Keep Yourself Thriving by Helping Landreth Seed Co. Survive for Another 200 Years

PoopBags is all about local and home grown produce as it is healthier, less expensive and reduces carbon footprints. Did you know the average shopping cart's contents travel 1,500 miles? My goodness!

I confess, I am all talk and no game when it comes to gardening. I slightly blame my laziness on city living as well as the bounty to be had at my local farmers market, which is a significantly smaller footprint than the grocery store. Anyway, for a precious four and one-half months out of the year,  my hook ups are Brunkow Cheese which has these amazing crystals (by the way, they had the cutest guy working the stand last year), River Valley Kitchens' Key Lime Mango Salsa which makes me slovenly lick the jar, Seedling Farms for terrific seasonal fruit, Lange's Farm for superior and consistent produce, and the rest of the too-many-to-name top notch vendors.

Needless to say, I vicariously live my gardening fantasy on the web. I have email subscriptions to Gardener's Supply, The Tasteful Garden and, as of today, D. Landreth Seed Company. Let us hope the sign-up today was not in vain. You see, Landreth is in a bit of a financial bind to the point of going under and needs to sell one million catalogs to get rid of all of its debt. Now, I know that might sound a wee fishy. However, listen to its story. The company has been around since 1784, that is the year the Revolutionary War officially ended. So, I imagine Mr. Landreth in the field, wearing culottes and showing Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson and George Washington the lay of the land. Additionally, you would not be longing for a GMO-free, home grown tomato in the middle of December without the Landreth Company introducing it to home gardeners back in the day. Lastly, Landreth has the same values as PoopBags and is completely an open book. Here is its very justifiable reason to sell catalogs:

We could have this catalogue printed overseas, and the printing costs would be 1/4th the costs of printing the catalogue in the United States, but we are not going to take American business overseas. The catalogue is designed by a small, Baltimore-based and family-owned business, Victor DiPace Associates and it is printed by a family-owned local printing company. Producing this catalogue is far more expensive than it is for most companies who are outsourcing their printing requirements overseas. We charge for our catalogue to help with some, but not all, of the costs to produce and mail. Each catalogue that you purchase from Landreth is helping to keep an American employed and therefore making this country stronger.

The concept ties easily back into what Treehugger.com wrote about Landreth:

Seed companies are becoming more and more consolidated, and, for the most part, consolidated under giant companies like Monsanto who would love nothing more than to completely control the seed market. As these conglomerates take over, they decide to only produce and sell the seed that they deem most profitable. This means that variety in our food supply is quickly dwindling.

Let's rationalize that $5.00 catalog purchase:

1. "It's a caramel macchiato" - as the Boss would say. Not Springsteen, the PoopBags Boss.

2. You can give it as a holiday gift. 

3. Obama's whole 2008 campaign was all about $5.00 donations. Landreth only needs 200,000 people to rise to the occasion. 

4. If you garden, you have a new source for seeds.

5. If you live in a city and cannot garden, you can longingly dream of gardening while you thumb through the Landreth catalog.

Editor's note: I apologize if the links were too annoyingly abundant, but I want everyone to know about the fantastic, niche small innovative businesses that keep us healthy.

Pet Soup Kitchens: Buy a Tee to Donate Food!

Distressing News...

Photo courtesy of Pets of the Homeless

The current economic crisis has forced loving households to give up their pets over the past few years. As pet owners, we know the love and companionship our pets provide. We can only imagine the stress of such a decision, the effects it would have on a family’s mental health, and the stress on shelters across the nation.

Not to take these things lying down, we, at PoopBags, are dedicating the month of August to raise awareness about and to donate to our local pet food bank, The Animal Welfare League. Of course, we have teamed up with our brand buddies, The Honest Kitchen! We are donating 12 boxes of Keen and – get this – The Honest Kitchen is generously matching our donation with 12 boxes of Zeal! Basically, that’s 240 lbs. of dehydrated, raw pet food. When it’s rehydrated, that’s 1,032 lbs! Woo Hoo!

TwentyThirtyForty's  figure, Judy

We would be remiss if we did not include you in this process. If you purchase a PoopBags.com t-shirt from now until August 31, 2011, ALL proceeds will contribute to additional boxes of pet food. Mind you, before 100% of the gross profit benefited select charities. Now, ALL $9 BUCK-A-ROOS will go directly to this food cause! So spruce up your wardrobe and help a dog stay in its forever home!

Other ways to help…We also encourage everyone to donate directly or start a similar pet food pantry drive in their area. Resources can be found at Save Our Pets Food Bank or Pets of the Homeless. Additionally, both organizations provide some troubling facts about how pervasive this problem is. If a pet food pantry is not in a particular area, donate food directly to a local shelter.

Spread the word! Forward this message to your friends and family or share it on Facebook!

Together, we can take positive steps to stop pet relinquishment!

The Winner of "I wrote an ad about PoopBags.com" Contest!

Congratulations, Wanchen!

Meeka - Wanchen's Austin Pets Alive Baby

When we told Wanchen she won the “I wrote an ad about PoopBags.com.” Contest, we received the most lovely news. She donated the $250 of PoopBags products to Austin Pets Alive, where she volunteers weekly! Of course,  APA wanted aallllllllllll PoopBags. We thought it was a wise choice. We were so overwhelmed by Wanchen’s generosity that we decided to donate 700 Jumbo PoopBags for the big guys ourselves.

APA is definitely an amazing nonprofit. It focuses solely on the pets who have already been passed over by other rescue groups, and only takes those who are at the greatest risk from the Town Lake Animal Shelter. APA also has an innovative program called Positive Alternatives to Shelter Surrender, which helps pets – whose parents are in distress – find new homes or stay in their current ones.

Prana: The Design Force Behind the Brand

When you think of prAna, you probably think of an eco-friendly, comfortable, casual, yoga, and outdoorsy clothing company. We decided to investigate the creative design team behind the brand that articulates this philosophy and culture. We put it to Tess, PoopBags.com's resident design assistant and full-time fashion student, to devise a list of questions. The answers are intriguing and definitely provoke thought.

Ellen
Where did you study fashion?
I always loved drawing princesses and clothing, but pursued a liberal arts education rather than a fashion design degree. My first design classes were self taught through trial and error, reading books, people watching, sketching, teaching myself to knit, etc. My real training started when I landed a design job on 42nd street in the heart of NYC garment district.

How did you end up a part of Prana’s design team?
I was the Director of the Design team at an active apparel company (Athleta, now owned by GAP, Inc.) for almost 12 years. The CEO of prAna, Scott Kerslake, originally founded Athleta in 1998 so we had worked together there for a few years. After he left Athleta, he kept in touch and a year ago called to tell me had joined prAna and there were going to be a lot of exciting things happening with the direction of the brand. We chatted more and here I am! I currently head up the Design, Merchandising and Product Development departments.

Do you have a dog?
Yes, one living and two in heaven that are always with me in spirit.

How do you incorporate your personal design aesthetic into prAna or reconcile the two? 
I'd say my personal aesthetic is about keeping it simple, but with a twist....I like subtle irony and contrast.....but am practical at the end of the day.......tee shirts and jeans are no brainers....scarves, belts, shoes and interesting over pieces make same old, same old,  look new. I'm a 60's baby so grew up seeing my Mom wearing cat eye glasses, sleeveless mock necks with fitted skirts. Later she wore hip huggers, bell bottoms, maxi dresses, gauchos & boots. Of course, I wore the same. I personally like a bit of rebellion paired with the timelessness of classic....which I think really works for the bohemian vibe of prAna....

Claire McCardell was one of the first American designers after World War I to succeed at creating stylish and functional ready-to-wear within the constraints of mass production. How do you relate to her struggle and balance function and design at Prana? 
I think making anything is always challenging no matter the quantity, so I don't think stylish, functional, volume produced clothing should be called out as an exception. For me, a really great design process involves knowing what is currently working and being open to hearing about what isn't....and looking at ways to skillfully innovate.  You have to know who you are designing for and why you are designing an item. The purpose and intent of a design helps to keep you honest and on track and it helps when you are an end user as well. With that said, to execute your ideas, you must partner with your mills and manufacturers. It's a give and take especially if you need to work within cost ranges and timelines....and although designers don't like to compromise, finding acceptable solutions so that you can bring a "relevant" product to market "on time" is paramount. As much as I get attached to the conceptual look, feel, function and aesthetic of a item, I have to ask myself at the end of the day....."If  the customer didn't see the original, would they still respond to the "commercialized" version?"  I struggled with this quite a lot when I first started out and felt it was absolutely critical to never compromise on any part of the design vision. This idealistic mentality didn't get me very far and I soon realized that being open to workarounds and alternatives actually made me more creative! Being passionate and having high expectations is wonderful but staying open to new ideas (even when they are not your own) broadens your horizons.....Embracing challenges and loving what you do, just makes everything easy....

Eva
Where did you study fashion?
I studied at Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising.

How did you end up a part of Prana’s design team?
I have been working in the industry for many many years and had friends that worked here. I started as a freelancer as I had other projects going. Eventually I took a full-time position as the senior designer for women's active and performance apparel.

Do you have a dog? Not yet, I had a cat. I love animals though…and all the dogs that hang out here at work.

Do you dress up or design clothing for your dog?
I think I would if I had a dog. There are a few girls working here that make their dogs wear outfits or accessories.

How do you incorporate your personal design aesthetic into prAna or reconcile the two?
I love the direction prAna is going forward. It's a lot more contemporary and softer. The word "prana" means to breathe, so that is always in the back of my head as I'm designing ("fluid movement").

Claire McCardell was one of the first American designers after World War I to succeed at creating stylish and functional ready-to-wear within the constraints of mass production. How do you relate to her struggle and balance function and design at Prana?
As far as the "struggle" I think it's becoming increasingly more difficult to produce "mass market" product with a differentiating point. How do we look different than others for the same price? That is the question every seasoned designer asks themselves. Design is not "blind fantasy"… It's more about providing a product that services the demand that fits the company image… at the right price and quality. There are many variables and obstacles a designer must take into consideration when designing a SKU. It's almost like a puzzle…  and a good designer enjoys all facets of design (technical, specs, cost, construction … as much as the creative and innovative). Knowing and enjoying all aspects makes a better designer and hence, better product. Understanding the "boring" technical side actually helps a designer become better and more efficient. Many young designers do not understand this and need time to learn as they progress in their careers. As they get seasoned they blossom into better designers that have more added value to a company. The only thing I tell myself is that the playing field (market, demand, economy) changes, but the formula stays the same. As long as you (the designer) can stay fluid with the  market changes and keep the formula as your constant, you will do well. Another thing about design is that there is never a "reward". I'm going to use a marathon as an example. I'm a runner… and when I train for a marathon there is a goal or an end result I train for. With design there is never an end…seasons overlap… you usually don't see the end product because you moved onto other product. A designer has to enjoy the process over the end result. If a designer does, they will have a charmed career.

PoopBags Offsets Its Carbon Pawprint

It all started with Arbor Day.
PoopBags thought it would be cool to offer you tree seeds. Collectively, you, your friends, your fellow PoopBaggers, and the PoopBags Gang would all venture out on Arbor Day and plant the sprouting trees around the country. Doesn’t that sound awesome? We ambitiously and enthusiastically test planted spruce seeds in a reclaimed pot from the dumpster and named the soon-to-be-sprouting spruce Bruce. Bruce the Spruce was not to be. We discovered that seeds are a fickle bunch.

Boss, Favorite UPS Driver (Greer!) & PoopBags Carbon Offset Certificate

All fantastic ideas spawn stupendously fantastic (and manageable) ideas. The spawned idea was so symbolically obvious it smacked us in the face like a Mack truck: offset the PoopBags carbon footprint with a poop mitigation project!  Working with NativeEnergy – which provides necessary financing to new construction renewable energy projects by offsetting carbon footprints – we calculated the PoopBags 2010 footprint and determined to offset it with the Northeast Farm Separation Project.

Our Project
This project is huge and includes three Northeast dairy farms: Twin Oaks, Country Ayre and Mercer Vu. Basically, the environmental concerns about manure runoff, greenhouse gas emissions, odor, and pathogens are putting pressure on all farmers to change their practices. Because spreading manure can sometimes pollute watersheds, farmers must often truck their manure long distances for field-spreading, which is costly and time-consuming. Not to mention quite stinky for the cars in the truck’s wake!

A technology that separates volatile solids from the manure can help address these issues. Instead of storing the raw manure in open lagoons, which results in significant methane emissions, the technology separates the solids from the slurry and composts them. This process prevents the anaerobic decomposition of manure solids that would normally produce methane emissions. In addition, it produces high-quality compost that can be sold or used as cow bedding.

Sustainable Development Benefits
- Separation: Will reduce approximately 6,120 metric tonnes per year of methane—a greenhouse gas 21 times more potent than CO2—by treating the manure from over 2,920 dairy animals.
- Recycled: Mechanically-separated manure solids can be recycled by the farms as cow bedding material. This will replace material that would have to be bought, reducing cost, the hauling of bedding material, and the production of organic wastes.
- Mitigate: By removing nutrients from the manure, the new systems will mitigate runoff damage to local watersheds, including the Chesapeake Bay watershed for the Mercer Vu and Twin Oak farms.

How You Are Involved
Yes; we manage PoopBags, but you are a part of our family and the collective. So, this is our footprint according to the NativeEnergy criteria.

We do produce waste, but we recycle everything that was on the questionnaire. We also expected shipping to be high as it is the nature of the beast with our business.

At PoopBags, we try to order supplies and materials in larger quantities so we can reduce transportation costs, packaging, human costs, and more. For example, if we know we are going to use 1,000 shipping boxes this month, we stretch the budget to buy 2,000 so the amount of packaging, gasoline and shipping, and every other part of the process is cut in half.

Now, by all means, we do not want you to feel obligated to spend more money with us, but keep this in mind for your purchases with PoopBags, or any other product that you order and use on a regular basis. If you purchase more at one time, you will help save on transportation costs, packaging costs and more, plus you’ll save money on the price per bag basis as well. It’s a win for everyone, but most importantly for our Earth.

Phone Books: hypothetical, evenly distributed, highly probable fuel wasteage for one point-to-point

In a previous post, we at PoopBags announced our belief that the market decides whether a product will live or fail. Weave in this sentiment to that statement: we do not like to be encumbered or fettered by objects that are passive aggressively forced on us. So, we wonder, how do phone book companies stay in business considering the annoyance and opposition they spark these days?

The phone book’s failure is slowly coming from the other end. Advertisers have adroitly realized that the phone book’s ROI is rapidly decreasing. Indeed, SuperMedia reported that 2010 advertising sales declined 17.2 percent compared to 2009, which declined 18.8 percent compared to 2008. After a quick research flip through one of the two brands on our doorstep, we noticed almost no full page advertisements. The primary advertisers were car scrappers, home improvement and repair services, personal injury and bankruptcy law firms, insurance companies, veterinarians, car rental services, bicycle shops and massage services (wink). Notably, real estate, physicians, chiropractors, accountants and movers were barely present. Still, we wonder, why are there two different phone book brands at our doorstep? Why has the market not worked its magic and, at least, eliminated one?

Most articles or blogs point to how much paper is wasted or how much it costs the taxpayer to pay for recycling or disposal. Treehugger.com and Slate.com both had fact-based articles. As our friends over at Holstee pointed out, the phone book’s sustainability initiatives are admirable but the actual product is unwanted. YellowBook has a pretty cool stylized life cycle demonstration.

These are very important considerations. Yet, as a business, we cannot help but notice a very important component is missing in these posts: transportation. Personally, we are not surprised as it is impossible to find any sort of statistic, plant locations, or logistics. The best we found was a page in the YellowBook that stated that its printing plants are located close to distribution areas. What is considered close? Five miles? 1,000 miles? That's certainly a perceptional phrase. So, we decided to estimate the number of potential diesel gallons used to truck the finished product to a distribution center. Mind you, this calculation does not include gathering the various materials to manufacture the finished product such as the transportation from mill to printing press, the fuel gallons consumed from distribution center to doorstep, or the transportation from doorstep to recycling center or landfill. The results are still startling.

Calculations:
Lubbock Online reported that YellowBook USA, Inc., the largest phone book publisher, produced 128,000,000 phone books in 2008. Let’s assume that number has declined or averages 105,000,000 for the four major publishers – YellowBook, Dex, SuperMedia and RR Donnelly – for a grand total of 402,000,000 phone books produced each year.

The YellowBook’s new “eco-friendly size” on our doorstep is 9” L x 7” W x 3” H and weighs around 4 lbs.

Pallets are generally 40” x 48”. For these purposes, we’ll assume a pallet size is 36” x 49” so we can have whole numbers.

Ok, that pallet weight is unrealistic. So, let’s divide 672 by 3 and multiply it by 2.

Revised Number of Total Phone Books per Pallet: 448

Revised Pallet Weight: 1,792 lbs.

Now, maybe some of the phone books are shipped via rail, but we’ll assume all of it is transported by tractor trailer as it is still the most popular method to haul cross country.

Total Phone Books per Truck: 11,648

A 53’ trailer can hold 26 pallets.

Total Weight of Load: 26 pallets x 1,792 = 46,592 lbs.

Hypothetically, let’s assume there are six locations around the United States that manufacture finished product phone books. We chose these places because of….well…what locations appeared logical. These are probably more mill locations and not printing press plants, but it is all relative since the phone book companies are not fully disclosing. So we are left to assume. Now, if we really wanted to get way too mathematical, we would have split the phone book distribution based on population density. For these basic purposes, let’s just say it’s even steven.

Over 2,000,000 gallons of fuel or more expended on the trip from plant to distribution center for a product that’s unused and unwanted by the market. So what if the total gallons spent is less than estimated. The figure makes up for what was not accounted for as previously stated.

Mind you, we do believe phone books should be opt-in since not everyone has access to the internet or is computer literate. The phone book companies could still get their printing kicks by sending out a flyer via the mail for those who want to opt-in. The phone book companies state you can opt-out, but we have read it is a gruesome process.

If you want to advocate to stop the yellow, please join either or, preferably, both Stop Yellow Waste or Help Stop the Waste.

If anyone doubts our math - not our assumptions (unless you are the phone book company disclosing locations and coming clean) - please tell us. What are your thoughts?

Jenny T. Shen: The Phenomenal Design Talent Behind PoopBags Graphics

The fusion of Jenny T. Shen Design and PoopBags happened in 2007 when Paige realized the company needed a graphic designer. She immediately knew Jenny was the one for PoopBags. As Paige puts it, "Jenny and I worked at a former job and developed an amazing handbook together of which I am still proud. We collaborate wonderfully to bring symbolism, superior branding, concise text, and visually arresting design to our products that stands out on the shelf. She listens to the client and delivers to specification with her own special twist. Honestly, I don't think I could work with another designer."

Jenny is a creative, multi-disciplined graphic designer. Her passion for design, blended with a keen awareness of composition and typography, are evident in her elegant designs. Her clean and contemporary style reflects her detailed, well-rounded nature.

After spending several years at international advertising agencies in Hong Kong and Chicago, Jenny launched her independent graphic design business in 2001. Jenny has worked with clients spanning various sectors and backgrounds on projects ranging from cohesive branding, strategic corporate identity and marketing materials to restaurant menus and wedding invitations.

Design Assistants: Sylvester & MeiMei

With experience from both the client and designer aspects of the creative process, Jenny is able to balance editorial with aesthetics. She strives to surpass each client's expectations by providing powerful designs that communicate both verbally and graphically.

Please visit www.jennytshen.com to view her portfolio of work.