Enjoy the Great Outdoors

Did you know that the produce in an average grocery store in the United States has traveled 1500 miles to get there? With the warm Spring weekends upon us, there is no better time to check out an outdoor farmer’s market. Buying produce from outdoor markets is a great way to support your local economy, not to mention cut out the middlemen inflating prices, and lower the amount of fuel wasted on shipping your fruits and veggies. With a season full of cool watermelon, juicy peaches, sweet corn on the cob and gorgeous tomatoes ahead of us, use the Department of Agriculture’s helpful directory to find a farmer’s market near you today!

Give the Gift of Green

No, I don’t mean money! Many fear that manners have been lost in today’s day and age, and bringing a wad of cash to your next dinner party would prove the cynics right. Bringing a thoughtful, environmentally friendly gift, however, will not only prove the critic’s wrong, but delight your host(ess) as well. Of course finding such a gift can be challenging. Wine or flowers are now generic, and bringing something home baked runs the risks of both upsetting the planned menu and inflaming allergies in those who consume it. Besides, according to Emily Post, a gift that is brought to a private get together should never be opened or consumed in front of other guests anyway. So what kind of gift says thank you and will still be useful next week? Bouquet in a Box Notecards will wow anyone lucky enough to receive a set… and may even spur them on to send YOU a thank you!

Eco-DIY part 01

What's a treehugger to do when you can't find that one item you are looking for? Make it yourself, of course!

The Do It Yourself, or DIY, movement is a huge force in today's society. With all the talk of big corporate practices and supply sources, it can be tough to know just who to buy from. Creating items yourself assures that you will get just what you want, and will appreciate where it came from.

Toys, clothing, furniture, accessories - they are all up for grabs! Worried that you don't have a creative fiber in your body? Don't sweat it! DIY is about having fun and being original. By using recycled, discarded, or vintage supplies, you can easily help support your environmental values as well.

What are some of the ways that you have joined in the DIY world?

If you could make anything, what would it be?

[Image courtesy of Anti-Factory]

TranSglass

From drawer knobs to dinner plates, recycled glass is hitting its stride in the home furnishings department. And it’s about time! Glass has always been 100% recyclable, made up of only silica, soda ash and limestone. There’s no known “shelf life” to it, so it seems to be able to be recycled indefinitely into new shapes and sizes. While a vast amount of recycled glass is used to make utilitarian containers (soda bottles, jam jars, etc.), artisans are catching on that glass is perfect for sculpture and home accents. Artecnica Inc., a Los Angeles based architectural and design firm, runs a Design With Conscience campaign which allows the company to produce humanitarian and environmentally friendly products that don’t lack style. Emma Woffenden and Tord Boontje, internationally renowned designers, produced their TranSglass line through this program, and any household would benefit from one of their clean, modern designs.

Jane Jacobs

Urbanism. It's a concept many of today's modernists know and appreciate, but that wasn't always the case when Jane Jacobs (5.4.1916 - 4.25.2006) wrote her pivotal book, The Death and Life of Great American Cities back in 1961. At a time when inner cities were written off and demolished as blighted areas, Jacobs recognized the importance and vitality of the diversity found in urban neighborhoods. Jacobs saw what others chose not to see. Her work has been instrumental to city planners everywhere, and continues to inform leading contemporary urbanists, theorists, and placemakers today. We'll miss you, Jane.

Another successful EarthFair

Earth Day New York has done it again. Every year, this non-profit organization puts together elaborate Earth Day festivities to celebrate and raise awareness on the environmental issues. They also provide valuable resources and education throughout the year for residents of the Big Apple.
Re:modern was invited this year to be part of EarthFair's Green Home exhibit at Grand Central Station's Vanderbilt Hall. It was a rare opportunity for New Yorkers to discover and see our organic bamboo bowls, recycled bags, and other cool sustainable modern products in person. Good job on another successful EarthFair!

Welcome to designTURF

Just a little over one year ago, re:modern launched its online design shop committed to future-friendly modern home furnishings and accessories. The store's founding was, in some ways, a reaction to the increasingly throw-away nature of everyday products available in the marketplace. It was also a hope for how things could be: a vision for bringing together in one place, innovative designs that were both stylish and sustainable.

What I have been calling the 'Green Modern' movement is still a new term to many, but spreading quickly. In the past year alone, the landscape of modern and eco-friendly design has grown tremendously. New products, designs, architecture, and events in this eco-modern arena continue to emerge daily. So it seemed fitting that today is the day to introduce a forum to discuss such topics. Happy Earth Day, and welcome to designTURF.