Green Paige

What exactly is eco-style?  Susie Matson, professional organizer and owner of Savvy Spaces, defines eco-style as natural, affordable and realistic.

   

For me, the basis of eco-style is redesign-using a combination of natural elements with items that you already have to make your home more beautiful, comfortable and functional.

In this era of green washing and high-end design, we have come to expect a high price tag attached to anything associated with the terms green, sustainable or ecological.  “Not so,” claims Susie.  Even though she doesn’t market herself as an eco-organizer, Susie has always had a passion for reusing and repurposing.

   

When my husband and I first started dating, I didn’t tell him that I did most of my shopping at thrift stores and flea markets.  One day, I had my head down in a bin at the Salvation Army when I looked up and spotted him on the other side of the store sorting through his own pile of stuff.  Our eyes met and we both realized that we had met our match.

When redesigning your home, Susie recommends starting with one room at a time.

   

When I am decorating a room, I like to take time to sit in that space, be still, clear my mind and feel the energy of the room.  It helps me define what’s missing and what needs editing.

Ask yourself if it’s too dark or too heavy on one side?  Are there too many plants or not enough plants?  Does the room get enough light? What is the purpose of this room going to be?  Susie believes that these questions will help give you direction.

I feel that your home should restore, rejuvenate and energize you.  When you walk in the door, you should feel that it’s good to be here. 

Susie’s eight quick tips for redesigning your home with eco-style:

1. Get Inspired - Find an inspiration item that will help you visualize a theme for your redesign.  Susie suggests choosing something that will work well with the purpose of the room.  For example, a vintage postcard from Hawaii could be the inspiration for a bathroom redesign.
2. Shop Your Home - Most of us tend to scatter the things we love throughout our living space.  By shopping our home and gathering together items that would work well with our theme, we can actually create a fresh look for that space.  Susie recommends choosing items based on texture and color.
3. Repurpose - Visualize Aunt Martha’s old, blue suitcase as a table top for a nightstand.  Don’t be afraid to break the rules and use a bedroom dresser as a buffet table or mix things up a bit by displaying antique gardening tools in the kitchen. By using things that you have collected throughout the years, you make a statement about you and your family.
4. Find Your Soul Color - Susie advises decorating a room with colors that restore you.  “I have this theory that we all have our own soul color.  I tend to love Earth tones but the color that restores me is green,” says Susie.  She suggests using furniture or carpet with neutral colors.  You can always change out pillows or art work to give your room punch.
5. Stylize - Decorate your home in ways that really suit you, that speak to you. “When you come in to my house, although I love rocks, you won’t find a granite countertop anywhere,” admits Susie.  ”It’s not my style.  That’s not to say they’re not stylish but it’s not what my style is really about.”  If you need help defining your style, visit HGTV  and search for style quiz.
6. Keep It Natural - Susie suggests using natural elements like wood, stone and shells to create your eco-style.  “I try to keep plastics and appliances put away because they make a room feel cold.”  Natural decorations bring the outdoors in and make you feel close to the Earth.  “I have this bowl in my living room that I change out all year long.  I put sand in it with seashells, pinecones, Christmas balls, or seed pods.  It’s an interactive accessory.”
7. Trade - Exchange things with other people.  Susie explains, “I have friends that I am so close to that we know each other’s styles.  If I have something they could use in their home redesign, I happily give it to them knowing that it will be loved and reused.” 
8. Reuse - When you do buy things for your home, buy used.  Buy things that speak to you and your own personal style.  Don’t buy what’s trendy and decorate for trend appeal.  Trends are short lived and don’t perpetuate reuse.

As a professional organizer and amateur treasure hunter, Susie Matson has spent her life saving money and the environment.

I know some people think that they can’t afford to live a more sustainable, environmentally friendly lifestyle because green products and services are just too expensive.  That tells me that they are working with the wrong definition of green.

For more redesigning tips, contact Susie Matson of Savvy Spaces.

I don’t have the time to make my own cleaning products!  That was always my argument.  After all, it’s easier to pick up a package of sparkling blue tablets that will shine my toilet so brilliantly I will be able to see my face reflected in the bowl. Who doesn’t want house cleaning to be less time consuming?  What we don’t want is to sacrifice our family’s health and safety to do it.

If you read the labels of your favorite cleaning products as I did, you will discover that some of these brightly packaged solvents are manufactured using petroleum products, phosphates/EDTA and chlorine bleach which are harmful to the environment.  They can also contain phthalates that have been linked to cancer and disease of the reproductive system. Cleansers with antibacterials such as triclosan and benzalkonium chloride can contribute to an increase in antibiotic-resistant bacteria, resulting in illnesses that are more difficult to treat. What can we do?

Make our own cleaning products.  Here’s how:

1. Cleaning Caddy -  Begin with a wire cleaning caddy or make one out of a basket or a box.  Fill it with your cleaning essentials including an all-purpose cleaner, soft scrub cleanser, window wash, furniture polish, a multi-purpose scrub brush, natural cellulose sponges, a turkey feather duster and cotton cleaning rags.
2. All-Purpose Cleaner - The first item you will need to add to your caddy is an all-purpose cleaner.  There are numerous recipes out there for natural all-purpose cleaners but my favorite features grapefruit seed extract which is a natural disinfectant.  Start with a 32-oz. spray bottle.  Fill it three-quarters full of water and add two tablespoons of a natural dish soap like Seventh Generation.  Mix 20 drops of grapefruit seed extract into the solution with 5-10 drops of lemon juice.  This cleaner is safe to use on every surface including walls and floors.
3. Soft Scrub Cleanser - Next, you will need a soft scrub cleanser for soap scum in tubs and stains on counter tops.  Mix 1/4 cup baking soda with a small amount of natural liquid soap until it forms the consistency of frosting.  Store in a bottle or make it fresh whenever you need it.
4. Disinfectant - For those diaper pail, garbage can and litter box jobs where only a disinfectant will do, use Tea Tree oil.  It has natural antibacterial properties.  To one gallon of hot water, mix ½ cup of Borax and a couple of drops of Tea Tree oil.  Let the concoction steep for 10 minutes and then pour into a spray bottle.
5. Window Wash - For a simple but effective window wash solution, use the same recipe our grandmothers have sworn by for years.  With 2 cups of warm water, combine 3 tablespoons of vinegar or lemon juice and 1/2 teaspoon of a natural liquid soap. Wash windows with a soft, cotton rag.
6. Furniture Polish - No cleaning caddy would be complete without wood furniture polish.  Mix 1/4 cup of olive oil with 1/8 cup of lemon juice.  Mix together and apply to wood furniture in a thin coat.  Rub well with a soft, cotton cloth.

 Green Cleaning Tips:

• Use mops with a washable mop head cover and vacuum cleaners with HEPA filters. 
• Avoid disposable cleaning products.
• Don’t forget to recycle and properly dispose of harmful cleaning chemicals.

Still not convinced to make your own cleaning products?  Contact a green cleaning company like All Star Cleaning Services. They offer pre-mixed kits, instruction and monthly refill programs.  To locate a eco-friendly cleaning company near you, visit Green America’s National Green Pages.

Thank you readers for sending in your questions for Corey Colwell-Lipson and Lynn Colwell, authors of Celebrate Green!  Here are their responses:

• Thomas would like to know:   Other than the obvious process of putting the jack-o-lanterns in the compost pile, do you have any other post Halloween (recycling?) ideas around costumes, decorations and candy?

  

“Save costumes until next year, then organize or participate in a costume swap or donate to Goodwill or other thrift or consignment store.”

   

“If you don’t want to use the same decorations year after year, call a preschool, school, senior center or retirement home and see if they could use them.  Rethink your Halloween decorations.  Fake pumpkins can be used for Thanksgiving décor, for instance.  Some décor might be incorporated into small gifts.  Pieces can be used to decorate homemade greeting cards.  Schools often are seeking interesting items to use in craft projects. Before you stop at the trash container, think about how you can change, reuse or give away what you no longer want.” 

“Candy can be composted.  Remove the wrappers before putting in your compost bin.  If you have houseplants, you can even bury one or two pieces in the soil.  Next year, call a local dentist and ask if she would be willing to do a candy exchange.  Some will exchange for money, others for small gifts.  Or if you have a local organic food company, they might want to help out with an exchange.”

• Alison (age 10) would like to know:   Does having a green Halloween mean that I won’t be able to get candy anymore?  How do I tell my friends that a green Halloween can be just as fun as a regular Halloween?

   

“Great questions, Alison.  Thank you for asking.  We’re happy to say that no, you don’t need to give up candy altogether for Halloween.  We are concerned about two things here.  One is the effect on your health of too much candy and the other is the waste that accompanies Halloween.  A small amount of candy isn’t going to hurt you.  But did you know that the average child in America brings home ten pounds of candy on Halloween?  What doesn’t get eaten, gets thrown away.  That’s why we suggest that instead of accepting handfuls of candy, you simply ask if you can have one at each home you go to.  When you get home, you can sort through and pick out a few of your favorites, then decide what to do with the rest. Your parents can get some ideas by visiting Green Halloween.“

 

“Also, unfortunately, a lot of candy is made from ingredients that are bad for us (and the planet).  So organic candy, made from real, organic ingredients, is best. You won’t be able to tell the difference when you try organic lollipops, organic gummy bears and other favorites. Check Green Halloween  for more ideas.”

 

“As for telling your friends that a green Halloween can be just as much fun as the way it’s normally celebrated, maybe it’s best to show instead of tell.  For instance, you could invite a few friends over before or after you go trick or treating (with your parents’ permission of course) and enjoy a green Halloween party.  Don’t tell them that’s what it is.  By the end, they will have had so much fun, they won’t notice that anything is missing.  For lots of ideas for the party, see the Green Halloween website.”

• Cookie would like to know:  I have been throwing a neighborhood Halloween party for 37 years.  People expect the same things (i.e., colorful plastics table clothes, paper plates and cups with Halloween themed-designs etc…,) how do I create the same effect and be “green” at the same time? 

“There are a number of approaches you could consider:

1. Tell everyone that you’re getting tired of what you’ve always done and want to try some new ideas this year.  One might be to take an old sheet or purchase a solid color table cloth from a thrift store.  Give everyone bits of black, green and orange fabric, tassels etc, needle and thread and have everyone sew on some shapes.  These can be circles, squares, whatever is easy. The cloth can be washed and reused year after year.
2. Get a couple of neighbors together and hit a few thrift stores.  Purchase enough plates and cups in autumn colors for the gang.  We did this recently and the resulting table was spectacular.
3. If you do buy new Halloween-themed plates, be sure that you will keep and use them for many years to come.  If you can’t be sure, use compostable plates instead.
4. Get a group together prior to Halloween.  Let them know you are concerned about the health of your families.  Share some statistics with them.  Don’t try to force them, but ask if they’d be willing to consider  some changes this year.  Getting their buy-in even to do one or two things, is a start.  Trying to shove ‘green’ down their throats will only antagonize them.  When they see the reasons behind what you are trying to do, they may come on board.  Often people want to do the right thing but they don’t know what is required.  Help open their eyes to the possibilities.  Make this discussion fun.  Reinforce the positives.”

 

• Franklin would like to know:  How do I convince my wife that kids will like “treasures” (non-food items) just as much as treats?  She just shakes her head and won’t even consider trying it.  Also, she thinks that giving kids a handful of candy instead of just one piece will make the neighborhood kids like us more.  Again, how do I convince her that it’s ok not to buy the bags and bags of candy we usually get and just give out once piece of candy at a time.

 

“Let her conduct her own study.  Purchase some non-food treasures.  Offer each child a choice this year, a treasure or a treat.  See what happens.  Or how about offering a treat and a treasure?  Maybe she would be willing to consider organic candy or honey sticks (if you haven’t tried it, you’ll be amazed at how much kids like honey sticks) in place of conventional candy.  This alone is a great step.  You might also look for candy sold in bulk - at least you’re eliminating some waste (the outer packaging).  If she’s willing, ask her to take a look at these facts.   Knowing the truth about the health and welfare of this generation of children is sobering and may be the motivation your wife is looking for.”

 

• Ling would like to know:  Chinese New Year is a big celebration for our family and friends.  We attend many parties and take part in several traditions.  How do we make these events green?  How do I convince my parents, aunts, and uncles that change is ok, better?

   

“We believe in two keys to helping people change.  One is modeling behaviors you’d like to see change and the second is to make it fun.  Rather than lecturing, throwing out statistics or sharing our opinions about how wasteful our traditions are, we think about how we can show our friends and relatives that celebrating green can be a great way to go.”

 

“For instance, we don’t announce that we won’t be using paper plates at our 4^thof July picnic.  We simply bring out the regular dishes, place a large tub on a table filled with water and ask everyone to deposit their plates in it.  Instead of providing bottled water, we fill festive jugs with tap water.  In place of wrapping gifts in paper, we use cloth (learn how to wrap gifts beautifully in Furoshiki, directions are in our book.)  Instead of purchasing plastic toys for gifts, we offer well-made or handmade items or experiences like day trips or live theater.  Every aspect of any holiday or celebration can be made greener when we stop beforehand and think about ways to do it.”

 

“If you are attending a party and are bringing a hostess gift, make sure it’s an eco-friendly one that is either unwrapped or enveloped in a reusable cloth.  Wine?  Choose organic or biodynamic.  See if it makes a difference to taste when you convert some beloved holiday recipes to using organic, fresh and/or local ingredients.  These are small, subtle changes, but they are first steps.”

 

“In our experience, this approach works because we’re taking the lead.  We’re not imposing our views on others, but gently leading them.  If they ask why, of course we explain.  If not, we just keep our little secret.  It’s interesting to see how often others follow.”

 

• Finally, I would like to know:  Do you have any suggestions for organizing a progressive  Halloween party in my neighborhood.  The mere mention of the idea has my neighbors scratching their heads.

“Our website and book, Celebrate Green!,  offer guides to throwing a eek-o friendly party that involves four homes.  But you can create your own fabulously festive event by coming up with one activity and one food item for each home regardless of how many are involved.  Activities can be crafts like decorating bags, making masks, making cards to be donated for next year to a senior center or children’s hospital, games like pin the hat on the witch, bobbing for apples or hide and seek for treats.  There are lots of fun recipes on the Internet for Halloween foods.  Try to make them as healthy as possible either by eliminating or exchanging ingredients.  For instance, use real foods rather than packaged goods.  Buy local and organic when possible.”

 

Thank you, Lynn Colwell and Corey Colwell-Lipson.  To purchase your own copy of  “Celebrate Green!,”  visit the Celebrate Green! site, Amazon,  A Toy Garden or Village Green Gifts. 

Corey Colwell-Lipson, creator of Green Halloween  and co-author of the book  Celebrate Green!,  has seven steps to help you get started creating your own green Halloween:

• Give less.  Kids tend to value things more when they are given the opportunity to choose one special treat.  “We need to cross the Great Green Divide and realize that being sustainable doesn’t have to be expensive,” points out Colwell-Lipson.  Green Halloween  offers an extensive list of healthy and affordable treats and treasures including organic lollipops and pencils made from recycled money.

• Create imaginative costumes.  “Not only do pre-made costumes and accessories rob kids of their creativity but they can contain toxic chemicals like lead, PVC and phthalates,” says Colwell-Lipson. Help your kids create the costumes of their dreams by reusing materials found at thrift stores, yard sales or around your house. If you do purchase a costume, buy 100% natural materials that can be used year-around for dress-up.

• Compost your decorations.  According to the EPA, over 25% of the methane gas that is produced in landfills comes from food scraps that could be composted.  Decorate naturally with corn stalks, pumpkins, gourds, Indian corn, colorful beans and nuts.  After the holiday is over, cook the items that are edible and compost the rest.  Colwell-Lipson suggests, “If you don’t have a city-wide composting program, talk to your city officials about creating one.”

• Start small.  Don’t get overwhelmed by trying to green every aspect of your Halloween celebration.  “Any change you make is progress towards creating a healthier holiday for your family,” explains Colwell-Lipson.  Begin by crafting your own reusable trick-or-treat bags rather than purchasing plastic bags.  According to EPA statistics, over 380 billion plastic bags are consumed in the U.S.each year. These bags don’t biodegrade, they photodegrade breaking down into pieces that contaminate soil, waterways and our food chain.

• Celebrate in your neighborhood.  “Planning green neighborhood events or simply trick-or-treating in your own neighborhood builds community while saving gas,”says Colwell-Lipson.  Inspire your friends and neighbors to stay home and celebrate by planning a progressive party, a costume exchange or a neighborhood parade.

• Get your kids involved.Colwell-Lipson recommends asking your kids how they would like to celebrate Halloween. “Older kids can implement their own ideas while parents can assist younger children in creating the Halloween of their choice.”  Parents will feel less overwhelmed if the entire family is involved.

• Be positive:  “Parents are the role models for their children,”points out Colwell-Lipson.  “If you feel passionate about the changes you are making in your life, your children will be inspired by your passion and your holiday will be fun and successful.”  Skip the sugary treats and focus on being healthy for yourself and your kids.  Start a new Halloween tradition.  Introduce your kids to The Great Pumpkin or The Halloween Fairy.  Allow them to keep the healthy treats from their trick-or-treating haul and put the rest into a bowl to be composted later.  Tell your children the story of “It’s The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown” or create your own tale about a fairy who turns candy into fruits and vegetables. After your children fall asleep, exchange the candy for a small gift and rest assured that you have created a healthy, sustainable Halloween.

Lynn Colwell and Corey Colwell-Lipson are mother and daughter and co-authors of Celebrate Green! Creating Eco-Savvy Holidays, Celebrations and Traditions for the Whole Family.  The book can be purchased at the Celebrate Green! site, on Amazon,  A Toy Garden and Village Green Gifts. If you have questions you would like to ask Corey Colwell-Lipson or Lynn Colwell this week, please post a comment. 

This Halloween, think outside the candy box.  Make healthy, delicious treats for your friends and family.  This recipe for Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins was sent to me by Talia Fox.

Ingredients:

• 1 2/3 C Flour
• 1/4 C sugar
• 1 Tbsp pumpkin pie spice
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp baking powder (aluminum free)
• 2 organic eggs
• 1/2 C organic apple sauce 
• 1 C organic pumpkin puree 
• 1/2 C organic (70%) chocolate chips  

Mix all ingredients together.  Scoop batter into muffin tin.  Bake at 350 degrees for 14 minutes until done.

Looking for a fun and goopy Halloween craft for the entire family?  Make some Boo Goo.

Submitted by freelance writer and former science teacher, Laura Bridgwater.  This recipe for ectoplasm combines:

• four ounces of white liquid school glue
• two ounces of liquid StaFlo starch

The proportion of ingredients is two parts glue to one part starch.  

1. Pour the liquid glue into the bowl.
2. Slowly add the starch to the glue as you stir.
3. When the mixture begins to ball, take it out of the bowl and knead it with your hands.
4. If the mixture begins to stick to your fingers, add a few drops of liquid starch.
5. The Boo Goo is ready when it doesn’t stick to your hands and your hands are dry.
6. Store individual amounts of Boo Goo in Ziploc bags. It will keep in the refrigerator for a week.

Boo Goo is easy to make, but don’t decorate with it or let it rest on cloth, carpet, or other fabrics. 

“My kids love to color their Boo Goo with washable, non-toxic markers; blow bubbles in it with straws and see how far they can stretch it.  It’s fun to make a fresh batch of Boo Goo for Halloween or after reading Dr. Seuss’s Bartholomew and the Oobleck.”

-Laura

Balloons on a stick, those pre-inflated foil balloons found in floral departments, may not sound elegant, but they make a great centerpiece for a child’s birthday party.  Plus, unlike streamers, confetti, and helium balloons that are thrown out at the end of a bash, balloons on a stick are decorations that will keep for years. We know, because we bought our first balloon on a stick nine years ago and it is still fully inflated. Since then, we have added one or two balloons  to the collection whenever someone has a birthday, and except for the sticks that were used as lightsabers, all of our balloons look as pretty as the day we brought them home from the corner grocery store. 

To make an inexpensive centerpiece (a  9-inch balloon on a stick costs approximately $1.99), you’ll need:

1. A simple vase - such as a milk jug or a Mason jar. 

2. Marbles, candy, or shredded wrapping paper to jazz up your vase.  We filled  our vase with clear gems from the craft store.

3. Curly, brightly-colored ribbon to tie around the outside.

4. Five or six balloons to make a centerpiece that your children will look forward to arranging–and rearranging–each year on their special day.