Green Tip of the Day

Greener Building Materials

Whether you are constructing a dream home or renovating an existing dwelling, building work can cause a great deal of disruption, dirt and waste.  A sustainable building plan aims to cut waste, make efficient use of resources and produce a building that will have minimal impact on the environment over its whole life.

Energy and water saving features are often easier to include in your home at the construction stage.  Start by hiring an architect or builder who understands what's important to you.

Some building materials-cement, plaster, plastics and metals are made in energy-intensive processes.  Sheep's wool insulation, local slate, stone and sustainable wood use less energy in production and transportation.  Avoid wood preservatives and paints that contain toxic chemicals.

Try sourcing materials from reclamation and salvage yards: beautiful doors, fireplaces, and wooden floor boards may be among your finds.

Around a sixth of the wood brought to a construction site does not get used and ends up in landfill as offcuts instead.  Ensure that as much leftover material is recycled or reused as possible.

From: The Earths Handbook

Random thoughts

My daughter Rose used to always tell me that I'm so random, and now I think I'm starting to see what she's talking about!  If you would follow me around for a day or maybe even an hour, you would understand also.  It's just the way my brain works.

Anyways I thought I would share some things that we (junk evolution) find exciting.  Starting with this photo of Myles striking a pose.  He's one of our new favorite peeps.  He's going to IUSB for environmental studies, and was hired by the school to help reduce waste, and make the school greener.  We are working with him on a fun project and I'll tell you more about that later.

 This is my version of a black and tan!  I just finished this piece that has many functions...flat screen tv stand,  storage at the end of a queen or king sized bed,  mud room storage (topped with a cushion for seating).

 Me, coming home from a garage sale with not one, but 2 wedding dresses!  You'll see what I do with this ruffle next February-when we celebrate our ancestry and France vs England oh la la!

 In my perfect world, every house would have a clothes line.  Why?  Because it's green.  You save energy, it whitens the whites and on a windy day it practically iron's the clothes for you.  I savor days like these and miss them when they're gone.

 Our friend Hiromi went to her homeland this summer (Japan) and brought Linda and I these socks.

They're perfect for flip flops and so comfy.  

and speaking of Hiromi she is going to be teaching some fun classes this fall and winter at the shop so stay posted.


Randomly yours,
Char

Art Beat & Off Beat

This Saturday is the annual Art Beat, downtown South Bend, and our side of the river (East Bank Village will also celebrate Off Beat from 4-9pm

junk evolution will be open from 10 am until 9 pm

Starting today you have only one week left of Steam Punk Industrial.  Here are some new items that were brought in mid-month.

 We are going to be setting up an ETSY account very soon and all remaining

inventory will be put on etsy, so for all of you that live a great distance away you will finally get a chance to buy!   

once upon a time a white dental/medical cart.
I stripped off all the whiteness for that wonderful industrial feel.

new pendant light, it's former use was a chimney cleaner.

trouble light

iron works with a wonderful fruit motif

pendant light

vintage desk accessories

This makes me want to move to a loft in the city!

gas station light revamped

tables

September 2, First Friday kicks off "Lodgeistics"  We're ready to start the fall decorating in the lodge!

Green Thursday on Exercise.

I haven't posted a "Green Living" post in quite a while and would like to do it on exercise!   It doesn't have to be grueling it can be fun and enjoyable.  Or you can use peddle power to run your errands and get a two-for.  I live right in town and always try to walk or ride my bike, you save fossil fuel and get your exercise.   Instead of going out to lunch with an old friend we meet and go for a walk.  It's a great time to catch up.  Try to add some kind of fun to your day in the form of exercise and you won't even realize that you are getting in shape.


We have a wonderful brand span-kin new "Pumpkin Vine Trail" (it used to be the railroad) that runs from here to Goshen all the way to Shipshewanna, and it's the most beautiful, peaceful way to start your day.  No traffic, no bad fumes from cars, no noise (except the birds singing) or the singing coming from an Amish church on a Sunday.  It's truly wonderful.  Ed and I ride on Sundays to Shipshe and back in the dappled sunshine.  It' nice and cool on the path that's canopied by trees.  


I feel so fortunate to have this trail in town and can't wait to see the changing seasons along this path.  With any luck we'll have some snow this winter and it will be a great place to go cross country skiing!

The path ahead

along the way

special Ed

It's not officially open because as you can see they are
still working on the sidelines.

For more information on the trail go here http://www.pumpkinvine.org/

The world is your oyster, open it's door and explore!

Living Large and Green

Awhile back I commented on how most of us have forgotten (or have never learned) how easy some things are to make.  At the begining of this year, I cut out my biggest weekness-CARBS!  But every once in awhile I will indulge, and if I go there, I want it to be great.!  So today's lesson is on a quick and easy way to make homemade bread, chock full of grains.  It costs pennies on the dollar and has all natural ingredients, not to mention the taste and the wonderful, mouth watering aroma when it comes out of the oven!

Remember these?  Everyone still has one stuffed in the back of a closet.  Dig it out!  I never liked the hard, compact shape of the loaf so I only use it to make quick work of the WORK!  This is a smaller bread maker so I altered the recipe to fit.  Into the pan add:

1 1/4 Cup water

2 TBSP powdered milk (I like buttermilk)

2 TBSP BUTTER

2 TBSP HONEY

1 1/2 TSP SALT

2 1/4 CUPS WHITE FLOUR

1 CUP WHOLE WHEAT

3/4 CUPS CRACKED WHEAT  (or a mix of cornmeal, oats etc)

1 1/2 TSP YEAST

Set your bread machine to the dough setting.  When it's finished, knead the dough on a floured board to your desired shape. Then put it on a greased sheet pan and pop it into a cold oven.  Set the temp at 190 degrees and the timer for 30 minutes.  Don't open the oven door, but turn the temp up to 350 when the timer rings.  Then set the timer for 15 minutes.  When the timer rings, turn off the oven and set the timer for 10 more minutes.  (It keeps baking and saves money).

Now you can open the oven and remove.  Cool and enjoy!

A bit about shopping green...

 I buy in bulk and as local as I can.  Bonneyville Mill is a wonderful local, historic mill, and New Rinkel is bagged in Howe, IN.  I keep my flours in the freezer to keep it from getting "buggy".

 If I eat a sandwich,  I want it to be a tasty, full, and pretty.    We had some left over roast recently,  so I shredded the meat and sauteed 1/2 vandalia onion, 1 sweet red pepper and a handfull of mushrooms.  Cut the loaf in half through the center of the bread, spread it with chipotle skinny cow cheese and pile high with meat and veggies.

 It's ok to indulge every once in awhile, so make it worth it!


Live each season as it passes: breathe the air, drink the drink, taste the fruit and resign yourself to the influences of each.


            Henry David Thoreau

More bags by Hiromi!

Linda and I were graced with some beautiful bags that Hiromi made for us.

This one, as you can see is from an elbow of a sport coat.  Perfect for make-up or whatever,and embellished with embroidery.

 This fabric was a small scrap left over from upholstering this chair.  She turned it into this fabulous french styled purse.  Oh, and I should mention that the insides look just as nice as the outsides, fully lined in pretty fabrics.    For more information please read the post below on Wabi Sabi Saturday.

Green Friday

Ok, so the picture doesn't really have anything to do with what I'm about to (excitedly) tell you, but for those of us in the great white north with the everlasting winter, I thought it would be a treat to dream with your eye's wide open!  This is one of the most beautiful places I've ever been to in South America and the memory of that day is still engraved in all my senses.  It's also the greenest picture in my file, since that's really the point.

Every day is Earth Day.  

Yesterday, while buying supplies at Snyder Paints in Goshen I discovered a brand spanking new line of paint that is made from recycled paint by a company called RepcoLite!  Take any brand in, as long as it's water based, and has not been kept in a storage area that freezes, and doesn't smell like mold.  They will give you vouchers for $1.00 per gallon, towards their new paint.

Then they send it to their plant where it's tested, and brought up to their standards of quality, and tinted to Pottery Barn Colors.  It's an eggshell finish-perfect for any walls.   The price per gallon is only $22.00.  How fantastic is that!?

So here's the deal, if you can't get to Goshen to recycle your paint (latex only) then drop it off when we're open and we'll do it for you.  You won't get the dollar, but your paint will be recycled!  

For directions to the paint store click on the link.

Snyder Paints & Wallpaper

Living the Green Life

We're usually all about JUNK, but not when it comes to Food!
I think by now you know that we are living the whole green life and not just by re-using and recycling.  So I'm taking you into the kitchen today, where it all starts.  As consumers of food, something we have to buy every week,  it can really make an impact on the land fill by thinking about every single thing that we do in this room.   Eating whole foods is the #1 Rule and lets start with the first meal of the day Breakfast!

This is my instant breakfast:  Oatmeal with bananas and maple syrup.  All natural and ready in a minute!

Add one cup of water to a microwave safe bowl.

1/2 cup of regular oats

a sprinkling of cinnamon if you like

and one sliced banana

cover and microwave for one minute

add pure maple syrup

 And there you have it,  Fruit and fiber, 100% natural.  You can add chopped apples, or if you're in a big hurry dried cranberries or raisins.

This bag of oats is to blurry to read, but if you buy in bulk you save lots of money.  What you don't get with this breakfast is a lot of individual sized packages that end up in the trash.  Society has made us really forget how easy basic food is. Things like: popcorn, iced tea, and even bread, just to name a few.  It does take planning ahead tho, so add bulk items to your grocery list!

Bon Apatite'

Great Gift Idea's

God has given us two hands, one to receive with and the 

other to give with.     -Billy Graham

Gary (Carpenter Gothic) just created this wonderful

retro styled island.  Drawers on both sides and casters

on the bottom.  Pull out cutting boards and a lino top. 

 a mini green house for the gardener in your life.

 Unique items for gift baskets

add hot chocolate or tea for a wonderful hostess gift.

 Eggnog anyone?

 

 A candle holder in winter, a bird bath is the summer

 Retro smoking cabinet

 Asia influenced gifts

 My idea of a jewelry box.  You can hang fishhook earrings on the back and long

necklaces on the hooks at the bottom.  

 Jewelry

 Vintage toys from days gone by.

 Simple joys

 Unique ornaments

 junk evolution style 

Give a gift in a container that can be used over

and over.  No waste.

 Beautiful doors and wreaths

 Designer lighting.  One of a kind for that one of kind person!

 A weighty option!

 Sleigh bells ring are you listening?

 on the shelf, crystals glistening
a beautiful sight

 We're happy tonight, walking in to a shopping wonderland.

You'll never know what you'll find!

 Unconditional Love.  Selflessness. Trust. Faith. Forgiveness.  Wholeness.  Second Chances.  Comfort.  Joy.  Peace.  Reassurance.  Rejoicing.  Generosity.  Compassion.  Charity:  Wonder.  Acceptance.  courage.  To give such gifts!  To truly open our hearts to receive such gifts gratefully.
      -Susan Ban Breathnach