Green Leaf

Got a collection of wine corks gathering on a kitchen counter? It’s okay, we all do it — pop open a bottle of wine, keep the cork for some reason, and soon there’s a whole jar of wine corks and you’re wondering, what am I even going to do with these? Recycle them or … get crafty! Wine Cork Crafts Whether you keep wine corks for sentimental reasons, or simply because they are just kind of cool, those spongy stoppers from wine bottles make excellent crafting materials. If you’ve got a hot glue gun, then you can transform wine corks into works of art. Among the easiest ways to craft with corks is to simply attach the corks with glue to a solid object. For example, Glue corks to a piece of plywood to create a unique, three-dimensional work of art for the kitchen or dining room. Cover a monogram cut-out with corks for a personalized addition to your home. Add a ring of corks around the outside edge of a candleholder. Wine cork trivet. Image courtesy of Hope Robertson Ready to ...

Maybe other jurisdictions will learn from this. from Latest Items from TreeHugger https://ift.tt/36dPV9N https://ift.tt/2tfL4Gu

On our sister site I write about issues affecting the baby boomer generation. Here are some of my favorites from the year. from Latest Items from TreeHugger https://ift.tt/36dreKx https://ift.tt/37tq8dT

The trick is to get comfortable asking one question. from Latest Items from TreeHugger https://ift.tt/2thVaqa https://ift.tt/35cEeij

Our photo of the day comes from Hillsgrove, Pennsylvania. from Latest Items from TreeHugger https://ift.tt/2tlOCGV https://ift.tt/2Qd1kRn

If you don’t already own an electric vehicle (EV) , you might soon. Most automakers are ramping up the development and production of electrified models, including SUVs and pick-up trucks. EV ownership is predicted to skyrocket in the next few years. Because these vehicles need to charge, it is important to figure out the best approach. When considering an EV purchase, it is wise to consider how you will charge it. The length of time it takes to charge depends on the battery capacity and the speed of the charger. It takes longer to charge a car with a larger or more discharged battery — or from a slower charging device. The way that many EV owners charge their vehicles is similar to how they charged their cell phones before quick chargers became widespread. They give the EV a full charge overnight and top it off as needed throughout the day. Ideally, owners can charge their electric vehicle at home in a garage or driveway. This is typically the most convenient, especially when using s...

For many years now, brands have gotten away by producing products which are not at all friendly to the environment. According to them, the consumers have the best intentions and… The post Why are consumers willing to pay more for sustainable products appeared first on Ecofriend . from Ecofriend https://ift.tt/2MHBSl2 https://ift.tt/eA8V8J

We wrap gifts all year round, but during the winter holiday season alone, there’s more than 4 million tons of wasted wrapping paper and bags. Most of us toss the wrapping paper after tearing it off the gift, but what if you could find other uses for it? Could we reduce the amount of gift wrap waste each year? This video is brought to you by the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries (ISRI) , the voice of the recycling industry. Reuse Wrapping Paper If you have large pieces of paper, consider the following ideas to make your life better, prettier, and more festive … all year long: Wrap books to brighten up the bookshelf Line drawers or the back of cabinets Line trays for party decorations Make it art … frame it! Wrap pencil holders, clipboards, and more to make it decorative Scrapbooking decorations What about all those “unusable” pieces that are too small to do anything with? Don’t throw them out … shred them! They’re great for confetti or packing material for fragile i...

Did you know that a gas-powered lawnmower emits 88 pounds of CO2 annually? The other gas-powered two-stroke engines used in yard tools such as blowers and trimmers contribute more CO2. Gas-powered lawn and garden tools contributed between 24 percent and 45 percent of the non-road gasoline emissions in the United States. By making the switch to electric alternatives, you and your neighbors can make a bigger difference in the battle against global warming. Data Source: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency provided this data in a 2015 report, “ National Emissions from Lawn and Garden Equipment .” Print or share We Earthling posters to inspire others with your stories. Would you like to share a photo and story? Drop by the Earthling Forum to contribute your photos and ideas. This post was originally published on October 15, 2019. You Might Also Like… #SmallSteps: Do More With Gift Wrap! December 31, 2019 We Earthlings: Gas-Powered Yard Tool CO2 Emissions Decemb...

Unless, of course, TINA gets in the way. from Latest Items from TreeHugger https://ift.tt/35duAf8 https://ift.tt/2sysbOU

The top how-to food stories can be summed up in one word: COMFORT. from Latest Items from TreeHugger https://ift.tt/2QyLI9L https://ift.tt/2F59ogC

We are now prisoners of the petrochemical industry from Latest Items from TreeHugger https://ift.tt/2F7qf2y https://ift.tt/39qVpzI

These are the items I'd buy again because they're well made and make our world a better, cleaner place. from Latest Items from TreeHugger https://ift.tt/2QDnTOq https://ift.tt/2Q7rjd5

Nobody cared much about this a few years ago. They do now. from Latest Items from TreeHugger https://ift.tt/36e64f6 https://ift.tt/39mvQzP

Our photo of the day comes from Millarville, Canada. from Latest Items from TreeHugger https://ift.tt/2F7AHXS https://ift.tt/36b4wme

Famous for its silk and precise tailoring, shopping in Vietnam can provide you with so much more than just those souvenir cone hats. In Hoi An, the tailors will whip up your heart’s desire. Just show them a picture, pick out your fabric, and you’ll get something bespoke within 24 hours for a song. But in Ho Chi Minh (also known as Saigon) and Hanoi, there are also stores where you can try on plant-dyed silk separates, beach-beautiful hats, and even get a non-toxic manicure when you’re done. Here’s where to go shopping for fashion if you want to ensure you’re supporting ethical local artistry in Vietnam. Ho Chi Minh (a.k.a. Saigon) Metiseko The smaller location of this brand showcases organic cotton fashion, but with three levels of splendour, the Metiseko silk store is where Vietnamese craft really shines. Find lightweight shirt dresses, beautiful scarves with tassels and instructions on how to tie them in your head, blouses in pastel prints, jumpsuits, trousers, bags, tassel ea...

The Canadian city is the latest to rethink disposal culture and insist on something better. from Latest Items from TreeHugger https://ift.tt/2Q9ClPa https://ift.tt/352vdbq

Serenbe is an ecologically responsible 1,000-acre community in the Chattahoochee Hill Country just outside Atlanta. With more than 700 residents living around four village centers, Serenbe maintains more than 70 percent of its land as green space, offering a lovely combination of environmental living with culture, food, and shopping designed for local consumption. Former restauranteur Steve Nygren , the founder of Serenbe, joins Earth911 to discuss his vision and progress toward a new model for communities. He shares how his love of the hill country started with a weekend retreat that has led three generations of his family to live in Serenbe. Serenbe, an environmentally friendly community in the Chattahoochee Hill Country outside Atlanta. Nygren sold dozens of restaurants around the country to pour his attention into building Serenbe, which won the Urban Land Institute’s inaugural Sustainability Award. Bringing a lifetime of hospitality experience to the project, Nygren and his...

After a century of growth — and destruction — powered by fossil fuels, most of us realize that we need to wean ourselves off this limited and polluting energy source. Despite the politicization of the issue, the energy industry is grudgingly recognizing that fossil fuels are not only environmentally unsustainable, but economically unsustainable . With that realization, we are slowly shifting toward cleaner, renewable sources. Renewable energy is generated from sources that naturally replenish themselves, like the sun and wind. The most widely used renewable energy sources in the U.S. in 2016 were: Hydroelectric: 2.415 quadrillion Btu Wind: 2.042 quadrillion Btu Wood biomass: 1.980 quadrillion Btu Ethanol: 1.144 quadrillion Btu Solar: 0.624 quadrillion Btu In 2018, these and other renewable energy sources provided about 10 percent of the United States’ energy needs. It may not seem like very much, but this is the most renewable electric generation since the 19...

‘Tis the season for holiday cheers, fusion fruit blends, and culinary cocktails. It’s also the season for unexpected visitors, impromptu gatherings, and happier hours. When we think of the holidays, many of us dread those unwanted pounds from sinful and sugary sabotage. However, it doesn’t have to be this way. You can (and should) make healthy choices a lifestyle, not a trend you adopt in preparation for swimsuit season. So, get into the holiday spirit with a few natural adult beverage recipes that will put you on Santa’s nice list this year. Organic and Sparkling Meet your new mixer, Sipp Sparkling Organics . This sparkling line of layered fruits and herbs is USDA certified organic, all natural, lightly sweetened, and contains no artificial ingredients. You can enjoy these bubbly beverages chilled with a meal, mixed into a mocktail, or crafted into a fresh and clean cocktail. Find a Sipp store location near you. Ruby Rose Gimlet Ingredients 1 1/2 ounces gin 4 ounces Sipp Ru...

From ancient trees and strange sea slugs to odd and adorable insects plus more, our most popular reader's photos of the year are a tribute to Mother Nature. from Latest Items from TreeHugger https://ift.tt/365AUGU https://ift.tt/2Qp9MvX

Tiny homes and food proved to be popular, but a story on sneakers (really?) ran its way to the top. from Latest Items from TreeHugger https://ift.tt/2ZvtHgO https://ift.tt/2QtDxvq

There are lots of ways to put a tree to good use. from Latest Items from TreeHugger https://ift.tt/3666Cne https://ift.tt/353jedI

A look back at the tweets that changed the way I think about sustainable design. from Latest Items from TreeHugger https://ift.tt/2QtMipg https://ift.tt/39cl0fT

These are the ones that also had a green slant to them, making them special to TreeHugger's heart. from Latest Items from TreeHugger https://ift.tt/362D2PE https://ift.tt/2F08AtI

Our photo of the day comes from Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming. from Latest Items from TreeHugger https://ift.tt/2F02JEK https://ift.tt/2EZOvDy

Hi readers, Remember when I went out to speak at an event in San Francisco by Brightly? Well, their Good Together podcast is now in the top 150 podcasts in the United States and number 5 in the Leisure category. They invited me to help with their year-end review, and we had so much to talk about they split it into two parts! Here’s part one . I’ll link to the second when it comes out! Sustainable Fashion What’s going on right now in China with the Uighur minority is such a flagrant violation of human rights — and fashion is now involved . | Foreign Policy The fur industry is not going down without a fight . | Vogue Business The one company trying to deal with fashion’s waste in NYC. | The New York Times We might have massively underestimated the amount of microplastics in the ocean. | EcoTextile News Sustainable fashion explained . | Harpers Bazaar These are just anecdotes, but you really can glean some insights from these conversations with garments workers around the wor...

In 2009, the Canadian city of Toronto, Ontario passed the first law in North America requiring green roofs on newly constructed buildings over a certain size. Now, 10 years after the passage of Toronto’s Green Roof Bylaw , Toronto has gained 640 new green roofs under the law. And the rest of the continent seems to be catching on . The number of green roofs in North American is estimated to have grown by 15 percent since 2013. Green Roofs It’s common to call anything that’s more sustainable than standard practices “green.” But a green roof, sometimes called a living roof, is not just any sustainable roofing material. A green roof is a specific type of roofing system that supports living plants. Green roofs have been around in the form of sod roofs since at least the middle ages. Photo: Pexels by Pixabay But a modern green roof involves more than just plants. It needs high quality water-proofing and protection against root damage, a drainage system, filter cloth, and a lightweig...

Following the rapid rise of CBD-based products, Earth911 looks at the environmental footprint of the non-psychoactive product of hemp and cannabis plants. We also walk you through the steps to a successful home solar installation contract and explore the opportunity to green your interior with vertical gardens. Join Evelyn Fielding-Lopez, Sarah Lozanova, and Mitch Ratcliffe for this week’s sustainable living and recycling discussion. Products containing CBD are promoted as cures of pain, anxiety, and animal health, but is the production of CBD sustainable? We explore how CBD is grown and packaged to discover if your cannabis-based skin regime or sleep aide is good for the planet. Most CBD comes from industrial hemp farms, which use the spent plant material to make textiles and rope, among various other uses for this ancient plant. We also answer a related Earthling Question about how to determine the quality and dosage of CBD products. If you are planning to install solar panels be...