I am in love with the new Jenna Rose collection!!  Taking inspiration from our grandmothers quilt patterns and life at the cottage; her new designs are a breath of fresh air.  Each piece feels as fabulous as they look.  Made with top-quality, organic fabrics these hand printed keepsakes will last a long time.

Only a few peices from this collection remain at the store – the rest is already gone!

Emily

If you choose to use reclaimed wood in your home you are investing in a material that will add to the quailty of your life! Reclaimed wood has a beautiful, rich patina and a variety of textures depending where the wood came from - like from a barn, snow fence or the bottom of and old logging river. Over the years all of the old growth forests in North America have been logged to extinction and 400 year old trees are no longer available for lumber. As such reclaimed wood is available in wider and longer lengths than any new lumber.

I think the best thing about reclaimed wood, even more so than the beauty, is the story behind each piece. I would love to serve a Thanks Giving dinner on a harvest table made from the old boards of a barn from Muskoka. The tactile connection to our surroundings and our past is a priceless quality that will help us to be mindful of the enivronment and our heritage.

Reclaimed wood availability is increasing as people are recognizing its benefits. At Sustain we have two sources of reclaimed lumber, a line of flooring made from reclaimed logs from the Ottawa river, and Eco Built a line of amazing reclaimed wood furniture with a modern flair (see bench above).

Let me tell you about my current obession;  clean clothes using environmenatlly sustainable cleaners and as little energy as possible (on my or my machine’s part).  My most recent experiment has been using Earth Berries.  A natuarlly occuring soap!? found on the dried berries of the Sapindus Mukorrosi (Soapberry) plant.  I bought a bag of Soap Berries in October 2010 for $30 and have just ran out in August 2011!  Talk about value for money.  Other advantages are that they actually do clean clothes quite well, and as I have a builder for a husband and a 10 year old boy, I know about dirt of all sorts.  While I am very happy with the results of the Earth Berries I am always looking for other laundry soaps to try.  Next on my list – Sapadilla Laundry Soap.  What attracted me to this soap was the fabulous scent!  Rosemary + Peppermint.  I can’t wait to wash my sheets! 

Laundry List of Tips I’ve Learned:

- Vinegar in the rinse eliminates the need for softener in the winter.

- Giving the clothes an extra spin cycle (without the rinse) helps dry out the clothes a bit more to make hang drying faster until I can afford a high rpm washing machine.

- Hanging all nice clothes, never using the dryer unless absolutely necessary

- Spray starch for clothes that have lost their shape.

- Fabric de-pillers for sweaters, or just buy them at the Salvation Army.  You know what they will look like after repeated washing!

Keepin it Clean,

Emily

Marmoleum is a smart and ecologically sound alternative to vinyl flooring.  Used in heavy traffic areas in your home, Marmoleum will stand the test of time and look good doing it!  Marmoleum is made of linseed oil mixed with wood and cork ‘flour’, pine rosin to hold it together and a jute backing.  All of the pigments used in the colouring of the Marmoleum are naturally sourced and the whole product is biodegradable.        Amazing!

Marmoleum comes in a vast array of colors and patterns and looks great in all types of homes.  It can have the traditional look of linoleum from the 1920′s, the pop art look of the 1960′s or the clean simple look of a modern home.  Anywhere you want a very durable, easy to maintain floor Marmoleum is an excellent,      eco-friendly option.

Have you been looking for cleaners that work really well, smell fantastic and are kind to the planet?  Look no further, Sapadilla Soap Co.  makes a whole home cleaning line that will keep your dishes, toilets, laundry, floors, counter tops… sparkling!  Made in Burnaby B.C., this sustainably minded company is dedicated to making your life easier by offering four products (that’s it!) to clean your home:

* ALL PURPOSE CLEANER

Functionality:  Concentrated All Purpose Cleaner tackles all sorts of jobs around your home. Powered by naturally-derived sugars and other plant-based ingredients (no irritating SLS in here), this eco-overachiever will do wonders on any hard surface. Use it on floors (including wood), walls, bathroom fixtures and even your car—no job is too big or too dirty.

Ingredients: Purified Water, Coco Glucoside, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Citrate, Lactic Acid, Ethyl Alcohol, Essential Oils, Xanthan Gum, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate.

Safe for use on all non-porous surfaces, such as finished wood, sealed synthetic or natural stone (i.e. granite and marble), tile, laminate, linoleum, kitchen appliances, bathroom fixtures, etc. Dilute 1 to 2 tablespoons in 4 litres of water. Use full-strength on stubborn spots.

* COUNTERTOP CLEANER

Functionality: This handy-dandy cleanser works great on any surface in your home, but is a must-have in the kitchen. Lactic acid, a brilliant natural antimicrobial, not only helps counters shine, but sanitizes after cooking. It’ll freshen things up in a snap.

Ingredients: Purified Water, Coco Glucoside, Ethyl Alcohol, Lactic Acid, Essential Oils, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate.

Safe for use on all non-porous surfaces, such as sealed synthetic or natural stone (like granite and marble), tile, laminate, linoleum, finished wood, kitchen appliances, bathroom fixtures, etc. For maximum sanitization, let sit a few minutes before wiping. If you’re unsure about a surface, test in an inconspicuous area first. For streak-free results, wipe with a damp cloth.

* DISH SOAP

Functionality: Naturally potent ingredients get even your dirtiest dishes sparkly clean, while a dollop of pure vegetable glycerin gives some love to your hands.  Just add to warm water and enjoy the sweet smell of our suds.

Ingredients: Purified Water, Coco Glucoside, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Glycerin, Lactic Acid, Ethyl Alcohol, Essential Oils, Xanthan Gum, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate.

* LAUNDRY SOAP

Functionality: This lovely concentrated laundry liquid gets clothes clean and fresh with powerful, plant-derived ingredients, plus hardworking minerals like borax and washing soda. A beautiful blend of pure essential oils not only helps cleanse and refresh fabrics, but also adds an aromatic boost. With no unnecessary chemicals like optical brighteners or enzymes, it’s kind to your clothes and provides safe laundering for little ones too. Standard and HE compatible. 30 Loads.

Ingredients: Purified Water, Alkyl Polyglucoside, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Carbonate, Sodium Borate, Sodium Gluconate, Essential Oils, Phenoxyethanol.

Note: All of Sapadilla’s products come in two different scents that are very compatible or delicious on their own.  Choose from Grapefruit + Bergamot or Rosemary + Peppermint.  Yay, no more competing scents in your home!

We’re very happy to introduce Mythic Paint, the newest addition at Sustain, which comes in a large designer palette of over 1200 colours including capsule collections by David Bromstad of HGTV’s Color Splash.  These fun collections have great colours and really cute names.  Imagine your bathroom in Taupe on a Rope, or your little girl’s room in Freesia Mind!

Mythic paint is completely VOC free and Non-Toxic, safe for your children’s rooms and even the dog house.  Thanks to Mythic Paint you can decorate your home in the highest quality, most durable colors and know that you are getting nothing more. No toxic gasses that leak off into your home up to six years after application. No VOCs that can harm your family and deplete the ozone – nothing but gorgeous colors and peace of mind. So now you can go inside and get some fresh air.

See the full colour collection at www.mythicpaint.com. Mythic is available for purchase at our in-store location as well as online. Come in and try it! You’re going to LOVE it! We certainly do! Lately I’m painting everything – this past weekend I (Celine) re-painted our kitchen cabinets a warm shade of white with Mythic’s semi-gloss. It looks beautiful and was super easy to use! Hooray!

We have fun news!!! Erin Monett, PGM’s Photographer has launched a great little side biz called Busy Bee Candle Co.  More than just a candle – they are molded inside perfect vintage mason jars and are right up our alley. Supporting and growing the beekeeping industry is paramount to helping keep bee populations healthy and plentiful. We rely on those little insects more than you realize. (For a quick update on the health of the bee population check out our latest issue – see Eco-Logical by Dr. Charles Nock on p. 102-103). Here’s a little more about what Busy Bee is all about:

“Caledon, Ontario honeybees are busy collecting nectar from approximately two million flowers to make one pound of our beeswax, and we are busy creating more candles for you to enjoy!
All natural beeswax is a renewable resource and burns clean. When you burn your Busy Bee Candle Co candle it emits negative ions. These ions act as a “cleanser” for the surrounding air because toxins, such as dust, pollen, germs and mildew, are positive ions. When the two meet the air is purified.
Unlike soy and paraffin waxes, beeswax is used in its original state. There is no bleaching or hydrogenating. Beeswax is the purest and most natural of all waxes (including vegetable waxes such as soy) with the least processing and no additives.
Beeswax is non-allergenic and is best for those with allergies or sensitivities to scents.
Busy Bee Candle Co. is bee friendly and we support the beekeeping industry.”

Purchase candles from Erin’s Etsy Shop or via Sustain’s online shop.

After much hard work, The Summer Edition of Pure Green Magazine is finally here – I’m so proud of what we, the Pure Green team have created! For those of you who are familiar with the magazine, you will notice a few little changes – for starters, we’ve redeveloped our logo! See for yourself by viewing the magazine on Pure Green official site: www.puregreenmag.com

Whew!  Time really flies.  We’ve been very busy working on new things at the store, among them the new issue of Pure Green Magazine.  We’d be delighted if you would take a peek and let us know what you think!  The magazine features awesome recipes from the organic kitchen, beautiful green homes and fantastic Italian mountain retreat.  So grab a cuppa and enjoy!