“Do It Gorgeously: How to Make Less Toxic, Less Expensive, and More Beautiful Products” by Sophie Uliano

Sophie Uliano is a girl after my own heart, she understands that living sustainably is all about common sense and she makes it all happen with grace and charm. “Do It Gorgeously” is a fabulous collection of green projects and recipes, covering nearly all areas of life. There is so much information packed into this book, from organic teething biscuits and double mint foot lotion to deodorizing car spray and non-toxic cleaners. Not only does Ms. Uliano give us fantastic recipes and tips, she explains why we should keep ourselves and our homes toxin free.

“Energy-Wise Landscape Design: A New Approach for your Home and Garden” by Sue Reed

Within the pages of “Energy-Wise Landscape Design,” Sue Reed deftly educates us about the history of the “traditional” lawn in our country and how we can replace some of our lawn with other things or create a completely lawn-free landscape. “In the ultimate irony, to keep grass free of weeds, we blithely spread bags full of chemicals that harm the health of ourselves and our children, our pets and our friends, not to mention a whole world of wild creatures we never see or consider,” wrote Reed in “Energy-Wise Landscape Design.” Along with the plethora of information packed into this book, there are beautiful photos and detailed drawings, giving us a lesson in landscape design while opening our eyes to the possibilities of our individual landscapes. Her voice is full of common sense and charm. In another one of my favorite quotes from the book, Reed stated, “It’s time for us to imagine a new kind of landscape, one in which beauty is not just a social convention or a glossy magazine image, but also an expression of our social values. Now in the 21st century, we can design, build and care for our landscapes so that in addition to looking attractive they will also work for our own good and the good of the larger world.”

 

“Reduce, Reuse, Recycle: An Easy Household Guide” by Nicky Scott

“Reduce, Reuse, Recycle” is packed with wonderful ideas for reducing waste. Just like the book’s title states, this is an easy guide for anyone who wants to reduce, reuse and recycle. It strives to answer many of your recycling questions by providing an A-to-Z listing of everyday household items and how to recycle them.

 

”In the Green Kitchen: Techniques to Learn by Heart” by Alice Waters

I received this book as a birthday gift and refer to it often. Alice Waters is a well-known local food movement advocate and has been helping people realize the importance of locally grown, sustainable and organic food for decades. “In the Green Kitchen” contains over fifty mouth-watering recipes, fulfilling its goal to educate readers on how to cook and appreciate good, sustainable food. The proceeds from In the Green Kitchen support Ms. Waters’ Edible Schoolyard, a foundation that envisions gardens and kitchens as interactive classrooms for all academic subjects – not just science or home economics – and a free, nutritious, organic lunch for every student.

 

”Astonishing Art with Recycled Rubbish: Splatter! Splodge! Splash!” by Susan Martineau and Martin Ursell

This wonderful book is full of easy step-by-step instructions on how to make art from things that might normally end up in your garbage. Every project has clear instructions, with “Think About It” boxes throughout the book, which feature facts about recycling and so on. This is a great tool to have on-hand when teaching your children about reusing and recycling.