Buying Fair Trade is a laudable goal for the socially conscious: It’s a practice that ensures safe working conditions and equitable wages for people in developing countries who, in the capitalist free market system, have been easy targets to overwork and underpay in order to beef up someone else’s profits.

If you pay people in a third-world country a fair wage, the kids there are more likely to go to school and get educated because they don’t have to work to help the family get enough to eat. If a community organizes into a farm co-op and earns enough to invest in more organic practices, it can develop a healthier and more sustainable approach for future years—and future generations.

Unfortunately Fair Trade is still fairly new, so a consumer won’t be able

Wondering what to do with all those energy-sucking light bulbs you’ve been wisely replacing with eco-friendly CFLs? These hanging vases are so charming and ridiculously easy to make. Grouped together they make quite a green and elegant statement!

Step One: Using fine-tooth metal saw, gently saw the bottom of light bulb. Pull out the filaments.

Step Two: Using a hand held drill place metal against some scrap wood and poke two holes opposite from each other.

Step Three: Lace thin wire through the holes and tie off at desired length. Fill with lovely blooms.

Also makes cute salt and pepper shakers. Most soda caps are the correct width for a top. Just fill, poke holes and enjoy!

Okay, it’s not the most life-changing DIY you’ve ever seen, but the sad little dog bed my 4-pound Yorkie Winnie called home needed some help! Store-bought beds are easily $50 and not great quality, so I thought, “Hey, why not just make one.”

After much Internet research, a perfect solution (and creative inspiration!) was found via Kristen, a designer and Etsy seller.

Because Winnie is so tiny and likes to nest in small spots, I knew an ordinary suitcase would be too big for her. Luckily, in the back of my closet I had this vintage Samsonite hat case that I’ve been carting around for years–finally, a reason to dust it off!

Again, a stroke of luck when it turned out that Winnie’s old dog bed was the perfect fit! Check out Design^Sprout for more

As far as shopping bags go, the plastic versus paper dilemma is as puzzling as the one about the chicken or the egg. The truth is, the statistics on both types of bags are deeply disturbing. At first glance the alternatives seem less than convenient—-but after learning the facts and finding some easy solutions, we’re saying “neither thanks” to “paper or plastic?”

In South Africa plastic bags have been dubbed the “national flower” because so many are seen fluttering from fences and dangling in bushes—-some report that at times it looks like a snow storm. According to the National Geographic News, between 500 billion and one trillion plastic grocery bags are consumed worldwide each year. That 100,000 birds die annually from encounters

The image of Cinderella on her hands and knees scrubbing the floor is meant to evoke pity. It’s the same reason that seductive new floor cleaning products and systems are constantly introduced to entice us. Cleaning the floor can be the most woeful of chores—and most of us wouldn’t mind a small miracle to ease the agony. Unfortunately many of the conventional cleaning products that promise an easy and sparkling floor, are terrible for our health and the environment. We can’t provide a fairy godmother here, but we can show you how to clean your floors without compromising your health.