Bikes on demand in SF

Zip car is awesome, and now a similar dervice for bikes is being offered from the Metropoltan Transportstion Commission


http://www.7x7.com/travel-active/transported-bike-sharing-coming-sf

Aloe Vera

I bought a pathetic-looking aloe vera plant with three little damaged spikes at my local home depot last summer for something like $1.49. I was excited about having this plant around for it's medicinal uses, I've never been very good about putting sunscreen on, and having an aloe vera plant around the house will keep me from having to buy a container of it every spring.

Over the winter, it has sprouted new growth and it has many fat happy spikes.  I checked the roots, and they are only using about half the depth of the container, so this plant can stay where it is for now. but I expect to either rot it or plant it in the ground in a sunny, hot spot by next year.

Also, it's starting a new little plant at it's base, when it gets a little bigger I'll be able to separate that off and have two!

Aloe Vera info:
hardy to 9B
sunset zones 8,9, 12-24
Medicinal plant used to treat burns, bites and inflammation.
1-2 feet tall, but flowers appear in a dense stalk 3ft tall
survives without extra water, but looks better with some
mulch with gravel

Disposing of Medicine Properly

http://www.wisegeek.com/how-do-i-dispose-of-expired-medicine.htm

Year of Living Simply

Part of living more green, is living simply. Not consuming more than you need to sustain yourself and the environment around you.  here is a great new blog describing one woman's journey into living simply.

http://yearoflivingsimply.blogspot.com/

Greener refrigerant debuts in shipping containers

http://www.container.carrier.com/Carrier+Brand+Sites/Carrier+Transicold+Container/Carrier+Transicold+Announces+Breakthrough+Natural+Refrigerant+Container+Technology

http://ecoseed.org/en/business-article-list/article/1-business/8545-new-natural-refrigerant-system-makes-container-refrigeration-greener?goback=%2Egde_38832_member_36835001

Why Recycle Glass?

http://1800recycling.com/2010/11/facts-glass-recycling/?goback=%2Egde_38832_member_35436993

No-Energy Winter Rerigerator

If you live in a climate where the weather is routinely below 35 - 38 degrees F. Use natural cooling to keep food refrigerated without wasting energy to do it. Build yourself an insulated box that's going to attach to the outside of your house for the winter months.

More info on how to build this found here:

http://www.thedailygreen.com/green-homes/blogs/diy-hacks/hack-energy-efficient-refrigerator-460215

eco-Remodel

King County in Washington state has put together cool tools to help folks renovate in a way that is friendly to the environment.

check it out here:
http://your.kingcounty.gov/solidwaste/greenbuilding/eco-remodel.asp

Recycling Clothes

This awesome blog is following a lady who is making a new dress each day for $1, using recyled clothing and her own inguinity.

http://newdressaday.wordpress.com/

How to get 99 mpg from your geo metro

The fifth annual Green Grand Prix expo and fuel economy rally in New York produced this pontiac firefly (geo metro) capable of 99 mpg, built by Darin Cosgrove. Read more about exactly how he did it...http://jalopnik.com/5558345/how-to-get-997-mpg-from-a-geo-metro

The Dirty Dozen

The Environmental Working Group has developed a list of how different fruits and vegetables rank as far as the amount of pesticides are still on the food when we eat it. They used the US Department of Agriculture Pesticide Testing Program to create their list.

Not surprisingly, foods with a thick rind, or shell, like corn or cantaloupe, give us less exposure to these chemicals, where fruits and berries, like peaches and blueberries, give us high exposure.

Download a pocket-friendly list of the dirty dozen and safe 15 at their site or look at the full list to see where your favorite foods rank.

http://www.foodnews.org/

Public transportation sucks

...but I still use it. Got kicked off of one train then waited 15 minutes for the next which took us one stop and then told us we'd have to wait there another 15 minutes. Thanks BART for taking a half hour of my Saturday.

Seed Bomb dispensers

Seed bombs are all the rage in gorilla gardening. This group on SO Cal, had the ingenious idea of taking some old candy machines and making seed bomb dispensers out of them.

http://www.urbangardensweb.com/2010/04/11/sweet-idea-for-seeding-urban-gardens/

Sustainable Treehouses

What is more awesome than a treehouse? A sustainable treehouse!

O2Treehouse
Based out of LA and Minnesota, O2Treehouses builds beautiful high-end but sustainable treehouses, mostly in the backyards of private homeowners, but some other locations as well.


check them out:
http://www.o2sustainability.com

or read their blog
http://o2treehouse.blogspot.com

Recycled Bird Bath

Today we put up a birdbath made out of an old satellite dish that was otherwise destined for the dump. I got the idea from instructables

What's reat about the bird bath is that now there is a use for the old stump in our backyard.

Portland Central Library RoofTop Garden

 See more of Bay Area Tendrils report on the Portland Central Library's Rooftop Garden...

http://bayareatendrils.blogspot.com/2009/08/living-carpet-of-texture-color-eco-roof.html

Rewards for Recycling

Greenopolis Kiosks can be found at many Whole Foods locations around the country, as well as other locations.

Each time you use the greenopolis recycling kiosk, you receive a receipt indicating the number of items recycled and a deposit statement with a prize code redeemable for points at greenopolis.com.

Go to the link below to find your closest Greenopolis Kiosk
http://greenopolis.com

Cat Collars Made from Bottles

I saw these in my local Petco - cat collars made from recycled plastic bottles, which is cool in itself, but not only that - they are made with appealing designs AND come in a variety of colors! Go Petmate!

Stainless Food Containers

I love these they are durable, washable and recyclable.

http://www.territorialseed.com/product/12128/177/?r=APR2010-1_4

Recycle your Formal Dresses

Do you have a formal dress or 15 in your closet that you bought for that one occasion and have never worn again? Here's a way to free up some space in your closet and feel good about yourself.

Donate it to the Pricess Project - an SF organization that gives them to girls who might not otherwise be able to afford a formal dress for their prom.

The Princess Project holds its Giveaway Events each spring in preparation for prom season, usually in March or April.

Do you live elsewhere? Check out their site for other programs around the US and Canada.

http://www.princessproject.org