We got this great little terrarium from one of our favorite new providers: Uncommon Goods (disclaimer: for free, though we got to pick what we wanted from their online store). What we liked about it was that (a) it was essentially an old wine bottle with the top whacked off (not bar-room fight style, but cleanly lasered), and (b) it seemed...
This little bonsai kit will allow you (or a green-thumbed friend/family member) to create their own miniature forest using this kit. It gets cooler: these trees are actually a descendent of the California Redwoods (yeah, the HUGE ones) that they thought to be extinct until someone actually found one growing in a rice paddy in China! This is a...
This 12-sided planter from Woolly Pockets takes a softer approach to the floor planter - and sports a new and different look. Made of recycled bottles and also being breathable, these planters can allow the roots to be aerated. The Brian has zippers so you can fold down leaves to expose more topsoil to air or sun. Comes in brown, black, camel...
In the summer, there is nothing like sitting out having a barbeque with friends. But when the sun goes down, it may get a little chilly. The answer: a fire pit. This little cast iron number from DWR has a nice design that also serves to keep the fire oxygenated and dissipate heat efficiently. Now you can sit out until the wee hours talking...
These pots will light up your garden. Made from 100% polythylene, they are recyclable (for whatever that's worth) - and durable for outdoor usage while also being lightweight so you can actually move them around a bit. They are built with a special drainage system to optimize the health of your plants. And of course, there's the light. Compact...
These Lighthouse Outdoor Torches from DWR are supposedly inspired by the lighthouses of Scandanavia. They are meant to burn high and proud ("like a bonfire" says the designer, Christian Bjørn) even under winds (so it'll be great down by the beach here in Santa Monica). Say goodbye to those ratty old tiki torches. These torches have ceramic...
Awesome way to chill all summer long. If you have a pool, this is a no-brainer. Imagine the things you could do on this. Just imagine... Good stuff, right? Yeah. Made by Neoteric Luxury, it's a (heavy duty weather resistant) wicker-wrapped steel frame, so it can handle the weather, and the wrap around top will protect some of the strong rays....
Here's a cool idea: cards that grow. Postcardens. Think of all the cards, sent and received, that end up in the garbage, bringing only a momentary laugh or smile. Imagine if you could send a card that endured. Here's a great idea by London based A Studio for Design. The postcarden folds out into a 3-D landscape. You sprinkle a little water in...
One of the largest waste disposal problems in the world of trash is the car tire. They alone represent 2 percent of our waste. Think of all those old tires. They used to burn them, but the smoke is full of all kinds of nastiness. They can recycle them into new tires and asphalt and a host of other things, but it's generally not happening as fast...
This little outdoor table is solar powered...which means you can sit out and work on your WordPress blog. Or you can recharge your new iPad without getting off your butt. Of course if there's a power outage or some kind of apocalyptic situation it's always good to have a live solar panel (120V AC power with included converter...). Its...
