Eco friendly and charming modes of transportation for a wedding

While riding in a limousine or fancy convertible rental car is nice for some, it’s kind of getting old, don’t you think?  Why not go retro with a more charming, and not to mention, ‘green’ way of getting around on your wedding day?  You’ll have crowds watching as you go by and your guests will fall to the ground with laughter at all the fun they’ll be having with your unconventional mode of transportation.  Here are some ideas, just imagine yourself in them, and think of the benefits to planet earth!

A horse and carriage – remember always wanting to be just like Cinderella on your wedding day?  How about one of Jane Austen’s characters?  Well you can!  Horses aren’t that hard to find, even in the city, and old-fashioned carriages are still strolling along streets, especially in touristy areas (visited Victoria, B.C. lately?). Check out your local tour guide companies for this type of service.  Best part is, they can be used in any weather because of the canopy over your head!  (Take a bamboo throw with you to keep warm in case you’re having a fall or winter wedding!)

Horseback – take the previous idea a step further, and play like Julia Roberts in Runaway Bride by going directly on the horse’s back! How romantic would that be – a country wedding where the two of you run off together, alone….

Elephant – seriously, the Indians do it all the time for their celebrations!  Consider this one for cultural or culturally mixed weddings.  It will go great with your theme!

Rickshaw bike ride – this is a total must, especially if you’re having a European-style wedding.  While riding the bike yourself won’t agree with your flowing dress, you can hire a driver to do it for you as you squeeze comfortably in the back pedicab.  These rides can be pricey, since you’re basically hiring a tour guide by the hour, but may be worth the budget!

Bus, train and tram – this might sound cheap to some, but just imagine how much fun your guests will have in their fancy clothes drawing a spectacle to the public as they line up to load the bus or train and spread their celebratory cheers the whole way to your wedding venue.  Imagine the beautiful photograph shots you’ll get.  You can even lead a trail behind you in your white dress!  Carry your ‘just married’ sign on the groom’s back for extra humour. Better than honking horns at a car dressed in fake flowers…

Scooter – whether we’re talking about the kind you push along with your feet or the kind that look like mini motorcycles, both are better for the planet and will be a fun way to spread your cheer in public, just like the bus idea

Paddle boat – A canoe or row boat (or those Italian canal-ride boats) will be so romantic, not to mention different, but will only work if you live near water and the water route is actually on the way to your venue…

Walk – the simplest of all ‘green’ ideas!  If you have your wedding venue close to home, and your reception close to the ceremony, there won’t even be a need for pollution-causing cars.  Enjoy the day, and your exercise!

If you must, take a hybrid – if there is absolutely no way around it, it’s raining outside and there are pebbles on the road that will stop you from taking a bike or a horse, or perhaps mud on the ground that will ruin your dress, then why not go as eco-friendly as possible by using a hybrid vehicle or electric powered car?  Better than nothing! (though not as fun, we must admit).

Happy eco riding to your wedding!  Let us know how it went!

How to use bamboo linens for a green wedding

It’s that time of year – wedding bells are in the air.  For the new green go-getters and long time tree huggers alike, it’s also time to think about the many opportunities to be kind to planet earth while planning for the most important day of your life (as some would say).  Why not start with eco-friendly linens?  That’s what we’re all about here at Shoo-Foo and so we’ve got lots of ideas stored up our sleeves to share with you soon-to-be newly-weds:

Start a bamboo linen gift registry – this is the most obvious, and probably the easiest way to ‘go green’ for your wedding.  You know you’ll be getting household goods for your wedding gifts, whether or not you start a registry, so why not direct people to the place where they can find what truly reflects your values AND makes them feel like they contributed a high-quality, sizeable gift they can be proud of?  Our tip? Ask for bamboo bedding!  The luxury of these sheets, pillow cases and duvet cover will have you feeling like you’re sinking in cashmere or silk.  They look so royalé and fit in with any room design for your new home as a family.

Use the bamboo head wrap and head band while you’re getting ready – we all know the day of the wedding is going to be crazy for you ladies, as you run around getting your hair, makeup and nails done.  Get up early, take your shower and cover your hair in a bamboo head wrap so it dries quickly for the hairdresser and won’t leave fuzz behind.  The headband will keep hair out of your face as you and your bridesmaids get your facials and makeup done.

Wrap yourself in a bamboo robe before the dresses go on – still in the ‘getting ready’ phase, have you ever thought of all that your bridesmaids have done for you?  Why not gift them with a bamboo towel robe, so luxuriously soft and elegant.  They can wear it while you’re all getting ready and take it home as a keepsake afterwards.  Come on, how often will they really wear that dress again?  But the robe, oh my, comforting after-baths here we come!

Use Mini Shoo-Foo’s for emergencies – during the day, you’re bound to spill a little something by accident, get cake dropping on your shoes or come across a wailing child with a runny nose.  Keep the compact Mini Shoo-Foo’s handy in your purse (or secret compartment somewhere!), ready to pull out and unravel or wet for an instant eco-friendly wipe that is naturally anti-bacterial AND reusable!

Embroider face towels to give as wedding favours – when you think about it, how many wedding favours actually come with the idea that they will be useful to your guests after the wedding week is over?  Candy is nice, but forgetful.  An embroidered bamboo towel, however, can say a lot and will last for years, reminding your guests of your special day every time they see those initials elegantly stitched onto the corner of their useful face towel.

We’re only just getting started!  Bamboo linens can be used in so many ways for your wedding, and can be gifted in many varieties.  Take a look at our store for more ideas and let us know what you come you up with!

Bamboo: a friend of soil and water

While bamboo does a lot for this planet on a large-scale level—such as helping fight global warming—it also contributes in more localized ways as well. Bamboo is a friend of both soil and water, and it can do a lot of good for its immediate environment. Let’s take a look at how bamboo contributes in this manner.

One example: Bamboo helps prevent soil erosion that occurs in flood plains, whether along riverbanks or on steep hillsides. Bamboo also can control landslides and keep flooded rivers along their natural course. It does this by slowing the speed of the river’s water flow. And, quite luckily, bamboo thrives in many watershed areas. The abundance of water makes the land around it a perfect place for bamboo to grow. And while this is good for bamboo, the benefit is mutual. Bamboo contributes to both soil and water retention, thereby helping the land that it calls home. A bamboo forest means healthy land.

In part, the reason that bamboo is so good for the land—the reason that it helps with water retention—is because of the potassium that it contains. Bamboo shoots are a great source of potassium, which is required for plant growth. Potassium promotes strong growth, a healthier root system, and, you guessed it, water retention.

For all of these reasons and more, bamboo is considered a great fertilizer, and is often used as such. Using bamboo as a fertilizer helps the soil retain more water. The result is a soil that is more chemically-balanced and oxygenated, which, in laymen’s terms, means healthier plants. But there’s more. The soil is improved in other ways too. Bamboo has a high level of gas production and circulation. This results in bamboo absorbing two thirds more carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. And since plants and trees convert carbon dioxide into oxygen, this also means that bamboo produces 35 per cent more oxygen than most other trees, such as hardwoods. In addition, bamboo’s root system helps with preventing soil erosion, and it also improves the soil by removing any excess nitrogen.

For those of you now interested in trying out bamboo as a fertilizer, here’s how. It is really quite simple and there are two ways to go about it. Your first option: simply grow some bamboo in the actual area that needs the fertilizer applications. And your second option: just cut up a few bamboo shoots and spread the pieces throughout the area you want fertilized. Both options work well.  Happy gardening!

A Serious Sting: The Current Bee Colony Crisis

Photo from fOTOGLIF

The inner workings of bee culture are fascinating. From the way these little busy bodies work around the clock to their limbo lingo form of communicative dance. But did you know bees are an integral part of our livelihoods? Their cross pollination process is one of the main ways plants reproduce and diversify. And plants of course, are important for almost every reason in the book, from food to soil and water sustainability. Without them, living or even surviving would be a struggle.

Whether this is an intro to bee-cology for you or you’re a long time bee enthusiast, it may be time to brush up or fill your kids in on the fact that bees are rapidly disappearing.

When a bee on a scouting mission finds a source of pollen, it flies back to the hive to let the other workers know where to go. The scout performs a complex dance that explains the direction and distance of the pollen in relation to the hive. The individual workers stock up enough honey to fuel themselves for the journey there and back, and set off to collect the pollen. The fruit of their labour is then used to make more honey.

Of course, the success their mission depends on remembering where it is they’re headed, and bringing enough food to keep them going for the round trip. The scout’s choreography is extremely accurate, but the presence of genetically modified crops’ pollen is making this dancing duty difficult. This is lethal for the workers, and leads to Colony Collapse Disorder. The hive loses the workforce it needs to sustain itself.

Most genetically modified crops are designed to host Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) which is a natural insecticide used to fight crop-destroying bugs. Bees are not harmful to crops, in fact they are important players in the reproductive process of plants. However, Bt from the pollen of genetically modified crops is ending up in the bees’ food supply. While it won’t kill a bee directly, it elicits an immune response in the bee that consumes protein. The bees need this protein to form memories and learn effectively. Without them, the workers can’t judge how much honey to stock on their pollen runs, much less remember the instructions of the scout. Lost and starved, the worker bees die. Honey supplies diminish, and the hive falls into decline.

A sad but very true set of circumstances. Fortunately, knowledge is one of greatest tools to spark change. Letting your family and friends in on the many ways we can reduce our carbon footprint can help us all, even the littlest creatures.

Coming Soon to Grocery Stores Near You: the animated adventures of food

Vancouver-based animator and Vimeo member The Juki Museum created Home is where the food is for the 100-Mile Diet Society as a promotional piece to support local British Columbian produce, dairy, and seafood; and highlight some easy consumer choices we can all make to help reduce our eating habits’ environmental impact.

Mixing a cooking show with a documentary, accented by charming animated line drawings, the film explains how almost every ingredient in a delicious pasta recipe can be obtained locally without sacrificing the convenience of a supermarket. Even the narrator at one point is surprised by how easily she is able to acquire what she needs. The only exception is the butter, which comes from Quebec, and serves as an example to why buying locally is the greener choice: over three thousand kilometres’ worth of carbon emissions are released in transporting the butter to the west coast.

• http://www.getlocalbc.org/en/
• http://www.bcfarmersmarket.org
• http://www.actnowbc.ca/everyone/buy_local,_in_season_fruits_and_vegetables
• http://www.bcfarmfresh.com/

The Bamboo Warehouse: Ringing in the Next (re)Generation

Gerry Brumer of Bamboo Warehouse thinks big. His vision for how bamboo can potentially change our planet is inspiration to say the least. With this versatile resource on the brain and non-renewable resources like wood, plastics and steel off, Gerry and his company are educators first and foremost in environmentally friendly awareness.

In 2005, Gerry met with Michael Berlin, who was importing Asian antique furniture for a company he called Kipunji. Berlin proposed they utilize his already apt product sourcing skills to start a home furnishings company. Gerry agreed under the condition that it must be eco-friendly. Berlin showed Gerry a piece of bamboo he had brought back from China, and after sourcing a few suppliers, the two men hit the ground running with their idea. “We wanted to use bamboo in a different way, not just as flooring, but as a resource.”

China, Gerry tells me, has not only 1200 species of bamboo, but also the strongest, called Moso. This type of bamboo only grows in China, and naturally, it is ideal for flooring. Of course, sourcing from China also had its share of problems. Gerry soon realized that the bamboo flooring also scratched easily because the bamboo plywood’s finishing (glues, varnishing, oils) also came from China, meaning it had formaldehyde in it. It was then that Gerry conformed the Bamboo Warehouse to European standards, using formaldehyde-free European finishing products or leaving the plywood unfinished until they arrived in Montreal, leaving the company to control the level of carcinogenic components.

Also, having the ability to import the materials yet transform them locally allowed Gerry to ensure the finishing as well as custom design the product. Gerry tells me that having Bamboo Warehouse as the first company to introduce bamboo plywood to be transformed locally has really appealed to the public. Designers especially like working with bamboo for several reasons. Firstly, bamboo is new and exciting material to work with. On that same note, bamboo is also different from wood and therefore carries an exotic element appealing to many, not to mention its green chique-ness! Bamboo boards are available finished, prefinished or stained. Scratches on wood are stark and noticeable. With bamboo, a carbonization process allows the option for a lighter, more blonde hue to the boards, making scratches less conspicuous – a very attractive quality of bamboo boards indeed! Finally, designers appreciate the option of buying one rather than twenty boards at a time with Bamboo Warehouse, saving themselves and their clients from unnecessary costs.

Like Gerry, his employees are not sales representatives, but educators in the field. With so much misinformation out there, Gerry stresses the importance of awareness. “We give you the same attention and education whether you’re buying one piece or a hundred.”

When buying bamboo flooring, Gerry heeds one word of advice: “for the sake of your health, ask your bamboo retailer where their toxic finishing products come from and ask them for proof.” Most of Bamboo Warehouse’s products for example, are stamped “BONA”, an environmentally-friendly bamboo provider based in Sweden.

Understanding that nice flooring will always be more a luxury than a need, Gerry and Michael looked into other facets that compliment the sustainable benefits of bamboo.

Today, the Bamboo Warehouse is offering a wide variety of products made of bamboo see: www.bamboowarehouse.ca Gerry is so convinced of the versatility and eco-sustainability of bamboo as a resource, he predicts that within three years bamboo fibers may even replace paper money on account of the antibacterial element! “2010 is the year we get bamboo into markets no one could even imagine it being in!”

Warming our Hearts or Warming our Globe?

The 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games have come and gone, but what’s left behind may be more than an air of pride and patriotism. Advertisements and souvenir license plates still declare the city and province “the most beautiful place on earth.” Maybe it’s an enthusiastic expression of pride in line with Olympic team spirit more so than an unabashed statement of fact, but you can’t deny we live in a stunning corner of the globe.

Actions speak louder than words, and with green issues in the forefront of many Vancouverite minds, a bold and very public statement like that needed to be backed up with official deeds – enter solar powered pay parking ticket dispensers.  And let’s not forget GM providing around 4600 vehicles to the VANOC fleet for use in carrying out Olympic business.  About 33% of those were based on hybrid and other alternative fuel technologies, the rest incorporated cutting edge fuel efficiency processes in their engines.  A small handful of experimental and pre-production models also made it to the party.

However, it is unfortunate that an all too common sight during the games were official and often higher occupancy vehicles driving around town without any passengers.  The remaining two thirds of the fleet were still producing emissions, even if they weren’t as polluting as most other cars out there. This past month the majority of the fleet has been made available for consumer purchase, complete with original Vancouver 2010 markings.  Most of them went on sale in the States, spreading these eco-friendlier vehicles across North America.

Let’s hope Olympic branding can add the extra incentive need for average shoppers to purchase cars that are environmentally conscious and increasingly less dependent on fossil fuels.

GM isn’t the only one focused on greener automotive production considerations.  Canada’s KUMHO Tires also advertise environmental friendliness as they are HA oil free.

Here is a range of current and common rides for the environmentally-minded:

Volkswagen Jetta TDI

With a bio-diesel concoction of 1 part renewable diesel to 19 parts conventional petrol, driving this Jetta will reduce emissions by 5%. Greener bio-diesel mixtures will increase that percentage even further. It also helps that the car nurses it’s gas tank like a glass of fine single malt scotch.

Ford Fusion Hybrid

Featuring an already extremely fuel efficient engine regardless of the integrated hybrid system, Ford claims this model only needs to visit a gas station about once a month. Saves you some money, saves the planet some clean air.

Smart Fortwo

Compact and distinctive, the Smart Car is not only fuel efficient but also renders emissions mostly innocuous by simply blowing fresh air into the exhaust to produce an oxidising process. It is almost completely manufactured from recyclable and recycled materials, and the assembly line aims to be as ecologically friendly as possible: vastly reduced delivery distance for supplies, chemically mild paint, and a European record for shortest production time start to finish are just a few of the measures currently maintained.

Aptera 2e

Resembling something out of Minority Report, the Aptera 2e aims to facilitate efficiency by being as aerodynamic as currently possible. Solar panels keep the cabin temperature just the way you like it without impeding the car from it’s primary job: getting you from point A to point B whilst seamlessly and conveniently integrating your smart phone’s communication and jukebox features. Just don’t forget to plug it into your standard household socket to charge overnight.

Toyota Prius

Also taking no longer than your average cell phone to charge, this auto can take you 20km at speeds up to 100km/h without consuming a drop of gas. Switch to hybrid mode for longer journeys and enjoy an efficient and economic voyage that’ll let you take your eyes off gas station prices for a while.

Tesla Roadster

Providing optimal torque even when stationary, the electric Tesla Roadster is several times more efficient than gasoline powered cars when it comes to performance. You better have deep pockets though, as it costs $125 000 and up!

Nissan Altima Hybrid

Performance needn’t be sacrificed to take a load off the environment and your bank account. The standard gas engine is only used when the electric motor needs assistance, or when taking over completely is the most efficient use of fuel.

Honda Civic Hybrid

Slow this Civic down to rest at a red light, and the engine automatically shuts off. No emissions while idle, and extremely low emissions when driving, this environmentally friendly car also benefits from engine performance enhancements made possible by a magnetic electric motor.

Egg-cology 101

With Easter just around the corner, eggs are on the brain! From candy coated to foil wrapped to cream filled, the egg icon has come a long way from its original intentions of symbolizing rebirth (what bunnies and chickens have to do with Passover is still up for debate!).

Like many families, you might enjoy the tradition of dunking and decorating hard boiled (or uncooked and hollowed) eggs for this holiday. But as thousands upon thousands of these delectable domes leave supermarket selves this weekend, let’s consider some uses beyond the ornamental. We hope you’ll l’oeuf the results!

1. My personal favourite use for eggs is, of course, eating them! In addition to making a tasty snack, eggs are also jammed with essential proteins and amino acids. These help reduce muscular degeneration and help keep your hair and nails healthy and strong.

If you’re watching your wasteline this Easter after a number of rich holiday meals, one hardboiled egg is quite filling, giving you more bang for your calorie buck! Like nuts and avocados, eggs have the useful kind of fat, only 5 grams of it at that and only 76 calories.

When selecting your eggs, keep an eye of these labels:

Natural

• These eggs must be approved by the USDA to have no artificial colors and ingredients. Almost all eggs these days are natural, so if the carton doesn’t read it, maybe you’re in the wrong grocery store!

Certified Organic

• the hens laying your eggs roam freely outdoors and consume an organic feed

Certified Humane

• Strictly regulated by the Humane Farm Animal Care organization, these hens roam stress-free in a spacious zone under the care of professionally trained farmers.

2. Compost and is always a great idea. In addition to making your soil rich and fertile, the sharp surfaces of crushed egg shells also deter snails and slugs from reaching your plants. The vitamins in egg shells are also particularly useful for cacti fertilizer.

Also, let’s not forget the carton itself. These soft, biodegradable egg holders are great for absorbing excess water in your compost.

3. For years now, farmers have used ground up egg shells in chicken feed to provide calcium and other essential minerals. Try doing the same thing for your dog or cat’s wet food. Like your own hair and nails, the vitamins in the eggshells keep your pet’s coat thick and shiny. Make sure you use the eggshells from your boiled eggs only though, as you’ll need to kill the bacteria first.

4. Many farmer’s markets and local grocery stores, especially mom-and-pop run, will refill your old egg carton. Give it a try next time you’re in.

5. The little compartments of egg cartons have endless reusable options, from sewing kits to jewelry boxes. However, try keeping glassware like lightbulbs or, that other big holiday’s accessories, Christmas ornaments in egg cartons.

6. All the energy put into beautifying those eggs don’t have to go to waste after Easter. Instead, consider using the already-decorated, pre-hollowed shells as tea light sized candles. Simple crack open the top of the shell, fill with wax (a funnel helps), scented with your favourite essential oil and a wick and voila! Place the candles on egg holders and you’ve got yourself a work of art. For more detailed instructions, click here:

7. On the same note, another fun and festive alternative for decorated (and even plain) hollowed shells are using them for potted planters. Fill the shells with soil and seeds, ideally those that grow easily in small spots like rutabaga, barley, wheatgrass and watch them grow. They make great gifts, friendly for the environment and friendly for your wallet. I often keep a little potter of grass for my cat, who enjoys the tasty treat’s benefits in digestion.

The Green Room: A Small Town Store with a Big Idea

Another inspiring innovation comes to us from Courtenay BC, where eco-conscious entrepreneurs Rebecca Wood and Cortney Upham run The Green Room, the humble city’s first all environmentally-friendly housewares and gift store. With organic bath and body products, non-toxic cleaning products, locally made giftware, reclaimed jewelry, recycled glassware and of course, bamboo towels and baby products, The Green Room certainly covers all bases when it comes to customer convenience and the source for all things green.

Having the chance to speak with Rebecca, it was no surprise to learn that both she and Cortney hopped on the eco-bandwagon early. “We were both starting to change our lifestyles by biking to work etc. in hopes of moving towards a more eco-friendly lifestyle.” What inspired this change? Knowledge. Suddenly becoming aware of the incredible use of pesticides, the chemical production of cotton and other day-to-day products provided a jarring paradigm shift. “We just felt more at ease using earth-friendly and locally made products and especially knowing where things came from.”

Not being a big online shopper but noticing that the only source for eco-friendly purchasing was online, the duo got to work researching how best to meet the needs of the Courtenay community in an environmentally-friendly way. Like any business fighting the good fight, Rebecca and Cortney definitely faced their share of challenges at first. “There are a lot of limitations when you’re looking for products completely eco-friendly produced. Even within bamboo there are often complications with the processing.” Finally, on September 29th 2008, The Green Room opened.

The Green Room has created a very positive response so far, Rebecca tells me. Customers have even suggested or requested green products for the store to carry and the number of returning customers continues to increase. Getting costumers educated and spreading the word is their most important mandate says Rebecca, and it is also an effective means of marketing. “If we can get the customers educated and confident about the product, the trend will hopefully stick in Courtenay.”

Although, even with the positive responses The Green Room still faces challenges unique to its location. Rebecca observes that “people tend not to spend much on shopping in Courtenay. Consumerism or materialism is not an issue, it’s just not the lifestyle.” Moreover, the business faces less traffic due to its location just off the beaten main street path. However, being situated close to a bustling coffee shop, beautiful courtyard and busy market selling local BC products certainly helps The Green Room generate attention.

The Green Room’s story certainly acts as an inspiration to anyone looking to change the world starting with their own backyard. As a model for all small businesses, Rebecca and Cortney’s eco-friendly mandate is admirable not only for the products they offer but the for education they provide their customers.

Forest Fortitude: Preserving Our Best Defences with Bamboo

As many of us learned in grade school, forests and trees hold an unparalleled importance to all living things. They work to regulate carbon dioxide in the air, providing the oxygen balance essential for the survival of both ourselves and the earth we live on. And, as many of us learned from Al Gore in an Inconvenient Truth, mass pollution and deforestation causing global warming (a build up of carbon dioxide emissions in the air) is threatening that balance.

Forests are one of our best weapons against global warming. They convert carbon dioxide, which is responsible for global warming, to oxygen, which is necessary for life. And bamboo forests do it better than the alternatives. Bamboo produces 35 per cent more oxygen than a similar-sized group of trees. Many advocate the use of bamboo for this exact reason.

Bamboo is also a good weapon against deforestation. Deforestation occurs when a substantial amount of forest is permanently destroyed and cleared. The result is damage to land quality, the water cycle, and, as we’ve already addressed, this planet’s climate.

Luckily, bamboo doesn’t need to be replanted. You cut it and it comes back by itself. Its roots stay in the ground and maintain the stability of the soil. No erosion occurs. And the whole plant grows back way faster than other wood sources. In fact, most bamboo stalks will grow back in 59 days and mature within seven years. Meanwhile, a hardwood forest takes up to 50 years to grow back.

Consider looking up other ways to help protect our planet’s forests, like using bamboo or gas burning stoves and fireplaces in place of wood. Join a group that replants trees or even start one yourself. Ultimately, we need our forests. They are as necessary as they are beautiful.

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