New Year and Resolute

We're not really into making New Years resolutions, but I think being resolute concerning our environment and how we impact it is important and very doable. Our family continues to use our reusable cotton bags and discover new ways to avoid using things that will stay in the landfill for years to come. We've even started to use our own bags when we go to Subway to grab a sandwich. It's all little steps, but little steps make for longer journeys and that's what we're talking about here.

About a year ago, we reduced the size of our city trash bin to the smallest they have and typically we now fill up only half of it, if that! A lot of it is simply thinking before just letting our habits take over. Do we really need a container to carry this stuff we just acquired? If we do, can we provide one with what we already have? Can we compost or recycle instead of throwing in the trash? Can this "throw away" item be used by someone else? Tons of different ways to keep from adding to the landfill - as much.

So our personal challenge for ourselves is to reduce even more. Turn it into a game. Create great new habits. Care to join in?

So maybe more of this -

Instead of this.

I know we can do it - share your ideas and look around for what others are doing. And remember to Bring Your Own Bag to the store, it's an easy place to start.

So if you've got any ideas you want to share here, feel free to comment or put it in your own blog or mention it to someone, just take a step in the right direction. You know, it feels kinda good to make that sort of change - one you know is right to do.

Like we said, make a game of it. Have fun with it. See ya.

Saturday Market - Eugene 9/19

No self-defined "good open market" would (or wood) be complete without a "tree guy" roaming the neighborhood. Just one of the many things you missed if you haven't been to the Saturday Market in Eugene. Lots of vendors sharing their talents, products and eccentricities. Now, this past Saturday was a little wet for the tree guy; he might have just grown roots.

But, we were there none-the-less and missed seeing you if you decided to stay home or go to the Oregon Duck game. Next time, stop by on your way to or from the game really support the area artisans and the green world. If you insist on staying home, then visit us here or on our Bzz Bags website.

Our organic bags are just around the corner and our cotton bulk food and produce bags are ready to start using today. Hey, have you put in your two cents worth yet on how to remember to bring your bags to the store? You can post your thoughts on our contest post.

See you next weekend, right?

Saturday Market - Eugene 9/5

Dispersed in this post are pictures from the Eugene Celebration parade. I'll let you figure out what the heck they all mean . . . It was a wet day at the market this Saturday and not as much activity as we would have liked. The Eugene Celebration was going on at the same time and the parade was in the "back yard" of our booth.This year's theme was "Strange We Can Believe In," and no, I have no idea what that means, but it sure fits Eugene. But we weathered the storms and held the front lines - where were you? In the safety and dryness of your homes? I guess I can't blame you for that one. So come out and see us next weekend and we'll call it even.
Hey, don't forget to go to our contest post and help us figure out the best way to remember to bring your bags to the store. It only does good to have some if you use them. Gotta start changing the mindset and old habits (hope I didn't offend any nuns out there reading this). We just extended the contest to last through the end of October to makes sure we get a stockpile of great ideas. Next subject is organic bags. We're just about done with our first set and will have them up and available on our website - BzzBags.com - in a week or so. These will cost a little more as the fabric is a bit pricier, but for those that find organic material important, it should be no problem. We're excited about being able to offer this new product along with all our other 100% cotton fabrics.

Hope you enjoyed the pictures. Never a dull moment in Eugene.

Organic Bags Coming Soon

Exciting news for those who are organically driven. Bzz Bags is going organic with new certified organic fabric. We will continue to use the popular elastic banding sewn into the opening of the bag, so you'll get the best of both worlds.

No pictures to share yet, but it will be coming soon. Come on out to the Saturday Market in Eugene or visit the us at BzzBags.com to see what we've come up with for you.

So, until then, keep remembering to BYOB - Bring Your Own Bags. Whether you're buying from Bzz Bags, making your own or buying from someone else, the important thing is to remember to grab them, take them to the store and use them over and over again. We've got one planet and we should all think green - do the right thing - help save our planet one bag at a time. Recycle what you can't reuse and think about leaving this place in better shape than it when you first got to it. That's just got to make you feel good.

Plant to Help Pollinate

Here's a test. What kind of plant do you think this is. Is it under water? Is it from a rain forest?

Okay, we'll pull the picture back a little and see if this helps.

Give up? Well, first of all, the bees love them when you let them bloom, but you've given up a good meal for it, so your decision. If you just let them go, the artichoke plants have a unique bloom and the pollinators seem to love it. So from our garden, to you your computer - the blooming artichoke.
Here's a couple more plants that the critters love. Remember, if we didn't have pollinating critters, there would be no need for Bzz Bags, because you wouldn't have any good food stuff to put in them.

Saturday Market - Eugene 7/18

Got a lot of feedback from our give away of bags from last week. We heard and saw people using them at the market today and it really feels like a grass roots push. Can't wait to start hearing from people at the grocery stores in the area.

It was warm today in Eugene - low 90's, with a decent turn-out. Here's a picture of a local pirate. Okay, probably not a pirate, but he did have a bird on his shoulder. They don't allow dogs at the market, so I'm only guessing here, but this must have been his next best choice - man's second-best friend.

Speaking of birds, we've started to Twitter - so feel free to check it out on the site. You can also see the most recent twitters just to the right of this - second from the top.

Have a great one folks and don't forget to Bring Your Own Bags (BYOB) when you go to the store. Lot's of folks are starting to now and its definately the thing to do. Get ours, make your own, buy from someone else, just do it. Its fun to watch things change and head in a more responsible direction and its even more fun to know that you're part of the change.

Saturday Market - Eugene 7/11

Lil, my grandaughter came to the Saturday Market this weekend. I never mentioned that you can get your face painted while you're standing in the long line to buy Bzz Bags. Hard to understand, but Lilian would have more fun getting her face painted instead of helping us sell bags. I would have chosen a bag painted on mine, but she, for some reason, chose a unicorn - kids, what ya gonna do?

BYOB - just Bring Your Own Bags and everything else is gravy.

Promoting BYOB

Here's a fun way to promote Bring Your Own Bag. Lots of us like to wear stuff that says how we feel. Well, dang it, I feel that we should bring our own bags to the grocery store and do what we can to save the planet. This is Bzz Bags way of saying how we feel - and we think it looks kinda cool too.

So jump on board and pick a shirt or a hat or whatever you find on our Cafe Press site we call BYOBzzBag. Have some fun with it, I know we have already. See you at the grocery store.

Saturday Market - Eugene 6/20

We had great weather this past Saturday for the Eugene Saturday Market. No rain, in the mid-60's with some sunshine peaking through every once in awhile. A little light on attendance this week, but lots of food, fun, music and good company. This is a great open air market venue with hand made items from around the state. Come on by and visit us or just listen to the music.



Here's a picture of one little corner of the market this past week. We had a small 4' booth and talked to a lot of people about using resuable bags and being good friends of the environment. Cool stuff. And another shot of some of the local musicians. We look forward to seeing you here next week.

Eugene Saturday Market 2009

I'm happy to say that I've joined the Eugene Saturday Market (Eugene, Oregon). They are celebrating their 40 year anniversary this year http://eugenesaturdaymarket.org/. This is a fun venue for artisans and is adjacent to the farmers market. Both support local businesses. Please come on by and check out the event any Saturday from now through November from 10 AM to 5 PM.



Hey, don't forget that June is National Pollinators' Month. So, help the bees and plant some flowers.
Visit our website at bzzbags.com and see what we've go new to offer. Or better yet, come visit us at the Saturday Market - fun in the sun.

Web Site Up and Running

Well, I'm not sure "up and running" is exactly correct, but it is functional. BzzBags.com is finally a reality. Just having the opportunity to get the message out in a different format is really exciting. All of our various bag set combinations are up to date and available for purchase. I'm also thrilled to help anyone make their own shopping bags - the point is to use less plastic that fills up the landfill and stays there for years and years.
I've notice that there are a growing number of sites out there now that offer similar type bags for sale. Some of them are on my links here. I love it! I hope more and more show their faces and continue to help save our planet, one bag at a time. Remember to BYOB - bring your own bags - when you shop.

We're also going to have some animal only bags on tapirback.com - my sister-in-law's long standing site for animal preservation. Nothing like a picture of a tapir with a plastic bag in its mouth to make you want to keep this stuff out of the landfill.
Enjoy your bag journey helping keep our planet clean and alive for future generations. Thanks

Pollinators Partnership, Bzz Bags & Cottage Grove Growers Market

Bzz Bags is proud to be a supporter of The Pollinators Partnership. Pollinators are birds, bees, butterflies, mosquitoes, beetles and bats that help transfer pollen between seed plants. Recently, I became aware of what has been dubbed Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) which refers to honey bee colonies around the world that have been mysteriously disappearing. Remember that many (nearly 80%) of the world's crops require pollination. So, its a big deal if it doesn't get done and we certainly rely on nature to do its part.

When Bzz Bags begins to market our produce and bulk food bags, planned for the beginning of summer in our "home town" of Cottage Grove, a portion of our profits will be donated to this group and a cause that certainly gives us pause and concern.

So, feel free to join us in Cottage Grove in Oregon on Wednesdays in the park downtown (Coiner Park) starting June 25th. The first week happens to coincide with National Pollinators' Week, which is recognized in many states - Oregon currently is an exception. I have written to Governor Kulongoske to request that Oregon jump on the bandwagon, but either way, I will be giving my support and would love to have yours. In addition to Bzz Bags, there will be many local growers and artisans along with live music. I will be there each Wednesday throughout the summer, so come on by and have some fun and maybe even help save the planet . . . one bag at a time.

The weekly events are a combination of "Concerts in the Park" and "Cottage Grove Growers' Market." Remember Wednesdays throughout the summer - late afternoon through early evening - 4PM to 8 PM. Have some fun, get some good deals and great locally grown produce, oh and save the world.