In the world of fashion trends come and go with the seasons, and designers rise and fall like the tides, riding the waves as long as they can before looking for new inspirations. Currently, a major trend is the use of rubber in fashion apparel and accessories. Rubber accents take ordinary designs and raise them to the level of funky and contemporary. This new trend is one that holds significance, giving designers and marketing groups the opportunity to promote the benefits of recycling rubber to be reused for playground mulch and other constructive purposes.

Watches

Rubber is the latest craze in watches, with designers combining rubber with metal, ceramic, and stones for an edgy, contemporary look. A popular rising star is Ice watches, based in the UK. Ice watches are primarily made of silicone and plastics, and come in shocking colors for emphasis and a funky spin on the traditional watch. The concept of rubber in watches is quickly being adopted by many designers.

Jewelry

The latest trend in jewelry is fake, chunky pieces with oversized accents. Rubber is leading the trend, with rubber jewelry that comes in all different colors and styles. It is not for nothing that the height of society is drawn to products that are touted as completely green, made of recycled materials. Rubber, too, can be easily recycled, and what better way to pronounce your devotion to Mother Earth than by sporting it in your accessories?

Shoes

The rubber shoe concept was first introduced by Crocs, and has since taken the shoe industry by storm. The company Melissa specializes in high end rubber shoes, including pumps and dress shoes. Hunter is another highly successful rubber boot company. Rubber shoes are often made from recycled rubber, and are stylish, comfortable, and well-priced.

There is no better way to show support for the environment than by wearing your heart on your sleeve, literally. Wearing clothing and accessories that are made from recycled materials help promote the concept for which recycled rubber mulch stands, and helps clean up planet Earth, one recycled tire at a time.

Parents have their children’s best interests in mind, and that’s why you’ll often see heartwarming scenes at the playground, with parents pushing their children on swings and sliding down slides with the child on their lap. Recent studies have shown, however, that sliding down the slide with your child on your lap may not be as safe as you think.

The slide may be fully safeguarded, surrounded by rubber mulch playground flooring and with rubber wearmats at the landing pad, but Dr. John Gaffney, a pediatric orthopedist at Winthrop University Hospital in Mineola, N.Y., says it’s not as safe as you think. He saw so many toddlers with broken legs that he decided to try to figure out what was causing the problem. After studying medical records of all of the kids with fractured tibias whom he had treated over the course of 11 months he found that, out of the 58 cases, 13 of the kids had broken their tibias on playground slides, and every one of them had been riding on an adult’s or older sibling’s lap at the time.

The danger lies in the chance of the child’s foot or sneaker getting snagged on the edge of the slide while going down. By the time the parent realizes and untangles the child, the force of the velocity going down may have twisted the child’s foot and snapped the tibia. Even after making sure to tuck the child’s feet in between the adult’s legs, the rubber on the bottom of the child’s shoe could get snagged on the slide, bending the foot backward at an unnatural angle. The best way to help a child on the slide is to hold their hand or provide support from the ground. If the child can’t slide down without assistance they are too young to use the slide.

Parents do everything they can to safeguard their children on the playground, using rubber mulch playground flooring and other means. The playground equipment can be top of the line, with high quality and safety-certified rubber mulch flooring, but it’s important to keep your child safe by having them slide down on their own.

History defines cultures, nations, and people. Many historic inventions have changed lives and continue to be sources of pride for countries everywhere, even becoming symbolic of the country.

Rubber was originally used by Indians in Haiti as soles to waterproof their footgear. Today, Indian rubber drives billions of dollars in commerce through thousands of products. There’s a new twist that has been put on rubber manufacturing that is essential for these times, and that is rubber recycling. Playgrounds, the birthplace of fun for children, are one area that enjoys the benefits of recycled rubber mulch. Rubber bond is also used in sports arenas and gymnasiums, and many other areas. By taking old, worn-out rubber and reusing it, planet Earth is made a better place to live, while simultaneously enhancing people’s lives.

Cotton has a rich American history dating back to the mid 1700’s, when Eli Whitney invented the cotton gin. At one point it was the largest American export and the lifeblood of the South. Today many countries worldwide boast huge quantities of cotton exports and the need grows larger every year. Natural cotton can also be recycled and reused, creating enormous potential for recycled goods.

China, today one of the world’s largest exporters, has for years held a monopoly over the manufacture of silk, and they are still the largest manufacturers of silk today. For years during ancient civilization silk was confined to China. That changed with the opening of the Silk Roads. While silk has a long and storied history, it will remain a symbol of Chinese skill and innovation.

One must consider the success in the rubber mulch industry and copy it over to every industry possible, with cotton as just one example. As people get smarter and more educated about the problems this planet faces many will begin to take up environmentally friendly business ideas and put them into practice. Wall Street, pay attention, the Green Revolution is coming your way.

As Easter Weekend and Passover coincided, the past weekend and ensuing week was days that many designated for family time, taking the kids on trips and visiting nearby attractions. While many found themselves at parks, aquariums, and the like, some found their adventurous side by visiting a shooting range. As with any trip, parents must ensure that the destination is safe and adequately injury-preventive to ensure a happy, healthy trip. This is especially true when visiting a shooting range.

Many shooting ranges feature rubber mulch flooring and backstops, and this is a factor that should be taken into account when choosing a shooting range because the rubber mulch plays many roles. The added shock absorbency found in mulch prevents the danger of ricocheting bullets. It also keeps the noise level at a minimum, protecting young ears from the echo of firing guns. Another benefit of rubber mulch backstops is that they lessen the amount of atmospheric dust that rises from the back wall when a bullet is shot. Rubber flooring for shooting ranges helps prevent the risk of fire.

Different states and ranges will have criteria for admittance into the shooting range. This should be checked before going. Generally, only children over the age of twelve are allowed into the shooting range. Children 12 and over must often provide proof of age, such as a birth certificate or school ID with date of birth. Not all shooting ranges rent guns, so this must also be confirmed. Some ranges offer lessons that may prove helpful. There is also usually a nominal fee for admittance, and then charges to rent guns and buy bullets.

When shooting, be sure to request goggles and earplugs for all members of the party who are on the range. This is more important in an indoor range than on an outdoor shooting range. Ask for easier targets for children and those new to the shooting range; many ranges will have targets with varying degrees of difficulty.

When all safety measures are in place, a shooting range that is equipped with rubber mulch backstops and flooring can be a great place to take the family! They can be found in virtually every state, and can serve as an affordable and creative getaway.

Rubber mulch is manufactured only after a tire has been worn to death and has traveled the world. It is a long journey from the plantations where rubber is harvested to the playground mulch that graces the neighborhood playground.

Natural rubber, also known as India rubber or caoutchouc, is tapped from trees like sap. An incision is made in the bark and a collection bucket is secured to the tree with tire. A sap-like substance that is the natural from of rubber seeps out of the tree and is collected in the buckets. Different plantations and regions have varying specific methods of collecting the rubber and processing it.

Rubber trees originally grew in South America. In 1736, samples of rubber were introduced to France. It was only in 1770 that rubber samples arrived in England. Joseph Priestley observed that it was good for rubbing off pencil marks on paper, hence the name ‘rubber’. Over the years, the seeds of rubber trees traveled to England, Indonesia, Malaysia, and other countries. Today, much of the world’s rubber comes from India.

After a lengthy and precise process of collecting natural rubber, it is shipped to destinations around the world. Because the cost of natural rubber has risen, the shipping method with the lowest cost is preferred. It may be shipped in steel drums, ISO tanks, Flexitanks, or using other methods, depending on the manufacturer’s needs and specifications.

Rubber has many uses in our lives today, in everything from rubber boots to sealants around windows. Perhaps one of the most important functions of rubber is for tires that power trucks and cars, and after that, rubber mulch flooring. Rubber mulch is used for safe playground flooring, landscaping, horse arena flooring, and shooting ranges. Rubber mulch only comes into being after a long journey from the plantations in Asia.

Rubber mulch is known to be an excellent surface for playgrounds, landscaping, and horse arenas. What is less known is that it is also the perfect surface for water playgrounds, or splash parks. Water playgrounds are becoming more and more popular, especially in cities with few parks and little relief from the summer’s heat. The playgrounds feature equipment with water splashing out for kids to play in.

In a water playground it is vital that the floor should be of good quality, because a slippery floor could be the cause of many injuries, and a floor that does not drain adequately can become moldy and transmit infectious diseases. The perfect flooring for a splash park is one that is made of rubber mulch.

Rubber playground flooring is extremely shock absorbent, and prevents injuries from falls that often occur in a splash pad. It also has great traction, which can help prevent slipping. The only form of rubber mulch that is suitable for a water playground is rubber bond. Rubber bond is a smooth, clean surface that comes in a variety of colors and has the characteristics of rubber mulch. Its smooth, even surface will not splinter or crack, and best of all, it lasts for years.

A major of pro of rubber bond is that it is poured flush with the ground, eliminating the possibility of tripping. It is best when laid after the playground equipment has already been ordered and installed, so that it is poured directly over the legs of the equipment, with no gaps around poles or other bases. In this way it is also easier to place drainage systems in the appropriate places. One more benefit of rubber bond is that its flat, even surface doesn’t have hills and valleys for water to pool; the continuous flat plane will allow for efficient runoff and draining.

It is important to have a waterproof sealant spread over Playsafer rubber bond, ensuring a floor that is beautiful and functional.

As the rich get richer and technology gets more advanced, there are more and more creative ways to conserve the environment’s resources. A house for sale in upstate New York is a prime example of this. Located within walking distance of the Mohonk preserve, which offers 1,000 acres of scenic hiking and rock climbing, this home rotates on its axis to make optimum use out of solar energy.

The home that is now for sale for $1.2 million is a wooden, dome shaped structure that resembles a spaceship. Each season, the home is rotated for maximum efficiency of solar rays. The home was built using a kit from France called Domespace, and is the only one of its kind that has been built in the U.S. It is made of honey colored wood and features bamboo floors, with high ceilings and long sloping windows that keep the space bright and airy. It consists of two floors, with two bedrooms, a kitchen, and living space on the first floor. A central spiral staircase leads to a second floor which houses the master suite, office, and balcony.

This may seem an extravagant way to try to go green, but there are simpler ways for the average consumer to keep the environment healthy. Rubber mulch is made out of recycled tires, and is great for use in playgrounds, landscaping, and horse arenas. While it costs a little more than wood chips, many users have found that the rubber pays out for itself within a short time because it is very durable, and needs little maintenance and no replenishing. The average home can be made more eco-friendly with recycled rubber mulch used in the front lawn as part of the landscaping, and in the backyard playground. Using rubber mulch is a practical way that anyone can help the environment without spending $1.2 million.

Planting a tree is one of the most rewarding plants a gardener can work on, because the results are magnificent. The best time to plant a tree is during the spring and fall, when temperatures are more moderate, so the roots have time to acclimate before the cold of winter or heat of summer sets in.  The exception to this is palm trees, which may be planted during the warm summer months.

When digging the hold for your tree it is important that it shouldn’t be too narrow, so the roots have room to expand, or too deep, which doesn’t give the roots enough oxygen. A bare-rooted tree should be planted soon after purchase. The roots of the tree must be kept moist between the times that the tree is bought and planted. You must also make sure that the roots are healthy; prune dead roots off the tree before planting. The tree should be placed on a cone of earth in the center of the hole, around which to splay the roots. The ‘crown’, the area where the roots and the top of the tree meet should be about two inches above the soil. This will ensure that the tree can easily settle.

After planting the tree, it’s time to wait and water. The only other thing you can do is sprinkle fertilizer and other soil amendments around the base of the tree. Depending on the tree species, you may also want to mulch around the tree to protect the soil from the elements. Rubber mulch is a great option for mature trees, as the landscape mulch can play double duty – protecting the soil and providing aesthetic appeal. Check to be sure that the specific tree you are dealing with will take well to the rubber mulch, and doesn’t need pure soil.

The Green Revolution is all the rage today, as companies come up with innovative ways to recycle. Rubber, in particular, is being recycled more and more, with second and even third lives. Rubber is a substance that is easy to recycle due to its hardiness and the many uses it can have. Rubber tires are one of the main sources of recycled rubber, as tons and tons of rubber is given new life rather than rotting away.

Recycled Rubber Bracelets

Imagine that, rubber as jewelry! Uncommongoods.com offers a unique holiday gift for the nature-lover on your list. Rubber bracelets designed by jewelry designer Elizabeth Hake are made from bicycle tires and other recycled rubber. They feature funky shapes and chrome embellishments that are a real statement. The bracelets are well priced at forty dollars.

Rubber Mulch for Playgrounds

Rubber mulch is the latest and best in playground flooring. It comes in the form of chips, or a solid version known as rubber bond. Playsafer rubber mulch is a preferred brand, as it is proven to offer superior playground safety, with extra shock absorbency. Rubber flooring also comes in various colors, is odorless, and does not stain kids’ clothes.

Rubber Pavers

Recycled rubber is also found in the flooring industry in the form of pavers and mats. Tiles made from rubber are durable and water resistant and can be used to easily and cost effectively pave garden walkways, driveways, pool sides, and other areas. Rubber mats are popular for use on decks and in mudrooms. There is much variety in this field, with flooring that interlocks for easy self installation. The rubber pavers come in designs of bricks, octagonal tiles, and much more.

With a large amount of recycled rubber products on the market today, it is easy to help the environment while achieving your personal goals of beautiful products that are also affordable.

Owners and trainers of horses put in thousands of dollars and hours of time into grooming their horses to be the best they can be. One of the most important aspects of keeping horses healthy and happy is ensuring that they have the right flooring to walk on. When building a horse arena, this is especially important, because the horses will train in the arena every day. There are some aspects to be wary of when planning a horse arena.

The surface materials can be two to six inches deep, and the recipe you use will greatly influence the speed  and endurance your horse will master. Recipes vary, including sand, rubber mulch, silt, clay, and other materials. Tire mulch is fairly new to the market, but many are finding that the extra absorbency it has gives horses an extra bounce in their step, and easier landing after jumps. Horse arena mulch should be mixed with other materials for the correct arena flooring.

The arena should be built on dry, flat, and well draining ground. It is advisable to build a shallow ditch around the perimeter of the arena for good draining of rainwater. Keep in mind that a ditch that is too steep could cause erosion of the base soil during real downpours.

Before choosing a surface material, it is important to have an adequate base. The base is the flooring between the earth and the surface material. It gives stability to the arena flooring, carries off rainwater, and acts as a protection between the earth and the surface material. The base should be hard packed, and carry no loose rocks or stones which can be dislodged by horses’ hooves.