We’re in the process of changing furniture suppliers, which means it’s time to say goodbye to the furnishings displayed on our floor. Here’s your chance to save 50 percent or more off these all-natural offerings, which are made from sustainably forested wood, and organic cotton and latex, right here in Ohio. All sales are final.

Simply Affordable Organic Baby Crib Mattress: With layers of organic cotton batting topped with organic cotton fabric that is grown and milled in the USA, this is a super mattress for the price. Price: $310. $155 sale price SOLD

European Oak Changing Table: Made of ash, this functional piece is just the spot to change a baby without worrying about off-gassing plywood and laminate. Price: $400. $200 sale SOLD

Simply Affordable Organic Cotton Mattress: This queen-size mattress is made by hand from organic cotton fabric and organic cotton batting. Since this mattress contains no wool and, therefore, no flame retardants, we require a doctor’s prescription at time of purchase. Price: $1,300. $650 sale SOLD

Robin Solid Ash Platform Bed: Modern and lovely, this sleek full-size ash in tung oil finish bed is just delightful. Closely spaced slats support any mattress without the need for a box spring. Price: $1,200. $600 sale SOLD

Johnny Chair: This fun chair is made from organic cotton and natural latex rubber on a wood frame. Under the green slipcover, there is a natural colored chair. This one-of-a-kind piece would be great in a kid’s room or eclectic apartment setting. Price: $1,400. $500 sale

Johnny Corner Chair: This comfy corner sectional chair is made with a poplar frame, organic cotton, and finished in all-natural Dunlop Latex. Price: $2,522. Sale $975

Vegan Lofa (black, not tan): Somewhere in-between a sofa and a love-seat, this couch has comforted many visitors to Park + Vine. It’s made from organic hemp fabric over organic cotton and natural latex cushions on a hardwood frame. Classic styling means it can fit in with any décor. Price: $4,000. $2,000 sale SOLD

To fill this newfound space in the store, we’re bringing in natural mattresses from Vivetique and wooden bedroom furniture from Pacific Rim Woodworking. Vivetique is a family-owned company started in 1917. The Natural Bedroom line is made in California with only the purest natural fibers. Located in Eugene, Ore., Pacific Rim Woodworking makes high quality wooden bedroom furniture with a commitment to minimizing environmental impact. The Western Maple used in their furniture is sustainably managed and their main supplier has certification from the Forest Stewardship Council.

Our recent customer survey showed that one out of 10 people who visit Park + Vine want to learn how to make their own cleaning products. So we’re bringing in our friend, Abby Artemisia, for an hour-long workshop on the ease of doing this 11 a.m. Sunday, March 21. On Sunday, we’re teaming up with our friends at Sierra Club Miami Group for the second annual Sustainable Walking Tour, which includes a stop at the wonderful little Otto’s in Covington. And Melanie Jones-Gant is hosting the the first Park + Vine Eco Book Club 6 p.m. on Monday here at the store. It’s going to be fun around here over the next few days.

DIY Green Cleaning: March 21
If you ever wanted to know how to make your own eco-friendly cleaning products then come to Abby Artemisia’s DIY Green Cleaning workshop 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. March 21 at Park + Vine. This interactive workshop comes with plenty of recipes that include baking soda, vinegar and essential oils. Students receive 15 percent off any Park + Vine items used in the class. A $40 registration fee is payable upon arrival. RSVP abby[at]goddessgardenhealing[dot]com.

Sustainable Walking Tour: March 22
Join the Sierra Club Miami Group for the second annual Sustainable Walking Tour starting at noon March 22 at Park + Vine. Plan on a 3- to 5-mile walk through downtown Cincinnati and across the John A. Roebling Suspension Bridge with a stop for lunch at Otto’s, a wonderful little deli in Covington’s MainStrasse Village. Tour ends around 3 p.m. at Park + Vine. For more details, contact Elizabeth or Jim Durrell at 513-481-1926 or e-mail ejdurrell[at]mac[dot]com.

Park + Vine Eco Book Club: March 23
Interested in the environment, reading good books about the fate of our planet and discussing what you’ve absorbed with other like-minded people? Attend the first Park + Vine Eco Book Club 6 p.m. March 23 at Park + Vine and help chose books and set the meeting schedule for future discussions. RSVP Melanie Jones-Gant at m_jonesgant[at]hotmail[dot]com.

I feel like I’m living–and riding my bike–in Chicago again where bicycling is taking over certain neighborhoods and forcing transportation planners to rethink the old way of doing road projects. Our own city is launching a pilot project that will evaluate the use of an experimental shared lane pavement marking called a “sharrow.” In the true spirit of democracy, the city of Cincinnati is seeking input on where to put sharrows with an online poll. Act quickly, because voting ends April 15.

Sharrows neatly improve roadway positioning of both bicyclists and motorists. They get cyclists well outside the dangerous “door zone,” as drivers give more clearance when passing. And sharrows reduce very dangerous wrong-way riding by bicyclists.

Cincinnati is joining the rest of the world and turning off its lights for one hour 8:30 p.m. March 28 during Earth Hour. The goal is to reach one billion people in more than 1000 cities. That’s a lot of people, but what a great way to show that it’s possible to take action on global warming.

According to Climate Change Advocates of Cincinnati, Cincinnati is on the verge of officially participating in Earth Hour. There is a resolution headed for the Education, Environment, and Health Committee (possibly on March 17). Then, if it passes here, it goes to City Council for a vote.

Contact Mayor Mallory and City Council and ask them to support Cincinnati Earth Hour:

• Mayor Mark Mallory, mark.mallory@cincinnati-oh.gov
• Vice Mayor David Crowley, david.crowley@cincinnati-oh.gov
• Y. Laketa Cole, laketa.cole@cincinnati-oh.gov
• Jeff Berding, jeff.berding@cincinnati-oh.gov
• Chris Bortz, chris.bortz@cincinnati-oh.gov
• Greg Harris, greg.harris@cincinnati-oh.gov
• Leslie Ghiz, leslie.ghiz@cincinnati-oh.gov
• Chris Monzel, chris.monzel@cincinnati-oh.gov
• Roxanne Qualls, roxanne.qualls@cincinnati-oh.gov
• Cecil Thomas, cecil.thomas@cincinnati-oh.gov

Councilman Greg Harris is introducing a resolution requiring a segregated bike lane on Spring Grove Avenue, just as the city gears up for substantial road improvements between Ludlow and Clifton Avenues in the next week or so.

Councilman Harris is planning to make an official announcement 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 17 on the steps of Cincinnati City Hall, 801 Plum St. All in support of this idea are invited to be there and cheer-on Harris. He is certainly going out of his way to make sure all forms of transportation are accommodated on this busy road, which connects Spring Grove Village, Northside, Camp Washington and the West End to downtown.

We field a lot of questions on where to recycle pesky things such as traditional paints and compact fluorescent bulbs. Fortunately, Hamilton County Solid Waste Management is reopening its two household hazardous waste drop-off sites Saturday, March 14:

4600 Spring Grove Ave.
2 to 6 p.m. Tuesday, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday

10163 Cincinnati-Dayton Rd.
2 to 6 p.m. Wednesday

The Household Hazardous Waste Drop-Off Program is free to all Hamilton County residents and is open until Nov. 14.

People seeking employment in the local green economy could find their dream job in the city of Cincinnati’s Office of Environmental Quality.

The city is currently advertising for a Green Roof Incentive Program Coordinator. It’s a part-time/temporary position, which amounts to about 20 hours a week.

Send your resume directly to Terri Howard in the Office of Environmental Quality, 805 Central Avenue, Suite 320, Cincinnati, Ohio 45202.

Kristen Myers and Chris Heckman started coming to Park + Vine in June 2007, our very first month of business. While most people thought we were nuts for opening our little green general store here in Over-the-Rhine, Kristen and Chris took to us immediately. Each of their visits was genuine and well-intentioned. They knew their purchases were making a difference. Their early support and friendship helped us get our footing.

Up until January 2008, Kristen and Chris–two of our most frequent and faithful supporters–didn’t know one another. It was a casual conversation that happened right in front of us. Eight months later, Chris proposed to Kristen in the store. In February, family and friends hosted their wedding shower one night after the store closed.

An Enquirer story about their upcoming wedding–and their request for streetcar donations in lieu of traditional gifts–quickly and surprisingly resulted in about 50 other news reports. The New York Times even picked it up. Who knew our little couple would get so much love and attention less than one week from their big day. We look forward to many more good times with our two friends in the city that we all love so much.

Here’s some great news for lovers of locally owned and operated restaurants–especially ones that cater to herbivores and their loved ones. The Loving Cafe opens its doors March 17 (St. Patrick’s Day) in Pleasant Ridge. It’s taking over the spot most recently occupied by The Peapod Cafe, 6227 Montgomery Rd. The timing is good for this new little vegan dining spot as the discussion about local foods kicks it up a few notches. Here’s the new release with more details about the opening of The Loving Cafe:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
The Loving Cafe
6227 Montgomery Rd.
Cincinnati, OH 45213
Phone: 513-731-2233
info[at]thelovingcafe[dot]com

New Cafe Opening On St. Patrick’s Day Offers A New Way To Go Green

Cincinnati, OH – March 17, 2009 – Headlines around the world are drawing attention to our need to take swift action to reverse climate change. In response to Cincinnati’s own Climate Protection Action Plan, Loving Cafe offers plant based meals as a way to help citizens ease their dietary impact on the planet

Every Earth loving Cincinnatian can be proud of our city’s Climate Protection Action Plan, which includes a thorough inventory of our collective carbon footprint contributions and recommendations for their mitigation. Also known as the Green Cincinnati Plan, this 212-page comprehensive report examines the potentially harmful effects of our current lifestyle in areas of transportation, energy, waste, land use and food choices. It’s in this last category that Loving Cafe feel they have an easy and delicious solution to offer those interested in greening their diet.

Loving Cafe’s hours are Tuesday – Saturday from 11am-7pm, with an offering of a variety of

entirely plant based fare, meaning free of all animal products. The menu brings carbon savings in the form of veggie protein entrees, raw salads, organic smoothies, fair trade teas and fresh baked goods. Additionally, dishes like the Savory BBQ Skewers, served with fried rice and fresh vegetables, allows the hungry environmentalist to save 1,000 gallons of water compared to consuming its animal-based counterpart!

In addition to a green menu, Loving Cafe’s environment was created using many found,

reclaimed and reused materials. Many of the fixtures in the cafe came from local buildings around Cincinnati. The marble tabletops are taken from a stairway of a home in Walnut Hills; the counter and table bases came from the old Cleveland Machine Company building in Northside, the old doors used to face the counter came from a home in Roselawn and the shelving in the storage room came from a closed Office Depot. And for take-out food, the containers, cups and utensils, are composed of biodegradable materials that decompose within 3 months.

At Loving Cafe, you’ll find a comfortable place to enjoy a meal with friends and family, confident that you’re replenishing your individual health, environment and community, as well as that of local farmers, vendors and the global fair trade market

Loving Cafe will open its doors on March 17 to honor St. Patrick’s Day in truly green style. The public is invited to come for tasty vegetarian food then as well as the following weekend on Saturday, March 21 at 12:30 p.m. for the official Ribbon Cutting Ceremony and Grand Opening Party!

For information, visit www.thelovingcafe.com or call 513-731-2233