We’re getting ready for three, yes three, new bags from ChicoBag.

First up is the Messenger rePETe™ made of lightweight recycled PET ripstop fabric and featuring an integrated zipper pouch. Ideal for the spontaneous bike commuter, this little bag un-stuffs into a full-size messenger pack, featuring two separate zipper pockets, flexible lycra bottle pockets, an adjustable strap, and a magnetized closure system.

Oh yeah. It costs less than $20!

There are some new wares here at Park + Vine and we’re here to tell you about the ones that excite us most:

Kissaluvs
We’re happy to add this hard-working and economical fitted diaper to our selection. The smallest size is especially loved for newborns, because of the way it snaps below the belly button for a comfy fit. These little cuties are made in the USA with American-milled fabric. $13.95

New and returning books
We have a number of new titles on our shelves, many of which are food-related. Maybe it’s because our mouths are constantly salivating as we peruse the multitude of in-season veggies at farmers’ markets around town. If you need any fresh recipes, you can check out one of our ever-growing selection of cookbooks like “Babycakes Cookbook,” “How It All Vegan,” and “Vegan Lunchbox Around the World.” Or if you’re after food for thought, Micheal Pollan’s “The Omnivore’s Dilemma” is back in stock, along with plenty of copies of Barbara Kingsolver’s “Animal Vegetable Miracle.”

Speaker note: Michael Pollan is speaking at the Schiff Family Center at Xavier University 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 27. Pollan, also the author of “In Defense of Food,” was very visible in the movies “Fresh” and “Food, Inc,” and has helped mobilize a discussion around the country about the American industrial food system and its colossal dysfunction.

ChicoBag
The Park + Vine ChicoBag is back. It’s cute, ultra-compact, reusable, washable, an easy gift, and, of course, ecologically-friendly. Pick up this updated design by Cory Shafer for $7.50. We’re super-excited about unpacking our upcoming shipment of new Daypack, Messenger and Sling bags made from recycled plastic drinking bottles, too.

Orders are in the works for an expanded school and art supply section at Park + Vine. Coming soon are recycled notebooks from New Leaf Paper, Crayon Rocks (made from soy and mineral pigments), and Smencils (Fair Trade colored and graphite pencils made from recycled newspapers). Earth-friendly Eco Glue is on its way and more lunch totes and kid messenger bags from Fleurville arrived this week.

New Klean Kanteen™ Wide

We already have many reusable lunch-box and lunch bag systems. Bento systems from Laptop Lunches continue to be a popular item, as do stainless steel tiffins from To-Go Ware and lunch bags from Mimi the Sardine and Built NY. Choose from Kleen Kanteen, Sigg, ThinkSport and Earthlust for a non-leaching reusable bottle. Tired of throw-away baggies in those lunch bags every day? Save money by switching to a reusable Wrap-N-Mat or snackTaxi.

The arrival of summer means that we’re ready for the season change with a bunch of new wares that are practical, ecologically-friendly and kind to the wallet. Here’s the lowdown on some of our newest arrivals:

Wrap-N-Mat: We finally have the much-requested Wrap-N-Mat. This nifty replacement to the baggie and plastic wrap is highly-coveted as an easy no-waste way to transport wraps and big sandwiches. Simply fold the wrap around your lunch and secure it with the hook and loop closure. Made in the USA with food-safe material that is phthalate-free and lead-free, it doubles as a plate/placemat.

Lifefactory: These hip glass baby bottles (in a colorful silicone sleeve) are as beautiful as they are functional. The company’s motto is “Safe, Smart Simple.” We agree.

Green Toys: Green Toys makes an awesome line of classic children’s toys constructed from recycled plastic and other environmentally friendly materials. Their toys help reduce nasty off-gassing and bring much happiness to the planet. We are super-excited about carrying their newest additions: Jump Rope Set, Sand Play Set and Recycling Truck.

Bye Bye Standby: Many electronics and appliances are still pulling electricity even when they’re turned off, because they are in “standby” mode. Bye Bye Standby is an ingenious device designed to cut power to anything plugged in when it’s not in use.

LED lights: They may not be cheap, but LED lights use just a tiny amount of energy and last for a really, really long time. That’s 60,000 hours or so. These bright little beauties clock in at under two watts and have a two-year manufacturer’s warranty.

Reel Mowers: If you have grass to cut, a people-powered mower is the way to go. These “made in the USA” mowers are light, dependable, economical, and easy to use. No more gas to buy or cord to trip over. The only maintenance they require is a little sharpening every now and again. Without the usual loud annoying motor sound in your ear, you may actually enjoy the whir of steel blades on grass.

Freeplay Energy: Great for camping, blackouts, “off grid” living and emergencies, these hand-crank (and solar) electronics can be used whenever and wherever. Whether you’re looking for a combo radio/charger/flashlight or weather-band radio for an emergency kit, or a dependable lantern or flashlight, Freeplay is a safe bet.

Green Toys makes an awesome line of classic children’s toys constructed from recycled plastic and other environmentally friendly materials, and we have them. Their toys help reduce nasty off-gassing and bring much happiness to the planet.

We love Green Toys and are super-excited about carrying their newest additions: Jump Rope Set, Sand Play Set, and these two cuties:

Recycling Truck ($25)
Feel free to sort bottles, cans and paper with the nifty Recycling Truck from Green Toys. Little green ones will learn recycling basics while playing with this super cool recycling truck that has a movable recycling bed and an open/shut rear door. For ages 3 and up.

Ecosaucer Flying Disc ($8)
We’re super-happy that we finally get to tell people that we have an environmentally-friendly alternative to the already-efficient Frisbee. The Green Toys EcoSaucer Flying Disc is made in the U.S.A. from sturdy 100% recycled plastic milk containers. Weighing in at 130-ish grams, this green disc is for ages 5 and up.

The guys behind Nati Evolvement just rolled out two reissued favorites and we have them here at Park + Vine. There’s the super-soft Find Your Soul in the City T-shirt, screened on a short-sleeved blue American Apparel shirt. And then there’s the brown Nati Baseball Cap. Add both of these to your wardrobe for $25 each.

One of our startup lines when we opened June 1, 2007, Nati Evolvement designs T-shirts, hats and jackets that convey a pro-Cincinnati message in a youthful and creative way. Nati Evolvement is awesome.

“Alternative exists to promote the quest of free-thinking people to individuate by wearing T-shirts when and where they want.” Individuate? This is quite the motto. Alternative prides itself on no forced or child labor, no harassment or abuse, no discrimination, and protection of the environment. This all makes us very happy. Alternative is the T-shirt line we’ve used in the past for some of our favorite in-store designs. The newest batch of shirts, designed by Cory Shafer, shows our love of Over-the-Rhine. Here are a few images to savor:

Streets of OTR redesigned (front)

Streets of OTR redesigned (back)

OTreeR

The arrival of spring means that we’re gearing up for the season change with a bunch of new arrivals that are practical, ecologically-friendly and kind to the wallet. Here’s the lowdown on the newbies either already here or in transit:

Canning supplies: We’re keeping jars and canning tools stocked up for the upcoming growing season. Be sure to look for the Ball Blue Book, which is full of instructions, recipes and tips, and plenty of home canning kits, lids, and accessories.

Clothing: More prAna clothes just arrived in time for spring and summer. Whether you’re heading out on the town or want some eco-fashionable work-out and play clothes, check out our new offerings. Be sure to touch and feel our new Dreamsacks bamboo clothing, and totally hot cycling apparel and active-wear from Harlot Clothing Co. (thanks for the tip, Chelsea and Chista). It’s free of shiny lycra and bulky pads.

Composting supplies: Made of weather-resistant recycled plastic, the popular Soil Saver compost bin is back in stock. It’s easy to assemble, with a well-ventilated patented system to maintain proper temperature and aerobic conditions. It’s ideal for any backyard.

Hoppediz: We’ve been getting requests for a non-stretchy wrap style baby carrier, and here’s our answer. Hoppediz is a high quality and very durable woven carrier at an affordable price. These wraps come in beautiful color combinations, in three different lengths and two different thicknesses.

Kidco: For the naturally-fed babies in town, we’re happy to announce the addition of the Kidco babyfeeding system to our center table. These tools make it simple and easy to make your own baby food.

Kill-O-Watt (coming soon): This nifty gadget helps cut down on electricity use by allowing you to monitor the efficiency of your appliances. Simply plug electronics into the Kill-A-Watt and it will calculate how much energy they are using, as well as their actual operating costs by the day, week, month or year.

Line drying accessories: We’re continually adding products that make line-drying easy and economical. Our new arrivals are Whitney Design indoor/outdoor retractable clothes lines. The 40 ft. line easily retracts to stay out of the way. An economical wooden drying rack and clothespins complete the set.

Queen Bee Creations: Our spring Queen Bee order includes many new designs on purses and bags, and a new addition to our store: Queen Bee Bike Panniers. Every bike deserves the best looking pannier in town.

Summertime wear for wee ones: Swim diapers and matching tankini tops (for girls), as well as cute water shoes to protect little toes, from Imse Vimse are ideal for the pool and beach. And whether you’re hanging out in your backyard or at a local park, we have new organic kids T-shirts and baby onesies from Little Lark.

Wheelybugs: A great alternative to plastic trikes, Weelybugs are made in Australia and the recipient of numerous international toy awards. They promote gross motor skills and balance while exceeding all Toy Safety Requirements and are irresistibly fun and cute. Their base is made of plantation grown poplar plywood, and the upper is covered in vegan faux leather.

Yes: Employee Elizabeth Whitton recently found Yes Pure Intimacy, a high performance premium personal lubricant that is made from pure, natural and organic ingredients. It’s completely free of parabens, glycerin, hormones, silicones and petroleum products.

thinksport Bottles: thinksport bottles are made of stainless steel, and free of Bisphenol A (commonly abbreviated as BPA), polycarbonate, phthalates, cadmium and lead. These bottles are designed with double-walled vacuum sealed construction, keep contents hot or cold for hours and boast a mesh filter for tea enthusiasts.

When we opened in June 2007, it was obvious that our customers liked the idea of adding a little bottle of IZZE Sparkling Juice or one of Lisa Burke’s vegan baked goods to their tab. Our little foodie fridge has grown since then and includes locally-prepared vegan sandwiches and noodles from our pals at Melt in Northside, Sweet & Sara’s vegan marshmallows, locally-made ginger cider from Five Star Foodies and our most popular drink: GT’s Kombucha and Synergy.

We just bought a larger Turbo Air refrigerator to accommodate the growing interest in foodie items that are either hard to find locally or that some people would rather buy from a little locally-owned store. A separate freezer will soon contain Five Star Foodies’ Artichoke Burger, coconut milk ice cream from Purely Decadent and more.

Here’s a small sampling of some of the new items headed for our new foodie fridge:

• Bourbon Barrel Foods sauces and sorghums (thanks for the tip, John Mooter)
• Bubbies of San Francisco horseradish, pure kosher dills and sauerkraut
• Silk Soymilk
• So Delicious coconut milk yogurt
• Sunja’s Oriental Foods kimchi
• Sustain Roasted Tomato Salsa (thanks for the tip, Nikki Mayhew)
• Toffuti Better Than Cream Cheese

Other foodie items found on our shelves include Clough Valley Maple Syrup, hemp oil, lemon and lime juice, hemp milk, quinoa, olive oil, sprouted-grain cereal and pasta, organic pasta sauce and the best mayo on the planet: Vegenaise.

Now, it’s time for you to send us your foodie suggestions. E-mail info[at]parkandvine[dot]com or call 513-721-7275.

The inevitable arrival of spring means that we’re gearing up for the season change with a bunch of new arrivals that are practical, ecologically-friendly and kind to the wallet. Here’s the lowdown on the newbies either already here or in transit:

• It took awhile, but we’ve found the right clothing line for the store. prAna is a great company known for it yoga and climbing apparel. And the clothing is affordable. We’re most excited about the quick-drying Stretch Zion Pant, which is designed for outdoor adventures.

prAna Stretch Zion Pant

• What’s more ecological than line drying? Try the outdoor rotary style dryer. Made in Switzerland by a 60-year-old company, the Stewi First Lady Rotary Dryer is a line dryer’s dream come true. This completely collapsible beauty is made from aluminum construction. It’ll make you want to ditch your dryer and invest in clothespins and sunshine.

Stewi First Lady Rotary Dryer

• Camden Rose is a collective of designers, artists, teachers, musicians, craftspeople, and parents whose wares are handmade right here in the USA using natural materials with a “leave no footprint” philosophy. We’ve started with a collection of rolling pins, baby teethers and a child-size mop and broom. Camden Rose’s Waldorf-style play-stands and wooden kitchens can be special ordered.

Camden Rose Yesteryear Broom

• ZephyrWoods Jewelry For Change is totally cute and totally affordable ($8-$12). These beautiful wooden pendants are made by etsy artist Linda Stanek who vows to “pay it forward” by donating 10 percent of her jewelry-making profits to KIVA, the world’s first person-to-person micro-lending Web site.

ZephyrWoods Jewelry For Change

• This handy, innovative product makes it easy to cut down on the wasteful cycle of sandwich and snack baggies. Since each time you reuse a plastic bag you save money, the Plastic Bag & Bottle Dryer pays for itself over time. A portion of the profits goes to environmental organizations.

Plastic Bag & Bottle Dryer

• For the stylish baby and kid in your life, we’re pleased to introduce adorable Little Lark. The onesies and short and long sleeve T-shirts are screen-printed and made in the USA, with most styles on organic cotton. The designs are fresh, bold and bright. If you’re tired of pink flowers and blue trains, these are a welcome addition to your little one’s wardrobe, and are ideal for birthday and shower gifts.

Little Lark Bike Shirt

• Thirsties diaper covers are the newest addition to our cloth diaper lineup. These well-loved and highly-rated covers are made in the USA in a variety of colors with lots of sizes to choose from. Thirties are great paired with prefolds, flats and fitteds.

Thirsties

• BOOB nursing-wear, another Swiss find of Park + Vine employee Elizabeth Whitton, provides flattering essentials to breastfeed your baby discreetly with comfort and ease. Feel your best in high quality tops designed to merge fashion with function and make you look great. You can easily nurse with your baby in a sling or wrap without anyone knowing. Many styles come in organic cotton.