Eco-Vlog

There’s simply nothing more rewarding than growing your own  food , except when an innovative product makes it ultra-easy to do so. Hamama is the newest option in the urban or indoor gardening trend, and it provides a breadth of options to keep your palate pleased.  We all know creating healthy food options for the farm-to-table experience can be overwhelming, expensive and backbreaking. Worth it, to be sure, but not always possible. Honestly, it becomes kind of a hard sell to go through the work of building raised beds, hauling dirt, mixing compost, and planting a garden when Hamama helps you create microgreens with only a few minutes of effort. Related: Urban gardens don’t get much greener than El Terreno  The company uses a unique and innovative Seed Quilt. The description fits since it’s basically a compartmentalized bed of paper pillows stuffed with seeds. To support seed germination and growth, a moss-like layer is attached to the bottom side of the seed quilt....

Marc Koehler Architects designed Edegem, Belgium’s newest community center, as a symbol of sustainable design to represent this city south of Antwerp and its commitment to restoring the city for a sustainable future. The Edegem community center features timber construction with gardens , solar and heat pump systems, and a greywater system. It includes a library, community center, book cafe and exhibition space. The most important thing about the new Edegem community center, however, is how it allows Belgium’s government to explore new sustainable construction methods and future-proof public buildings by creating modular , adaptable spaces. Related: Red brick firehouse in Belgium runs on solar power Opened in September 2021, the Edegem community center building was integrated with the Huis Hellemans exhibition center and its garden next door. The open spaces in the new community center that are now used as a library can be rearranged to work as mixed media, relaxing, work and mee...

In the fight against pollution and environmental waste, there are many levels of similarly-minded people in government, nonprofit, for-profit and community all working towards the same goals. So it makes sense that a name like Surfrider is a perfect match with #Tide Ocean and the fashion company MVMT.  MVMT is an accessories company that’s on an environmental mission. They started in 2013 with the support of a crowdfunding campaign that highlighted the support of consumers looking for eco-friendly products . MVMT released a minimalist-style wristwatch that is solar powered and features a case, strap and buckle made entirely from reclaimed ocean plastic pollution.  Related: Get your vegan jewelry fix with KEVA’s cactus leather line The watch was made possible through a partnership with Swiss-based nonprofit #Tide. Well established with a complete supply chain in place, #Tide upcycles ocean waste into a material many businesses have discovered and incorporated into their ...

The Exploded View Beyond Building at Dutch Design Week was created out of 100 different bio-based materials. It also uses sustainable building methods to highlight the ways we as a global society can apply sustainable design and building in real-world house construction right now. You read that right. Every single material that went into this house is bio-based. The goal isn’t to prove one material is better than another, but rather to explore the question of how we can put all these existing sustainable building materials into use to change construction of buildings today. Related: Pool house uses traditional Spain “pedra en sec” design The Exploded View Beyond Building explores circular construction methods, 3D printing and multiple sustainable materials. It also includes storytelling installations to explore the ways we can change more than construction methods with sustainable products. This “value chain” looks at how we can revolutionize health, agriculture and neighborho...

Burnout became an especially painful issue during the pandemic when the majority of people worked from home, finding it difficult to draw the line between work and private life. However, entrepreneur burnout has been less discussed, despite evidence that entrepreneurs are at a higher risk of burning out. [1] It may seem that as the boss, you are more in control of your time and work duties. Feeling stressed? Take a day off. Don’t feel like doing something? Give the task to someone else. But in reality, the responsibility of leading a company weighs heavy on many company owners. In addition, when you’re passionate about growing your business, it can be tricky to notice the symptoms of burnout. It may take long months or even years of putting yourself through survival mode before you notice that your body or mind has raised a white flag. The tips compiled here will help you avoid entrepreneur burnout and tackle already existing burnout symptoms , like exhaustion, sleep problems, irrit...

Architects VenhoevenCS have won a major riverside redevelopment in Shenzhen, China . They hope to protect large areas of land from flooding while also creating a vibrant new urban identity for the Bao’an district. The Pailao River Blueway Project constitutes a new biodiverse landscape along the central Pailoa River, an area under rapid urban development where rainfall intensity is increasing. Architects are using this project to design with the water instead of against it. It includes elements such as ponds, green roofs, urban farming plots, wetlands and soft banks, contributing to a natural sponge effect to absorb excess water from the river . Related: 100-year-old railway yard turned into a green space VenhoevenCS also has their sights set on integrating urban regeneration in the area. They have planned cultural and social spaces, including pavilions and parks for cyclists and pedestrians. The design illustrates their nature-inclusive approach, reshaping how human...

It’s that time of year again. Commercials are encouraging you to spend, spend, spend, and your loved ones are asking you what you want for the holidays . For those of you fortunate enough to have all you need, consider supporting these environmental charities during Cyber Monday.  Amazon’s Charity Lists compile all the items an organization needs, making it easier for you to give directly. Whether you want to give to animal rights or ocean conservation groups, this list will connect you to an easy way to support causes you care about. Helping India’s Wildlife for Wildlife SOS Wildlife SOS helps protect India’s wildlife from habitat loss and human exploitation. The organization’s Amazon Charity List includes items to support its team and the animals under their care. As the group explains on its list page, “A lot of this equipment is not available in India,” so sending them this vital gear is a big help. Friends of the Smokies Want to support America’s most-visited national p...

“There is no planet B.” Perhaps no one understands that better than Indigenous people. Understanding how to coexist with nature has been an essential life skill for many generations, and today’s Indigenous people are still honoring the  environment  through various movements. These movements support sustainable, low-impact lifestyles that meet the needs of humans and the planet. If you want to support Indigenous organizations working toward this goal through everything from education to legal help, check out this list of Indigenous-led eco-charities worldwide. Seed Climate justice is the goal, and Australia’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people are keeping a focus on that goal through a series of campaigns supported by the Australian Youth Climate Coalition (AYCC). AYCC understands Indigenous communities are highly affected by climate change and is committed to empowering the younger generation to address the issue.  Related: 12 sustainable, Indigenous-...

Architecture company Prodesi/Domesi’s new cottage in the Czech Republic was inspired by a ship. The small cottage is covered in sunburned larch planks and sits in the trees above the Vranov Dam. Storage spaces are hidden in every corner of the home, just like the cabin of a ship, and the structure manages to eke out 65 square meters of usable floor space with an open concept main floor and a private attic. The interior is paneled in spruce, with large glass pane windows looking out over the water. This cottage actually sits on the owner’s inherited cottage foundations, handed down by the owner’s grandfather. The idea was to create a summer home for the family with every possible convenience built on the existing foundations of the old structure. Related: Meet The Line, a sustainable design that looks like a ship The architects had to deal with the influences of the surrounding forest land and the floor plan of the original cottage while creating the new home. Architect Klára Vr...

Architecture, art and functional elements fill the urban atmosphere, usually as separate entities in the same  environment . Art may be located in public spaces for citizens to enjoy. Architecture serves a purpose, yet can also be visually appealing. Technology is seen throughout the city, yet often is nothing special to look at. The Public Art Electric Charging Stations set out to meld all these elements together, combining design, art and innovation for the function and viewing pleasure of the community. The Public Art Electric Vehicle Charging Stations are a series of concept pieces that provide more than just a place to charge up electric vehicles . These structures aim to engage users at a multi-sensory level. While the charging station is a functional necessity, designers hope to increase awareness and inspire consumers to convert from petroleum-based vehicles to electric cars. Related: Massive electric vehicle charging system coming to L.A. Each of the five proposed cha...