by Ross Dulmaine @ 7:54 am post a comment »
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
by Ross Dulmaine @ 1:08 pm post a comment »

The Delancey Underground project has an ambitious goal: The group seeks to transform an abandoned trolley terminal forlornly hidden beneath New York City’s Lower East Side, into The Big Apple’s first underground community green space.


The massive, decaying space lies beneath one of the least verdant areas of the city. The forgotten unused space is nearly the size of Gramercy Park. The designers envision the utilization of advanced solar technology to channel sunlight underground, enabling plants and trees to grow.



The organization, obviously inspired by the overwhelming popularity of the West Side’s High Line Park, is currently seeking donations to move the project into the next phase.
Related: High Line Park video on The Alternative Consumer
by Maureen O'Connor @ 10:33 am post a comment »

For many, “the bird” is the focal point of the Thanksgiving meal. If you’ve never prepared a turkey and you’re in charge this year, no worries. Our friends at Whole Foods have posted a comprehensive guide on their blog and shared a few quick tips and recipes with us to successfully guide our turkey prep from selection to cooking and carving.
At the end of the day, it’s all about gathering and spending quality time together, so relax and enjoy your family and friends. We always take a break, stroll and play outside – enjoy the fresh air, no matter what the weather – it’s a great way to balance the frenzy of indoor activity. Before you kick back – here’s how to prepare for the festive feast: (more…)
by Ross Dulmaine @ 8:18 am post a comment »

Want to avoid the big box store shopping experience, save a bunch of money and shop at a green, socially conscious vendor? Then you should check out Green-Eighteen’s website. The family-owned boutique specializes in selling organic, recycled and Fair Trade products.
They’re currently offering a robust 60% off sale – just enter the code 60OFF at checkout. One example of their already low prices – Green-Eighteen is selling organic cotton and recycled cotton t-shirts for an incredible $10 (pre-discount).
Monday, November 21, 2011
by Maureen O'Connor @ 1:58 pm 1 comment »



Located just north of Seattle, in Marysville, Washington is Elpis&Wood, a small-scale furniture design studio with a big heart. Following the mantra: design, build, donate, founders Matt and Blake handcraft contemporary home furnishings from locally salvaged and reclaimed lumber and donate 5% of each sale to nonprofits to help their surrounding communities. Placing their values right in the workplace, they also offer employment to marginalized and disenfranchised young adults in Snohomish County. (more…)
by Maureen O'Connor @ 10:10 am post a comment »

This intricate handmade jewelry is made in Thailand from renewable bamboo. The beautiful earrings (above + below) and barrette (immediately below) are made of tiny bamboo strips, woven together into a delicate design by skilled hands.

The raw material is a specific type of bamboo found only in Northern Thailand. As an added fashion feature – Thai custom states that wearing this auspicious bamboo will bring happiness and prosperity to the wearer.

(more…)
by Ross Dulmaine @ 8:20 am post a comment »
Saturday, November 19, 2011
by Omar Khalidy @ 10:41 pm post a comment »

German resort Waldseilgarten provides an opportunity for extreme travel and outdoor enthusiasts to take camping to the next level – spend the night of a lifetime camping high above the earth.
Located in Pfronten, Bavaria, Germany, the resort gives the chance, in addition to their other amenities like hiking, climbing, and ropes courses, for the camper to take refuge overnight in what is known as a “portaledge,” a tent suspension system that is normally used for climbers on overnight climbs.
Knowing that the initial idea may be somewhat intimidating, Waldseilgarten provides different portaledge experiences. Adventurers have the choice of trying to catch some winks sleeping on a tree-mounted platform at heights ranging from 100 to 300 meters, or they can opt for the full-on experience of spending an overnight stay on a cliff or mountainside platform at heights reaching a breathtaking 1,000 to 2,000 meters. (more…)
by Ross Dulmaine @ 8:36 am post a comment »
Toshiba International Corporation announced this week that it’s introducing the innovative 40-watt equivalent A19 LED lamp that will possess many of the lighting features preferred by consumers.
Unlike many other LED lamps launched to date, Toshiba’s new A19 bulb boasts a more traditional light bulb shape – a feature that research shows is important to both lighting designers and consumers. Toshiba’s A19 lamp bulb is manufactured with patented technology enabling omnidirectional light distribution that is similar to an incandescent lamp. The dimmable light will be available in 2700K and 4000K color temperatures.
The new bulb is manufactured (more…)