spring cleaning, zero waste. sneeze count: 7

Heyo! So, here we are, getting ready to launch our new website, putting all the final pieces together so we can bring even more people in the Boston area local food, and we're STILL up to our elbows in all of this junk. Still. We can start a new business, we can build relationships with farms from all over New England, we can get people excited about a new opportunity to live locally, but we can't keep our teeny tiny apartment reasonably clean and organized. Our mothers are so disappointed in us.

But wait! We are making progress. We've found a slew of terrific and sustainable ways to get rid of our clothing (check back for that post tomorrow), our pals over at YCB are working on that whole CD repurposing extravaganza, aaaand... We have a solution for all those wire clothes hangers that were taking up more space in our closets than actual clothes. Hooray! High fives all around.

As it turns out, wire hangers are a bigger boon to our environment than we ever thought possible. According to NBC News, 3.5 billion wire hangers are sent to the landfill EVERY YEAR. Say what? 3.5 billion? Ah, yup. Absurd. Luckily, recycling these things is pretty easy and doesn't require any more effort than you'd already be making. Wanna know what we mean? Read on, fellow Greenologist!

Our first plan of action was to call our dry cleaners and ask their advice. They are, after all, in the business of hanging clothes on wire clothes hangers. Well. Partly, anyway. We use Clevergreen Cleaners, not only because the solvents they use to clean are biodegradable, but because they use less water in the cleaning process AND they design their work spaces to be as energy efficient as possible. Awesome. Anyway, we called these folks up. We said, "Hey, Clevergreen Cleaners, what should we do with all of these wire hangers?" And they said, "Hey, Greenologist lady, why don't you just bring them back to us?" And we said, "Oh. That's really easy. 'Cause we'll be over there to drop stuff off again soon anyway." And they said, "Yup." BAM. Problem solved.

So here's the deal. Just bring the hangers back to your cleaners. Recycling them the conventional way (in that blue bucket on your sidewalk) might work. But it might not. Not all cities will recycle those hangers, and by bringing them back to the cleaners, you're keeping more NEW hangers from having to be made, which keeps manufacturing and shipping waste down, too. Which is kind of the point.

This whole thing took five minutes for us to resolve. If everyone took two minutes to just throw their hangers into their dry cleaning bags with their clothes on the way out the door, we could keep 3.5 billion pieces of metal out of landfills. Seven minutes for a cleaner, greener planet? Yes, please.

Also, if you aren't already using Clevergreen, you probably should. Our clothes smell WAY better than they did after hanging out at those other places, AND they're holding their color and shape longer. They're not giving us anything to say that, by the way. It's just the truth.

we love yourenew.com more than eggs.

Don't look at us like that, eggs. What did you expect? Something better was bound to come along eventually, and just because that something turned out to be YouRenew, a totally awesome website that allows us to trade our old, quasi-functional electronics for cash completely hassle-free, doesn't mean there aren't things we still love about you, too. But, come on. They never asked for anything from us, not once. Not our money, not even our credit card number like those other recycling sites do. And they care about the environment, just like us. They even donate to environmental projects with every transaction. We just feel like we have more in common with them. They're a small business, we're a small business. You understand, right? We know, you've nourished us and made our hair shiny for years, but, well... We like money, ok? There, we said it. Let's still be best friends.

will work for local crafts.

Wow. We spent waayyy too much money on Saturday. Our usual penchant for sniffing out the best deals, the pride we take in finding something for almost nothing (preferably nothing), was overtaken by the bevy of crazy-awesome crafts and fashions we found at the SoWa Cabin Fever Gift Fair this weekend. We'll be on a steady diet of peanut butter sandwiches until our finances can shake it off and pay our rent.

But it's ok! We snagged some really sweet stuff, we supported local artisans, and in every case, we did it sustainably. Check it out:

Eco-Metalsmith Jesse Danger:

So, aside from the fact that this guy has the coolest name EVER (Danger's only our middle name), his gorgeous line of jewelry -- made entirely from recycled metals and conflict-free gemstones -- is the epitome of grace and simplicity. It's nature meets urban minimalism, and it reminds us that sustainable can be chic, and recycled doesn't have to mean wearing manipulated utensils as rings. Speaking of rings, we were particularly in love with two of his creations: the Metropolis ring ($175), whose twin gemstones mimic the city skyline, and the ethereal Dragonfly Wing ring ($495), which we'll happily accept as a Valentine's Day gift in place of -- or in addition to -- the previously mentioned "Let's Make Out" pillow. We're a size 4.5. Thanks.

"Neckties aren't just for dudes anymore:"

We think it's safe to say that artist Nicole Deponte pretty much brought the funk this weekend. Her "upcycled" fabric inventions, created from remnant ties, fringe, buttons, sequins, and vintage scarves, rocked our socks. You might be thinking, "Outmoded neckties? Like my dad/husband/weird uncle wears? Say what?" Ladies, we hear you. Suspend your skepticism and fashion phobias for just one minute while you try one of Nicole's creations on. It's OK that you don't ooze cool; we're here to hold your hand whilst you delve into something different... See? It's actually outrageously versatile! And not just for the painfully hip! We see our NH-bound mother snagging a piece that hints at its past as a nautical-themed knockoff Hermes, and we're going to rock a multi-layered, earth-toned piece in lieu of a bulky scarf this spring when our t-shirts and jeans beg for a little easy accessorizing. We know, we can't believe we can pull something like this off, either! This is the part where you go tell all your friends and pretend you discovered this all on your own through the power of the Internet and Nicole's Etsy page.

Guys like to look good, too:

Sorry, guys. You tend to get short shrift at these craft fair things, so full they are with jewelry, feminist magnets, jewelry, feminist stationery, jewelry, and jewelry. Nicole Keane feels your pain. She didn't create F. Rock sustainable carryalls ($235-$450) for that reason alone, but her booth, full of decidedly manly courier bags made from 100% reclaimed leather and menswear factory scraps, was a haven for our very patient male companion as we tried on about 45 different pairs of earrings. Her custom-made bags, fit to carry laptops, graduate theses, and more diapers than you ever thought could possibly be necessary, are unique, handsome (just like you!), and well-crafted enough to survive Boston winters, riding the MBTA, and whatever destructive force a toddler might unleash. Although, we know all you really care about is whether there's a pocket big enough for The Watchmen. There is.

please buy this for us.

Our Valentine's Days have a history of being tragic. These 100% post consumer recycled pillows from Alexandra Ferguson's Etsy shop will help soften the blows we've been conditioned to associate with February 14th.

You could just get one for your own significant other, but then you'd feel guilty for leaving us high and dry on a very emotional day, wouldn't you?

Thanking you in advance,

Lauren

waste not.

Happy February 4th! What's happy about it, you ask? We'll tell you! We just got rid of a bunch of closet-dwelling junk that was making us seriously claustrophobic. Old toasters, twin bedding, bio books and reams of hot pink paper begone! How did we do it, you ask? Did we pay one of those junk removal companies to come pick it all up and do whatever it is they do (what DO they do with that stuff?) with it? Pssht. No, ma'am. You underestimate our capacity for thrift. We used Freecycle.org's Cambridge-based Yahoo!Group page to find people who actually wanted our stuff and were willing to come get it from us. We traded one guy for a spiffy colander he was unloading. Huzzah! Why didn't WE think of this?

Using Freecycle was easy and rewarding. We signed in with our own Yahoo! account info (though not all Freecycle groups are hosted by Yahoo!Groups), we posted our stuff, and a few days later, we can see the floor of our closet again. Most importantly, though, using Freecycle helps keep stuff out of landfills. Recently posted (and immediately taken... you gots to be fast): a bag of pig's ears, a Brita water filter, a bag of beads and a green velvet couch. Nice.

We see that box of stuff in its original packaging lurking beneath your bed. You're never going to use any of it. Ever. For serious. We know, we know; you're waiting to have a yard sale! Please. You've been saying that for two years now. And even if you did get it together enough to have one, how much do you think you're going to get for a sleeve of Betty Boop Titleists? Just go to Freecycle.org, enter your location, post your junk, and you're clutter-free, kid. Or, you could end up living like this. Just sayin'.

whatever happened to the green bean?

Hi, folks.

Some of you might recall having a conversation with a wee lady in Spring of 2009 about a totally awesome business that she was starting. It was home delivery of farmer's market produce! It was affordable! It was sustainable! It was awesome! It was the Green Bean. "Wait a minute," you might be thinking to yourself at this very moment. "Whatever happened to the Green Bean? They kind of just fell off the face of the earth." Sad, but true.

Well, folks, it turns out that the Green Bean's inherent awesomeness made a certain supermarket conglomerate a little nervous. Said conglomerate, being emotionally blocked and a poor communicator, sent the Green Bean a pretty nasty letter that more or less put the kibosh on all the awesomeness. "But green beans and pea pods aren't even the same thing!" we said. "Scary legal stuff! Really scary financial stuff! More scary legal stuff!" they replied. And so the Green Bean was put back on the bench before it even got the chance to play. Lame.

We were so frustrated, we considered quitting the whole game and moving to France, just to get out from under Corporate America's thumb for a while. But our friends and family said, "Are you crazy?! You can't give up! That's what this whole thing is about!" And then we visited some more farms and talked to some more farmers. And then we got back from France and remembered how much we like it here. And then we saw Food, Inc. And then it was on, baby.

So now we're back, and we're doing it for the locals. But not just the local farms. This time, we're doing it for the whole community. We're bringing you locally-farmed meats and produce. We're helping you shop at local businesses more often and more effectively. We're supplying you with the tools and recipes you need to make living and eating locally easy and awesome. We're constantly bringing you new tips and ideas about ways to green your life and save money, all while supporting the community and economy around you.

So. The Green Bean is gone, but Greenologist is here. We're crazy excited, and we hope you are, too. This blog will keep you updated with information about our services, website (currently being built by the wonderful folks at MBATeam and up at the end of this month), and community members who are helping us turn Greenologist into a reality, so be sure to check back with us regularly. In the meantime, follow us on Twitter at @gogreenologist, or on facebook.

Many thanks, and we'll be seeing you.

Lauren