(n)habit

We have moved!

2011-07-19T11:26:00.002-05:00

Well, officially, we are now out of our space on 12th! We'll miss all our neighbors, but hope that everyone will come visit!

Looking at the sea of boxes, paint, tiles, pallets, books etc. I am a little hesitant to say, "come on over!" Soooo.... give us a few days at least before you stop by expecting to see anything but a bunch of stuff on the floor. Don't worry - there is a party in the works to break-in the new space.

We're meeting so many great people and look forward to sharing them with you when you visit.

Here's a sneak peek...
Next door to us is David - he's a bookseller. You can always find a table of free books outside his door.
On the other side is Shelly - he's an architect and has a new baby.
Brother, Dane Carder, is across the hall - Owner of threesquared gallery
Next to him - Seed Space - an art lab by director, Adrienne Outlaw
Downstairs next to the loading dock, we met Mark at Kunkel & Son - they do beautiful architectural woodworking
Also downstairs, we met Earl. I don't actually know what Earl does yet, but he was kind enough to let us borrow his pallet jack all weekend after only knowing us for 3 seconds. I baked him some cookies.

Cheers for now!

Moving Day!

2011-06-20T20:10:00.003-05:00

We are getting very excited (and anxious!) about moving. In an effort to make the transition as easy as possible, here is the plan...

We will -

officially "close" on July 4th

then build-out the new space and move the entire store...

and re-open on July 18th at the new location

Please remember two things:

1. We will be back and forth a lot in those two weeks, but will not have fallen off the face of the earth. We will still be answering emails and phone messages. If you need something or would like to make an order while we're working on the move just call and leave a message or shoot us an email at either rachel@n-habit.net or edward@n-habit.net

2. It is still only the two of us, so please bear with us as we make the transition.

New Hours
We will be testing out some new store hours after the move. We will have "showroom hours" from 10 - 3 every week day. In an effort to make time for our design clients, we ask that you try and make it over during showroom hours if you'd like to browse around. If you are making a special trip, please call before you come. Although, we will be there the majority of the time (until the wee hours many nights), just remember that we might both be at appointments, so please call before you come or make an appointment if it is before 10 or after 3. Most likely all it will take is a call and we'll make sure to stick around until you get there.

Thank you so much to everyone for all your support. We are confident that the new space will be that much better!

aaaaand we're back!

2011-05-17T07:08:00.002-05:00

Hey, everybody! We've been busy! Whew!! BUT, we all know it's better to be busy than slow, right!?!?

We've been busy with so many things and we can't wait to share....

Mostly importantly -- We're Moving!!

* We love our little 12South house and are so grateful for the community that has embraced and promoted us and our idea! We are sad to be leaving our wonderful spot but excited for the next part of the journey. So, starting in July (tentatively) come see us at our new location! 427 Chestnut Street! Suite 226

View Larger Map

Our new space is big, creative and just plain awesome. It is the former home of a hosiery mill, with great big converted warehouse spaces - one of which we will be occupying (stay tuned for photos)

* Be on the lookout for some updates to our website as well. Now that our new location is further off the beaten path, we're going to be adding some functions to our website to accommodate for better online ordering and delivery.

* Another set of things that's been keeping us busy is design work. Now that the store can, in some ways, stand alone, we have started taking on more design projects. Also, stay tuned for more photos and projects!

We are so excited about where (n)habit is going and how things are adapting and just want to thank everyone who supports us. Because, as you know, you vote with your dollar and when you support sustainability in your local economy, you strengthen the economy of your city, your state, and your world!

Help Me Help You: Planning for remodeling success

2010-10-12T10:07:00.003-05:00

I talk to customers so often about how they feel they’re moving so slowly on a construction project and then… BAM... it’s time to choose a hundred things at once. People then feel they are settling for something because they feel rushed to make a decision. If you’re in early- to mid-construction and it seems like things are moving like molasses, here are some activities to keep you engaged while also preparing for that rush of decision making.

Order samples early
Most companies will send you samples for free! The ones that don’t, charge very little for them, so there’s no reason not to start exploring your options.

Some people believe that ordering a sample = commitment. I can’t speak for everyone, but if you order a sample from me and you end up not buying the product, it will have zero effect on our friendship or professional relationship. None. And if you wait, you’ll inevitably be staring at a printed image of something and wondering, “That brown looks really similar to the brown in my countertop, but will they actually match? To stay on schedule I have to order today…”

If you order a sample in the beginning and end up not using it, return it to your designer who can either return it to the company for others to use or they can keep it for their own personal materials library.

Be up front about your budget
Wouldn’t we all like to be able to afford exactly what we wanted! There’s nothing worse than falling completely in love with something and then finding out you can’t afford it. Once that happens you’re not happy with anything else after it. This is, many times, how projects run over budget. Talk to your designer or contractor about what your budget is, and they can help you from the start.

If everyone went to the tile store knowing how much they could spend, and then approached the sales person with that number, they could show you right away what your options are. If it turns out you don’t see anything you like in your price range, at least you feel like you have a reason for seeking an increase on that particular budget item.

In addition, you don’t run the risk of “inching” your way over budget. It may not seem like a big deal if you go over just a little bit (even dollars) but with the sheer quantity of products that go into any construction project, it adds up quickly.

Be up front about time
The idea of time in a construction project is very complex. There is a great deal of coordination going on – between various trades and materials. This is the biggest reason to hire a contractor – coordinating trades is a big job, and experience is helpful.

If you take a kitchen remodel, for example, many people don’t really know what goes in first - the cabinets or the flooring. Ask you contractor or your designer (or both!). That way you know which to be worrying about time-wise, and you won’t be spending time scouring the architectural salvage place for cool artwork when (unbeknownst to you), you need to be thinking about cabinetry finishes.

No one wants their project to run over budget or schedule. Most of the time, they do anyway, especially if weather is a factor in your remodel. But if you’ll follow the main three pieces of advice above, your project will stand a much better chance of coming in on time and on budget. Above all, ask questions. Lots of questions!

simple inspiration

2010-09-28T16:10:00.006-05:00

I was recently asked by the Nashville Books Examiner to recommend five books that I thought were worthy. (article) It's quite difficult to find a list that all would enjoy, and narrowing to five was much harder than I expected. It led me back to one of my favorite books, Cradle to Cradle. And seriously, if you haven't read it, do so. It's a "no pictures (I admit. I like pictures. It's the architect in me), sit down and just read it" kind of book. That doesn't sound very flattering but if you're as visually inclined as I am, you'll know where I'm coming from (this probably makes me a reasonable book critic because I'm so hard to hook).

There are several things going on right now that have had me thinking, and looking back at this book puts it all back into perspective for me. There are several quotes from the book I like (see my FB page for one), but there are some others listed in the front of the book that I would like to share.

It's amazing how sometimes little things, like randomly picking up a book you haven't look through in a while, become a source of inspiration - just when you think you're losing steam or that no one really gets you.

"The world will not evolve past its current state of crisis by using the same thinking that created the situation." --Albert Einstein

"What you people call our natural resources our people call our relatives." --Oren Lyons, faith keeper of the Onondaga

And finally, the book is dedicated: "To our families, and to all of the children of all species for all time"

No matter what you believe about the environment, where it's headed, and who's fault it is, it's never a bad idea to take care of what's been given to us. Do so for the sake of the people who will probably still be stuck with the same problems we're facing right now. Someday they'll look back thinking, "If they had only done ____..."

Is there really only one thing?

2010-09-09T21:54:00.003-05:00

Sometimes people ask me, “If I can do one thing environmentally conscious, what would the most important thing be?” “A list from most important to least?” This is such a tough question because there are so many facets to consider and many opinions differ. So, the question becomes – if you can do only one thing, what will make the most impact? Even I don’t have the answer to that.

If you think in terms of our built structures – our homes and businesses – one answer would be to touch the earth as lightly as possible. Even that answer has many options and can be interpreted in many ways. To some people that means building earth-structures, to others that means the reuse of a building that is already built. It can even be a combination of these things.

When we start out working on a design, we think about space. What spaces do you want? What spaces do you need? Do you really need all the spaces you want?

A factor to consider when thinking about space is resources.
More space = more resources.
Less resources used = better for the environment.
More resources used = not so good for the environment.
If all these things are true, then to build more space is not good for the environment. Nevertheless, the world population continues to grow and we continue to need more space to house everyone. So, how do you do this and not ruin the world in which we live and that our children’s children will also live?

When thinking about your next home or business project ask yourself some questions -
- How much space do I really need?
- Can some of my spaces be used for multiple purposes?
- How can this be designed efficiently to make it feel more spacious?
- Are there spaces that I can reuse or re-purpose?
- Are there materials in these spaces that I can reuse or recycle?
- If I have to replace something how can I do it responsibly?

Although opinions about what constitutes an environmentally conscious way to inhabit our lives vary, there are common questions we can ask. Many people are only able to do “one thing.” That one thing may not be the only solution - and one thing is better than nothing.

Great News for EcoTimber!

2010-07-28T12:30:00.003-05:00

The August 2010 issue of Consumer Reports has named EcoTimber Honey Solid Woven Bamboo as a Top Overall Pick and “Recommended Best Buy” in the solid hardwood category.

In addition, EcoTimber Vertical Grain Solid Strip Bamboo was named #2 Overall Pick for the same issue, moving up several spots from last year’s issue.

This category encompasses all conventional (not just eco-friendly) hardwoods! We knew it was a great product and now other people are taking note!

EcoTimber Solid Woven Bamboo is $5.39/sqft!
EcoTimber Vertical Grain Bamboo is $4.39/sqft!

Clean Paws for a Cause!

2010-07-21T11:08:00.001-05:00

Calling all dirty dogs! We're partnering with Dogtopia, The Blind Pig, Trim, 1221 Partners, the 12South Neighborhood Association, the Belmont Animal Hospital, See Spot Eat Bakery and many others to raise money to benefit pets who were displaced during the flood. On Saturday, July 24, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., we're helping to throw a dog wash in the parking lot between Trim and (n)habit.

In the spirit of continued water conservation, we are collecting rainwater for use at the wash. If you live near the store and have rainwater you'd like to donate, call Edward at 891-2349. We will provide filtration for the water so that it's safe for all pups, and we also are providing a cool place and a cold drink for dog owners to wait while their dogs luxuriate in the bath. Dogtopia is coordinating the washing efforts and will supply environmentally friendly dog shampoo. If you can walk, please do!

Details:
What: Clean Paws for a Cause dog wash
When: Saturday, July 24 ~ 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Where: Parking lot between Trim and (n)habit, 2309 12th Avenue South, 37204
Cost: Cash and credit card donations accepted ~ (n)habit will provide a shady place and cool bevvies for dog owners while they wait!

For those of you interested in American Clay...

2010-07-06T19:32:00.002-05:00

Whether you're a professional applicator or a DIY-er, Shaylor Alley discusses one of the most important aspects to clay plaster application in his latest article. Compression really is most important to the integrity of your all natural walls.

See this posting.

Water will continue to be a hot topic

2010-06-25T13:10:00.004-05:00

I opened the newest issue of Dwell this morning and found a very interesting article about bathrooms, plumbing, and water. By very interesting, I mean unusual and in some instances gross. I'll spare you many of the nauseating details (the article is not uploaded to their site yet so if you'd like to see the whole thing you'll have to come read it here or subscribe) but I'd like to point out some of the more interesting facts. If you're squirmish, you may want to reconsider reading on...

- The average American household flushes about 30% of its water supply down the toilet - using more water than any domestic fixture, including the clothes washer.

- If you live in a big city, the tap water you drink has most likely been filtered through several people's kidneys. (? not sure how this works)

- Over the next 50 years, 90% of the new population is expected to reside in urban slums that currently have no plumbing solutions. Urine is the largest single source of phosphorus emerging from human settlement.

- What happens to the Butyl Cellosolve, Formaldehyde, and sodium hydroxide after their 15 minutes of fame cleaning your bathroom? Something in the sewage treatment plant: a marathon of aeration and copious energy use to try and separate the substances from the water.

- Airplane toilets need fewer than two liters of liquid to flush, because they utilize the vacuum created by the difference in pressure between the inside and outside of the plane. Unfortunately, they're incredibly heavy, which requires a lot of fuel to haul around at 36,000 feet.

There's also a blurb about the "sink-toilet" with quotes from Steve Cummings of Caroma. I have to admit I'm a little weirded out by the sink-toilet, but for no good reason whatsoever. So, in an effort to clear up any confusion, I'm going to try and give the lay version of how they work:

1. In your existing bathroom, the water coming into your toilet is the exact same water that comes to your sink faucet. Clear, potable water. So you can just as easily drink the water coming to your toilet as you can from the sink.

2. With the sink-toilet, this water is used to wash your hands, which then finds its way to the toilet tank and is used for flushing it.

3. There is no actual storage of the water you used to wash your hands with. As you are washing your hands, the resulting water is flushing the toilet.

That's the gist of it. You are not washing your hands with toilet water, or bowl water, or water that's been filtered from the toilet.

By Flush or Leak, Your Toilet Can Cause a High Water Bill

2010-06-18T11:08:00.002-05:00

Another good article

Don't forget all Caroma toilets and the American Standard Flo-Wise are 20% Off through the end of June!

Eco-friendly Roofing Options

2010-06-18T11:01:00.000-05:00

Good article

Flood Relief Specials??

2010-05-12T15:56:00.004-05:00

So by now, if you're in the market to rebuild after the floods, you've heard about all the "Flood Specials." In some ways this is great and in others it's not.

- Where are those products coming from?
- What kind of materials are they made of?
- Who is really benefiting in this situation?

It's possible that the things you are buying to rebuild your home with are worse for your indoor air quality than if you just let that waterlogged carpet sit in your home and grow mold. That might sound silly but it's true. Off-gassing is very serious and no one is going to tell you that kind of stuff when they're giving you the hard sell and you're further enticed by the $.80/sqft price tag. I'd be enticed, too, trust me.

BUT! There are environmentally friendly things out there that are completely comparable to many of the advertised options. For example, Daltile is extending flood pricing to their customers in order to help people rebuild. Many of the tiles they are offering, we sell at (n)habit. Examples include their Fidenza line that they are discounting to $.93/sqft and it's made in Muskogee, OK, with 51.8% pre-consumer recycled materials! If that's not being green on the cheap, then I don't know what is.

So, the moral of the story is that just because you are low on money and need to rebuild doesn't mean you have to settle for something that comes from a big box store where Mr. So-and-So, at the top of the company somewhere, is STILL making money off your misfortune. You can avoid all this and at the same time, support your community and its economy, one that is going through the same things you are going through.

The same goes for work being done. I personally know of a family who is being charged almost three times what they should be for some very simple work. AND were told they had to pay for it all up front! They just simply didn't know, or really care, what the going rate was. Please ask around. Get a few bids!

PLEASE, if you know someone that needs to rebuild but doesn't want to put a bunch of really bad stuff right back into their home, have them come talk to us. We're not even trying to sell you something, we just want people to be informed and not get taken advantage of.

Flood Relief Volunteer Opportunity

2010-05-08T10:26:00.004-05:00

From the 12South Neighborhood Association:

Saturday (5/8) + Sunday (5/9)
9am - 4pm
Summer Classics Parking Lot (12th & Montrose)

The Saturday and Sunday (May 8th & 9th) from 9am-4pm, the 12South Neighborhood Association will have a tent set up in the Summer Classics parking lot (Montrose and 12th) to help organize volunteer efforts in the neighborhood and surrounding areas. If you have time this weekend (even an hour) and want to help, please come by the tent and we'll coordinate a location for you to work.

If you need help, please come by the tent (or call/email) and we'll send volunteers your way as soon as we can. We realize not everyone needs a Hands on Nashville volunteer effort for a day, but an extra hand for a couple of hours can go a long way. We will do our best to organize both big and small efforts, so please don't hesitate to let us know if you need assistance.

Contact:
Brad Northcut
615.218.7282
bgn@daad-group.com

Flood Debris Disposal Guidelines:
All items and materials MUST be separated into four different piles, and placed at the curb or street side for collection. If the debris is not separated, it will not be collected.
1. White goods and metals (appliances, etc.)
2. Construction and demolition debris (lumber, windows, etc.)
3. Vegetation (brush, limbs, and all other yard waste)
4. Household trash and garbage (including carpet)

Items should NOT be placed in public alleys. Alleys need to remain clear for emergency crews and trash collection services.

A Green Tea Party

2010-04-27T16:19:00.001-05:00

Interesting Column from the New York Times.

"Where's our road map?"

2010-04-27T16:13:00.002-05:00

Roadmap 2050: Reinier de Graaf from OMA on Vimeo.

Good video by OMA (Office for Metropolitan Architecture).

6 Surprising Sources of Home Air Pollution

2010-04-23T16:04:00.002-05:00

6 Surprising Sources of Home Air Pollution

Posted using ShareThis

All the more reason to shop at (n)habit! :)
(shameless self-promotion)

What will yours be?

2010-04-21T09:36:00.006-05:00

Last night we were watching tv (yes, we watch tv), and I was intrigued by two different commercials. I'm big into commercials - there's a web forum called "Commercial I Hate" that I follow sometimes. Anyway, I like to watch the commercials just as much as the show that's on. I watch every single commercial critically. I feel like commercials are nothing more than an effort to pull the wool over my eyes about something. So, when I see a good one, I want to tell someone about it and when I see a particularly bad one, I want the same. Last night I saw two that were strangely geared to my likes (as opposed to dislikes, which happens most of the time - must be b/c it's Earth Day). I'll start with the one I liked.

It's a commercial for a chip bag. You've probably seen it - I'd seen it already. Sunchips has started making their chip bags compostable. And not the "you have to let it sit out there for three years" kind of compostable. It's fully compostable in 13 weeks, which is not 10 days, but that's pretty commendable. So the gist of the commercial is that we should treat our earth kindly, leave it how we found it if not better for future generations, etc., etc. Great commercial. Love it.

The other is one I feel quite conflicted about. It's a Honda commercial. There are so many things that are great about Honda - they came up with the first readily available hybrid, the Insight, which sorta bombed, but paved the way for the ever-popular Prius. And the commercial has great intentions. There's a bunch of celebrities talking about the history of Earth Day and how far we've come. This all seems great, but when you really think about it, it's terribly sad. There is something ironic about: the only commercial I've seen talking about how we've seen 40 years of Earth Days and it's about an automobile! Really? And then you think, "that's all you've come up with in 40 years is a hybrid!"

For the rest of your day today - Earth Day - think about all the things we can do in the next 40 years. I sure hope it's better than a couple of stinkin hybrids.

Nashville Earth Day Festival Tomorrow

2010-04-16T12:01:00.004-05:00

It's FREE!!

Come see us tomorrow at the Nashville Earth Day Festival!! Look for (n)habit products at the Earth Day Festival Model Home along with instructional classes all day. Thanks to Jeff Middlebrooks of E3 Innovate and Ryan Nichols from Green Home for including us!

Nashville Earth Day Festival

Come see us during the 12South Neighborhood Home Tour!!

2010-04-14T16:55:00.003-05:00

We are one of the proud sponsors of the 2010 12South Neighborhood Home Tour. Check out this great video!

See some of (n)habit's products at work!!

2010-04-06T10:57:00.000-05:00

An on-site class offered by USN Evening Classes takes a look at a LEED Renovation.

"Intriqued by the idea of one of the country's most
environmentally friendly homes, looking for inspiration or just plain
curious? Join contractor RYAN NICHOLS of Green Homes and homeowner JANE...
HARDY for a presentation and tour of the nations 15th L.E.E.D. platinum
residential renovation. Learn the ins and outs of sustainable design and
construction from experts who have been through the process"

View Details HERE

Go to www.eveningclasses.org to sign up

Hard choices

2010-03-30T11:23:00.001-05:00

This is a good blog entry. I feel this way often and I own an environmental store!! It's so easy to feel overwhelmed, and not know what to do or where to start, or even if what you do makes a difference. It's a little depressing at times. The more conscious we are, I feel, the easier it becomes to cope and realize what you CAN do.

Earth Hour

2010-03-23T15:42:00.003-05:00

Last year, Edward and I turned off our lights and walked around our neighborhood to see who all was participating in Earth Hour. We lit candles on our porch, so if other people were doing the same thing, they'd see we had the lights out intentionally. Seems cheesy, but you never know whether people just aren't home or whether they are actually participating.

Take an hour this year, on March 27th at 8:30pm, to turn all the lights in your home or business for an hour. It's really amazing to think about all the people participating over the globe!

Sign up through (n)habit here...
my earth hour

Next Week is Fix a Leak Week!

2010-03-11T16:08:00.002-06:00

There is not a local event, but think about taking a minute to check your faucets for leaks next week.

"Did you know that an American home can waste, on average, more than 10,000 gallons of water every year due to running toilets, dripping faucets, and other household leaks?"

Check out this link

March Workshop!

2010-03-03T15:18:00.003-06:00

Hands-on straw bale construction workshop!

Our previous straw bale construction class was well received, so we're doing it again - this time in our own back yard. Also this time we'll start from scratch and have the guidance of noted straw bale guru Howard Switzer, who has been designing passive solar, ecologically minded homes for 30 years. His commitment to healthy, low-impact shelter led him to straw bale and cob construction 15 years ago. With a strong foundation in space planning, Howard’s designs help lessen the footprint and honor the art of building.

For more information on Howard's firm, Ecoville ArchiTechs, visit his web site.

Details:
When: Saturday, March 27, 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. (rain date: April 10)
Where: (n)habit, 2309 12th Avenue South
Cost: $100 per person, to cover instruction and materials ~ bring your own lunch (or grab something from one of our neighbors, like 12 South Taproom, Mafiaoza's, Frothy Monkey)
RSVP by Monday, March 15, to Rachel at rachel@n-habit.net, 891-2349

Cool Links - Good Reading

2010-02-15T17:58:00.002-06:00

http://blog.oikos.com/

http://oikos.com/esb/48/radiantheat.html

Sustainable Design and Development Discussion

2010-02-15T13:36:00.003-06:00

"This Thursday evening at 7:00 Ryan Nichols of Green Home will host a discussion oriented class on sustainable design and development sponsored by the University School of Nashville's Evening Classes series. They will discuss the current state of sustainable development from a global perspective and how it affects us locally. They will also take a look at various design concepts including cradle to cradle design, open source architecture, and renewable energy sources.

For information on signup and directions click these highlighted links. Registration through the University School website does inolve paying a $35 fee which goes towards student scholarships. It is encouraged, not required, and it is more than okay for anyone to attend for free without registering. Call 615-823-0940 or email ryan@hellogreenhome.com with questions.

April 12th Green Home will host a second class through University School which will be held in a just completed projected LEED Platinum renovation near Elmington Park. This is a very unique and creative project worth checking out. Registration is here."

LEED for Homes - Get with the Program

2010-02-06T12:58:00.006-06:00

(n)habit recently hosted a USGBC meeting with the focus being on the LEED for Homes program. We had members of Green Home of Nashville (thanks Ryan and Jason!) come to offer their experiences with two homes they are constructing - both seeking LEED Platinum. It was rainy and cold, so the group was small, but the conversation was great. We had hoped that it would turn into a conversation more than anything, and I think it turned out awesome!

That meeting got me thinking about the program itself - the pluses and minuses - and how we (the state of TN and the city of Nashville) are situated in today's green building culture. First, let me say that even though LEED is a wonderful program and it has revolutionized the way the vast majority of people view built structures, it is not a perfect system. There are tons of building strategies that are not appreciated in the current system, and while I am by no means the ultimate authority, neither is LEED. I guess what I mean to say is that amazing, all natural, environmentally sensitive buildings can be created without LEED.

So, with all that being said. Edward looked up the list of currently certified homes by state (no surprise we're not at the top of the list, but we did beat out NC which I WAS surprised about). The list is then divided into cities. Memphis has 22 (way to go!), Knoxville has 8 (awesome for that size of city), Chattanooga has 3 (they aren't a huge town), and Nashville has 1.

One!!! Come on! We're the capital of the state for goodness sakes! How can we be "the Portland of the South" with one LEED certified home. The Portland he is speaking of has 78, by the way, and nobody really cares much about LEED there because everyone was on the bandwagon before LEED ever existed. Now, I'm not trying to make this a race (at least not between states), but I just couldn't believe it.

And yes, I know there are some that are in the process (I know of three), and Earthcraft is popular in our region, but still. I was shocked. Only one. I know that LEED isn't cheap, or even really the ultimate assesment of a home, but wow.

We need to get with the program. :)

DIY Energy Audit - Save Money!

2010-02-04T15:24:00.001-06:00

Decent article on a cost effective DIY Energy Audit. (n)habit has energy monitors, smart power strips, CFLs, insulation, and weatherstripping to help you out!

Permaculture Certification - Saturdays thru March

2010-02-04T14:45:00.003-06:00

Urban Permaculture Certification Series
Saturdays; thru March 2010
provided by EarthMatters

This 72 hour intensive course is designed for all skill levels and involve several hands-on projects at the George W. Carver Food Park in South Nashville and a trip to the EcoVillage Training Center at The Farm in Summertown, TN. This certification is recognized internationally and graduates will be Certified Permaculture Educators.

See the link for more information.

Short Notice but... tonight!

2010-02-04T14:42:00.000-06:00

Investing in Nature: Collaboration Between Business and Conservation

William Ginn, Chief Conservation Officer for The Nature Conservancy
and author of Investing in Nature, shares real-world case studies of
winning collaborations between business and conservation.

Thursday, February 4
Reception: 5 p.m., North Lobby
Presentation: 6–7:30 p.m., Flynn Auditorium
Vanderbilt University Law School
131 21st Avenue South, Nashville
Free parking at Law School lots 5, 5A, 5B, 6, 6A

Great blog to check out

2010-01-25T12:32:00.002-06:00

This is a great blog, written by Rebecca Selove. The Selove's are building a home outside of Nashville, and are pursuing LEED Platinum. Way to go!

Follow their journey to build a sustainable home.

Leafy Greens

American Clay Application Workshop!

2010-01-10T21:17:00.002-06:00

Join us Saturday, January 16th for a hands-on American Clay Application Demonstration. Learn application techniques for each finish, with instruction provided by American Clay's own, Shaylor Alley. You might be asking...

Where? It will be held at the very cool straw bale home (under construction) of Catherine and Charlie Anderson, in Leiper's Fork

When? Saturday, January 16th, 9am - 4pm (lunch included)

How Much? $60, to cover materials

Who? You, if you RSVP by Wednesday, January 13th to rachel@n-habit.net

hope to see you there!

oh, baby

2010-01-07T16:27:00.005-06:00

"A baby will make love stronger, days shorter, nights longer, bankroll smaller, home happier, clothes shabbier, the past forgotten, and the future worth living for." -Unknown

Welcome the newest member of (n)habit... olive bledsoe martin!
olive joined us on December 6th at 8:17 in the morning - weighing in at 5lbs 13oz. and 19 inches long.

she has made several cameos at the store, so if you stop by you may have a chance to meet her!

Signal Mountain, TN is the Nation's First to sign up for the Green Food Resolution

2009-12-11T11:13:00.003-06:00

Congratulations to Signal Mountain! We need to get Nashville on board!!

http://www.treehugger.com/files/2009/12/tennessee-town-passes-nations-first-green-food-resolution.php

Interesting "Green Building Primer"

2009-12-01T14:39:00.001-06:00

http://www.greenbuildingadvisor.com/primer

Interesting topics - some better than others, but makes for a good read.

Great Like-Minded Stores

2009-12-01T12:03:00.004-06:00

If you're in the Franklin area, check out these two stores that share our mission!

Healthy Green and Smart

Verdegoh

And, as always, if you're in Nashville and you haven't visited The Green Wagon...Go There! We just purchased an organic cotton crib mattress for our new addition and man, is it awesome!!

Energy Monitors

2009-11-19T12:25:00.003-06:00

Coming to (n)habit... Energy Monitors - featured in this Today Show exclusive!

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Caroma Potato Video

2009-11-15T14:04:00.004-06:00

Find Caroma toilets at (n)habit!

November Event

2009-11-15T12:02:00.005-06:00

Speaker: Kris Nonn

Kris was recently featured by Dwell for work on his Eco Cabanas in Venzuela. He used resources only available in his area to construct dwellings for the inhabitants. Follow this link for the full article.

Please join us Friday, November 27th at 5:00 to hear Kris speak about his experience and to find out more about how to use local resources to make your dwelling more eco-friendly.

Successful Grand Opening!

2009-11-15T10:33:00.009-06:00

Thank you to everyone involved in making the
(n)habit Grand Opening a success!

We had a beautiful day and a full house. What a way to kick off.

We are so excited to be a resource for Nashville!

A Special Thanks to...
Mollie Henry - without Mollie there may not have even been an opening party!
Teresa, aka the Green Bag Lady
Jeremy and Molly, at Tayst
Marcus and his crew, at Gardens of Babylon
Shaylor Alley, with American Clay, and Trapper Haskins, both with Hard Luck Angel
Kami and Bob, at Bongo Java
Jason Perry, at Rais
Stephen Sisco at New Leaf Construction
Steve, at Gaertner Cabinet Co.
Mayor Dean and Anne Davis for taking the time out of their busy schedules to join us

And, of course, to all the family, friends, and fans that came to support us!

Green home store to open in the 12th South neighborhood | tennessean.com | The Tennessean

2009-10-01T11:34:00.002-05:00

Check out our first article in the Tennessean!!

Green home store to open in the 12th South neighborhood tennessean.com The Tennessean

Posted using ShareThis

Whistle while you work, la la lalala la la

2009-10-01T11:04:00.007-05:00

Well, we're moving along - we now have a temporary sign up, but are not yet open. The plan is to be open Mid-Oct. with a great big opening party on Nov. 1st! Mark your calendars!!

The store is transforming and we are busy busy bees! Here are some more "progress" shots.

American Clay

Cool design made by the paint dispenser

Shaylor, our American Clay Guru

In the beginning...

2009-08-25T18:21:00.004-05:00

Busy days lie ahead. (n) habit is not even open yet, and there are a million things to do. Hopefully this blog will document the journey that is (n) habit and provide a deeper look into the lives of people who are trying to live life as environmentally friendly as possible.

Today we confirmed that the paint shaker and color dispenser will be delivered tomorrow. This is great news. It would be even better news if we already had the paint. But, alas, not yet. Either way it's probably better to get them delivered now rather than later - considering the shaker weighs somewhere around 800 lbs. and will probably risk breaking everything in it's path.

The e-consciousness has found its way even into the paint mixing supplies. The shaker and color dispenser are both reused machinery - purchased for a company in Ohio that has contracts with various "big box" stores, who always purchase the "newest model". When the original users want new equipment, this company picks them up, cleans and services them, and resells them (at a lower cost, of course) to smaller businesses. Way to Reuse!!

Today also sends out an order for American Clay. American Clay is an amazing product out of New Mexico. It is intended to be a natural alternative to paint and because it is made from natural pigments, comes in beautiful earthy tones, and is no-VOC. We were excited to learn that although the company is primarily based out of NM, the VP of products lives in Nashville. Lucky us!! Small world. We are so excited to have a connection to this company.

Lots of talk with various vendors today. All appear to be incredible products, many made of 100% recycled materials. As the days progress, we will research each company along with their products and ultimately come up with a library of products available to our community. exciting!