Mar 25 2008
A Guide to Green Outdoor Garden Furniture
You’ve spent the entire spring season toiling away in your garden, and now that things are in full bloom you want to enjoy the fruit of your labor. No problem, with a large variety of outdoor garden furniture that will allow you to while away the lazy, hazy days of summer in style and comfort. But did you know that you can also find furniture pieces for your yard that are as “green” as that row of basil? Read on for tips to purchasing outdoor garden furniture that is beautiful and environmentally friendly.
Choosing Wood Furniture Wisely
There are ways to enjoy traditional wood in your outdoor garden furniture without worrying about whether obtaining those materials brought harm to the environment in any way. Some companies will offer pieces that are crafted of FSC certified sustainable forestry wood. FSC stands for the Forest Stewardship Council, and this organization will certify certain landowners who are committed to environmentally sound practices in managing their forests. Some of the woods that you can find with this certification include teak, eucalyptus and cedar.
You can also find outdoor garden furniture that is crafted of recycled wood, like old barns and pallets. When put together just right, these recycled products can create beautiful new pieces that can add to the beauty of your garden landscape. To maintain your recycled wood furniture, you can even find environmentally friendly products like cleansers and sealers. By purchasing FSC certified sustainable forestry wood or recycle wood products, you can rest assured that you are doing your part to make our world a healthier and safer place.
Go for Plastic
We are not talking about the basic resin stacking chairs, but beautiful designs and bold colors that look very much like their wooden counterparts. You can find comfy Adirondack chairs, chaise lounges and tables crafted of recycled plastic that looks like wood but is more environmentally friendly and much easier to care for. One popular material that is used for this purpose is called poly-wood, and it is made from recycled milk jugs. Outdoor garden furniture that is crafted from poly-wood is durable enough to leave outdoors all year long and needs very little maintenance aside from a cleaning with soap and water once or twice a year.
Your green garden deserves to be enjoyed from the comfort of “green” outdoor garden furniture. With a bit of research and shopping savvy, you can find beautiful, comfortable furniture pieces and help protect the environment at the same time.
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