Happy 4.22.12

Happy Earth Day!

Photo used with permission © Jacquelyn Poussot / jacquelynpoussot.com

World Water Day

Aren't we lucky? We wake up each morning- brush our teeth, hop in the shower, make a cup o' joe and off we go on our way.

Today is World Water Day - a great reminder that throughout the world there are many less fortunate. Today, take a moment each time you sip or use a drop of H20 and remember how fortunate you are to have this consumable right at your tap. We take so much for granted, right?

Being in the paper industry we are all too aware how much water is consmed in our industry and we have tried to do our part to conserve, consume less and carefully research the production practices of the mills that produce our paper. We read the Whole Living Daily WATER IQ TEST below on Huffington Post {and failed miserably} and it reminds us, once again, how precious each drop is.

Click HERE to see a larger view: By Whole Living Daily via huffingtonpost.com

Sweet Times! Maple Weekend in New York State

Maple Weekend in New York State is March 17-18 and March 24-25. Sugar shacks sprinkled throughout the state open their doors for tours, pancake breakfasts and tastings... kind of like "open studio" for the art and craft of all things maple.

And a craft it really is. Next time you open a bottle of syrup to put on your waffles- think twice- most commercial grades a la Aunt Jemima are made from the lowest grade syrup added to copious amounts of corn syrup while the stuff that comes in the cute bottles and is super pricey--- that's the good stuff- the cream of the crop so to speak.

Many syrup businesses are small cottage ventures and many a seasonal offset for dairy farmers to bring in a few extra bucks during the Spring season. The syrup business is not for the frail - it is hard labor and a labor of love. The sweet stuff does not flow easily and taking it from tree to table is a monumental effort.

Contrary to what many think- maple season is early Spring, not Fall. Warm days of early Spring and cool nights make sap run- and it is the sap that we have come to know as maple syrup. First you need the trees, and lots of them! Sugar Maple and Black Maple are the most popular variety and to yield a great crop you need more than a bucket.

We had the sweet fortune of visiting Fairbanks Maple in Forestville, NY on Saturday and were amazed at just how elaborate the "tiny" operation is. With over 3,300 trees each tapped just once a season, there are what seems like miles of endless blue lines that run the sap from tree to tank.

Once collected, the sap is converted to syrup. When sap is first collected it is mostly water and the sap to syrup conversion happens when most of the water is boiled away. It takes over 40 gallons of sap to make one gallon of syrup.

Packaging alone is a craft in and of itself. Similar to canning- issues of hygiene and proper sealing of the container must be precise to avoid contamination- if any introduction of air is released into the seal, the syrup is destroyed.

Next time you sit down to a hearty breakfast- think twice- and enjoy the sugary sweetness as you pour maple syrup- a truly sweet labor of love!

MAKING THE GRADE

Here's a run down of maple syrup by quality and grade:

Grade A maple syrup is classified according to color. The darker the syrup, the stronger the maple taste.

Grade A Light Amber — the lightest of the three classifications with a mild and delicate flavor. It’s best for maple cream and molded maple sugar (candy).

Medium Amber — a bit darker with a fuller flavor. This is the most popular grade for table syrup.

Dark Amber — the darkest of the three grades has a stronger maple flavor. This all-purpose syrup is good for cooking, baking and table use.

Extra Dark — used for cooking, strongest maple flavor. Best for cooking.

Grade B — sold in bulk for reprocessing and the manufacture of commercial table syrups. Best for baking.

Source: Mapleweekend.com

Learn more here:
NY State Maple Producers Association
Cornell University Sugar Maple Research Program

Photos taken at Fairbanks Maple: Forestville, NY - (716) 965-4208
Photo #1: via getentrepreneurial.com

Have a {LED} Ball on New Year's Eve!

It's hard to believe that another year has come and gone, and this will be our final post for 2011!

As we bid adieu to a very good year, we were so pleased to hear on the news this evening that the ball (ya know, THE ball) in Times Square will be illuminated for the first time with LED light bulbs.

We're all a glow with fun facts: ;)

Image via Royal Phillips Electronics

Extra extra! Read "all the news that's fit to print" about the Times Square jewel HERE

Ball images via forummedia.us

Wishing you all a beautiful, bright green New Year!!!

Re: Gifts... 10 Ways to Gift-Back

Green Tips: 7 Steps To Stay On The Green This Summer

As July temperatures skyrocket in to the 90's - it's time for our annual green tips for summer...

1. Be a pest

Image via Golf Digest

Stay on course and urge your Country Club, County Pool, Condo Complex to educate, reconsider and revamp the pesticides they are using. Beyond Pesticides is a great resource.

At home, you'll have success with some of the tried and true:
+ A cup of beer attracts slugs.
+ Beetles are all washed up in cup of dish soap.
+ Basil and Citronella are natural mosquito repellents.
+ Peppermint Oil on cotton balls keep away pesky squirrels and critters.

2. The Big Event

Image created on esigns.com

Community events and fairs, church dinners and camps, fundraising events... all super popular during the summer... and all generate an incredible of amount of trash. Contact your local solid waste authority or recycling company who may provide recycling for your event, for free or as a sponsor. If they won't, then it's DIY: Set up cardboard boxes, mark them "RECYCLE" and appoint teams to haul to a recycling location at the end of the day. Make it fun and offer a prize to the team who collects the most.

For smaller events try portable recycling bins from Flings Bins.

3. Home Goods

Image via 123rf

Go back to basics:

+ Turn the Air Conditioning up when you are not at home. More A/C tips HERE.
+ Unplug small appliances and cable/DVR boxes when not in use.
+ Add a room or ceiling fan.
+ Draw blinds (we luv cellular blinds).
+ Update old in-window air conditioners to more efficient and less expensive models. Donate the old unit.

4. Wash & Dry

Image via Electrolux

Call your local electric company and find out seasonally what hours are considered OFF PEAK in your area (it varies). Do your laundry and run the dish washer during off peak hours. Saves a bundle of energy and a bundle of cash!

5. Take Out

Whether you are headed to work or heading out on a road trip- just say no to To Go containers and plastic cutlery. Be sure your car and office are stocked with:

+ A set of metal cutlery.
+ Ceramic or melamine plates.
+ Insulated cups. We can't say enough about Tervis Tumblers to keep drinks cold (we just wish we had a nickle for every time we sang their praises! ;)
+ POST-consumer recycled napkins and paper towels.

6. On the Go - Green Hotels

Image via mcallencvb.com

If you are planning a vacation find a green hotel. From LEED certified to simple green initiatives hotels have really stepped it up. A little research will yield a good night's sleep and keep you counting sheep in very green pastures!

7. Cocktails with a twist

Image via www.seductionmeals.com

Stay tuned for our bi-monthly Friday postings of "It's Cocktail Time" - cool summer recipes for eco-minded mixology. Cheers and Happy Summer!

Fall Fashion on Ecouterre

After discovering ECOUTERRE, a serious eco fashion site, we got caught up watching video after video of the new collections recently previewed in NY at the Designers & Agents Show, and, during Fashion Week.

We love that eco fashion is transcending to an atelier and couture level. The line is blurring and even designs that remain true to their indigenous ethnic roots are reaching new heights of sophistication.

From lady like silhouettes and detail to casual comfort designs are as diverse as the inspirations they draw from. Take a look...

From the Green Room at Designers & Agents

Lady-like granola glam- love the collar, which is detachable.

Easy organic comfort from Anja


100% Recycled bag from Ecoalf


Indigenous pattern handwoven bag by Wayuu Taya






On a high fashion note- Edun at Fall Fashion Week in NY
Bono and wife Ali Hewson continue to amaze...

And more couture: The Future of Fashion from The GreenShows

Fashion, by design, is controversial as it represents conspicuous consumption and waste. It's great to see more focus and legitimate balance- many of these pieces re-use and have implemented augmented sustainable practices. Young companies positioning themselves to generate fundamental changes in the fashion industry are gaining ground, focus and ultimately just may achieve a shift in what now still seems an oxymoron- sustainable fashion.

All images and video links via ECOUTERRE- if you're a fashionista and haven't visited this site- it's a must!!

NSS Meetup on YouTube

Check out this vid: YouTube - National Stationery Show 2011 Meetup

Sponsored by: The Knot, Felt & Wire, Mohawk, Green Paper Company, Kelly Guenther Studio, Mom Inc. Daily, Anthology, Wendelline Papers, The Curated Group, ...

Fun event at the very cool Brooklyn Winery- Thanks to Erika from Delphine Press for organizing and to all for including Green Paper Company!

National Stationery Show 2011

The National Stationery Show has officially begun and it's off to a great start! The show floor is crowded, lots of new and tried and true vendors and an excited energy abounds- Ccear signs that the economy is recovering and that paper is not only trendy, but more than ever, a form of self expression!

Here's a glimpse of our booth at this years show- it's simple and less elaborate than in the past but oh so functional. We went from a 3 day set up to a 1 day set up! The booth has always been very eco-conscious in design but this year we are particularly proud that our "walls" are made of our 100% recycled packing paper. When we, (literally) tear down the booth- we'll bring the "walls" back with us and use them for shipping product. Who knows- your next order may contain a little piece of our booth!

We've had a great response to our new colors Solar Power and Caribbean (Row 3 on the photo above) and people are rockin' on Pebble, a great new textured 100% PCW white and also, lovin' linen.

If you are at the show be sure to stop by and say hello: BOOTH #2057

Renegade

Good luck to all of our designer, printer, indie craftin' friends that are showing at the Chicago Renegade Craft Fair this weekend. Must confess that we are feeling a bit misty that we are no longer in Chi-town and close to the scene.

The weekend should be fantastic- so enjoy + craft your hearts out! We'll be sending prosperous creative stitches, I mean wishes, your way.

It's Cocktail Time

This Friday our summer "Cocktail Time" spotlights a very cool venue in LA- Little Green Cocktail.

Launched just about a year ago this grouped is organized by Heather Knight, Pedram Sameni and Liya Brook. Here's their "story":

...

Small changes for a big impact

Little Green is a bi-monthly sustainability-themed cocktail party in downtown LA.

We explore gentle revolutions, knowledge and reflections. There are creative cocktails, inspirational talks and elegant guests galore!

Our focus is hot green topics and ideas relevant to Southern California. We aim to entertain and connect both the experts and the curious!"

...

Pretty simple right? And sounds super fun- wish we lived in LA!! This could be a great green social startup idea for your town, let us know if you have a similar gig. Or, if you are inspired and starting one. Cheers gals- have a cocktail for us!

.All images via littlegreencocktail.com

Clinton Climate Initiative

The former President is hard at work promoting awareness about climate change...

THE CLINTON CLIMATE INITIATIVE

The Clinton Foundation is immersed in combating climate change- deforestation, solar energy, waste management, quantifying energy usage, urban redesign of lighting, and the list goes on.

"The Clinton Climate Initiative (CCI) is working with government partners including Indonesia, Cambodia, Tanzania, Kenya, and Guyana to develop projects that enable local communities to be compensated for preserving and regrowing forests. Tropical deforestation represents around 15 percent of global carbon emissions – more than all the world’s cars, trucks buses, trains, and airplanes put together. Many countries cut down forests, or will be compelled to do so in the future, due to the economic benefits of activities such as logging and agriculture."

"Each year more than 13 million hectares of tropical forests are lost. Destroying forests not only releases carbon into the atmosphere through burning and decomposition, but also removes their ability to serve as "carbon sinks" –– natural reservoirs of carbon. We need forests to absorb and store carbon from the atmosphere and release oxygen. Forests help regulate the Earth’s water cycle, sustain a great diversity of plant and animal species, and directly support more than 750 million people."

The Clinton Foundation is raising awareness to make it more profitable for countries to preserve forests than to cut them down, create robust systems to measure the carbon content of forests, and actively involve local communities in the preservation of their forests."

With a special action plan in place for Earth Day- make a visit to the website to learn more. See what they have already accomplished, and while there, you can test your own knowledge about climate change by taking the climate change QUIZ.

Thank you Mr. President!

All info and photos via clintonfoundation.org

40 Tips 4 40th Earthday (and everyday)

40 Tips for 40th Earth Day - great, not to be missed ideas from Earth911.org

Two personal faves: #14 Candy and #20 Pizza Boxes. Hmmm... both (junk) food related-- what's that tell ya?!

Spring Fling

As the weather warms, April showers (bridal showers, that is) will abound. These easy to use "Fling" recycling bins make clean up a snap and recycling part of the party.

Flings Recycling Containers® are convenient, portable, compact bins that snap open accordion style and are about the size of a tall kitchen bin (13 gallons). Each bin holds up to 60 bottles or cans and are re-usable and, they have earned the Sierra Club's Green Home Seal of approval with a 5 out of 5 rating. Purchase them on line here, with free shipping.

The Green Bride Guide

If you are not already familiar with The Green Bride Guide, let us introduce you to this simple, informative eco wedding site. It provides lots of thrifty tips and tricks for the eco savvy bride. It's also great for eco minded wedding vendors. Register your business for a free listing. A simple application process puts your company in front of your ideal, to-be-wed audience. Apply here.

With other wedding sites such as Style Me Pretty who provide dreamy inspiration boards and high end sourcing, The Green Bride Guide is a down to earth source on how to green a wedding - call it the yellow pages of eco event planning. The focus is on saving some green as well- perfect for a more budget conscious crowd. Be sure to check out "Tips on How to Save $11,000 by Greening Your Wedding"... in this economy, we're all inspired to plant a little more green in our pockets!

In the mood for...

With Valentine's Day and wedding season upon us, we are in a wedded mood, and loving Style Me Pretty's Style Circle. Can't help but notice some of our papers and color palettes cropping up as well.

Golden Oak, Magnolia, White Birch, Sugar Maple, Chestnut & Beech.

Ash, Spearmint, Cottonwood, Yellow Birch, Jackpine.

Cloud, Ash, Silver Maple, White Birch.

If you are loving these color inspirations as much as we are, be sure to check out SMP's Style Circle, and contact us for a swatchbook to create your own!

Weddy or Not!

Indie Wed has arrived, and what's more is a nice shout out from the folks at Daily Candy, who listed Indie Wed in this week's edition of the weekend guide. See the guide here, and come visit us (and just a few of the fab vendors below), this Saturday from 11am-5pm at Indie Wed. The first 50 visitors to our booth will recieve a swag bag chock full of recycled paper goodness!