The Great Debate - Real or Fake?

Lately everyone has an opinion on this. And there are definitely two sides. One says that a fake tree saves a real one, leaving it to live a full life taking carbon out of the atmosphere. The other says that fake trees are made with petrochemicals and will never biodegrade. Ever. So, what's the right answer.....? I think this is ultimately up to the individual (not to cop out), but each has its own argument). If you can't bear to kill a tree, but want a traditional christmas, opt for a really good quality fake one that's made in North America (if that's even possible). Make sure that its not stylized and looks very authentic. This way you won't tire of it, can keep it your entire life, and maybe even pass it down.

If real is the only way for you, please, please make sure that it comes from an organic, sustainable tree farm. Make sure they're not taking up valuable, fertile farming land and ask if they use pesticides. Buying a farmed tree means that the trees are always replanted after harvest, and seedlings will take Co2 out of the air for the 10-15 years it lives. Also, for maximum freshness trees are usually farmed somewhat locally, providing year round jobs in your area. If you must make a family trip to the bush for your tree, strap on your snowshoes and pick a tree that won't survive. Brush up your horticultural skills (aka google it!), so that you can spot a tree in trouble. Usually this means they're too close together and are fighting for light or food. Further, just like cutting a tree is a tradition for many families, keep that going into the spring and start a tree planting celebration to give back the tree you took. Finally, recycle your tree! Most townships provide curbside collection after the New Year, after which your tree is mulched and used for landscaping. Don't just pitch it in a ditch. Honestly. There's nothing sadder than a discarded tree.

The last option is to have a potted tree. This idea's been floating around a little, but its a little more idealistic than people think. First, you can only have it indoors for a few days (otherwise it thinks its spring and will die when it goes back out); second, its rather unwieldy - a 6 foot tree would have a 200 pound root ball, so you have to stay small; third, if you'd like to replant it, you have to live somewhere somewhat temperate for it to survive. Not so easy, but I love the idea.

If you feel like being a little untraditional, there are some cool ideas for tree-subs out there. I've collected a few ideas for you. I was thinking about a DIY tree of sorts. More on that later. Even while reading this, you've probably got your mind made up over what sort of tree to have, so lets get to the fun stuff and talk eco friendly ornaments. I've made a few of my own for you to see, but the photos below have a few ideas too.

{if going real is what you want, I really like this idea. it keeps everything natural. i've seen pinecones used before, but stringing them into a garland is a new idea, and very eco}

{if you'd like a potted tree, these 2 photos are a realistic size. popcorn and cookie cutters (below) is very family friendly and inexpensive. (photo from Pottery Barn)}

{photo from Country Living}

{these 3 photos are good examples of what you can do with pine branches. pick some nice ones and display in a pretty vase. you'd be surprised at how realistic it can look. keep water in the vase and it should last for several weeks. this is especially great in a small space, but either way it saves cutting a tree and save fumbling around with a potted one. search out some vintage baubles to get a look like the photo above (photo from Real Simple)}


{to acheive this look, use tidbits of leftover ribbon to drape on your branches. the nests were made using moss and foil covered chocolate eggs. you may need to use floral foam to anchor the branches in such a small base (photo from Country Living) }

{this is a neat idea - use coat hooks to attach the branch to the wall, and decorate away. You could also do something neat with this hanging over a table.}

Welcome to Christmas on PGD!

Well its Dec. 9 and I'm a little behind jumping on Christmas on PGD, but a little late is better than never. I want to focus on a few ways to make the holidays a little easier on the planet, and a little easier on you by providing some ideas. Christmas doesn't have to mean one giant headache for the earth, there are some simple ways to have all the fun while keeping it clean. I thought I'd start today with outdoor decor. I know I'm always looking forward to prettying up the front stoop during the holidays, so here are some ideas to make your home ultra welcoming to all your guests while embracing 'la nature'.

{this first one, very natural, kind of requires a covered entrance, cuz I can just picture these little pretties all covered in snow on my front step! this is an easy look to acheive - visit your local nursery and pick up some greenery (try to get locally grown) and wrap it in some burlap. burlap is made of jute, which is a quick growing sustainable fibre. when you're done with it just compost it. if you live in a temperate climate, buy potted plants (they won't freeze) and plant in the spring. if you live where its cold, just get branches, otherwise the roots will freeze and the greens will brown.}


{I personally really like this look - an eclectic mix of modern & rustic, although I think the woodstack may be a tad contrite if you don't actually have a wood burning fireplace. I tried this last year and really liked it. a light dusting of snow really adds to it. all you need to get this look are some white pine boughs, a few sparkly glass (aka recyclable) balls, some good L.E.D. lights and a few planters (go clay for maximum eco points). for all you L.E.D. phobes out there, don't cry they don't give warm white light, I was pleasantly surprised this year with the selection, and mine are all the perfect shade of 'warm'!}

{lastly, go twiggy this Christmas! this rustic country look suits absolutely any home, and is super low maintenance. I like red dogwood as it gives nice contrast against the snow. twigs are very eco as they are usually the result of trimming existing live trees, they last a few years, and can biodegrade. I'm told that sometimes they will even take root! see what you can do about getting local twigs to reduce the Co2 they would otherwise emit during travel. for this look, just ram some twigs in a planter and you're done. heck, you could even shove them in a giant snowball and they would look good. twig wreaths can be hard to find, but I've got good news...just click here (thank you Cool Native) for an easy DIY!}

I hope that gave you some eco inspiration. Make sure you snuggle up with a warm cup of organic tea to warm your hands after tackling your front step in this chilly weather!

All photos: Canadian House and Home

New Column: The Organic Kitchen

Hello again! I'm introducing yet another new column, part of PGD's exciting new line-up, called the Organic Kitchen ( Style me Green, The Green Traveller, Eco-DIY, Eco-Style and Pure Green Living are all part of the PGD family). The Organic Kitchen is about food, what is good for you, why eating organic as much as possible is so important, and what's both healthy and tasty. I'm not a cook, so a lot of this stuff is adapted from some of my favourite cookbook authors (Molly Katzen, for example), my mom, sister and hubby (all wonderful in the kitchen) and my more adventurous friends. My first installment is about Nutella! Who doesn't love this tasty breakfast treat? But a careful look at the label leaves this classy condiment a few nutrients short of healthy. Milk solids aren't always great, especially in the great gads that we ingest it; sugar, sugar, sugar {!}, our kids are hyper enough, among other things. Well, who knew how easy it is to make your own...? This is coming from my good friend Nicole. I didn't believe her 'till I tried it myself. I didn't even use a recipe, and it came out deliciously. Before I divulge the secret, here's a little more about hazelnuts, and why they're worth eating, especially for breakfast: rich in vitamins & minerals, provide your entire daily requirement of Vit. E, good for the heart (lowers the bad cholesterol), good for your bones, super high in Vit. B, and adjust the body's protein, fat and carb metabolism, and finally, good for the nervous system. I personally find this amazing. Eating organic hazelnuts ensures that you are getting the purest nutrients that haven't been tampered with by pesticides and other nasties, and preserves the environment and farming practices. Check out this site for more even more info. So, without more preamble, here's how you make your very own healthy Nutella:

1. Roast about 1 cup of whole hazelnuts, at 350 for 15 min.

2. Shake to remove skins.

3. In a food processor, purée until becomes oily (hazelnut butter, anyone?), about 3 min.

4. Add 2 tbsp. of organic cocoa, and a good glug of maple syrup.

5. Process until it globs up, then spoon into a jar.

Note: keep in the fridge to keep from going rancid (there are no preservatives in healthy food!)

6. Enjoy!

New Book: Ecoholic Home!

Yay! I've been looking forward to this book for MONTHS! (It has nothing at all to do with the fact that my little store, Sustain, is in it!!!! Okay, okay, its just a little mention, but still, its an international bestseller! Check out page 346!!!! Ahem, pardon my excitement.) Here's how Adria describes her book: 'Ecoholic gives home owners, renters, condo-nesters and even dorm dwellers all the most up-to-date Canadian product and service info you need to eco-fy your private space - all the while pocketing planet-friendly cash savings. So stop stewing in toxins, chucking energy out the window and feeding the trash treadmill, and start transforming your abode into an Ecoholic haven!' This sets the tone for the book - you can imagine how great it is.

Just a note: while this book is useful for everyone, it is really best suited for Canucks, as its full of resources just for us.

New Column - The Green Traveller

Whether you're planning to take a trip in the near future or not, its always nice to let yourself be taken away for a moment to a sunny place - hence I've decided to bring a new column to the PGD, called 'The Green Traveller', featured every Saturday (what better time to daydream than the weekend?). I love travelling, and would forgo so much else in my life in order to be able to afford it. My husband and I have a 'travel fund', in which we put small amounts away each month so that each year we can afford a trip. If its a great year and we've squirreled away a bundle, we go all out and travel Europe or South America; if we've had to skimp out a little, then we go for the quaint lodge somewhere close(ish) to home, like the Caribbean. The point is, there's nothing quite like experiencing other cultures to broaden your horizons and make you truly appreciate the planet we live on. For these reasons I've decided to bring you 'The Green Traveller', but with an eco spin. Eco resorts are popping up all over, so I thought it nice to educate you on just such places. Next time you're planning a trip, make sure you check and see if there are any green lodgings near by. The chances are good. And while you're at it, offset the carbon of your flight. Most airlines will let you do this when you purchase the ticket (online or with a travel agent), and it doesn't cost a lot. Last time, it cost $16.50 (CDN) to offset a flight to Cuba!

For my first posting, I've decided to feature something close to home, in Mexico. Lots of you may be planning a holiday getaway, and Mexico's a hotspot, so I thought it would be fitting. (I'm not ignoring my design fans - each lodge is carefully chosen for both it's eco creds and design.) The Balamku Inn, a small intimate inn with 9 'Palapas' (cottages), and located in the Costa Maya region (southern area of the Yuccatan Penninsula), is strongly dedicated to the environment. It runs completely off of wind and solar power, it was carefully built so as to not disturb the fragile surroundings, and has a strong lean towards ecotourism. You can sea kayak, deep-sea fish, snorkel the nearby world famoush Chinchorra Reef, go birding, hiking, explore Mayan ruins, go horseback riding or just plain veg on the beach with your non-toxic sunscreen and copy of Ecoholic. (Also, for you fellow Canadians, the Balamku is owned by Canadian Expats!). The Balamku has been certified as an EcoResort by several third parties, so you can be sure they are doing what they say!

Here's the best part....it doesn't break the bank! The rates are $80 (high season), $75 (mid), and $70 (low), respectively, with a two night minimum, double occupancy.

'Tea' Lites DIY

During the holidays everyone is sure to have some candles burning - there's something about them that just lend a magical festivity to everything. At the end of every season though, I have all these little bits of candles left over that I don't know what to do with, so I was excited to find this DIY activity. Make these adorable 'tea' lites as eco friendly gifts, or just repurpose them for yourself, they're sure to be a conversation peice at a holiday party. Find old teacups with personality at any salvage shop; in Canada try the Salvation Army or Goodwill. Click here for the full tutorial. If you want a healthier version, try beeswax instead. (Beeswax is infinitely better for the air quality in your home; they actually help purify your space. You can tell how dirty the air in your home is by how black the wax around the wick gets. YIKES, you may not want to know! Beeswax is more expensive to buy, but you get your money's worth as they last A LOT longer than paraffin candles.) You can usually buy just the wax at your local healthfood store. Have fun!

New Column - "Livin' the Green Life"

I'm introducing a new weekly column to Pure Green, in an effort to help PGD apply to all areas of your life, not just design. Lets face it, we all love a pretty room but most of us have practical areas of our lives that we just can't ignore in favour of redecorating, so I'm trying to help with that.

As the holiday's approach, I'm going to feature eco friendly ways to introduce a little cheer into your home. Today I'm tackling air scents - the holidays are perhaps peak time for spritzing a little something, burning some candles or plugging in the glade, not realizing that all the while your home is a toxic soup of chemicals. Scented products for the home often cause an oil film (often methoxyclor, a pesticide that builds up in our fat tissue) to coat our nasal passage, or they release a nerve deadening agent to mask odor (eeew, that can't be good for you!). Now that I've scared you (sorry), the good news is that there are wicked alternatives. The easiest way is to make your own and simmer it in a pot on the stove, thus effectively filling your home with yummy, natural, non-toxic holiday deliciousness.

It's simple: place a pot with water on the stove, and add various ingredients depending on your fancy. Here are some of my favourites:

1. Cloves (or nutmeg) & orangepeel.

2. Cinnamon & vanilla (make sure you get pure vanilla, without added sugar, otherwise your pot might get sticky).

3. Add a few drops of peppermint oil and vanilla for a super yummy holiday scent.

4. Love Chai tea? Add cloves, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, cardamom and pepper and bask in the vapours of a delicious cup of chai all day!

Enjoy!

p.s. - I'll be looking for reader inspired, eco friendly holiday decorating. If you're particularly proud of your holiday decorating, or have a great organic cookie recipe, or if you have any requests for something you'd like to see on Pure Green, don't hesitate. Email me!

Style me Green

Welcome to the new Pure Green. As I promised, I'm starting anew, with weekly columns. Ordinarily, 'Style me Green' will appear on Mondays, but I'm excited to bring it to you, so here it is. 'Style me Green' is an effort to express how great you can look while being good to the planet. This look is great for fall - a casual rugged look, good for sipping café au lait at your favourite café, or meeting the girls for lunch.

1. Boho Earrings: etsy

2.Organic Kharma Bootleg: Loomstate Organic
3. Organic Abigail Jacket: Loomstate Organic
4. Janice Boot: Terraplana
*Note: an eco warrior, the janice boot features vegetable tanned leather, a recycled quilt back panel, eco memory foam for added comfort, and a recycled rubber heel!
5. Recycled Leather Toad Tote: Baggage
*Note: these unbelievably cool bags are made with old leather jackets by a Toronto designer

Viola Park by HenryBuilt

If you're not familiar with Henry Built, you need to be - the home-grown, Seattle-based company creates modular kitchens that are far from ordinary, bursting with good design sense, and just all around gorgeous. They're simple, clean and yet, wait for it, functional, something that, in my mind, makes good design great. Best of all, they've launched a sister-line called Viola Park, which takes sustainability to heart. The line uses FSC-Certified wood, non-toxic finishes and other amazing features such as Paperstone countertops (made with recycled paper) and Bamboo Plywood. If you love the look of such materials but don't know where to get your hands on it, make your way here, to Sustain. In the meantime, enjoy Viola Park.


{notice the not-your-average bamboo backsplash. what they call 'strandwoven', its a durable, very attractive zebrano-like material.}


{ a close-up of the Paperstone surface. we love it at Sustain. its gorgeous, easy to care for, impossible to damage.}

Wedding, Part 2

So, I promised yesterday that there would be more to come...actually, we had our heart set on NOT having a tent, but as the day drew nearer, it seemed less and less likely that the sun would be shining, so we were forced to source one out. As it turns out, a blue and yellow 'circus' tent was all we could find - not my first choice - but as it turns out I ended up loving it! It had personality to spare, and the tent gave the event a feeling of intimacy that would have been lacking otherwise (also, it gave me an excuse to decorate a little more!).

{the tent from afar}

{we strung old-school x-mas lights, ( you should've seen me on the ladder!) which were sooo lovely - they aren't so eco, but they were borrowed, so that makes up for it. the best feature is that we wound them down the center pole, and then tied on a huge bundle of bullrushes. with the lights shining through it was absolutely perfect. i have to thank my buddy dan for this.}

{a close up of the bullrushes}

{inside the tent. the picnic tables - borrowed from our friends - were very eclectic. none of them matched...there was a green one, a red one, a purple one....i loved it!}

{the centerpieces - again keeping with our eco theme. we didn't want to buy anything that would have to be thrown out, so rather then buy vases, i collected tin cans and covered them with a pretty, recycled paper. i bought the flowers at the grocery store, snipped some hostas from the garden, and did all the arrangements myself, with some help from my mom, my new mom-in-law and my aunt. one of my favourite moments.}

{the tables. very simple. the wine was spectacular, a very appreciated wedding gift from jonathan's aunt and uncle, who import wine from all over the world.}

{jonathan working on the bbq. all the meat was free-range, organic, locally sourced.}

{the food...mmmm....a beet salad, fresh tomatoes, a wild rice & grape salad, corn on the cob, pork and chicken. we used tree trunks from dead fall to dress up the table.}

{ xoxo }