A locally made, eco-friendly tile shop

I recently read an article about a local tile shop that is really on top it when it comes to producing product that is eco-friendly. The company is called Fire Clay Tiles and they are based in San Jose. You can find their product at places like EcoHome Improvement in Berkeley. What I found so unique about them is that they look at their production of tiles from beginning to end. So not only do they make their tiles from post consumer materials (their ceramic tiles are made from old toilets dug out of the local dumps!) But they are also looking at the whole manufacturing process. They have a day lit factory, meaning they do not run lights but rather have sky lights and use the natural light of the sun. They have a closed loop manufacturing system that means all scraps, grey water, waste etc. gets re-used so they are not creating anything that needs to be trashed. They were one of the first tile companies to remove lead from their glazes. Oh, and their tiles are BEAUTIFUL!! Take a look at their product and what they are about at www.fireclaytile.com
I will be using them on my next project, for sure!

Clean your home without damaging the environment

I came across this really great line of cleaning products-but in a unique new form. Eco-Me is a kit of green cleaning products that you can order pre-mixed, or as a DIY kit. All of the products are chemical free and found in our everyday lives, like olive oil and vinegar, for example. Plus, that package is super cute. www.eco-me.com  starts at just $6 so it is affordable to boot!

Crate and Barrel goes green?

While shopping at Crate and Barrel for furniture for a client the other day, I made a wonderful discovery; main stream furniture companies are finally jumping on board and "going green." I found several sofas that were labeled "eco-friendly".  I asked one of the sales associates what this was all about and he told me that they are moving towards working more and more with furniture builders that practice green design. Fabrics that are certified green, foam interiors that are free of the harsh chemicals that we have come to accept and wood frames made of sustainable wood. The best part was-the price! Many of the eco-friendly sofas I liked were actually less expensive than the more conventional ones. Great job Crate and Barrel.

buying organic produce without leaving your home?

There is a great web based company that sells local, organic produce for very reasonable prices. www.spud.com They deliver for free when you order a minimum amount and they have lots of meat, dairy, grain and produce to choose from. It is great when you just don't have the time to get to the farmers' market-I have never been unhappy with the quality of produce and the company is local so any issues are easy to resolve with a quick phone call. Check them out!

spring is in the air

All this warm weather has got me ready for summer...seems like I always forget that we get this little streak of warmth every January and then the rains come back. But for now, I am thinking about my garden and what I want to plant, try out, EAT come the REAL summer months. I have been reading a lot about heirloom seeds and how important they are to our planet. Did you know that most commercial seeds in the US are patented and have been bred down to about two or three "types" per plant? Why does that matter? If a disease hits and we only have a few varieties of one tomato, for example, than the entire population of tomatoes can be wiped out in one year! That means...no more tomatoes...EVER!! I know that sounds like some sci-fi story, but it is really becoming a major issue, enough of one that organizations like the World Health Organization are starting to study it's affects on food supply and health around the globe. So, many small farmers, organic seed companies and magazines like Sunset and Mother Earth Journal are encouraging us to grow heirloom seeds in our backyard gardens to encourage variety and thus security of the survival of specific plants. So, check back in as I explore some interesting and new to me vegetables this spring and summer. I look forward to hearing what you plant to grow as well.

Featured green vendor of the week....

A few weeks ago a friend in the design industry introduced me to a company by the name of CompoClay, a new green business in Alameda. I visited their retail store on Santa Clara and was delighted by their beautiful home accessories. Curious about what made them green and what CompoClay was all about, I found myself back at their store a week later with an appointment to meet with two of the owners,Andy Choi and Young Lee. This place is so much more than meets the eye. It is not only a retail shop for home accents, it is essentially a MOVEMENT of change and education in the green design industry!  Take their mission statement:

"CompoClay will introduce to the market the excellence and distinction of its ecological raw material, CompoClay, perpetuating the value of environmental responsibility, starting from our way of life, to the choices we make as consumers. By offering superior products, viable green alternatives, and the educational support, CompoClay will enrich the quality of life and our planet for a sustainable future."

Did you get all of that? A lot to take on for one small home accents company.....turns out, they are really a lot more than that! CompoClay has done years of research and testing on an entirely new process for creating chemical free product that can duplicate the look of almost ANY natural substance; stone, cement, tile, wood, engineered wood, the list is endless and growing as they work tirelessly to improve, expand and explore. All of this is coupled with a passionate desire to educate both the designer and consumer about the impact chemicals can have on both the environment and our health.
Because CompoClay owns both the process of making and the actual product, they are able to have total control over maintaining a truly green product from conception to point of sale. How the workers are treated and what they are exposed to is also considered part of the greenness of their product.
I can only say, a visit to their store in Alameda and their soon to open 4,000 square foot showroom in SF will convert you to this amazing new product. I look forward to being educated by their knowledgeable staff and using their product on future jobs.
CompoClay
2536 Santa Clara Ave
Alameda, CA 94501
877.237.8916
www.compoclay.com
A few photos for you to enjoy;

The public Library

This one may seem obvious to many of you, but it is also something many of us forget about; the public library! It is more than just a place to get books, there are movies, CDs free wi-fi.....so much free stuff. And using the library is so green-the ultimate in recyceling, check out a book, read it, return it for someone else to do the same. Think how much paper is saved by not printing a copy of each book for every person who reads them. So, head on down to your local library and check out what they have for you. And don't forget to check out all the great community events they have too. Libraries are the BEST!