Hasta La Ideas

Barcelona-based studio Pöko Design‘ new bulletin boards do double duty—as both a place to pin up notes or bits of inspiration and as an important reminder in the form of a creative design in and of itself.

The cute series of animal cork boards adds a sober touch by depicting the diverse range of species directly under threat from climate change. Produced by Kikkerland (which means “frog land” in Dutch), the collection, called Affected, features a polar bear, a migratory songbird and, appropriately, a treefrog.

Designer Petz Scholtus tells us that each of these animals is already experiencing the effects of rising global temperatures on their natural habitats. “The thinning ice at the Arctic Circle leaves fewer places for both the polar bears to hunt. Songbirds are particularly sensitive to both temperature and their habitats, so warmer seasons worldwide may mean that you won’t be hearing some of those old familiar songs in years to come. International trade, deforestation and climate change causes the spread of the chytrid fungus, which causes chytridiomycosis and it has virtually made tree frogs extinct.”

Sad as the decline of these three is, the unbelievable truth is extinction currently threatens over 17,000 species. Arriving at a time when the recent Gulf oil spill’s horribly large reminder drives home the point that human actions can cause great environmental damage.

Not only the form of the boards but also their material reminds us of the importance of biodiversity. Explains Scholtus, “By using cork, we keep the cork oak forests alive, one of the most sustainable natural habitats and home of several endangered species with the highest level of biodiversity in southwest Europe and northwest Africa.” What’s more, 2% of the boards’ proceeds will be donated to Tree-Nation to fight desertification, climate change, poverty, and CO2 emissions by planting more trees in the world.

No one likes to be beaten on the head with an eco-stick, so we appreciate the Affected bulletin boards for their simple beauty and their quiet daily “memo to self” that we need to watch what we’re doing to our planet.

The bulletin boards sell for $20 each from Kikkerland.

Seed bombs—a simple mixture of clay, fertilizer and plant seeds—are a favored form of DIY “drop-and-go” weaponry among gardeners taking the greening of public spaces into their own hands. To aid the expansion of the guerrilla gardening movement in its persistent goal of transforming forgotten or abandoned urban landscapes into greener spaces, L.A.-based design firm Common Studio came up with pre-made seed bombs.

As part of the interdisciplinary studio’s “Greenaid” concept, they repurposed old quarter-operated candy machines to vend single seed bombs. Anyone can purchase one of the machines (approximately $400 each), which generate profit as they impact the local area’s chances of becoming host to more colorful plant life by making seed bombs more accessible. As an added incentive, Common Studio will supply the seed bombs in mixes specifically developed for the local environment and its ecology. Interested buyers can get a quote on the vending machines by emailing them at “info [at] thecommonstudio [dot] com.”

Similarly, the Cincinnati-based design firm VisuaLingual developed its own make of seed bombs. Available in three region-specific formulas—East Coast, West Coast and Midwest—each yields a colorful mix of florals. The pods come in satchels of five ($7) and sell through the company’s Etsy shop.

For a more thorough look at both the histories and how-tos of guerrilla gardening, check out Richard Reynold’s book “On Guerrilla Gardening: A Handbook for Gardening Without Boundaries,” available from Amazon or Powell’s.

While always preferred, buying organic is often cost-prohibitive and, with some produce, sometimes less important. Heidi Kenney’s
downloadable Dirty Dozen Cheat Sheet makes that split-second decision on whether to spend that extra 20 cents a pound on organic bananas or organic strawberries a little easier.

The convenient, credit card-sized guide separates 27 common fruits and veggies into two categories, those that usually have a low pesticide content and those that don’t.

Kenney, the crafter also known as “My Paper Crane” for her anthropomorphic plushies, uses kawaii-style illustrations based on the Environmental Working Group’s more extensive list, which they offer as an iPhone app.

A 60-foot catamaran comprised of recycled PET and reclaimed plastic bottles, Plastiki proves the power of imagination and ingenuity with British eco-adventurist David de Rothschild at the helm.

More than just a boat, the Plastiki symbolizes how waste can really become a resource, taking on the intimidating task of sailing from San Francisco to Sydney. De Rothschild, inspired by a news story about the “garbage patch” floating in the Pacific Ocean, spent the last several years developing the Plastiki along with “a handpicked crew of leading scientists, adventurers and creatives.”

Now nearly ready to set sail, the Plastiki and its team have been kitted out by San Francisco-based duo Nice Collective—who decorated the interior of the boat and designed some gear for the crew—as well as Shortomatic, who designed a pair of “Beat Waste” board shorts.

The range created by Nice Collective includes flags, lighting, storage solutions, tools and clothing—all speaking to the romanticism of the open ocean while performing as functional equipment. Using Jacques Cousteau and Buckminster Fuller as sources of inspiration, Plastiki even incorporates a a geodesic dome as its cabin structure.

The Plastiki expedition involves stopping at a host of environmental problem areas, beginning with the garbage patch off the coast of California. Other hot spots undergoing the team’s inspection include damaged coral reefs and soon-to-be-flooded islands. The Plastiki website makes it possible to join in on their long journey, with live tracking of the boat and up-to-date information and videos of the team’s findings.