Did you know you can power a clock with dirt? Dutch designer Marieke Staps has figured out a way to grow time, instead of killing it. Her soil-powered bio-clock (is that like a biological clock?), showcased at Dutch Design Week in 2008 and most recently at Dwell on Design‘s Kitchen Ecology Show last week, keeps time by plugging into mud!

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Post tags: dwell on design 2009, eco-friendly kitchen products, Green Home decor, green kitchen design, home goods, kitchen design, kitchen ecology, marieke staps, potted herbs, potted plants, soil clock, soil-powered clock

The adjective cute doesn’t usually cross our minds when it comes to kitchen gardening — but that certainly changed when we saw these egg-shaped containers sprouting green leafy specimens. Called an eggling for the shape of its container, each little ceramic egg is shipped whole — requiring its owner to lightly crack open the top to create an opening for the plant to grow through. Seeds available are basil, cactus, red pepper, mint, strawberry, or lavender. Containers are roughly 2.25 inches tall and 2 inches in diameter and rest in a terra cotta dish — making them small enough to fit snugly on a windowsill or in a cozy corner of your desk. We recommend getting yours at the Inhabitat Shop now so you can begin growing herbs for spring!

$12 from Branch

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Post tags: eco home goods, Gardening, herb garden, home goods, kitchen gardening

Chirp chirp! Tweet tweet! As the weather warms up, the birds are coming out to play, and what better way to celebrate than with some stylish modern bird-friendly designs for homes and gardens. Perch! is a collection of bird-friendly ceramics from Amy Adams. Brooklyn-based designer Amy Adams makes her wares out of earthenware and sculpts them into voluminous shapes using a low fire and non-toxic glaze. With little decoration, the design of the wares are very minimalist, however, we think their shapes are extremely expressive and dare we say, adorable? All ceramics can be easily cleaned with mild soap and water. They also come with a leather cord that was tanned with vegetable dyes. So spruce up your garden for spring and befriend some modern birdies today with Perch!

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Post tags: brooklyn designer, ceramic design, cermaic ware, home goods, modern design

One of the biggest tenets of living a sustainable life is doing more with less, and as we grapple with reducing our carbon footprints we have to take a closer look at how we equip the world we live in. These beautiful recycled paper baskets from award-winning artist Leonor Mendoza are definitely a step in the lighter footstep direction. Made from recycled paper and cotton woven together, these colorful and multifaceted mats sport corner buttons allowing them to go from a colorful placemat to functional basket in seconds.


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Post tags: Biodegradable, Engage Green, home goods, Leonor Mendoza, Recycled Materials