Flutter's Earth-friendly Espresso Cart Event

Flutter Events has expanded its services to include European espresso cart events. We helped DR Horton host a "green" espresso cart event for the Lantana model grand opening on Saturday. Our event was 90 percent green (I say 90 percent because the post-consumer recycled cups we ordered did not arrive on time).

We used gourmet shade-grown beans from San Francisco Bay Certified Organic Rainforest Blend. The company works with the farmers to supply health care, housing, meal programs, and education to the workers and their families. The coffee is produced 100 percent naturally, with no chemicals or pesticides. Nature-friendly farming practices tend to mature coffee more slowly so the flavors develop more fully before harvest. We have sampled quite a few coffees far and wide, and we think this one is truly superior in taste and quality.

The cups as I mentioned previously did not come on time, but I believe it to be a stroke of luck since it lead me to discover ecopackstore.com which supplies hot beverage cups made of sugar cane fibers. The cups are biodegradable and compost within 45 -60 days. The company is based in San Diego, and the folks there were so helpful they even offered to drive the cups to Del Mar to meet me the night before the event! The timing wasn't right, but now we will be using their fabulous products moving forward. I highly recommend Eco Pack Store for any green gathering.

The plates and napkins were also green products - the compostable plates were also made from sugar-cane fibers and the napkins were from recycled paper. We supplied devastatingly delicious pastries from a French bakery to lend the event an authentic European experience. We used a three-tier bamboo pastry tray for the presentation (you can learn more about the ecological benefits of bamboo in a former blog post here).

We are currently working on nailing down a composting system so that the grinds (and cups) can be returned to the Earth for future vegetable gardens.

Balance your carbon footprint - plant a tree!

I am now including the planting of a tree in a couple's name to the Flutter elopement package. I think trees are a perfect symbol of growth, hope and love - the foundation of any marriage of the heart. The couple will receive a certificate with their names detailing where the tree was planted.

Not only are trees a beautiful gift to honor the celebration of a marriage, but there are countless benefits to reforestation. Trees filter carbon dioxide which help reduce the buildup of greenhouse gases and air pollutants. Trees are a necessity for the restoration of natural ecosystems which help recharge ground water and sustain stream flow, provide habitat for wildlife, and of course, give us beautiful places to enjoy recreational activities.

The American Forest website has a handy little carbon-footprint calculator here. According to mine, I need to plant 42 trees this year to balance my carbon footprint - and I'm an avid recycler! There are plenty of other resources to plant trees in the United States including the National Arbor Day Foundation or Treesinstead.com. For $15, the American Forest will also "plant a tree in remembrance" which I think is a really poignant way to honor the memory of a loved one.

Eco-lifestyle: Adopt an endangered species

Have you ever wished you could have a pet tiger, wolf or snow leopard? Now you can, without having to worry about what your landlord would think. This year you can help the World Wildlife Fund protect the Earth's endangered species by adopting one.

{snow leopard photo credit}

{tiger photo credit}

The Species Adoption Package is $50 and includes a soft plush version of the adopted animal, a Species Spotlight card full of fascinating information about the animal, an adoption certificate, and a color photo of the adopted animal all packaged in a drawstring gift bag.

If you are having difficulty deciding which animal to adopt, pick one that is critically endangered. The list includes tigers, sea turtles, Amur Leopards, Mekong Dolphins and the Darwin Fox. My personal favorite is the grey wolf who is currently at risk of being stripped of its endangered species status by special interest groups in Idaho and Montana who are trying to legalize "revenge killing"of livestock. WWF is trying to restore and preserve wolf habitat to solve the issue.

{wolf photo credit}

{amur leopard photo credit}

How many people can boast that they have a pet polar bear or snowy owl? Not only does this delightful gift educate and inspire animal lovers and children, but it is a very satisfying to the gift giver to contribute to a solution to saving these spectacular creatures.

Inspired gift idea: Numi tea

I have the opportunity to chat with someone from Numi Tea today. As a tea lover, it's exciting to learn more about one of the top tea producers from an insider. Numi Tea is one of those rare products that is an ecologically sustainable superstar. All of Numi's products are certified organic with a wide range of exotic flavors from Chocolate Puerh Black Tea to White Nectar Osmanthus Tea.

For those of you dedicated to the eco-lifestyle like I am, you will be happy to know that Numi's packaging is produced from 85 percent post-consumer waste, which annually conserves more than 5,202 trees and reduces landfill by 334,560 pounds. Numi also participates in a carbon offset program with Big Tree Climate Fund which is an organization I support.

I have previously mentioned my love for bamboo in this post, which I apparently share with Numi. Numi's gift boxes and tea chests are made from bamboo. This lovely set found at World Market would make a delightful holiday gift for any tea lover.

My favorite Numi product, is the gorgeous flowering tea collection which are an atheistically and sybaritic sensuous experience making for a lovely and truly unique gift.

Eco-lifestyle: Pure green living magazine

If you haven't had a chance to check out the gorgeous new online magazine that reminds me of my beloved Domino magazine rush over to puregreenliving.ca. Every virtual page is dripping with beautiful photographs and inspiring ideas for living sustainably with style.

My favorite feature this month is a perfect eco-minded DIY celebration of the holiday season. Instead of the wasteful tradition of cutting down a tree this holiday, follow Pure Green's cue by using a potted living tree. Pure Green recommends using a tree no larger than three feet high and covering the pot with an upcycled coffee bag. The simplicity of decorating with natural elements lends a rustic charm to your home. Trim the tree with pine cones, berries and ribbons and once the holiday is over, give the earth a gift by planting your living tree.

And thanks to the magazine's eco gift guide, I've discovered some amazing new blogs... Organic Cents and Simply Grove, where have you been all my life?!

Eco-lifestyle: Acme Party Box

I have mentioned biodegradable party plates and cups here in the past, but Acme Party Box is a wonderful resource for chic, no-fuss party planning. The company is based in San Francisco and specializes in high-quality sustainable products. The concept is a convenient one-stop party supplies shop with everything you might need delivered in a box to your front door.

There are various packages to select for adults which include stylish biodegradable Wasara tableware, bamboo flatware and fun bunting created by local artisans.

There are also adorable packages available for children's parties like this Circus Party Box.

And of course, some fun decorations in honor of Halloween.

Eco-lifestyle: Vertical gardens

Vertical gardens are all the rage these days in the modern sustainability circles. A vertical garden is the perfect solution for apartment dwellers who don't have a little plot of land to toil or a rooftop to transform into Eden.

{photo credit}

{photo credit}

The benefits includes reducing noise, cooling a building, filtering and oxygenating the air and of course, producing delicious organic food. Vertical gardens can consist of herbs, vegetables, ferns or whatever you fancy. I found the best pictures of succulent vertical gardens so I think if I were to tackle this project, I would go the succulent route first.

I found instructions here.

1. Build a frame with a 2'' depth and cover with wire mesh. Or buy one at Succulent gardens

2. Place soil over screen and run your fingers over the screen and soil to move through screen. Make sure there is very little air space between soil and screen.

3. Snip some cuttings from mature plants. Make sure the stems are 1/4 inch in length or smaller. The cuttings will need to heal and form a scab for about one week before planting. Store cuttings in a cool shaded area before planting.

4. Poke the cuttings’ stem ends through the mesh and into the soil. Leave the frame lying flat in a cool, bright location while plants take root, about 7 to 10 days after planting, then begin watering.

Once plants are securely rooted―this takes between 4 and 12 weeks―display the frames upright in an area that gets morning or filtered sun.

Water as soil approaches dryness, about every 7 to 10 days. To water, remove frame from the wall, lay flat, water lightly, and let soil drain before hanging up again.

{photo credits}

Eco-lifestyle: Bamboo drinking straws

There is a mass of plastic floating in the Pacific Ocean twice the size of Texas. Read more here. The ramifications to this are staggering. Not only does it kill wildlife who get caught in the tangle, marine wildlife is consuming the particles of plastic which obviously makes it's way into our food. The need for alternatives to plastic are obvious and require immediate action. There are a multitude of new products emerging every day. Bamboo drinking straws is one such product that caught my eye. It is a small change we can all make is replace the use of plastic drinking straws.

These lovely bamboo alternatives are not only cool but biodegradable and last much longer then their plastic step-sibling. For more about bamboo read my post about bamboo here.

Eco-lifestyle: Très trailer

I am inspired by the iPhone. I am enamored with the convenience of having every tool I need at my fingertips. I used to carry a cell phone, iPod and a camera. Before I switched cell phone carriers, I had them all in one sweet little package - not to mention all the applications I never knew I couldn't live without. What does the iPhone have to do with trailers?

Pre-fabricated modular housing reminds me of the iPhone concept. The former "trailer" market has transformed into a streamlined green building art form. I love the idea of simplifying life with cleaner, simpler and just plain cooler designs with a multitude of uses. And the best part is they are ecologically friendly, designed to leave a small footprint on the land. Clean contemporary lines, paired with simple, ecologically-sound materials make for stylish spaces that maximize their functionality.

Imagine having a 500 square foot home complete with ample closet and cabinet space cleverly built into nooks and crannies, open living space with ample windows that can withstand the elements, and a home so packed with energy efficient construction options that it can operate independent of any sources outside itself. This is the concept of the prefab home, and here are a few of my favorites:

HOM based in Los Angeles not only offers prefab homes, but with a product line of furniture, lighting, textiles and accessories, it incorporates an entire lifestyle that is crafted to be simple, purposeful and ecological.

{photo credit: HOMlifystyle.com}

Modern Cabana based in San Francisco offers a great starter package into the prefab world with a fully finished 10 x 12 studio starting at $11,500.

{photo credit: moderncabana.com}

Not only does Reclaimed Space of Austin, TX have some of the most charming prefab cottages around, it takes sustainability to new heights by offering homes with materials cultivated from deconstructive projects like old barns. The company provides green building options such as photovoltaic solar panel systems, wind turbines, solar water heaters, rainwater collection systems, waterless solar toilets and composting toilets.

This adorable abode by Reclaimed Space was displayed by Dwell on Design and was auctioned on eBay for $75,000. Proceeds were donated to Habitat for Humanity. The irresistible interior decor was created by Ecofabulous using green products.

{photo credit: reclaimedspace.com}

For Lily

I live in Dana Point, California. We had a gray whale in our harbor this week. We went down to catch a glimpse and were surprised to find news crews, sheriffs, helicopters and excited masses of people. We walked out on the crowded jetty and saw her - a real, live, whale, up close. It was completely awe inspiring to be able to see such a majestic creature just feet away. Locals named her Lily and while we were on that jetty we got the whole story.

At first, it was speculated that she was an old whale and had come to the harbor to beach herself. But as it turns out, Lily was actually quite young and a damsel in distress. Gray whales migrate from Baja to Alaska each year. Lily was caught in a fishing net and the weight of 150 pounds of fishing net tangled in her tail and fins was making it too difficult for her to continue her migration. Whales are social creatures, and she must have been in a pod that left her behind. The folks at Sea World came to her rescue and she remained docile and still as can be, for four hours while they cut the fishing net off her. We, humans, put her into peril, yet she still trusted us enough to let us come inches away - even with the roar of the helicopters and the slew of boats surrounding her.

And once they cut her free we all rejoiced for our self-appointed hometown hero. She picked our harbor as her haven and so many of us were honored to be a part of her story. Lily died today. I am not sure how, because I'm too heartbroken to hear anything about the gentle soul whose story was sure to be a happy ending . She touched the hearts of so many - none of us the same - yet all of us bound together, inspired by her courage. We, the human race, have to do better for our wildlife. A whale shouldn't suffer because we were careless with a fishing net, and an entire eco-system shouldn't die from an oil spill. The Earth's creatures should all be treated with honor, compassion and responsibility. And I'm proud to say I saw people from all walks of life do just that by rallying around a whale named Lily.

If you want to support whale conservation, please send this message to president Obama urging him to stop plans to legalize commercial whaling. Do it for Lily.

Eco-lifestyle: Nature's air filtration system

My parents installed an air filtration system into their home and I couldn't understand what all the fuss was about. Then I unknowingly moved to a pollen ridden dust bowl and developed allergies which incapacitated me. Suddenly, my parent's home became a welcome haven. Pollen season returned in full swing, and all hopped up on Benadryl I started shopping for air filters. I am pretty sure I found the coolest air filter ever invented.

{available here}

Andrea Air Filter blends art and science to clean and oxygenate homes using living plants, soil and water. The leaves of the plant draws polluted air from the environment and absorbs it, naturally metabolizing it through the plant system. This system eliminates harmful gases beyond simply collecting it on a filter surface. Andrea is causing quite a stir in the scientific community for this achievement. I'm sure it will eventually hit the main stream, and once it does, I hope that people truly come to understand how much we depend on plants to purify the air we breathe, and in essence, survive. I know I have found a newfound respect for the lil' green guys.

Eco-lifestyle: Plantable paper

I have always had a bit of a guilt complex associated with greeting cards. I hate to waste the lives of trees for such a fleeting function as a wrapped gift or a happy birthday wish. I tried a no-gift-wrap, no-cards policy with friends and family. Yet, when I receive a card from a loved one – I keep it forever (my significant other refers to this habit as hoarding). Even though wasting paper goes against my beliefs, I feel that I’m depriving my beloved gift recipients of a small pleasure.

The solution: Botanical Paperworks, the creator of plantable greeting cards, journals and other printed paper products.

Botanical Paperworks’ produces “tree -free” paper out of cotton or 100% post-consumer waste. The paper is made of wildflower seeds in Winnipeg. Yup, you heard that correctly no trees were harmed in the making of this paper.

Once you plant the seeded paper, water it well and give it plenty of sun. Botanical Paperworks promises wildflowers in 6-8 weeks!

{All photos from botanicalpaperworks.com}