apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

Lately, I've heard a lot of confusing information about mulch. We've been told it's wise to use because it helps conserve water, fights erosion, and blocks weeds. But I've also heard there's mulch that's toxic to dogs, harmful to plants, and one where trees are harvested just to make mulch. As a newbie gardener, I decided to do a little digging and find a mulch that was good for my garden, as well as the earth...

Free Market at Artscape

For me, the most difficult task when faced with a move or tackling a spring cleaning is deciding what to get rid of — I hate throwing perfectly good items in the trash. But let's face it, during those hectic days, who can find the extra time for a yard sale? And while other avenues like Craigslist or Freecycle have come in handy to unload an item or two, they can prove to be just as time consuming. That's where Baltimore's Free Store comes into play...

I know what you're thinking... what qualifies a Marriott chain as a great escape? What could possibly be intriguing about, um, a Fairfield Inn? How about the fact that it's Baltimore's first officially certified green hotel...

Perhaps you remember this post about a vegetable garden for Baltimore's City Hall? Even though there were many naysayers out there, we're pleased to report that the first crops were recently harvested and donated to a local meal program. Well it seems this might be just the beginning for the city — the Mid-Atlantic Green Mission Specialist for Whole Foods Market is launching a side project with its sight set on Baltimore...

By now, everybody knows that the green movement is red-hot! And while most of us are embracing the new craze, it's easy to get lost in the sea of information cropping up. The non-profit Green Building Institute (GBI) wants to make sure you're getting it right. The GBI's mission is "to foster sustainable building practices through education and example." And GBI plans to do just that with its 4-part series on going green, launching in Baltimore today....

Maybe it's the poor economy. Or perhaps because it's trendy (we hope not). Whatever the reason, we're thrilled to hear that Baltimore's City Hall formal garden will be turned into a 2000 square foot vegetable garden...

Inna Alesina is a designer who takes sustainability and functionality into account when designing her products. Graduating with a degree from Parsons School of Design in New York, her mission is "to improve people's conditions through good design." A Ukraine native and Baltimore suburb resident, Alesina transforms ordinary items that are often discarded into practical household objects...

click thumbnails for larger pics

Every year, Baltimore gets to host one of the American Craft Council's annual shows. While the Council also holds shows in Atlanta, Charlotte, St. Paul, San Francisco, and Sarasota - Baltimore is privileged to be the largest indoor, juried craft show in the country. Now celebrating its 33rd year in Baltimore, over 700 contemporary artists presented some of the best in handmade wares.

Fancy, bold, and interesting pillows can be expensive and hard to come by. Fabulous artwork is something most of us desire but often, can hardly afford. After viewing this AT:SF post featuring artwork by Thomas Campbell, inspiration was found, an an idea instantly emerged. So here's how to turn a simple pillow into your own unique work of art! Instructions after the jump...