Can a product that’s eco-friendly really be good for the environment (as the term would suggest) if there’s a warning not to drink it? EnviroCitizen.org believes that if something is safe for the environment, it should be safe for you in most cases, too. For example, if you’re using a harsh chemical to clean your floors you may assume that the risks and warnings associated with that chemical do not extend beyond your floor. The fact is, once you’ve finished cleaning your floor those chemicals remain on the surface. You then walk on the floor, spreading the chemicals throughout your home. If you have a little child, they might drop something on that floor and then pick it up with their hand. Their hand now has the chemicals on it. They may even eat the item they dropped on the floor which is now coated with the chemicals!

There are many links between environmental health and your own personal health. It’s a very intuitive idea. If a chemical pesticide is meant to kill pests, like bugs and bacteria, that same chemical will likely kill other things, too. Most pesticides aren’t designed to only target one species of pest. If that were the case, farmers would need to purchase multiple chemicals. Instead, most pesticides are a universal killer. So, if the pesticide will kill another living organism like a bug, one might reason that it is capable of killing or doing harm to other organisms.

A good rule of thumb to rule out these harmful chemicals in your environment is to look at the safety of ingredients in the products that you use. Many people are now adhering to the rule that, if you can’t drink it, don’t use it. That’s not to say that you should guzzle down a  household cleaner. It’s more an idea that the products that you use in your home should be safe enough to go inside of your body, since they will end up on your body in some form. In fact, EnviroCitizen.org has found many eco-friendly, safe alternatives to conventional household cleaners and products that really are safe to drink!

For example, two classic cleaners that have been around for decades are baking soda and vinegar. Baking soda is completely edible as you add it to recipes when baking and cooking. It’s a wonderfully abrasive product, which means that it can help you get rid of tough stains or stuck-on food. For example, if you mix baking soda with enough water to form a paste, the paste effectively cleans crusty, tough grease off of your stove!

Vinegar is also completely edible, also used in many common recipes. You can clean practically anything with a diluted mixture of vinegar and water. It’s a disinfectant, so it works great to clean counters, floors and windows. To make sure that your windows have a streak-free finish, wipe them with newspaper and a vinegar mixture.

These are great examples of how you can clean (and even disinfect) your home with products that really are safe enough to consume. By doing so, EnviroCitizen.org believes you’ll have a healthy, clean home without the environmental and health risks associated with conventional cleaners and products.

EnviroCitizen.org strives to deliver everything you could possibly want that’s green along with tons of information, complemented by a strong sense of community. Always check www.EnviroCitizen.org  first when searching for anything green.

Even though the weather has turned cold and we’ve put our garden roses to bed for the winter, that doesn’t mean we have to be rose-deprived until spring. Miniature roses adapt quite well to life indoors. They are a bit more particular about light and humidity than some indoor flowering plants, but they will reward the extra effort with stunning flowers that come in a wide range of colors.

For the most part, miniature roses are scaled-down versions of full-sized roses, and while they vary in many ways, all mini roses have small, rarely fragrant flowers. Plants can range from micro-minis (5 inches or less) to 3 to 4 feet or even larger. Flowers can be anywhere from 1/2 to 2 inches across, with a color range as broad as for full-size roses.

Mini roses need plenty of bright light, such as in a bright west- or south-facing window. But for repeat bloom, you’ll need the supplementary light provided by fluorescent tubes. Also provide some extra humidity around the plants because indoor air is typically quite dry. Set plants in a water-filled tray on a layer of pebbles, or use a room humidifier. If humidity is too low, the leaves will shrivel, turn yellow, and drop. Here are some other tips:

1. Buy new plants each season to ensure that your plants are free of diseases and pests. Choose varieties that are short and especially floriferous.
2. Fertilize weekly with a fertilizer diluted to one-quarter strength. To encourage blooms, use a fertilizer with a formula high in potassium, such as 5-5-10.
3. Watch carefully for any sign of pests. Spray whiteflies with a lightweight horticultural oil. If spider mites become a problem, wash plants thoroughly every 2 to 3 days. For a severe infestation of spider mites, strip all leaves and cut the plant back by half. Healthy new growth will emerge rapidly.
4. Use a commercial potting mixture containing perlite and vermiculite when repotting.
5. When flowering has finished, place plants under fluorescent lights to encourage reblooming in about six weeks.
6. After the last frost in spring, gradually acclimate plants to outdoor air. Plant them in the garden or in an outdoor container.

For more tips and garden information visit www.garden.org

Marlene Pratt, a Casa Latina co-founder, believes that designing for a contemporary American lifestyle is much more than changing colors and buying new furniture. It is about integrating the many elements of a person’s life into their home.

When Marlene takes on a project, she does not just redecorate a space; she redesigns a lifestyle. She gets personal in order to understand who you are, where you are in your life, and where you want to go. Marlene works with each person to make their home an expression of who they are, interweaving their passions, beliefs and desires into the home’s fabrics, colors, textures and designs to create an intensely personal, yet functional, space.

Introduction by Nora Maria Diaz Bretherton

In this article Marlene was featured in Family Circle’s magazine:

A dream kitchen on a budget

Before drab wood, fussy wallpaper and clunky ceiling fixtures. Time for all to go!

Updated traditional was the aim of designer Marelene Pratt of The Home Depot, Long Island City, New York, location.

• Pumpkin paint gives walls a warm note.
• The taupe cabinetry lightens up the place
• Stainless-steel appliances blend right in
• Under-cabinet and recessed ceiling lights are sleek, subtle.

Time to update? This redo will inspire.  We challenged the experts at The Home Depot to use their design-installation expertise and turn a ho-hum kitchen into a beautiful and modern one, without breaking the bank.

The fridge was relocated (see page 120), to fit a larger range, a secondhand find.

• Silestone counters, a durable mix of manmade and natural material with edges that can be cut to style, look like stone.
• The lively backsplash is beige and white tumbled-marble tile.
• For texture and movement, tiles are arranged in a harlequin pattern on top, smaller rows of squares below, and separated by twisted-rope molding.

Before the refrigerator was crammed into a corner and the brown pulled the mood down.

Pratt put the entire wall to work by combining stock cabinetry for a totally custom effect:

• The darker piece looks like a hutch, with open shelving that can fit even a TV.
• Glass doors on either side allow for display of collectibles.
• Two-tone molding tops off the designer look.

Before too much wall space was going to waste. while the microwave ate up countertop space.

To make the most of this area:

• The new fridge is installed in an existing pantry with storage built around it.
• French doors, painted white, lend and airy touch.
• Wide-board flooring makes a rich footnote.
• Recessed lights replace a fan fixture to lift the ceiling.
• Base cabinets have angled corners to maximiza traffic flow as well as storage.

Before dark wood, gray linoleum, and a seldom-used table all call for some rethinking.

Pots and pans stay organized and out of sight in the extra-deep drawer of the center cabinet.  A sliver space to the left was captured for a built-in wine cubby that accommodates five bottles.

Planning tips for a pro:

Home Depot designer Marlene Pratt shares her expertise, outlining some key factors to consider when you start out.

1. Be a savvy client.  Before deciding on a contractor, get referrals from as many peolpe as possible.  Ask to see each candidate’s portafolio to get a picture of his or her results.
2. Remember, any work that will require tampering with gas lines must get approval from your city and/or county.  Different locales have different building codes, so you’ll need to do your homework.
3. Consider things that will make it easier to work in your kitchen, and your personal style.  Is the primary cook right- or left- handed?  Is a window over a sink a must?  These will have an impact on the positioning of work areas, built-in appliances, etc.  Are you comfy with clutter?  You might opt for open shelving.  If neatness is key, think solid cabinet doors and a close pantry.
4. For more aesthetic results, try not to stick to one style.  All contemporary or all traditional can be bland.  Imagine cabinets with crown molding that give them the feel of fine old furniture mixed with modern appliances.  You get the idea.

Our planet is all we really have; without it we will cease to exist. Yet we continue to abuse our greatest gift. Some (large companies) pilfer our planet simply for greed; others (mankind in general) pilfer it because they do not know any better. The clocks are chiming and the wake up calls have been sent out, we just need to stop long enough to hear them ringing. Our planet is in desperate need of our help. We cannot accomplish this on our own or within a day, but by starting at home, one step at a time, we can make a difference.

The term Energy Efficiency should not be a phrase we hear only on the News, it should be a lifestyle that we choose to adhere to. It should be your home’s new fashion statement. With the economy being what it is, the excuses are over; if you want your dollar to last longer then you should definitely find the time to adjust your lifestyle at home.

The following is a list of products you can integrate into your home. All these products can be picked up at your local Home Depot and installed in one weekend, saving you money and helping our planet.

Light Bulbs

• You can start by replacing the existing light bulbs in your home to CFL Bulbs. CFL stands for Compact Florescent Light. CFL bulbs consume up to 75% less energy and they last up to 10 times longer than incandescent bulbs. They will reduce your energy cost at the end of every month. If all homeowners in this country were to change their five most frequently used light fixtures with energy star qualified fixtures and/or bulbs there would be a savings of about $8 billion in energy cost to this country.

Thermostat

• The second most efficient way to save on both cost and energy is by replacing your existing thermostat. You may say to yourself, “the one I have at home is fine and I do not need to spend time or money on replacing something that is not broken”. That is where you are mistaken. Replacing your manual thermostat to a programmable thermostat can save you $150 or more on your energy bill at the end of the year. A programmable thermostat allows 4 program periods per day (each day of the week can be different) and can regulate your HVAC according to your schedule and lifestyle.

A Motion Activated Light Control/Sensor

• My children have a habit of going into the bathroom, turning on the light and leaving it on after they finish. Obviously this is a waste of energy. With a motion sensor, the light turns on when they enter the room and turns off when they leave. If you need to have the light on for an extended period of time, the ON/OFF switch permits normal ON/OFF operation.

Eco Dimmers

• Replacing switches with dimmers conserves energy and adds fewer light bulbs to landfills. In eco mode, you can save at least 15% on energy and extend the life of your bulb as compared to using a standard switch. You can install a dimmer in as little as 15 minutes.

Timers

• Timers are convenient and save you money. You can automatically control the time your air conditioner, holiday lights, indoor lamps and even lawn and garden lights turn on and off without being at home.
• If you do not have central air conditioning, you can program your air conditioner to turn itself on a half-hour before you get home so that it is cool when you walk in from a long day of work.
• You can also program it to turn off during the early morning hours. It’s also useful to use with door lamps when you are away on vacation to give the illusion that someone is home. Best of all, when utilized correctly timers are sure to save you money on your energy costs.

Shower Heads

• To save our planet’s precious resources while also saving on our monthly utility bills, Moen now provides water-saving faucets. These environmentally friendly faucets, which are offered in both standard and upgraded KB Home kitchens and baths, are designed to conserve water in everyday use without compromising performance

Sealant

• Sealing your home is not just for keeping the cold out during winter, but for keeping the cold in during summer. Check all your doors, windows and moldings for cracks