Today's How-To is the Extended Version of Wednesday's post (How to Make a Hammered Light with John Gleeson Connolly) and we hope it will ignite your weekend craving to get back to your garage and rewire those old extension cords into inventive little lights. More

Flax is a highly nutritious omega-3-rich seed. It grows on lush knee-high stalks with pretty periwinkle colored flowers that open in the daytime and close at night. Flax plants are a beautiful ornamental plant with several practical applications. More

During the warmer months, strolling through the farmer's market is an appealing way to spend an afternoon but don't forget that a variety of local produce is available all year round. Your local market sellers are also an excellent resource for learning about the plants that will work best during the winter in your area. Keeping an abundance of fresh fruits and vegetables in your home will encourage healthy eating and like house plants and flowers, it can add beauty and life to your space.

More

Despite being one borough in a big city, Brooklyn has much to offer those who want to live green. Our Brooklyn coverage this year included a few Green Tours, a shout-out to two Brooklyn companies selling amazing wares, and a look at some inspirational outdoor spaces courtesy of our Small, Cool Outdoors contest. Brooklyn really wowed us this year.

TOP ROW
• 1 Steve Burns' New Brooklyn House
• 2 Gary and Ellen's Storage-Savvy Apartment
• 3 Jackie's Brooklyn Kitchen & Bathroom Renovation
• 4 Wallpaper Designer Kimberly Lewis' Brooklyn Alcove
• 5 Hammersmith Copper Cookware Made in Brooklyn
More

Etsy recently made an inspiring video about Liberty Tool Company, a shop located in a small town in Maine. Founded by H.G. "Skip" Brack in 1976, the first floor is dedicated to used tools that Brack salvages and resells at affordable prices. He hopes that by offering artists & craftsmen the tools they need, he will help to support a sustainable local economy. Check out the video: More

Perennial Plate's latest video visits three different farmers—Annie Novak from Eagle Street Rooftop Farm in Greenpoint, Abu Talib from Taqwa Community Farm in the Bronx, and Jack Algiere from the Stone Barns Center—who make real food happen around New York City. If you're a local, this is definitely worth a watch! More

Bartering for goods and services might seem like an old-fashioned practice, but not in the Ballard neighborhood of Seattle, where residents might trade surplus tomatoes and eggs for plant bulbs and honey. And just in time for the holidays, they're hosting a barter meet-up next week - an event that, in light of the season's focus on consumerism, might be just what you need to slow down, meet your neighbors and reflect on the value of homegrown and handmade. More

This week we ring in Thanksgiving—the holidays are upon us! Thanksgiving is one of my favorite times of the year. It's not the stuffed-silly feeling I am so excited for; instead, I love to use Thanksgiving as a time to celebrate what food does for our families, communities, and culture. Maybe you feel the same. More

"Too often, environmentalists slip half-knowingly between human health and environmental health...Unfortunately, there's no natural law saying that planet health and human health are unitary. Consider the potato... It takes 466 kilocalories of energy to produce a pound of potatoes, according to research by David Pimentel of Cornell University... Other health foods like Brussels sprouts and snap beans also take significantly more fossil fuel energy to produce than the maligned potato. A heaping bowl of steamed greens might be good for you, but the planet would prefer that you ate a plateful of microwaved potatoes..."

Must Read: Good For You, Good For the Planet? | Slate

Specialty: Sustainable + handmade lighting, sinks and hardware as well as lighting restoration and retrofitting.

Price Range: ($$) Mid-Range - ($$$) High-End

Third-generation patternmaker Eric Kaster and partner Sattie Clark are the founders of Eleek, a Portland based company that sells handmade lighting, sinks, hardware and tiles. The product offerings range from traditional and vintage to modern and eclectic and are mostly constructed of recycled or reclaimed metals.

More