With summer right around the corner, it's time to starting thinking about picnics and outdoor cookouts! While there is no shortage of ideas and recipes when it comes to organic and sustainable ingredients, finding the best product to put that food on can be a bit trickier. For small crowds or backyard events, the greenest option might just be to use the dishes you have on hand, but there are certainly those occasions that call for something lighter and more portable. Non-degradable plastic and paper from virgin trees have been commonplace for years, but fortunately there are now greener alternatives when it comes to disposable dinnerware. More
If you're lucky enough to have a little outdoor space to compost then you might consider taking a look at this handmade 3-compartment bin. It was created by Michael Wood and Robyn Oxley and there are a few things that make this bin extra special. Take a look! More
Last week I was shopping at my neighborhood grocery store when something made me stop in my tracks - at the end of an aisle was a display stocked with vinegar bottles, boxes of lemons and some of the best-looking cleaning tools I’ve seen. Upon closer inspection, I learned that the products are made by Full Circle Home – a company that offers well-designed goods made from sustainable and renewable resources. More
Of all the ways to live lighter on the land, growing your own food is probably one of the most rewarding. I often daydream about converting our weed-ridden front yard into an edible garden and so I was thrilled to come across this new guide (which can be downloaded for free!) from the City of Seattle. The content is tailored towards the city’s maritime climate, but many of the tips and suggestions are universal for city dwellers, even if your outdoor space is limited to a balcony! More
Last weekend, we came home with an exciting new purchase. Since our open-air compost bin was full, and it wasn't decomposing as quickly as we hoped, we decided to spring for a compost tumbler. And wouldn't you know, we found one on sale! Having learned a couple of things with our open-air compost heap, we started this one out armed with more composting know-how and the determination to do things a little differently. Here's one of the most important tips we've learned. More
Or you a hardcore composter? Or is it something you've been meaning to try? Do you have a serious outdoor bin, or a countertop container? Curious about using worms? We believe that everyone can compost, and our enthusiasm for the practice has led us to amass a fair amount of composting content over the last few years. This is the roundup of roundups for (com)posts on Re-Nest. More
Before you say it, let me explain...as I threw in the newly added vegetable matter, I realized my husband hadn't cut the kale stalks, banana peel and orange rinds into smaller pieces, which after taking this image, I did just that. Back to the update: last month our compost froze but with the warmer weather of the past few weeks, it thawed and now it smells. I've learned two possible reasons for why it smells, but I need your input... More
Sorting waste can be a real challenge in a small kitchen. First there's your basic trash, then there's recycling (co-mingled if you're lucky) and compost. Like most people, we didn't want to give up precious floor space for these bins, so we came up with a semi-custom and affordable solution. More
It's a sad truth, but keeping food from going to waste is something that most of us have to work at. We're happy now to have a compost heap and our own little backyard garden, but the simple fact of the matter is that we don't eat every bite of food that passes through our kitchens. Here are a few tips to get better at preventing waste—and we'd love to hear yours, too. More

























White Enamel Flatwa...