Designer Matt Singer linked up with Monroe, Washington's Rivendell Mountain Works to craft this limited-edition backpack, with partial proceeds benefiting the Million Trees NYC initiative. The ambitious tree-planting project aims to raise one million new trees across New York City’s five boroughs over the next decade. "Living in New York City makes you acutely......read more
Here is a simple and elegant fix to a (First World) problem that annoys us every single day: Dropped power cords. One Less Drop, designed by Dan Heckler and brought to market with the help of Kickstarter, solves the dilemma and looks good doing it. The solid block is made of recycled aluminum ("from discarded wheels, engine blocks and the like") which is hand-finished and anodized for long-term......read more
SolSource is a high-performance parabolic solar cooker that harnesses the energy of the sun for outdoor cooking with zero fuel and zero emissions. It is an innovative way to BBQ, grill, steam, bake, boil or fry with only solar energy, and a perfect fit for your garden, balcony, backyard or rooftop. Inspired by the problem of indoor pollution from household stoves faced by rural families in......read more
From their backwoods headquarters in Eagle, Idaho, family-run Proof makes wooden specs with a focus on sustainable materials and production methods. The Ontario, Proof's wooden interpretation of the classic wayfarer, is handcrafted from recycled, 5-ply skateboard decks. The Canadian maple construction results in a durable frame, each hand polished and coated with a water/sweat protective seal.......read more
Since 1913, the Stanley brand has been building rugged products that last. The classic Stanley thermos is the very embodiment of product durability. The thermos is known to survive being dropped from planes, run over by vehicles, even shot with a gun. Now in its 96th year of production, the BPA-free, stainless steel thermos comes with a lifetime guarantee. ...read more
Since 2006, Theo Chocolates have been produced in Seattle at the only organic and Fair Trade chocolate factory in the U.S. It may be hard to wrap your head around that because they taste like gifts from from heaven above. Our favorite is the mindblowingly delicious Theo Coffee Salted Caramel, a collaboration with the expert coffee roasters at Caffe Vita. Each box comes with four pieces. ...read more
Here is a beautifully crafted lighting solution from The Good Flock in Portland, OR. The Aurora Lamp features a a conical shape that diffuses and maximizes light while highlighting the character of the wood base. The versatile design can be placed on a shelf or side table, or easily hung on a wall with a single screw. The lamp is built with a porcelain socket, in-line on/off switch, US cotton......read more
Perennial SHFT fave FEED Projects comes through with another great product that helps in the global fight against hunger. Made from natural burlap and organic cotton, the FEED 2 Bag features two comfy green straps (including a messenger strap for bikeriding) and a copper ring closure. Like all their products, the FEED 2 Bag comes with an important cause: Each bag sold feeds 2 children in school......read more
Eugene, Oregon-based Will Leather Goods score another repurposing win with the Dhurrie Messenger, a daily tote featuring fabric from 75-year-old New Mexican rugs. Hand loomed with thick cottonyarn and colored with vegetable dye, the dhurrie fabric makes for a sturdy bag material, augmented with a leather strap, leather trim, and a brass hardware. Choose from a palette of three color options:......read more
Thank you to Cool Hunting for alerting us to this sweet system for growing greens indoors. Created by Vancouver-based entrepreneur Kent Houston, Patch brings urban agriculture into living spaces with a self-watering system that makes growing easy. The flat-folding Tyvek planter relies on capillary action in an easy-to-install, perforated grid fed through a small reservoir (these pictures explain......read more