recycled rubber Archives - Listen to Lena

NOTE: The following giveaway is open to residents of Ontario, Canada only.

Oh the weather outside is frightful…

Okay, not quite yet. But it IS getting cooler – much cooler! – and with winter around the corner, Canadians are doing their best to get their homes ready for the season. The patio furniture is stored; flowers are uprooted from their beds and decorative urns are emptied and stashed away.

Is it just me, or are Canadian homes lacking a certain curb appeal over the winter months?

I know, other than holiday decor, the northern climate doesn’t exactly allow for a host of ornamental options. However, there are a few simple ways to create curb appeal during the cold-weather months, and I’m happy to share them with you today!

1. Start with a Solid Base. Winter lacks a certain greenery, but with earth-savvy planters, you can infuse a little life into an otherwise bare space. Crescendo Urns, made by Multy Home, are a great option – they’re made using Ontario recycled tire rubber that would otherwise have ended up in a landfill.

(You may recall an earlier post, Simple Steps to Mini Garden Success with The Home Depot, where I featured the multi-season slate rubber urn – pictured below.)
dsc_1031a Because this planter is designed to withstand the cold weather – with no cracking or fading – it will take you through all seasons seamlessly. You can also find recycled rubber mulch from a variety of Ontario-based manufacturers to fill the base which drains rapidly and efficiently, resists mold, mildew and fungi, and is also non-toxic. …

Today is a very special day for my husband and I – it’s our home anniversary! Yep, we’ve been in our present abode for eight long years. Back in 2007, things were different: the streets and driveways were composed of dust and gravel, we lived under the hum of constant construction, and we waited with baited breath for a strip of grass and a (sad-looking) standard issue tree.

Then, we had nine months to enjoy our new home before our first baby arrived, and completely turned our lives inside out.

The next few months were a blur. Being preoccupied with a newborn, I didn’t have a chance to really appreciate all the small, subtle happenings that were changing my subdivision into a community. Doors and garages were re-painted to reflect the homeowner’s personality. As the construction dust settled, parents began to take walks and children began to ride their bikes along the quiet streets. And finally, with the creation of a local playground, a meeting place for kids and parents alike was established; on any given summer night, the playground was teeming with happy children and smiling moms and dads.

And to this day, it takes five attempts to pry my kids away from the swings, sand and monkey bars.
11417349_574269846056425_881783580_n Why are local playgrounds and parks just so integral to childhood? It’s because they help create community, and your community is your home. It’s where you get together with friends, play with your children, and cheer-on your local sports team. And you depend on your community spaces to be clean, safe and durable – as do your fellow neighbours.

But what if your local space is beginning to look a bit (wait for it) TIRE-d looking?

The Community Renewal Fund offered by Ontario Tire Stewardship gives communities the opportunity to build spaces using sustainable materials made with recycled rubber from Ontario tires. The Fund is a great way to build memorable spaces while supporting the local economy – and the environment. …

Create Cold-Weather Curb Appeal from Recycled Rubber Products

What Happens When it’s Time for a Tire to Retire?