Marin Camille Hood has made a few really cool chandeliers out of old bicycles and bicycle bits. This is one of them.

The rest of them are here.

chandeliers [artwork by marin camille]
Recycled works by Marin Hood [Recyclart]

Popularity: 1% [?]

Live and work in or around Jo’burg? If you’ve ever dreamed of living in an ecovillage, this may just be your chance. The Oak Avenue Trust is looking for people who are interested in co-designing, co-building and co-living in an inclusive, inter-generational and ecological co-housing initiative at 51 Oak Avenue, Linbro Park.

Located in the green country suburb of Linbro Park, Sandton and near major transport routes (N3; R25), the property is an agriculturally zoned 1 Ha of land with dense vegetation in an area that is set to be developed and upgraded in the near future.

To get the ball rolling, a number of sustainability features are being developed on the property, including a rainwater harvesting pool, swales, greywater systems, solar water heaters, a wastewater bio-filter, and a small food and herb garden. This intentional community will provide the opportunity for residents from across the social and economic spectrum to live an ecological lifestyle in a tranquil countryside setting close to the the vibrant African metropolis of Johannesburg.

There are a number of different ways and levels of being involved with this ecovillage, from simply using the garden for the cultivation of vegetables and herbs to living there in a one-roomed apartment, two-bedroomed apartment, or 3-bedroomed freestanding home. There is also the opportunity to simply invest and reap ongoing dividends from levies.

The Oak Trust are looking for human beings over the age of 18 who are committed to socially inclusive, democratic values, an ecological lifestyle and who are dynamic, creative and pragmatic. Members would need to be professionals engaged in ethical livelihoods who are financially independent and productive.

If you tick those boxes and have always thought that co-housing is exactly the way you’d like to share your lives with your community, find out more about the Oak Trust Ecovillage check out their concept document here (pdf).

Enquiries should be directed to Florian Kroll at flo@opensynergy.co.za

Popularity: 1% [?]

When Suzanne Forsling moved from the US Midwest to Alaska, she discovered this novel idea for keeping her salad crops off the cold ground and away from critters who messed with them. She used new guttering, but there’s no reason why you couldn’t use old guttering, either that from your own home, or from a reclamation yard. This is a very inventive way of gardening if you don’t have a garden. Use a house wall, your balcony or expand your garden if you have one by using a garden wall.

You can read exactly how Suzanne set up her gutter garden in this article from the Juneau Empire.

To conserve water, you could place potted plants under the guttering to soak up any water that drains away from your salad crops.

How does your garden grow? [Juneau Empire]

[via: greenUPGRADER]

Popularity: 1% [?]