I’ll be the first to admit that my thumb is not very green. I love
flowers and herb gardens, and I’ll even offer to trim the shrubs once
in a while. But I’m trying to get better. With winter on its way out,
I’m becoming more inspired to get outdoors and work in the dirt. As am
investigating the latest products to help my garden grow, I’ve
discovered many have harsh and toxic chemicals. Since I’m working to
“green” my life, I want an Earth-friendly option for outdoor plantings
and landscaping.
Recently, I was introduced to Terracycle’s eco-friendly products.
This company is focused on reusing waste of all kinds for lawn and
garden care. They manufacture affordable, potent, organic products that
are not only made from animal waste, but are packaged entirely in waste.
Let me explan. The TerraCycle Plant Food is made by feeding worms
organic matter and liquefying the by-product for fertilizer. This
liquid fertilizer is then bottled in a used, plastic soda bottle. It’s
recycling, reducing and reusing all at once!
They offer a wide variety of products, including rose plant food,
herb plant food, seed starters, potting mix, lawn concentrate and much,
much more, all packaged in reused plastic containers. There’s even a
wild bird feeder, complete with seed, made from an upside-down 2-liter
soda bottle and a recycled plastic stand. Check out these products and
more at Wal-Mart, Target and The Home Depot statewide.
If you want to get in on the action, Terracycle will pay you for
donating used items. Currently, they are paying $0.02 for each yogurt
container, drink pouch and energy bar wrapper you send in, as well as
$0.06 per plastic soda bottle. Visit www.terracycle.net for more information.
February 27th, 2008
Allison
Last night, publisher Kelly Fraiser and I had our third class with
Tom Chandler at the Chandler School of Interior Decorating, and it has
gotten me so inspired! The class is truly amazing; it meets each
Tuesday night from 7:00 to 9:00 at Tom’s office, and it’s filled with a
really diverse group. From people who are considering interior
decorating as a career, to those planning on building and decorating
their own home, to students like Kelly and me, who just want to be more
educated about the design industry.
In our most recent class, we took a photographic tour through a home
Tom and his team recently completed, with Tom walking us through the
various principles of design we’ve learned and how they apply to the
different rooms. It’s great fun, and it gives me a whole new level of
confidence in decorating my own home. Although my husband gets kind of
overwhelmed when I come home all jazzed about painting our ceilings and
turning all our square tables to 45-degree angles.
Confidence, I think, is the most valuable skill Tom imparts to
students. His philosophy is that you should believe your own home is
the greatest-looking place in town, and that your opinion is the only
one that matters! And he gives the students practical, simple
principles about choosing colors, placing furniture and hanging art
that make that goal very attainable.
For more information on the fall 2008 semester of the Chandler School of Interior Decorating, call 501-372-2764, or log on to www.chandlerassoc.com.
February 27th, 2008
Laura
Terry Boyd, a photographer from Russellville, spends his summers in
Alaska photographing the landscapes of the Denali National Park &
Preserve. He will be showing some of most recent work Thursday, March 6
at 6:30 in the UACCM Fine Arts Auditorium.
Check out some of his work at terryboydphotography.com.
February 25th, 2008
Mandy
