moving

We have officially moved to organicneedle.com. All past posts and comments are imported to the new sight so if you want to comment on anything old or new please come join me. It is really easy- just click the link.

Awwwwwww Dad....I just made friends.

Some men hunt dangerous animals and drag them home for their women to gush over, others perform death defying feats in the name of love, mine.....has clubbed the pooh out of the world wide web and dragged me back a fine .com. organicneedle.com. (Have any of you seen the bowling ball episode of the Simpsons?) My blog will be moving off Blogger onto Wordpress due to the insistence of my husband. He is a major techie and can not tinker nearly enough for his liking with this format. But it is your blog...you might say. Yes...but I love him and that little gleam he gets in his eye when he writes 00000000101010101 or whatever it is he does. (Just kidding, handsome pants, I know you are the Java master. Please don't turn your legions of techlings against me. They have insanely powerful index fingers. One poke and it is all over.) Unfortunately, which is pathetically obvious from my lack of ability to create even a proper link, I am a little dependent on his skills and I do think it is cute that he still wants to impress me after 400 years of marriage. Plus if I let him develop the blog page he is going to put DigDug on my laptop. I would like to see any of you turn that down.

I do promise to any of you that follow along that I will actually learn how to link your blogs and give you the proper recognition. Maybe there will even be cash and prizes. Okay, maybe not so much of the cash and prizes... but I would still love the company.

In Honor of Burbanmom.......

Not to leave you out of my blogspriation...... I am bestowing upon you a great honor. As my first reader and helper alonger you more than deserve it. I hope you are seated. I have finally learned, not bragging at all here, how to link to sites ...........and I used your name for my test run. You are doing great work with such humor I want to make sure that any sad lost soul that happens upon my pittance of a site leaves with at least the opportunity to visit yours - and see what a real blog looks like.

(Yes, I realize how sad it is that this is such a big deal for me, but, my brain, an English teacher brain, no likey the codey.)

3 Things I will NOT be Doing to Save the Environment

1. I will not be composting my pooh or reusing my toilet paper. If Ed Begley Jr gets to wipe his sweet little fanny with fresh paper everyday- then, damn it - so can I. (Great interview, Crunchy.)

2. I will not be eating entirely locally. Sorry- French people make really good cheese and wine. Too good. Suspiciously good. And until an avocado tree grows in Brooklyn, I will be buying mine from Mexico. (Seriously- I do think knowing food and culture are extremely important- not to be entirely discarded in the name of local eating. More of that when I am in a serious rant mood.)

3. I will not be giving my kids ONLY eco-toys. Legos are the coolest things ever made. And unless you have spent hours a day on the floor trying to play with 2 & 4 year old boys - you have no idea what a gift they are. There are only so many times I can drive Thomas around the friken track. Of course Mama didn't kick Thomas under the heater. Why on earth would she do that? Besides- I can't see Legos glass line as their best seller.

Getting My Glass in Gear

My first step towards decreasing the household plastic is going to be an easy and obvious one. I am simply going to try to find all the products we buy in plastic now that come in either glass or paper and make the switch. Yes paper and glass still have to be recycled, but the processes are much cleaner and efficient. Also, not buying the plastic packaging will be pulling our money from the practice. I have only a short list so far, but I am hoping for suggestions and more brain power.

Vinegar (Which I am going through a ton of since I have reevaluated
my cleaning practices.)
Mustard
Ketchup
Mayonnaise (Yes...I actually found a squeeze bottle of mayo in the
cupboard. Not proud...)
Pellegrino Vs Perrier (Yes, it is a necessity......don't judge.)
Maple Syrup
Granola (Found a great brand that comes in a paper carton- Sweet
Home. Check Amazon. Can't do the bulk bins. Far too
many nose pickers in the world.)
Peanut Butter (Usually buy glass- but found a jar of Trader Joe's in plastic.)
Apple Sauce
Olive Oil
Spices

My goal is to have at least 15 by the end of the week. I may have to spend some time over at the Fake Plastic Fish for more ideas. No...that is not cheating...it's research.

The Longest Wait

Fabric orders on its way.......nothing to do but wait. Do you think if I smush my face up against the glass the UPS truck will come faster?

Blogspiration: Thanks Fake Plastic Fish

I am a relative newbie to the blogosphere. Now, some of my findings have been.... well...less than inspiring, but who am I to judge prattling on about fabrics. For the most part, I have been blown away by what people are doing out in the big ol' world. One in particular that has really had an impact on me is Fake Plastic Fish. It has seriously changed my whole perspective on my plastic consumption. As I have rambled about in previous posts, we have been ridding our lives of the plastic shopping bags and now phase 2, the produce bags, but more as a reaction to them piling up in our home. Quite frankly, I had not given much thought to the stuff we were contributing to the enormous pile outside our home - or the problems of plastic production itself. The petroleum. We were content with our little recycling. It is amazing how even though we think we are being conscious of something...we are really still floating in our own little bubbles. Sounds simple, but I was totally missing that point- and seeing it as Beth presents it changes everything for me. The whole idea of having to keep all the plastic you are responsible for is enormous.

Now for the so what....I am NOT going to keep all of my plastic. (I enjoy my marriage far too much and enjoy being able to find my children.) What I am going to do is try to do is modify one thing or group of things a week to reduce my contribution to the plastic disaster. (I find in general that slow and steady for me means lasting change, rather than getting overwhelmed and giving up in a week.) I plan on spending a little more time over there on Beth's blog finding some tips. I would love any tips from those of you trying to run your families on just a wee bit less plastic. What has worked? What not? Where do you find the biggest challenges? (How ever can you replace the Ziplock?)

Bag Count

73 plastic, 17 paper.

One of the reasons the plastic count is so high is that I have to count 2 for each heavy load I take in my green bag because the store plastic bags would need to be doubled. We also do a lot of daily shopping for one or two items and are offered a bag. I actually saw a woman take a plastic bag this week for a pack of skittles and cigarettes. Seriously. And she was wearing a big coat with pockets.

(Yikes! Looking at those numbers you would think we did nothing but shop.)

Produce Bags Anyone?

Even though we have managed to stop collecting plastic shopping bags, we have yet to stop gathering produce bags- which are wasteful and don't help things to keep. I have been working on for myself a little mesh #....for shopping, not as attire. :) Just waiting for the material to arrive to make enough to shop with. Shopping bags are popping up in most major stores, but not the produce bags. The one I designed for myself is made from organic cotton mesh with a braided bamboo cording. I can wet the bag itself for a little moisture with out fear of chemicals- all organic natural color cotton, or I could even put a little wet towel in there for extra wetness. I'm considering making some little organic towels cut to size for the bags. After reading Crunchy Chickens post yesterday,(or the day before- I think I lost a day- it happens- don't judge)and the feedback she got, I realized that this is an issue for a lot of people. There is not a whole lot out there available. I could probably make them for a few dollars a bag, depending on size, Runti-Jumbo. I am def. going to make one big enough for apples. The few I have seen can not hold enough to keep my kids in fruit for a day, let alone a week. Is this something people would be interested in? After my material comes I will prob run 1 or 2 on etsy to see if there is a response. Any suggestions? Needs? Wants? Tell me all of your produce dilemmas.

Fabric Rundown

Working on my designs. Sooooooo many choices in terms of fabrics- each with the pluses and minuses. I thought it might be helpful (for me, at least) to do a quick rundown of the various materials that are considered green or greenish that I am working with. Anyone with any experience or opinions can feel free to chime in.

Organic Cotton- Pretty self explanatory. What might not be know is the insane amount of chemicals that are used to grow conventional cotton- way more that most food plants. Much looser laws. Positives: supporting organics is always good practice- less chem. in the world short term and encouraging sustainable practices long term. Also, the quality of fabrics I have seen has been excellent. The companies I have received samples and orders from really seem to take a lot of pride in their products. Also, colorgrown fabric is available. My first bags that are ready for sale are made with a really cool diamond pattern that is completely chemical free from start to finish. Negatives: Price!!!!! Printed organics go from 15-100+ a yard. My goal is to make products that I can offer for a reasonable price. (Most people are unwilling to pay 100$ for a shopping bag. Where are people's priorities?) Although there are some great companies like Harmony Arts making some really cool stuff, the choices, obviously, are a teeny fraction of what is available in conventional cotton materials - limits boundaries of design a little, but not much. Also, the majority of the cotton is grown outside the US. Just not as many cotton plantations near NYC as one might think. Huh.

Hemp- Pretty well know- the pot cloth. Positives: Extremely eco-friendly agriculture. Little to no pesticides required- feeds the soil. CAN be very sturdy fabric. And let's face it...there is a tiny cool factor involved in designing in hemp. Negatives: Price again! Even more so than the organic cotton. 20-80$ a yard for sewing quality fabric. Which brings me to my next drawback, very inconsistent in quality. One sample fantastic, the next threadbare. Also inconsistent in availability. I found a fantastic artichoke pattern. From the time I got the sample to the time I tried to order it, it was out of print. :(. Most of fabric quality hemps I have seen are not 100% hemp, 50% at best; that leaves a whole lotta room for pesticides and other questionables. Also not grown in the US. Although, Canada is relatively local enough for me.

Bamboo- Material made from the pulp of bamboo. Positives: Very silky- great for gift bags and ribbon making. Very eco-friendly growing requirements. It also has natural antibacterial and anti fungal properties, making them great for hygiene products. Negatives: Now, I fully disclose, that my research on actual in the hand fabrics is limited to a 1/2 dozen or so. This, in and of itself, is part of the problem. I am not finding a ton of distributors or variety even with the ones who do carry bamboo.. The samples I have received are silky, as mentioned, but not practical for sturdy applications- which is where my first set of designs really focuses. (My experiences with real silk and satin projects have been.....a little on the pathetic side to be generous to myself.) The average price I am finding is 15-25$ a yard. Since I haven't really created any designs with bamboo yet, I can't decide if the price will be prohibitive or not. I see ribbon potential. I haven't closed the door on it- just need to do more research.

Reclaimed- Anything headed for the bin qualifies here. Could be a scrap from a designer too small for his/her use, or cut up fantastic curtain from a yard sale. Not sure how I would work this yet. Still way in the research phase. Positives: Saving anything from a landfill gets a happy green thumb up. The potential for design creativity is infinite and exciting. Vintage prints would be a lot of fun. The cost of materials could be as low as nothing- allowing me to make shopping bags, etc. extremely affordable.... and super interesting to boot. Negatives: Obviously no bulk ordering here. Each piece would be pretty much one of a kind. Working with various fabrics at once can be a sewing challenge as well. (I am nothing if not challenged.) Storage and organization might push me, or at least my husband, over the edge. Also, for people who want organic to avoid the chemicals on the fabric itself, these wouldn't be an option. And here is the big one....would people be skeeved by used fabrics? Would you buy a bag made out of old fabric? Not so much an issue for scraps from designers or whatnot, but for really reclaimed things.

I hope to have the first few bags up on etsy this weekend. Just waiting for my shipping supplies to arrive. (Thank you burbanmom for all you advice on shipping!)

Why Pottery Barn Is Evil

About 5 years ago we bought a Pottery Barn office chair. Lovely little thing. About a year ago, and two toddlers using it as a race cart ago, one of the wheels became stripped. We kept gluing it and hoping for the best. Then two more wheels became loose. We employed more glue. Then the first gouge came to the precious hardwood floor. Time for action. We went to the store, told them the problem, and were told by the rather unpleasant representative that Pottery Barn's official policy is WE DON"T REPAIR OUR OWN FURNITURE. But...she would gladly sell me a replacement chair. How sweet. Alrighty then. I figured she wasn't interested since there would be a lack of commission. Surely this huge company could not have such an asinine and wasteful policy. I called their main office. Well....it is their official asinine policy to not repair their own stuff...but it goes even further. They will not sell replacement parts to even have it fixed by a third party. Not only that...they will not even give out any information as to who actually makes the chair so that you can't possibly get information as to the manufacturers of parts. How evil is that??????? I spoke with 4...yes 4...levels of "authority" and was repeatedly told that they can not replace parts or even give information as to how to get those parts and, of course, repeatedly offered the opportunity to replace it with another 400$ chair, still being made....with the f#$#$#$% part that I need. I need to go cry now. There is way too much evil in the world...and Pottery Barn be its name.

CFLs .......Not Loving Them

Trying out some CFLs. Have to be honest, not very PC, but....not loving them. We are trying them out in several areas of the home to see what works and what is unbearable. So far the only places people haven't noticed and responded neg. is the kitchen where the odd brightness of the light is somewhat normal and in the two stained glass tiffany style lamps that block most of the lighting. My work area looks like a haunted hospital now- I feel like I'm about to get the worst Pap of my life every time I sit down to sew. The 5 light chandelier in the dining room is just off in someway. Even with the frosted covers the light comes out strange. Now the dining room we might get used to, but the work lamp will be going back. (It unfortunately only uses CFLs. Yes, a tad foolish on my part to buy before trying it out.)

My advise to anyone trying them out, start with places that are covered with a frosted shade, a thick frosted shade. Direct light is REALLY unpleasant. Kinda sad, I really wanted to love them.

Anyone tried the LEDs?

Declutter part II ....Ebay Yard Sale

One of the best decluttering mechanism in the world is eBay. When my husband and I first moved into our apartment years ago, we realized just how much stuff we had that we never used. We have always been very good about donating clothes and household stuff like dishes, towels, etc to the charities. What we had amassed was more in the way of media...movies, CDs, games, gaming systems. Stuff most charities aren't really focussed on...stuff that falls a little low on the list of priorities. You're homeless...here's 5 Dave Mathews CDs. So I started listing on eBay. You could not believe how much stuff we sold that way. We felt good that it wasn't going in the trash, the buyers were happy to be picking up a favorite movie for a couple of bucks, and the clutter was floating away right to the PO. We in turn used the money to buy 2nd hand things we needed.
Just makes the little green elf in me warm and fuzzy.

Trying to make room for an at home business in a land overrun by my little monkeys is def. going to take a few eBay yard sales. Anyone in the market for a half eaten peanut butter and jelly sandwich? It only has 5 petrified cheerios stuck to it.

Reducing Intake - The great decluttering of 5R

Clutter is the enemy of every urban family....especially if you have kids. Especially if you are trying to carve out space for even a teeny tiny business. The tide of crap that flows into this home seems unstoppable. The good news- reducing our clutter and earning a couple of green points with absolutely no sacrifice on our part. None. Our family has had great success on two fronts. One of which I have been keeping tabs on here at the OrganicNeedle, the bags. We used to have a hall closet literally full of bags. I couldn't bring myself to throw them out, and yet couldn't possibly use all that we had. so....we stopped getting them. That simple. Yes I have left a store with my arms tittering with food, toddlers in tow. Now, if my husband should stop off for more than he can carry and picks up a bag I have to look at him like he has brought home a dead hooker- not that a live one would be welcomed. With a little changing of habits we now have an extra closet. (Those of you non city dwellers might not appreciate that, but here it is something to brag obnoxiously about to friends. Would you like to see my half empty closet? No- look anyway.)

Our other victory can be found in another half empty space- the mailbox. This effort we started a few years ago and now take minimal steps to maintain. We realized we were recycling about a bucket of paper a day. Most of which, we hadn't used or wanted. My husband gets credit for this one- he registered us on the no junk mail list and the no credit card offer list. I then contacted catalogs through their websites or by phone asking to be taken off of their mailing lists. Within a few months our mail was less than half what it was. We are now working on switching more bills to paperless.

In addition to the glorious space, these tiny efforts have given me two less things to worry about reusing and recycling. Besides, I just couldn't convince my husband that the MC Hammer Rain Pant set made with Stop&Shop bags, complete with visa card offer belt would be all the rage in his office.

Identity or Please Pay Attention to Me

I'm switching my display name from my initials to organicneedle. Shameless self-promotion.
Also registered on Etsy under Oragnicneedle. Should I have gone for the "the"....seemed too long. Now....if I could actually post photos of my stuff it might be a tad helpful.

Bag Count ....New Ideas

49 plastic 8 paper

Only one month into the new year and we are up to almost 50 plastic bags turned down! Isn't it amazing. We have been using the green bags for awhile - mostly to stop the clutter, but I had no idea what a difference they were making. Seriously trying to add the shopping bag to my line of organic cotton products. At 15-30$ a yard for the fabric, price has been an issue. Something to work on. Maybe bamboo or even reclaimed fabrics. If I could get large enough scraps from shops or designers that might work. They wouldn't be organic, but if they are headed for the bin and I can find a happy use- it might work out. Ahhhhhhhh....more research.

Bag Count

32 plastic 5 paper :)

Green Walmart?

I just finished reading about Wal-Marts attempts to crunch up their image and reduce their impact. I am optimistic and extremely skeptical at the same time.

*They have upgraded their delivery trucks to auxiliary-power systems which apparently reduces the amount of time the engines have to run. No small thing- reduced their greenhouse gas emission by 100,000 tons = 20,000 passenger cars. Can't really poke too many holes in that. Would it be nice to have more local sources and less time on the road? Of course, but not really practical.

*Switching to CFL, LEDs and natural lighting. They are claiming this will save them 7 million a year in electrical costs. Again- can't find too much fault.

*Switching to only sustainable fisheries. (This is in the making now.) No complaints.

*Their forth major attempt to go green is misleading. They are focusing on getting companies to focus on creating more concentrated cleaners that would require less packaging. Less packaging sounds great, but there are some flaws here. There isn't a push to use more biodegradable cleaners or packaging, just less packaging. In fact, concentrated cleaners have more chemicals and don't often prove to save as much as the manufactures will tell you. People are used to pouring a certain amount into their machines. Over time, perhaps this would correct itself. It would be nicer to see some actual reuse of containers with thin plastic refill bags, like target has done with their eco-friendly Method line.

Wal-Mart always brings one thing to my mind- mass consumption - the very opposite of the environmental movement. How can we begin to talk about reducing our impact without addressing this overwhelming desire to consume beyond our needs. Wal-Mart also makes me think of the squashing of small businesses. What will this mean for your little local health food store? They can't compete financially with the giants. Will it be another blow to the little guy like when Whole Foods rolled into town? (I still love you WholeFoods- but you have crushed a few little guys under your big green feet.)

I don't think there is any doubt that a big part of Wal-Mart's motivation is to improve their image. That doesn't have to mean that it is all an evil plan. The truth is if they raise the bar for eco-standards, the other giants will have to as well. Wouldn't it be great for all of the retail giants to be bending over backwards to impress us with how environmental they could be? The sky is the limit for innovation when big business is competing for our dollar. Not to mention testing out new environmental products on such a grand scale could prove to be valuable research. Maybe if the government, which tends to be slow to change and invest, gets wind of how much Wal-Mart is saving with relatively easy energy changes, we will start to see better efficiency in our public buildings. Can you imagine how many tax dollars could be saved if all schools ran on CFLs, wind power, solar and thermal energy? Maybe Wal-Mart can reach the masses. Many earth friendly practices take a little more money- therefore have often not been top on the list of working class Americans. Organic foods and budgeting don't always work well together and CFLs are pricey next to their their old counterparts. Maybe a mass producer like Wal-Mart can bring those prices down and increase knowledge in a segment of the population that hasn't been reached.

Will these changes make me shop in Wal-Mart? No. I am hopeful that all of their changes will make them a fortune- inspiring all the others to greedily get on board. Most things in mass are tacky and awful- but maybe there can be an exception for green practices.

http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com/Investing/StockInvestingTrading/Wal-MartJollyGreenGiant.aspx#pageTopAnchor

The joy of swatches

Does anyone out there appreciate the pure joy of new swatches?


Oh- Bag count up to 25 plastic and 5 paper. Anyone else out there counting?

Eco-packaging?

Making happy progress on the designs and materials. Now my big question is how to to package and ship? What is the greenest and yet most practical way to wrap and ship? Obviously hand delivering each item by foot isn't really going to happen. (Eventually, if things go well, I hope to have a bicycle delivery service for the NYC area - but that is far along in the dream.) My wares are made of fabric, which I want to arrive in pristine condition to my customer's door. How do you do that without a good ol' ziplock? I would love any suggestions about this topic. Once I, or one of my nonexistent readers, solve the protecting the product dilemma, I need to decide whether to go with a strong envelope or box for mailing. Both are recyclable- just a matter of volume. I guess that will depend on the size of the order. Is there any difference between shipping USPS, UPS, or FEDEX? Anyone have any eco-dirt on these services/companies?

Inspiration in the checkout line

As I am planning what products to offer my brain has gone into overdrive, noticing all the opportunities to combine style and waste reduction. A big trend is the shopping bag. Now the ones I carry are the generic grocery store offerings, but they could be much more. Now, I am in no way claiming it an original idea, but there is certainly room in the market for yet another interpretation. There has been much chatter about NYC banning plastic bags being used by large stores- could be perfect timing to offer some alternative shopping bags.

Oh and the bag count is up to 17 plastic, 5 paper refused. Why aren't more stores doing what Trader Joe's does with the biweekly raffle? What a great way to inspire people.

green suppliers?

I am into the phase of my business plan where I am seeking out reliable suppliers who are also committed to responsible business practices- both to the earth and to the people on it. I would love to use all small suppliers, closely connected to the materials they have created. Easier said then done. My question is how do you trust the name organic? Some products are certified, but many aren't. And the truth is, how many of us really research the products we buy to see if they are really what they claim to be? There are so many factors to consider: organic, sustainable, local, fair trade. And do we ever really trust that the government is closely watching and testing to see what goes into our food and products? Can we trust products coming in from other countries? It would be so easy to mislead. Some of these materials are coming from 1/2 way around the world. Passed through hundreds of hands. Can I trust what I am buying? Do you?

Progress

I've decided to focus on the business idea I have the most passion for -the one that incorporates my creative side with my desire to create greener paths for business. Found a supplier, bought the domain names, ordered my first minibatch of supplies, created a prototype for the first product to be sold. I have even started to make contacts for advertising. Feeling the momentum. Now I need a nap.

Counting Bags - A Small Step Towards Green

Part of my resolutions is always to move in a greener direction. The whole reducing the impact thing. Last year we started using the cloth shopping bags for all shopping. For my own interest, and perhaps to encourage others to try them out, I've decided to try and keep track of how many plastic or even paper bags I turn down thanks to using the cloth or even just an old bag. I keep some in my car and one in the stroller all the time to make it easier to remember. You would be surprised how fast it seems to add up.
So far, 5 days into the new year, I've turned down 16 plastic and one paper bag. I wonder what the total for the year will be?

Virginia Wolfe Was Certainly Onto Something

A room of my own? I don't have such lofty expectations. I would settle for 15 seconds and a shelf.