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Green Toys

With winning awards from, Oppenheim Toy Portfolio, Dr. Toys, and Fat Brian, Green Toys’ line of classic toys uses recycled plastic milk containers to make safe, eco-friendly children’s toys that do not contain phthalates or Bispenol-A (BPA), and meet FDA food contact standards. All that plus, they in turn save energy and reduce greenhouse gases. Being “green” also means doing business locally. All Green Toys Inc. operations are located within close proximity of one another in California, which helps reduce its carbon footprint by avoiding long transportation distances.

All Green Toys products are packaged in recycled corrugated boxes with no plastics, cellophane or twist-ties, and all the toys are 100% recyclable too. So, not only are they earth-friendly they are ready for your recycling bin. Made in the USA from Recycled Milk Jugs

Watch a video that highlights how Green Toys are made in an eco-friendly and healthy way!

DIY Upcycled Urban Planters

In urban and suburban settings, access to green space can be very limited. Having a home garden is still possible with the use of urban planters. With a little creative planning for organization and storage, you can make room for do-it-yourself garden options. Whether you are potting herbs for recipes or planting colorful flowers to spruce the place up, you can make your own planting beds in areas without a lot of green space.

Here are some creative and easy DIY planters using items you probably already have on hand, or if not, could locate pretty quickly from thrift stores or other secondhand locations.

Upcycled over-the-door shoe racks are great items to use for makeshift planters because the “pots” are already built in. eHow.com provides a step-by-step manual for making a discarded organizer work for your planting project, indoor or out.

• First, decide between a clear organizer or one that will keep the bottom of your plants hidden. These items are pretty cheap, maybe only a couple of dollars secondhand.

• Choose a location. These can either stay outdoors on fences, back porches or patios, or they can compliment a kitchen door.

• eHow.com points out that it’s very important to anchor your planter well, which may involve nailing it to a sturdy wall or other platform because the addition of soil comes with some weight.

• Fill the compartments with some potting soil, but leave room for the plant itself.

• Plant your flowers or herbs and recover with soil to cover roots, but leave room for watering.

Another great project for at-home planting is to use old appliances and things lying around the house as planters. Anything from old work boots to abandoned kitchen sinks and antique dresser drawers can work well as compartments for flowers and herbs to grow. Here’s a great way to reuse old jeans or overalls as planters! Just build a sturdy hanging contraption, and install a hook, similar to the hanging door rack. Soon you will have pretty, flowering pants!

What creative uses for old objects have you used as planters?

Simple Safety Protocols for DIY

Homemaking, healing and gardening: These are all such fundamental aspects of human life on this planet and are extremely important for that reason. The tools to create a more intentional and sustainable daily existence all stem from the tiny actions that we perform in our everyday lives. That being said, DIY projects should not be limited to people with a lot of time, space or experience. DIY is for everybody and creates a natural way to live on our own terms. However, it is important to remember that even natural formulas can hurt you. Here are a few things to keep in mind while participating in DIY projects, creating and using homemade remedies:

Natural does not mean Edible. Although compounds like borax and washing soda are more safe than most, if not all, the ingredients you will find in your local drugstore there are still some things that should not get into your body. Remember to wash your hands after mixing cleaners and clearly label the containers you keep them in. Check out this The Daily Green’s simple recipes for cheap green living, for more information on how to make your own green cleaning solutions.

If you are pregnant, there are certain herbs and oils you should avoid. During pregnancy, it is extremely important that you are aware of what goes into your body. While most herbs are rather safe for an individual to take, there are quite a few that can cause certain problems for pregnant women. Because each pregnancy is different with its own precise details, the best way to use herbs during pregnancy is under a physician, midwife, herbalist, or a homeopathic doctor.

A great resource is the Herbal Encyclopedia. This site will tell you what herbs are recommended and herbs that should be avoided during the different stages pregnancy and development. Or you might find this article on herbal remedies for women to be useful.

For additional information on alternative medicine and herbs during pregnancy check out Herb Reference.

Know your Body!

Pay attention to your body when/if something is making you feel sick, itchy or just straight up uncomfortable. The whole point of DIY is to make you feel better, not worse. Take care of yourself and pay attention to your body and how it reacts. You can learn more about potential allergic reactions to herbal remedies at  the guide to herbal remedies.

Remember: plants have families

If you know you have specific allergies, you will obviously want to avoid using that herb.  However, do your research because a lot of herbs are closely related and you will want to avoid using any herb related to the one you’re allergic to, for cosmetic or medicinal purposes, otherwise you could experience an allergic reaction or worse. A great resource to help you learn more about plants and their families is the Online Botany Guide.

DIY is about making our lives intentional and perhaps more simple. It allows us to pay close attention to our bodies and the systems that we know are right for us. Not to mention you’ll spend less money and reduce packaging all while doing your part to keep our beautiful Earth natural

Farming In Suburbia

This is a very interesting piece that caught my attention because it beautifully demonstrates that you do not need acres of land to grow your own food. My vegetable garden is on a 4′ x 6′ plot of land and is producing plenty of fresh tomatoes, peppers and herbs.

Growing and or purchasing local food is better for your health (the sooner you consume food out of the ground the more nutrients you will get) and your wallet (food prices are going up as fuel prices escalate).   Hope this video gives you inspiration on how you can be a part of this widespread movement! Send me your thoughts on Twitter or on our Facebook page!