The Future is Green! on Friday, March 14, 2008

Environmental concerns are trendy now, and even though I know it's not new, I'm glad the Green movement is gaining momentum!

I read recently about our country’s new “Green movement”, and the fact that “environmental concerns are hot”.  Newsweek profiled a new consumer category, LOHAS, or, Americans desiring a “Lifestyle of Health and Sustainability”.  I know that the “Green” movement is not new, but I’m glad it’s gaining new momentum.  The idea of “sustainability” drives a lot of what Backyard Bird Shop is about – helping people preserve and appreciate our natural world.

We try to be “Green” in our business.  We recycled even when the only choice was to load up a van and drive it to a recycling center.  We look for products made locally or regionally whenever possible, to support local vendors and save fossil fuels.

We like to offer “Green” products.  We carry natural pest control choices, and natural mosquito prevention like birdbath drippers.  We’ve built a Recycled Plastic product line—bird feeders, bird houses and squirrel feeders made from recycled milk jugs and detergent bottles.

As the organization Think Local Portland explains, when you spend your money at a local shop, your money stays local and multiplies.  I guess it’s also “Green”, since shoppers and shopkeepers operating locally save resources like delivery vehicle fuel and packing material waste.

Maybe the new “LOHAS” will realize that it isn’t just important, it feels great to gear your lifestyle toward sustaining our natural world!