Guest Blog: Indie is the new Green by Jessica Gonacha – Ode to My Bike!

August 04, 2008

by guest contributor Jessica Gonacha

In our shifting world, I am sure all of you reading this column every week are well aware that we need to make some changes as a global society- both drastic and minor- if we are to continue enjoying the earth in all its preciousness.

While I know you all are aware of it, I am not so sure about a large chunk of the world. As I was riding up to the post office door on my bike the other day, a man walking out, looked at me incredulously and said, “You have to ride a BIKE?” Then he shook his head and walked away laughing, as if he thought I was so LAME that I didn’t drive a car. At first I thought it was funny, and I didn’t say a word, but then I felt saddened as he drove away in his SUV, that he was so clearly not aligned with our planet’s needs in that moment.

I guess I tell you this because it got me thinking. I judged him for judging me, when really it could have been an opportunity to invite a stranger to see the world in a different light. How many times have I not stood up for what I believe, just because I didn’t want to confront someone? How many lives could I change if I did my best to inspire people (including myself) with each of my actions?

So, on that note, if you do not have a bike, I urge you to get one and RIDE IT! I promise, you’ll love it, and hopefully if someone laughs at you, you’ll be inspired enough to tell them how good the wind feels in your hair, and how you never have to fill up on $4/gallon gasoline, because bike-riding is free and good for us and the planet…. And if you are an avid bike-rider already— AWESOME! Keep riding, and keep loving it.

Here are some of my favorite bike images, to inspire you to go out and ride!

1. These fun coasters by Etsy seller girlscantell are printed with a bike diagram printed on the set of 4, so it’s a full bike when they’re together. Plus, they’re on cork, which is a sustainable resource!

2. Check out this awesomeness! From cricketpress’ Flickr photostream.

3. This is one seriously painted bike. From slimmer_jimmer’s Flickr photostream.

4. How cool would it be to see this bike sculpture in person? From skampy’s Flickr photostream.

5. And my very favorite of all —the London Naked Bike Ride. I love it. From W10’s Flickr photostream.

GREEN CHALLENGE: Bike drawings!!! Draw a bike and post it to the Indie is the New Green Flickr group. (If you’d rather paint a bike, that’s fine, too, of course! Or sew a bike? Sculpt a bike? Bake a bike-shaped cookie?)

About the contributor: Jessica Gonacha is an artist from Atlanta, Georgia who is endlessly creating. Her work includes paintings, drawings, illustrations, and paper goods and is vibrant, colorful, and charming. Her work can be found on her site, in her Etsy shop and in the Indie Fixx Shop. You can also read more about Jessica and her work on her blog.

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Guest Blog: Indie is the new Green by Jessica Gonacha – Yurts!

July 28, 2008

by guest contributor Jessica Gonacha

This post is going to be a little different than usual. I’m assuming that the majority of you who read this blog are:
a) creative and passionate people.
b) artists/crafters of some kind and probably trying to create a business or sustain/grow your business.
c) you work extremely hard at what you do, pretty much every day of the week.
d) sometimes you just want less work and more play (you’re trying to find balance)!

I assume this only because I am all of these things, and I am currently in a period where I feel the need to add some more fun and inspiration to my life. Just like when we were kids and we made forts out of couch cushions and blankets, made a closet into a secret hideaway or created a backyard cave dwelling in a dilapidated bike shed.

Well, I saw these photos of a grown-up-made fort on Dear Ada the other day and it got me thinking. Why can’t I have a secret hideaway NOW? As a big person? Can’t I create a place that I could go to be alone (or bring a creative friend!) and feel the magic of being a kid again, in my own secret world?

So, this is a long-winded introduction to my topic for this fine Monday: Yurts.

Photo from the Yurts flickr group by udo.

What in the world is a yurt, you may ask? Well, the word ‘yurt’ is a Turkic word meaning ‘dwelling place,’ and it is typically a circular wooden lattice structure covered with felt and sometimes canvas. Yurts in the western world are often made of different materials, but are used for generally the same purpose: semi-permanent dwelling places.

Photo by bolotbootur from the Yurt Living Flickr pool.

I would love to have a yurt in the backyard, decorated in vibrant colors on the inside, that is my own special place to go when I need to recharge my creative spirit and tune into my playful side. Wouldn’t it be fun to play Monopoly with the love of your life in a yurt? Or have a camp-out, just because?

Here are some links for information on how to build your own yurt (remember to use as many found and recycled materials as possible!)

The Little Yurt

Mongolian Cloud Houses: How to Make a Yurt and Live Comfortably

Sustainable Build websit

As well as some inspiring images of yurts:

John Brown’s inspirational & eco-friendly yurt, complete with solar panels.

Yurt in China, from Kate James’ flickr photostream.

Yurt in Asheville, NC, from Chris Montmeny’s flickr photostream.

Yurt in Kirghizstan from the Yurts flickr group by Doc Kozzak.

GREEN CHALLENGE: Build a mini yurt! Here is an inspiring idea to get you started: Yurt Building for Everyone.
Get creative (use recycled materials!), and post your creations to the Indie is the New Green flickr group. Have fun!

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Guest Blog: Indie is the new Green by Jessica Gonacha – Some Great Green Finds

July 21, 2008

by guest contributor Jessica Gonacha

Today I thought it would be fun to highlight some things that have been catching my eye as of late. You can think of this post as a sort of eco-friendly mish-mash!

1. Bamboo and surplus felt earrings from BTC Elements – love the organic shape!!

2. Knit laptop case from Eka – this one’s cheating a little bit, because the yarn is not organic, but at least it’s not made out of PVC like many laptop cases!! Plus, they’re fair-trade made in India, to support the town and surrounding area.

3. Yolo Colorhouse paint – this Portland, Oregon-based company brings us environmentally-friendly paints in gorgeous colors, and they are a woman-owned business and community-oriented.

4. flip & tumble bag – the best part about these reusable bags is that once you’ve used it until it can’t be used anymore, instead of throwing it away, you can send it back to them and they’ll recycle it for you!

5. Looolo organic kids toys – is that hamburger not the cutest thing you’ve ever seen? They also make gorgeous organic textiles. (found via Tiny Decor Blog)

6. Robin Rosenthal posters for kids – printed with soy ink on acid-free, recycled paper. (also via tiny decor blog)

7. A town in Japan has 100% Recycling! There is literally no trash removal services and everyone is required to recycle EVERYTHING. Other cities in Canada, Australia, and even the USA are following the trend. Read the article to find out more!

8. Urban Homestead by Kelly Coyne and Erik Knutzen – all about how to live sustainably in the heart of a city. Sounds great!

9. beautiful upcycled flower pins by Betsy Carr of Asheville, NC, made of thrifted polyester blouses, glass beads, and pins (available at BTC Element)

GREEN CHALLENGE: start collecting rainwater to water your houseplants and garden! You can use pretty much anything: a big bowl, a canister, a rain barrel…post photos of your rain catchers in the Indie is the New Green flickr group!

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Guest Blog: Indie is the new Green by Jessica Gonacha – Green Yarn…and we’re not talking about the color green!

July 14, 2008

by guest contributor Jessica Gonacha

I know summer is not really the most ideal time to be thinking about knitting and crocheting, but it IS an ideal time to learn about eco-friendly yarn, so you can stock up on the good-for-the-earth stuff come fall and cooler weather. Or, there are plenty of things that can be knit to be used in the heat of summer: what about a picnic blanket? A grocery bag? Or even a light-weight wrap/shawl for cooler summer evenings?

Here are some resources to get you started on your search for eco-friendly yarns, as well as some further reading if you’d like to learn more about the devastating environmental impact of commercially produced yarns and fibers.

1. Classic Elite Yarns — Their Bam Boo Yarn is made, obviously, of bamboo.

2. Kollage Yarns — Their Corntastic yarn is made from 100% corn. I’m not sure if it’s genetically-modified corn, though. This company also has yarns made from milk fibers!

3. South West Trading Company — they have yarns made from corn, soy, and bamboo.

4. Miss Hawklet — hand-spun, organic cotton and wool yarn (from an animal friendly farm! No eating the poor dears!)

5. Blonde Chicken — yarn made from recycled banana fibers and hand-dyed soy yarn? Yes please!

6. Hand Jive Knits — Darlene Hayes is the woman who runs this wonderful enterprise. All her yarns are naturally plant-dyed, and supposedly quite lovely in person.

7. Green Knitter — here is a great chart listing a large number of eco-friendly yarns and the ways in which they are produced.

8. Here’s a great article about bamboo fiber. And one about cotton — both from the Organic Clothing blog.

And for some books on the topic, check these out:

1. Alt Fiber: 25 Projects for Knitting Green with Bamboo, Soy, Hemp, and More

2. No Sheep for You: Knit Happy with Cotton, Silk, Linen, Hemp, Bamboo & Other Delights

3. The Yarn Lover’s Guide to Hand Dyeing: Beautiful Color and Simple Knits

GREEN CHALLENGE: Buy some eco-friendly fiber and spin your own yarn! Visit a local yarn shop to get some supplies, and learn a new skill! Sounds like a relaxing way to spend an evening, eh?

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Guest Blog: Indie is the new Green by Jessica Gonacha – DIY Bird Feeders

July 07, 2008

by guest contributor Jessica Gonacha

I have thoughts of buying a house on the brain! It’s with fear of jinxing myself that I tell you this: my fiance, Ryan, and I have a house officially under contract! Eep! As a result, I’ve got all sorts of home improvement ideas on the brain, and I love the idea of having a LOTS of birds in the backyard!

Which leads me to today’s post: DIY bird feeders. There are limitless ways to build a bird feeder, but here are some of my favorites:

1. Build a Bird Feeder (via Life Hacker) — the best part about this one is that it assumes you are going to use leftover scraps from previous projects! I love it.

2. Milk Carton Bird Feeder — another great way to creatively recycle something that would normally just get tossed in the recycling bin.

Photo credits & more tutorials:1. familyfun.go.com, 2. dfw.state.or.us, 3.craftsforkids.com

3. Lighthouse Bird Feeder — this one is ADORABLE! (And quite upscale for the little birdies.)

4. Pinecone Bird Feeders — always a favorite! And so festive.

5. Method Bird Feeder — Seriously creative and awesome!

6. Decorative Pumpkin Bird Feeder — this is such a cute idea, and I imagine kids would love making these, too!

GREEN CHALLENGE: mAke a bird feeder, of course! Post your genius creations in the Indie is the New Green flickr group.

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Guest Blog: Indie is the new Green by Jessica Gonacha – Resources for disposing of e-waste & other hazardous waste

June 30, 2008

by guest contributor Jessica Gonacha

If any of you are like me, you can’t bear to throw anything away. Which for an indie business means: CLUTTER. It also means leftover materials that I don’t know what to do with, or things that I don’t want to throw away because they are harmful in landfills (ie: paint-filled rags, ink cartridges, oil paint-filled solvents), but I don’t know where to safely dispose of them.

Some of the things I am often left with are: small pieces of wood that are leftover from frame-making, paint-covered rags, cans of paint with dried paint in the bottom, ruined brushes, ink cartridges.

Depending on where you live, the ease with which you’ll be able to safely recycle or dispose of these types of items will vary. For example, when I lived in Boulder, CO it was easy! I just went to the local hazardous waste recycling facility and voila! Nothing to worry about. But here in Duluth, Georgia, it’s quite a bit more difficult.

So, I thought I’d share some resources I’ve collected to help get you started:

1. Earth 911 — an extremely informative site that will tell you what can and can’t be recycled, and you can search by zipcode, state, or city to find your local recycling and disposal facilities.

[*Quick fact: did you know that in July 2007 Office Max started a national ink cartridge recycling program? You can recycle your used ink cartridges (as well as old cellphones!) at any Office Max store! And they'll give you $3 any in-store purchase!]

2. Building Materials Reuse Association — find out where and how you can recycle building materials (wood, paint, etc.) You can also serach this site by state.

3. School Art Programs — can you donate those bits of wood that you don’t know what to do with? Kids could make sculptures out of them (here’s a great example).

4. Mother Earth News — a great site that’s FULL of articles on every green topic you can imagine. You can search their archives for answers to your recycling questions and to get tips on how to reuse materials.

5. E-Waste on Wikipedia — learn about what types of products contain hazardous substances.

6. eRecycle.org — info about where to recycle e-waste in California, as well as a page that allows you to search outside of California.

GREEN CHALLENGE: make a paper collage out of bits of paper in your recycling bin! You can find colored bits in newspapers, magazines, and advertisements, and what about using non-traditional materials like toilet paper roll tubes, cereal boxes, and egg cartons? There are fun textures in the recycling bin! Post your creations to the Indie is the New Green flickr group.

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