Daro Realty Blog

Sustainable Clothing Comfort in DC

chrystal — Fri, 11 May 2012 15:00:38 +0000

Being eco conscious while clothing yourself has become more important than ever as most clothing is being mass-produced under wasteful circumstances these days. Have you ever given much thought into the resources spent on making your clothing? The truth is, many of us don’t, but perhaps we should start. Clothing designers are now using more organic cotton, sustainable fleeces, and natural dyes in their wardrobe pieces, making it easier than ever to dress in threads that are asfriedly on your wallet as they are to Mother Earth.

Bamboo is a great product for creating an eco-friendly wardrobe. This quickly growing plant turns into a cloth that is soft and silky to the touch, and is also quite affordable. Plenty of natural clothing lines carry items made from bamboo nowadays and are fairly easy to find without extensive searching. Bambooclothes.com is a great resource for all types of “green” clothing.

However, bamboo isn’t the only new plant-based material being used in clothing these days. Soy also provides a sustainable product for soft and comfortable clothing, which is a natural byproduct of soy food processing. Element EcoWear features bamboo, organic cotton, and soy clothing all at affordable prices.

Even the Harry Potter actress Emma Watson has launched her own organic clothing line called Pure Threads. Whether you are a die-hard Harry Potter fan, or you just love eco-friendly clothing, Pure Threads is worth checking out!

And if you’re looking for a supplier of sustainable materials for household items in the Washington DC region, be sure to check out Eco Green Living, which also carries a clothing line of organic materials.

Though we all want to be trendy and look great, we don’t have to stick with the old routine of buying mass-produced clothing products, there are plenty of eco-friendly alternatives available today that still look great.

Image: The Gloss

Free and Local Meals Through Foraging in DC

chrystal — Fri, 04 May 2012 15:00:49 +0000

With the popularity of eating locally skyrocketing, taking local eats to the next level has brought about a surge in foraging for edible plants. Mushrooms, wild lettuce, and dandelion greens are a few of the good eats hidden among the lush green leaves of DC. Even in urban settings like Washington DC, it is possible to find plenty of helpful resources to help you identify the plants you can consume that grow around you in the mid Atlantic region. However, don’t just walk down the street and start picking greens! There are rules to follow while foraging. Make sure you consult books or the advice of an expert before you forage on your own; please check the laws behind foraging in your neighborhood as well. It is not legal on most parkland.

A few helpful sites for your reference are:

Matt’s Habitats
Online Edible Directory

It is even possible to scour the streets of Washington DC to gather a meal as well. Well known forager, Sam Thayer, showed a correspondent from NPR the edible plants growing around downtown DC in this 2011 story.

Flavor Magazine, a Washington DC magazine focusing on local sustainable agriculture, covers foraging in an article in the April 2012 issue as well.

So, remember when foraging for fresh goodies in the DC area, to be smart and follow all rules and laws that may be in effect!

Image: Path To Sustainable Living

Growing Your Own Food in DC

chrystal — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 17:05:08 +0000

Have a green thumb but no green space living in city? Want to try a unique alternative to growing your own food while surrounded by buildings, buildings and more buildings? Urban Sustainable, a hydroponics store housed in the eclectic and diverse DC neighborhood in Adams Morgan, sells several indoor gardening systems. They have a variety of vegetables, fruits, herbs, and other plants growing just inside their front door.

The very friendly and knowledgeable owner at Urban Sustainable will provide tips and guidance on growing food inside your four walls. Upon request, demonstrations will be help in the store on seasonal planting practices and building gardening systems. Urban Sustainable sells seeds, different types of soils and pots, and plant nutrients. The store also features vertical gardening kits and compact gardening for small outdoor spaces.

Make sure to practice patience while preparing your indoor garden. Learning about indoor seed care, plant cultivation, and proper garden set up is a step-by-step process. YouTube is a beneficial resource for this undertaking as well; a search for “hydroponics” will present you with a library of videos to help you on your gardening journey. A garden is an investment, but when done right, it will yield big results.


	A very popular hydroponics system: Emily’s Garden

Image: Hydroponic Workshop

Earth Day 2012

chrystal — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 16:54:47 +0000

Join thousands of other eco-enthusiasts to celebrate the planet while learning more about environmental protection at this year’s Earth Day Rally. It will be held at the nation’s most famous park, the National Mall. Cities in 192 countries all over the world are celebrating the annual holiday on April 22nd through the Earth Day Network. The Earth Day Rally will feature several well-known musicians and numerous speakers. Several members of Congress will speak, along with DC Mayor, Vincent Gray, and Denis Hayes, the original organizer of Earth Day in 1970. An “EcoVillage” will also be showcased on the National Mall. This will feature educational booths and renewable energy demonstrations as well.

A Billion Acts of Green is also a part of the celebration this year in encouraging people to change their lifestyles to use fewer resources. The Earth Day Network is running this service campaign asking all of us to contribute acts of green. The Earth Day Network plans to present these acts to the UN Earth Summit in Rio this summer. These can be shared on the Earth Day Network website. A final countdown to the campaign is planned for the Earth Day event.

The Earth Day Rally will provide an opportunity for the kids to get involved. The largest youth march ever planned for Earth Day will begin at 11:30 a.m. at 12th Street and Madison Drive NW on the Mall. It will convene with the festivities on the Mall around noon.

Image: Earth Day

Earth Month Fun in DC

chrystal — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 23:14:02 +0000

With Earth Day celebrations on April 22nd, events are being held throughout DC to celebrate green living for the entire month.

Live Green is getting is getting into the spirit of Earth Month 2012 by sponsoring the Green Rush Scavenger Hunt. The Washington DC organization is geared towards forming relationships and boosting the green economy in the greater Washington DC area. Clean Currents, a local green energy company, will partner up with Live Green for the event.

Teams of two to five people will scour DC to complete challenges and earn as many points as possible. Make sure you wear comfortable clothes, bring pen and paper, and arrive on time for check in at Logan Circle. The Green Rush will start exactly at 2:30pm. Teams will have three hours to finish the hunt before meeting at the finish line at 2001 11th Street. Get ready to have fun at the after party at Liv Nightclub. The team with the most points will earn a $1,000 grand prize. Other prizes include a one year supply of Honest Tea and a Foodie Award of gift cards for local green restaurants.

If you aren’t a member of Live Green, this is a great opportunity to sign up as well! Members pay $18 annually and receive discounts for various products and services. You will also be given a discount for the Green Rush.

Green Solutions for Outdated Electronics

chrystal — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 20:37:20 +0000

We all love our electronic devices and computers. Televisions are more interactive and larger than ever. Who hasn’t spent hours on their laptop or their smart phone? With the latest technology always changing, it is easy to quickly replace our old gadgets with a newer and more exciting version.

But what happens to our gadgets when they are no longer in use? Many of us end up just leaving them in our homes, promising ourselves that we will do something with them one day. Even more people throw away obsolete technology. The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that over 40 million computers are discarded every year once they are replaced by newer technology. These computers also contain harmful chemicals to the planet, such as mercury.

But there is a solution to this potential pollution problem – electronic recycling! This saves energy and provides plenty of raw materials to salvage. It also provides jobs, as plenty of workers are needed to disassemble the parts in our various pieces of machinery. The energy garnered from one ton of aluminum could provide enough electricity to power a home for over ten years.

The Washington DC area has numerous businesses and nonprofits that keep our electronics from adding to our growing landfills. A few of these even put together new computers from old parts to sell at a discounted price. Some sites to check out when recycling your electronics are:

Image: Planet Recycling

Improve Your Green Thumb Abilities With a Workshop in DC

chrystal — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 16:37:15 +0000

Searching for a way to improve your green thumb? A great educational opportunity is available in April with the The University of the District of Columbia’s Second Annual International Urban Sustainability Action Summit. Former basketball player Will Allen and leader in the swelling urban farming movement will speak at the Summit. His organization, Growing Power, Inc., was started to provide people from all income levels with equal access to high quality and affordable food. This is done by multiple workshops held at locations in Chicago and Wisconsin throughout the year. Jonathan Lanciani, President and CEO of Organica Sustainable Water, will discuss cutting edge technologies in a time of growing water shortages.

Vendors, exhibits, and free screenings of environmental films will be included. Presentations and speaker panels will focus on water reclamation, social entrepreneurship, and sustainable agriculture. Free lunch is also provided.

A special urban sustainability farming workshop will be hosted by Will Allen over the weekend. He will show attendees how to build a hoophouse, while focusing on urban agriculture topics.

Location: On-campus at UDC Fine Arts Theater

Date: Friday, April 27th, 2012

Cost: $25/person

Location for Weekend Workshop: Saturday, April 28th and Sunday, April 29th at AES Muirkirk Farm, 12001 Old Baltimore Pike, Beltsville, MD 20705

Image: Wake Up World

Cherry Blossom Celebrations in DC

chrystal — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 17:29:09 +0000

Since they were presented to the United States by Japan in 1912, the cherry blossom trees that line Washington’s National Mall and beyond, have been one of the most recognizable symbols of the city in the springtime. The blooms usually peak in late March and early April, and draw crowds of thousands who flock to the capital to get an eyeful of the beautiful pink trees. Here are a few highlights of the 2012 National Cherry Blossom Festival to help you enjoy the blooms – just be sure to plan your outings on weekdays if you want to avoid the biggest crowds!

Bike Ride and Cycle Expo, March 25 - This 10-mile ride along the Waterfront in Georgetown takes you through some of the best viewing areas for mature blossoms. You can also get your bike fixed, or buy new parts.

Jazz at the Jefferson, All Festival Days - Enjoy free Jazz concerts from 12-5 on the steps of the Jefferson Memorial.

Southwest Waterfront Fireworks Festival, April 7 - In the SW waterfront quadrant of DC, enjoy a variety of live concerts, dance showcases, children’s activities and a fireworks display, all designed to celebrate the Centennial anniversary of the cherry blossoms’ arrival to America.

National Cherry Blossom Festival Parade, April 14 - Enjoy the floats, performing groups, costumes and excitement as the traditional annual Cherry Blossom Festival Parade draws the month of celebration to an exciting close. Enjoy the spectacle, and embrace the spring!

Image: Take Tours

Green by Design

chrystal — Wed, 07 Mar 2012 17:30:41 +0000

With an uncertain economy and “green” meaning so much more than a favorite color, finding innovative and environmentally friendly methods to create a home are now more important than ever. Taking the extra time to research green options may seem like an overwhelming and expensive process, but there are stores popping up that can offer plenty of assistance to make that process more convenient and affordable.

Community Forklift, a store just over the DC border in Edmonston, Maryland, is a sustainable and affordable alternative to Home Depot. While it is technically a thrift store, many of the items at Community Forklift have been salvaged because of lack of wear. Never been used items come in two forms at the store. There is a section of surplus household items at affordable options and a line of environmentally friendly building supplies is also carried in the store.

The website for Community Forklift also gives a detailed outline of what to expect when you visit the store and how to most effectively plan your time there. It also gives advice on specific green home improvement projects.

If you are looking to design your home with a green touch, take a trip to the DC neighborhood of Takoma Park. Eco-green Living, located in the heart of the picturesque neighborhood, offers not only green building supplies, but also green products to help you facilitate a healthier lifestyle through more environmentally friendly products for your home.

Laughs up for Grabs in DC

chrystal — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 15:00:47 +0000

DC is a city with a reputation for being buttoned up, but even revelers in the District need a few laughs now and then. Luckily, there are more than enough free comedy shows in DC to satisfy anyone’s craving for a bit of humor. The following list includes enough free laughs to get you through the work week. Enjoy them with drinks or finger food!

Monday: Looking Glass Lounge
This show is the last Monday of each month from 8-10pm on the upper level of this Petworth neighborhood hangout. IPA and small brewery fans will enjoy the wide selection of mid-Atlantic beers, as well as made-to-order sandwiches and appetizers.

Tuesday: Tonic
This show runs on the second floor from 8-10pm the first Tuesday of every month at the Foggy Bottom location. Enjoy a bite of the menu of comfort food stand-bys with funky twists, and take a seat on a comfy side chaise while you listen to the comic onstage.

Wednesday: Fruit Bat
This Atlas District hotspot features South American street fare served alongside some of the most creative cocktails in the city. The show is every Wednesday from 8-10pm.

Thursday: RFD
This large open mic takes over the back stage area of this Chinatown sports bar every Thursday from 8-10pm. The large 7th street space has one of the widest beer selections around.

We hope you enjoy our list of free places to get your laughs on in DC!