Archive for the ‘DIY green’ Category

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.

Read the rest of this entry »

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

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