Eeeeee is for Eco friendly, disposable serveware

So you've figured out that becoming eco chic should be at the top of every domestinista's todo list. Congratulations! Perhaps you've procured a beautiful new set of bamboo dishtowels, have created kitchen recycling station or filled your crisper with a bounty of home grown, organic veggies! No matter what steps you've taken to add a bit of green to your home, you're certainly to be commended.

However, with summertime making its glorious arrival (despite some ominous looking clouds saying otherwise) eco chic domestinistas are faced with something of a dilemma. What to do if you'd love to throw a festive, sun-filled barbecue, or even whisk your significant other away for an impromptu picnic, but simply hate the thought of buying paper of styrofoam plates?

Using your everyday dishware is an option, assuming you have enough for all of your guests and don't mind a whole lot of washing up afterwards or the chance of breakage.

Thankfully, there is a wonderful and even quite stylish option, and that is Compostable Serveware from Green Living. Green Living offers plain white plates and bowls made from Bagasse, which is the fiber left over from sugarcane stalks after they've been crushed, flatware made out of potato starch and soy, and my absolute fav -bamboo veneer plates, which I happen to think would be perfection at a green wedding, backyard birthday soiree or other festive event that has eco friendly entertaining on the menu. All of Green Living's compostable dishware is certified organic, FDA approved, free of any dyes or bleaches and will biodegrade in 4-6 months after disposal.

Eco friendly, chic, AND affordably priced. I am eeeeeeing with absolute delight. Time to put my order in, start perfecting my version of this luscious-looking Jerk Chicken Panini I saw the other day, and grab the hubby for a romantic picnic by the lake.

Mel Bartholomew - Introducing Square Foot Gardening

So many industrious Domestinistas relish the idea of growing their own vegetables, but simply cannot abide the thought of weekends spent kneeling in dirt under the hot hot sun ...not to mention what that might do to a fresh mani.

That's where Square Foot Gardening comes in. SFG is a a gardening system developed by Mel Bartholomew. Gardens are built in raised 4x4 foot boxes and greatly reduce the time and effort required in traditional row gardening. Have a peek at the video and prepare to be inspired!

The Color of Style

What's the hot color (colour for my lovely Canadians) for this year's most fashionable kitchens? Well green, of course, darlings. What else?! Of course I'm not talking about having hubby slather your walls in a refreshing shade of Bartlett pear, I mean eco green (but of course you knew that, savvy domestinista that you are).

There are oodles of ways that we can create a greener kitchen, like buying new energy efficient appliances or installing counter tops and cabinets made of sustainable materials. Fabulous ideas of course, and the perfect excuse to finally get that kitchen of your dreams; however, this Domestinista likes green ideas, and well, just about anything really, that keeps a few extra pennies in my pocketbook. That’s why my current fav money save is an old idea that new all over again, and that’s home canning.


You’ll reduce your carbon footprint by making and canning your own fruits, sauces, relishes and more, and possibly even save a few bucks come holiday season with your scrumptious homemade gifts! Just think of the extra mani/pedi money you’ll have!

Now, before you even entertain the thought of standing alone in the kitchen, behind a mountain of ravishing romas for an entire day, let me give you the skinny on two ab fab ways to get into the canning game.

#1 – Take a test drive

A company called Ball has a spectacular little kit that helps newbies test the waters without making a big commitment. The kits are practically a steal, at under $15.00 each and allow you to do three jars. Simple and affordable. What more could you ask for?



#2 –Canning party

No need for a test drive and ready to take the saucy plunge into home canning? Grab a few of your like-minded bffs, a bountiful harvest (or farmers market find), and home canning gear for a canning party. You’ll be able to share the work and divide the results, with a light lunch and some great together time as a bonus.

Want to learn more about home canning before you dive right in? Here’s a great read to get you started.