An Interview with Karen Lee of EcoKaren

EcoKaren's bottle cap birds' nests

I recently had the pleasure of interviewing Karen Lee, Co-Team Leader of the EcoEtsy Street Team (a group of Etsy crafters who are dedicated to earth-friendly practices), and owner of EcoKaren, a company offering eco-friendly, green, and reusable products for you and your home.

Karen also writes a very thoughtful and timely blog on the green living, including environmental issues and eco-friendly products.

Please tell me about your company! What do you make? What types of materials do you use? And what is your focus/mission?

Ecokaren carries one-of-a-kind, handmade, eco-friendly items. No two items are exactly alike as I only use materials (resources) I already have. When I do buy any new supplies, I buy sustainable materials like organic fabric and yarn. I also use freecycle and thrift stores to repurpose items that people want to throw out. My latest project is handmade journals that incorporate leftover paper from my kids’ end-of-the-year notebooks. The journals are handmade using coptic stitching and Japanese binding methods.

Upcycled journal by EcoKaren

My mission is to use existing resources for functional and practical eco-creations instead of buying new materials. If I look around, I can always find things to make with them. So, my shop’s focus may not be “home decor” or “jewelry” or “fashion” but it’s whatever I find that’s available that I can make something with, at that moment. I have fun being spontaneous and coming up with things to make by looking at a heap of fabric scrap and notions. And to take it one step further, I try to make items that will help reduce waste, contribute to being green, and also save money… like reusable utensil holders that allow you to carry your own utensils instead of using disposable plastic ones. It cuts down on plastic usage, reduces waste and saves money since you don’t have to throw away utensils!

portable utensil holder by EcoKaren

What inspired you to start your company?

I am a “retired” chiropractor. I sold my practice to support my family full time. So, while waiting on the sidelines for my two active teenagers to finish their after school activities, I picked up knitting and crocheting again, after stopping for fifteen years. I gave away numerous finished goodies as Christmas and birthday gifts to family and friends and they suggested that I sell them. That’s when I found Etsy. I sold my organic knitted washcloths and repurposed plastic bottle cap birds nest magnets when I first opened my first shop, ‘ecogeneration’.

So you are a chiropractor! How has this background influenced your choices as a green mom/blogger and eco-crafter?

Chiropractic philosophy is very much in line with taking care of the planet – our mother Earth. The chiropractic tenet is based on the belief that power that made the body heals the body. If we screw up our body, only the body can heal itself. We can use external interventions to help the process sometimes but in the end, the body has to do the healing. The life force in our body has the power to heal itself. Well, I believe the earth is like the human body. Given a chance, the Earth has its own life force to heal itself too. However, we are constantly abusing the Earth that we are making it impossible to do that on its own. So, like the way our body needs external interventions, the Earth needs us to help it heal. I want it to have the best possible chances for it to do its magic and get better. Being a chiropractor, I see myself as a healer, or as a helper in its healing process, and not the destruction process.

Becoming a green mom, a blogger, and eco-crafter all stem from the same philosophy. I don’t consider myself an environmentalist by any means. But practically speaking, I have been living an environmentally responsible life because of my mother. She lived a very frugal life as an immigrant and she taught me how to save and reuse. She was being green even before it was a trend. So I learned from her how not to waste our valuable resources. In addition, as a Chiropractic Doctor (doctor means ‘to teach’ in Latin), I used to teach my patients on how to stay healthy. Actually, I used to talk about many of the issues I currently write about on my blog. I used to relate nutrition, industrial chemicals, farming practices, pesticides and herbicide to health. Environmental issues weren’t really labeled as such, but I was addressing them when I spoke to my patients about how their environment affects them. Now, I carry the same torch when I blog about these issues. Spreading the word and ‘teaching’ my readers on how to be green is my way of helping to heal the planet.

As co-leader of the EcoEtsy Team and an eco-crafter, what is your advice for new (and experienced) crafters who want to make their businesses more eco-friendly?

When I joined EcoEtsy team as a new seller on Etsy, I was so inspired by the members’ creativity and their passion on being eco-friendly. I learned so much from reading the team’s blog, forum discussions, and team events. I was humbled by so many great sellers who cared about their eco-friendly crafts, business practices and educating others how to be green. So when the opportunity came along to become a co-leader, I took the challenge. I knew I couldn’t do it alone but I also knew that the members will be very supportive so I dove in head first. And guess what? I was right. The team is full of energetic, smart, and earth-caring members. We have a new blog, we had our first Earth Day Auction and raised over $450 (after expenses) to donate to the World Wildlife Fund, and I am planning our Fall event (already!). Being a member of EcoEtsy (and becoming a co-leader to give back to the team) was the smartest decision I ever made. And that is best advice I can give crafters who want to be eco-friendly – surround yourself with others who have the same mission. You need the support of others who think like you. You need to ask questions on what is more green, bamboo or organic, paper or plastic, reuse or buy new, etc. There are so many resources available on being green now that it’s almost impossible NOT to be green. And what’s better. It saves you money!! Imagine, never having to buy shipping supplies and being green at the same time!

One easy practical tip I want to share is to utilize your computer to the maximum. I save everything as pdf files and don’t keep any paper copy (saves paper). Do online banking and forget about paper statement (safer for identity theft too). Use e-mails and save them in a separate folder on your hard drive. Use internet shipping service and have the mailman pick up your goods to be shipped (no need to drive to the post office). There are so many things you can do online now that you don’t need to keep any physical files or papers or statements.

Once you realize the financial benefit of being eco-friendly, you’ll never go back to your old habits. Pretty soon, you will find yourself making the same changes at home too.

We recently celebrated the 40th Anniversary of Earth Day. What are your plans (both professional and personal) for the 50th Anniversary?

Professionally, I hope to continue to be blogging and sharing eco living tips, but also shouting about the discovery of smart alternative energy that does not involve destroying the environment. I hope we will be celebrating the discovery renewable and sustainable energy sources. I hope we won’t ever have to deal with the disaster that is going on in the Gulf again. I hope I’ll be blogging about that happy news.

Personally, I hope to be living off the land and getting off the grid. My hubby is not a farmer, but he’s so fed up with the current state of the environment that he’s willing and ready to learn to be one. We talk about moving up state NY and buying some land and not worrying about where our food is coming from or relying on unreliable utility companies for energy (we had two black outs this past winter). As I get older, I yearn for a simpler life. And in ten years, who knows? Maybe I will be able to.

Thank you, Karen! You can find Karen on Twitter, Facebook and Etsy. And I highly recommend you check out the EcoKaren blog.

Team EcoEtsy’s Handmade for Earth Day Auction!

The details have been announced for Team EcoEtsy’s Handmade for Earth Day Silent Auction. The auction, which runs from April 19th to May 3rd, will feature t-shirt bags filled with eco-goodies that the talented Team EcoEtsy members have donated. There are six bags up for auction, each filled with over $100 worth of eco-goodies, representing the following themes: Baby, Health and Beauty, Home, Paper Goods, Fashion and Jewelry.

The proceeds from the auction will be donated to the World Wildlife Fund. For a full list of the items being auctioned and auction details, please visit the Team EcoEtsy website.

The auction will begin on Monday, April 19, 2010 and end on Monday, May 2, 2010. Winners will be announced on Monday, May 3, 2010.

Team EcoEtsy’s Online Earth Day Auction: April 19-May 2, 2010

Update: Team EcoEtsy’s auction details were announced on April 18th. Here is our updated blog post.

In honor of the 40th Anniversary of Earth Day, Team EcoEtsy is sponsoring the Handmade for Earth Day Silent Auction. The auction will feature t-shirt bags filled with eco-goodies that Team EcoEtsy members have donated for six different categories (Baby, Health and Beauty, Home, Paper Goods, Fashion and Jewelry). Bidders can bid on as many categories as they want.

The proceeds from the auction will be donated to organizations that work tirelessly to preserve the Earth and people’s well being (check the Team EcoEtsy site for a list of the charities).

The auction will begin on Monday, April 19, 2010 and end on Monday, May 2, 2010. The winners will be announced on Monday, May 3, 2010.

The auction page will be posted on the EcoEtsy team’s blog on April 19, 2010 where bidders can post their bids in the comment section for different bags of eco-goodies.

Borax: Safe or not?

Last weekend, I had the good fortune of viewing Frog Chemical Water You, one of many wonderful films that were part of the DC Environmental Film Festival. Frog Chemical Water You is a 17-minute film on how chemicals affect our environment. I liked the film because, even though it is quite clear regarding the harsh facts of the impact of our use of chemicals on the environment, it includes simple steps we can take to reduce our chemical footprint. One step is to create our own kitchen cleaner (the recipe is included at the end of this post).

As a member of Team EcoEtsy, a group of crafters with Etsy stores who are dedicated to following sustainable practices, I have been privy to several discussions on making your own household cleaners. Recently, the topic of Sodium Borate (Borax) came up, along with the issue of how safe it is.

According the Mountain Rose Herbs’ data sheet on Borax, it is a mineral, which “naturally occurs from the repeated evaporation of seasonal lakes.” While it is natural, Mountain Rose Herbs does warn that Borax is “Not to be ingested, large doses may be fatal. May cause irritation if exposed to the skin, eyes, or if inhaled. Handle with caution, and keep away from children and pets.”

A report published in the International Journal of Toxicology stated that “Sodium Borate and Boric Acid, in concentrations of  5%, are safe as cosmetic ingredients when used as currently recommended (not in food products). However, cosmetic formulations containing free Sodium Borate or Boric Acid at this concentration should not be used on infant or injured skin.”

And a post on the EcoEtsy team listserv listed one article that advises caution in using Borax, while another says that it is safe to use in your home. Not having a chemistry background, I was not sure how to weigh and balance all of this information.

So, when two producers of Frog Chemical Water You offered to take questions after the film, I was the first one to step up to the mike and ask them about the safety of Borax. Dr. Shirlee Tan (a biologist who specializes in environmental toxicology, wildlife toxicology, and cellular and molecular biology) and Dr. Christiana Grim were very helpful. They said that overall Borax is pretty safe and has a low toxicity profile.

Because of the conflicting information I have come across in trying to determine the safety of various ingredients, I asked them for definitive sources of scientific information on chemicals. They suggested I search the Environmental Working Group’s Skin Deep database, which I already use all the time as a resource. They also recommended looking at the Materials Safety Data Sheets for any given chemicals (here is one for Borax). Being unfamiliar with the nomenclature of Materials Safety Data Sheets, I found this resource helpful in deciphering the information.

After sifting through all of this information, I have come to the conclusion that Borax is safe to use in homemade cleaning products, as long as you use common sense in handling it. Don’t handle it if you have cuts, abrasions, or burns on your hands, don’t ingest it, and definitely don’t let your kids and pets get into it.

Recipe for Homemade All-Purpose Household Cleaner

• 3 cups of hot water
• 2 Tablespoons of vinegar
• 1/4 cup of Borax (sodium borate)
• 1 Tablespoon of phosphate-free dishwashing liquid (like Seventh Generation)

Mix well and store in a spray bottle. Use as you would any commercial cleaner.

Herban Lifestyle’s Etsy Store Featured on NBC New York!

Herban Lifestyle Men's Grooming Set on the set of LX.TV

Recently, Herban Lifestyle was honored to be part of the Etsy Valentine’s Day gift recommendations on NBC New York’s LX.TV. In their segment entitled “With Love from Etsy,” Herban Lifestyle Man’s Grooming Set was one of 6 items to be featured. You can view the full segment, which has some fun Valentine’s Day gift suggestions, by visiting the NBC New York website.

Thank you Etsy! And thanks to LX.TV, too!

A Conversation with Maura from GreenWorks

Recently I had an opportunity to interview Maura Canavan, owner of GreenWorks and designer of hand-printed organic cotton and hemp shirts. Maura specializes in eco-friendly clothing with cool ancient-symbol designs. She also heads up the Etsy Organic Team, a group of Etsy sellers “dedicated to helping the earth, the environment, and our bodies through organic products.”

I love the colors and textures of her clothing. Plus I have a special affinity for her Celtic designs (my great-grandfather was from County Cork). Last Christmas, I bought one of her lovely hemp linen tops as a gift for a family member. It was well-received.

Here’s what Maura had to say about GreenWorks and her journey of sustainability.

How did you get started in your chosen craft?

I have an interest in living a natural lifestyle for many years. One of the problems I encountered this side of the pond was a lack of organic clothing or where it was available the high prices!  The prices really put organic clothing out of the reach of most consumers and I felt it was doing a great dis-service to the whole organic campaign to have the clothing in what would be considered a niche market.

At the same time a friend had discovered screen printing and we had collectively come up with some great designs for our t-shirts. So we decided to source organic clothes to screen print on and sell them on at affordable prices to try and get organic mainstream.

We found Etsy in 2008 and opened up GreenWorks because one of our first designs was a play on the phrase that green does work with industrial cogs.  At that time we didn’t think to see if anyone else was using the same name – and on reflection we would have chosen a different name for our shop.

Anyway the rest as they say is history.  We’re still plugging away trying to make this a viable business.  It is slow going and the recession hasn’t helped!   But we’re committed to making this happen so fingers crossed!

What makes your product eco friendly?

Lots of things.

We make the screens ourselves using wood that would have been dumped and also old picture frames etc.

The inks we use are considered the most eco friendly around and give great results.

The clothing we screen print on is all either organic and/or hemp which is a great sustainable and eco friendly fabric.  While we use organic hemp where possible even though some tops have not been certified as organic we love how hemp actually rejuvenates the earth and is mainly harvested without the use of any pesticides/herbicides etc.

Most of our clothing is also either fair trade or ethically traded.  That was an important box for us to tick when sourcing the tops and one that wasn’t always considered.

And because we do all that ourselves it is fair trade – we’re not employing someone to do the work for us at a cut price.

One downside is that while we source as locally as possible living in Northern Ireland does mean that our inks/tops etc have to be bought in aka environmental costs of shipping/freight etc. Plus selling online entails shipping as well. We are hoping for the day when organic cotton and hemp are available on this wee spot of the earth!

What inspired you to lead a green lifestyle?

I really can’t say.  From a child I had a dislike of medication but had migraines.  So I learned early on the relationship between food and health.  Also growing up in a village we were surrounded by farms etc.  My great aunt had cows and an assortment of chickens, ducks, turkeys, geese etc so we always had a supply of free range eggs as well as homemade butter and buttermilk.  I loved her pantry with all the churning equipment and patting butter and how it was always lovely and cool even when it was hot outside.  It was like magic!

Growing older I started using essential oils and flower remedies and developed a self treatment/regime for migraine using those and a form of self hypnosis that made them manageable.  Then I discovered Feverfew and after taking that for a couple of months my migraines practically disappeared and I would say I have been migraine free for at least 20 years now.

Most of my clothing when I was young was made by my mom and granny and I used to get hand-me-downs from cousins.  So re-using and not wasting were part of everyday life.

Home cooking and baking were everyday occurrences and there is still nothing I like more than fresh baked bread straight off the griddle! Yeah my waist doesn’t thank me for that one

So I guess you can say that a green lifestyle has been pretty much part and parcel of everyday life for me growing up.  The difference is that while I was young I took it for granted – nowadays it is a conscious decision.

Which piece in your shop is your current favorite?

Oh that is a tough question! From a printing perspective I love the Elegance design because it so versatile and I can play around with it.  From an Irish perspective I love our Celtic designs and all the ancient symbolism dating back to our pagan days.  From an activist point of view I love our organic message and some newer hemp designs.  My favorites though are the tribal prints – the cosmic circles inspired by the Mayan calendar and the mushroom God with his magic mushrooms. The idea of that was actually some copper handles with the mushrooms on an old Irish oak sideboard.  Unfortunately Ireland has few ancient oak forests left as most of them were plundered … but that’s another story!

What are you currently working on?

We have a new hemp print that I need to list but also a couple of plans for 2 ranges of designs … but they’re kinda secret for now

On the non-organic front, but recycling, I’ve been concentrating on sewing and making for my other shop lilgreenshop.  I’m a wild hoarder and figured it was time to rebirth some fabric scraps etc plus for local craft fairs it is easier to take one suitcase of smaller eco items on a bus or train to a fair than try to take clothing (no car and no plans to get one if I can manage without)

Fresh Food: Healthy Alternatives to Factory Farming

Sign outside of Cibola Farms, Culpepper, VA

Two weekends ago, I had the good fortune of attending a screening of Fresh in Oakton, VA. This film starts by discussing the detrimental effects of industrial farming to the Earth and to our health, including food contamination, environmental pollution, depletion of natural resources, and morbid obesity. Then it takes a positive turn by showing examples of people who are pioneering innovative sustainable farming methods. The screening was followed by a panel of speakers that included one of the pioneers from the film, Joel Salatin.

Salatin, a self-described “Christian-libertarian-environmentalist-capitalist farmer,” is the owner of Polyface Farms in Swoope, VA , who was made famous by Michael Pollan’s book, The Omnivore’s Dilemma. Salatin has developed innovative methods of farm management that utilize the natural interactions of farm animals with the land and with one another. By avoiding chemical pesticides, industrial feed, animal crowding and nutrient depletion in the soil, his animals are far healthier and provide greater nutrition to people eating them, than those raised in industrial conditions. In following these practices, Salatin saves quite a bit of money by not having to purchase pesticides, chemical fertilizers, feed and antibiotics. As a result, he yields a much, much higher profit per acre used than farmers using less natural means.

Buffalo grazing in the fields at Cibola Farms

Impressed by the movie and Salatin’s presentation, I have signed up to receive delivery of his free-range, grass-fed poultry as I have not been able to find good local chicken since my favorite farmers market meat supplier, Cibola Farms, stopped offering poultry. I feel very fortunate to be within delivery range of Polyface Farm. As a matter of fact, one of the great advantages of living in the DC Metro area is being close proximity to a huge range of family-owned farms.

Inspired by Fresh as well as other information I have been gathering about my local farms, yesterday my family and I decided to take a road trip to the Cibola Farms ranch in Culpepper, VA where they raise the free-range buffalo and pork that we still purchase regularly at our local farmers market.

Upon arriving, there was a notable lack of livestock scent to the area. As I walked around, I realized that this was because the animals had huge tracts of land around which they could move. There were herds of buffalo, a few dairy cows, several chickens, ducks, geese and turkeys, pigs, honey bees, and a very gregarious farm cat.

A happy, friendly dairy cow at Cibola Farms

This bucolic lifestyle was in stark contrast to the images of factory farms I had seen in Fresh, and Food, Inc., another movie about industrial farming. The Cibola animals looked relaxed, happy and well taken care of. They were grazing on grass, weeds and insects that exist naturally within the farm’s eco-system.

If you eat meat, it is worth considering where your meat comes from. Ultimately, we ingest what our food sources have taken in, regardless of whether they are plants of animals. By making a conscious choice in the purchase of our food, we have an opportunity to help support more sustainable farming practices and to better support our own health.

Even if you don’t live in the Greater DC Metro area, there are many places throughout the country where you can purchase locally grown, healthy food. A great place to start is the USDA’s website, which has a search page where you can locate a farmers market near you.

This article, which I authored, originally appeared on the Etsy Earth blog.

A Conversation with Anna from Greetings That Grow™

I recently discovered  Greetings That Grow™ when I was searching for eco-friendly givewaways for a green trade show where I was exhibiting. Their handmade plantable organic wildflower seed gift tags, customized with my company name and planting instructions, proved to be a big hit with my green-minded customers.  I was interested in learning more about the story behind this wonderful company and sharing it with you. So, the following is an an interview with Anna, owner of Greetings That Grow™.

Please tell me about Greetings That Grow. When/why did you start your business?

I came up with the idea for Greetings that Grow™ in the spring of 2008,  but actually became a licensed business in January 2009.  I started the business because I wanted to offer unique cards that were not only eco friendly, but useful as well.

What are some of the challenges you faced when you initially started your business and how did you overcome them?

How and where to market my cards because I was the first to make plantable photo cards, so there was no “market” established yet for them. I have found twitter to be a very useful outlet, both for networking and for learning about marketing through facebook, blogging, etc.

In the very early stages of development, I had to come up with my own technique for making my paper, embedding my seeds, etc. I had to find a great lab to develop my prints (I have used iprintfromhome.com exclusively for the past year). I had to do a lot of research to find seeds that were hardy and versatile enough to grow all over the world.

Hard work, patience, and an open mind have been key for me. My husband and I have teamed up to brainstorm, revise, and refine. We weekly go through my shop and think up ways to better items, new item and picture ideas, etc. There is no such thing as perfection, so we are always striving to better our products–both in quality and selection.

How did you get started in your chosen craft?

I have loved photography and writing since I was a child, and it has been a dream of mine to someday make my own line of greeting cards. When I stumbled upon plantable paper in an Etsy shop in the spring of 2008, I fell in love with it. I had already lost my love for the typical Hallmark (buy and trash) cards in the past year or so, having become much more eco conscious, so it seemed natural for me to come up with an original way to turn plantable paper into cards. I researched a lot and found that no one had made plantable cards with removable photographs, so I started making them.

What’s your greatest success so far as an entrepreneur?

I have been blessed with many successes (in my mind at least!), but I think the thing that has most excited me would be selling internationally. I love that my products are being shipped and grown all over the world.

What are some the eco-friendly practices you incorporate in your business/products?

I am very big (in all aspects of my life) on being eco friendly–my husband calls it obsessed, lol! Business wise, I use only 100% post consumer papers to shred up into my pulps. All of my wildflower seeds are 100% organic and by January 2010, all the rest of my seeds will be as well. I make all my paper by hand and press it that way as well. All my paper is naturally air dried, so no energy is used for that. Most of my tools were upcycled from items my husband and father in law found in our Grandpa’s garage after he passed away. He kept everything and was always finding a use for spare parts. My husband and his dad took these spare (seemingly useless) items and turned them into one of a kind tools for my business.

I use natural items like pine cones and sand and such for props and backgrounds for all my pictures. I take my paper scraps and shred them into confetti that can be planted and used as eco friendly packaging. Anything I cannot sell in my shop, I plant in my garden or give to someone to plant. We recently had planting instructions designed by bearcengic.etsy.com that are printed on 100% post consumer paper with soy ink. Our new business cards are printed by them also, and as such, are just as eco friendly.  We now are using clear biodegradable, compostable bags for our cards and confetti that are made from plants. We are adding new lines of cards that will have paper inserts made from 100% (acid and lignin free) cotton, so that basically our entire card, including its packaging and plantable envelope, but minus the photograph print, can now be planted!

What resource have you found most valuable in running your business?

My husband (who is very good with scheduling and the practical end of business) and Twitter.

What is your favorite product that you make?

My cards obviously because they are my own original creation and I am very proud of that.  I used to make favors and business cards and such, but made the decision recently to get rid of those items so I could focus solely on my cards.

What’s next for Greetings That Grow?

We are launching new lines of greeting cards that will have (biodegradable) paper inserts with customizable printed phrases/sayings (like Merry Christmas) and poems. We are looking into the possibility of adding personalized memorial poems as well. I have been writing since I was a young girl, so adding poems to cards seems like another great way for me to incorporate another of my passions into my business.  I have also been taking lots of new pictures to add to my selection of prints for cards.

Introducing Herban Lifestyle™ Man

Since I introduced the Herban Lifestyle™ line of products in August 2008, my customers have primarily been women. Even though the products can be used by anyone, I have been told that my packaging is “girly,” so it doesn’t always appeal to men. They don’t see it as something that is made for them. Over the past year, I have had numerous requests from customers, both men and women, for the addition of men’s products to my offerings.

So, in response to customer demand, I am happy to announce the launch of my new line of products made just for men. Just like all of my products, they are truly natural — made only from natural and organic ingredients, with no artificial fragrances, synthetic preservatives or petroleum-based ingredients. However, the Herban Lifestyle Man products come in distinctly manly packaging!

The line, which is currently available in my online store, on Etsy and at World of Good, includes shaving oil, facial soap, after shave and facial lotion.

ArtSpring Grand Re-Opening Scheduled for August 8th!

ArtSpring has scheduled its grand re-opening for Saturday, August 8th. The Silver Spring venue, which is dedicated to promoting the arts in the community,  includes a retail shop featuring the work of DC-area artisans. The store will offer handcrafted products including fine art, jewelry, accessories, pottery, kids stuff, gifts and more.

ArtSpring, formerly known as Pyramid Atlantic Community Arts Store, will be moving down the street into space previously occupied by Merrimekko. All profits from sales support the Pyramid Atlantic Art Center, a Silver Spring non-profit center dedicated to promoting art in the community.

You can find several Herban Lifestyle products, alongside the work of several other local artisans like Capital Region Etsy Street Team‘s Babus.

So, if you are around on August 8th, stop by ArtSpring’s new location at 8519 Georgia Ave., at the corner of Georgia Avenue and Ellsworth Avenue, where they will be celebrating all day from 10:00am-5:00pm!