Busted! Mr. Nick loses his pants in the name of composting

How much do I love that SunChips has taken their packaging one step further and created a compostable bag? And ... the best part is they didn't make their product any more expensive. Now that's a product I can get behind. Mr. Nick might beg to differ though, the new bag is pretty loud, I scared the pants right off of him (well actually it was a towel but you get the picture). No more sneaking into the kitchen unnoticed for a midnight snack.

Plastic bags, drycleaning and food containers ... one small step for a better tomorrow

Okay, let's be serious. No one really WANTS to destroy the Earth. If you ask anyone I honestly believe that they will tell you "Sure, I want to do my part." It's just when it comes down to it, it's HARD to be green and sustainable and recycle and stewardly and all those words that I would love people to use when they talked about me (this would obviously be before they saw me climb into my GIANT truck that I have to drive because I have a shorter commute than Mr. Nick, so he gets the car).

I have compiled a list of things I am currently doing which makes me feel a little better about trying to break my consumer driven reliance on plastic. Maybe you have your own list you'd like to share (I'd love to hear it). The bottom line is, it's better to do something than nothing.

• I stopped getting plastic bags when I go to the grocery store. Our store even refunds you .05 per bag so you kind of feel like you're winning. I also try my darndest to use the reusable bags at other places too. It's hard though, sometimes I'll be distracted just chit chatting away at the cashier and not even realize that my items are being stuffed into a plastic bag. I have offered to take it all out and give the bag back to them but have been told that once it's been "opened" it can't be used for another customer. (I mean really, what kind of policy is that, we're talking plastic bags not 19th century bottles of wine). At that point I will take the bags because I know ...


• I recycle my plastic bags. This is actually a neat story. When I blogged about Trex decking a representative from the company contacted me and told me about starting a Trex recycling program. I wrote them back and found out that Trex has partnered with a lot of chain grocery stores to collect bags for them, they're working on expanding their list but I went by our Safeway and they are taking them so check out the one near you. They sent me this handout which actually expanded my recycling options, most notably, the pop holders (you know, the ones that you're supposed to cut so that the baby turtles don't get their little necks stuck) and dry cleaning bags. Which brings me to #3 ...


• Take your wire hangers back to your dry cleaner. Don't throw them away! They can and will re-use them.


• Re-use your plastic containers from items like yogurt, deli snacks, sour cream ... you get the picture. Wash them up and use them in place of 3" pots, (try to ignore the sarcastic comments from your significant other about living with a hoarder). While I haven't had the chance to do this yet (ref: my latest gardening attempt) should something present itself as ready to move out of the seedling pot I am ready to go.


• I started using brown paper bags to clean my kitty litter. (You know, the ones you use when you brown bag your lunch). Yes, I have to buy them and yes I'm sure there are better options but the reality is I am no longer using plastic bags which means I am no longer contributing to the plastic in landfills.

Real Simple magazine actually has a great post, "How to recycle anything" which could help you if you have a specific item in mind. Otherwise I would say keep on keeping on with whatever you are doing, I KNOW every little bit helps!

Trex Decking: Sustainable and Beautiful

In honor of Earth Day today I'm posting about a product I am beginning to believe more and more in. Trex Decking. Made from reclaimed wood and reclaimed plastic Trex claims to keep more than 300,000 tons of plastic and wood scrap out of landfills each year utilizing 7 out of 10 recycled plastic bags. That's great news, especially considering the beached gray whale discovered in Seattle this morning with more than "20 plastic bags, small towels, surgical gloves, plastic pieces and duct tape" in his stomach.
What makes Trex such a great product though is not that it's sustainable but it's attractive and it's affordable. (Two categories I think a lot of "sustainable" products fall short in). In fact, in the case of Trex the cost actually balances out the benefits. One builder gave us a bid at $22,700 for a 1,040 sq ft framed deck, 3 sets of stairs off the deck, and a railing system. (What can I say I've always been a sucker for wrap around porches). And I think we can do better than that. The best part is, Trex requires very little maintenance and, according to their website, if you own your deck for at least four years the cost equals that of a pressure treated deck.
So, while you may still get plastic grocery bags from the grocery store instead of utilizing a re-useable bag I think it's okay. Just recycle it! That way it has a 70% chance of becoming a Trex deck.

Salvage Finds

So our plan for the barn is to build it completely out of salvage...while Nick isn't quite done drafting up the finalized plans we do know there are certain things we want.

There are two places in the local area we plan on frequenting. Locally, Habitat for Humanity ReStore and then up in Seattle, Earthwise Architectural Salvage.

We're off to a great start already!

This guy came from Earthwise when a local stoneyard closed down...my vision is for it to be part of a fireplace mantle that Nick builds. He was $10!





This lamp came from Earthwise too...it was only $5. I don't know where it came from but I think it's perfect for hanging in an entry-way...it's over 2 feet tall!









This giant window came from the Restore in Olympia, $69. We went for a bike ride one weekend and stopped in only to find the perfect window for underneath the widows peak of the barn. It's double-paned, fiberglass...8 feet tall on the bottom and weighs over 300 lbs. Yes, we hauled it up from our apartment complex parking lot, up three flights of stairs to put it in the guest room (after I cleaned it of course).


This lamp is from the Restore...$40 but in perfect condition, I imagine it going over an eating area...there's an extra light in the middle on the bottom...I like how it's kind of farmhouse but kind of contemporary too.