If you look a little deeper into the process behind DeAnna Cochran’s jewelry pieces you will uncover a fascinating story including recycled cell phones, recycled computers, Japanese scientists and a zero waste business model!

DeAnna is passionate about running her charity focused “Jewelry for a Cause” business and she tries to keep the business operating with a zero waste policy.

Simply, I love creating and more so I love that what I create holds a higher purpose of giving back and making a difference.

- DeAnna Cochran, Metalsmith and Artist

During my interview with DeAnna I could clearly hear the passion that she has for the “craft” involved in creating her jewelry, the part that fascinated me was that her jewelry is made with a Precious Metal Clay which uses re-claimed metals from scrap electronics! The Precious Metal Clay contains small particles of gold, silver or bronze and when it it freshly out of the packaging it is very soft and workable. DeAnna explained that PMC looks and works very much like a regular clay compound, it uses a water based binder and is completely non-toxic. DeAnna’s wonderful jewelry creations are full of fine details and she said that the PMC allows her to create these fine details with a high level of confidence in the final result.

Once DeAnna has finished her design the PMC can be fired or cured in a kiln. The PMC generally shrinks in size by approximately 10% due to the organic binders being burnt off. What is left behind is a wonderfully pure gold, silver or bronze piece of jewelry! DeAnna explained that she has enjoyed working recently with bronze, it is relatively new to the PMC line of products.

Needless to say, my curiosity was lit and I went off to do some research into Precious Metal Clay. Let’s start with some of the science… Did you know that all cell phones and computers, in fact pretty much anything with a circuit board, contains small amounts of silver, gold and other precious metals?

To quote Richard Alcorn from Finishing.com;

One ton (2000 lbs) of “average” circuit board from modern computers and electronics generally yields (in a very good system) between 8 and 11 troy ounces of 24k gold.

Given that the average desktop computer will generally have just a couple of  pounds of circuit board you would need alot of recycled computers to get even a small amount of gold, check out our visual representation below;

There is a scientific technique for removing these precious metals from discarded electronics and the first reaction that most amateur scientists, or computer boffins, have is to wonder if they too can get some gold or silver from their used electronics such as an old computer. Well the process is NOT easy! The extraction of precious metals from old circuit boards and electronic components involves many dangerous chemicals and should NOT be attempted by any of our readers. The amounts of precious metals in an individual computer or cell phone are also very, very small…

This gold is found in a number of places, including the plated gold wires and leads, on plated pins inside connectors and on the computer circuit boards as well as on and within the IC (integrated circuits) on the boards themselves. In addition, there will generally be around 10 to 20 times this amount in silver from the solder and other components. There are also minute amounts of palladium, platinum and other precious metals.  Interestingly, any of the older electronics and early computer equipment have much higher amounts of precious metals, while the newest (1997 and newer) are lower.

OK, now that the science is behind us, lets move on to the Precious Metal Clay!

In the 1990s scientists in Japan developed a combination of binders and metal particles to create a material with the working properties of modeling clay, known as Precious Metal Clay, or PMC.
An organic binder provides elasticity while holding very tiny grains of the precious metal in suspension. The artist can sculpt the PMC into jewelry and then “fire” the piece with heat. During heating, the binding material burns away, which causes the object to shrink slightly (10 – 20%).
The process is easiest with pure silver and pure gold because these precious metals fuse at relatively low temperatures (400 – 1000F).

Let’s take a quick graphical look at the journey taken by Precious Metal Clay over the last twenty years;

Darnall Burks, an engineer, Ronald Hayes Pearsona, a well-known jeweler and Tim McCreight, another American jeweler and teacher advised Mitsubishi on the viability of PMC in the United States. Together these three men organized a workshop for American artists which took place at the Haystack Mountain School in Deer Isle, Maine in May, 1995.

Since that first workshop the use of PMC in the United States has grown exponentially and artists like DeAnna Cochran have learned the best methods for creating beautiful pieces from this versatile material.

Here is a collection of our favorite DeAnna Cochran jewelry pieces;

DeAnna tries to run a paperless business and clients are often surprised when they meet with DeAnna as the laptop pops open to show them her collection as opposed to printed brochures etc, in fact DeAnna will not send out catalogs and even her business cards are printed on recycled paper. DeAnna also loves to recycle and always re-uses any unused materials for her next creation.

DeAnna Cochran’s use of Precious Metal Clay and the background of reclaimed precious metals has created a green foundation for her business and her target of having zero waste is truly admirable.

In the process of researching these recycled metals I discovered that the Texas Department of Public Safety actually tracks all metals that are officially recycled and we wanted to share some of the amazing figures for the amount of metal that is recycled in Texas alone;

I was amazed to see that in Texas alone we recycled over 121 millions lbs of Aluminum in a year! As for precious metals such as Bronze, the totals are far less but we still recycled over 150 thousand lbs of bronze in one year. It’s reassuring to know that eventually this reclaimed metal could end up in one of DeAnna Cochran’s stunning eco designs such as this one of a kind leaf cuff bracelet made from reclaimed fine silver with garnet and diamond stones;

We love that artists like DeAnna are using eco friendly materials like PMC to make such wonderful jewelry creations whilst maintaining green business practices. We would like to thank DeAnna for taking the time to talk to us about such a fascinating process. If you want to learn more about DeAnna Cochran jewelry please visit her site;

www.DeAnnaCochranJewelry.com

HyMini Deluxe Giveaway

The HYmini Deluxe Comes with a Solar Panel for Extra Charging!

Charge Your Gadgets with the HYmini Wind Turbine

We're Throwing in a Bicycle Clamp Too!

You can earn bonus points in the following ways (Be sure to let us know which bonuses you use in your comment);

• LEAVE A COMMENT TO ENTER: Just leave a comment against this post and you will be entered to win a HYmini Deluxe
• RETWEET THIS CONTEST: Simply retweet our contest on Twitter be sure to let us know in your comment!
  = +1 point
• SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the Our Everyday Earth Newsletter
  = +1 point

Enter your email address:

• PRIZE: A HYmini Deluxe solar and wind power charger and the HYmini bicycle mount (Approximate value $75.00)
• GIVEAWAY CLOSES: Tuesday, August 31st 2010 at 8pm CST
• NUMBER OF WINNERS: One – picked at random using random.org
• PRIZE SHIPS: USA or Canada
• THE USUAL: One entry per e-mail address is permitted. In the event of a tie the winner(s) will be selected using random.org and announced on Wednesday 1st September 2010. Good luck!

More Competition Info…

You can read all of our competition policies here; COMPETITION POLICIES

Last week they sent us some freebies for helping them get their name out into the green-o-sphere;

Our Green Genius Biodegradable Goodies!

We love the big green shopping tote and will be using it for our groceries to help spread the word about biodegradable plastics.

As for the new line of biodegradable food storage bags, they are truly awesome. I’ve already started packing my sandwiches for work using them and the double zipper seals keep my lunch perfectly stored until its “Eatin Time!”

Biodegradable Sandwich Bags

Once again, we have to say a big thankyou to the Green Genius Company and their commitment to the environment.

If you are interested in getting your hands on some biodegradable Green Genius bags then check them out here;

http://www.thegreengenius.com/

Recycling Mobile Phones Keeps Them Out of the Landfill

So now we know why we should recycle and what benefit this will have but what about the phone itself? Before you recycle or sell your old mobile, you should make sure that all data and pictures etc has been deleted and removed from our old phone. Now if you are unsure on how to do this then just Google your make and model of phone along with ‘phone data removal’ and there are numerous guides and tools that will help you to easily remove the items from your form so it is back to ‘factory settings’.

Remember to Delete Personal Information

After this when your handset reaches a mobile phone recycling centre, the first step that the recyclers (such as Envirofone and Mazuma Mobile) do is to disassemble the basic components of the phone.  This usually comprises of the following parts, plastic, metals, casing (or housing) and memory. After this first stage the next step is to sort handsets, circuitboards, chargers, accessories and batteries into sorting bins for each of the components. As this is a recycling centre, even the boxes or packaging you send the phone in on will also be recycled!

The Nickel in the phone batteries are then processed and can be recycled into stainless steel with applications for home and industrial use. Recyclers can even extract the Cadmium and then make new batteries from the old ones. The Batteries also contain copper, which can also be recycled.

Mobile Phones Ready for Recycling

The circuit boards contain many precious metals such as silver and gold and lead and can be used in many different ways whilst preventing future mining operations from acquiring these metals from the earth and destroying habitat and wildlife.
The phone casings will also be recycled and used in a variety of ways such as plastic fencing around the home.
Now you know what happens to the mobile phones then why not consider recycling your old phone and help the environment as well as earning a bit of extra cash? For more information please visit recyclemobilephones.co.uk

RecycleMobilePhones.Co.Uk

Last year we planted five large Rhododendron bushes and four Hydrangeas. Our wonderful Mom suggested that the soil might not be acidic enough for the Rhododendrons and Hydrangeas. She gave us a large bag of used coffee grounds which were provided by the excellent “Roots Coffee House” in North Richland Hills.

Used Coffee Grounds Can Increase Soil Acidity

The used coffee grounds can increase the acidity of soil and help plants which need higher acidity. I did some research and found that coffee acidity is the bright and dry taste that adds life to a coffee. The acidity of coffee is similar to the dry but bright sensation experienced while drinking a red wine. The brewing of coffee removes alot of the acids but the discarded coffee grounds are perfect for adding some well needed soil acidity for plants like Rhododendrons and Hydrangeas.

Rhododendrons

Most Rhododendrons prefer acid soils with a pH of roughly 4.5-5.5 and the local Texas soils are probably only a pH level of about 6.9. Adding used coffee grounds to the soil brings the pH down from 6.9 to a lower, more acidic value, which is perfect for the Rhododendrons.

Other advice is that Rhododendrons have fibrous roots and prefer well-drained soils high in organic material. Rhododendrons are often grown in raised beds with a liberal addition of composted pine bark. Mulching and careful watering are also important.

Making High Acidity Soil

Hydrangeas

Hydrangeas can tolerate a range of pH, soil acidity, conditions however for some varieties the color of their flowers is determined by the relative acidity of the soil. A pH below 6 (acidic) will usually produce flower colors closer to true blue, whereas soil with a pH above 6 (more alkaline) will produce flowers that are more pink. The flowers on all of our Hydrangeas were all very pink in color which was another indicator that the soil was not acidic enough. We’re hoping that if we can increase the soil acidity with the used coffee grounds then we will get more blue Hydrangea flowers.

High Acidity Soil for Hydrangeas

We have already noticed an improvement in the look of our Rhododendrons and Hydrangeas and we will be taking advantage of free used coffee grounds from our local coffee houses to keep them looking healthy for years to come.

Our High Acidity Soil

I found the Method Smarty Dish tablets at our local hardware store, of all places, and thought it was worth a try. Each packet contains 20 dish-washing tablets which are non-toxic, phosphate free and bleach free.

Method Smarty Dish Tablets

The tablets are available in a variety of odors… I chose Pink Grapefruit, which was a tough decision seeing as I was in a hardware store, I figured the shopping cart full of tools would compensate!

The tablets are certified by the U.S. EPA Design for the Environment group which gives a reassurance that you are buying a truly green product, they are also never tested on animals which is great.

Each tablet contains the following ingredients;

• Mineral cleaning salts
• Naturally derived anti-spotting agents
• Starch and protein based cleaning enzymes
• Seaweed derived dispersing agent
• Fragrance oil blend

All of the above ingredients work together to provide a massive green cleaning punch in a small tablet;

Method Dishwasher Tablet

We have been using the Method Smarty Dish tablets for about a month now and we won’t be going back to any other dish-washing liquids, the Method tablets are awesome! They clean the dishes to a sparkling shine even on the economy wash setting and there is no white powdery residue any more.

Our glassware showed the biggest improvement, we now boast shiny spot-free glassware and they have never been cleaner…. or greener!

The Sparkling Results!

SO, if you are interested in trying the Method Smarty Dish tablets we suggest you get down to your local store and try to get hold of some, you can find out more information on the Method website;

Method Dish Cleaning Products

There are several companies offering this service now but we have found the best, especially if you happen to live in the UK, to be SellMyMobile.com, they offer a great service where you can search for your particular old cell phone and see exactly how much you could get paid for it.

I searched for my LG shine and discovered that several companies would pay me 10 GBP (approx $15) to mail the cell phone to them for recycling! Some companies even offer free shipping;

See How Much Your Old Mobile is Worth!

Once you have searched out the best deal you can follow easy links to the right sites and sell your old mobile for cash to the phone recycling companies, it’s that easy!

I am going to gather up my old cell phones, wipe the memory chips and get them sold / recycled / de-cluttered / out of the house… If I make a couple of dollars then at least I’m helping the environment at the same time as working my way towards that new iPhone.

So what are you waiting for? If you are interested in mobile phone recycling then just visit Sell My Mobile and get started.

A discussion around the coffee pot at work led me to today’s post topic, a company called Prairie Turbines was recommended to me by a colleague and after researching their products I decided to wax lyrical about the great work they are doing to make wind power affordable.

Prairie Turbines - Making Wind Power Affordable

Prairie Turbines sell all the parts you need to setup a wind turbine and start your journey towards an “off the grid” lifestyle

http://www.prairieturbines.com/purchase.htm

The main advantages which make the Prairie Turbines much more affordable to buy and operate are as follows;

• Built With Off-the-Shelf Components
• Rugged Efficient Blade Design
• Requires No Batteries, No Inverter
• Grid Ready!!
• Easy to Build and Maintain
• 100 Pages – Step by Step Details Assembly and Installation instructions for DIY installs

Here are some photos of home installations;

Home Installed Prairie Turbine 1

Home Installed Prairie Turbine 2

Home Installed Prairie Turbine 3

Home Installed Prairie Turbine 4

The best selling design is the Breezy 5.5. When connected in parallel with electric utility it produces 5.5 KW with wind speeds of 21-23 mph.  The design can produce about 3 KW in just 12 mph wind speeds. The unique rotor design has been tested with no problems handling winds up to 70 mph.

So what are you waiting for, you can buy the parts and instructions to assemble your own Breezy 5.5 for a little over $4000 and you could generate approx 12,000 kW of energy per year if you live in a zone 3 wind region.

Prairie Turbines Design Schematic

If you are interested in the Prairie Turbines Breezy 5.5 or any of their other fabulous wind turbines then you should definitely visit their site for more information;

http://prairieturbines.com/index.htm

The Our Everyday Earth team will be going green this Earth Day by switching off all of our electricity consuming items at home for an hour and then eating an all organic meal made from locally grown produce.

We’ve seen an increase in local events to celebrate Earth Day and 2010 promises to be the best yet!

So leave us a comment telling us how you plan to celebrate the greenest day of the year, we’d love to hear from you… Have a happy Earth Day 2010!!!