[SustainableTompkins] "Shop Green" this holiday season

[Marian Brown]

  The Alternative Gift Fair, on December 1, is another great sustainable 
option for this holiday shopping season.
http://www.ithacaaltgiftfair.org/
MMB

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Ithaca businesses aim to make ‘Black Friday' green friendly
By Linda Stout
Journal staff

ITHACA — Black Friday's getting greener in Ithaca.

Fifteen local businesses, led by Tuff Soul-owner Autumn Newell, are 
urging the community to “shop green” this holiday season. The 30-day 
Shop Green Campaign calls attention to more earth-friendly choices as 
gift options.

“It really wasn't until recently that I made a concerted effort to shop 
green. I've always shopped second-hand and felt a little guilty about my 
shopping itch. I've really in the last three years taken it on in my 
food and household products,” said Newell. She and her partner, JoJo 
Alpern, recently opened Tuff Soul, 516 W. State St., which sells 
organic, vintage and refashioned clothing.

Other stores on the list carry locally made, reused, recycled, fairly 
traded and organic products and local foods.

“We're lucky to have so many stores in Ithaca that carry products and 
gifts that aren't harmful to the planet,” Newell said.

The green effort starts on “Black Friday,” the day after Thanksgiving, 
which is traditionally the biggest shopping day of the year. Shoppers 
can pick up a Shop Green passport with the list and map at the 
participating stores, most of which are clustered in the downtown area 
or are on a bus route. The passport can be used to win prizes donated by 
the businesses. Passports stamped four times may be submitted for a 
Christmas Eve drawing.

For last year's “Black Friday,” Newell organized a day to encourage 
people to shop locally, calling it a “local business crawl.”

The local shops included refreshments, discounts or drink specials for 
those who'd finished shopping or wanted a break as an alternative to the 
hectic scenes at malls and chain stores.

Newell thinks the event helped change the way some shoppers regard 
consumption by supporting local stores and focusing on earth-friendlier 
products.

“People appreciate being able to buy things that aren't contributing to 
the problems of climate change, using up fossil fuel or adding toxins to 
the environment,” said Newell. “They are starting to think about the 
consequences of their purchases.”

Businesses participating in the Shop Green campaign include Autumn 
Leaves Used Books, Everything Wellness Raw Foods Eatery on Cayuga 
Street, GreenStar Cooperative Market, GreenStar Oasis in the DeWitt 
Mall, the new Home Green Home on The Commons, Ithaca Hemp Company on The 
Commons, Mama Goose Used Children's Clothing on Seneca Street, Moosewood 
Restaurant in the DeWitt Mall, No Radio Records on Seneca Street, 
Pastimes Antiques in the DeWitt Mall, the vintage fashion store Petrune 
on Cayuga Street, the architectural re-use store Significant Elements on 
Center Street, Smart Monkey Café on Route 13 south of downtown, Ten 
Thousand Villages on The Commons, Tree of Life Health and Wellness on 
West State Street and Tuff Soul on West State Street near Felicia's 
Atomic Lounge.

Wendy Skinner of Green PR Services, a local public relations firm that 
works with businesses and organizations with ecological considerations, 
has also been involved.

“We are seeing a wider range of earth-friendly consumer choices,” 
Skinner said.

/*lstout at ithacajournal.com <mailto:lstout at ithacajournal.com>*/



*Originally published November 20, 2007*