“We had a great morning at Homba Primary in Khayelitsha where we planted the first of 50 trees,� said Karina Palmer, our marketing manager.

In honour of Arbour Month, AMERICAN shutters’ sponsored trees will be planted over the next few weeks at various primary schools in Khayelitsha by Food and Trees for Africa (FTFA), the first South African social enterprise with a strong focus on environmental and global warming education and awareness.

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One of the highlights of interior design in 2011 is an environmental consciousness with the latest trends reflecting our society’s current inclination to rethink, renew and recycle.

Trends for this year include form and function being perfected for improved home living, vintage favourites being recycled with a modern twist and neutrals that have been renewed but are far from dull! Blinds and shutters must, of course, complement these.

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Intaka Island is a green lung in one of the fastest growing new urban precincts, Century City in Cape Town, and comprises 16 hectares of wetland, a bird sanctuary and a Green Building showcasing best practices for sustainable living.

We sponsored Decowood shutters for the Green Building which opened on Tuesday, 26 October. Decowood shutters are popular but few know this durable range is ‘green.’

Intaka Island. Image via Intaka Island Gallery

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We’re passionate about design and look at sites from around the world to bring you the latest décor and design trends via our Facebook fan page and Twitter profile.

Some trends stand out for their beauty, innovation and ability to capture our imagination. This month the green graffiti trend made us look twice.

Image credits: Pillar Box Post and Twig and Thistle

Would you consider adding a moss-covered green graffiti or typography design to your home?

For the best interior décor and design tips an inspiration the web has to offer, follow Window To Design on Twitter or join our Facebook fan page. To find stylish AMERICAN shutters or blinds for your home, visit our online showroom.

Mama Rosie beamed with pride as the first four fruit trees were planted on the plot of her community project in Khayelitsha on Friday, 16 October.

“We are so excited about the trees,� said Mama Rosie who started the Mama Rosie Community Project in 2005. “We live in a squatter camp and these are the first fruit trees in our community!�

Mama Rosie started the community project four years ago when she saw a need to help unemployed people find employment or start their own business. She started by teaching them skills like sewing and painting and over the past four years has helped 26 people. Currently there are 13 people in the programme and last year they started a food garden and are learning how to farm in urban areas at low cost.

The donation of fruit trees is part of our green initiative in which they have sponsored 100 trees to be planted in disadvantaged communities of the Western Cape all of which will be planted at Mama Rosie’s Community Project.

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The 1st of September is ‘Spring Day’ and the start of the South Africa’s National Arbour Month. Arbour Month, which aims to create awareness of the need to plant and maintain indigenous trees. We’ve made an investment in 100 trees to be planted within disadvantaged communities in Cape Town.

Trees provide oxygen, water vapour, food, shelter and fuel; all basic elements of life. According to the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry, the intention of Arbour Week is to promote a better understanding of trees (particularly indigenous trees), highlight the important role trees play in sustainable development, livelihoods of people and their environment, while encouraging communities to participate in various greening activities within their communities.

The trees we have purchased will be planted by Food & Trees for Africa (FTFA) in disadvantaged communities here informal housing clutters dry barren landscapes. These are areas where children do not have trees to climb and people walk along hot dusty roads in summer, instead of shaded tree lined lanes common in many suburbs only kilometres way.

“Trees are resources we need to actively renew and by supporting Food & Trees for Africa (FTFA) we do just that, improve how communities live and increase awareness of the value of trees,� says Stephen Palmer, managing director of AMERICAN shutters.

FTFA, the Section 21 social enterprise which facilitates tree planting in South Africa, also have checks and balances in place to ensure the trees planted are properly cared for to ensure they reach maturity.

“Sustainable business practice is imperative to the success of our business at American Shutters, and we understand the value of trees as we use only the best wood in our shutters and blinds,� says Palmer, “We are proud to support Food & Trees for Africa and encourage other businesses to support the initiative to green our country.�