10/6/13

While antique and vintage furniture is the greenest way to furnish a home, sometimes you can’t find the right piece or want something new. One type of sustainable wood furniture new to market is called mango wood, from the fruit-bearing trees of the same name. Mango trees are fast growing and bear fruit for about 15 years. Once the trees stop producing fruit, they are cut down and replaced with new trees. In addition to being sustainable, mango wood is stylish: It comes in beautiful natural colors ranging from blonde to a dark brown. And since it comes from mango farms that quickly replenish the trees, mango wood furniture is affordable, too.

10/5/13

More than $32 billion worth of flower arrangements from 15,000 local florists are sold every year. From billions of dollars worth of arrangements come millions of glass and ceramic vases that end up stashed under the kitchen sink, in Goodwill donation bins or in the trashcan. If you want to find a home for your unwanted vessels, think about contacting the local florist who brought you the arrangement. Often they’ll take back the vase and reuse it to create new arrangements.

10/4/13

Ever wonder what to do with old metal keys you no longer need? The good news is that they are recyclable, since most household keys are comprised of brass with a nickel coating. All you have to do is remove any plastic covers you might have on the key and bring it to scrap metal or recycling facilities. Old keys are melted down to make new metal products. Here’s another idea: Have a key fundraising drive. Ask everyone to bring old keys from their junk drawer, and sell the whole lot to a scrap metal dealer. Local businesses like car dealers and realtors could donate tons of keys to help you raise money, too.