Victory garden comeback

One of the peculiar trends this year is an increase in home gardens. An AARP article, Victory Gardens Are Growing Anew, describes several reasons for the phenomenon.

Some seem to be doing it to save money, admittedly a big concern during this economic downturn. Given the money I spend each year on my garden that seems unrealistic but maybe I'm just not frugal enough. However, because of global warming, the less distance your food has to travel the less energy is wasted. Straight from your back yard doesn't get any closer.

Some new gardeners seem to be coming into it because of concerns over the purity and safety of food after so many food safety alerts and recalls. A few seem to be view gardening as a form of exercise. Others, because of the rising cost of gasoline, see gardening as a cheaper way to relax than travel.

The article claims that gardening is a "45- to 70-year-old prime-time activity." Given how large a portion of the population is now in that age range it would explain the spike in gardeners. In addition, having our first lady, Michelle Obama, drawing attention to gardening by planting a vegetable garden at the White House probably didn't hurt.

For me it's one of the few outdoor activities I enjoy and the taste of home grown food can't be beat. Many of the fruits and vegetables you find in grocery stores have been picked while still green so that they ship well.

Not ready to test your green thumb but still want fresh food? Not to worry! Just find your local farmer's market and you can still enjoy fruits and vegetables that taste great. Plus you won't have to find a place to store garden tools and supplies.

Recession grows interest in seeds, vegetable gardening - from USA Today

How to Grow a Recession Garden - from The Gardener's Rake

Twenty Dollar Recession Garden challenge from The Gardener's Rake.
I could learn some things about gardening more frugally from Denise.

Recession Proof Gardening from This Garden is Illegal

Popup Colander - easy on your storage space

I love colanders but I don't love the space they take. So I've been eyeballing some of those silicone pop-up colanders as a solution. This collapsible colander has a handle and would be easy to use with pasta. But this one is interesting in that it has legs and could sit in the sink but still be elevated enough for draining or rinsing food. That would allow for hands free use and still be sanitary.

Greener Gadgets Competition 2009

I love finding sites like this! The Greener Gadgets Design Competition is part of an annual conference focused on developing electronics that are environmentally sustainable. There's some pretty funky concepts showcased each year.

PCWorld has a slide show about the competition that you may find easier to explore.

Folding kitchen cart

I've had my eye on a folding kitchen cart for awhile but I've been wondering how good it is and how well it would work in my galley kitchen. Has anyone who has bought one have comments about their experience with it?

Here's my favorite so far - Folding Kitchen Island and a review by someone whose has one.

Here are links to some others;

Oasis Folding Kitchen Carts - several variations available

Winsome Wood Foldable Kitchen Cart with Knife Block, Light Oak

Kitchen Island Company has several varieties available

Book Review: Collapsibles

Collapsibles: A Design Album of Space-Saving Objects by Per Mollerup,
Thames & Hudson, 2001, ISBN 0-500-28309-5

TOC:
Introduction, 1. Fold it, 2. Mechanics, 3. Furniture, Sources

This book was written to serve as inspiration to designers as well presenting an overview of man's early and current collapsible products. Man has been creating collapsible products, tools, and furniture for centuries. They include paper light shades, telescopes, tents, fire truck ladders, and umbrellas. Collapsibles can be in all kinds of configurations including stress (stretching), telescoping, creasing, folding, rolling, nesting (stacking), fanning, or inflating (and a few others).

It's an interesting book with plenty of illustrations and you will see a lot of old standbys that you use all the time but don't think about. Saving space is certainly not a new idea, in fact it's looking like it has been around since man started making tools.

Washup - washer/toilet combo

Washup - washer/toilet combo was a notable entry at the 2008 Greener Gadgets Design Competition


Most of us would not look at this concept twice, but if you are really looking to save space and live greener this design bears thinking about. Having the washer hang above the toilet saves floor space, and using the dirty wash water to flush the toilet saves water.

One site noted that this would not be advisable if you have pets who persist in sneaking drinks from the toilet.

Wee House

Johnson Creek weeHouse Prefab Home - simply gorgeous! The wee House is a prefab home located in Honesdale, Pennsylvania and was designed by Alchemy Architects. But at 2,200 sq. ft. its larger than my house!

Check out Alchemy Architects blog about their weeHouse.

I love how much light there is in the main living area!