Vintage Auto Fabric Handbags

This cute bag was a gift from a student and I think that she got it at Plum Goods.  It's made by Kim White Handbags, a company that uses vintage automotive fabric from the 1970's and 1980's.  Each bag is labeled with the year and make of the fabric.  I expected that they used recycled material, but according to their website, "Kim White uses dead stock never-used textiles intended for use in American automobiles: cars, trucks and vans. She fortuitously unearthed an entire warehouse of automotive fabric, which may be the last existing stock anywhere in the US, and she is the sole owner of these amazing textiles." The bags are colorful, useful, and durable!

Sustainable Seafood

The Sea Center is has a program that is trying to increase awareness and availability of local seafood through education and promotion of businesses that support sustainable menu choices.  The list of restaurants is surprising small, but hopefully will grow larger!  Recommended distributors are Kanaloa Seafood and Santa Barbara Fish Market.

Recycling Rules!

I recently learned from my students that there are new items that can be placed in the blue bins for recycling! Plastic film, including plastic bags are now accepted. Less Is More is an excellent site that has all the facts about recycling in SB, including how clean items need to be, what to do with caps and lids, and ideas for reducing waste.  There's information on local events, hazardous waste, electronic recycling, home composting and more!

Organic Seedlings at Lazy Acres

Time to start planting the spring vegetable garden and Lazy Acres has everything I need!   Tomatoes, tomatillos, peppers, kale, and they're all organic and locally grown.  They're going fast, so to get the best selection, scurry on down!

Summer for Kids

Don't make the mistake of walking past this unassuming little shop on Coast Village Road in Montecito.  It carries a wide assortment of eco-friendly products for children and families, including furniture, clothing, toys, art supplies, bath and body care, and even organic candy!  In addition, they donate 100% of their profits to children's charities.  Check out their amazing website for more info.

If you have visited before and your child loved the playroom, you will want to know that they have recently changed their policies on playroom use.  They now charge $2.00 per hour to play.  However, if you purchase $250 worth of merchandise, your child can play for free for three months.  Not continuously, of course!

Baby Shower Gifts

It seems like most of my coworkers are pregnant these days, so I'm always on the search for good baby shower gifts.  Urban Infant has planet-friendly baby and toddler items that are sure to please.  Plum Goods carries a good selection of their products.  I picked up the City Diner, mostly because I loved the packaging.  It comes in a biodegradable tray with a reusable net covering. The wallet-sized pouch contains an infant spoon, bib, and instructions on how to survive a meal out with a baby.  I would like it more if it didn't use the plastic in the pouch, but it's better than most!

SBIFF Must See -- Nothing Like Chocolate

If you like chocolate, you'll want to check out this film by UCSB professor, Kum-Kum Bhavnani. It tells the story of a chocolate manufacturer who is "doing it right!"

It's scheduled to screen at the following time, but you might want to double check the SBIFF site to confirm:

» Sun. Feb 5 – 11:00 AM Metro 4 Theatre IV

You can learn more about the film at this link.

Fairview Gardens Homesteading Classes

Fairview Gardens has a series of classes on composting, tree grafting, soap making, raising chickens, and more that appeal to the Laura Ingalls Wilder side of me.  I'm planning on attending the Bee Keeping class in April.  Click here for information on the whole series.

Make Water Better

Do you have a Bobble yet?  If not, stop by Lazy Acres to get at least one.  The reusable, BPA free bottles come with a replaceable carbon filter that removes impurities from water as you drink.  Each filter lasts for about 300 bottles of water.  Made in the USA.

Tri-County Plant Cards

The official name for this item is Tri-County Medicinal Plant Cards, but I think the title could limit the value of this set.  This unique deck has cards with both a color collage of photos and a detailed summary for 75 local plants.  They are color coded and sortable to assist the user to identify local plants based on toxicity, edibility, practical uses, habitat, holistic healing, flower color, and month of bloom.  Hikers, parents, artists, teachers, and others would find a variety of uses these cards.  Author Sue Reinhart is a local teacher and the cards were printed in Ventura.  I got mine at Chaucer's.

Typical card that shows photos of plants.  Description and more info on the back.










Poisonous plant cards have a red border.

Reduce Your Forkprint

I have a feeling I'm going to be posting about many things that can be found at Lazy Acres.  Not only do they have a large list of local products, they also carry a wide assortment of green gift and household items.  One example is the Bamboo Utensil Set made by To-Go Ware.  I received a set last year and have used them almost daily.  They are made with sustainable products and clip easily to my lunch box, so I can't lose them.  You can also find them at the Isla Vista Food Co-op, Plum Goods, and the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden.

             

Solmate Socks

You can find these cute recycled cotton socks at Vice's & Spices and enjoy a cup of their delicious coffees or teas while shopping.  It's the only family owned coffee shop in SB.  They only carry adult sizes, but you can find a more extensive selection at the Socklady site.  Never worry about finding a matching set again!

Nursery Rhymes Book Set

Chaucer's is definitely the best bookstore in town.  They have a wide variety of books, magazines, cards, and gifts.  Here is one item that would be a welcome addition to a toddler's library.  It's made of 98% recycled materials and just the right size for little hands.

What's the Purpose?

With so many friends and family converting to a more eco-friendly lifestyle, I decided to compile some resources that will make it easier to find green, sustainable, and locally made products in our community. I'll post the stores and items I find that are better choices when shopping for gifts or daily life! Inspired by my friend Janet Rienstra-Friesen, I'm hoping that this site can become a resource for Santa Barbarians.