common ecology blog
educate . inspire . actcompost even when you’re not allowed
Many jurisdictions do not allow food waste compost in your backyard. Or maybe the tiny little counter compost fills up every day and you’re not in the mood to trudge through the snow to put it in your bin. Yes, that’s me.
Though an investment at $299 this indoor composter by NatureMill is a great solution!
wouldn’t this be lovely??
We not only bring our reusable bags to the grocery store, but also bring our used plastic produce bags for fruits and veggies. We reuse them until one day all the limes fall out of the bottom! Unfortunately, same produce is already packaged – spinach, cucumbers, mushrooms – in oftentimes undesirable styrofoam trays. I came across this post on Inhabitat and thought “wouldn’t this be great?!” Leave it to a collegiate European, Ben Huttly, a Visual Communication student at the Arts University College at Bournemouth(UK), to come up with this clever, biodegradable, plantable, zero-waste packaging for fruits and vegetables.
baltimore county compost bin and rain barrel sale 2011!
On Saturday, April 30, 2011, Baltimore County will host a joint compost bin and rain barrel sale. The sale will be held on the auxiliary parking lot of THE AVENUE at White Marsh, 8125 Honeygo Blvd (behind the movie theater across Town Center Drive). This sale will be a one-day event from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., rain or shine. Compost bins and rain barrels will be sold on a first come, first served basis while supplies last.
The compost bin for sale is once again The Earth MachineTM, made from recycled plastic with an 80-gallon capacity, easy snap together assembly, and a ten-year warranty.
The rain barrel for sale is once again the Systern Rain Barrel. The Systern Rain Barrel is made from recycled plastic with a 55-gallon capacity, a mosquito mesh to keep bugs and debris out, and a five-year warranty. It also comes with installation instructions, spigot, screws, and an overflow hose.
Compost bins, valued at $100, will be available for the low price of $35, including tax. Rain barrels, valued at $120, will be available for the low price of $50, including tax. There is no limit on the amount of compost bins/rain barrels you may purchase at this event and both items will be sold on a first come, first served basis while supplies last. Cash, checks, or credit cards (Visa, MasterCard, or Discover) will be accepted and you do not need to be a Baltimore County resident to purchase a compost bin or rain barrel
happy earth day!
browse through common ecology and find some things you can do to celebrate our earth this weekend!
leave the grass high for hiding easter eggs. go to a farmers market. support local businesses. walk instead of drive. open your windows. turn off your lights. bird watch. plant some vegetables and native plants. have a zero waste weekend. make a rain barrel….
slow design
As I rush here and there this holiday season, traveling to see family, rushing home from work to wrap gifts, I find myself needing to just stop. To slow down. To actually enjoy the beauty that surrounds me and take the time to be mindful.
There is the slow food movement which is a grassroots organization “linking the pleasure of good food with a commitment to their community and the environment. Slow Food was founded in 1989 to counter the rise of fast food and fast life, the disappearance of local food traditions and people’s dwindling interest in the food they eat, where it comes from, how it tastes and how our food choices affect the rest of the world.”
There is the slow money movement which suggests “we must bring money back down to earth. Slow Money believes “there is such a thing as money that is too fast, companies that are too big, finance that is too complex. Therefore, we must slow our money down.” Slow Money proposes that “the 21st Century will be the era of nurture capital, built around principles of carrying capacity, care of the commons, sense of place and non-violence. We must connect investors to the places where they live, creating vital relationships and new sources of capital for small food enterprises.”
I would like to introduce the concept of SLOW DESIGN which aims to encourage clients, contractors and architects to participate in making smart choices for a true investment in buildings, the community, and our future. Slow Design is a mindful approach to architecture:
- Creating spaces that are collaborative efforts between architect, engineers, owner and builder.
- Making decisions and choices that reflect our impact on the environment.
- Building homes and schools that are so well-designed they have a minimal carbon footprint.
- Taking the time to select high quality, durable, and local materials.
- Investing more money up front to see immediate payback in energy use, our health, and our environment.
photo by tim laman for national geographic
recycle campaign signs in baltimore county!
what do i do with the campaign signs in my yard?!
now that Election Day has passed, Baltimore County residents are urged to recycle their campaign signs that are made from paper, cardboard, or corrugated plastic. check your local jurisdiction to see if you can recycle your signs.
michael hindle will be a speaker at the 2010 passive house conference in portland, oregon
Congratulations to Michael Hindle, cphc who has been asked to speak at the 2010 Passive House Conference held in Portland, Oregon, November 4-7. Michael will be discussing his efforts on creating Baltimore County’s High Performance Homes bill and incorporating the Passive House standard in the process.
Baltimore County’s High Performance Homes Bill offers a property tax credit to homeowners who invest in improving the energy efficiency of their homes. The Bill went into effect June 25, 2010. The amount of the tax credit is a percentage of the total County property tax assessed on the home that is equal to the percentage of increased energy efficiency achieved in the process of renovation or new construction. The tax credit starts at 30% efficiency for three years and increases to a carbon neutral home with a 100% tax credit for five years. Michael and Carri Beer, AIA, LEED ap worked assiduously with Councilman Vince Gardina to make this bill a reality for Baltimore County residents.
friends of druid hill park 150 gala
Join the Friends of Druid Hill Park as they celebrate the 150th anniversary of the third largest urban park in the country, Druid Hill Park in Baltimore. Druid Hill Park is shortly behind Central Park (c. 1858) and Fairmount Park (c. 1859). Friends of Druid Hill Park is hosting a fun and fantastic gala at the Mansion House to recognize this historic gem in our City.
alterego post in baltimore’s urbanite
alterego, our friendly environmental building products retailer, has a great little write-up in Baltimore’s Urbanite Home + Design blog.
thanks to brennen for visiting the store!
baltimore county green roof install
brennan + company architects is so thrilled, after years and years of trying, to finally have a green roof installed! Thank you to our great clients for seeing this through. And thanks to Capitol Green Roofs for their fabulous installation job.
Green roofs help with stormwater retention and provide a slow release of this water. They also aid in absorption, transpiration and reducing the heat island effect.
We would love to have a green roof installed on your new project – contact brennan + company architects for full service, earth friendly architecture.
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