Flower Wire Basket, $21.99 at the Dwell Store This Flower Wire Basket form Yumiko Sekine is made from knitted soft wire and is designed to look—as its name would suggest—like an abstract flower. The shallow basket is designed to hold and display fruit, snacks, or even unrefrigerated vegetables like whole onions or potatoes. Regular price: $28

Amy Wakeland prepares some of the fruits and vegetables that she regularly harvests from the backyard garden.

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, food scraps and yard waste make up 20 percent of what we throw away. Composting organic materials keeps them out of the landfill, which cuts down on greenhouse gases, and enriches the soil. To compost at home, make a pile in your backyard, or introduce an indoor bin for throwaways like apple peels and eggshells.

Mutatoes is a vivid and colorful collection of funny fruits and vegetables.

Helen Rice watering the garden outside of her Charleston residence.

Nestled in a celebrated midcentury neighborhood, the Riley Residence was a 1957 ranch house two doors down from Crestwood Hills, the Los Angeles cooperative development known for its collection of A. Quincy Jones masterpieces. The L-shaped floor plan on a large wooded lot was reimagined by architect Cory Buckner, who remodeled and developed an addition inspired by the nearby icons. Quirky retro charm radiates from the home with pistachio green cabinetry in the eat-in kitchen. These were complemented with some quiet complements like Blizzard countertops by Caesarstone and white tile by Ann Sacks. A nook with a tulip-style table by ModShop, a custom upholstered banquette by Johannes Interiors, and a Caboche chandelier by Foscarini accentuates the home's retro charm.

The side walls have been treated as vertical extension of the horizontal surface of the garden, and are used for growing climbers such as jasmine, grapes, honeysuckle, raspberries, beans, peas, and even a climbing fig. Colorful bird’s houses and bug hotels are also mounted on the walls.

Equipped with an LG refrigerator and Thermador wall oven, the eat-in kitchen also boasts custom cabinets faced with an oak veneer and a natural stone island.

"Beauty," Olafur Eliasson, 1993. In this work, a spotlight shines through a layer of mist to create a rainbow that's only visible from certain angles.

The rooftop garden not only provides daily food for the family, but also a place to rest every afternoon.

In the eat-in portion of the kitchen, a George Nelson Bubble Lamp hangs above an Artek table and chairs by Alvar Aalto.

Now more than ever, having a sustainable home that conserves resources and energy usage is paramount. Sustainable design and architecture has seen tremendous growth over the last decade—as has the number of professionals who specialize in designing and building green homes. While major sustainable features pertain to the initial design, planning, and building stages, there are still plenty of changes to make in your home for a greener lifestyle. Have you covered all your bases?

Marsha and Louis collect herbs in a garden by their screened porch (above). The home’s exterior cypress cladding is finished with Sikkens ProLuxe Cetol stain in Teak.

In a historic section of Raleigh, North Carolina, a modern home designed by Louis Cherry became the subject of a lengthy court battle. The house is clad in local cypress and HardiePanel siding in Stormy Monday by Benjamin Moore.

The kitchen features stainless steel prep counters, a Samsung stove, and Panasonic over-the-range microwave. The room is bordered by two full walls of windows, allowing light to flood the space at all times of the day. A custom birch butcher block table furnishes the family gathering space.

Just off this kitchen is this gorgeous "edible garden" making garden-to-table dining a reality in your very own home.

Nutrient-rich water from the pond is then used to irrigate a rooftop fruit and vegetable garden.

“The house is a machine for sustaining life,” explains Cole.

A neighbor harvests bell peppers in the garden.

The American Modern collection for Bauer Pottery is made in California in a variety of colorways. Shown, is the American Modern divided vegetable bowl in chartreuse.

More grinding.

The micro-farming wall was designed for nutrient-dense provisions, including fruits and vegetables.

"There’s a presence to that place—it’s vast, and constantly shifting," designer Lisa Moffitt says. "It was clear that this house should be an observation shed for the changing landscape beyond."

The vegetable garden produces everything from cauliflower to arugula and Italian parsley.

Just north of San Francisco, the Mill Valley home of former Phish manager and current restaurant owner John Paluska takes its place within its eclectic neighborhood and natural surroundings. A guest cottage flanks the family's garden. The "casita" has hosted friends, family, and even wildfire evacuees; Rachel Paluska refers to it as a "revolving door, in a fun way."

The residents store perishable items that don’t need refrigeration—like fruits, vegetables, onions, and garlic—in maple-lined pantry drawers.

In the open-plan main room upstairs, a midcentury modern table and chairs from a local antique shop mark the start of the eating and cooking area. Bertoia stools from Knoll tuck beneath the bar of the mahogany island, outfitted with a Kohler sink and a Grohe faucet. The cooktop and oven are from Wolf, while the other appliances are from Thermador.

An organic rooftop garden.

The Infinity Keychain is an elegant personal accessory comprised of vegetable-tanned leather, a copper rivet, and a copper split key ring. The leather includes a smooth exterior and soft touch interior, giving it a pleasant tactile experience when in hand.

When you add ingredients, Mellow will sense the change in weight and prompt your phone through its app.

A Fermob table and chairs are on the rooftop terrace. “The weather is unpredictable, to say the least. You want to be outside but you don’t want to sit in the middle of a gale,” says Duncanson. “But [at this house] you can always find a place that’s quiet.”