loyal readers for helping my blog evolve and improve over the past 2 and a half years. I am so excited that Boston Green Blog has reached the 500-post benchmark! 

Lots more green living tips, eco fashion, healthy beauty, and energy efficiency ideas to come over the next 500!

Big Event? Rent a Dress!

Ladies of all ages love to get glammed up for big events. The tradition of beauty rituals like manicures and a blow out add to the excitement of the day, but of course, the most important and exciting aspect of any event is the dress. Picking out a fancy dress is a lot of fun, but it can also be bittersweet to know you'll probably only wear it once or twice. It seems a bit wasteful, doesn't it? Luckily, over the past two years, dress borrowing websites have become popular. Websites like Rent the Runway give all the thrill of getting a new dress, without creating so much waste (and come with a much lower price tag!). For your next big night out, borrow a dress from a friend, or check out Rent the Runway to cut your carbon footprint!

How to Green Your Ski Trip

Like many New Englanders, I absolutely love skiing. It is a fun way to enjoy the outdoors during the coldest months of the year. Unfortunately, its not a very environmentally friendly sport - it requires a lot of a equipment, natural habitats are destroyed as ski trails are created, and many drive a long way to partake in the activity. Therefore, it is important to make sustainable decisions once you are at the mountain in order to help curb your negative impact.

1. Pack your own (vegetarian) lunch in reusable packaging.
2. Buy carbon offsets for your trip.
3. Invest in quality gear that will last a long time. There are many eco gear companies too!
4. Bring your own reusable water bottle.
5. Pack light, check tires, drive efficiently in order to minimize gas consumption.
6. Share a trail map with the group instead of each getting your own copy.
7. When you need new equipment, buy used skis and donate your old gear.

BONUS: Plan to go to a green ski resort! (try Jiminy Peak or Jackson Hole)