Well, the hydroponics system is growing food. We have held off on publishing the information for the hydroponics system because, though it may grow food it is not nearly as effective as we would like it to be.

We are now working on moving from a DWC (Deep water cycle) system to an ebb and flow hydroponics system.

Though the current DWC system seems to work we have had an issue with root rot and stunted growth. Keeping the PH balance in the current system has been difficult and not very user friendly.

Everything I have read leads to me believe that the issue is a PH buffer in the water or nutrients system we are using.

Though we have used reverse osmosis water, the PH still seems to be a problem even after I have balanced it and after adding the nutrients into the system.

We will publish a how-to on both systems as soon as I have a way to fix these issues. I don’t want to encourage anyone to build a system that is clearly faulty.

With the current system the plants seem to cycle between healthy and happy and wilting and sickly.

If you have any suggestions please drop us a note in the comment area, the sooner we can get this up and 100% functional the sooner we can post our build with the results.

Greetings everyone.

After a much needed break we are back and ready to roll out with some exciting new changes.

In the past the site has been mostly a collection of informative articles based on green and eco-friendly living, the focus has been on raw information.

After much consideration we have decided to take the site in a new direction *smiley face*.

We will be moving in a more personal direction and doing our best to not just provide information but to act as a real life example of what can be done to live a more eco-friendly life.

Because we are moving away from raw information to real life experiences and examples the updates will not be as frequent as they have been in the past (disregard the vacation we took.) I will be taking the primary role in updating the site though Laura will still be piping in from time to time.

One of our primary focuses will be how to live a level of self sustainability while still being limited to the confines of a 3 bedroom apartment that has no yard, as such we have started in on apartment based hydroponics to produce green leafy goodness for our plates while still trying to keep the expense and environmental impact low.

Later this week I will be posting an update and photo how-to on our first jump into hydroponics (a 12 pot bubbleponics system) as well as container gardening.

Please follow us on Twitter or Facebook so that you can be informed when we release a new update.

We are also considering doing video podcasts for some of the more interesting bits, please leave a comment and let us know if you would like (watch) videos we produced or if our time would be better spent some other way, we are open to all suggestions.

Thank you and have a wonderful day.

–Terry

Technorati Tags: apartment gardening, apartment living, bubbleponics, container gardening, green living, hydroponics, site update, sustainability

The Earthship has come a long way from the tire and beer can brick homes of the early seventies.

Created by architect Mike Reynolds, the ideals behind forming earthships were to create less building waste and live with your natural environment not against it.

As Reynolds experimented more with sustainable housing he coined the term “biotecture” to replace our standard of “architecture”. Having a home that is created in conjunction with the earth and is self supporting buy providing its own energy, water and ability to grow food are parts of what green construction is about for Reynolds. Building by biotecture is now the hallmark of what he created all those years ago and it’s by that growth in sustainable building that we have what is known today as Earthship Biotecture.

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Technorati Tags: earthship, earthship biotecture, green consrtuction, mike reynolds, sustainable homes

Soap Nuts are getting more talk through the green channels for it’s use as an alternative to laundry detergent. Using these nuts is an organic and non-toxic way to keep your clothes fresh and clean, plus they are 100% biodegradable.

So, what are soap nuts?

Soap nuts are the dried fruit from the Chinese Soapberry Tree. The reason they are used in laundry is because they contain saponin which is a natural cleanser. The saponin oils cover the outside of the fruit/nuts which ripen and then fall from the tree. The fresh fruit has been used as a natural shampoo both Chinese and Indian cultures, just has the soap nuts(being the dried fruit) has also been used to cleanse everything from the body, clothes and home.

You can get soap nuts in American at most area Whole Foods Markets or other local organic shops, or you can purchase them online through sites like www.laundrytree.com.

Technorati Tags: green ways to wash, organic laundry wash, soap nuts, soapberry tree

In this internet day and age, there really is no use for phone books. They keep showing up though on millions of American doorsteps despite the fact that no one ever orders them. The environmental impact of these books is huge when you think about it: 5 million trees a year are used to produce them and only about 15% are ever recycled.

Some actions have been taken to tackle the phone book issue. There are some states that have created opt-in/out programs where you can sign up either to get a phone book or not get a phone book. Local recycling bins created just for the creation of collecting unwanted phone books have also been used. There is even a “Ban the Phone Book” initiative created by White Pages in an effort to get more states to adopt the opt-in/out  and recycling options. The majority of states do have the local telephone companies under legal obligation to provide phone books to every customer in there area, which is why so many of us get them without asking.

So, what can you as an individual do about helping to stop the waste that has become of obsolete phone books? Plenty.

• You can check to see if your local phone company has an opt-in/out program. Give them a call to find out it’s that 800 number at the top every monthly bill.
• Recycle the phone book collection you currently have instead of throwing them away. You can learn more at Recycle Your Phone Books by Keep American Beautiful Works, Yellow Pages and AT&T.
• Upcycle your phone book or books by creating another use for them around the house.  For some ideas you can check out DIYLife’s New Uses for Phone Books or you can just get crafty and come with an idea on your own.  If you do come up with something, let us know by contacting laura dot ecoexistent.com and we’ll feature you and your upcycle snazziness in an online interview.
• You can also check out the banthephonebook.org and sign the petition to stop having them printed up in the first place.

Also, take a look at the Say No to Phone Books blog to learn more and have a laugh at the same time.

Technorati Tags: diy, phone books, recycle, Upcycle

In the day and age of Febreeze and other commercial products used to freshen things up around the house, there is a better and healthier way to get your environment smelling better in a green way that won’t harm your house hold items or your health.

Green Carpet Freshener

In a glass jar, or other container you can use for storage place three cups baking soda, 1/2 cup of cornstarch and 1 cup dried/crushed lavender or other organic scented herb.

Mix together and let the combination sit for a couple of days to settle. Once done, sprinkle around the house and sweep or vacuum carpets and other fabric items like curtains or the couch. *You can also use essential or fragrance oil instead of dried herbs just shake well and still let the mixture settle before using. The amount essential used depends on your personal scent needs.

Technorati Tags: diy, Green Cleaning, green freshener, make your own

Envirolet Waterless Composting Toilet

Many people still flinch at the idea of using composting toilets but these eco-friendly devices have come a long way over the years.

Today’s composting toilets are easy to maintain, orderless and effective in creating enriched soil for gardening use. Not to mention that they can save water usage, chemical sewage treatments and electrical grid pull for you, your local cities and the state that you happen to live in.

Now in talking about composting toilets, we are are not talking about the portable toilets that people use for camping. We are talking about large residential indoors composting toilets. A composting toilet is a way in which to treat human waste by composting and dehydrating the waste to create a enriched soil additive.
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Check out this Green Christmas song! Full of helpful green tips with the spirit of the season.

Technorati Tags: christmas song, green christmas, sing a green christmas

Eco-fashion and green designers have come a long way from working with just hemp and serving the hippie set. Now, green fashion can be high fashion and whether you are just looking go green on a budget for splurge for eco-couture there is a wide range of stylish eco-fashion available for the holidays.

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Technorati Tags: eco fashion, green fashion, green gift guide, green gifts, Green Holiday

1. Use only LED lights for outdoor decorating. They use just 1/20th the energy of incandescent lights.

2. Don’t use inflatable decorations.Depending on size, they can use as much power as 6 CFL bulbs

3. Put all the lights you do use on a timer, that way they won’t stay on all night or at times when your not home.

4. Buy locally made organic wreaths or take a trip the woods and create your own wreath out of fallen greenery.

5. Shop local for gifts or make them yourself through upcycling.

6. Don’t buy battery-operated toys. You can make them yourself or purchase the many hand generated powered toys.

7. Choose items with minimal packaging. Wrap items in old magazines, newspapers that you decorate yourself. You can also wrap items in fabric as an extra gift.

8.Cut up some old Christmas cards and use those to make gift tags.

9. But local handcrafts or make your own, such as sweaters and scarves.

10. Overall, when it comes to the holiday season don’t go for that typical American ideal of “more,more, more” but rather start thinking of “less is more”. Make things more personal and you may just end starting new and eco-friendly holiday traditions of your own.

Technorati Tags: 10 Green Tips, Buy Local, CFL, go green, green christmas, Green Tips, LED lights