Where catalogs come alive!

On Catalog Living, one of our favorite websites, writer Molly Erdman brings a very intelligent sense of humor to the world of shelter catalogs, giving us a look into the fictional lives of characters Gary and Elaine. We’re lucky enough to have an EcoSalon exclusive Catalog Living guest post today, taking a peak at how Gary and Elaine feel about their sustainable lifestyles.

Gary, I don’t think you can call your desk stool “reclaimed wood” if you had to chop it down yourself in order to reclaim it.

Source: westelm.com

Sure Elaine, we could upcycle our newspapers by decoupaging our shelves…or we could just stop getting a newspaper.

Source: environmentfurniture.com

Gary and Elaine were starting to think the constant praise of their sustainable mango wood side table was going to its head.

Source: eco-friendlymodernliving.com

Be sure to check out Catalog Living and Erdman’s book, Decorating Takes (Wicker) Balls.

The post Catalog Living: The World of the People Living in Your Catalogs appeared first on EcoSalon.

Guest authorUrban gardening expert Mike Lieberman shares his tips.

The number one excuse that apartment dwellers have when it comes to growing their own vegetables is that they have no space. They also believe that growing one or two things is a complete waste.

These are just excuses. Lots of space isn’t required. What is required is a bit of creativity. It’s worth the time and effort if you grow even one herb or vegetable. It will make a difference.

Did you know that on average food travels 1,500 miles to get to our plates? By growing some of your own, it will help to cut back on the intensive resources that go into food production and transportation. It will also help you to re-establish your connection with food. There are plenty of simple reasons that I can list to grow your own food.

I started apartment gardening in the spring of 2009 on my fire escape in New York City. Despite being on 2′ x 3′, I was able to grow plenty of veggies. Since then, I’ve moved to Los Angeles and now have a balcony garden.

Growing veggies without much land can be your reality, too. Here’s how you can start your own vegetable container garden.

Decide on a Location

First thing is first. You need to pick the location where you are going to start. An important factor to take into consideration is how far from the water source your garden will be. The last thing you want to do is be carrying water through your apartment to your garden, but there are ways around that.

Don’t Just Think of the Floor

After deciding the where, you need to figure the area that you are working with. Don’t just think of the space on the ground. Think windowsills, ledges, railings and the space above you. Get creative.

Conditions of the Area

Figure out how much direct and indirect sunlight your space gets. If it gets at least 2-3 hours of direct sunlight, you are good to grow. My balcony garden is east facing and gets about 4-6 hours of early morning sunlight, so I grow what works best in those conditions.

What to Grow In

You can either go to the store and buy some containers or make self-watering planters, which is what I use. Self-watering planters use two containers and require little maintenance after they are built. They are constructed from two 5-gallon containers (you can get these from your local flower shop, deli, restaurant or farmers market for little to no money).

If you have the space to hang some plants, then you can use soda bottles to make hanging planters or buy new ones. Herbs such as basil, oregano and mint do well in these.

What to Grow

This is the big decision. What will you grow?

This could very well be determined for you by your space and sun conditions. Since I get limited sun on my balcony and use smaller containers, my selection is pretty small.

From there, you can grow things that you know you like and will eat or you can experiment with new veggies or new versions of veggies that you like. That’s up to you.

I always suggest growing greens and lettuces because they don’t get to be too big, grow pretty easily and you know that you’ll use them.

Herbs are the other thing that I recommend. They are likely the best economic value. When you buy herbs in the store, you have to buy a huge bushel when you only need a few pieces. Most usually goes to waste. By growing your own, you can take what you need and let it continue to grow. It’ll always be on hand.

No Excuses

Now you have a foundation to get your urban vegetable garden started. You don’t have to plant a ridiculous amount. Remember, just one plant will make a difference. We are humans. We grown food. Land, space, money and lack of experience shouldn’t be excuses. If I can do this, why can’t you?

Guest author Mike Lieberman is the man behind Urban Organic Gardener, where he share his expertise on urban gardening, green living, and real food. You can also connect with Mike on Twitter and Facebook.

The post No Excuses, Just Vegetables appeared first on EcoSalon.

Rayan Turner explores the do-it-yourself movement.

The Do-It-Yourself (DIY) movement has made a grand entrance over the course of the last several years, making DIY an acronym everyone is familiar with.

The state of the economy has become the latest, and perhaps greatest, impetus for the DIY craze. Now more than ever, people are turning to a lifestyle that is not only within their control but is completely customizable according to their own needs, desires, and budget. Quite accidentally, the DIY movement has also become the harbinger of healthful living for the average person, drawing attention to the details of those things that surround us, forcing people to understand their environment from a different perspective and helping people make smart yet tough decisions about how their lives should be lived.

As this movement takes hold of more people, many changes are bound to occur. Paying retail will take on an entirely new meaning, and will come to represent the retail price of the parts, rather than the whole. How items are made – and how they should be made – is a topic of interest not only for those who have made a conscious decision to live a green lifestyle, but for everyone, because how something is made dictates its cost, availability, and safety.

Products with dual functionality will become the norm, rather than the pleasant exception. We will all begin to demand more from those who provide for us as their means of business, and in the process will find ourselves turning inward more and more frequently to meet the needs of our families and our lives.

From building your own furniture, to landscape gardening, and growing or raising your own food, the information is out there just begging for you to give it a try.

One aspect of DIY that may alone change the face of retail as we know it lies in the furniture-building industry. No longer are we subject to toxic finishing techniques and the pieces we live with having high levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). No longer are we forced to purchase items that are not constructed from sustainable or renewable materials. You can take greater control of your life by deciding to build or rehabilitate your own furniture and in the process determine your own level of cost, the materials you feel comfortable incorporating into your life, and the level of output you may have with a new sense of organization and comfort. You can choose only those pieces that are absolutely necessary and that provide what you need – nothing more, nothing less, and nothing else will do.

Are you in need of furniture that is more fitting for your newly down-sized residence? Does that furniture need to serve multiple purposes to maximize your living space? Is $4000 for a dining table more than you care to spend? No problem. The DIY furniture building industry is flourishing, reverse engineering is prospering, and retail catalogs are increasingly becoming a source of inspiration. DIY is the new design style, and it is anything but generic in appearance or technique. Hello handmade, goodbye toxins.

Here’s a taste (including an estimated cost to build), of The Design Confidential projects you can do yourself: outdoor garden structures, indoor/outdoor furniture, storage and organization, dual functionality, space maximization, and (of course), they’re all budget friendly.

Mitchell Cubby Organizers, $25

Modern Classic Pergola, $250

Outdoor Furniture Plans, $10 – $100

Craft Space Collection,  $25 – $200

Kiddo Collection and Ann Marie Collection, $25 – $125

2 x 2 Collection of Pieces, $10 – $75

The DIY Movement has done nothing if not tear down the wall of carpentry mysticism by showing people they have the power and the skill-set necessary to build their own furniture. The customization possible is truly worthwhile for creating a healthful, and beautiful home.

Dive into DIY by shopping the Visual Plan Index or Project Catalog from The Design Confidential.

Guest author Rayan Turner is a self-proclaimed carpenter, goddess of handmade furniture, and the creative force behind The Design Confidential.

The post Hello, Handmade appeared first on EcoSalon.