Why Is Bamboo Green?

Bamboo has become a popular material among the eco-friendly crowd. In fact, if you step into our store, you’ll notice that we’ve got bamboo toys, bamboo clothing, and even bamboo utensils! If you haven’t heard about the ecological benefits of this softwood, you may be rather bamboozled by this craze. So, why is bamboo considered to be so “green”?

First of all, it’s a renewable resource, largely owed to its short growth cycle. Bamboo’s quick regeneration helps cut down on the cutting down of forests, and aids with preventing erosion. The imaginative game pictured above was created by Hape, and mimics the speed at which bamboo matures. Here’s a quote that appears in toy’s product description:

“Bamboo is one of the fastest growing plants in the world. If cultivated properly, it can fully regenerate within 3 months, causing no detriment to the surrounding ecosystem. Bamboo raises the water level in the areas that surround it. It is an enormous consumer of CO2, thereby increasing the amount of oxygen in the air. “

The adaptive plant provides more oxygen per square foot than the average tree, and can be just as strong as hardwood– while being many times more flexible. Bamboo is a very versatile material, used to create everything from sturdy building materials to super-soft bath towels… like these from Yala!

For those of you who prefer brevity, here’s a list of reasons why Bamboo > Trees:

• It takes trees up to 50 years to reach maturation. Some varieties of bamboo can grow several feet in one day, much like a teenage boy.
• Bamboo is scrappy enough to grow in a wide variety of different climates, unlike those wimpy Poplars.
• No pesticides or chemicals are necessary to aid the growth of bamboo.
• Trees chug water. Bamboo merely sips it.
• Bamboo is wildly biodegradable, and makes excellent compost.
• Some trees are poisonous enough to kill a grown bodybuilder. Bamboo, however, is absolutely non-toxic to humans and animals. Yay!

The story doesn’t end here, though- we haven’t heard about bamboo’s dark side! Although bamboo itself is as green as can be, the manufacturing process isn’t always environmentally responsible (shocking, I know). Stay tuned for Wednesday’s blog on Why Bamboo ISN’T Green!

Just in: Cate and Levi

We just picked up a new children line and what is the one word that keeps popping into our heads? CUTE!  Every new character we find is the cutest one yet!!  We have Cate and Levi brand stuffed animals, scarves, mittens, purses, wall organizers and puppets!

This is a bunny puppet surrounded by mittens!

Reclaimed wool is the material that is used to make these products!  Instead of throwing out an old wool garment, it is used to create a loving animal by Cate and Levi.

Because the material is coming from used wool products, there are no two Cate and Levi creations the same!  The wool has served its purpose as a sweater and instead of being thrown out to never be used again, it is used as a festive decoration of a sweet animal!

  

Find Cate and Levi here and stop by the store to see them in person!