$5 for Surfrider Foundation

As you may know, we are big fans of Surfrider Foundation and as part of our 1% for the Planet partnership we are always stoked to help out the best people we know to keep our beaches and waterways clean.

The Cycle of Insanity: The Real Story of Water - MUSIC VIDEO from Surfrider Foundation San Diego C on Vimeo.

There has been a lot of discussion lately on BPA free water bottles and the need to not only recycle but more importantly reduce and reuse.

So today through April 1st we are donating $5 from every sale of a "Blue" KOR ONE Hydration Vessel to the Surfrider Foundation as thanks for doing a great job! Click Here to BUY the Ice Blue KOR ONE Hydration Vessel



So lets all join in together and help to keep the beaches clean, the waterways fresh, and mother earth as happy as possible!

10% for for Chile Earthquake Relief!

Survival Mode...

The newest product on the Maku EcoShop is something that we can all use, just in case... These survival kits are outfitted with everything you need to sustain you and your families lives for a few days after a major disaster or catastrophic event.

While we are most certainly not doom and gloom type people, we definitely believe being prepared and able to take care of those closest too us.

As part of the launch of our Survival Kits on the EcoShop, we are going to donate 10% of all sales in the Survival Kits to the Red Cross Chile Earthquake Relief!

Check out all of the goodies in this Deluxe 5 Person Family Survival Kit!

Deluze 5 Person Home or Office Survival Kit

All items are packed securely in a 5 Gallon Bucket with Toilet Seat Lid

The kit includes the following:

Food and Water:

5 Boxes of Aqua Literz – Equivalent to 30 packets of emergency water (5 Liters) and each box has a 5 year shelf-life

5 – 2400 Calorie Food Bars (12,000 Calories) – 30 Individually wrapped bars with a 5-year shelf life

50 Water Purification Tablets – each tablet purifies 1 liter of water

Light and Communication:

Dynamo Radio Flashlight 4 in 1 – AmFm Radio, Siren, 3 LED Flashlight, Cell-phone Charger with adapter included (NEVER NEEDS BATTERIES)

Rechargeable Squeeze Flashlight – 3 LED flashlight which generates and stores power by squeezing the handle (NEVER NEEDS BATTERIES)

30 Hour Emergency Candle – can also be used as a stove

5 – Green Emergency Glow Sticks – lasts for 24 hours

5-in-1 Survival Whistle – loud shrill whistle (travels over 1 mile) containing a flint starter, signal mirror, compass, and lanyard

Box of 50 Waterproof Matches

Shelter and Warmth:

5 Emergency Survival Blankets – Retain over 90% of the users body heat

2-Person Tube Tent with Rope

5 Emergency Ponchos with Hood

Tools:

10´ x 10´ Blue Tarp

7-1/2" Flat Pry Bar

16 Function Knife

Leather Palm Working Gloves

Duct Tape – 2″ × 10 yards

5 – N95 Respirator Dust Masks – NIOSH approved

Hygiene and Sanitation:

Toilet Bags with Chemicals – Sealable, leak proof outer bag sealed to inner waste bag containing Bio-Gel waste gelation

5 Hygiene Kits- toothbrush, toothpaste, bar of soap, and 9 wet wipes

5 Tempo Pocket Tissue Packs

Air Freshener

First Aid:

2 – 42 Piece Portable First Aid Kits – contains 42 pieces – 10 spot bandages, 10 sheer junior,5 sheer medium, 5 sheer strips, 2 antibacterial, 3 clear strips, 2 fabric strips, 1 extra large, 2 alcohol pads, and 2 gauze pads

2 Guardian First Aid Essentials Kits – 1 Trauma Dressing (5″×9″), 3 Sunscreen Lotion Packs, 1 Sting Relief Prep Pad, 1 Burn Cream Pack, 4 Non-Aspirin Tablets, 4 Antacid Tablets, 4 Ibuprofen Tablets, 1 Lip Ointment Pack, 1 Antibiotic Ointment Pack, 1 Pair of Vinyl (non latex) Gloves, 2 Finger Splints, 10 Cotton Tip Applicators, 1 Roll of First Aid Tape, 1 Roll of Gauze Dressing, and a First Aid Instruction Guide

Other:

Deck of playing cards for entertainment

Emergency Survival Kit Information:

This survival kit was designed using advice from experts in the emergency preparedness industry. It follows guidelines given by government agencies and non-profit preparedness organizations. This 5-person deluxe office emergency kit has a retail value of $195.

KOR ONE Hydration Vessels

The hottest eco friendly water bottles to hit the market have just landed on Maku EcoShop. KOR ONE Hydration vessels are not only cool but eco friendly and motivational at the same time.

Made of Eastman Tritan™ copolyester, the KOR ONE is completely BPA free and offers beautiful glasslike clarity with excellent impact resistance

Customize your vessel by inserting an inspirational KOR Stone™ message into the top; KOR Stone messages are visible when the cap is flipped open

KOR donates 1% of all sales to a select group of non-profits that focus on water-related issues and we do to so that is 2% of sales on this bottle going to help make the world a better place!

Available in 4 cool colors all with their own Non Profit



- Orchid Pink sales benefit Blue Planet Run, a nonprofit dedicated to bringing the global community together to provide safe drinking water to people in need around the world

- Sunrise Orange (my favorite!) sales benefit The Container Recycling Institute, a nonprofit that studies and promotes policies and programs to increase recovery and recycling of plastics

- Sawgrass Green sales benefit The Wetlands Initiative, a nonprofit working to sustainably restore wetlands in order to improve water quality and increase wildlife habitat

- Ice Blue sales benefit one of our favorites the Algalita Marine Research Foundation, a nonprofit focused on the protection of the marine environment through research, education and restoration, in particular studies of the North Pacific Gyre / Blob of Floating Trash...

Get Green on the greens

Check it out, a lot of golf courses are not exactly eco friendly - fertilizer, lots of water, lots of mowing and of course the bad clothes... (hahahaha, just kidding)

Here is an opportunity to help Green up the greens and don't forget when you buy an item on the Maku EcoShop, 1% of the sale goes to 1% For The Planet!


Golf Tee Pack on the Maku EcoShop

Add a little Green to your golf game with the Golf Combo Pack

Single Pack – 15 standard tees, 18 long tees, 2 divot lifters, and 4 ball markers. Beautifully shaped divot lifter offers firm, comfortable fit, exceptional feel and look. Ball markers have mini-stake to keep it firmly on the green. Ball marker is so strong, almost impossible to break.

Both regular and extra long tees.
Beautifully shaped divot lifter offers firm comfortable fit, exceptional feel and look.
Ball markers have mini stake to keep it firmly on the green.

and best of all Biodegrades in 90 days!

Click here to go to the Maku EcoShop

Maku EcoShop Sustainable Ranch (Bucky and Fred have some new Friends!)

You've met 2 of our best sellers Fred and Bucky on the EcoShop now check out a couple of new additions to proverbial Maku EcoShop sustainable Ranch.

Kenana Knitter Critters hail from the far off reaches of Kenya.

These little guys are not your ordinary stuffed animals, Kenana Critters are brought to us from a fantastic Fair Trade collective in rural Kenya!

Members of the group gather wool from the Kenana farm, then wash and dye it using natural plants before it is spun into yarn on old bicycle tires. Talented hands turn the yarn into these special handknit characters.

Party Panda



Funky Monkey



Precious Polar Bear (did you know that a Polar Bears skin is black and their hair is clear and hollow to filter the artic sunlight and help warm them...)

Happy New Year - Make '10 your "Greenest" yet!

Happy New Year and welcome to 2010! As each day, week, month and year pass since we started this little journey of putting a little more eco friendly style into peoples lives, the "Green" movement continues to grow.

Of course this is not only great for people that have always taken an eco friendly approach in their lives but it is even better for Mother Earth! Yet as "Green Living and Lifestyles" grow so does "Green Washing" and we all need to be even more vigilant on assuring the products we use in our lives are truly making a difference on this planet.

Daily we are bombarded with terms and catch phrases like - Eco Friendly, Green, Sustainable, Organic, Okeotex approved, Fair Trade, Reduce - ReUse - Recycle, etc etc etc. The cool thing is that there are so many stories beyond the "Green" stories and even when a product is not "100% Green" it still can make a difference.

Products that give back to the community in which they were produced. Building Schools, supporting the people that build their products, water conservation, sustainable farming, community planning, etc are all things that we feel are just as important as being an "Earth Friendly" product.

At Maku Furniture you probably know we work with 1% For the Planet. We donate 1% of our total sales from both Maku Furniture and Make EcoShop to The Surfrider Foundation and the East Bali Poverty Project.

But beyond this we continue to help educate the communities in and around our Javanese manufacturing facility. For example, taking the sawdust and reclaimed scrap wood leftover from manufacturing and selling at the local markets for livestock bedding etc. With the proceeds used to buy school books and supplies or take the manufacturing staff on eco trips to the Rainforest, Jungles, and Beaches of Java. Most of which have never left the 10 or 15 km radius of their local village but now have a more broad understanding of how their lives in the village may affect the beaches and ocean thru inland stream runoff or burning of toxic materials affecting the canopies of the rainforest.

With this philosophy in mind, you'll be seeing some cool products coming up on the Maku EcoShop that we feel make a community difference in the manufacturing process and of course have a sustainable and eco-friendly vibe.

Don't forget a difference starts with One person and when we each do a little bit BIG things happen! So take those Eco Resolutions, make them realistic and set a base to build from for many years to come.

From the crew here at Maku Furniture we wish you a Great and Green 2010.

Realtor Beach House Sense, Cents, and Scents on the Maku EcoShop

Check it, a friend of Maku EcoShop is a Realtor here in North County San Diego and loves the Eco Candle Company Beach House soy candles. So much in-fact that she bought our entire stock of Beach House candles to give to her clients for the holidays and to use during open houses to add a little something special to the ambiance of the homes she is selling. (But don't worry we have more coming before the end of the week!)

Soy candles by Eco-Candle Co. are cool and clean burning and will enhance your home or make the perfect gift for environmentally conscious friends. Burn time for a 16 oz. Eco-Candle is an amazing 90-100 hours.

Aside from saving some Cent's, have great Sense to give an Eco Friendly Gift, and the amazing Scent of these candles here are Six great reasons why to buy an Eco-Candle Co. soy wax candle:

1. Eco-Candles are cleaner burning – no toxins, carcinogens or pollutants which means they are less likely to trigger allergies and unlike petroleum-based paraffin candles they give off no petrol-carbon soot.
2. Eco-Candles last longer – soy wax burns cooler which means in general they will last 30-50% longer than a paraffin candle.
3. Eco-Candle Co. soy wax is certified kosher and contains no herbicides or pesticides.
4. Eco-Candle Co. uses only the highest quality scents and dyes.
5. Eco-Candle Co. uses only cotton, paper or hemp wicks.
6. Best of all — These soy candles are made in the USA.

A day without a bag

Got this email today from the crew at the Surfrider Foundation. What a great idea, especially during the holidays with all the shopping going on!

A Day Without a Bag is an education and grassroots event started by Heal the Bay in LA that involves businesses and individuals throughout Southern California and beyond. On this day we ask holiday shoppers and retailers to forgo single-use, plastic shopping bags in favor of reusable bags. In addition, Surfrider will be handing out reusable bags in conjunction with the Cities of Encinitas and Oceanside.

DID YOU KNOW:
- Each year, an estimated 500 billion to 1 trillion plastic bags are consumed worldwide. That comes out to over one million per minute.
- Californians throw away 294,000,000 pounds of plastic bags every year, or 147,000 tons.
- 600 plastic bags are thrown away every second in California.
- Most of the bags we use are NOT recycled! They are littering our oceans, beaches, landfills and killing animals & birds.

On Thursday December 17th, please tell your friends and family to forget the single-use bag at the store and get hip with a reusable bag. Here are a few tips on remembering your reusable bags for the next trip....

Keep your bags in your car, Write "REMEMBER BAGS" at the top of your grocery list each week, Hang a bag on the door knob to your garage or someplace near by, Keep a reusable bag or two in your purse or backpack, Ask the kids to remind you to bring your bags as part of earning their allowance.

By the way, we will be adding these to the Maku Ecoshop in the next couple of days

The Sunday Paper

Quick Eco Fact - If every one of us in the USA recycled a Sunday Newspaper over 550,000 trees would be saved every week!

In fact - In 2000, the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy (ACEEE) said that pulp, paper, and paperboard mills account for 12 percent of total manufacturing energy use in the U.S.

I continue to say that print media is dead (perhaps dying is a better assessment) and can't remember the last time I picked up a newspaper other than being bored in the airport and perusing the bookstore. Otherwise I prefer to get my info online...

By the way, a quick plug for the Maku Ecoshop, we have lots of cool recycled items like Bucky and Fred that come shipped in recycled packaging!

The 12 Days of Christmas by Carlsbadistan.com

The Crew over at Carlsbadistan.com choose the Maku Carved Candle holder as one of their favorite gifts of the season. We are stoked to come in at #9 on their annual Christmas list!

You can get the Maku Carved Candle Holder and lots of other eco-friendly gifts for the holidays on the Maku EcoShop!

The ultimate accessory to your organic living space: Dinner by candlelight, aromatherapy indoor or out.

A handsome accent to any environment with the natural elegance of the Maku candle block. Made of 100% repurposed teak from Indonesian architecture of yesteryear, the Maku candle block is available with the Frangipani carving in the following sizes:

Maku Teak Candle Blocks:
3″ × 8″ – holds 3 candles
3″ × 16″ – holds 5 candles
3″ × 30″ – holds 10 candles

And don't forget to use soy candles!

Recycled Bike parts = Cool Chrismas Gift for your Favorite Cyclist

Check it, being a cyclist and budding triathlete (in training for a couple of Ironman races this spring) @ashwest thought these clocks, bowls, bracelets, and bottle openers would be perfect for the EcoShop.

The newest item today on Maku Furniture EcoShop is a brand called Resource Revival out of PDX. These guys take old bike parts and make some bitchen things!




Bike Chain Bowl Recycled Revivial’s artists created this gorgeous bowl from the most unlikely medium, recycled bike chain. With a great weight and classic shape they are perfect on an entry table for your keys etc. the end of the day. 10" diameter x 2" deep





Hybrid Wall Clock Recycled Revival made this wall clock from a recycled bicycle sprocket and recycled computer hard drive. A great gift for computer or bike lovers, or both! AA battery included. 7″ × 7″



Bicycle Chain Frames he ultimate gift for the cycle lover! Recycled Revivals classic frames have been praised by critics from coast to coast. Made from recycled bicycle chain with an easel back/stand. Stands or hangs vertically or horizontally.

Available in 2 size 4×6 inches or 5×7 inches

Rainy Night in Carlsbad = Earthopoly on the Maku EcoShop

There are not many nights living in Carlsbad that could be considered blustery and on the chilly side. But as the first solid storm of the season rolls through, not only are we on Storm Watch 2009 (LOL!) but we decided to break out the newest addition to the Maku Furniture EcoShop - Earthopoly.

Earthopoly is a game celebrating Earth, one turn at a time! Players become the caretakers of wondrous locations around the planet, then increase their property value by collecting Carbon Credits and trading them in for Clean Air. AAHHHH!

It’s all fun and games until someone gets sent to the Dump! So choose your token, (all made by nature of course!), and advance to Go Green.

EARTHOPOLY ROCKS!

Measuring the growth of your Keiki

"Keiki" in Hawaiian means child and the Ecotots Surfboard growth Chart on the Maku EcoShop is a super cool accessory for any growing Keiki.

Measure your Keiki's growth by recording his or her height within the two stripes (which are intentionally left unfinished) for easy marking.

Like all ecotots products, the growth chart is made from 100% formaldehyde-free, FSC Certified real wood and has a non-toxic, water-based finish.

This eco-friendly longboard hangs on the wall and also doubles as a coat hook when rotated 180 degrees. It’s certain to become a cool keepsake when your ecotot becomes an ecoteen.

Available and in stock at the Maku EcoShop in 4 different colors and is a great way to bring a little beach lifestyle to any room during a long winter!

Meet "Fred" from the Maku Ecoshop

Check it out, one of the coolest new products we have on the EcoShop is "Fred" by Cardboard Safari. Fred comes in 3 great colors including "Camo Fred" so he can hide on your walls...

Cardboard Safari’s Moose Trophy “Fred” is laser-cut for precision fit and easy assembly using slotted construction. Fred is available in native brown, bright white or camouflage and can be decorated with paint, glitter or other craft material.

Fred is a fun accent for home, office or kid’s room and makes a great gift for dad.

Each trophy is made in the USA from non-toxic, environmentally friendly recycled cardboard. Fred measures 24" wide by 20" high by 19" deep.

Check out Fred and all of his Friends on the Maku Furniture EcoShop and get something cool for the holidays!

The Maku EcoShop is now OPEN!!

Check it out, The Maku EcoShop is now open. Featuring the finest in sustainable and eco friendly products for your household, pets, and lifestyle!

EcoShop represents the next level of our commitment to living a sustainable lifestyle. The products represented within EcoShop not only follow the same mantra and philosophies of Maku Furniture but more importantly are products we believe in and use.

Keep checking the site as we are adding new products daily. And if you have any product suggestions let us know by emailing to - info@makufurniture.com

http://ecoshop.makufurniture.com/