Here’s a few more going green tips. These ones may take a few tools or a little more time to implement, they are still very simple and many of you will be able to do with equipment you have around the house.

At the moment I live in a small (~800 sq feet) apartment in Houston while maintaining a paying day job. Everything listed in part 1 I undertake along with the following;

Rain barrel

- Available at any recycling depot or on craigs list, a 40 gallon barrel. Connected to the down spout or direct to the gutter, this provides an excellent source of water for plants. Make sure you have an overflow draining away from the building. Bottom of the barrel is a tap with short hose, I’ve made this out of clear plastic so I can raise up along the side of the barrel, open the tap and check the water level. Primary purpose of the hose is for watering. When leaving town for an extended period I push the hose onto a makeshift dripper line and the plants on the balcony are watered in my absence.
- Grow your own herbs and vegetables. Note the few in the barrel picture. I have aloe, mint, basil, lemon grass, rosemary, oregano, tomatoes and geraniums on the balcony.

Living furniture

- Minimalistic is the term I’d use to describe the contents of my apartment. This does provide me the space for plenty of greenery in my bedroom. Large leafy greens and flowers, gently lighted with an efficient 12v system. The bed for the garden came from a felled cedar out the block. Plants remain potted and are watered from either the rain barrel or shower grey water. Plants are fertilized from the compost pile. 

Compost pile

- With all the juice and salad I eat there is plenty of veggie scraps for composting. Out the block I have a compost pile, made from recycled pallets of course- roughly 4′ x 4′ and could fit in most back yards. If your in an apartment, a composting bin (like the bokashi bin) is a great alternative. I use the compost to fertilize existing plants and as a potting mix when transferring or planting new. When building your pile, start with greens (veggie scraps, grass clippings etc), browns (dried leaves, straw etc), greens, browns alternating until you run out of either. Finishing with browns atop, this will keep any smell and pests out. Thoroughly dampen the compost pile.

If you want more details or some drawings on how to make any of the items listed here please contact me. In addition, I have one spare barrel and a few fittings in the garage to give away if you would like to try this.

Cheers, Mat

Bedside color

Plant lighting