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Tag: Sustainability

6 Ways To Be More Sustainable This Fall

Posted on by Solo Team

Fall offers an opportunity to recommit to sustainability in your home. Whether you embark upon major improvements or small changes, every step you take helps Philly get closer to its zero-waste goal. See how many of the below energy-saving solutions you can check off your list.

Switch To LED Lighting

Today’s LED bulbs are a far cry from those limited, squiggly options of the past. Now they come in all shapes and sizes to coordinate with lighting fixtures in every room, including accent lighting, track lighting, and even candelabra chandeliers.

Candelabra with LED bulbs

This energy-saving alternative to incandescent bulbs will lower your electric bill by using only 10-watts to produce the same amount of light as an incandescent 60-watt bulb. While LED bulbs are initially more expensive, they have an exceptionally long life span, lasting more than ten years. Another benefit is that LEDs emit almost no heat or UV rays. They are usually not hot to the touch, making them safer to handle than incandescent bulbs. Plus, they can help reduce air conditioning costs and won’t cause nearby fabrics and furniture to fade. 

Choose a warm or soft white LED bulb for living rooms, bedrooms, and dining rooms. Bright white works best in kitchens and bathrooms. And, yes, fluorescent fixtures can be retrofitted with LED. HomeDepot provides a DIY guide on transitioning from incandescent fluorescent bulbs to LED.

Leave The Leaves, Or Compost Them

As trees begin to shed their foliage in the fall, consider leaving them on the ground or composting them instead of sending them to the landfill. Leaves left in the garden can be used as a mulch in vegetable gardens, flower beds, and around shrubs and trees. Leaving them to decompose will return valuable nutrients to the soil and using them as mulch can help insulate more delicate plants during the winter months.

If you are not able to simply leave them, fall leaves make for great composting material. They provide a rich source of carbon, and add significant quantities of trace minerals and plant nutrients to your backyard compost pile. Once we’re in peak leaf-peeping season, many local compost services like Bennett Compost and Circle Compost will also begin picking them up with a regular compost subscription service.

Recycle Your Closet

It’s not just your trash that needs to be recycled. It’s also your clothes! Instead of buying new clothing that depletes the environment, consider shopping at one of Philly’s many consignment shops, such as Greene Street, Addiction Studios, and ReMix.

Photo: Career Wardrobe

Consider donating any clothing that doesn’t fit or you no longer wish to keep to local consignment shops such as The Wardrobe at 413 North 4th Street aims to provide affordable attire for people who are seeking employment, are moving to independence after incarceration, or moving into recovery. They accept donations of clothing and accessories for men and women, including casual, professional, and dressy attire. 

Switch To Sustainable Candles 

Vellum Soap Company makes beeswax candles packaged in reused glass

As the days get shorter and nights longer, there’s nothing like candlelight to add warmth to a room. However, most candles on the market are made from paraffin wax, a product of petroleum refining. A more environmentally friendly choice is candles made from beeswax. Buy them locally to avoid the carbon costs of shipping. Try Bee Natural, LLC in the Reading Terminal Market or pick up one of Vellum Street Soap Company’s candles at any of the local handmade markets they vend at or any of their brick and mortar retailers. To encourage reuse, Vellum offers a $2 purchase credit to return any empty jars so they can be refilled and used again.

Wash Your Clothes In Cold Water

Up to 90% of the energy used by a washing machine goes toward heating water.  Skip the heating and use the cold water setting. This way, you reduce carbon dioxide emission and also keep your clothes in top condition longer, as hot water can make your colorful clothes less vibrant.

Unless you’re dealing with stubborn stains, there isn’t a point in running your washing machine on the hot water setting. If you feel the cold water setting doesn’t do a proper job, you can try the warm setting. 

Draft-proof Your Doors And Windows

Cold air enters your home through uninsulated spaces that can raise your heating bill and allow not just cold air in, but also moisture. Use weather stripping and/or caulking to seal windows and door frames. Hang thermal curtains which not only block drafts but also noise.  Use a cloth or plastic draft stopper on doors. Cloth draft stoppers, also called door snakes, can be simple cloth tubes filled with batting or decorative doggy-shaped draft blockers.

If you are a homeowner, consider upgrading to triple-insulated windows in which glass panes are spaced apart and hermetically sealed, leaving an insulating air space. Yes, they are pricey, but, in the long run, they reduce your heat bill and improve your energy efficiency.  They reduce energy loss by as much as 30% to 50%.

Another consideration is how the windows operate because some operating types have lower air leakage rates than others, which will improve your home’s energy efficiency. Windows that are hinged a the top and open outward or hinged at the bottom and open inward both have lower air leakage than sliding windows. 

Our Commitment To Sustainability

Deborah Solo with a recycling bin.
Solo Real Estate provides free recycling bins to tenants, owners, and clients

Solo Real Estate is committed to sustainability. Our love for our homes, neighborhoods, and city inspires us to take an active role in preserving the environment. Solo proudly provides sponsorship to numerous local organizations committed to environmental stewardship, including PHS, Emerald Wildflower Garden, Hancock Park, and other community spaces. We also encourage tenants to compost through a partnership with Bennett Compost, install green roofs on our properties when possible, and distribute Solo Recycling Bins to tenants and clients. Thank you for joining us in our effort to help meet Philly’s Zero-Waste goals.

Interested in learning other ways you can help reduce your environmental footprint? Check out our article on Four Ways to Minimize your Waste Footprint in Philadelphia or our list on 5 Things Philly Renters can do for the Environment. If you’re a Solo tenant or owner and want to sign up for a special 2 month trial offer from Bennett Compost, please e-mail us!

Remark Glass: Raise Your Glass to Zero Waste

Posted on by Solo Team

If you rinse every glass jar and bottle before placing it in your recycling bin, we have some bad news. Only 33% of that glass is actually recycled. The rest ends up in landfills. Now for the good news. Sister companies, Remark Glass and Bottle Underground, are determined to close the loop and make Philly a national leader in recycled glass.

Repurposing


Founded in 2016 by three talented glass artists, Remark Glass doesn’t just recycle glass, they repurpose it. In their studio in the Bok Building in South Philly, co-founders Danielle Ruttenberg, Rebecca Davies, and Mark Ellis, turn used bottles into stunning light fixtures, barware, dinnerware, and decorative bowls. “One of our top selling items is Keepsake Glass, commemorative bottles from a graduation, wedding, or anniversary that we turn into a serving bowl or a light fixture,” said Danielle who graduated from Tyler School of Art and previously operated a glass art business in Port Richmond. “We also work in our showroom with designers on light fixtures for homes and restaurants. Forin Café which is scheduled to open in June in Fishtown is buying recycled glassware from us,” she said. Their one-of-a-kind housewares also make a great housewarming gift for a new homeowner. Shop the available selection on their online shop or consider a custom project.

Recycling


As the first business in Philadelphia to be certified zero waste, Remark came up with a unique concept to bypass the shortcomings of the City’s glass recycling system. They created Bottle Underground, the non-profit arm of Remark, which offers an environmentally sustainable alternative to dumping used glass in landfills. “Bottle Underground offers pick-up service,” said Danielle. “We supply you with a bin to collect your glass. We just ask that you make sure all your glass is rinsed and there is no residue. You can leave the labels on. We take care of that. Once a month we will pick up your glass and return your empty bin.” There is a charge for the monthly pick-up service. “We are trying to make this as affordable as possible on a sliding scale for restaurants and corporations,” said Danielle. “We also welcome one-time drop-offs of clean, used, unbroken glass
bottles at our headquarters in the Bok Building. Just call in advance to schedule your delivery,” said Danielle.
“We accept any clean glass container and anything that has a reusable lid. We love Champagne bottles because the glass is thicker. We also look for blue glass and specialty colors,” she said.

A piece of glass being shaped into a new item. Image courtesy of Remark Glass.

Turning bottles into art


“Prepared pieces are placed in our kiln and heated to 1050 degrees Fahrenheit – this is considered warm in glass – the temperature is stable and the glass is still in its solid state. From there, our team picks up the pieces, one at a time, on the end of a steel rod. The glass is rotated and heated in a 2000-degree reheating chamber, then tools are used at the bench to transform the material to its new shape,” explained Danielle. “Once the final shape is achieved, our team knocks the piece off the rod, stamps it with our logo, and carefully places it back into the kiln.” Co-founder Mark Ellis studied glass at the Tyler School of Art and worked in high-end glass and metal fabrication for over a decade. At Remark, he specializes in glass blowing and metal fabrication. Rebecca Davies, Mark’s wife, received an MFA at the University of the Arts, then worked at a blown glass lighting company. “We all pitch in,” said Danielle. “We have eight employees and everyone does their part to achieve our mutual goal. To build a better future and support the overall well-being of their community”. Remark Glass also strives to support the local economy by working with local businesses that share the same values.


Danielle Ruttenberg, Mark Ellis, and Rebecca Davies pose for a picture with glass bottles. Image courtesy of Remark Glass.

So, as Summer officially opens with coolers filled with beer and wine, think twice before tossing those bottles and consider dropping them off to Bottle Underground for reuse by Remark Glass instead. Reducing waste by composting food scraps, recycling what you can, and repurposing glass containers can help Philly achieve its zero-waste goal.

Interested. in learning other ways you can help reduce your environmental footprint? Check out our article on Four Ways to Minimize your Waste Footprint in Philadelphia or our list on 5 Things Philly Renters can do for the Environment.

Cycling In The City

Posted on by Solo Team

May is National Bike Month and Philly cyclists have reasons to celebrate. Our City has made biking safer and more accessible thanks to the lobbying efforts of the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia and Mayor Jim Kenney. We applaud these efforts because biking is good for the environment, your health, and your wallet. Whether you are a novice or an experienced cyclist, we want to give you the tools and tips to stay safe, enjoy the ride, and pedal it out.

Take a class


Indego, Philly’s Bike Share Program, offers a free, ten-minute Learn to Ride video as well as a 90-minute Zoom course on the rules of the road, riding safely in traffic, making sure your helmet fits, planning your route, and more. This class is relevant to bicyclists of all skill levels but is most important for beginners.

The Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia has monthly Learn to Ride classes for anyone over 18, April through October. Whatever your experience or age this class is a positive and encouraging setting to start building your bike riding skills. Don’t have a bike? No problem. You can rent a bike from Wheel Fun, on Boat House Row where classes start. Classes start with learning how to balance and practicing in the Azalea Garden behind the Art Museum before venturing onto the bike path along Kelly Drive. Private lessons are available.

Renting or Buying?


If you are not ready to purchase a bike, take advantage of Indego’s bike-share program, featuring hundreds of bright blue rental bicycles and white electric- assist bikes at over 140 stations around the City, accessible 24/7. You can check out a bike using a mobile app. Indego is celebrating Bike Month with reduced
fees. Check it out at www.rideindego.com/buy-a-pass/#/

Want your own wheels? Bicycle Therapy at 2211 South is a full-service independent bicycle shop. With over 28 years of experience, the shop’s friendly and knowledgeable staff will help you find a bike that matches your level of experience and budget.
​
Transport Cycles, located at Building Bok in South Philly and in South Kensington at 1315 N. Howard St, sells bikes for the serious aficionado, ranging in price from $475 to $1,200. Shop their online store and stop in for a free test ride.

Image: Transport Cycles

Feeling less Lance Armstrong and more in the market for a Schwinn? Pick up your easy rider by browsing the used bikes at Liberty Bicycles or on Facebook Marketplace.

Happy Trails

Over 300 miles of dedicated circuit trails for cyclists, linking Philadelphia with scenic routes to Valley Forge, Bucks County and Pennsylvania Dutch Country are in existence thanks to the efforts of the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia and the William Penn Foundation. When completed, the Circuit Trails will include over 800 miles connecting urban, suburban and rural communities.

One of the most accessible routes is the 120 mile Schuylkill River Trail winding from the City to Manayunk and beyond. Meanwhile, West River Drive will continue to be a cyclist’s paradise, devoid of cars, until Labor Day 2021 when it will revert to its former schedule of being closed to traffic only on Saturdays and Sundays.

The best way to experience these trails is to participate in rides sponsored by the Philadelphia Bicycle Club. Traveling with other cyclists promotes safety, as well as deepening your knowledge of biking and expanding your social horizons. Besides weekly group rides, starting from the Art Museum, the Bike Club offers longer monthly rides with opportunities to explore intriguing destinations.

On May 21 st, the Bike club hosts a 3-day tour of the Susquehanna Valley, cycling through the countryside and quaint towns. Experience the Lebanon Valley Rail Train on June 12th and on August 7th the annual Chocolate Tour pedals through Amish country to benefit the treatment of pediatric cancer at CHOP and the Hershey Medical Center. Want to escape the heat? Consider the August 29 Brandywine Tour through horse farm country in Chester County. For all Philadelphia Bike Club events, visit their event calendar.

Safer Streets/Safer Bikes


When Mayor Kenney ran for office, he pledged to create 40 miles of protected bike lanes by 2026. As a result, Philly has its first raised bike lane, over six feet wide, with a concrete buffer on North American Street. Plans are also underway to make Washington Street in South Philly safer for cyclists by reducing the five-lane road to three lanes with a protected bike lane.

American Street – Image courtesy of Philadelphia Bicycle Coalition

To protect your bike from theft, you need more than a good lock. Record your bicycle’s serial number and take photos of yourself with your bicycle, so you can prove ownership if it is stolen. Call your police district to see if they offer bicycle registration services. Besides the best lock, you can afford, consider GPS tracking devices for bike owners. Your local bike shop will help you identify the best products to keep your bike safe.

After a year of pandemic isolation, we encourage you to take advantage of Philly’s abundant cycling trails, classes and clubs. Cycling is good for your health and it’s great for our City.

Your Guide to Earth Day: 15 Things To Do For Earth Day in Philadelphia

Posted on by Solo Team

The theme of Earth Day 2021 is “Together, We Can Restore Our Earth, ” and we couldn’t agree more with the sentiment behind it. While there are many ways to participate in Earth Day, by coming together with a common goal we can collectively contribute to making our city more sustainable and beautiful. This year consider participating in one of the many educational, cultural and communal activities happening all over Philadelphia. Read on for a list of 15 activities happening throughout the city for Earth Day this year. 

Fishtown Earth Day Celebration  – April 24, 9am-12pm

The Fishtown Neighbors Association is hosting a clean-up, “Kindness Rocks Art Project”, Spring “Seed-Bomb” Scavenger Hunt, and Mindfulness Sessions at the Fishtown Rec Center. They will also have a few Solo recycling bins on hand for residents to take home! Pre-register online for each activity.

Learn from the Lenape – April 22, 3-5 pm 

Hike in the Wissahickon Valley Park to the 15-foot high marble statue of Native American Lenape leader Teedyuscung which dates back to 1902. A member of Friends of the Wissahickon will lead a discussion on the land ethnic of the Lenape. Meet at Forbidden Drive & Bells Mill Road.

Virtual Cooking Class – April 21 – 2:30-3:30pm

Join 12th Street Catering for a virtual cooking class featuring a fully vegetarian menu to celebrate Earth Day. Attendees will be guided with live video instruction from executive chef Adam DeLosso of Jose Garces Restaurant Group during this one-hour event. Register here: https://12th-street-catering-virtual-cooking-classes.square.site/

Academy of Natural Sciences – April 23-25, 10 am — 5 pm

In celebration of Earth Day, families are invited to visit the museum and learn about ways to conserve resources to help animals’ habitats. Take home a craft kit to make a useful item out of recycled materials.

Grow Clean Water – April 24 – 10:00 am – 3:30 pm

Rodale Institute, a leader in organic farming, invites families to meet at the Viaduct, a “secret garden” under Philadelphia’s Reading Viaduct Rail Park. Learn about growing and planting seedlings, create art and explore a worm bin. 

Ask the Experts – Sustainable Home Gardening – April 22 – 7-8pm

Landscape architect Rob Fleming and landscape designer Christopher Sohnly will present environmentally diverse design, planting, restoration, and maintenance practices to add value and diversity to your garden. Co-sponsored by the Chestnut Hill Conservancy and Chestnut Hill Community Association. Free but registration is required. Contact info@chconservancy.org

Outdoor Movie at Drexel – April 22 – 9 pm

Watch the Disney movie “Earth,” a global journey about the impact of climate change on animals. Race Hall Lawn, 3300 Race St. Hosted by Drexel University’s Campus Activities Board.  Bring a lawn chair, blanket and popcorn. Everyone is welcome.

Griot Tale Storytelling – April 24 – 1 pm – Franklin Square

The African American Museum in Philadelphia is partnering with Franklin Square for a special outdoor Earth Day storytime.  Told by a Griot (an African oral historian), this free and engaging event is perfect for children ages 5-12.

Herb Gardening for Beginners – April 22 – 5-7 pm – 20 N. American St.

Christ Church Neighborhood House hosts an evening in the garden for amateur plant lovers. $25 ticket includes: Herb seedling and seed packets, beginners seed starting booklet, and hot herbal tea for refreshment. Class fee: $25

Earth Day in the Food Forest – April 22 – 1-3 pm – 300 Northwestern Ave.

The Wissahickon Environmental Center invites you to lend a hand as they clear invasive plants from the Philadelphia Orchard Project Food Forest. Tasks include mulching, laying path borders and watering.  Children welcome.

Earth Day Project in Fairmount Park – April 24 – 10 am – 12 noon

Celebrate Earth Week in the forests and meadows of East Fairmount Park. Join Philadelphia Parks & Recreation and Audubon Pennsylvania to plant trees and remove invasive vines. All tools and materials will be provided- including work gloves. Age 16 and up.

Naturepalooza – April 24 – 10m – 3 pm 

The Schuylkill Center for Environmental Education invites you to hike their trails, explore their ponds and learn the importance of native plants. Family friendly activity tables along the way. 8480 Hagy’s Mill Road.

Environmental Justice Earth Day – April 22 – 5-7 pm

Join a socially distanced, peaceful picket line at the SEPTA Midvale Complex. The goal is to shut down SEPTA’s gas plant and to plant thousands of trees around the perimeter of SEPTA’s property and throughout the neighborhood. Meet at Wissahickon Ave. & Roberts Road in East Falls. 

National Geographic Earth Day Eve Celebration – April 21 – 8:30 pm

Performances by artists Willie Nelson, Yo-Yo Ma, and Ziggy Marley, and environmental activists such as Dr. Jane Goodall. You can join at National Graphic.

Earth Day Live: Restore Our Earth – April 22 – Beginning at noon

This live stream event will feature a variety of global celebrities, politicians, and activists from many fields. To take part, visit EarthDay.org on the day of the event.

Whether you choose to plant a tree, clean up a vacant lot, or learn about sustainable gardening you will be helping to heal the planet. Just remember that you don’t have to wait until Earth Day to contribute —  there are lots of simple choices you can make in your everyday life to help reduce waste and lead more sustainable lives.

PHS South St Pop Up Garden Returns

Posted on by Solo Team

Do you want butterflies with that? The answer is yes at Philadelphia Horticultural Society’s PHS Pop Up Garden, 1438 South Street, opening April 1, 2021. This is the fourth year PHS’s urban oasis of lush foliage, tasty food, and drink is sponsored by Solo Real Estate. 

“We have partnered with PHS South Street Pop Up since 2018,” said Solo Real Estate president Deborah Solo. “This is our local neighborhood and we have strong community ties here. Green energy and sustainability have been very important to Solo Real Estate for some time.  We are recyclers, composters, and advocators of green roofs. PHS aligns with what we feel is really important.”

Now about those butterflies. PHS Pop Up Gardens don’t just offer frozen mojitos and spicy nachos in a lively social setting. They also provide pollinator plants, including Fothergilla, Erysimum, Anemone, and Primula Veris for the purpose of attracting butterflies and bees back into the urban environment. 

The goal is to provide sufficient food (nectar and pollen) to reverse the decline of bees and monarch butterflies in our City. Bees are not only essential for the reproduction of many flowering plants but are also responsible for pollinating agricultural crops. Meanwhile, the population of Monarch butterflies has declined 90% over twenty years. 

Pollinator decline is attributed primarily to loss of habitat – farmland and open fields converted into housing developments – and to the use of pesticides. Weeds, such as milkweed, that once grew adjacent to crops and provided food for bees and butterflies are now eradicated by insecticides.

While butterflies are attracted to the PHS Garden, adults and children are drawn to delicious food and drink provided by Cantina Los Caballitos and Khyber Pass Pub. The food menu has something for everyone – vegetarian and carnivore. Kids can enjoy hot dogs, chicken tenders, and fries, while adults choose from a wide variety of light fares, including Garden Burgers, Nashville Hot ChickenWrap, and Mexican Shrimp Cocktail. Speak of cocktails, the bar menu offers a tantalizing selection of botanical cocktails, wines, sangria, and craft beer. Try a Pink Peppercorn Paloma – tequila, pink grapefruit, pink peppercorn, and lime. Or a Frozen Frosé – Aperol, Rosé, and lemon. Plus, non-alcoholic options.

Cocktail available at the PHS pop up on South Street sponsored by Solo Real Estate.
Image courtesy of PHS.

One of the highlights of the PHS South Street PopUp Garden is the plant and seed giveaways sponsored by Solo Real Estate. “We distribute plants and bulbs on a weekly basis, along with detailed instructions,” said Sharon Tice DelCotto, PHS Business Development Consultant. “Each month features a different plant. In April, PHS will give away Gladiolus Bulbs. In May, June and July, it will be Geraniums, Coleus, Gerber Daisies, etc.” 

“PHS Pop Up Gardens started in 2010 with the goal of transforming highly visible vacant lots into gardens that serve as a valuable community resource. Since then, we have had Pop Up locations all over the City,” said Tice DelCotto. “This year, we just have two locations, South Street and Manayunk. New for 2021, visitors will have the opportunity to book private spaces in the garden for groups celebrating birthdays, anniversaries, and other events.”

Image courtesy of Rachel Wisniewski for PHS.

The atmosphere is like a backyard party with all the safety precautions to provide proper social distancing, mask-wearing, and contactless service. The number of visitors is limited and facemasks must be worn by adults and children until they are seated. To ensure safety, you can order and pay for your food and drinks on your mobile phone. 

PHS was founded in 1827. In 2019, the non-profit organization became fully committed to using horticulture to advance the health and well-being of the Greater Philadelphia region. This includes creating healthy living environments, increasing access to fresh food, expanding economic opportunity, and building meaningful social connections. The Pop Up Gardens benefit the many programs of PHS, including City Harvest, which brings together a network of community gardeners who raise fresh, healthy food for more than 1,200 families in need each week. For Solo Real Estate, the connection with PHS reflects our commitment to sustainability, the environment, and the community.

The PHS South Street Pop Up is wheelchair accessible and pet-friendly. Open Monday-Thursday, 5-10 pm; Friday-Sunday, Noon-10pm.

Solo Tenant Launches Zero Waste Start-Up

Posted on by Solo Team

When Solo Real Estate tenant Leslie Davidson first saw her apartment in the historic Rittenhouse area in 2018, she was struck by the quality of light. “It was one of five apartments Solo had shown me and I knew it was the one,” she said. “It was in a brownstone with large bay windows, hardwood floors, and a great layout,” she said.  Her cats also approved.

The year before, Leslie had received a breast cancer diagnosis and gone through a romantic breakup that left her yearning for a living space that would support her personal and professional goals.

“I grew up in Ambler and returned to Philadelphia after studying fashion design and merchandising in LA. Although I had been a stylist for Michael Kors on the West Coast, I was open to a career change,” she said. Leslie took several jobs, including working as an office manager for a gardening company and teaching dance to children. 

She was gearing up for another career move when the pandemic hit and the job market dried up. As a cancer survivor, Leslie had to shelter-in-place and return to what she knew best. Using her design skills, she launched Made by Lad, an accessories company, from her dining room. Even though her apartment is considered a one-bedroom, the inclusion of a dining room provided ample space to set up her sewing machine.  Her first product was facemasks for adults and children. 

Leslie Davidson from Made by LAD works on sewing a face mask in her dining room.

What distinguishes Made by LAD facemasks from all contenders is their fuller cut and elastic under the chin which allows the wearer to talk without the mask falling or moving. Unlike most facemasks which loop around the ears, Leslie’s loop around the head, so there is none of that uncomfortable tugging on the ears.

“I came up with the design after a lot of experimentation,” she said. “My grandfather was having a lot of trouble wearing his facemask, so I designed one that would be easier to wear.” Her face masks are two-ply with a filter for extra safety. They come in solid colors, two-tone and tie-dyed. (Kids love the tie-dye option.) Adjustable elastic toggles are sold separately.

A couple wears Made by LAD face masks in a park.

Made By LAD became official in May 2020 after Leslie received an overwhelmingly positive response to the masks she was making for friends and family who said they “fit perfectly” and “made them feel safe.” She initially started the business as a way to bring in extra income to pay off her medical bills acquired from her breast cancer diagnosis, but as orders kept rolling in with no end to the pandemic in sight, she was encouraged to pursue the venture full time, so she took a leap of faith and decided to self-fund her new business.

Leslie Davidson from Made by LAD works from her dining room table while her cat oversees.

Leslie’s products not only look good, they do good. Using locally sourced, 100% natural fibers that produce zero waste, Leslie tie-dyes them in her kitchen and sews them on her dining room table. With her background in business management and a passion for sustainability and helping others, she has developed a brand that aims to not only give back to the community but encourages customers to consider the environment by using almost all biodegradable materials, from the merchandise down to the packaging.

A child looks up while wearing a Made by LAD facemask.

“The face masks are made from undyed muslin which I buy at Fleishman’s on South Fourth Street,” she said. Her facemask motto? “Masks that don’t move when you talk!” She also offers customized facemasks with monograms and embroidered messages, including, “Black Lives Matter” and “6Ft Please.”

Relying solely on her Instagram account and Made by LAD website, Leslie expanded her product line to include hair and winter accessories: oversized scrunchies, men’s and women’s hats, headbands, ear-warmers, and scarves. Hats, scarves, headbands, and ear-warmers are made from soft, thick, reversible, dead-stock cotton knit. Her most timely accessory? An embroidered “Vaccinated” status badge, perfect to sew onto a denim jacket or the back pocket of jeans.

Leslie Davidson wears her "Vaccinated" badge.

Leslie hopes to continue to grow her business long after masks are needed. Her goal is to create a sustainable athleisure brand that is able to give back to the community by continuing to purchase materials from small, local businesses and donate proceeds to communities in need whenever possible. 

For a limited time, Leslie is offering a discount code on her website for Solo friends and family. Visit Madebylad.com and use code SOLO215 for 15% off your purchase!

The Secret Life of Buildings: Modern Row Houses

Posted on by Solo Team

Jeremy Avellino, founder and design director of Bright Common Architecture and Design, has a passion for bringing row houses into the 21st century. “Philadelphia is an extremely rare and unique city with one of the highest rates of density in the nation. This density allows for sustainability and affordability,” he said.  Plus, one other thing at the top of Avellino’s list – an opportunity to achieve decarbonization.

“Think of a row house as a power plant,” said Avellino, an award-winning member of Green Building United and an expert in Passive House Design. “Buildings are responsible for 72% of greenhouse gases in Philadelphia. The national rate is only 39%. Most of our carbon footprint is related to gas lines that heat and cool our homes. If we want our city to be carbon neutral by 2050, we need to make a huge dent in this starting now.”

The solution? Electrification. “People understand electric cars. If your home were as fuel efficient as an electric car, it would greatly reduce your carbon footprint,” said Avellino. Meanwhile, a zero-energy home drastically lowers heating and cooling bills. 

Avellino put his theory to the test in retrofitting his own row house, making it a carbon-free, zero-energy house. “I installed solar panels on my roof which will eventually provide free electricity,” he said, tipping his hat to Solarize Philly, which offers a Solar Savings Grant Program to low and moderate-income homeowners. Before you wince at the expense of solar energy, consider that there are 10-year affordable loans that are calculated to match your existing energy bills so you won’t feel the pinch.

20th Century Update

There is more than one way to bring an older row house up to speed.  For a project Avellino calls House Askew, he chose “a moderate retrofit,” maintaining the original architectural details while providing energy-efficient measures.

“This 3-story, 2300 square foot brick row house in Philadelphia received one of the city’s first foam-free deep energy retrofits, foregoing the toxicity and underperformance of spray foam,” said Avellino.  Instead, he used Building Biology and Passive House principles as his guides. “This electric-only, “frack-free” house is solar-ready to push it closer to net-zero energy,” he said. Meanwhile, the exterior maintains the original charm of its early 20th-century brickwork, masonry, and arched front door and window. 

Something Old, Something New

Deciding when to maintain a row house’s original façade and when to build a totally new structure takes into consideration questions of safety, engineering, and design. In designing Kensington Yards, Avellino did both. He maintained the mid-19th Century brick façade of a one-row house and created a new modern property of the adjacent vacant lot, connecting the two with a shared courtyard. The result was a fourteen-unit, multi-family development.

Exterior view of Kensington Yards Condo building.
Kensington Yards

 “The properties had been vacant for fifteen years. We found a shoe in the wall from 1890,” Avellino said. Working in collaboration with Red Oak Development and with Alejandro Franqui and Deborah of Solo Real Estate, Avellino designed a new addition for the rear of the property.

“It was a fun space to design. When you combine the new with the old, you have a wonderful transition,” he said. Case in point: the arched windows on the original property are echoed in the new construction. “While saving the historic façade of one of the homes, the project illustrates the value of preserving Philadelphia’s rich history and using it as a catalyst for regeneration,” said Avellino.

Reimaging Rowhouses

Sometimes, the best update for a row house is totally new construction. An example is a modern structure Avellino calls “Outlet.”  It is one of many design projects that resulted in Bright Common winning AIA Philadelphia’s Emerging Architecture Prize. Outlet makes no effort to blend in. Its exterior is corrugated aluminum in bright white and charcoal grey with contrasting levels. These modern row houses rise to new heights, shoot off at unexpected angles and feature oversized round and arched windows. What they all have in common is they are all Passive Houses. 

Outlet House designed by Bright Common. Photograph courtesy of Sam Oberter Photography.
Outlet House. Photo: Sam Oberter

Zero-energy houses are a commitment to the health of the planet and future generations. By making an investment in your home now, you are banking on a future with no heating or cooling bills and the satisfaction of knowing you are part of the change that you – and Jeremy Avellino – want to see. “ 

This article is part of a series titled “The Secret Life of Buildings” where we write about the history and architecture behind Philadelphia’s buildings. We’ve covered row house styles, common Philadelphia brick styles, trinity homes, star bolts, and residential courts, among other topics. What else would you like to learn about? Follow us and DM us on Facebook or Instagram to let us know!

Flowers for all Seasons

Posted on by Solo Team

Is love sustainable? We think so, especially if you express it this Valentine’s Day with fresh flowers or a gift certificate for seasonal bouquet deliveries from a local sustainable grower. In this article, we feature two women-owned businesses that are paving the way with local and sustainable flower farming, Jennie Love from Love N’ Fresh Flowers in Roxborough and Cassie Plumer, the force behind Jig-Bee Flower Farm and American Street Flower Market in Kensington.

Urban Farming

A pioneer in urban flower growing, Jennie Love grew up on a fifth-generation family farm in central Pennsylvania. Starting with her mother’s kitchen garden, her interest in flowers later took root as a volunteer at Weavers Way farm at Awbury Arboretum, followed by a two-year intensive program at Longwood Gardens. “That was where I received my floral design training and studied the science of flowers,” said Love.

You will not find any roses or gardenias in Love’s five-acre flower farm in Roxborough. “They don’t grow well in Philadelphia’s humidity and heat,” she said. What you will find is a dazzling array of organically grown seasonal blooms, including Parrot tulips, sweet peas, bleeding hearts, poppies, sunflowers, foxgloves, peonies, antique hydrangeas, zinnias, dahlias, amaranth, mums, and more. Her Certified Naturally Grown Blooms grow in a field supported by natural rain and sunlight, instead of in a hothouse under plastic and artificial light.

Jenni Love in her farm in Roxborough. Image courtesy of Love N' Fresh Flowers.
Jennie Love in her farm in Roxborough. Image courtesy of Love N’ Fresh Flowers.

Featured in the New York Times and Martha Stewart Weddings as among the nation’s top floral designers, Love’s artistry is her unique approach to floral arrangements.  Referring to her approach as “earthy elegant, ” Love’s design philosophy emphasizes arranging flowers as if they were still growing in the field and using vintage containers, eschewing anything fussy, stuffy, or boring.

 “Our farm, like most farms in the mid-Atlantic region, is dormant right now in the depths of winter. As such, we do not offer flowers for Valentine’s Day. However, a popular Valentine’s Gift is a gift certificate for our Porch Petals Prescription service, which delivers flowers, starting in April to the recipient’s door each week come spring. Gift certificates to our workshops are also a popular Valentine’s item,” said Love.

Prescription Service Bouquets. Image courtesy of Love n' Fresh Flowers.
Prescription Service Bouquets. Image courtesy of Love n’ Fresh Flowers.

What makes locally grown flowers better for the environment? “The ecological tax that the international flower industry imposes on local economies are the sins of the global flower industry,” said Jennie Love, the aptly named owner of Love ‘n Fresh Flowers. “The flowers for an FTD bouquet generate enough rubbish to fill a curbside trash can which stays in landfills for decades to come.” Add to that the environmental burden of chemicals, water demands, low wages, and shipping.

Fiercely dedicated to the mission of keeping her flowers as local as possible Love limits her delivery radius to the neighborhoods of northwest Philly, including Chestnut Hill, Mt. Airy, Roxborough, Wyndmoor, Glenside, Ft. Washington, and Ambler. Her bouquets are also available, in season, at Weavers Way in Chestnut Hill and Mt Airy.

Kensington in Bloom

On a formerly vacant lot in Kensington, Cassie Plumer has created Jig-Bee Flower Farm, offering sustainably grown flowers for area markets, weddings, events, and wholesale, plus a special bouquet offer and seasonal flower share, just in time for Valentine’s Day.

Jig-Bee Tulips. Image courtesy of Jig-Bee Flower Farm.
Jig-Bee Tulips. Image courtesy of Jig-Bee Flower Farm.

“My husband and I bought a building on American Street in 2012. There was a vacant lot next door and we wondered what to do with it,” said Plummer. “I took a workshop from a flower grower in Vermont and learned about sustainable practices from the Association of Specialty Cut Flower Growers. As a result, Kensington is now a major distribution center of sustainable flowers, available throughout the city.

Plummer also runs the American Street Flower Market, an agricultural cooperative in Kensington that partners with local farms to sell locally grown flowers and foliage. The flower market is located at 2137 N. American Street started as a “pop-up” and will soon be getting a more permanent location at Next Fab’s new location, also on American Street.

Valentine's Day partnership: Jig-Bee Tulips with Cakes and Cookies from Feel Goodies Philly. Image courtesy of Jig-Bee Flower Farm.
Valentine’s Day partnership: Jig-Bee Tulips with Cakes and Cookies from Feel Goodies Philly. Image courtesy of Jig-Bee Flower Farm.

For Valentine’s Day, Jig-Bee is partnering with Katie Legazpi from Feel Goodies Philly to offer specialty tulip bouquets ($45), along with locally-made sweets, including cookies and cakes. The flowers and sweets can be purchased online and will be available to pick up on Sunday, Feb 14th from 10 am to noon. Jig-Bee’s bouquets of specialty tulips ($45) are grown in Plummer’s basement. “These aren’t your regular tulips. They are double tulips in beautiful colors,” she said. Bouquets can also be pre-ordered on their website and will be available at the American Street Flower Market, 1800 N. American Street, where you select from pre-made, hand-tied bouquets or make your own bouquet. 

Jig-Bee Tulip Bouquet. Image courtesy of Jig-Bee Flower Farm.
Jig-Bee Tulip Bouquet. Image courtesy of Jig-Bee Flower Farm.

Their flowers are also available at Vault & Vine in East Falls, Petit Jardin en Ville in Old City, Riverwards Produce in Fishtown, Kensington Community Food Coop, and Mullica Hill Flower Company in Mullica Hill, NJ.

Or delight your loved one with a Jig-Bee Seasonal Flower Share, delivering a series of four bouquets to their door. Are you head over heels? Jig-Bee offers a discount for a full year of monthly flower deliveries. Flower Share Bouquets are also available for pick-up in the following locations: Fairmount/Art Museum, Center City, Navy Yard, South Philly, Kensington, and Collingswood, NJ. 

Composting 101

Posted on by Solo Team

Your food is natural and organic. You drive a hybrid car. So why is your garbage ending up in landfills, contributing to climate change? Perhaps you think composting is only for people who have yards large enough to grow veggies. Maybe your only plant is a cactus. Whatever your hesitation, we have tips on becoming part of Philly’s robust compost community and helping our City reach its zero waste goal.

The Basics

To start, you need a metal, plastic, or ceramic container to keep in your kitchen in which to collect organic waste. This includes eggshells, coffee grounds and filters, tea bags, rice, pasta, bread, other grains, fruits, and vegetables without oil, butter, or salad dressing. It cannot contain meat, bones, grease, fats, oils, dairy products, ashes from charcoal barbeques or fireplaces, pet waste.

You will also need a compost bin system to keep outdoors. The City of Philadelphia provides a Backyard Composting Guide which explains the three types of bins available. They all work the same way, turning organic waste into compost through a chemical process. 

Composting is about layering “green” materials and “brown” materials. Green material includes Food scraps, fresh leaves, plant cuttings, weeds, grass clippings fruit and vegetable peels, coffee grounds, and tea bags. Brown material includes Dead weeds, dry leaves, clipped brush, wood chips, eggshells, and paper products.  Each time you add new green material to your bin, cover it with a layer of fresh brown materials to avoid odors and pests

Compost needs airflow. If you’re using a two or three bin system, use a pitchfork to turn the compost every 3-5 days. Turn the pile frequently during the initial three to four weeks and once or twice during the remainder of the composting period. Once the compost is mostly broken down, it can be moved to your second bin and you can start over in the first. If using a tumbler, just turn it once every few days. 

A typical compost pile will take approximately three to four months to decompose. It’s “done” when it is no longer hot in the center, crumbles when squeezed, and smells like fresh dirt.

Community Garden Composting

Philadelphia has 400 community gardens, always looking for new members to get involved in composting. You don’t even need to live in the neighborhood. An affiliate of Neighborhood Gardens Trust, Old Tennis Court Farm, at 5407 Wissahickon Avenue in Germantown, has 63 members, several coming from as far away as Center City and South Philly. 

Margaret Lea at Old Tennis Court Farm. Photo: Rob Smith

“We do a lot of onsite composting and have constructed eleven composting stations,” said Mark Kearney who has been an active member since 2013. “Initially, we used household waste, but soon found it was attracting groundhogs, raccoons, and rats. We now only use material that is generated in the garden.”

With 49 gardening plots measuring 12 x 12 feet, managing the compost at this community garden takes a lot of manpower. “It’s a constant process of turning and moving the materials until they are ready to be mixed with the soil,” said Kearney. But it’s worth it. This one community garden yields abundant fresh vegetables to its members and those in need. “We take between 35 and 75 pounds of fresh organic vegetables per week to the Whosoever Gospel Mission in Germantown and to SHARE,” Kearney said.

Be a good neighbor

Philly residents without access to backyards or community gardens can have their compost recycled by Bennett Compost. They pick up compost from nearly 4,000 Philadelphia households and businesses every week, keeping over 70 tons of material out of the landfill every month. Once a year, they offer up to 10 gallons of free compost to customers. 

Bennett Compost provides five-gallon compost buckets with air-tight lids and picks them up on a weekly basis, leaving you with a fresh bucket.  In keeping with Solo Real Estate’s commitment to sustainability, we recently partnered with Bennett Compost to offer tenants and owners in over 400 properties a trial offer with two free months of compost pick-up service. Not a Solo tenant? You can still take advantage of Bennett’s free one month trial by signing up on their website.

Compost Bucket. Photo: Bennett Compost
Compost Bucket. Photo: Bennett Compost

Other residential compost services in Philly and nearby include Circle Compost (Philadelphia), Mother Compost (Main Line), and Kona Compost (Bucks County).

Additional Resources

Interested. in learning other ways you can help reduce your environmental footprint? Check out our article on Four Ways to Minimize your Waste Footprint in Philadelphia or our list on 5 Things Philly Renters can do for the Environment. If you’re a Solo tenant or owner and want to sign up for the trial offer from Bennett Compost, please e-mail us!