3/50 Project: Scraps

We've posted before about the 3/50 Project to support local businesses. We'd love it if Green Earth Organics' members would send us information about their favourite local, independently-owned stores and restaurants. If you would like to share your hidden gem, please email info@greenearthorganics.com with about 200 to 300 words, including their address and their website if applicable, and let us know what name you'd like on the article. We deliver as far out as North Vancouver, Abbotsford, Maple Ridge, and all points in between, so please feel free to share your favourites outside of Vancouver too.

Scraps: The Green General Store by Melissa

Scraps is a fairly new store, having opened in June 2010. The owners, Christina Mearns and Cara Adams, started with the idea to carry only items made of reused and re-purposed materials, but soon expanded their vision to include items that would replace wasteful or environmentally harmful items.

My favourite items by far - and the first things on my Christmas wish list - were the Boris Brothers messenger bags. They are made of used vinyl advertising banners, including some of the piles of banners that were used only during the Olympics. These banners are non-recyclable, so these bags, besides being weather-proof, colourful, and fun, are diverting non-biodegradable materials from the landfill.

The other items that intrigued me were the bulk hair and skin care products from Carina Organics. These are locally made products and Scraps sells them by the millilitre. I will be bringing my own bottle from home next time so I can give them a try.

The store isn't completely full yet, but Christina and Cara have placed orders and are expecting to starting to have a lot more in stock as the Christmas shopping season starts. The customer service was delightful: very friendly and welcoming. I put in a request for some handkerchiefs, and they promised to give me a call when they come in. I'm looking forward to going back for both myself and for Christmas gifts.