green living

Known for fun patterns and bold colors (plus organic cotton and low-impact dyes), Plover Organic has a new quilting line that’s perfect for spring -- use the pieces to wrap gifts, or to make sachets or quilts.

Bonus: Plover Organic’s first brick-and-mortar store just opened in Seattle!

Fat Quarters (18"x22" pieces), $16 for pack of 5, and Charm Pack (5" squares), $9.50 for 42, PloverOrganic.com

What: Pre-loved items, like a chipped cup and saucer or a cracked teapot, get a whole new lease on life when reused as planters.

How To: To allow for drainage, drill a hole in the bottom (you'll need a glass or ceramic drill bit, which will run about $10 at a hardware store). Fill with an inch or two of potting soil, and insert a small plant or flower. Want to skip the drilling? Drainage isn't necessary if you're planting a succulent like a sedum or cactus; just be careful not to over-water.

Click here for more eco-friendly decor ideas.

How to protect your plants from slugs

Eco-activist, model and creator of her own eponymous cosmetics line, Josie Maran fits a lot into her day. Add partner (to long-time love Ali Alborzi), and mom (to nearly four-year-old Rumi Joon), and we’re talkin’ packed calendar. Still, Maran carved out a few minutes to talk to TheNest.com. She shared tips on "greening up" every area of your home, and dished on how being so eco-conscious has factored into her six year (and counting) relationship.

Life in the green zone

In the beginning of our relationship, I definitely wore the eco pants in the fam. but now Ali is just as into it as I am. He loves to rummage and find cool, old stuff. So when he discovered that being green was fun and creative, he got into it. When we remodeled/redecorated our house he was very into finding alternative, one-of-a-kind materials to make our house unique.

It’s so easy being green!

Shop for gorgeous items and pat yourself on the back afterward. We’ve assembled some of our favorite eco items to help make doing your part sinfully easy.

Click here for our eco-chic finds.

A new bill designed to reduce the levels of formaldehyde in furniture could save you from toxic emissions -- but also put a dent in your wallet. It's a simple equation: If the bill passes, furniture manufacturers will have to find a different way to glue their parts together, which will almost inevitably up the price.

Formaldehyde, which is actually classified as a carcinogen (yikes) is found in everything from furniture glue (read: yup, like the kind holding your headboard together) to certain types of cosmetics. When it reaches room temperature, it turns into gas -- meaning your new kitchen chairs or coffee table could actually be making you sick. The problem for manufacturers, of course, is that using alternative adhesives or low-formaldehyde glues costs moolah...which ends up on your receipt.

So what do you think -- would you rather pay more for "healthier" furniture, or are you fine dishing out less cash for pieces with potentially hazardous toxins?