Greenster Magazine | Live Awesome™

Top Picks: Upcyled Art

The Greenster Team — Thu, 17 May 2012 12:00:44 +0000

Come marvel at our favourite upcycled creations and the genius of the artists behind them.

1. Recycled Bottle Car Canopy

Nebraska designer Garth Britzman collected 1,500 plastic pop bottles and partially filled them with colored liquid to create an awesome parking canopy for his car.

2. Cardboard ‘Scream’

Mark Langan is an Ohio based artist, who uses his upcycling skills to create all sorts of incredible sculptures including a rendition of Edward Munch’s ‘Scream’. His medium is corrugated cardboard sourced from his own neighbourhood. Impressive indeed.

3. Transforming the mundane

British artist Susan Stockwell transforms everyday objects into powerful pieces that address various themes including; technology, ecology, politics, identity and migration. Our favourites include ‘Flood’ and ‘Taipei Stack’ part of the ‘Vulnerable Ecologies’ collection, made out of 4 tons of scrap computer parts. Map dress, which explores colonialism and the British Empire and ‘Chinese Dream’ a map of the world made of Chinese money notes.

4. Wooden wonders

Brazilian artist Henrique Oliviera, scours the streets of Sao Paulo for weathered plywood, which he then separates into layers and combines to create his massive “tridimensionals” sculptures. His works are astonishing, they dominate every exhibition space, over-powering their viewers in a wonderful way.

Know of any other awesome upcycing artists? Tell us about them, we would love to check out their work.

Porche 918 Spyder Supercar: The Rockstar Hybrid (Video)

The Greenster Team — Wed, 16 May 2012 16:29:54 +0000

Have a chunky bank account and want to do your bit for the planet? No need to compromise your rockstar lifestyle just buy a Porche 918 Spyder.

Photo credit: fastcoexist.com

The concept launched in 2010 has finally been made a reality. This beautiful beast of a hybrid beholds a 500 horsepower V-8 engine and two electric motors worth an extra 218 horses. It goes from 0 to 60 in 3.1 seconds, has a top speed of 199 mph, and gets the equivalent of 78 mpg. When running on electricity alone it can still reach 93 mph.

Photo credit: fastcoexist.com

It will go into production in September 2013. Only 918 will be manufactured and 300 of those have reportedly already been sold. So you better order yours now, it’s only $850,000. Pocket change really….

Photo credit: Automobilemag.com

Here’s a video of it in action.

http://www.greenster.com/magazine/?p=10170

What do you think? If you had an unlimited bank account would the Spyder be on your wish list?

Inspirational Words From Henry David Thoreau

The Greenster Team — Thu, 10 May 2012 12:00:14 +0000

Some inspirational advice from Henry David Thoreau. Wise, wise words.

“I learned this, at least, by my experiment; that if one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the life which he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours. He will put some things behind, will pass an invisible boundary; new, universal, and more liberal laws will begin to establish themselves around and within him; or the old laws be expanded, and interpreted in his favor in a more liberal sense, and he will live with the license of a higher order of beings. In proportion as he simplifies his life, the laws of the universe will appear less complex, and solitude will not be solitude, nor poverty poverty, nor weakness weakness. If you have built castles in the air, your work need not be lost; that is where they should be. Now put the foundations under them. ”

Photo credit; http://mfs.piccsy.com/t/dream-t38w0uzd-311266-475-318.jpg

Life in a Day: A Snap Shot of The World (Watch Free Video)

The Greenster Team — Tue, 08 May 2012 12:00:20 +0000

Life in a Day is an incredible snapshot of the world on 24th July 2010, created entirely from videos uploaded by YouTube users. Award winning film makers Kevin Macdonald and Joe Walker condensed the 4,500 hours of footage submitted by over 80,000 people to give the story of our world, told by us. The contributors were asked to tell their story, what they feared, and what was in their pockets. From this basic framework we can compare and contrast the lives of people from Austrailia to Zambia. It is truly fascinating and you can watch it right here. Let us know what you think.

http://www.greenster.com/magazine/?p=10143

Homemade Raw Chocolates: The Ideal Mother’s Day Gift

The Greenster Team — Sun, 06 May 2012 18:00:11 +0000

One week until Mother’s Day, time is running out to get your gift sorted. If you are stumped for ideas, why not make your Mom some raw chocolate treats? They are delicious, uber-healthy, wrinkle-busting and have the homemade touch that will melt her heart. The thought of making chocolate from scratch may be daunting but don’t fear it is actually unbelievably easy. However if you feel your kitchen skills won’t cut it, we have some awesome alternative gift ideas.

Ingredients

1 cup melted raw cacao butter
1/3 cups raw cacao powder
1 tbsp sweeter (coconut sugar, raw honey, agave syrup)

Directions

Break up the cacao butter and place in a bowl.
Put the bowl inside a bigger bowl filled with hot water and let the cacao butter melt.
Add the cacao powder and sweetener.
Pour the melted chocolatey goodness into chocolate molds.
Either stick to the basic chocolate or release your creative flair to make different flavours. Here are some ideas; throw in coconut flakes, chopped nuts, goji berries (soak in maple syrup to enhance sweetness), dried fruit or a dollop of nut butter.
Allow to harden in the refrigerator.
Pop them out and package them beautifully.
Try not to eat them before Mother’s Day.

Let us know what fabulous creations you come up with we would love to get some more ideas for different flavours.

Artichoke and Spinach Dip Recipe (Raw)

The Greenster Team — Fri, 04 May 2012 12:00:43 +0000

Artichokes are at their prime and loaded with nutrients. So stock up and delight your guests (or just yourself) with this super easy raw artichoke and spinach dip recipe.

Ingredients
4 cups of fresh spinach
2 cups of artichoke hearts
1 ripe avocado
1 clove of garlic
pinch of sea salt
juice of 1/2 a lemon

Preparation
Combine all ingredients in your blender and blend until smooth. Pretty easy really.

Serve it up on a snazzy plate with any kind of dippers that you fancy, maybe carrot sticks, asparagus, cucumber or bell peppers.

Got any other tasty dip recipes? Let us know.

3 Things You Should Know About Yoga

The Greenster Team — Wed, 02 May 2012 12:00:44 +0000

Yoga has taken the world by storm. It is understandable why, the benefits are endless – reduced stress, fatigue and indigestion, improved emotional stability, weight-loss and mucsle-tone to name a few. However you may not notice these wonderful benefits right away and we don’t want you to be disheartened so keep these three factors in mind.

Don't expect to be able to do this right away.

1. It takes practice. As with any other skill practice makes perfect. Don’t expect to be able to do all the poses right away. Some look deceivingly simple but can take years to master. Also be careful not to injure yourself by letting your ego get in the way and pushing yourself too far. Patience is a virtue and when you finally crack a pose the feeling of satisfaction is incredible.

Feel the calm.

2. It will push you out of your comfort zone. Some will find this frustrating and unappealing so give up. Don’t be one of them. Think of it as a way to practice for life’s harder moments. You will find that you will be better able to deal with stress, irritation and anger in the real world.

3. You have to commit. You can’t be a dabbler when it comes to yoga. The key to maximising the benefits is to maintain a regular practice. Trust us it’s worth it.

For motivation here is an incredibly inspirational video, which proves that you should never give up.

http://www.greenster.com/magazine/?p=10094

Have you felt any life shifts after taking up yoga? Please share your experience to inspire other readers.

Vitamin Green – The Definitive Guide To Sustainable Design

The Greenster Team — Tue, 01 May 2012 17:16:28 +0000

Vitamin Green is inspiration between two covers - the definitive guide to sustainable design. It contains 100 of the most exciting and original green designs from eyeglasses to skyscrapers. Each entry was nominated by an international collection of designers, curators, critics and thinkers. Examples include;

The Lapin Kulta Solar Restaurant, a combination of eatery and art installation, which uses no energy other than that of the sun. It is the brainchild of designer Martí Guixé and culinary genius Antto Melasniemi.

Edible Estates lead by Fritz Haeg, aims to replace America’s largest crop (and its most wasteful) with functional vegetable gardens.

The “Living Wall” at the Musée du Quai Branly, the first large scale vertical garden designed by Patrick Blanc.

The Andrea natural air purification system. Fake snake skin bags by Freitag. Plastiki‘s 60-foot catamaran made of recycled PET and reclaimed plastic bottles. NYC’s High-Line.

As Amara Holstein puts so eloquently in the introduction,

“From the macro to the micro, projects are fomenting and coming together as designers begin seriously to reinvent and reimagine sustainability in the built environment. With need as the impetus, and nature as our inspiration, we might actually stand a chance of learning to live in harmony with our planet. We’re at a tipping point of design. It’s time to decide which way the professionalism will go.”

Of course the book itself is eco-friendly. The cover is crafted from recycled egg cartons and all of the pages are made from sustainably sourced paper. It is a positive insight into the creative solutions available to us. A highly recommend read and coffee table addition.

It is available from 12 May 2012 and can be pre-ordered from Phaidon and Amazon.

Eckhart Tolle: Be Here Now

The Greenster Team — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 18:31:15 +0000

“Unease, anxiety, tension, stress, worry — all forms of fear — are caused by too much future, and not enough presence. Guilt, regret, resentment, grievances, sadness, bitterness, and all forms of nonforgiveness are caused by too much past, and not enough presence.”

– Eckhart Tolle in The Power of Now

A reminder of why we need to be here now and focus on ourselves. Of course it’s not easy when we are bombarded with tasks and distractions that draw our attention away from our own mental and physical state.

Take on a challenge this week. Give every task your full attentions, whether it is driving or chopping vegetables. Don’t let your mind wander or spin through thought after thought. Every chance you get, maybe on the bus or waiting in line, breathe deeply and focus on it. Let us know if you notice a difference in your mood and stress level.

5 Tips For Better Sleep

The Greenster Team — Sun, 29 Apr 2012 13:00:26 +0000

Slow down ageing, lose weight, improve concentration and extend your lifespan, if you could bottle all that you would surely be a millionaire right? Well actually we all have access to it for free – the secret ingredient is sleep. The problem is we often don’t make enough time for it. Here are 5 tips to make your shut eye as efficient as possible.

1. Watch what you drink. Avoiding caffeine in the evening is a no-brainer. However it often hides away in unsuspecting drinks so read the ingredients carefully. Also if you are drinking alcohol sooner is better than later because although you may feel a nightcap helps you relax and fall asleep, it’ll make the second half of your sleep cycle restless and unsatisfying.

2. Slow down. Try this relaxing reclined butterfly yoga position to chill you out before hitting the sac.

Lie on your back with the soles of your feet together and your knees bent and dropping toward the floor. Place your arms, palms up, by your sides, keeping your shoulders back and your chest open. Close your eyes and inhale through your nose while slowly counting to four, then exhale while counting back down to one. Continue for 10 minutes, or as long as it takes you to feel fully relaxed.

3. Cool down. Your body temperature has to drop to a certain point in order to achieve a deep sleep. So turn the thermostat down, open a window, avoid exercise just before bed and have a hot bath an hour before bedtime.

4. Dim the lights. Keeping your bedroom dark is vital for melatonin production and deep sleep. But you should reduce your light exposure before bedtime to signal to your internal clock that it is time to sleep. The best way to do this is to avoid looking at screens and to dim lights an hour before bed. Or invest in a pair of blue light filter glasses.

5. Breathe clean. Indoor air-quality can be 10 times more toxic than the outdoor stuff, especially in the bedroom. Tis is often a result of the chemicals found in our bedding materials an delimited fresh air supply. As well as dustimtes who love to set up camp in your mattress. Poor air-quality means poor sleep avoid it by; getting some houseplants especially Snake plants, opening windows, using bedding made from natural materials, encasing your mattress and pillows with ‘allergen-impermeable’ covers and washing bedding weekly.

Try out these suggestions and let us know if they improve your sleep time. We’d love to hear your tips for a restful night.

The Sandworm by Marco Casagrande

The Greenster Team — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 12:00:59 +0000

The Sandworm – an unappealing name for a beautiful structure. A hybrid of architecture and environmental art, designed by Marco Casagrande.

The 45-meter long, 10-meter wide structure rests on the dunes of the Wenduine coastline in Belgium. It is constructed solely of willow.

Casagrande describes the style as ‘weak architecture’. He allows the light and shadows to form fantastical patterns, which you have no choice but to interact with as you walk through the body of the worm.

The space was designed for picnics, relaxation and ‘post industrial meditation’ (?).

I’m a fan of The Sandworm, it is an incredibly unique space that integrates with nature flawlessly. What do you think?

Mother’s Day: When, Why and Gift Ideas

The Greenster Team — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 12:00:43 +0000

Mother’s Day is on 13th May put it in the diary now. Make sure you don’t forget it – the feeling of guilt will be unbearable.

Avoid the stress of last-minute buying and celebrate your mama with these awesome gifts from equally awesome companies.

Reclaimed Wood Striped Frame	Upcycled Ceiling Tile Frame	Barn Roof Frame	Patchwork Paper Frame
Bowl made from recycled Agavero Tequila bottles	Foil Bud Vase	Jasmine Petal Tea	NoLines Wrinkle Eraser
Abundance and Gratitude Essence	Soothing Herbals Aromatherapy Pocket Perfume	Cocoon Apothecary Ancient Mud Mask	Cocoon Apothecary Eyewaken eye cream

Ever wondered how Mother’s Day came about? This infographic will answer all you Q’s.

14 Shocking Facts About Sugar (Infographic)

The Greenster Team — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 12:54:27 +0000

We all know sugar isn’t good for us, but it doesn’t stop us wanting a bit of sweetness in our lives. The good news is that there are all sorts of unbelievably delicious alternatives to the white stuff. By switching to dates, coconut sugar, maple syrup and fruit you get the yum as well as loads of nutrients. Look out for our future dessert recipe posts to ease the transition to a sugar-free (and even more awesome) life.

In the Hungry For Change post I scaremongered you with some disturbing facts about sugar. The most horrific in my opinion is the fact that sugar is more addictive than heroin and kills more people than all the drugs in the world combined. Crazy!! If the facts from that post weren’t enough to make you go unrefined, check out the infographic below. It might make you think twice about your next donut.

Are you a sugar addict, in recovery or conquered it completely? Share your troubles, tips and advice. We’d love to hear them.

Save Money And Your Life – Homemade Household Cleaners

The Greenster Team — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 12:00:46 +0000

We clean our homes to make them safe but could be harming ourselves in the process. Sound crazy? It is! But don’t worry, it doesn’t have to be this way.

The alternative....

Indoor air quality can be 10 times more polluted than the outdoor stuff and household cleaners are one of the major culprits. They contain all sorts of difficult to pronounce ingredients that should have never left the laboratory. Actually you probably don’t get the chance to scoff at these ridiculous names because they are rarely ever printed on the packaging. There’s a reason why. They have been blamed for all sorts from skin irritation to cancer. They are nasty and you don’t want them in your life. Here is a list of common chemicals found in household cleaners and their side-effects.

So how do you get your bath-tub sparkly and your carpet stain-free without interrupting your hormones and giving yourself asthma? Well, you can actually replace most of your commercial cleaning products with ingredients from your salad dressing. David Suzuki’s Queen of Green will show you how. Join the spring break-up for helpful hints and advice on how to detox your cleaning supplies. Here’s a sample of recipes to clean your home the safe way.

Glass And Mirror Cleaner

1/2 cup white vinegar

1/2 cup water

Pour into a spray bottle. To get a streak-free result, wipe with newspaper.

Furniture Polish

2 cups warm water

2 tbsp olive oil

2 tbsp white vinegar or lemon juice

Pour into spray bottle. Shake well, spray, rub, and polish with rag. Always do a gets patch first.

Liquid Laundry Soap

7L hot water

1 cup baking soda

1 cup liquid castille soap

1/3 cup coarse salt

Dissolve dry ingredients in hot water. Add soap and stir.

These DIY cleaners save you money, your health and the planet. That’s a pretty good deal!!

Have more recipes and tips? Share away!

Happy Earth Day 2012

The Greenster Team — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 12:00:09 +0000

Happy Earth Day!!

Celebrate by taking a moment to stop and admire this phenomenal planet that we call Earth, because it’s freekin’ fantastic.

Let’s keep it that way…

Not sure how to spend the day? You’re in luck because we have some ideas for you right here.

Urban Bike Origami by Moritz Menacher

The Greenster Team — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 12:00:07 +0000

Biking has become quite the thing to do these days. You no longer have to be lycra clad and smothered in reflectors. There’s all sorts of super-cool accessories and the bikes themselves get pretty damn snazzy.

The Rollin’ design by Moritz Menacher is a prime example. Its stylish, ultra-lightweight body with a stationary lock built in makes it perfect for the urban commuter. The frame is actually made from a single sheet of laser-cut aluminium, which is folded for added stability. Essentially bicycle origami.

What do you think? Are super-cool bikes going to replace sports cars as status symbols?

Habits Make And Break Them

The Greenster Team — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 12:00:21 +0000

How are those New Years Resolutions holding up? Struggled to make the habit stick? Maybe the reason is because you weren’t using your mind the right way. Come along and find out how the power of your thoughts can help you reach your goal.

Self-Image

Over the course of our lives, especially as young children, we build up beliefs about ourselves. These beliefs are based on our successes, failures, humiliations,triumphs, and the way other people have related to us. These beliefs form our self-image, which we tend to accept as true without question and then act, feel, behave and limit our capabilities according to it. So it is very important when trying to break or make a habit to stop being limited by this self-image. The best way to do that is with the power of thought and affirmations.

Changing the Pattern

96 – 98% of our behaviour is automatic. We have ingrained the neurological circuits in our brains. Setting goals is a function of the conscious mind but reaching them is a function of the non-conscious mind. The good news is that we make or break a habit by simply thinking it over and over in our mind (affirmations) or by actually doing it. This forms or disconnects the neuron network. Just think of any skill you have ever learnt. You were probably useless at first but then got better and better with practice because you formed a neuron network associated with that skill. Then it becomes automatic ie. a habit. Whenever a craving or urge to carry out a bad habit comes knocking, try to acknowledge it, then break it by distracting yourself from it. Difficult at first but practice makes perfect.

Affirmations

Write down affirmations and repeat them to yourself in your mind every night before you go to sleep. It is important to do it at this time as you are entering the alpha brainwave level. Jose Silva, a big gun in this field has carried out a lot of research into the different brainwave levels and found that the alpha state is best for reprogramming yourself.
Stay positive, believe in yourself and try beat those pesky habits. Remember you’re awesome and can do anything you put your mind to.

Watch your thoughts, they become words.

Watch your words, they become actions.

Watch your actions, they become habits.

Watch your habits, they become your character.

Watch your character, it becomes your destiny.

We would love to hear your thoughts on this weeks Thoughtful Thursday. Is there’s anything you’re trying to start or stop doing? Have you tried this method?

Earth Day 2012: What To Do

The Greenster Team — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 12:00:34 +0000

Four more sleeps until Earth Day. Time to get your planning hat on. We have kindly provided you with some inspiration on how to fill the day. We would love to hear your suggestions too!!

1. Make your pledge to the Earth and register it at Earth Day’s Billion Acts of Green

2. Take a super fast shower and a couple of degrees colder than usual (it wakes you up and is good for the circulation). Or go one step further and go shopping for a low-flow shower head.

3. If you go grocery shopping take your reusable bags or invest in some for future use. Even better, go to the local farmers market instead of the store.

4. Go meatless or at least don’t use the stove or oven. Try out our rawlicious sushi or kale with creamy dressing.

5. Be part of the global screening of ‘One Day On Earth’. An awesome film that gives a snapshot of every country on Earth over 24hrs.

6. Watch a different movie. How about Disney’s 2012 Earth Day release ‘Chimpanzee’ ,’Revenge of the Electric Car‘ or “To the Arctic 3D”.

7. Turn the thermostat down a couple of degrees or off completely. Just cosy up in some pyjama pants, a sweatshirt and a nice blanket.

8. Have a car-free day.

9. Plant a tree or buy some plants if you don’t have a garden.

10. Recycle everything, don’t throw anything out to landfill all day.

11. Go outside and appreciate nature.

12. Turn off the TV and the lights, then fill the darkness with some of these suggestions.

a. Host an Earth Day Party: BYO candles and no plastic cups.

b. Hand wash your delicates.

c. Harness the combined romance of candlelight and eco-chivalry to pop the question.

d. Dig out your clarinet, ocarina or guitar for an acoustic music night. Practise without looking at your hands.

e. Avoid using anything that requires power. Including batteries.

f. Go totally 18th-century and play charades by candlelight.

g. Tell ghost stories. Go down to the basement, horror movie style, in a negligee to investigate dark spooky corners.

h. Build a fort.

i. Dust off those board games. Trivial Pursuit is a personal favourite, I love the play dough part.

j. Go to bed early. Wink, wink. Nudge, nudge.

k. Make candlelight shadow puppets . Here is a very informative video on shadow puppetry.

l. Play with sparklers. Take long-exposure photos of your efforts.

m. Sit in a drumming circle around a candlelit shrine to David Suzuki.

n. Master your origami skills. You could even whip up a new outfit like the one in the picture. Surely it can’t be too difficult.

o. Just whistle in the dark.

We hope you find these suggestions useful and if not please give us some better ones.

The Attitude of Grattitude

The Greenster Team — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 12:00:17 +0000

Gratitude is one of those sneaky gifts that once opened keeps on giving and giving. It’s a priceless gift because it can beat stress, stop you being sad, angry or upset. Plus it boosts your happiness which leads to creativity, success and all sorts of good stuff. Who wouldn’t want that?

To get you started on your attitude of gratitude check out this infographic. It made me feel damn lucky.

Make the attitude long-term by trying out these ideas.

1. Compile a list of everything you are grateful for. I mean everything, from the air you breathe to the camera on your cell phone. Then whenever you feel sad or angry read the list. Actually don’t limit it to those times, read it everyday if you can.

2. Send a letter or a thank you note to someone that you feel you don’t appreciate enough. I think letters are more touching than e-mails or Facebook but you know best.

3. Take time to feel awe and wonder at the world. See the beauty in your surroundings. It doesn’t take long and the shift in your mood will be magical.

That’s just 3 suggestions have you got any more? How do you show your gratitude and does it make you feel happier?

Kim Holleman’s Trailer Park

The Greenster Team — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 20:25:43 +0000

New York, New York dum dum da da da…. The city that never sleeps, the city of dreams, the city with over 8 million inhabitants and not much greenery for them to play in. How do you get around this park deficiency? Well, Kim Holleman thinks the Trailer Park is one solution.

This is a redefinition of the trailer park – a mobile, public, green space, that enables inhabitants, from all over the concrete jungle, to get their much need nature fix.

What do you think? Is this the future for our big cities?