House Plants
The #1 thing you’ll notice upon just pulling up to my house is that I have… sort of a plant problem. If there’s not 15 things potted on the front porch, there’s plants hanging from the ceiling of the porch or planted in the garden, my work space, studio, bathroom and bedroom all have at least one plant, and there are at least two by the kitchen sink. When you breathe, your body takes in oxygen and releases carbon dioxide. During photosynthesis, plants absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen. This opposite pattern of gas use makes plants and people natural partners. Adding plants to interior spaces can increase oxygen levels. It’s also been proven to uplift moods, purify the air, sharpen your focus and improve your mental health!
Re-evaluating the plastics & glass we throw away – even if we recycle – is always the first step. A ton of things make great planters, and a lot of plants even grow upside down very well!
If you think you don’t have room for a plant, consider these upside down methods, a terrarium, a venus fly trap or a hanging planter!
I’m cloning a bunch of peas outside (super successfully I might add!) in recycled Kombucha bottles, I planted some corn in an old egg container and every time I get strawberries, I’m super excited to plant new strawberries in the old container!
Clone Your Food
Using your trimmings, seeds or sprouting veggies for clones is a great way to perpetuate growth and nourish yourself! You can stick the trimmings of most plants (and various parts of others, depending on if it’s a fruit or veggie) in a glass of water and they will sprout roots, peas, or both within a few weeks! It’s remarkable, fun and easy!
Filter Your Water
It’s already pretty clear that we take our water for granted. The developed world has water on demand. Just turn a knob and presto! Running water. But this might not be the case for much longer, because in the United States, some neighboring states are beginning to sue one another over access to shared water resources, and aging infrastructures are struggling under the ever growing demand for abundant, clean water. Simply paying attention to how you use water can help you conserve this precious resource, too. For example, you can save water by shaving in the sink rather than the shower. And when you turn on your shower, place a 5-gallon bucket beneath the stream while you wait for the water to heat up, rather than simply allowing it to run down the drain. For instance, my laundry water drains straight to my garden via a duct. In the same case of the bath water, you can use this gray water in your garden.
It’s also important to make sure that you have clean, filtered water to drink. The 35-year-old federal law regulating tap water is so out of date that the water Americans drink can pose what scientists say are serious health risks — and still be legal.
Research your home town and see for yourself!
Aromatherapy
Where it’s this amazing Aromatherapy Flax Seed Pillow from Aquarian Bath (when I say amazing, I mean AMAZING), incense, soy candles from Hip E Chick, or my own little concoction, I really like to make sure that the house smells like something wonderful at all times. Aromatherapy is an exploration of creativity as well as technical knowledge. Creative expression comes from knowing the characteristics of oils and envisioning new combinations of scents. The scientific aspect of aromatherapy comes from knowing the subtle differences in essential oils that are attributable to thousands of aroma chemicals, and how these chemical constituents affect the human body. Some of my favorite scents for relaxation & calming are Vanilla, Lavender, Rose, Sage & Jasmine.
Remind Yourself
There’s nothing I like more than a nice little reminder of who I am and what I’m trying to do with my life to start my day. Otherwise, you can get really caught up in things like finishing coffee before rush hour or answering e-mails before you’ve even brushed your teeth that the whole day gets hectic. Having nice little reminders like this in the house, by my workspace, in the bathroom, in the kitchen – wherever I will read it – is not only affirming, but I think rather lovely. 🙂
Rescue Some Real Books
I think you all know by now that I’m totally mad about books…I left about two rooms full of boxes in New York when I moved, and have since been re-amassing a small (… by my standards…) collection of rescued and thrifted books! There are books absolutely everywhere in my home… every room, on the porch, on the couch. I’m tripping over them. But I always say if I’m going to have a problem… it may as well be an immense thirst for knowledge. 😉
I’ve always wanted to have a small bathroom library so that I could pull whatever I wanted during meditation & bath times, and my dreams are slowly but surely coming true! I can’t say enough about the pleasure that reading brings me.
Re-Learn the Clean
I don’t know about you, but my sensory memory of cleaning the house is riddled with toxic smells and choking on chemicals. I recently approached Hip e Chick about their all-natural cleaning products & hand soap, as well as all natural bathroom lotion for guests! As someone who has to clean the house pretty much consistently because my dog sheds & I take baths every day, I am SUPER impressed & truly very happy with these natural alternatives to cleaning my sink, stove, counters, bath & other sensitive places my body goes.
Create A Sanctuary
Whether it’s soap shaped like rose petals, Buddha, Krishna, Jesus, dream catchers, vintage photos, or rocks in the sink, I always try to add a little touch of love to my home.
Finding ways to express yourself creatively is the nicest part of having your own place! Doing things that you’ve “always wanted to do” since you were a kid with your space is so, so rewarding!
Have fun ORGANIC-izing your space!
If you have any suggestions or comments on how you go green, feel free to leave them!
A big thank you to Hip E Chick & Aquarian Bath for their help on this post!
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Love & Light
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