So this past weekend was the big Go Green Expo at the Cobb Galleria and for weeks people in my "green world" had been asking if I would be there. Frankly, I felt "greened out." There's a big green event every single week, and I pick and choose carefully which ones to attend because for a working mom in suburbia, going to these things means a logistics juggling act with the family, a time-management crisis with my paying work assignments, a stressful drive on highways, and frankly, a consumer-buying-focused atmosphere that contradicts where I'm trying to head in my life. Especially on a Sunday, I'd much rather be gardening, riding my bike, making a meal or reading a book in the hammock.
Yet, as the day came closer, I got a fresh idea. I'd ask the kids if they wanted to come and be "reporters" for the day. I told them that, ultimately, it didn't matter so much what I liked, but what they liked that would determine the future.
My older daughter brought a friend and the two of them headed off together happily. I caught glimpses of them deep in conversation with vendor after vendor. My younger daughter was my partner as we made our way around. We all met up for lunch and shared our favorite finds of the day.
All four of us agreed immediately that one of the best stories at the show was . . . . drumroll please . . . . the recycled glass trays and jewelry at Beca Designs. Here's why:
Not only were these products beautiful, but owner/designer Beth Carter collaborates with restaurants and bars in Athens, GA (where she lives) to collect their empty glass liquor and beer bottles. She then melts the bottles down and forms them into her hand-cut, kiln-fired products.
I love cradle-to-cradle, closed-loop stories like this and think businesses that work together to use resources creatively and sustainability are a true asset to a city. The teens found Beth's solution to materials-sourcing brilliant, and my younger daughter just thought the products were so beautiful. Wouldn't you love stories like this right here in Dunwoody?
I'll be sharing more from these teen/tween reports in the weeks to come. You truly won't believe the product that the teens thought was the very best, hands down, or the one my younger daughter zeroed in on. Not at all what I would have predicted!
In the meantime, check out Beca Designs and start thinking about how we can encourage more businesses here to go from "waste" to "wonderful."
UPDATE
I asked Beth how many bottles she has recycled, and here is her answer:
It's conservative but we estimate we've collected approx. 4000 - 5000 bottles since we began in late 2007. We collect every week from our regular locations plus friends, friends of friends, and family also donate to the cause. There's such enthusiasm from the people we ask to participate. It's evident people want to "go green" but many do not know how. Our program gives them the opportunity to green up, feel good about it and see an end result. Tangible evidence is sometimes the little push folks need to join.
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