The Pen May Be Mightier Than the Sword – But How About “Green” Eco-Friendly Stationery!

“Green” Stationery – sounds a bit like an oxymoron since ‘writing paper and envelopes’ in North America is mostly made out of timber-based pulp. But in fact, eco-friendly tree-free stationery and recycled post-consumer paper are becoming much more commonplace in the United States and around the world than one may have ever realized. But what exactly does this all mean for you and me?

It means that we don’t have to sacrifice our planet’s health with the unwarranted or unregulated wholesale destruction of forests and trees just to write letters, invitations, and good wishes to friends and family. Instead, we now have some really good environmentally-friendly lifestyle alternatives or substitutes such as renewable energy paper and chlorine-free paper and yes – paper made of used clothing and vintage textiles. But let’s begin with a look at tree-free stationery.

Some of the most well known plants used to make non-wood paper are organic hemp, cotton, coffee, mango, banana, bamboo, bean and tobacco fibers. Other lesser known plants used are bagasse and kenaf fibers. Here is a list of specialty companies where you can order such tree-free stationery.

(1) EcoSource Paper Inc. – British Columbia, Canada                                                       http://www.islandnet.com/~ecodette/ecosource.htm

(2) Vision Paper – Albuquerque, New Mexico                                                                    http://www.visionpaper.com/

(3) Green Field Paper Co. – San Diego, California                                                               http://www.greenfieldpaper.com/

(4) Costa Rica Natural Paper Co. – Costa Rica/Ventura, California                                      http://www.ecopaper.com/

(5) Crane & Co. – Dalton, Massachusetts                                                                    http://www.crane.com/

(6) Smock Paper Co. – Syracuse, New York                                                                          http://smockpaper.com/

As for post-consumer recycled stationery, recycling used waste paper, magazines, and toilet rolls is a viable way of providing new paper for consumers without cutting down trees and filling up landfills. In addition, fewer greenhouses gases are produced and less air and water pollution is created in comparison to making paper from fiber in its original condition. Here too is a list of green-minded companies known for their recycled premium quality stationery.

(1) Gumnut Hill Stationery – Windsor, Australia                                                                  http://www.gumnuthill.com.au/

(2) The Exotic Paper Company – Taunton, Somerset, England                                           http://www.elliepoopaper.co.uk/

(3) Green Stationery Co. – Gauteng, South Africa                                                                 http://greenstationery.co.za/

(4) Green Paper Company – Columbus, Ohio                                                                       http://www.greenpapercompany.com/

(5) Paper Culture Co. – Millbrae, California                                                                           http://www.paperculture.com/eco-friendly-invitations-announcements.html

For many stationery companies, utilizing wind-generated electricity to manufacture and print their greeting cards, notecards, fine writing paper and pocket journals is another way of “going green” without depleting the Earth’s fossil fuel resources. Notable companies using renewable energy for stationery products include:

(1) Borealis Press – Blue Hill, Maine                                                                                      http://www.borealispress.net/

(2) Jacki Paper Co. – Belmont, California                                                                                   http://www.jackipaper.com/

(3) 9SpotMonk Design Co. – Glen Rock, New Jersey                                                                http://www.9spotmonk.com/bio.html

Another example of stationery companies “going green” is using chlorine-free environmentally-friendly bleaching agents in brightening the final paper product. Two noteworthy companies practicing this method are:

(1) New Leaf Paper Co. – San Francisco, California                                                                       http://www.newleafpaper.com/about/mission-history

(2) Greener Printer – Berkeley, California                                                                             http://www.greenerprinter.com/grp/jsp/ourpapers.jsp

But innovation in stationery processes doesn’t stop here – Arch Paper Company in St. Louis, Missouri (http://www.archpaper.net/) creates business cards, greeting cards, letterpress, and graphics by recycling vintage textiles and used clothing.  And then there are the Benedictine Monks at ‘Abbey Press Printing’ – part of Saint Meinrad Archabbey in southern Indiana – who for the past 140 years have been making an array of cards and stationery in an environmentally and socially responsible manner.   Their Christian commitment to environmental stewardship is far-reaching — and their works — mightier than the sword!

See —                                                                                                                          http://www.snailspacepaper.com/%7Esnails/index.php?id=34&page=Our%20Purpose,%20Promise%20&%20Passion

Are You a Socially-Minded Gardener? A Master Composter at Heart? How Good is Your Recycling Strategy for Both Your Kitchen Scraps and Yard Trimmings and Yes – Your Career?

What is “Composting” you may ask? One definition is that it is the “Controlled” biological decomposition of carbon-containing matter by fungi and bacteria into a stable and useful humus material – or – fertilizer. It is a process that allows decomposed materials to be reused as a nutritious supplement for your garden, lawn, and house plants. The most common materials used for composting is leaves, grass, weeds, and kitchen scraps such as fruit and vegetable peels, coffee grounds, tea bags, pizza crusts, bread, crackers, beans, rice, cereal, pasta, nuts, herbs, spices, and egg shells.

But “composting” is more than a process – it is a strategy – a way to manage the reduction of solid municipal waste. The same idea holds true for the recycling of one’s career – it is a strategy for overcoming professional hurdles such as company downsizing, restructuring, or mergers. I liken it to a three-pronged strategy for finding that next job, for tapping into team-building resources, and for gaining momentum up the corporate ladder. In addition, the recycling of one’s career is also a process – an individual self-assessment of one’s own unique talents and work experiences to date – broken down to its smallest components – recyclable skills such as writing, planning, researching, conceptualizing, negotiating and promoting.

So in essence, whatever recycling strategy you choose – whether it’s for your lawn or your career – the outcome is sure to enrich your life and the lives of others. Test yourself then with these trivia questions and see if you are up to the 21st century challenge of recycling both personally and professionally.

1- Which U.S. state has the oldest “Compost School” in the nation providing training experiences and interactive opportunities to farmers, businessmen, and government workers who are involved with medium and large-scale composting operations?
A) New Jersey B) Virginia C) Massachusetts D) Maine

2- Currently, in the USA, 33.8% of municipal solid waste is recovered, recycled or composted, 11.9% is burned at combustion facilities, and the remaining 54.3% is disposed of in landfills. Which U.S. island is a leader in the “Zero Waste” movement which ideally seeks to eliminate all waste being shipped to landfills by way of recycling, reusing, and composting strategies?
A) Jekyll Island B) Nantucket C) Mackinac Island D) San Juan Islands

3- Achieving the correct moisture content in a compost pile is an important factor in keeping it working efficiently. Biological activity will stop completely if the pile dries out. Thus the ideal percentage rate for measuring compost water content is which percentage – 30%, 50%, 70%, or 85%?

4- Large-scale “vermicomposting” is practiced in the USA, Canada, Japan, Italy, Malaysia, and the Philippines. What special animal expedites this process of breaking down compost materials? A) Squirrels B) Mice C) Wild Rabbits D) Worms

5- Which cool compost-heated thing has not been invented yet? A) Compost-heated greenhouse B) Compost-heated Japanese Tea Room C) Compost-heated car fuel D) Compost-heated outdoor shower E) None of the Above – All Have Been Invented

6- Recycling activity can create anywhere from 4 to 10 more jobs for every 1 job created in the waste management and disposal industries. True or False?

7- Curbside composting in large urban environments has skyrocketed over the last three years. There are now more than 90 cities with such a program. One major reason for the program is that landfills across the nation have reached their maximum capacity as Americans generate 250 million tons of garbage per year. True or False?

8- Which city is the top composting city in America? It has the largest compost collection program in the U.S. including restaurants and food-related establishments. A) Seattle B) New York City C) San Francisco D) Los Angeles

9- The demand for sustainable planning consultants is high – seven times higher than for all other industries. Their role is to provide businesses with tools and information to minimize environmental impact. Which of the following recyclable skills are essential for such a career path? A) Problem-solving skills B) Organizational skills C) Analytical skills D) Client-Oriented Service Skills E) All of the Above

10- Do you have what it takes to be a socially ‘green’ entrepreneur? Here are two examples: One is a two year old Utah-based company called “EcoScraps”. Their business model – they collect leftover food from grocery stores, Costco stores and produce wholesalers – turn it into bags of compost mix – and then sell these bags thru home improvement stores like Home Depot. The second example is a three year old Florida-based foundation called “Clean the World” which is now the largest recycler of hotel amenities in the world. Their business model – they collect leftover hotel soaps, shampoos, conditioners, lotions, and gels – recycle them for distribution to communities and countries in need of better hygiene and sanitation – and thereby help to fight the global spread of preventable diseases. In just three years of operation, they have managed to distribute more than 11 million bars of recycled soap to children and families in Haiti, Canada, the U.S. and 40 other countries worldwide.

Answers: (1) D – Maine (2) B – Nantucket (3) 50% (4) D – Worms (5) E -None of the Above-All Have Been Invented (6) True (7) True (8) C – San Francisco (9) E – All of the Above (10) I am hopeful that the answer is YES!

Shopping for Sharks, Penguins, Elephants and Kids? – A Unique Kind of Experience: Eco-Retail and Reusable Therapy! (Part II)

In Part I of this article, an underlying assumption was made that your online eco-shopping experience would generate unique gift ideas, new product purchases, and a psychological uplift whose primary beneficiaries would be yourself, your family, your friends and your pets — and of course the environment itself – – but what if the beneficiaries were perfect strangers – people you had never met before in your life? And what if the gifts you gave them were “used” items? Well, – Welcome to the Eco-friendly World of “Reusable Gift-Giving”!

Once again, the best source of reusable gift-giving ideas can easily be found online through some really cool non-profit organizations many of which were founded by socially-minded entrepreneurs. Let us now take a look at eight of these socially and environmentally progressive-thinking groups and at the same time, take stock of our own closets, bins, storage boxes, and bureau drawers.

1- Sole Responsibility – www.soleresponsibility.org
Gift-Giving Category: Unworn & Slightly Used Running Shoes

Gift-Giving Goal: Founded by a group of women runners in 2005 – Jennifer North of Ottawa, Canada and her running mates, Tracy Clark and Cindy Scott – this non-profit organization collects, washes, and sends unworn and gently used athletic shoes to needy communities in Africa – including refugees, orphan children, the elderly, the disabled, the disadvantaged and the physically-challenged in Africa.

Ask Yourself: Are you interested in collecting running shoes thru your office or school or expanding the number of collection sites?

2- Cell Phones for Soldiers – www.cellphonesfor soldiers.com/
Gift-Giving Category: Used Cell Phones

Gift-Giving Goal: Founded by the Bergquist family of Norwell, Massachusetts in 2004, this non-profit organization collects ‘used’ cell phones, sells them to recycling firms, and takes the proceeds to buy calling cards for deployed and returning troops so that they can communicate with their family cost-free while serving in the United States military.

Ask Yourself: Are you interested in gifting your cell phone to an American service man or woman in remembrance of a loved family member or close friend who made a difference in your life?

3- Cristina Foundation – www.cristina.org/
Gift-Giving Category: Used Computer Equipment & Related Technology

Gift-Giving Goal: Founded by David Bruce McMahan and Yvetter Marrin in 1984, and based in Greenwich, Connecticut, this non-profit organization collects used pc desktops, notebooks, printers, scanners, copiers, keyboards, modems, monitors, software, video cards, and digital cameras -and in turn – donates these used items to schools, public agencies, and other non-profit organizations who help to train people with disabilities, students at risk and economically disadvantaged persons so that they may lead more independent and productive lives.

Ask Yourself: Are you interested in gifting computer equipment so that others in need may have access for the first time to special educational programs and vocational support?

4- Bicycles for Humanity (B4H) – www.bicycles-for-humanity.org
Gift-Giving Category: Used & Unwanted Bicycles & Related Accessories

Gift-Giving Goal: Founded in 2005 by Pat Montani in Whistler, British Columbia, Canada, this non-profit organization collects old and unwanted bicycles, bike parts, clothing, helmets, and shoes and sends them to disadvantaged communities in Africa so that people there are empowered with their own transport.

Ask Yourself: Are you interested in giving the gift of mobility so that others may have better access to healthcare, education, food, water, employment, and social opportunities?

5- Riley’s Toys Foundation – www.rileystoys.org/
Gift-Giving Category: New, Slightly Used & Unwanted Toys

Gift-Giving Goal: Founded in 2009 by then five year old, Riley Hebbard, of Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, this non-profit organization collects new toys and slightly used and unwanted toys and sends them to vulnerable children in Africa many of whom live in orphanages, AIDS camps, refugee camps, and various impoverished areas.

Ask Yourself: Are you interested in giving the gift of joy to a struggling child that is toyless and forgotten by creating a smile of hope with your toy?

6- St. Jude’s Ranch for Children – www.stjudesranch.org/
Gift-Giving Category: Used Greeting Cards

Gift-Giving Goal: Founded by Episcopal priest, Father Jack Adam, in 1967 and based in Boulder City, Nevada with two other locations in Texas – this non-profit organization recycles used greeting cards by allowing abused, abandoned, and neglected children residing at their facilities to reconstruct these old cards into new holiday cards and greeting cards for every occasion which are then sold in turn to support their organizational programs and services.

Ask Yourself: Are you interested in giving a teenager “green” entrepreneurship skills and a sense of importance, dignity, and purpose in life?

7- The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) –
www.humanesociety.org/assets/pdfs/fur/wildlife_rehabbers_fur_donations_list.pdf
Gift-Giving Category: Used Real Furs

Gift-Giving Goal: Founded in 1954 by journalist Fred Myers and his three colleagues – Larry Andrews, Marcia Glaser, and Helen Jones – this Washington D.C.-based organization is the largest animal advocacy organization in the world. Backed by 11 million Americans, the HSUS is dedicated to seeking a humane and sustainable world for all animals that will also benefit people. In its efforts to reduce animal suffering and celebrate pets as well as wildlife, the HSUS now collects used real furs (including fur apparel, fur trims, and fur accessories) and sends them to wildlife rehabilitators so that these furs can then be repurposed as blankets for orphaned and injured wild baby animals they find every year.

Ask Yourself: Are you interested in giving an abandoned or injured wild animal the warmth and comfort of a furry blanket a.k.a. – a surrogate mother?

8- Combat Paper Project – www.combatpaper.org/
Gift Giving Category: Used military uniforms

Gift-Giving Goal: Founded in 2007 by Drew Matott, a paper and book artist and Drew Cameron, a soldier-turned-artist, this San Francisco-based organization administers papermaking workshops all across the USA to assist military veterans to work out, reconcile, and share their personal military experiences by teaching them how to make paper pulp by hand from their old combat uniforms and transforming the pulp into a variety of cathartic works of paper art – giving the veterans “a vehicle to tell their personal stories of military service.”

Ask Yourself: Are you interested in donating a military uniform to a veteran community at one of these workshops so that our military men and women are better able to embrace their military experiences and find within themselves the artistic ability to turn uniforms into combat paper and ultimately books, personal journals, broadsides, and other works of art?

Truly the backstory of these reusable gift-giving ideas is fascinating. You may now want to ask yourself this all important question – are you inspired enough to organize a grassroots chapter of your own within your local area?

Ten of the Most Fascinating Forces Pushing the Computer Industry Towards Going Green!!

If you are like me, my laptop -and my desktop computer and printer -are integral pieces of my middle class way of living here in the USA. I use these appurtenances of electronic–based hardware daily for business and personal communication and for purchasing transactions. Moreover, I am conscious of my monitor’s automatic screensaver that activates a virus scan when it’s not in use. What I was not aware of though – are the social, economic, and environmental changes that are pushing the computer industry towards “green computing”. Summarized below then, are ten of some of the most interesting forces behind this push to revolutionize the technological designs, manufacturing processes, and general use and disposal of our nifty computer systems and components.

1- World Population Growth – Today’s world population is 7 billion. Projected World population is expected to be 9.2 billion by 2050. Thus the demand for computer products is expected to grow
dramatically.
2- Hazardous Landfill Growth – Computers are difficult to recycle. Much of what’s inside computers is toxic such as non-degradable amounts of lead, cadmium, brominated fired retardants, PVC’s, and other plastics made of crude oil products.
3- Precious Metals Scarcity – Rare earth metals are crucial in advanced manufacturing of computer disk drives. Right now, China produces some 97% of the world’s supply of rare earth metals.
4- Electrical-Powered Inefficiencies – $250 billion is spent globally each year powering computers – 85% of that energy is wasted idling. Also, newer computers are more “electricity-hungry” – The electricity consumption for high-performance desktop computers with gaming processors and graphic cards are the most energy-guzzling appliances in homes.
5- Shorter Computer Life Cycle – The sophistication of today’s marketing for the newest, latest models affects consumer behavior – people are now changing their computers more often than they did a few years ago making the life expectancy of the average computer much shorter.
6- Government Legislation – European Union Legislation was passed in 2005 nicknamed the ‘Ecodesign Directive’ – for establishing a framework of ecodesign requirements – the main objective of which is “to bring about improvements in the environmental performance of energy-related products throughout their life cycle from mining of the raw material through to recycling at end-of-life.”
7- Int’l Standards Growth – The internationally recognized ‘Energy Star’ Logo for rating energy efficient consumer products was originally conceived as a voluntary labeling program in the early 1990’s by the United States Environmental Protection Agency – but now, Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, Taiwan and the European Union have also adopted this standard and Sweden has expanded the standard to include ergonomics.
8- Alternative-Energy Sources Growth – VIA Technologies, a Taiwanese company, is aiming to offer the world’s first certified carbon free personal computer products. In partnership with Motech – a solar cell manufacturing industry leader located in China – part of VIA’s Green Computing Initiative is developing alternative solar panel-powered computers for multiple applications from remote locations to urban centers.
9- Global Warming – (Known also as Anthropogenic Climate Change) – Average temperatures have climbed 1.4 degrees Fahrenheit around the world since 1880 according to NASA’s Goddard Institute for Space Studies. And the rate of warming is increasing. The 20th century’s last two decades were the hottest in 400 years. The Arctic ice is rapidly disappearing and the region may have its first completely ice-free summer by 2040. Glaciers and mountain snows are rapidly melting. Glacier National Park has 27 glaciers compared to 150 in 1910. Coral reefs are dying off in record numbers with some areas seeing bleach rates of 70%. Lastly, there is an upsurge in the amount of extreme weather events – wildfires, heat waves and strong tropical storms. Causes – greater concentrations of water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide are pouring into the atmosphere – commonly referred to as greenhouse gases. These gases help to trap heat near the Earth’s surface due in part to industrialization, deforestation, and pollution.
10- Green News Growth – The overwhelming majority of Americans (92%) use multiple platforms (online and offline sources) to get news on a typical day – including national TV, local TV, the internet, local newspapers, national newspapers, their cell phones, and the radio. Most use four to six platforms daily. But nowhere is the expansiveness of the green news landscape more evident than on the internet where one can find hundreds of eco-friendly websites, blogs, and businesses including industry news leaders, Huffington Post, Treehugger.com, Greenbiz.com and Green.alltop.com which highlights the top green news and headlines across the web.

Perhaps because of all these factors, there has been a tremendous growth in awareness by personal computer users like myself to use recycling centers for their old computers and ink cartridges. So next time you are on the web, check out earth911.com and ecosquid.com to decide whether you want to resell, recycle, or donate your old computer products. Welcome to the world of ecycling!

Fit For A King, Even “The Sun King” Himself: Today’s Eco-Exquisite Elements of Interior Design!

When one thinks of King Louis XIV of France, one thinks of the opulent interior of the Palace of Versailles – a royal court filled with luxury and splendor. When I think of King Louis XIV, I often think of him as an overzealous client who would marvel at today’s inexpensive eco-exquisite interior design solutions and command that one of everything i.e. eco-flooring, eco-wall covering, eco-décor, and eco-furniture be fashioned into French eco-luxury goods to be shown at his place of business.

Well, one doesn’t necessarily need to be French or a King to appreciate great wine and great interior design products, rather one needs a sophisticated sensibility to know what to look for in today’s eco-conscious construction of home ornamentation. Here then are some of the most popular elements and eco-innovations of Eco-Interior Designing :

1- Bamboo Products – Yes, one can find bamboo products practically everywhere – bamboo blinds, flooring, frames, furniture, cutting boards, bowls, plates, utensils, countertops, and even bamboo towels. It is this versatility that makes bamboo such a popular design option along with the fact that bamboo products are durable, light weight, flexible, and resistant to moisture. It is also a very dense wood with a hardness that rivals oak and unlike this traditional hardwood – it only takes three to five years for bamboo to mature. Indeed, bamboo is one of the fastest-growing plants in the world – and in certain species, it can grow up to three feet a day. In addition the oxygen output of bamboo is 35% greater than trees and bamboo works well to prevent soil erosion along riverbanks, steep hillsides, and in flood plains. This all makes bamboo an excellent renewable resource.
2- Cork Products – When one thinks of cork, one usually thinks of ‘cork stoppers’ to seal sparkling wines or olive oil bottles but in fact cork flooring is an easy installation product most widely used today in both the residential and commercial markets due in part to its great insulating properties, (both in respect to temperature and sound), its hypo-allergenic properties (resistant to insects, mold, and germs), its shock absorbent properties (surprisingly soft and comfortable texture), its fire resistant properties and its low maintenance properties. In addition, cork flooring comes in a variety of dramatically beautiful finishes, patterns, and colors both in tiles and planks. Mosaic cork tiles are made from recycled wine corks and large-sized cork planks are made from post-industrial cork pieces. Mosaic cork tiles, in particular, are an ideal choice for the bathroom and can also be used as a backsplash in the shower. As for cork’s green credentials, cork is 90% air and is essentially the outer bark of the Cork Oak Tree that grows in Portugal and Spain. It is harvested every 9 years and since the bark is renewable, the process can be repeated for 2 centuries or more. And since cork flooring is also 100% biodegradable, it has a very low impact on the environment when it is recycled.
3- Recycled Leather Products – Founded in 2005, EcoDomo LLC in Rockville, Maryland, is an outstanding example of an innovatively creative eco-business that develops, manufactures, and designs a vast array of sustainable interior design products that are both luxurious and beautiful which include recycled leather tiles for floors, walls, staircases, ceilings, area rugs, and furniture. These recycled leathers are made from the leftover hides from tanneries. “The recycling process uses 99.8% of the products input in the manufacturing process in a closed-loop water filtration system.” The result is a recycled leather tile that is more resilient to wear and tear and temperature differentials than regular hide leather, easy to install, use, and maintain, and naturally good at absorbing noise. Client installations of this recycled leather product have been applied to boardrooms, commercial hotels, bank lobbies, restaurants, gyms, elevators, fireplaces, and theaters.
4- Recycled Plastic Bottle Products – Yes, another great eco-innovation is the transformation of post-consumer waste – specifically ‘polyethylene terephthalate’ fibers or “PET” found in soda bottles, ketchup bottles, water bottles, and house cleaning bottles – into polyester carpet tiles! The result is a carpet rich in colors with low moisture absorption, permanent stain and static resistance, and superior strength and abrasion resistance. One can find these carpets under the labels – Resistron or Permalon.
5- Recycled Rubber Products – Founded in 1995, Rubber Flooring Direct in Laguna Hills, California is another outstanding example of a company making eco-innovative flooring products from 100% recycled rubber including gym and weight room flooring, fitness center flooring, physical therapy flooring, doggy day care flooring, equine pavers, playground mats, golf course tiles, and ice rink arena flooring. These eco-friendly sports flooring products are made from old discarded car and truck tires. The result is an array of recycled rubber tiles, rubber rolls, and interlocking rubber tiles more durable than virgin rubber and that is extremely clean, tough but cushiony, and looks great for many years to come.
6- Jute Products – Jute is a vegetable fiber that can be spun into coarse, strong threads to make burlap bags, wallpaper, rugs, chair coverings, curtains, and carpets. It is primarily grown in India and Bangladesh (taking only 4 to 6 months to grow) and is a popular choice in home décor as it is strong, durable, UV resistant with good sound and heat insulation properties and anti-static properties.
7- Hemp Products – Hemp plants have been harvested for over a thousand years throughout much of the temperate areas of the world. It is one of the fastest growing plants and its fibers are not only strong and durable, they are pest-resistant making it a very eco-friendly green flooring product.
8- Sisal Products – Sisal is a stiff fiber obtained from the agave plant known for its strength, durability, sound-absorbing properties, ability to stretch and resistance to deterioration in saltwater. It’s an ideal choice for beachfront carpeting and cat-scratching posts. Sisal production is the greatest in Brazil but it is also produced in Tanzania, China, and Kenya.
9- Abaca Products – Abaca is a species of banana native to the Philippines and grown there as well as in Ecuador and Costs Rica. Its fibers were originally used for making twines and ropes but it is now used in making uncommonly beautiful carpets and furniture.
10- Coir Products – Mainly grown in India and Sri Lanka, coir is a natural fiber harvested from the husks of coconuts. Its natural beauty, its resiliency against abrasions and moisture make it an ideal choice for floor mats, doormats, and mattresses.
11- Seagrass Products – Seagrasses are marine flowering plants which often grow in large meadows that resemble their terrestrial counterparts and are used by basket weavers the world over to make handicraft storage baskets, bins, boxes, doormats, and elegant floor coverings. The result is a highly spill-resistant, durable, home décor feature that retains the fresh look of the outdoors.
12- Grasscloth Products – Grasscloth today is associated with natural wallcoverings. Grasscloth wallpaper is made by weaving dried grasses together and affixing it to a paper backing. The fibers uses to make grasscloth wallpaper include a medley of sea grass, sisal, jute, bamboo, and other textured sustainable materials. The result is a versatile green design element that can act as a dramatic focal point or a warm and interesting backdrop for furnishings.

One last thing to note here – I have this fanciful notion that if King Louis XIV of France were alive today, he would certainly make some ‘eco-interactive’ changes to his “Hall of Mirrors” at Versailles with some of these popular eco-exquisite elements of interior design. In particular, I envision him purchasing some of CORNING INC.’s “LOTUS GLASS” – an Environmentally Friendly Scratch-Resistant Glass – with Touchscreen Capabilities and a Video Display. You see, I am a chimerical descendant of King Louis IX, “The Saint King” of France and I have this unique crystal ball with heat-resistant, clairvoyant-reflecting properties that’s telling me….Oh yes, Happy Eco-Interior Designing to You!

An Architect’s Dream, A Community’s Hope, A Developer’s Magnet, and A Nation’s Phoenix: Recycling Medieval Castles!

A castle is like a magic wand – it evokes images of powerful knights, fairytale princesses, spell-casting wizards, and medieval riches of immeasurable grandeur.    And for those castles that stand in ruins today, many are now being reconstructed, restored, recycled, and ‘reborn’ to their former glory all across the globe – for reasons as varied as their shapes and sizes.

In Poland, two businessmen brothers along with real-estate developer, Jacek Nazarko, are now rebuilding a medieval castle in the village of Bobolice in northwestern Poland in order to house a museum and attract tourists to this haunted enclave whose tunnels still connect to nearby Mirow Castle.  Originally built as a royal castle in the middle of the 14th century by King Casimir III the Great, the Lasecki brothers hope to “recapture the enchantment of time when Poland was a great European power, before centuries of occupation, warfare, and foreign rule.” Elsewhere in the south-western region of Poland, the Ortus Foundation together with architects, OP Architekten, are in the middle of a revitalization program – the building of a cultural center within the remaining walls of Chrzelice Castle.  The whole complex is to be supplied with energy coming from renewable resources and it is hoped that the village of Chrzelice and the surrounding countryside will thrive with the assemblage of new social, intellectual, and cultural activities and media technologies within its local historical confines.

In Hungary, a group of castle-enthusiasts, who call themselves the “Friends of Szadvar”, are committed to spending their weekends restoring the 12th century Castle Szadvar, located in Hungary’s Aggtelek National Park near the Slovakian border, which also happens to be one of the poorest counties in Hungary plagued by mine and factory closings.  Additional volunteers for their clean-up efforts are now being recruited thru a Youth Camp that they sponsor during the summer.  In addition to wanting to preserve this medieval site, the ‘Friends’ also wish to promote economic development in the surrounding communities by turning the site into a major tourist attraction thereby attracting new capital infusions and clean service sector businesses into the local area.

And in the village of Algerri in northeastern Spain near the Pyrennes, volunteers are working to restore their medieval castle while in southern Spain folks are busy restoring Islamic castles re-using the stone ruins of Roman masonry of the 1st – 4th centuries (technically known as spolia) that the Moorish invaders first re-used themselves to build their Muslim-fortified structures as they moved through the Iberian peninsula.  And halfway around the world in Kumamoto, Japan, restoration efforts are now almost done on Castle Udo Yagura, a project aimed at commemorating the 400th anniversary of its completion by the famous samurai, Kato Kiyomasa, back in 1607.

But not all these castle revitalization efforts are being made with impunity. In south-central Portugal, in the tiny medieval mountaintop village of Marvao, the renovation of its spectacular 13th century castle is being criticized by both residents and visitors alike for its lack of ‘authenticity’.  The installation of modern lamps, new cobblestones, concrete walkways and benches, and a steel-and-glass encased surveillance system are all being questioned.  And in Scotland, some medieval ghost-filled castles are being transformed into spooky “Horror Hotels”. In sharp contrast, however, in the South Tyrolean area of northern Italy, the renovation of beautiful Bruneck Castle, an awe-inspiring 13th century castle surrounded by the Zillertal Alps, has been carefully transformed by EM2  Architects into the Messner Mountain Museum (the fifth in a series of mountain museums) under the careful guidance of famed Reinhold Messner, a famous climber, writer, lecturer, and cultural anthropologist. As the mission of the converted castle is to highlight the art, culture, and religion of mountain people around the world, the interior is appropriately constructed with unfinished timber – a material that does justice to the architectural integrity of the castle and can be easily removed for various exhibitions.

On the whole, the recycling of medieval castles is a painstakingly serious endeavor rooted in archaeology, material sciences, and architectural history.  Perhaps the best example of this is in Treigny, France.  Deep in the forests of Burgundy, France, a team of modern-day masons under the guidance of architect, Jacques Moulin, are now in the process of constructing a 13th century medieval castle from scratch using the same materials and techniques that were used in the Middle Ages. Nails, ropes, baskets, and roof-tiles are all made on site as well as lime kilns for making mortar and the castle’s design is historically based on a popular style used by King Philip II of France.  Known as Guedelon Castle, the project has created 55 jobs and is now a tourist destination with more than 300,000 visitors per year.

Given the fact that castles the world over have such universal appeal and a wondrous ability to captivate our imagination, is it any wonder then that the green innovations of today and the economic prosperity of tomorrow might be the greatest beneficiaries yet of these recycled medieval giants?

Summer Fun: Rescuing the Earth by Re-evaluating Junk or The Joy of Eco-cycling Your Way Thru the Best Flea Markets in the World!

For me, summertime means a series of flea market adventures.  Numerous books have been written on the subject and others eulogize its bounty of second-hand offerings in ‘Shabby Chic’, ‘Thrifty Chic’, ‘Vintage Look Collecting’, and ‘Flea Market Decorating’ tips along with copious notes on ‘Behind-The-Scenes Treasure Hunting Secrets’.  And along with the explosive growth of  eco-chic outdoor flea markets across the USA, Europe, and now globally around the world comes a flood of trendy articles on ‘eco-renovating’ and ‘eco-accessorizing’ your home with old flea market finds and exotic craft work. But amongst all this ‘flea-bitten’ obsessive literature, I still have yet to find one critique that colorfully addresses the paradoxical joy of culling thru unusual time-worn objects of flea market junk in order to rescue one’s own personal junk from being thrown out – another words – the joy of being both environmentally responsible and artistically creative by combining eclectic junk materials found at flea markets with your own well-worn, imperfect junk at home.  And in the process creating your own masterpiece of cultural second-hand treasure – an “eco-makeover gift”.

But what constitutes an “eco-makeover gift”, you ask?   A little homework, yes, a few magazines to energize your imaginative juices, yes, but above all – a sharp shopper’s eye for discerning under-rated and over-looked junk.  Hence, the best way to start is to make a list of small to mid-size objects that you currently own around you that you consider hopeless – either out-of-date or out-of-place or just badly damaged or perhaps missing a part or section.  The key here is that you are hesitant to throw it out – just yet.    That’s good – your instinctual knack for conserving is working fine!  Next, check with your local library or your local bookstore and the internet as well for a few “Do-It-Yourself” and “Ready Made” magazine issues and ‘simple lifestyle’ type magazine issues such as “Country Living” and “Living Crafts”.

Next, whilst looking thru the many picture pages of these magazine issues, see if any of the home objects on your ‘misfit’ junk list have potential worth that you may have not considered before and then consider the range of flea market possibilities that might do well in conjunction with your own items which would give them added value.  If you can make this connection, you have then made – theoretically-speaking that is – an “eco-makeover gift”.

These are but a few examples of my favorite handcrafted “eco-makeover gifts”:  1) a vintage lamp assembled of odd and end saucers and teacups accumulated from home and my local flea market 2) a ‘geeky’ serving platter and teenage table top covered with old computer keyboard buttons, typewriter keys, scrabble tiles and misplaced domino pieces collected from home and my local flea market 3) decorative paper table runners, garlands, and posters and photo frames made from discarded easy-to-recycle children’s books, science fiction novels, and old college text books found at home and used book markets and 4) curios of one-of-a-kind hats, necklaces, pillows, napkin rings, and coasters made from stitching recycled linens and woollen sweaters together with a stockpile of lost buttons, pins, earrings, key chains, cuff links, and broken wrist watches from a myriad of flea markets and my own home.

So instead of waiting to shop at the end of the year for that perfectly labeled, monogrammed and personalized holiday gift – start now, this summer, and save money, (and your own garbage disposal) and have fun creating your own gifts by eco-cycling your way thru the Best Flea Markets in the World – and don’t be surprised who you might meet next to the table full of hand-me-down toys – for Santa Claus has gone green and is now ‘flea-ing’ as well!

BEST FLEA MARKET DESTINATIONS BY COUNTRY

ARGENTINA

Buenos Aires – San Telmo Flea Market at Plaza Dorrego

AUSTRALIA

Sydney – The Rocks Flea Market

BELGIUM

Bruges – Bruges Flea Market

Brussels – Place du Jeu-de-Balle Flea Market

Ciney – Brocante Fair

Waterloo – Waterloo Flea Market

CANADA

Ottawa – ByWard Market

Saint Eustace (near Montreal) – St. Eustace Flea Market

Toronto – Dr. Flea’s Flea Market

Vancouver – Vancouver Flea Market

CHINA

Beijing – A) Panjiayuan Weekend Flea Market

B) Hongqiao Market

DENMARK

Copenhagen – A) Norrebro Flea Market  B) Israels Plads Flea Market  C) Gammel Strand Flea Market  D) Fredericksberg Flea Market  E) Lyngby Flea Market F) Kongens Nytorv Arts-and-Crafts Flea Market

ENGLAND

London – A) Portobello Road Market B) Camden Lock Market C) Camden Passage Market D) Petticoat Lane Market  E) New Calendonian Market or Bermondsey Market

ESTONIA

Tallinn – Balti Jaama Turg

FRANCE

Lille – La Grande Braderie de Lille Flea Market

Nice- Cours Saleya Flea Market

Paris – A) Marche aux Puces de St.-Ouen Porte de Clignancourt B) Le Jules Valles Market C) Le Marche Serpette  D) Porte de Vanves

GERMANY

Berlin – A) Die Nolle @ Nollendorfplatz B) Museum Island Flea Market  C) Mauer Park Flea Market D) Moritzplatz Flea Market E) Arkonaplatz Flea Market F) Strasse des 17.Juni Flea Market

Munich – A) Theresienwiese Flea Market B) Auer Dult Flea Market & Crafts Fair @ Mariahilfplatz

GREECE

Athen – Monastiraki Flea Market

HUNGARY

Budapest – Esceri Flea Market

INDIA

Goa – A) Anjuna Flea Market B) Mapusa Friday Market

IRELAND

Dublin – Blackberry Fair Flea Market

ISRAEL

Tel Aviv – Jaffa Flea Market

ITALY

Alba – Mercantino di Torino

Arezzo – Arezzo Flea Market

Florence – Mercato Delle Pulci Flea Marketd @ Piazza Del Ciompi

Lake Maggiore – Borgo D’Ale Flea Market

Milan – Cormano Flea Market

Rome – A) Porta Portese Flea Market B) The Underground

Turin – Carmagnola Flea Market

JAPAN

Tokyo – Ameya Yokocho or Ameyoko

MALAYSIA

Singapore – Sungei Road ‘Thieves Market’

MEXICO

Puerto Vallarta – Puerto Vallarta Flea Market

MOROCCO

Tangier – Casa Barata Flea Market

NETHERLANDS

Amsterdam – A) Albert Cuyp Market B) Waterlooplein Flea Market  C) Noordermarkt Flea Market

POLAND

Krakow – Sunday Flea Market @ Plac Targowy Unitarg; Warsaw – Kolo Flea Market

PORTUGAL

Lisbon – Feira Da Ladra

RUSSIA

Moscow – Izmailovo Souvenir Market

SPAIN

Barcelona – A) Placa de la Seu Flea Market B) Mercantic Flea Market

Cap de Creus (Catalonia) – Cadaques Market

Madrid – El Rastro Flea Market

THAILAND

Bangkok – Chatuchak Weekend Market

TURKEY

Istanbul – A) Sahaflar Carsisi B) Grand Covered Bazaar C) The Egyptian Bazaar D) The Arasta Bazaar

URUGUAY

Montevideo – ‘La Feria de Tristan Narvaja’ Flea Market

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

Dubai Flea Market

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

CA – Alemeda – Alemeda Flea Market

Long Beach – Long Beach Antique Flea Market

Pasadena – Rose Bowl Flea Market

San Francisco – Alemany Flea Market;

San Jose – San Jose Flea Market

FL – Daytona Beach – Daytona Flea & Farmers Market

IL – Chicago – Maxwell Street Market

Wheaton – All-Night Flea Market

IN – Shipshewana – Shipshewana’s Flea Marke

MA – Brimfield’s Outdoor Antique Show

NY- New York City – A) The Antiques Garage B) Hell’s Kitchen Flea Market C) Brooklyn’s Flea D) GreenFlea

TX – Austin – Austin Country Flea Market

Canton – First Monday Park

127 Corridor – Jamestown, TN – North Covington, KY –  Gadsden, AL – World’s Longest Outdoor Market and Yard Sale – Covers 630 Miles and 5 states