foundation4

digging out

March 11th, 2010

by drew

it’s winter on the east coast and we’ve seen our share of snow (more than usual for some of us). what better time to make the connection between the clean up involved with an environment we have no control over and maintenance needed to catch up on our lives and convictions at a time where so many of us are struggling financially.
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tags: eco friendly, environment, green, organic, sustainable
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remembering Barbara Jackson
February 20th, 2010

By drew diley

one of our brightest lights was extinguished today. Barbara Jackson was one of the visionary women who pioneered the MonkeyBiz Project in South Africa. an artist in her own right she was quite simply one of my greatest inspirations and I was privileged to consider her a friend. she will be greatly missed and my hope is that her vision for the women (and men) of Cape Town (and the world) will continue to inspire and affect change. Please visit the MonkeyBiz website and learn more about this inspirational woman and the project she devoted her life to.

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tags: Barbara Jackson, design, handmade, Monkey Biz, South Africa
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have helmet will ride
June 24th, 2009

by drew riley

what better way to reduce carbon emissions than riding a bike instead of driving or taking public transportation. granted, we don’t all have the option of riding a bike to work, the store, etc, but we do all have the opportunity to champion and respect those who do… right?

i ride my bike to work almost every day, weather permitting. i didn’t always, but i do now and i’m enjoying the freedom and health benefits associated with this activity. i will also say that bicyclists are increasing and bike lanes are popping up everywhere, making my ride easier and safer. we are still, however, in desperate need of a shift in awareness when it comes to bicycling and road use in general.

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tags: bicycle, bicycle law, bicycle safety, bike, brooklyn, eco friendly, environment, league of American Bicyclists, look nyc, transportation alternatives
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The Blue Sweater, Jacqueline Novogratz
May 3rd, 2009

by drew riley

we’re all so very insulated from the complexity of the world. it’s often luck that we get fleeting moments of awareness. even those of us who pride ourselves for our heightened consciousness can occasionally be surprised at our ignorance.

Jacqueline Novogratz is founder and CEO of Acumen Fund, a groundbreaking organization focused on building small businesses in some of our world’s most impoverished areas. read the rest of this entry »

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tags: Acumen Fund, environment, India, Jacqueline Novogratz, Kenya, Pakistan, Rwanda, The Blue Sweater
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11th hour apperance at Brooklyn Flea!!
April 24th, 2009

we’re back in Brooklyn this weekend at Brooklyn Flea! sorry for the late notice, but we’ve just found out ourselves… surprise! this is you’re chance if you missed us at Go Green Greenpoint last Sunday and if you’ve never been to Brooklyn Flea I highly recommend it, there is so much to see, buy, eat, etc. It’s also going to be a beautiful day to be outside… we will again be showcasing our goods and offering big discounts on the website prices for most items. read the rest of this entry »

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tags: brooklyn, Brooklyn Flea, event, fair, Flea Market, handmade
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foundation4 at Go Greenpoint!
April 15th, 2009

come join us for a day of sustainable fun. foundation4 has signed on to exhibit at this years Go Greenpoint 2009 event at McCarren Park in Brooklyn. we will be bringing all of our home and personal accessories for all to view in person as well as a couple of exciting new additions that will debut exclusively at the event. in addition to ecologically mindful vendors there will be food and music. now that the New York weather is improving we expect a big turn out, and why not, there’s no rain in the forecast and the event is free!

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tags: brooklyn, design, eco friendly, environment, event, fair, go greenpoint, green, handmade, organic, Recycled
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it’s not easy being green
March 15th, 2009

by drew riley

probably the most obvious blog title but appropriate nonetheless. what is green anyway? who makes the rules? who determines who’s following them? sure, we’re all concerned about the environment and want to make choices that won’t harm it in any way, but can we really rely on something solely because it has a “green” label. the simple answer is… no. read the rest of this entry »

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tags: eco friendly, environment, fair, fsc, green, green washing, handmade, organic, Recycled, usda
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trash, treasure, or both?
March 11th, 2009

by drew riley

Heath Nash is an extraordinary designer from South Africa, who has consistently produced amazing work and has already left a lasting impression on the design world. graduating from the University of Cape Town and named Elle Decor’s South African Designer of the Year in 2006, Heath has made quite a name for himself in the recent past. Heath began and continues to work with cut and folded sheets of plastic and paper, but his truly amazing design contributions are inspired and produced by local South African artisans. read the rest of this entry »

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tags: design, flower ball, Heath Nash, its beautiful here, Recycled, South Africa
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How the Rich Are Destroying the Earth
February 28th, 2009

by drew riley

Hard to swallow insights on the character of wealth in our world. This book helps us understand where we fit in, what needs to happen to fix “the problem”, and what we can do, if anything, to help. A cautionary look at what drives us all and how that drive may turn out to be the root of human extinction. Hervé Kempf is authoritative, direct, but not preachy. He speaks to you, not at you and counts himself among the subjects he speaks about. quick read, no superfluous rhetoric, highly recommended.

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tags: Herve Kempf, How the Rich Are Destroying the Earth
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