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1. GREEN GIFT GUIDE: Eco Knits for the Holidays
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2. Best Green Flooring Options
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3. Quick Green Tip: Wash Less Laundry
GREEN GIFT GUIDE: Eco Knits for the Holidays
Abigail Doan - 2008 Holiday Gift Guide
Nothing says 'warmest wishes for the holidays' like cozy knitwear that is lovingly crafted and sustainably produced. Eco knits make a great holiday gift, as they remain stylish from year to year while also keeping us cozy and cutely bundled from day to day. We have handpicked a few great finds from our favorite eco boutiques, Etsy crafters, and our new Inhabitat Shop as a toasty warm-up for your gift-giving list. Spread the cheer of sustainable style with eco knits that add a unique and fun twist to chic green layering.
NIT ARM WARMERS - $35
What's not to love about an eco-luxurious pair of long arm warmers from NIT. Made from 100% super fine merino wool, this is the ultra chic gift for the green girl about town. Sculpted knitwear like this goes a long way in defining one's unique signature style not to mention adding an elegant layer to day-to-night ensembles.
OEUF SQUEEZE ME MITTENS - $58
Not to be left behind, Oeuf's Squeeze Me Mittens with built in pockets for your little one's hands. How cute and clever is this design? A perfect solution for family gift giving and a great way to insure that your little one does not stray far from your side. Produced in Bolivia by fair-trade artisans and knit out of 100% alpaca, Squeeze Me Mittens come in black, brown, and pink.
$58 from the Inhabitat Shop
FLOW SCARF by HIROKO KURIHARA DESIGNS - $128
This luxurious handmade striped scarf from Hiroko Kurihara Designs in Oakland and Berkeley, CA, is made from 100% Italian virgin wool that is EU ecologically certified. Measuring 62″ long x 8″ - 10″ wide, each scarf that the designer sells results in a donation of a recycled polar fleece scarf to a local organization that serves those who are homeless or in transition. Guaranteed crafts(wo)manship with a commitment to local, sweatshop-free manufacturing.
$128 from Branch - Available in ‘brick’ or ‘lichen’
NIT POCKET SCARF - $85
This ingenious pocket scarf design combines useful hand-warming, gadget-toting pockets with the cuddliness of a wool scarf. Be the first on your block with a unique and clever pocket scarf. Designer Gail Travis of NIT custom-knits each scarf to order,and you can choose from a wide range of colors in either Merino Wool or a lighter-weight cotton/bamboo blend.
$85 from the Inhabitat Shop
FLIRTY VICTORIANA RUFFLED SCARFLETTE - $76
One cannot hunt for cool green knitwear gifts without checking in with Etsy indie crafters and their one-of-a-kind creations. I was thrilled to come across this super-cute, ruffled 'scarflette' handknit by Tinkled Pink Knits out of wool and silky bamboo. Available in an assortment of 14 colors, including the pictured ivory and crimson above - one size fits all.
$76 from Tickled Pink Knits/Etsy
Best Green Flooring Options
jchait - Home & Garden
[reclaimed flooring from Pioneer Millworks]
You’ve got a lot of choices when it comes to sustainable flooring options; some better than others.
Problems with old-school flooring:
Conventional and traditional synthetic carpets are often manufactured with petroleum derived materials, which not only pollutes your home, but is a pollution issue both during the making of said flooring product and when disposing of it. Other flooring options that are less than green include new wooden floors, floor backings made with toxic affixing products, and the toxic to produce vinyl tiles or floor covers.
Better green flooring options:
Green hardwood - look for floors made with wood certified by The Forest Stewardship Council or visit the Sustainable Woods Network to locate certified wood flooring products.
Cork is one great green option for floors, although, I don’t think it’s the prettiest green flooring choice, it is a sustainable and less expensive choice. Many people do like how cork looks by the way, I’m just not one of them.
Bamboo floors are amazingly gorgeous. The shades of natural bamboo look brilliant in any home and bamboo is an excellent, fast growing, sustainable material.
Earthen floors are one of my favorite green floors. Beautiful, available in a range of shades, and high durability are all perks.
Reclaimed wooden floors - Along with earthen floors, reclaimed fall into my top faves. When old buildings, barns, and homes come down, or get remodeled, their wood can be salvaged and used to create lovely reclaimed floors. These types of floors have amazing character, style, and history, plus can cost less than new wooden floors depending on your source.
One unique choice is a fruit pit floor - made with fruit pits (as the name suggests) these floors are cool to look at and long lasting.
Green carpet is another option, although, it’s not as green as other choices. Carpet, green or not won’t last as long as wood, clay or recycled glass tiles. Also, carpet is a germ fest. Carpet likes to drink in all the toxins you carry into your home on your shoes, and vacuuming alone, won’t get this gunk out. Still, if carpet is your choice you can go somewhat green and healthy by choosing carpet made with recycled content and aim for backing that doesn’t emit toxic fumes.
These are just a few of your green flooring options. To learn more visit:
Green Flooring Options for Builders
Eco-Friendly Flooring ideas from Co-op America
Quick Green Tip: Wash Less Laundry
jchait - Home & Garden
Some of the laundry you may be washing, might be out of habit, rather than need.
- For example, most clothing items can be worn twice before it’s grimy. (I’d think twice about undies and socks though!)
- Bath and kitchen towels can be used for a week before washing.
- Curtains, bedding, pillows, and other decorative items can be washed infrequently; not every week.
- Cloth napkins that are barely used can be used at the next meal.
Consider what you toss into the wash, before you do the next laundry load. If it’s not dirty, why wash?
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