Not a Drop To Waste: Your Guide to Every Day Water Savings

Posted on May 8, 2012 by tpham

These days, “going green” is all the rage. But it’s more than just a few buzz words to toss around: it’s a sustainable lifestyle choice focusing on ways to preserve and improve the Earth. Recycling, reducing energy use and conserving water are all important elements. Even if your landlord is responsible for paying for the water usage in your apartment, it’s important to be mindful of water conservation for environmental purposes. Although it can be difficult to make significant changes due to the transient nature of apartment dwelling and the fact that your landlord may not approve significant home modifications, by making a few simple changes, you can easily save gallons of water a day. Here are a few tips for conserving water in your apartment.

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Five Easy Flowers to Grow in Small Spaces

Posted on April 5, 2012 by mprice

African violets and begonias are flowers that are easy to grow in an apartment.

Living in an apartment or a small space can make it interesting for those who want to bring the outdoors in by doing some gardening – chances are you don’t have a lot of space to work with, so larger plants are out, and a limited amount of natural light isn’t the most favorable of environments for growing plants. Fortunately, you can still reap the benefits of gardening by choosing flowers that are perfect for small spaces. When looking for flowers to grow in your apartment, it’s important to keep in mind plants that are somewhat hardy, don’t require much sunlight and are relatively easy to take care of. April may be Lawn & Garden Month, but you don’t have to have an expansive yard to celebrate. Here is our list of the easiest flowers to grow in your apartment.

Peace lily

The peace lily is one of the best flowers to grow in an apartment because it survives surprisingly well with low levels of light, giving it the nickname “Closet Plant.” In fact, direct sunlight damages the peace lily’s foliage, so keep this plant within five to eight feet of a window for best results. The peace lily does require heavy watering, but the good thing is that you’ll know the plant is thirsty when the leaves begin to droop.

African violet

A common house plant that is gorgeous to look out, the African violet doesn’t require a lot of attention to keep it healthy. This plant is specifically grown indoors and only needs a bit of sunlight a day, so put this plant in a window that looks out to the east, if possible, so the flower can get its necessary sunlight during the morning. Keep the soil moist, but do not overwater, as this will cause the flower to rot. Make sure to avoid getting the leaves wet, as water drops can cause dead spots on African violets. The plant thrives in climate-controlled areas, so keep your apartment at a reasonable temperature for best results.

Marigold

Known for their orange and yellow colors, marigolds can really brighten up a space and be a great addition as an indoor flower, as they grow quickly and easily. And as they’re traditionally an outdoor flower, marigolds are relatively hardy, meaning that they require minimal care. Place marigolds in a window that will receive a lot of sunlight. And for a touch of summer in the cold of winter, marigolds will bloom year-round with the proper care.

Begonia

Another plant traditionally considered to be an outdoor flower, the begonia also has what it takes to be a great indoor flower, including being tough, low maintenance and free flowering. Indoor begonias tend to prefer cooler temperatures, so make sure your apartment doesn’t get too hot. And place the begonias near a sunny window to boost growing. Allow the surface of the soil to dry out between watering, so you can go a few days in between watering.

Cactus

You may not think of a cactus as a flower, but most varieties of cacti are flowering, producing blooms that are extraordinarily beautiful. Pot the cactus in an unglazed clay pot that can be drained easily through a hole on the bottom. Water the cactus about once a week, and place in a well-lit area, such as a bay window or a bright entryway.

Photo credit: iStockphoto/glenysmorgan

Best Community Gardens on the West Coast

Posted on March 26, 2012 by mprice

Community gardens are a great way to get outside, socialize and preserve the environment.

With the cold days and dreary nights of winter behind us, the long-awaited higher temperatures of spring might have you itching to get outside. And if you have even the slightest green thumb, you know that tending to a garden can be one of the most fun and rewarding experiences during the warmer weather months. But if you’re living in an apartment, chances are you don’t have a yard of your own for planting flowers or vegetables. Luckily, cities across the nation are becoming hip to the idea of creating communal garden spaces for residents unable to garden on their own. Community gardening offers both physical and social benefits as well as enacting a positive change on the environment. If you’re on the West Coast, check out these great gardens where you can get down and dirty, as well as tips on how to start your own.

Stanford Avalon Community Garden

You might not believe that there are community gardens located within the urban sprawl of Los Angeles, but this city takes gardening very seriously. Emerging from the ashes of the beloved South Central Farm in Los Angeles, which was demolished in 2006 and was widely considered as the largest community garden in the nation, the Stanford Avalon Community Garden was founded by many of those displaced farmers and has grown to over 180 plots in its six short years of existence, running for 11 blocks in the Green Meadows neighborhood of the city. The garden has become so popular that there are nearly 100 families on the waiting list.

Location: 658 E. 11^th Place, Los Angeles, CA 90059

Brentwood Community Garden

Portland is widely known as one of the greenest, environmentally-focused cities in the United States, so it comes as no surprise that there are over 40 community gardens in the city, with new plots being added regularly, providing fresh, locally-sourced ingredients to area restaurants and the chance to get outside and get back to nature. As the second largest community garden in the city, the Brentwood Community Garden was constructed in 1996 and features 78 garden plots, a fruit demonstration area, shed, gazebo with an 800 gallon water tank and five raised accessible garden beds.

Location: SE 57^th Ave. and Cooper St., Portland, OR 97206

Fort Vancouver Garden

One of the more unique community gardens in Vancouver, the Fort Vancouver Garden is a volunteer-run, organic interpretive garden modeled after the type of garden that would have existed at the original Fort Vancouver in the 1840s. Many of the vegetables and flowers in the garden are varieties from that era, including beds of carrots, turnips, parsnips, roses and dahlias.

Location: 1001 E. Fifth St., Vancouver, WA 98661

Stone Soup Community Garden Project

Located in the ethnically diverse, lower-income Sacramento neighborhood of Del Paso Heights, the Stone Soup Community Garden Project was founded in 2003 to combat the rising rates of childhood obesity as well as provide a reliable source for fresh fruits and vegetables in the area. Named after the children’s book, Stone Soup, which is about two travelers who teach a village about the value of sharing ingredients and cooking food together, the garden is a community favorite.

Location: 3611 Del Paso Blvd., Sacramento, CA 05838

Hayes Valley Farm

Founded in January 2010, the 2.2-acre Hayes Valley Farm was founded by a group of San Francisco urban farmers, landscapers and gardeners after the area it’s located on fell into disuse after the Loma Prieta earthquake. In addition to the garden space, Hayes Valley Farm also hosts workshops such as bee keeping, garden design and composting. In the summer, the farm screens a farm film series and offers yoga classes.

Location: 450 Laguna St. & Fell St., San Francisco, CA 94102

Are you interested in starting up a community garden in your neighborhood? Here are some ideas to help you turn a local plot of land into something you can really dig.

Organize a “town hall” style meeting of people interested in starting a community garden and determine your needs, such as what kind of garden it should be, who will be involved and who will benefit.
Form a planning committee to tackle specific tasks like funding, construction, communication and youth activities.
Identify existing resources that can help you plan out the garden, and then approach a sponsor to aid in the donation of seeds, tools or money. Churches, schools and private businesses are good places to start.
Choose a site based on the amount of daily sunshine, availability of water and whether or not the site passes a soil test for potential pollutants. Determine who owns the land, and see if gardeners can be granted a lease agreement.
Organize volunteer crews to prepare and develop the land, and then decide how you are going to lay out the site, factoring in number of plots and pathways between them.
Set some ground rules, and put them in writing. Common issues that may arise are how the money will be used, how plots are assigned, who will handle maintenance and whether or not gardeners will share tools.
Develop a strong communication network to keep all participants abreast of any news. Create an email list, form a telephone tree or install a rainproof bulletin board in the garden to inform members of relevant information.

Photo credit: iStockphoto/youngvet

Best Houseplants for Your Apartment

Posted on January 11, 2012 by ag-admin

Houseplants can be easy to maintain and can help your health.

After the holidays, our decorations are taken down and the apartment seems to have gained square footage. It probably seems a little empty, but there are a few ways to add life back into your space. One of those ways is to add a houseplant. Whether you naturally have a green thumb or are a beginner, houseplants are easy to take care of and make a great addition to your home. Also, did you know that houseplants can help to filter the air in your home? Here are a few of the best houseplants to get you started.

Plants You Can’t Kill
If you’re a beginner and aren’t sure where to start, here are a few suggestions. These plants are easy to grow and can survive regardless of the irregular watering, bad lighting and changing temperatures. They’re perfect for small spaces like home offices or dorm rooms. Basically, you have to try really hard to kill these plants.

Pothos Plant – One of the more popular houseplant choices, the pothos plant does very well in indoor temperatures. It can also thrive even if it’s only watered once a week. A form of the pothos plant is the pothos vine, which can be easily rooted in a small glass of water. However, it grows best in larger pots or trailing baskets. It needs minimal care, and the vine will grow aggressively.
Spider Plant – With very low maintenance needed, the spider plant flourishes in natural light and does well with an irregular water schedule. To indicate when the plant needs water, it’ll start to droop.
Aloe Plant – The aloe plant is easy to grow, and it’s useful. Prop the potted plant on a window sill to give it some light and water it every two to three weeks, and you’ll have a beautiful and helpful plant in no time. For the aloe plant, you can break open the leaves and use the gel inside to help heal burns and wounds.
African Violet – The African violet plant adds a touch of color to any room. It survives and thrives in room temperature, and it fits perfectly on a side table, as a centerpiece of your coffee table or on a counter. Watering it once a week will be beneficial.
Snake Plant – This plant is basically indestructible. It is also known as mother-in-law’s tongue, and it can survive in both higher and lower temperatures. It can also go weeks in high or low light. If you’re looking to add something green but can’t commit to dedicating a lot of time to taking care of the plant, the snake plant is perfect.

Plants That Will Help Your Health
You probably don’t pay attention – or you just don’t want to think about it – but there are toxins in the air all around us. There are several ways to make your home safer and healthier, including purchasing special air filters, ditching pesticides and using green cleaning products. Another way to cut down toxins that is both affordable and aesthetically pleasing is to add houseplants throughout. Start with these plants, and determine which one fits your home best.

Peace Lily – One of the more popular houseplants, the peace lily is easy to grow and thrives in lower lighted areas. It is a pollution fighter and an air purifier. It helps in removing benzene and formaldehyde that is present in your house. There is little maintenance required to keep this plant healthy; just remember to heavily water it and keep it out of direct sunlight.
Fig Tree – Fig trees can help reduce the amount of formaldehyde, which is emitted everywhere via plastic items, pressed wood furniture and carpeting. To keep your fig tree alive and thriving, keep it out of direct sunlight and cold drafts. Mist its leaves and remember to water it. For the best results, repot the tree every other year.
Boston Fern – This houseplant acts as a natural humidifier. It grows best in filtered sunlight and humid conditions. The fern releases moisture into the air, which removes air pollutants and provides clean air inside of your home.
Marginata – This beautiful red-edged plant removes formaldehyde and benzene from the air in your home, and it is also capable of filtering out toxins in the home. It is easy to maintain and adds a touch of color.

Photo Credit: iStockphoto/kryczka

Grow an Indoor Spice Garden

Posted on November 28, 2011 by ag-admin

For something different, grow an indoor spice garden for bold flavor to accent your meals.

Indoor herb gardens are a dime a dozen, but you’ll be the talk of the apartment community if you have an indoor spice garden instead. They’re perfect for growing in the winter because they love heat, though you’ll need an artificial light source to provide plenty of fake sunlight. Just like herb gardens, they need to be watered and pruned regularly, but the rest is a snap when you know what to do.

Herbs vs. Spices

In short, herbs are delicate plants and spices are more fibrous and tough. Traditionally, herbs are green, leafy plants such as rosemary, mint and parsley, while spices are the fragrant plant products such as the roots, seed pods, bark or bulbs of highly fragrant plants, though today the official definition includes dried spices.

What to Grow

Indoors, you may not be able to grow every spice you want, such as black peppercorns, which grow on a vine with berries that can become too large for indoors. You can control the height and width of ginger, saffron, turmeric, vanilla, garlic, chilies and green and black cardamom indoors though.

Prepare Your Pots

Decide if you will plant these spices hydroponically or in pots with dirt. If you’re growing them in dirt, prepare the pots by working organic material into the soil and lightening packed soil with a hand-held spade.

Plant Your Spices

For seeds and seedlings, check the suggested depth for growing them on the seed packages, or start them off in separate containers. For plants you’re transplanting into bigger pots, make a hole slightly larger than the biggest part of the root, and follow the plant’s included instructions about how deep to plant them and how far apart plants should be. Then water the soil lightly, being careful not to disturb any seeds.

Care for Your Garden

Continue to water your garden per your seeds’ or plants’ instructions, making sure the soil is well drained. Prune your plants to get rid of older leaves and encourage new growth. Vanilla grows on a vine, so regularly give it attention so it doesn’t grow too large. Since your plants are grown inside, you won’t have to worry about many pests, though you will need to keep your family pets out of your spice garden.

Photo Credit: iStockphoto/MKucova

How to Keep Your Apartment Cleaning Earth-Friendly

Posted on September 15, 2011 by ag-admin

You can have a clean apartment and keep the whole process Earth-friendly, as well.

You can have a clean apartment and keep the whole process Earth-friendly, too. Read on for ways to keep a spick-and-span apartment by replacing cleaning chemicals with eco-friendly products.

The wonders of soda
Baking soda can do a lot more than help your baked goods rise. To pretreat fabric stains, make a paste out of baking soda and a little water, rub into the stain, and let it sit a little while. Then wash as usual. You can also add soda to the wash to boost the cleaning power of your detergent and fluff up blankets and towels. Use it as your powdered detergent, either in the washing machine or for your hand-washed clothes. It will soften, deodorize and clean at the same time.

For household cleaning, the paste you created to pretreat stains can scrub counter stains without scratching and safely clean grout, faucets and tub and shower surfaces.

To clean carpet, sprinkle soda on the affected area, rub gently and let it sit for a few minutes to absorb surface stains and odor. Then vacuum it up. You can deodorize an entire carpet by sprinkling baking soda and letting it sit before vacuuming—no rubbing required.

Lemon juice
Lemon juice has dramatic bleaching abilities along with all other kinds of cleaning benefits from its citric acid. You can shine chrome, clean wooden cutting boards or add some salt for an effective compound that cleans copper and brass.

Bring on the baking powder and mix it with lemon juice for a power-packed cleaning paste or combine lemon juice and olive oil for a fragrant furniture polish.

Fresh lemons work great, but a bottle in your fridge will do just as well. And if you’ve got some to spare, you can make a refreshing glass of lemonade to relax with when you’re done.

White vinegar: not just for salads
There are few natural substances as versatile for cleaning as vinegar. You can dilute it with warm water to clean floors, disinfect laundry (and soften at the same time), clean/disinfect cutting boards, clean stainless steel, degrease dishes and wipe down virtually any surface you can think of!

You can even unclog a drain by throwing down a handful of baking soda, followed by a half-cup of vinegar. Let the mixture sit for a while and rinse it down with hot water. You can also run vinegar through your coffee maker and dishwasher to clean and deodorize them. You’ll be amazed how effective this simple concoction is!

Earth-friendly commercial cleaners
It’s fun and cheap to make your own eco-friendly cleaners at home, but sometimes it’s hard to resist prepared versions. Mrs. Meyers makes a variety of fresh-smelling cleaners and environmentally-friendly products for the household, along with hand, body and baby care lines. Try fragrances such as basil, lemon verbena and geranium.

Trader Joe’s Cedarwood and Sage Multi-purpose Cleaner is great on a wide variety of surfaces. You can also try the oxygen-powered Bio-Ox, a wide variety of green cleaning products from Caldrea, or search online for countless other green cleaning options.

You can have a sparkling clean apartment without having to sacrifice the environmentally-friendly approach — just fill your pantry with green alternatives to harsh cleaning chemicals.

Photo Credit: ShutterStock/auremar

Unearth the Greenest Places in D.C.

Posted on August 19, 2011 by ag-admin

Celebrate the earth by shopping or dining at the shops below in Washington, D.C.

Typically, yellow and blue make green, but in Washington, D.C., red and blue unite for green, too.

Washington, D.C. is alive with green businesses, from markets and restaurants with locally grown produce to stores with vegan pet food or energy-saving electronics. If you think the nation’s capital is only full of hot air, you might be surprised at the following down-to-earth, environmentally friendly places located throughout the city.

The Green Festival
What: Global Exchange and Green America (formerly Co-Op America) will join together Oct. 23-24 for the Green Festival, a sustainable living festival and celebration of green initiatives in D.C., Maryland and Virginia. The event will feature more than 125 speakers, 350 green businesses, how-to workshops, green films, a Fair Trade pavilion, yoga classes, organic beer, organic cuisine and live music.
Where: Washington Convention Center, 801 Mount Vernon Place NW, Washington, DC 20001

Greater Goods
What: This green-living store only sells products that help you live a greener life, such as energy-saving electronics, solar phone chargers, composters and recycling bins, or products that provide an eco-friendly alternative for things you use every day, such as low-flow shower heads, rechargeable batteries and chlorine-free diapers. Greater Goods mostly carries products that are certified organic, FSC-certified, non-toxic, BPA-, lead- and phthalate-free and are reusable or recyclable.
Where: 1626 U St. NW, Washington, DC 20009

Green Pets
What: If your pet has a sensitive stomach, you can find raw, natural, organic or wheat- and corn-free foods at Green Pets. The store also has high-quality cat trees, Greenies, toys, natural cat litter and treats and offers grooming and other services. Plus, the staff is knowledgeable and helpful, and the owner is involved with a local Humane Society animal shelter.
Where: 1722 14th St. NW, Washington, DC 20009

Soul Vegetarian Restaurant and Exodus Carry-Out
What: For vegan soul food that won’t break the bank, Soul Vegetarian Restaurant is the place to go. It also offers Chinese, Mexican, Italian, Middle Eastern and African American vegan cuisine, as well as a dose of humanitarianism and humility. Favorites include the macaroni and cheese, wheat loaf, greens and sweet potatoes.
Where: 2606 Georgia Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20001

Java Green
What: Feast on organic, vegetarian Korean cuisine and vegan desserts on real china at Java Green, which provides biodegradable serving ware and carry-out bags made from corn, sugar cane fiber and potato starch. Java Green serves Fair Trade coffee, tea, sugar, bananas, cocoa powder and syrups, and is run on wind power to offset its carbon footprint.
Where: 1020 19th St. NW, Washington, DC 20036

Mom’s Organic Market
What: So this organic market isn’t actually in D.C.; it’s in Alexandria, Va. (and four Maryland locations), but it’s worth the drive. Mom’s Organic Market carries organic and local produce, raw and vegan treats, multiple flavors of vegan jerky, and natural toiletries, vitamins, pet food, cleaning products and beauty products. Purchase grains, rice, beans, granola and spices in bulk, and sip on organic, fair-trade, free coffee while you shop. Plus, these stores are operated on 100 percent wind-generated power.
Where: 3831 Mt. Vernon Ave., Alexandria, VA 22305

Photo Credit: iStockphoto/mariusFM77

How to Make Your Apartment Greener

Posted on August 17, 2011 by ag-admin

Ashley Caderet from "Our Little Apartment" offers 10 tips for living greener in your space.

Photo Credit: iStockphoto/dem10

In honor of Earth Day’s 40th anniversary April 22, Apartment Guide sat down with Ashley Caderet, author of green and frugal living blog “Our Little Apartment,” to get her thoughts on how everyone can live more environmentally friendly in their apartments or homes. Plus, there’s a bonus: In this down economy, anyone can benefit from Ashley’s money-saving, waste-less, live-simply tips.

Since launching her blog in 2007, Ashley’s green-living methods have ranged from the sensible (purchasing local produce from a farmers market) to the more radical (using cloth toilet paper). A few ideas didn’t work out – composting in the backyard created a mice problem – while some became routine favorites, such as using one car. Mike even built a winter-hearty bicycle that he takes to work, even using it in 10-degree weather.

“It just makes sense to try to be greener,” Ashley said. “It makes me feel better and saves money. Once you become aware of the amount you waste, you feel guilty about the environmental impact. You think about carbon footprints. In my day-to-day life, just thinking about how future children and countries will be impacted inspires me to keep being green.”

To save the most money, Ashley and her husband rent their home near one of their workplaces and only use one car. Now Ashley drives the car on her 35-minute commute and Mike bikes to work, which is only two miles from their home, a duplex in a neighborhood where 100 percent of the streets have sidewalks. In addition to using one car, here are 10 other ways Ashley suggests apartment residents can be more environmentally friendly:

When you’re deciding where to live, choose an apartment that is walkable, meaning you can walk to nearly anything you need. Use WalkScore to determine a neighborhood’s walkable rating.
Choose an apartment that has good insulation so you’re not wasting energy. If you don’t know if it has good insulation, ask before you rent. If you are already renting, improve your insulation with door draft stoppers or by asking your apartment manager to add insulation to your complex.
Avoid disposable things such as tissues, paper towels, disposable dishes, disposable napkins and plastic ware. Use reusable versions of these instead.
Don’t waste food by planning meals in advance.
Eat less meat. Ashley and Mike are both vegetarians, but even eating one meatless meal a week could save your family hundreds of dollars per year.
Shop for secondhand furniture and clothing.
If your apartment doesn’t recycle, ask them to, or take your recyclable goods to a recycling center. Recycling guidelines for most cities are on the city or county website.
Wash almost all of your clothes on the cold cycle.
Try a Community Sponsored Agriculture (CSA) program, which delivers local, seasonal produce to your home or a nearby pickup location. Visit Local Harvest to find a CSA near you.
Don’t buy anything unless you really need or want it. Think hard before you buy.

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