How to Go Green While Grilling

Tis the sweaty season of backyard barbecues! As you crack open a cold drink and watch the smoke from your trusty grill waft into the cloudless blue sky, take a pause and remember that you don’t have to limit yourself to barbecuing vegetables in order to practice eco-friendly grilling!

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Compost Pedallers: Local, Green, & On the Go!

Any resident of the greater Austin area is bound to have driven past a unique yard sign by now — an “I [heart] Compost” logo with a chewed-out apple core substituting for the heart. Who is responsible for these mysteriously clever signs, you ask? The answer is a source of pride for our environmentally inclined…

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Ocean Pollution (& Which Fish to Avoid)

It’s no secret that our oceans have suffered greatly at the hand of mankind, but extinction of wildlife isn’t the singular issue anymore. Ironically, survival has become increasingly more dangerous for marine species as polluted seawater turns toxic — and now, humans are getting a dose of their own poison as well.

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The Summer of Seedlings

If you’re like the majority of Austinites, you’re probably a wannabe urban gardner stuck in a tiny rental space with an even tinier (if not nonexistent) yard in which to nurture your green thumb. Luckily our urban ancestors were clever enough to invent simple and sustainable tricks to work around the plights of indoor gardening, creating…

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Austin Earth Day Festival 2016

With its reputation for being an eco-minded city that nurtures a passion for the environment, Austin couldn’t resist throwing our planet a party and celebrate eco-awareness with the 2016 Austin Earth Day Festival!

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Your Guide to Local Health-Based Grocers

We all get stuck in grocery ruts from time to time — driving to the same ol’ national store chain, complacently tossing questionable food products in the cart, tediously pushing past the brightly colored displays of bagged sugar and pre-processed meals. While shopping familiar may be comfortable, why not do your body a favor and zest up…

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6 Things That DON’T Belong in the Recycling

A vital part of our job at the Purple Fig involves bagging, carrying, and curbing pounds of our clients’ trash and recycling each and every day. Among the cornucopia of properly segregated wrappers, old food, and empty La Croix cans, however, there’s always a handful of non-recyclable items (known as “contaminants”) that are consistently tossed in the big blue…

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Easy Origami Compost Liner

While the satisfaction of composting organic waste far outweighs the task of emptying out the bin, it can still be a messy chore! Fortunately for the responsible composter, a simple and biodegradable tool can be used to keep your hands from getting dirty: newspaper.

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Netflix Picks: Docs to Watch This Winter

Finally the bitterly cold winter weather has us in its icy grip, and families- especially Texans -turn inward for some much-needed hibernation under the couch blankets. If you find yourself nestled in front of the television for several hours with no clue what to watch, the Purple Fig encourages you to switch on Netflix and enjoy your holiday break…

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