I was contacted yesterday with a request to write an article about a relatively new company and I approached the request with equal amounts of skepticism and intrigue! The request was to write about a company that takes used cardboard boxes and sells them back to businesses and the general public at low prices. What I found was an extremely environmentally aware business whose value system is centered around reducing waste and recycling as many cardboard boxes as humanly possible;

“You don’t have to cut down a tree, to make a used cardboard box!”

The founder of the company, Marty Metro, started selling used cardboard boxes in his local neighborhood back in 2002 and he saw the potential for a big business;
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On the news the other night there was a story about a drought ridden area in Texas where the wells had gone dry. Except for one family, everyone was having to truck water in just to exist. The one exception was a family that had installed a rainwater collection system. Even with little to no rainfall they were able to supply their estimated 1,500 gallon a month need.

From our days of sailing we were pretty aware of the ease and practicality of collecting rain for our needs. On some islands where the only water comes from desalination systems water can be nearly as expensive as diesel fuel.

When we moved to Luna Azul we installed a rain collection system and were amazed, in an area that only gets 17 inches of annual rainfall, how much of our needs could be met from the rain.

In case you have never calculated how much water you are letting get away, here is the simple formula. I will use our 30 ft by 30 ft barn as an example. Converting ft to inches= 360″x360″=129,600 sq inches. So if it rains for one hour at 1″/hr you have 129, 600 cu inches divided by 231 cu in / gallon = 561 gallons of water. In one hour!!!

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How does a project that seems so simple and gratifying, end up making you feel guilty when your done? Well, when you start becoming environmentally conscious about what you do, then sometimes the end result can give you a different ending, as in my story. It has opened my eyes and given me yet another learning opportunity.
It all started when I cleaned out our refrigerator. I know, no one likes to do it, but I don’t mind, once I get started.
I started to take items out, shelf by shelf. Taking out the shelves and cleaning them one by one, then putting them back in and placing the items I chose to keep, back on the shelves.

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My husband and I have taken quite a few bike rides in the fall and spring; cruising the many biking trails available in the area.  While riding we typically listen to our iPods, kind of a serenade along the trail.  Last time we were out, about 10 minutes into the ride, my iPod went dead. Don’t get me wrong it was still a great ride and the scenery was peaceful, but I missed the accompaniment of my music. When we got home I took a little time to search the Internet for an eco-friendly way to charge my iPod or iPhone while out enjoying nature.  I found what looks to be a great product;

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While out grocery shopping this past weekend, I came across a great product. I bought a bag of Stahlbush Island Farms diced butternut squash. The brown paper packaging caught my eye with 100% Natural, Certified Sustainable Farming, Grown in the USA across the top. That was enough to make me buy and try the product. I have to say, it was wonderful. It tasted as good as fresh, excellent flavor.

Stahlbush Island Farms is a Real Family Farm.  they were founded by Bill and Karla Chambers in Oregon’s Willamette Valley in 1985, planting and harvesting just 2 crops. In 1998, Stahlbush Island Farms launched the sustainably grown frozen fruits and vegetables in the distinctive brown paper package that I purchased and in 2003, they begin selling a brand of organic pumpkin products called Farmer’s Market.

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Inspiration for our articles comes from many different places and last week I found a great company that inspired me to logon and write;

My inspiration came when I was “Googling” for recycled bags and purses, buried on the second page of my Google search was a name that just jumped out at me… UrthBags with a cool sounding description:

“Eco-Chic Purses & Handbags Made From Recycled Materials. UrthBags are hip purses & handbags made with a purpose”

Needless to say I was intrigued and a click later I was surfing through a wonderful site filled with beautiful handbags and purses all made from recycled materials. My husband and I put as much of our waste plastic, newspapers, magazines etc, into the recycle bin but we never get to see where they go or what they become. UrthBags takes these everyday recyclables and creates truly inspirational accessories. The company was founded by Monica Ralli and they are based in Hungtington Beach, CA and I have already placed several of their creations on my Christmas list. (I hope my Hubby is taking notes!)

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We were recently invited by my wife’s parents, Sharen and Carter, to get fresh frozen yogurt from a local business they had been telling us about for weeks. We tagged along in hope of some delicious dessert and found much, much more! The “Yogurt Patch” sells a variety of low-fat, no-fat and no sugar added fresh frozen yogurt and it’s all delicious but what really impressed my wife and I was that the Yogurt Patch has made an obvious investment in being a green business.  It’s not immediately obvious but eco friendly products are used all throughout the store.

The eagle eyed yogurt buyers will notice a sticker on the door which shows that the business is supported by a local “Green Teens” organization proving that the local community has already recognized the green commitment being made.

The Yogurt Patch owners have truly invested in green options throughout the store, we wish more businesses would make such a green commitment and we’d like to share the experience with you, so here we go… (more…)