green living

The home appliances, accessories and gadgets dictate much of our lifestyle, using up a ton of electricity. It seems the nature of the beast dictates that everything is made to be broken. The old coffee maker lasted 20 years but the new dies in 6 months? Are you kidding me, dude?

So now it is time to get another coffee maker. The receipt for the old coffee maker is gone. It is time to throw the old one away. lather, rinse, repeat.

There is a big problem in America in terms of savings and in terms of normal practices of its citizens.

It should not take an iPhone repair technician cracking a iPhone 4 screen to make us realize even the top products break easy.

Luckily the internet has come to increase communication and networking - giving us a fighting chance.

What do I mean? It seems that while most of us hide in our homes and avoid our neighbors, on the internet we can be friendly and communicate real well. This is called social networking, aka, messing around.

As a result, tutorials and product repair guides have sprung up all over blogs like this. It really sucks that our products are made to be broken but now there are solutions for most big name products.

Craigslist creates natural networks but be warned, its best to deal with money exchanges during the day and in busy areas. Other networking services are emerging, along with trade-in options for any number of appliances, which are changing the game.

The zero energy prefab house kit exterior is complete.

In about 2 weeks we move on to the next steps: interior walls of the modern house, off grid systems (solar energy, solar heat, and rainwater collection and filtration), and with it all, stepping back for a larger view: the land, and how we will encourage its health while bearing sustenance for our family.

Heather Barber, ASLA, of Topos met with us last week to discuss the land, and landscape architecture.

From the beginning, here are my thoughts about the land:

• I love the fact we did not have to cut down ONE TREE for the home site.
• However, we are big believers in crop tree release to help the woods become healthy. What that means, in short, is removing weed/competing trees to let the native, desirable trees grow strong and healthy. Along the field we have a mixture of poplar, hickory, oaks, walnut... mixed in with cedar, red bud, pine, a few dogwoods and... non-native evil ghetto palms! Ghetto palms, I'm out to get you!
• The 8 acre field can be rotated with
  • cover crops of warm season grasses that encourage the quail habitat (as well as leaving strips here & there in the fields, and other quail / wildlife management practices)
  • potatoes, garlic, onions: With friends we can plant the field, then harvest it together, keeping enough for our families and donating the rest to the Society of St. Andrews. I mean, why glean (although I do look forward to doing that with my friend Peggy, what fun combined with hard work on a gorgeous weekend!) when you could actually plant a field for hunger? (Also note: store bought potatoes have one of the biggest carbon footprints as they often travel quite far to reach the consumer. They're so easy to grow, try growing your own in your back yard!)
  • eventually move to the Rodale Institute's cover crop roller. Currently we have a tractor with a bush hog and blade.
• There is a smaller field downhill from the home site we could irrigate with rainwater... we've tossed around ideas of growing some kind of crop there, like asparagus... but the reality is that as it is much deeper in the woods it will be much more accessible to wildlife... but it's something to think about...
• I would love a root cellar in which to store food.
• ...and, I admit, we have a hankering for mid-century coolio functional cooking grills- purposeful practicality with kickin' design. YES I realize this is a murky area, in which I struggle. Half o' me is survivalist (heck my family has survived here for hundreds of years), half of me is forward thinkin' design, and half (fine I never said I was good at math!) o' me wants a third option from the solar cooker and propane marine stove. I mean, if the weed tree is felled, why not use it? (Or not? Considering.)
• Handsome Husband and the casa ti green building architect, David Day thought it would be plenty fun to have our friends hang on the slope next to the east side of the house in the evening and project old movies onto that north-east side of the house. They were even tossing around words like, "amphitheater." We'll see. They're such romantics. Which is why I love 'em. Which is why they're both more talented than I. : )
• We've already planted apple trees around the shed, and I was pleased to see they are all in bloom and healthy! In a few years we can invite friends over to pick apples!

Now I also must remind myself that we are on a STRICT BUDGET. So maybe most of these ideas will not happen for years. But in the meantime, here are a BUNCH of land pictures, so that the Virginia landscape architect Heather Barber can get a better feel of the entry, field, and area surrounding the modern house kit. I commented on many of the photos, so if there is something that interests you, click on it to see it larger, and with commentary.

 

We also met with Ron Bernaldo, also known as The Most Fabulous Contractor In The History of the World about our next steps. I can not re-iterate enough how critical having a knowledgeable, experienced contractor has been to the success of our house kit completion. The house kit itself erected easily; but the decisions we had to make as consumers, making the modern off grid house kit "our own"- could not have been affordably or successfully achieved without a contractor like Ron.

Regarding our green building progress, as I mentioned we start again framing the interior, then move on to solar and rainwater collection integration. And THEN we move to interior design of the house kit. Married to a fellow design enthusiast, living our role as house building consumers, I suspect there *might* be design fights ahead.

The first hint came when Handsome Husband nailed up some old sconces. Yes, they do help light the interior of the unfinished SIPs - exposed house kit, but... um... Fortunately they dribbled wax onto his pristine-just-polished concrete floor so I suspect that will be that. But we shall see... never underestimate Handsome Husband.

So maybe I should start a new blog category, called, "design fight" just in case...

In the meantime, here are a few more pictures of the zero energy modern house, it was a *lovely* weekend on the land!

Green Living TM Technologies and THE GREEN LIVING NEWS:

Current December Issue:

• New Website Up and Running
• GLT has NYC Green Roof Tax Abatement Answers! Bill A11226
• Green Living TM Walls more LEED friendly then Plastic!
• Green Living TM Technologies Global
• Green Living TM Technologies Urban Farming Update and Crop Rotation 
• Help Needed....
• No trim Green Wall Corners
• Pre-vegetated Green Living TM Walls & Roof Panels Available for Spring 2009

I want to welcome the new subscribers to our newsletter! As always I can be reached via email at George@agreenroof.com  If you like our newsletter please refer us to a friend forward the email and they can click the "Register Now" link.....

Register for Green Living Technologies LLC email updates

Seasons greetings!

Green Living™ Technologies Website Launch
www.agreenroof.com

Our new website is up and running. Some key features that will help you save time include updated PDF's of our powerpoint, all our common detail drawings, including the Green Living Wall as a sloped green roof and the Green Living Roof Tray. You will also find a guide to our green wall irrigation and basic instruction guide to smaller DIY installations.
If your an architect or designer who is in need of a sample, you will soon be able to purchase samples direct from a password protected site page designed specifically for you. If you currently need a sample call us directly. The link will limit you to one or two pieces at a time but will provide discounted pricing.

Find a rep link will always be a work in progress since we are adding new agents all the time. If you cant find a rep in your location please call us directly. If you dont have one in your area we will train one and as always our trainees get paid while they learn.

Video feed, news and more....coming soon instructional pod casts.

Visit our show schedule and which of our agents will be attending.

Mingo Design & kari Katzander has NYC Green  Roof Tax Abatment Answers

Green Living™ Technologies consultant and designer Kari Katzander, owner of award winning Mingo Design (NYC), is the GLT contact for more infomation on the NYC Tax Abatment for Green Living™ Roofs in NYC. Contact Kari at Kari@migodesign.com Let us help you with your roof project!
 

Green Living™ Walls More LEED Friendly then Plastic

LEED Fact Sheet for Aluminum
LEED Fact Sheet for Stainless

• 100% recycleable with NO loss of quality through the process
• Only requires +/- 5% of the energy required to produce
• Using recycled instead of raw aluminum / stainlesssreduces air and water pollution by 95% and 97%

www.usgbc.org/leed/leed_main.asp

 

  

Green LivingTM  Technologies .......GLOBAL

Talks continue with Impacto Verde to establish manufacturing in Chile.
Our efforts are to work our business plan by creating economic opportunities in the communities we work. We have done this in here in the US  as a staple to our corporate commitment. (The Urban Farming project we were able to train 4 formally homeless as GLT installers and maintenance technicians, visit www.urbanfarming.org) We don't expect to export our products from the US to South America. We will retain the proprietary information and establish additional markets with Impacto Verede as one of our partners to oversee manufacturing and distribution in South America. True to our model we will also establish local growing facilities contributing to agriculture. Eventually this is the plan for all of our expansions it simply takes time.

Another key development with Paisajismo Urbano in Spain also is planning a formal training to establish the market also as one of our distribution partnering agents eventually redirecting manufacturing in that region in addition to immediate contribnutions to agriculture.

Visit with Irelands GLT agent Anu' Green. http://www.anugreendesigns.com

Other contacts of interest include England, Poland, Netherlands, Italy, Dubai and Kuwait. Look for future expansions soon!

LA Food Chain Undergoes Crop Rotation

It was not a promotion but a real application to bring crop production into the inner city. The Urban Farming Food Chain has undergone the first cycle of crop rotation. Even though the 4 walls are in Los Angeles they still have growing cycles. The summer crops of red tomatoes, dark green cucumbers, bright red strawberries and my favorite the tomatillos for green salsa are gone. The Green Living Wall panels are now replaced with leafy greens and legumes. Here in the Northeast we suffer form frozen snow covered tundra, Im in Rochester NY. Although we do bring in our herbs for the season and continue to grow indoors, LA provides an ultimate climate to grow year round.

Joyce Lapinski from Urban Farming described it perfect, "The walls are a real working garden, for the installation we pre-vegetated the panels to give them a head start. These walls are not for cosmetic purpose but do provide a reprieve from the urban jungle. They also provide the additional benefits of cooling the building and providing places for necessary insects like bees."

This is true Joyce; in one of our video clips I make it a point that the system is truly self sufficient. The seeds can be re-harvested to re-plant the wall; yes the wall can be planted with seeds in its vertical position. The unused or harvested vegetation can be composted and the actual roots of the old crops break down and provide additional organic matter and nitrogen for the new plants.

The project is so successful it is in the planning stages for Detroit and Joyce is in talks with the US Secretary of Agriculture. For more on the Food Chain and how to obtain your own "Food Link" visit www.urbanfarming.com or contact me directly. 

  
Leafy Greens Growing from Seed  and Spent vegetation being removed

                    

  
Were not to proud to beg....

But we won't settle either; we don't work with just anyone. The fact is we are the only company in the US who manufactures a Green Wall; we also are a green roof company. We are the only company based in the US who can provide both your green wall and green roof needs and customize almost any project or accessory.  If you're a proven company representing another green roof company, a roofer or other skilled trade and importing a green wall product consider working with us. We provide paid training, additional leads and unlimited support. Our systems are simple, our business model is simple why complecate things. Work with us as a team, express your thoughts and ideas, we value your opinion. Green roof panels, trays, mats, green walls and other green wall accessories for both interior, exterior and freestanding we have it all!

We also need more growers...if your an established grower or want to grow for us add to your resume and income. Contact Tony Caggiano at Plant Connection anthony@myplantconnection.com

Low fee global distribution, growing and manufacturing rights are available!
Contact us at 800-631-8001 or email info@agreenroof.com

  No trim Green Wall Corners......

Perfected.....The Green LivingTM  Wall Corner for use in any green wall project. Why trim the corners or try to modify any system by cutting it. The most durable and flexible green wall available the Green LivingTM  Wall offers the only Green Wall Corner in the World. It allows for a seamless transitions when turning a corner...no unsightly wood or corner trim. Vist www.agreenroof.com and click on product details.

     
Newly planted and installed dormant Sedum wall with the Green Living™ Wall Corner

If you do need trim? We offer custom color matching and powder coating to match any existing trim work and we can even color our catch basins for our green walls!

 
Custom powder coated trim to match the barn. Can be manufactured in 3" to 8" depths

 Custom Metal wraps to match the copper gutter       
    
 Adjustable up to 18" Roof Drain Covers
 
Easily access the roof drains without disrupting the Green Roof Custom Colors available!

Pre-vegetated Green Living TM Walls & Roof Panels Available for Spring 2009

As our effort to meet the "Have to have it now" demand, mature Green LivingTM Wall & Roof Panels
will be available in the NYC, and Northeast markets. The decision was based on last years demand. The already mature walls and roofs will come with a premium, if the time frame allows it is economically wise to pre-plan your green roof or wall and allow a Green Living specialized grower to grow your project 6 months in advance.

  
Plant Connection, Lead GLT Grower

 

  

It seems like for ever since I had the time to simply write unedited and free form without having to stay non-bias. We (Green Living Technologies) have been busy with some new products and key projects. I have also given up on trying to keep the pics in order or formatted .......I think we have made a dent in the revolutionizing the way Americans farm and garden....you may remember an earlier post I talked about gardening in our Green Living Wall panels...This year we have had a 100% success rate testing not only the leafy greens and tomatoes (again) but we added heavier crops like zucchini, cucumber and watermelon......we devised a shelf system to support the heavy crops while the root system is maintained in our green wall. The next few pics you will see the irrigation system, that can prob. be hidden better for cosmetics but I don’t care its R&D and extremely efficient. We also have herbs, spinach and testing thumbnail carrots that only grow to be 3" long and 3" fat...perfect for our 4" and 6' depths......Everything you see here is being tested in our 4" stainless steel panel. 

The next exciting project I want to bring to the public attention is our editable crop wall for the homeless in the Skid Row area of Los Angeles. We partnered with Urbanfarming.org (Urban Farming LA), Warner Brothers and other key organizations to introduce editable Green Living Walls to help supplement the diet of the homeless society. This pilot project was the brainstorm of Joyce Lapinski with the help of Robin Osler. Joyce oversees Urban Farming LA and some of you may recognize Robins name, we worked with her in the past on the Huntsville Anthropologies wall. The premise to the editable green wall is not to feed the homeless society but we are giving these walls as a gift to empower people to take back their lives, regain a sense of belonging and we hope to create a positive social change. 750 square feet of green walls are being grown by the help of Hunter Francis and Cal Poly, San Luis Obisbo. (http://youtube.com/watch?v=O--eJ6wSuQE) The link is a preliminary You Tube upload that will eventually become a documentary filmed and edited by Kathy Kelly the founder and owner of the Winery Music Awards http://winerymusicawards.com/ (Sundance meets American Idol). The anticipated date of installations (4 locations) will be the week of July 28th.

Also check out the launch of our retail site (www.shop.agreenroof.com) to purchase a few do it yourself panels and our do it yourself green roof!

There are 10 easy ways that homeowners can take action now and save money while helping the environment. Below is the ROI calculations for a Green Home Tune-up. To see more tips and ROI calculations please check out http://www.greenandsave.com -- We welcome any feedback. Thank you

For the complete ROI tables and topic page with details on over 50 ways to SAVE Money and the Environment visit: Home Remodeling ROI.

 

This project comes directly from GLT and the Equinox Fitness Center on 10th Ave between 17 and 18th in NYC. This wall is roughly 650 square feet of our standard 2'x2'x3" depth panels. Planted with a variety of low light tolerant plants the arrangement allows for a variety of textures and colors. The red was an excellent contrast to the custom metal rail and mahogany stairs. Throughout the wall there are roughly 3800 plants. The upper and lower portions of the wall will be flanked by water features making this high class club more like a spa setting then a stretching area. A combination of water and live plants is a very relaxing way to wind down.

 

 

 

 

 

 

In the GLT news room things are heating up at two extremes of the globe. The green wall is finding popularity in Anchorage Alaska as indoor displays and upright gardens, great way to bring vegetation indoors! And in the South GLT has partnered with Mark Aston and the ICS Group (Tel: 310-377-7800) to incorporate GLT's Green Roof and Green Wall Technologies in Barbados and surrounding islands. In "Entertainment News", I always wanted to say that, Urban Farming (LA) has officially announced partnerships with both GLT and Warner Brothers to incorporate the green wall into urban areas creating editable crop production. GLT is also a proud sponsor of the Go Green Expo NY (www.gogreenexpo.com)featuring green technologies through out the show and you can expect to see the first commissioned custom art work by Susan Rowley to be on display. The commissioned piece will include a 6' one of a kind sculpture incorporating the GLT Green Wall. The owner of the piece has asked to remain anonymous due to their "A" list popularity. Reach us at www.agreenroof.com

 

National Geographic's The Green Guide: This is one of the easier-to-navigate sites to cover our favorite topic, broken down by rooms of the house. Each section includes a general magazine-style article, a video and a product guide. Their quizzes are fun and you get information and feedback after each answer.

Cross-posted from my site. Enjoy.

The most important job I have right now is being a good mama. Though I love my career and have great passion for what I do, I have been struggling to not be busy, so that I can savor each moment of being a mom yet again in my (gasp) late 30's. I know how fast it goes, as my son Zane is now up to my collarbone and says things like "Dude - don't mess up my hair!" So... I love my kids, cuddle them, play with them, read to them and try my best to be very PRESENT.

These are some of my favorite Mama Resources and tips.

1. Vaccines - http://www.909shot.com
Regardless of your choice to vaccinate or not, please be an informed parent. If you do choose to vaccinate your children, make sure you get single dose vaccines (such as just measles instead of the MMR.) Combo vaccines contain thimerosal which is a derivative of mercury.

2. Disposable diapers and wipes - While I like the thought of cloth diapers, I have issues with the water usage as we live in the desert. I tried G Diapers (they leaked and I found them to be messy,) and we travel pretty regularly. My disposable favorite is Seventh Generation diapers (I also buy their wipes by the case in the refill packs instead of the plastic tubs). They are chlorine-free, hypo-allergenic, and fragrance and latex-free. I used them with my son and have been using them with Zoe. Neither kid ever had a diaper rash. I order them online through Amazon (http://www.amazon.com) and pay about $40 per case of diapers and $36 per case of wipes.

3. Cleaning supplies and laundry detergent - I also order most of these products by the case through Amazon as well and love Seventh Generation's cleaning products and laundry soap. You save a ton of money by buying in bulk and most Seventh Generation products are eligible for free shipping over a certain dollar amount. As babies put EVERYTHING in their mouths, think about what chemicals may be present, and remember if you can't pronounce an ingredient you probably shouldn't be using it around your children anyway.

4. Baby Food - I bought a hand crank food mill that came with a carrying case so we can take it with us when we eat out and travel. As little bodies are far more susceptible to environmental toxins, organic food that is thoroughly washed is a must. It is imperative to "train" your kids in eating the right foods from the get go. My 8 yr. old son loves artichokes, salads and salmon because he's always eaten what we've eaten. If you must purchase pre-made baby food, try a brand like Earth's Best organic baby food. (http://www.earthsbest.com)

5. If you can't afford to purchase all organic clothing, bedding, etc. for your little ones, think about buying a few key pieces (Zoe has an amazing blanket made of bamboo that is her favorite), then buy second-hand. Kids outgrow their clothes in about 5 minutes anyway, and I feel more comfortable knowing that something's been through the wash a bazillion times before. Plus it's a great way to recycle. Have a clothing swap when you're done or donate them to a woman's shelter or other organization.
A few of my favorite organic baby sites - http://www.sagecreeknaturals.com/, http://www.sckoon.com/,
http://www.kee-ka.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Category_Code=W...

6. Toys. Think simple and washable. These are some of Zoe's favorites - she especially likes the green bean.

Under the Nile has a great selection of healthy toys (which is where we got ours). (http://www.underthenile.com/)

7. Bath time - Not only should we be conscious of what goes IN our children, but what goes ON them should also be considered. I've been using the baby products from Avalon Organics (body/hair wash, lotion and sunscreen.) A little goes a long way and it doesn't irritate her fragile skin. (http://www.avalonorganics.com/?title=Baby)

8. Book - Smart Medicine for a Healthier Child. This book has been one of my kid bibles. It covers homeopathy, naturopathic as well as conventional treatments for childhood ailments. Well worth the $16.29 from Amazon!

Treasure your children. Savor each moment and take responsibility for their well-being. Teach them through example, with the understanding that they too will probably recycle and feed their own children organic food one day because you did!

Love and laughter.

Mama Champion