Green Scene

Perfect For Summer Grill-outs: A Biodegradable Plate Made With Birdseed

Introducing The Unidentified Feeding Object (UFO)

May 1, 2012 4:31 pm

NYC designer Andrea Ruggiero looked back to his childhood days in Italy for inspiration when designing the disposable UFO (Unidentified Feeding Object) plate. In Italian, disposable products are described as "Use e getta," Italian for "use and throw.” Ruggiero decided to take this phrase literally. He designed a plate for a backyard BBQ that you can fling off the nearest tree to have it crack apart and become a bird feeder.

Green Scene

Wearing Their Herb Garden On Their Sleeve

A literal take on green design at a NYC restaurant

Apr 10, 2012 1:01 pm

Taking green design to a veritably literal level, Atera's living wall is both a statement piece and a decorative component at the newly opened restaurant in NYC's Tribeca neighborhood. The result, an 8'x8' green panel set against a sinuous, dark steel wall, is lush with herbs and plants, something like the ultimate herb garden, only sideways.

Green Scene

Willie Nelson Sings For Chipotle's Pigs

The country singer lends a voice to sustainability

Aug 30, 2011 5:16 pm

Willie Nelson sings Coldplay over an animated stop-action short about pigs which ends in a fast-food run. No, we're not piecing together hazy scraps of last Friday night (um, Coldplay?) But we did just watch this video from Chipotle, and it more or less conveys an important message we're glad that Shotgun Willie, a dedicated fair-farming advocate, put his voice...

Green Scene

5 Things You Don’t Know About Hydroponics

Hydroponics helps make urban agriculture a reality

Aug 18, 2011 9:01 am

New York may be at the forefront of the urban and rooftop gardening trends. But Gotham Greens is a whole different story. The 15,000-square-foot greenhouse on the roof of a Greenpoint building produces vegetables and fresh herbs using a hydroponic growing system. In other words, it uses no soil whatsoever. The plants are grown in water and fed with a nutrient-rich...

Green Scene

5 Real Ways To Reduce Kitchen Waste

Chef Spike cuts down on kitchen waste, naturally

Aug 15, 2011 8:46 am

Photo: Woodberry Kitchen

Chef Spike Gjerde of Baltimore’s Woodberry Kitchen thinks outside the box when it comes to green design, energy efficiency and waste reduction. Considering the potential carbon footprint of any restaurant, Gjerde’s little efforts have a big impact on Woodberry Kitchen’s bottom line. Take a few of his...

Green Scene

Wisconsin's Cheese Business Goes Green

Wisconsin's famed cheese makers get eco-friendly

Jul 12, 2011 12:07 pm

Photo: Kristine Hansen

In a state with about 1,200 certified cheesemakers — many are master cheesemakers and known for award-winning fromage — the competition to turn out excellent cheese is stiff. Putting an eco spin on the production process is one way these Dairy State cheesemakers stand out.

There are some solid examples of how the state’s cheese industry infuses...

Green Scene

Green Product: Nooka Watch and Packaging

A watch brand with kitchen-friendly packaging

May 18, 2011 12:23 pm

Reduce your carbon footprint. It’s one of those generic advice sentences, frequently used and—if you’re anything like us—often enough contemplated.

But being green is one thing; doing it while maintaining style is an entirely different proposition. Lucky for us, design company Nooka — founded and run by NYC–based artist and product designer Matthew...

Green Scene

The Fabulous Beekman Boys Seed Project

Trying to create a nationwide community garden

Apr 5, 2011 5:31 pm

A few years ago, city boys Josh Kilmer-Purcell and Dr. Brent Ridge began a plan to give up city life to become gentlemen goat farmers in upstate New York. Kilmer-Purcell, a New York Times bestselling author, ad executive, and former drag queen, and Ridge, former VP of Healthy Living for Martha Stewart Living have chronicled their...