BY ANNA DORL
It’s finally time for Earth Day, which means celebrating every aspect that makes up our wonderful natural world. By honoring our planet, we can preserve the integrity of the flora and fauna with which we humans share our home. Fossil fuels, littering, the Great Pacific Garbage Patch… It’s not too late to combat our negative environmental actions with positive ones. This beautiful planet was here before us, and to ensure its existence after we’re gone, we must take care of it while we have the opportunity. Here are five picks to do good for the environment for this month’s Cool Outrageous Stuff.
Enduring Oak Remembrance Gift by Seeds of Life
Seeds of Life is a special way to memorialize your friends and loved ones through the gift of trees and plants. The Enduring Oak Remembrance Gift is an oak tree sapling, able to be potted inside for three to four years or outdoors indefinitely. The oak tree is considered a symbol of strength and wisdom. To ensure viability, each tree is carefully chosen for the zip code to which it is being shipped. This gift is available in both medium and large sizes and arrives to purchasers in 100% natural jute bags. www.seedsoflife.com HoldOn
Compostable Dog Poop Bags
Among options for dog doo-doo bags, only a handful on the market that claim to be better for the environment truly live up to that promise. HoldOn Compostable Dog Poop Bags uniquely utilizes renewable cornstarch and compostable materials inside of recyclable, plastic-free packaging. After you scoop up your pup’s poop, each strong and leak-proof bag will eventually break down in a compost environment. Every bag is unscented and free from both BPA and PFOA. They are also created to fit most bag dispensers. HoldOn offers a subscription option for frequent buyers, positively helping users contribute towards a greener future for people and pets. www.holdonbags.com
Upcycled Bat House
This upcycled bat house from Lehmans used to be part of a mushroom bed! Each home for our nocturnal friends shares a similar backstory. Shaped by Amish craftsmen, each of these bat houses began from the reclaimed wood of cypress and hemlock trees. This wood was previously utilized to enclose compost around mushrooms. Organically strong and naturally treated by mushroom soil acid, the material has stood the test of time and will continue to provide shelter for animals in an extremely eco-conscious way. Bats are known for eating bugs like mosquitoes and f lies, so giving nature’s pest control a place to rest might also help you out. www.lehmans.com
Vego Garden In-Ground Worm Composter
Ever wanted to make your garden greener with the allnatural power of worms? These strong little creatures can hold the key to even richer soil and a better life for your garden. Worm composting, also known as vermiculture, employs nature’s wriggly little critters to do nature’s work. From Vego Garden, this In-Ground Worm Composter serves as a portable place for the invertebrates to live and turn waste into compost. All you have to do is add worms in with your organic waste and bury the box in raised garden bed soil to start the process. Choose from a few nature-inspired colors – Sage Green, Lime, and Tawny Brown. www.vegogarden.com
Paper Bag Lunch Cooler by Out of the Woods
Whether you’re a serial paper bag user for your lunches, or you prefer a reusable tote, Out of the Woods offers a greener solution for you. Whatever you bring along to work and/or school, your choice is an important one — not just for the longevity of your lunch, but the planet. This reusable lunch bag is crafted using FSC Certified washable paper, and it’s insulated with space for up to six cans. You won’t find any PVC or PFA in this product. The Paper Bag Lunch Cooler can keep frozen food cold for five hours and, on the flip side, keeps heat inside for an hour. www.outofthewoods.com
