March 19th, 2011
We have been busy gearing up for the Better Living Show. All things sustainable under one roof and it’s free!
Check out the show’s webpage here.
We are all stocked up on our best selling products including reusable lunchware and produce bags, the best reusable beverage containers, plastic bag dryers, wooden clothes and dish drying racks, sustainable kitchen items, locally made crafts, non-toxic cleaning supplies, sustainable diy books and more!
Come visit our booth and you can sign up to win a Worm Bin or an Organic Wool Pillow!!!!
There’s still a lot to do before the show! Jessica is putting together the booth and it’s going to be really cool.
This was our booth last year.
We will blog more of what you can expect from our booth and the show on Sunday.
March 16th, 2011
Perhaps you like us have watched with dismay and sadness the plight of the many earthquake victims in Japan. After looking at many photos on the internet of totally destroyed towns and cities, distraught citizens of all ages, the looming danger of the Fukushima nuclear reactor, I’m sure you’re saying, “What can I do to help?” Page A6 of today’s Oregonian has a list of organizations taking donations to aid Japan. You can also go to this link http://matadornetwork.com/change/how-to-help-the-earthquake-and-tsunami-victims-in-japan which lists a number of organizations you can donate to: American Red Cross, International Medical Corps, Mercy Corps, Save the Children Emergency Fund and others. It’s easy to make a donation!!! Let’s all pull together and do what we can. Thanks so much!
March 14th, 2011
Mother Jones Magazine reports that last month Republicans voted to cut funding to the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center which would cripple the National Weather Services’ ability to issue disaster warnings. In February Barry Hirshhorn, Pacific Region chairman of the National Weather Service Employee’s Organization, warned that proposed Republican cuts could put lives in danger. The US House budget includes a 28% cut to the National Weather Service which would result in a staffing cutback to the Hawaii Pacific Warning Center which monitors potential tsunamis in the Indian Ocean. The events unfolding in Japan over the last few days should underscore how very important it is to have advance notice of tsunami activity. Luckily these warnings aren’t needed every day, however, it should be obvious that timely, accurate warnings have the potential to save thousands of lives and at crucial times they are definitely needed. Check out this link to the article http://www.grist.org/article/2011-03-11-guess-what-else-the-gop-wants-to-cut-tsunami-monitoring
March 7th, 2011
100% Recycled Office and School Supplies
Kraft Envelopes/Business Envelopes Legal Pads
1/2”, 1” and 1.5” Three Ring Binders Filler Paper
Standard Copy Paper Steno Pads
Letter Size Hanging Files 5&8 Tab Dividers
Expanding 2” Wallet Folders Composition Books
1 and 3 Subject Notebooks Post It Notes
Two Pocket/Slash Pocket Folders Paper Clips
Pocket Notebooks/Notepads Notecards
Double/Single CD Holders Rolled Kraft Paper
Small and Large Padded Mailers Manila Folders
Banana Paper/Envelopes BPA Free Receipt Paper!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Please contact us for large quantities and special orders. We are happy to meet your needs.
March 5th, 2011
The website www.worldprocessor.com is a project that features images of globes. Each globe reflects data that was available and valid at the time of their creation. It’s an interesting way to display information. Check them out here.
We thought this globe was the most interesting.
“Dark red circles indicate oil spills and gray-shaded areas indicate sea pollution and land pollution from chemical fertilizers. Shown is only a small part of the entire pollution spectrum in 1988. At an average of every three months this globe becomes obsolete due to yet another major oil spill.”
-www.worldprocessor.com-
March 4th, 2011
Recently I put my french press away and replaced it with a tea pot. I really love coffee, but I guess you could say I’ve started a love affair with tea! I used to buy boxes of tea, but I always felt that the packaging was wasteful. Boxed tea usually comes wrapped in plastic with another plastic layer inside and all the tea bags have their individual paper. My new tea ritual involves bulk tea and reusable cotton tea bags. There are tons of stores and tea shops that sell organic tea in bulk. You can get your reusable tea bags from us at TOSSS! We sell a three pack of reusable cotton tea bags (made in Oregon) for only $5.00. They are easy to wash after use and dry quickly. Here is how my morning ritual goes at the shop:
I mix about a spoonful of toasted Yerba Mate and Lavender Tea.
I put my mixture of tea in my cotton bag and tie it closed.
Brew and wait until it looks and smells just right.
Enjoy!!!
When I’m finished I dump the tea into my worm bin and rinse out the cotton bag.
Jessica
March 2nd, 2011
We just got these Teenie Tiny Terrarium Necklaces! Mini plantscapes that stay alive with minimal care. Made Locally by Madame Ranunculus Design. $18.00 at TOSSS
February 27th, 2011
A clogged or dirty furnace filter can rob your heating and cooling system of it’s energy efficiency. This is why it’s important to know when to replace your furnace filter, saving you money and energy in the long run. TOSSS sells the Filter Whistle which will begin to whistle when your filter becomes 50% clogged letting you know it will need replacing soon.
The Filter Whistle is on sale for $2.00 at TOSSS! What a small price to pay for better energy efficiency and saving money!
The small blue energy and money saver!
February 24th, 2011
Anchor Hocking, a longtime US company, is now manufacturing vintage bakeware with glass lids. Their line of Bake and Store glassware comes in 5 cup and 12 cup versions. These glass containers are oven safe, dishwasher safe, freezer safe and can be microwaved! For those who are fed up with ubiquitous plastic, try sustainable glass instead.
Vintage Bakeware
February 23rd, 2011
We’ve found three great new handmade items – two made here in Portland - to sell in our shop. One is a Tool Roll Up kit – an efficient way to store your bike tools when you’re out for a ride. The other is a whole new array of felt play food: cookies, tea bags, a quesadilla, sushi, an adorable falafel sandwich with removable components. We wanted to just shut up shop and play with the felt food! Last, but not least, the incredible hanky books! A whole new concept in sustainable nose-blowing. These ingenious, multi-page, washable, flannel books are made of organic cotton in California.
BikeCozy Tool Roll (tools not included)
Felt Play Food
Hanky Books
February 23rd, 2011
From CREDO action
Tell Secretary Salazar: Don’t Trash Joshua Tree
“Developers are trying to put the nation’s largest garbage dump right next to Joshua Tree National Park.
The proposed Eagle Mountain landfill would cover 3,500 acres of federal land, bordered on three sides by Joshua Tree’s unique beauty, and fragile ecosystem.
The proposal by developers Kaiser Ventures has been struck down by two courts. Now Kaiser Ventures is asking the Supreme Court to review the case, and the Department of the Interior has until February 25th to weigh in.
Tell Secretary Ken Salazar: Don’t trash Joshua Tree! Oppose the Eagle Mountain landfill project. Sign the petition before the February 25th deadline.”
Sign the petition here
www.workingforchange.com
February 18th, 2011
Watch out for your credit card receipts, they could be coated with BPA or bisphenol-A, an estrogen mimicking chemical. It’s bad enough to know that companies are producing polycarbonate baby bottles that contain BPA as well as lining cans with it, but on receipts? It turns out that thermal imaging paper is coated with BPA together with an invisible ink. When heat is applied the two merge creating a printed receipt. Of course when you or the sales person handle that receipt BPA can tranfer to your hands. Then, say, you eat something or bring your hand to your mouth. Oh-oh. So what’s wrong with BPA? Studies have found it leads to reproductive problems in animals and is suspected to have carcinogenic effects. Well, how come it’s used in receipts, isn’t there something safer? Sure, except it costs 10% more. As usual it’s a money thing — cheaper is better even if it makes people sick.
Here at TOSSS we handle receipts all day long and our customers handle them too. We did a little research and found a company that makes BPA free receipt tape. Hooray! We’re so glad we don’t have to worry about poisoning ourselves or our customers. Please spread the word about BPA on receipt tape because many people are unaware of this problem, shoppers as well as retailers. Thanks!
Barbara and Jessica
February 12th, 2011
Felted heart shaped soaps!
Cupcake Soaps!
Locally handmade reclaimed wood boxes for your sweethearts treasures!
Perfect Valentines Gifts! <3
February 11th, 2011
Check out this link: http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/48084/title/Science_%2B_the_Public__Concerned_about_BPA_Check_your_receipts
We think that’s pretty scary so starting next week we will be using and selling BPA free thermal receipt paper!! We care about our customers health!
January 23rd, 2011
Join the worldwide movement for economic localization, support your local businesses and economy – this is the message of The Economics of Happiness directed by Helena Norberg-Hodge. The documentary premiered Friday, January 21st at the First Unitarian Church in Portland, Oregon. In the words of Norberg-Hodge: “Today the planet is on fire with global warming, toxic pollution and species extinction, with fundamentalism, terror and fear. The most powerful solutions involve a fundamental change in direction – towards localizing rather than globalizing economic activity. In fact, “going local” may be the single most effective thing we can do. Localization is essentially a process of de-centralization – shifting economic activity back into the hands of local business instead of centralizing it in fewer and fewer mega corporations.” 
So the next time you need a coffee table, a clothes drying rack, a pair of slippers, some really nice handmade cards, a dish rack come into The One Stop Sustainability Shop and see what we have that’s made right here in Portland, Oregon, the Northwest or at the least, the USA. The Economics of Happiness illustrates how globalization destroys the bonds of community and creates wealth for a few already wealthy people. Norberg-Hodge exorts her audience to engage in community activism, band together with small groups of like-minded people and participate in DIY (Do It Yourself) culture.
