Eco-Friendly Garden Fountains

Whether you’re creating a relaxing outdoor “room” in a large backyard or making the most of a small balcony, the soothing sound of a bubbling fountain adds tranquility to any space.  They’re great for drowning out street noise or serving as a water source for birds.
Fountains that include solar-powered pumps are easy-to-install and don’t require [...]

Earth-Friendly Fencing

Whether you’re looking for privacy or just a solution to contain the kids or pets in your yard, there are plenty of low-maintenance, eco-friendly fence options.  Fences made from natural or recycled materials are readily available.  The right fence can even be used to create a zen-like backyard oasis, as shown here.

Recycled Metal Sculptures Add Pizazz to the Landscape

If you’re looking for something special to spruce up your home or garden, recycled metal sculptures offer artistic flair combined with eco-friendliness.  These individual artists create one-of-a-kind works of art, most of which are even functional:

Rooftop Gardens: A Growing Trend

Gardening for urban dwellers and businesses is often challenging, but utilizing unused space on the rooftop offers an innovative solution to bring fresh veggies to the table.  Products designed for such purposes, from hydroponic systems to recycled plastic bins, are now more easily accessible.   MSNBC has the full story here.

Recycled Glass Rocks the Landscape!

Tumbled, recycled glass (with no sharp edges) can be integrated into landscapes to create striking focal points.  Imagine its use in fountains, fire-pits, fish ponds, pathways, mulch beds and gardens.  Add color to beautify desert-scapes without the use of thirsty plants!  From post-consumer bottles to post-industrial window scraps, recycled glass is available in a wide [...]

Green your Backyard with Eco-friendly Furniture, Part II

In Part I of this series on eco-friendly outdoor furniture, I focused on those made with reclaimed wine barrels and other sustainable woods.  Here, innovative creations made from recycled skis, snowboards and HDPE plastic are highlighted.

Green your Backyard with Eco-friendly Furniture

Looking for some artful, yet functional pieces to spruce up your backyard this summer?  In this particular post in my series of earth-friendly outdoor furniture, I’ll focus on cool collections made from reclaimed winebarrels, watertanks and barnwood.  Other options include FSC-certified furniture where the wood is harvested from well-managed forests.  From patio dining sets to [...]

Green Garden Sheds

Thinking about adding a potting shed, storage shed, studio or playhouse to your yard?  Well, the good news is that these utilitarian outbuildings can actually be attractive, functional and even eco-friendly. The following sheds are made from recycled materials:

Beautify Your Garden with Low-Maintenance Plants

If you’re looking for low-maintenance flowers, shrubs and trees that will improve your curb appeal and beautify your backyard, look to native plants.  They’re easy-to-care for and come in many varieties suitable for both sunny and shady locations.  There are many benefits to integrating native plants into your landscape, as they:

are naturally adapted to thrive [...]

Increase Comfort and Reduce Energy Bills This Winter

Windows and exterior doors are, of course, necessary elements of any home, but if they are old and drafty, you may wonder about how to make them more energy efficient.  Whether you live in an historic home, or a home that has only single-pane windows, there are some relatively inexpensive and easy fixes you can [...]

keep looking »