Local stores will show off the latest in "green" products and services at the fourth annual Living Green Expo this weekend at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds.
"At first, you might have thought of us as a European toy store; we had a lot of German toys," says Dan Marshall, co-owner of Peapods, a St. Paul shop focusing on natural toys and baby care products. "But with the Euro gone out of control, we're trying harder to find more American companies and artisans,"
The store's product lines include those from a St. Paul company, BEKA, which makes wood toys like blocks and easels.
"Eighty percent of toys are made in China now, and the biggest toy seller is Wal-Mart; it's not even Toys 'R' Us anymore," Marshall says.
Take a walk down the aisle of Wal-Mart and you might be able to hunt down some wood blocks, but you'll also find lots of plastic products and electronic noises.
"That's the type of toys that kids are exposed to now; we're trying to offer an alternative," says Marshall. "The simpler the toy is, the more the child has to put into it; electronic toys are designed to be appealing at the store, but get it home and there's nothing much more you can do with it. But a simple pounding bench? You can play with that for a long time."
Aside from toys, here's a smattering of the products you can learn more about at this year's expo:
KITCHEN
RESTORE Automatic Dishwasher Gel is a naturally derived automatic dishwasher detergent made primarily from renewable natural resources. It cleans all types of dishes, and water spotting is virtually eliminated without the use of phosphates. A natural blend of low-foaming detergents, enzymes and other nontoxic ingredients removes food deposits, grease and soil. Available in two refillable sizes at Whole Foods and other locations.
BioBags are fully compostable kitchen bags that come in 3- and 13-gallon sizes and also in dog waste bags. A box of bags sells for about $6 at Linden Hills Natural Home, 2822 W. 43rd St., Minneapolis. Visit www.lindenhills.coop.
Bag-E-Wash is a nylon device used to wash and dry reusable plastic bags in the dishwasher. One box of 30 gallon-size bags washed with Bag-E-Wash and reused 50 times each saves $150 and keeps 1,500 bags out of the landfills. Available online at www.bag-e-wash.com
LAUNDRY ROOM
Static Eliminator dryer sheets will soften and prevent static in 500 loads for $12.49. Sold at Lake-winds Natural Foods and Home in Minnetonka.
Bi-O-Kleen Laundry Products come in liquid or powder, are phosphate- and chlorine-free, fully biodegradable and nontoxic. Both contain grapefruit-seed extract, which helps neutralize mold, viruses and bacteria. A box or bottle does 50 to 64 loads of laundry and costs about $11 at Linden Hills Natural Home.
BEDROOM
Native Organic sheet sets made up of organic cotton and are grown and produced in the United States. Twin set, $125; full, $155; queen, $165 at Lakewinds Natural Foods and Home in Minne-tonka.
Nature's Comfort 100 percent wool-filled pillows and wool-filled comforters, from the St. Peter Woolen Mills in Minnesota, are great for people with dust or other allergies, because the all-natural wool doesn't harbor dust mites. A standard-size bed pillow is about $40 at Linden Hills Natural Home. For more information, visit www.woolenmill.com.
PLAYROOMS
A line of organic cotton rattles that are easy for babies to hold. Available at Peapods Natural Toys & Baby Care, 251 S. Snelling Ave., St. Paul. Peapods offers alternative products like wood toys, puzzles, dress-up clothing, puppets and more. Everything is made of natural woods and fibers — no batteries, plastic or vinyl toys.
BEKA is a St. Paul specialty-toy maker that uses sustainable harvested hard maple in its toys. They are known for their art easels, puppet theaters, unit blocks and more. Sold at Peapods Natural Toys & Baby Care (www.peapods.com). Or call BEKA at 1-888- 999-2352.
HOME
Natural Solutions tile, grout and natural stone cleaner is nontoxic, biodegradable and nonabrasive. A tube is $9.49 at Linden Hills Natural Home.
Fish Cleaning is a home cleaning service committed to cleaning with environmentally friendly products. Visit www.fish-clean.com for some non-toxic cleaning solution "recipes."
Soul Tonic, a Bloomington-based company, makes an all-purpose cleaner that contains organic castile soap scented with lavender, Siberian fir and lemon essential oils. Lakewinds Natural Foods and Home sells a half-gallon for $12.99. Also sold in St. Paul at Hampden Park Co-Op, 928 Raymond Ave., and Cooper's SuperValu, 2481 W. Seventh St.
THE FOURTH ANNUAL LIVING GREEN EXPO
When: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday
Where: Minnesota State Fairgrounds, in the Grandstand Building
Cost: Free
Donations: Second Harvest Heartland needs nonperishable food donations; voluntary cash donations help offset the environmental impact of the event.
Show highlights:
• More than 220 "green" vendors
• More than 70 hands-on and practical workshops covering topics ranging from transportation to gardens to energy to composting.
• The return of the Food and Farm Festival (20 small farms from the Twin Cities metro and western Wisconsin that sell directly to the consumer will showcase organic and sustainably grown fruits, vegetables, meats and cheeses).
• Interactive children's area featuring games, crafts and fun activities
• The first 200 families each day receive a complimentary Blue Sky Guide, a coupon book for healthy living; purchase a compost bin at a special Expo rate; register to win a free commuter bicycle from Penn Cycle.
For more information: Get a complete list of vendors, exhibitors and workshops at www.livinggreen.org.
BY MOLLY MILLETT
Pioneer Press |
