Mountain Dog is an environmentally responsible company making incredibly strong dog leashes from re-purposed climbing rope.

Why climbing rope?
Well, climbing rope is stronger, more durable and more comfortable than any other leash material on the market today, like leather or nylon. It absorbs shock when your pooch is out of control. And will never ever break. Plus, by up-cycling used climbing rope you’re reducing what is going to the landfill and greenifying your pup’s lifestyle.

All of Mountain Dog’s leashes are handmade in the U.S.A. by sweatshop-free labor and involve no carbon intensive recycling process.

And the best part of Mountain Dog is their replacement policy, “Eat An Old Leash, Get A New Leash – Free of Charge.”

Buy yours today, it will be the last leash you’ll ever buy!

Move over Coffee there’s a new sheriff in town and his name is Tea.

Did you know…
Some black teas have just as much caffeine as coffee does. Plus, growing tea is much greener then growing coffee. Producing one cup of coffee requires almost 300 gallons of water, while the same amount of tea requires only about 30 gallons of water.

So green up that morning cup of java with coffee’s leafy counterpart. Don’t forget to always buy organic, fair-trade, & shade-grown. Plus, skip the pre-bagged tea & go straight for the loose-leaf.

Calling all magazine hoarders! This DIY craft is just for you. It is a simple guilt free way to get rid of all your old magazines.

Materials Needed:

• Old Magazines
• Glue
• Scissors
• A Big Clip

Step 1
Start with a page from an old magazine. Fold the page at about a quarter inch thickness until it has a little bulk to it. Glue the edge and cut off the remaining page. I don’t recommend using the whole page, it just gets too thick.

Step 2
Next, take the strip of paper and roll it into a circle.

Step 3
Continue making strips and rolling them until you reach your desired diameter for your box.

Step 4
To keep it from unrolling, use a big clip while the glue is still drying.

Step 5
Roll a strip that is about an inch thick or so. Glue it to your roll. You’ll now have what looks like a lid. To give it more support. Make thinner strips and glue them to the outside of the thicker strip.

Step 6
Start the process again for the bottom of the box, however, make it slightly smaller so the lid will fit on it.

Step 7
Next, do the same with the bottom as you did with the lid in Step 5. However, don’t go all the way to the top with the smaller strips. This will create a little ledge for the lid to rest on.

Step 8
Finished!

Thanks to Stefanie Dean for sharing her awesome crafting ideas!

Big Dipper Wax Works is a little eco-friendly factory making really incredible candles from 100% beeswax. They are located in Seattle, Washington and have a huge selection of hand crafted candles including tapers, pillars, votives, tea lights, tins, sculpted and even floating candles.

Big Dipper is also committed to living local. Even saying ”living locally is living responsibly.” They back up their words by being an active member in the community and supporting a variety of local organizations focusing on either education, research, or sustainability.

Why does Big Dipper use Beeswax to make their candles?

• Beeswax is all natural
• Beeswax is a renewable resource
• Beeswax nontoxic & non-allergenic
• Beeswax burns clean & soot free
• Beeswax is naturally aromatic, infused with the sweet, subtle scent of honey
• Beeswax releases negative ions while burning that improves air quality by eliminating pollutants & allergens
• Beeswax burns for an exceptionally long burn time due to it’s high melting temperature

For more information & to order…check out Big Dipper Wax Works.

I just love this super funky lamp made out of recycled soda pop can tabs by Tasha Duckman over at Craftster.

Tasha created this tree lamp for a class project. She started by weaving her tabs together with ribbon first, then she used wire to mold and keep the desired tree shape. She then finished it up with wiring and a CFL bulb.

Tasha’s whimsical tree is just so creative and really demonstrates that one person’s trash is really another person’s treasure.

Going green can be super easy with books like Robin Pharo’s ‘You Don’t Have to Wear Hemp Underwear: Changing the World Without Changing Your Life‘.

In Robin’s book she develops an approach that allows all of us to participate in living a more eco-friendly life. She offers a unique way to decide what each of us can do without forcing painful changes in our lives. In her book, she puts a new spin on things by describing seven personality types and how each can contribute in unique ways to an environmentally healthier world for all of us.

Buy Robin’s book now!

Looking for hot fashion without all the guilt? Look no further Chicago, as we’re quickly catching up to the LA & New York eco-fashion senses for men, woman & even baby.

Here are the Top 3 Eco-Fashion Boutiques in Chicago:

• Pivot Boutique – Founded by Jessa Brinkmeyer in 2007 as the first eco-fashion shop in Chicago. Located in the warehouse district.
  PivotBoutique.com
  1101 W. Fulton Market
  Chicago, IL 60607
  312.243.4754

• Connect Chicago – Founded by Mitch Lindsay & Jonathan Shaun in 2008 committed to sustainability and social responsibility. Located in the Wicker Park / Bucktown neighborhood.
  connect-chicago.com
  1330 North Milwaukee Ave.
  Chicago, IL 60642

• Nat and Helens – Founded by Mandi Altepeter, named after her maternal great-grandma & paternal grandma and where you can find all things baby. Located in the Lakeview neighborhood.
  natandhelens.com
  3125 N. Broadway
  Chicago IL 60657

On a soda can DIY up-cycling kick…Check out these stunning brooches created from recycled soda cans.

Supplies Needed:

• Soda Cans
• Scissors
• Ruler
• Marker
• Clear Tape
• Pin
• Game Card or Other Image

Step 1 -
Cut empty soda can with scissors into a rectangle shape.

Step 2 -
Mark with lines to fold and cut.

Step 3 -
Cut away what is not needed.

Step 4 -
Fold.

Step 5 -
Cut out a part of a game card or use another image.

Step 6 -
Put image into frame and add your pin to the back.

Step 7 -
Fold the whole thing together.

Step 8 -
Secure edges with clear tape.

Step 9 -
Done. Now you have a super cool new pin to sport with any fun image or slogan in it.
Each brooch is 3×3cm.

Special thanks to cocinero for sharing your super fun eco-crafts with us.

The Minnesotan girls behind Barrel Depot are also offering a simple pre-order & pick up at your local farmer’s market.

Next stop…Chicago’s Logan Square Farmers Market on July 18th, 2010.

They’re featuring 2 different rain barrels for pre-order & pick up, plus they will have tons of other amazing products on sale at the market that you can use to accessorize your new rain barrel with.

Recycled Oak Rain Barrel:

• $179.00 with pre-order & pick up
• 55 Gallons
• Solid Oak
• Recycled wine barrel
• Brass Spigot
• 3/4″ brass overflow
• 5′ overflow hose
• Option linking
• 6″ filter basket
• Bung Plug
• 110 lb barrels
• Do not fit in standard car, must have hatch back or larger vehicle

Plastic Rain Barrel:

• $65.00 with pre-order & pick up
• 55 Gallons
• Made in the USA
• Recycled Content
• Brass Spigot
• 1 1/2″ overflow hose
• Port for optional linking
• 16″ screened lid
• Locking lid
• Port for optional spigot
• Barrel aesthetic

For more information & to pre-order for the Logan Square Farmers Market on July 18th check out their site.

Just say no to those electric mosquito zappers. Several studies have shown that they are inefficient at killing the pesky biting insects, but great at turning beneficial ecologically important bugs into charred insects.

Part of the problem is that traditional zappers merely emit UV light as an attractant, however mosquitoes could care less about the light. Newer models, such as the Mosquito Magnet, release CO2, which does excite the biting bugs. All and all they work better, but do cost a bundle.

I still recommend just using a good old eco-friendly spray to keep those mosquitoes at bay.