The Earth Angel vibrator is marketed as the world’s first 100% eco-friendly, wind-up sex toy.  Made from recycled parts and plastic, you crank a handle, which unfolds from the bottom of the vibrator, to charge it.  4 minutes of cranking gives you 30 minutes of battery-free power, 8 minutes of cranking creates an hour’s worth of vibrating fun and games.

Positives – this eco gadget eliminates the need for expensive batteries and keeps them out of the landfill, has 4 speeds and will provide the user some exercise in a couple of different ways. Possible negative – Do you think 8 minutes of cranking that handle might break your concentration/mood?

a pricey £64.99 @ lovehoney.co.uk via: coolest gadgets

A Cirque du Soleil moment?   If you have storm damaged trees in your yard or woodlot, you might want to consider this DIY project.  Designer Jurgen Bey created this fusion of nature and furniture out of a log and a few bronze, classical chair backs.

Arborists and tree surgeons should note that as an art furniture project the bench is list priced for an incredible $20,200 – yet, since tree trunks are locally available it’s stated that only the chair benches are for sale @ droog.com

Note: several people have complained about the smell of this product. Please see the accompanying comments.

Our quaint (real estate lingo for “small”) Upper West Side, New York apartment has a lovely terrace that provides us with glimmering sunset views, breathing room in the big city, a place to entertain our friends and, unfortunately, ants. The little critters have been making themselves known as the weather has warmed up, creating a little creepy crawly trail all the way from the terrace door to the kitchen.

I immediately huffed it over to my corner drugstore, on a mission to find a non-toxic ant killer, but trying not to get my hopes up – this particular New York drugstore chain is not known for their extensive selection. To my surprise, (more…)

My girlfriend, sensitive Sue’s been mixing together baking soda, tea tree oil and peppermint oil to concoct a Do It Yourself blend of toothpaste.  After just a handful of uses, her pearly whites are brighter, and her dentist even complimented her on how great her teeth looked when she visited him last week.  She prepares enough paste for about a week, and stores it in a clear glass jar.  Gotta get me some peppermint oil and start DIY-ing. (see comments for proportions)

Arnold II, pictured above, was once a computer terminal relegated to the scrap heap when some fancy, flat-screen newcomer came on the scene.  Now, he has been recycled and transformed into a planter featuring a funky green patina, painted bamboo rim and scrap walnut feet.

Check out his predecessor, Arnold I, (at right) in full bloom.  Both can be found at the very cool, environmentally friendly artisan’s venue, Earth’s Journey, a site focused on recycling, reusing and repurposing items and objects into new, upcycled objects of value.

• Hikers gone wild…Swiss Heartland Voters Ban Nude Hiking in Alps – myway
• World Moves to Contain Swine Flu Spread – bbc
• Lookin’ for love in all the wrong places?  Alligator Winds up on Woman’s Doorstep – msnbc
• 140 turbines strong…Europe’s Biggest Onshore Wind Farm to be Ready Early – reuters
• Creationism…6 Random Coincidences That Created the Modern World – cracked.com

I received a press release the other day and the timing couldn’t have been better. I had just finished clearing out a book shelf (four shelves actually), and sorting through the keepers and pass-alongs to friends. What a sense of accomplishment. It was so satisfying to declutter and claim new/old space. I had several boxes of books ready to drop off to the local library, untiI I discovered that our library doesn’t accept donations anymore because they’ve run out of room. So I figured, okay, time to freecycle. But along came this timely news which I’m stoked about, and must dish. Here’s the deal. (more…)

You need some tough kid’s furniture to stick up to Mother Nature, like notNeutral’s BBO2 Collection of contemporary, all-weather furniture fashioned out of recycled high density, post consumer polyethylene (HDPE).  (Post consumer HDPE consists primarily of plastic milk cartons and detergent bottles.)

notNeutral teamed up with the recycled plastic design experts at Loll Design to create their original BB2 line of recycled plastic furniture for Warner Brother child care center.  The new BBO2 table and chairs come in black (nite), green (leaf), blue (sky), white (cloud), chocolate (brown), apple (red) and sand.  This indoor/outdoor furniture will stand up to Mother Nature for a long, long time.

sold @ notneutral.com

Related: previously on altCon
lollygag your way to summer with loll design (4.9.08)

A green stimulus package for your eyes, ears and mind…

• WBAI (99.5 fm, NY) today, 5-7p All Mixed Up – Mother Earth Mix Down
  
• EARTHFAIR today (Saturday, 4/25), NYC.  Join Simple Shoes 11a-5p at Booth E11 for their hourly giveaways of eco conscious shoes and bags. Grand Central Terminal — Vanderbilt Ave between 42 & 43rd St.  Meet DIY Network’s Ed the Plumber @ KOHL‘s exhibit area and learn how to save 39,000 gallons of water each year in your home.
• today (11a-6p) and tomorrow (11a-5p):  GREEN LIVING EXPO Suffolk Community College.
• cnet tv debuts their green side…highlighting green technology, the green show (video)
• Vivavi showroom closing, but online will remain.  50% off eco home furnishings through this weekend, 10a-6p, click here for directions to Riverhouse, Suite 11N, 2 River Terrace, NYC showroom.  Tell Josh I said HI.
• now we’re talkin’ my kind of green…Stimulus Bill Funds Green Energy Gold Rush
• tribeca film fest through May 2
• solar-powered billboard in Green Bay, Wisconsin
• (more…)