(Image above: Dirty White Trash by Tim Nobel and Sue Webster)

You know the saying: One man’s trash is another man’s treasure. And in some cases, it becomes another man’s art. For this edition of Green Scene, we dug up some of the coolest recycled art out there, from trash heap shadows to a sprawling, scrap metal city.

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(photo courtesy: http://www.christmascentral.com)

I’m not talking about dressing up as the Wicked Witch or sliming your neighbor’s yard. With its foray of candy wrappers, Halloween is not usually a time when we think about conservation – but here at ModCloth, we think it’s time to change that! Here are a few tips for keeping All Hallow’s Eve, all natural!

• Reinvent the Wheel! If you’re a smart ModClother (and we know there are so many of you!), you reinvented your outfit from your already existing wardrobe, thus saving money, waste, and the trouble of figuring out what to do with a giant bingo card the next day.
• Electric Boo-galoo! Cut down on electricity for the night by breaking out candles! Not only does it help out Mother Earth and your electricity bill, but what’s more spooky that shadows cast in candlelight? If you’ve got an elaborate light display in your yard, consider switching to LED lights, which are about 80% more efficient than regular holiday strands. Also, be cognizant of how long they are turned on each day.
• Pumpkin-ify Your Life! Instead of getting rid of all that gunk inside your carved pumpkin – use it! Roast pumpkin seeds or save them to be planted in your garden next year! If you don’t plan on carving them, try your hand at baking a pie or bread with the fresh ingredients – you’re friends will be super impressed!
• Pass it On! If you’re a mom, help pass green traits onto the next generation. Read the rest of this entry »

(Image Above: Tobias the cat knows how to stay warm)

Did you know? Electric power plants are the United States’ largest industrial source of pollutants that cause global warming. Here in Pittsburgh, temperatures have already plummeted into the lower thirties, and the dreary, drizzling rain makes things feel much chillier! Tempted as we are to crank up the thermostat,  we are striving to be as energy efficient – and cost efficient – as possible.  Here is a working list of some alternate ways to stay roasty-toasty.

1.  Take cues from your pet! Lie in a sunbeam.

2. Actually use the hood on your hooded sweatshirt. A disproportionate amount of heat escapes from your head. Don’t lose that precious resource; trap it!

3. Take up knitting. Choose yarn in warm colors and textures to trick yourself (sometimes warmth is simply a matter of perception). There are an abundance of how-to demos on the internet. This one plays jazzy music.

4. Build a big nest of blankets and flannel sheets and dive in! Obvious, perhaps, but underrated. You might also re-live your childhood and build a blanket fort.

5. Reverse your ceiling fan. Since heat rises, running your ceiling fan in reverse will push the heat back down to you.

6. Do your laundry an hour or two before you plan to go to bed. There’s nothing like some warm pajammers!

7. Bust out the heavy-duty shrink wrap and the ole’ hair dryer and insulate. Also try rolling up towels to block drafts that seep under cracks in the door frame.

8. Sip a steaming beverage or a delicious bowl of soup. Using a crock pot is super simple, and since it cooks on low heat for a longer period of time, it is also energy efficient.

9. Exercise. Great for getting your heart pumping, endorphins flowing, and warming you up. Try Zumba. It’s like going to a dance party!

10. Snuggle with your sweetie. Or pet. Or stuffed animal.

What about you, ModLovers? Do you know any eco-friendly ways to stay warm?

(Image Above: Freecycle.org)

Ever wonder what to do with that computer chair you no longer need or those cute clothes you’ve now outgrown? Or, maybe you’re looking for craft supplies or a coffee maker, but don’t have the spare cash to buy them. Well, fear no more – the solution is here! Instead of throwing out those old items or forking over your precious pennies to get new necessities, why not try some creative recycling? Freecycle, an online community built for the cost-free exchange of goods, is a great way to embrace the three R’s – reduce, reuse, recycle. With groups located worldwide, this site will become your best friend. You can either post “wanted” adds for items you need, or “offer” ads for things you want to give away. One recent scan of Pittsburgh’s Freecycle site turned up the following items for ‘offer’: a wooden nightstand, 3 ring binders, blankets, a blender, coupons, a ceiling fan, a rice cooker, and even an antique barber chair!

So, make your conscience guilt-free from putting goods in the garbage, and spare the environment (and your wallet) by taking some surplus stuff off of someone’s hands!

Do you have any other innovative ways to reuse old items? Or, if you’re already a ‘Freecycler,’ share your Freecycle story!

We here at ModCloth couldn’t be more ‘eco-cited’ about the new Re-Construct: Eco-Friendly Crafts Made Easy DVD – it’s super green, budget-friendly, and inspires us to exercise our creativity, too!

We can’t decide which of the 11 projects featured on this instructional DVD is our favorite.  Is it the upholstered, could-that-actually-be-cardboard ottoman, or is it the martini tray made out of old baking sheets? It very well may be the looks-like-it’s-floating ‘Book Shelf,’ which is fashioned from a vintage book and hidden hardware. In any case, we can’t get enough of this DVD’s witty screen team Jeanée Ledoux, author of Abode à la Mode: 44 Projects for Hip Home Decor, and Garth Johnson, the host of Extremecraft.com. This pair is given to, as they put it, “crafty debauchery,” and they provide a lot of quirky, entertaining humor at the same time that they give super-detailed, easy-to-follow instructions. Because the projects are all made from recycled, re-purposed materials, Re-Construct provides a lot of room for experimentation and doesn’t require exact replication. After all, the beauty of working with salvage is that, as Jeanée points out, “you won’t be able to help making something unique.” Another inspirational reason to go green!

Do you have a great re-purposed project idea you’d like to share? Let us know!

Image above: Eco-Erin to the Rescue! taken from NYDailyNews.com

For a while now, Hollywood has been getting greener and greener. While not all of these eco-centric films have been blockbuster mega-hits like Erin Brockovich, they have made an impact on our social consciousness. Documentarians, in particular, have taken on the topic of environmental concern and have flooded the genre with an abundance of green-focused films. My Netflix queue is brimming with them! Here are a few my must-see, green flick favorites.  If I forgot any you think should be included, please comment, and let me know! Pass the organic popcorn…

Super-size Me, Soylent Green, Silkwood and more! Read the rest of this entry »

(Image above: CSA shares taken from greatcountryfarms.com)

It’s that time of year when going to the farmer’s market is a magical experience. Well, it is for me, anyway. Gone are the early days of spring when there’s an abundance of lettuce, radish, cucumber, and broccoli. What remains are stalks of corn, heirloom tomatoes, gourds of all shapes and sizes, and the final burst of banana peppers. Soon, the apples will greet us in overflowing bushels and gallons of cider. This shift in produce signals that wonderful time on the cusp of seasonal change – it bids adieu to the hot summer and heralds the chilly days of fall to come. It’s my favorite time of year, this in-between time, and I see it most notably at open-air markets.

However, as much as I’d like to, I don’t have time to spend lingering over late-harvest peaches or picking the perfect spaghetti squash from a farm stand. That is why this year, I joined a CSA. Basically, a CSA (which stands for Community Sponsored Agriculture) is a farm food cooperative that allows you a ‘share‘ in the harvest of a local farm. Most CSA’s deliver to convenient locations for city-dwellers, and most offer a wide range of fruit and veggies from late May to mid-November.  There are over 900 CSA’s in the US, so to find the right one for you, check out Local Harvest.  Simply enter your zip code, and pick the farm that best suits your needs and eating habits!

For the whole skinny on my CSA story, keep reading! Read the rest of this entry »

Go ‘green’ with ModCloth!

This season, the hottest look is eco-chic, because let’s face it – ‘green’ goes with everything! Here’s a little run-down of a few ModCloth items that can help you rock this earth-friendly trend all day long!

8.00 a.m.

Your alarm goes off, and you give a big ‘good-morning’ yawn to the sunshine.  After a quick shower (less then 5 minutes saves up to 10 gallons of water a day!), you slip into the Cloud Gazing Top and a pair of organic cotton leggings.  Now you’re ready to start the day, cute and green!

9.00 a.m.

You’re just not yourself without a stout cup of Joe. You hit your favorite vegan cafe/bakery for some shade-grown, organic coffee, filling up your reusable I Am Not a Paper Cup!

11.15 a.m.

Frustrated at the pile of work that just got dumped on your desk, you slam down your notebook and spill your coffee everywhere! Luckily, you have your reusable I Am Not a Paper Towel in your desk drawer for a quick and eco clean-up.

12.00 p.m.

Finally, lunch! You’ve been so excited for noon so that you can ‘accidentally’ sit beside your crush and impress him with your quirky little Panda-a-Day Bento Box.  Let’s just see if he can resist making a comment.

5.00 p.m.

Time to hit the gym! You’ve got a 5K coming up, so it’s a good thing you remembered your sneakers and your Whale of a Good Time water bottle today!

6.30 p.m.

You stop at the local farmer’s market for some fresh basil and heirloom tomatoes – you’ve been dying for a capri salad for weeks, and you’re finally going to treat yourself.  You cart all of your produce home safely in one of your favorite reusable totes, the Smart Shopper Fold-up Bag! But, you could have easily gone with the Cute Finds Fold-Up, or the Sustainable Chevron Baggu Tote!

8.00 p.m.

Your best friend just called – cocktails? You bet! You slip on a pencil skirt, your Teaberry Organic Top, and some brown flats to match your Perfect Palate Bag, and meet her at your favorite retro lounge.

12.45 a.m.

What a fantastic night! Still smiling about your unexpected trek to an underground dance party, you kick off your shoes and brew some of your favorite orange spice herbal tea. You hold your Owl Warm and Cozy Mug close to your chin, breathing in that citrus scent and gazing out your kitchen window at the cars passing below  your apartment.

2.00 a.m.

After flipping through a few new fashion magazines, you crawl into bed, cozy in your Save Our Forest Tee! Night night!

What green items fit into your daily routine? Let us know!

Image of Lily Cole taken from Vogue.co.uk

There’s nothing more fashionable then being eco-conscious. However, I often find it difficult to be stylish and green. I thrift when I can, buy vintage, and try to identify the sources of my clothing, but it’s not easy. And, to be honest, I don’t always have the time to be an environmental crusader, particularly when I’m after a very specific look. Enter Tamsin Blanchard and her much needed how-to manual for fashionistas with a green sensibility! With a thoughtful and frank forward by Lily Cole, Green is the New Black is an essential addition to any eco-savvy stylista’s reading list.

The review of Green is the New Black continues…. Read the rest of this entry »

Do you recall where you were June 20th at 5:30 A.M.?  Sleeping perhaps?  If you were myself, or one of the other 599 motivated outdoor/eco-enthusiasts registered for the full Rachel Carson Trail Challenge, you were about to embark on a 34 mile, one day hiking extravaganza!

Before there was an environmental movement, there was Rachel Carson, ecologist and author, best known for her book Silent Spring (1962).   Silent Spring warned the public of the dangers of pesticides and herbicides and other chemicals, in particular, DDT. (rachelcarsontrails.org/about) Named by Time magazine as one of the 100 most influential people of the 20th century, Carson was also an active hiker, bird watcher, and outdoors explorer.  Her legacy lives on through her nonprofit organization and a beautiful (challenging!) trail that runs through northeast Pittsburgh.

As seen in the photo above, hundreds are lined up before the crack of dawn to undertake the Carson Trail!  Over ten years ago, in 1997, 77 registered with only a total of 24 finishing by the cut-off time.  This year, 600 people registered to participate in the full 34-mile one day hiking challenge with a total of 425 who finished!  Its popularity has surely skyrocketed in recent years by both word of mouth and growing concern for the environment.  Proceeds from registering hikers go to the Rachel Carson Trails Conservancy whose goals include raising awareness of the benefits of community trails, getting more people interested in physical activities, getting more people to experience the beauty of our region and the natural world, and helping people see our region as active and vibrant. (rachelcarsontrails.org/about)

If you’re not ready to take on a physical challenge of this nature, register to volunteer at your own local events!  This volunteer-based challenge wouldn’t run if people weren’t willing to donate their own time and effort for the greater good.  At ModCloth, we like to remain active in the environment and events that promote wellness for ourselves and the earth!  You can even find eco-goods on our site!  Check out our proactive book, Change The World for Ten Bucks, sip out of a stainless steel water bottle, or tote around a re-purposed leather bag, such as the New South or Perfect Palate Bag.   Are there any green feats or challenges that you have taken recently, or plan to participate in the future?

The Rachel Carson Trails Conservancy, Inc. is a nonprofit 501(c)(3), volunteer-based organization dedicated to the development, protection, and promotion of hiking, biking, and walking trails throughout western Pennsylvania. (rachel carsontrails.org)