Got Car Parts? Wear' em!

Wondering what to do with old auto parts and other mechanical odds and sods? Wear 'em! Littlearth, Inc. designs funky handbags, belts, wallets, utility bags, stationery, and accessories made from a variety of recycled materials including old license plates, bottle caps, bike chains and inner tubes. Visit Littlearth's website at www.littlearth.com, or purchase their stuff locally at Future Solutions, 9769 W. 119th Drive, Suite 4 in Broomfield. You can reach Future Solutions by phone at 303-460-7007 or on the web at www.futuresolutions.com.

Feeling Under Pressure?

Pressure-treated lumber can be hazardous to your health. Recently, the Environmental Protection Agency has been warning the public of the hazards associated with chromated copper arsenate (CCA), a powerful pesticide used to protect wood products from decay and damage and applied through pressure treatment at the factory. The compound contains about 22 percent arsenic, a well-documented and widespread toxin. But alternatives are available! In Boulder County, Eco-Products (3655 Frontier Ave. in Boulder) carries Alkaline Copper Quat (ACQ) dimensional lumber, which is treated with a non-toxic fungicide instead of the arsenic-based compounds found in pressure treated CCA lumber. For further information on ACQ lumber, call Eco-Products at 303-449-1876, or visit their showroom at 3655 Frontier Ave. You can also find more information about Eco-Products on their website, www.ecoproducts.com.

Chop Sticks, Not Rainforests

If you've ever been eating with chopsticks and wondered if that very act is implicating you in global old-growth forest destruction, you may have reason for concern. Some chopsticks ARE made from rainforest woods, and often it's impossible to tell just by the packaging. An environmentally-friendly alternative is offered by Juvel International Inc., a small business run by Krongjit Chatuparisoot and Jay Zischke of Superior. Juvel imports and markets Rare Earth Chopsticks, which are manufactured by Thai craftspeople using scrap wood from stumps, furniture companies, and farms. The craftspeople are paid up front for their work, and "middlemen" are avoided. Each pair of these beautiful handcrafted chopsticks costs between $11 and $15. Rare Earth Chopsticks are available in Boulder at Whole Foods Market, Peppercorn, and the Cooking School of the Rockies.

Buy'em at Gaiam

Did you know Gaiam, a self-proclaimed ³lifestyle company² that markets goods from businesses such as Jade Mountain, Harmony, and Seventh Generation, has a catalog outlet store in Business Express at 1904 Pearl Street in Boulder? Gaiam offers a variety of merchandise, including organic cotton blankets and bed linens, air and water purifiers, energy-conserving home lighting, and lawn and garden care products. For more information on Gaiam products, check out the Gaiam catalog, call 303-443-9300, or visit the Gaiam website at http:// www.gaiam.com (Please note: Business Express will be going out of business at the end of 2001.)