Maku Furniture

$5 for Surfrider Foundation

2010-03-16T20:24:00.000-07:00

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!

2010-03-08T21:02:00.000-08:00

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

2010-01-11T20:38:00.001-08:00

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

2010-01-07T20:09:00.000-08:00

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!)

2010-01-06T20:53:00.000-08:00

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!

2010-01-04T21:13:00.000-08:00

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

2009-12-30T19:54:00.000-08:00

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

2009-12-16T20:46:00.000-08:00

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

2009-12-13T20:06:00.000-08:00

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

2009-12-09T21:38:00.000-08:00

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

2009-12-08T21:49:00.000-08:00

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

2009-12-07T20:48:00.000-08:00

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

2009-12-03T20:17:00.000-08:00

"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

2009-12-02T21:45:00.000-08:00

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!!

2009-11-30T20:32:00.000-08:00

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/

WOW, it's been a while...

2009-10-25T20:25:00.000-07:00

Yikes, I can't believe it's been since July 30th that I posted anything. Where has the time gone...? While I'd like to think it was spent surfing, that's definitely not the case as you my have read in the last post in July I separated my shoulder while training for a triathlon.

Fortunately my shoulder is getting much better and I am back in the water within the last week surfing, we even had a great swell so it was good timing for a comeback and I have started training again. Who knows there may be an Ironman race in my future...

So what have we been up to in the last 4 months. Well I guess like a lot of companies out there we have been just trying to survive and I happy to report that we are still here, in business and have actually exceeded our numbers from last year with a few month yet to go in 2009. So things in Maku Land are not too bad all things considered. On the unfortunate side a number of our retailers have had to close their doors and we hope and wish that they land on their feet as the economy recovers!

We have some pretty cool things in the works for Maku including and Eco Shop that we will be launching in time for the holidays as 2 very cool new collections that we will launch at the first of the year. One of which is a completely different direction for us and might be the first of it's kind in terms of recycled material usage for outdoor furniture.

Stay tuned, lots is happening and we'll be posting much more in the coming days, weeks, and months!

Thanks to everybody for their support and remember to do something everyday that puts a smile on your face and helps mother nature!

Mega Swell Mega Bummer...

2009-07-30T21:18:00.000-07:00

The first solid swell of the summer 2009 and I missed it... Been training for a triathlon the last 4-5 months and 1 week before the event I crash during a cycling training ride. Grade 3-4 AC separation of my right shoulder.

Not only do I miss the best swell in the last 6 months but I also missed the Solana Beach Tri and the Mission Bay Tri in 2 months. But Hopefully I'll be ready to go for the O'Side 70.3 half Ironman!

In the meantime, enjoy the pics of this latest swell. and by the way, sorry for the lack of updates. Kind of tough typing with one hand...

Summer time summer time sum sum summer time...

2009-07-07T21:46:00.000-07:00

sorry for the lack of quality updates, summer time is go time for Maku furniture and there just doesn't seem to be enough time in the days lately. An NO we are not surfing the summer away, if there were waves we probably would be but it looks like the worst winter for waves on record could turn into the worst summer. The water is a chilly 58 degrees and blown out... BRRRR!

So I'm on my way to NYC for some east coast luv and meetings on various projects. And as I sit in the red carpet club at SFO waiting for my red eye to take off I found some interesting facts regarding purchasing habits and eco friendly product that I thought I would share with you.

- 28% of Sports participants say they would be more likely to buy a product if it "Stated" it was sustainble... (sounds like a greenwashing opportunity)

- 27% women vs 21% men say they would buy a garment that is made of sustainable fabrics. Come on guys get with it! One of my favorite pairs of shoes is the Grun by Adidas that is 100% recycled materials.

47% of the population said they would buy a green product if they also liked the style and function of that product.

Off to NYC I go, more to come from the road and don't forget to check out Maku Furniture on Twitter.

Maku Planter Box!

2009-06-28T21:19:00.001-07:00

Here's a sneek preview of a new piece that will be debuting soon. The Maku Planter Box made of 100% Reclaimed Teak just like the rest of our collection!

Get yer Tweet on...

2009-06-17T21:34:00.001-07:00

That's right we've officially jumped on the Twitter bandwagon with the countless millions of other social mediates and it sure is tweet....

You can find us on twitter now at - http://twitter.com/makufurniture

and just in case you didn't check our favorite Bali Surfing website here's what you missed today at Padang Padang. That wave is so good you gotta say it twice!

Oh how we love flat and blown out California surf...

Sherman Poppen, The Snurfer, and the History of Snowboarding

2009-06-16T20:51:00.000-07:00

let me introduce you to the Grandfather (or maybe Godfather) of Snowboarding Mr. Sherman Poppen.

In 1965 Sherman invented the Snurfer for his daughters to go out in the backwoods of their Muskegon Michigan home. As we all know from there on out the rest is snow sliding history with the likes of Tom Sims, Jake Burton Carpenter, Dimitjrtie Milovich, Chuck Barfoot, Mike Olson, the list goes on as the founding fathers of snowboarding.

I had the distinct pleasure to meet Sherman in the early / mid 90's in Banff Canada during a Transworld Snowboarding Industry "Conference". (Which was basically a big excuse for key snowboard industry "execs' to get together and get our shred-on.)

Since then I have ridden with Sherman a few times in Whistler BC and his home mountain of Steamboat. Believe it or not, Sherman did not start "Officially" snowboarding until his late 60's and I can't think of a person that exuded more stoke and excitement to slide sideways than Sherman.

To this day after 25 years of snowboarding, countless EPIC powder days at some of the best resorts and backcountry around the world, the times I was able to ride with Sherman are at the tops of the list. (Right along with teaching my son and daughter to snowboard and watching them link up their first turns. Then a first decent of an amazing chute in AK that myself, Billy Anderson and Wooly from Volcom all enjoyed and aptly named Lil' Bitch afterward)

So sit back and check out this killer little video and here is a link to Sherman's Snurfer induction to the Smithsonian Museum in DC.

Red Bull Rodeo Flip by Jordy Smith

2009-06-15T21:08:00.000-07:00

Check out this insane footage of Pro Surfer Jordy Smith.

By the way, sorry for the lack of updates, been swamped shipping tons of new Maku pieces all across the country. To those that have purchased a new piece for their outdoor space a big high 5 and thanks!

Fish for thought

2009-05-31T09:48:00.000-07:00

I found this little gem - "Fish for Thought" on the LeucadiaProject.com. Ed and David are a couple of locals guys that surf the same spots as I do. Ed's zest for surf culture is second to none and David is an incredible photographer.

So check it out, Local North County artist Rodney McCoubrey takes trash found in and around our local beaches and re-purposes it to some pretty cool artwork. Combined with an Eco-Educational aspect with some of the local kids in Del Mar and you have a pretty rad little project going!

The event was yesterday and hopefully the dreary weather did not put a damper on things. (Yes you read right, I said "Dreary" weather.... This time of year we get a little May Gray and June Gloom...)

FISH for THOUGHT

MILE of ART on the beach in Del Mar

TEACHES KIDS, COMMUNITY, ABOUT RECYCLING

Featuring Rodney McCoubrey

Elementary students' artwork display from recycled materials (trash to treasure)

with local artist Rodney 'Rodrigo' McCoubrey this Saturday, May 30th. on the beach in Del Mar

A mile of marine-themed artwork—colorful concoctions of scrap wood, old toothbrushes, aluminum soda tabs, popped balloons and the like, mounted on recycled sticks--winding "Christo style" along the scenic Del Mar coastline. Trash to treasure - a message of HOPE and RECYCLING.

Mini-masterpieces, the kids call Fish Sticks, will be proudly created and displayed to tell the tale ending ocean pollution.

This simple recycling/art project by 400 Del Mar Elementary School children has taken on a life of its own in their hearts and minds, while heightening ocean pollution awareness. Fish For Thought will culminate this Saturday, May 30th, from Power House Park North to Dog Beach in Del Mar in an all-community beach cleanup and coastline art installation along Del Mar beach.

Local recycled-trash artist Rodrigo (aka Rodney McCoubrey) will help them create their own one-of-a-kind recycled wooden fish, embellished with recycled trash collected from the beach and home. www.FishForThought.org

Filmmakers will be onhand to document this grass roots effort and are fundraising to complete an educational documentary. Del Mar hopes to highlight this pilot program as an example of what a community can do to reverse the negative impact trash makes on our beaches and ocean - a small community with a big message.

Local Chief Lifeguard Pat Vergne says, “Our community is using art to raise awareness about trash and the negative effect it has on the health of our marine life and our coastal community. We are thrilled to be supporting the Fish Sticks exhibition and the 5th annual Keep Del Mar Clean community beach clean up as we kick off our city’s new recycling program.”

Additional partners in the project include the City of Del Mar and environmental group “Keep Del Mar Clean.”

Beach clean up will take place from 9:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m. at Power House Park in Del Mar.

Fish Sticks will be on display 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. , Power House Park north to Dog Beach in Del Mar, this Saturday May 30th.

More Plastic than Plankton...

2009-05-27T21:24:00.000-07:00

So I was reading the latest issue of my favorite surf mag that features an interview with Surfrider Foundation Executive Director Jim Moriarty and an interesting fact popped out at me within the first few paragraphs of the interview.

I have talked a lot about the North Pacific gyre and the swirling pool / blob of trash and plastic that is now estimated to be as large as the USA but what I never realized was that it is now estimated to be more photo-degraded plastic in the oceans than plankton.

This is a very disheartening and sad state of our oceans and the ramifications within the food chain may now be irreversible. Plastic is not bio-degradeble in any means, it is photo-degradeable which means that it will continue to break down into smaller and smaller pieces to where it can't be seen by the naked eye.

Fish, birds, whales, and many other sea creatures that in one way or another end up on the plates of millions of diners tables around the world have potentially mistaken this plastic for plankton...

The only answer, reduce, reuse, recycle and most importantly EDUCATE!

Memorial Day 2009

2009-05-25T13:32:00.001-07:00

While most are planning bbq's, time at the beach, lake, river, or just simply chilling with family and friends, lets not lose site of what Memorial day is really all about.

Whether one agrees or not with the war in Iraq or the previous wars our country has fought in, the fact remains that thousands of our Military personnel wake up each day to defend our land from those that wish to harm us.

I have never served in the military but have tremendous respect for those that do and have served. San Diego is home to a very large military population. The Marines at Camp Pendleton, MCAS Miramar, The Marine Corp Recruiting Depot, and the Western Pacific Fleet of the US Navy all are based here.

So a big high 5 and thank you to all of you that so graciously and honorably serve and defend our country!

And most importantly lets not let the memory of our fallen soldiers such as my friend Capt. Alan Rowe ever fade.

Sidewalk Surfer

2009-05-23T10:08:00.000-07:00

Local Carlsbad artist Bryan Snyder created this bitchen little piece of public art in our little village by the sea.

Carlsbad Sidewalk Surfer by bryan snyder from Bryan Snyder on Vimeo.

Surfrider Foundation SD Chapter - 9th Annual Art Gala

2009-05-18T20:10:00.000-07:00

The 9th Annual Art Gala benefiting the San Diego Chapter of the Surfrider Foundation is this Thursday May 21st.

As you have read in the past, Maku is a proud supporter or 1% For the Planet and part of our donation goes to the Surfrider Foundation San Diego Chapter.

This year we are also donating and Maku Lounge Chair and a Maku Side Table to the Art Gala at the Powerhouse in Del Mar. Check out the online Auction too for some really cool stuff!

Basking Sharks...

2009-05-14T15:13:00.000-07:00

Some would think that being a surfer and spending as much time in the water as I do, why would I ever talk about sharks...?

Well, truth be told, the Whale Shark and the Basking Shark of 2 of my all time favorite underwater creatures. The huge majestic beauty and millions of years of evolutionary progress make these 2 sharks very intriguing.

I found this cool article on cnn.com about some recent studies on the Basking Shark and their migratory habits.

Check it out!

(CNN) -- The migration patterns of basking sharks have long mystified marine biologists, but new research has finally revealed where the world's second-biggest fish hide out for half of every year.

Despite growing to over 10 meters in length, basking sharks have often eluded close scientific study.

"While commonly sighted in surface waters during summer and autumn months, the disappearance of basking sharks during winter has been a great source of debate ever since an article in 1954 suggested that they hibernate on the ocean floor during this time," said Gregory Skomal of Massachusetts Marine Fisheries, one of the authors of a report recently published in "Current Biology".

"Some 50 years later, we have helped to solve the mystery while completely re-defining the known distribution of this species."

Using new satellite-tagging and a new geo-location technique, the researchers found that basking sharks make long migrations through tropical waters of the Atlantic Ocean during the winter, traveling at depths of 200 to 1,000 meters.

The researcher's data show that the sharks sometimes stay at those depths for weeks or even months at a time.

"In doing so, they have completely avoided detection by humans for millennia," Skomal said in the report. Basking sharks are the world's second-largest fish and can grow to more than 10 meters -- more than 30 feet -- and weigh more than seven tons.

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Skomal said they were "absolutely surprised" when they first received a signal from the tagged sharks coming from the tropical waters of the western Atlantic, in the vicinity of the Caribbean and Bahamas. Before the study basking sharks were believed to be cool-water sharks, restricted to temperate regions.

Several factors made basking sharks a challenge to study. Added to their annual disappearing act, they feed exclusively on plankton, which means they can't readily be captured with traditional rod-and-reel methods.

Even when the sharks are found closer to the ocean surface, they spend their time in the cool-temperature, plankton-rich waters that limit underwater visibility and make diving difficult.

The researchers believe their findings could have important implications for the conservation of basking sharks, which have shown some signs of dramatic decline in the last half century and are listed as threatened by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

"Coupled with recent genetic data, our finding indicates that the Atlantic population -- and perhaps the world population -- are connected and may constitute a single population," Skomal said.

"Hence, the global population of basking sharks may be even smaller than previously thought."

Morocco Surf Trip with Kassia Meador

2009-05-13T10:32:00.000-07:00

Check out Maku Lifestyle Ambassador and surfer girl extraordinaire Kassia Meador in this little snippet from the crew at Roxy on their latest surf trip to Morocco.

To keep up with all things Kassia check out her blog.

Dang those waves look fun, what a killer trip!

Pics from Alt Build 2009

2009-05-12T17:28:00.000-07:00

Here's a few pics from Alt Build 2009 that took place over the weekend. Great event with a tremendous turnout and some very very cool green products!

Dan and the Vernare crew outdid themselves with the booth this year!

Maku Lounge Chairs with Sunset and White cushions

Maku 48" Spa bench with the Maku 72" dining table and if you look closely there is a sneak peek at the new multifunctional Silent Spring piece that will be in the new DV collection that is due out soon...!

Alt Build - Santa Monica

2009-05-07T21:24:00.000-07:00

If you are in the Southern California area this weekend cruise on over to the Santa Monica Civic Center and check out Alt Build 2009.

We'll be there to support one of our partners in eco-motivation, Vernare both Friday and Saturday displaying some of the cool pieces in the 2009 collection such as the Maku Lounge Chair, Maku Dining Table, and Maku Chaise. You'll also be able to get a sneak peek at a few new pieces as part of a new collection we are working on!

Alt Build is the premier show for eco friendly building and state of the art design materials. It's free to attend and there are a lot of great speakers and seminars to attend.

GoGreen Man!

2009-05-06T13:22:00.000-07:00

So check out this rad 12 year old grom that is wise beyond his years. Jonathan Lee is a wrecking crew of Eco Friendly passion and resource that is looking to knock out Dr.Pollution!

Jonathan's projects range from trying to reduce waste that Fast food restaurants generate to a really cool project called One Chile, One Tree, One Year.

Keep up the good work Jonathan!!

Maku Site back up and running!

2009-05-05T21:20:00.000-07:00

Sorry for the problems today, it looks like Media Temple was able to get the Maku Website back up and running!

Houston we have a problem

2009-05-05T06:18:00.000-07:00

Technical difficulties with the Maku website and email right now, our service provider media temple is working to get everything restored and I'll post up again when the site is up and running...

Greensburg Kansas - the Greening of Middle America

2009-05-04T14:26:00.000-07:00

2 years ago today the little town of Greensburg Kansas was devastated and totally destroyed by tornadoes. Virtually every building in the town was leveled. Those that weren't leveled sustained some serious damage...

The next thing that happened is nothing short of SPECTACULAR! The towns goverment decided this was the perfect opportunity to build the countries first green town. A showcase for eco friendly and sustainable building. Very cool indeed! From a wind farm to Silo Eco building, and even a TV show on Planet Green, Greensburg and it's fine citizens are truly eco heroes!

Kudos and congratulations to each and every member of Greensburg Kansas, I'm for sure stopping by and throwing out high fives the next time I happen to be in Kansas. And if anybody in Greensburg Kansas wants some Maku pcs for their outdoor space just let us know and we'll hook you up!

The Past and the Future...

2009-04-26T21:39:00.000-07:00

I found these 2 very interesting articles this evening while perusing the world wide web.

The first asks the question: "Was George Washington Green?" and the second explores the ideals of "The Green House of the Future"

From yesteryear the use of native plants and landscaping, efficient use of space dependent upon season, and lightweight / movable furniture to the philosophies of the next generation of green homes that interestingly enough have a keen throwback to the early days of our country.

George Washington's "Woodlawn Plantation" (pictured above)

(BRANCHING OUT William McDonough + Partners envisions its house like a tree. The "bark" of the house is made up of thin, insulating films that would self-clean and self-heal if damaged. A curved roof with large eaves provides shade, which lowers the heat load in summer. The "trunk," or the frame of the home, consists of carbon tubes, while the "roots" are a heat-pump system buried in the yard.)

Is this a case of history repeating itself? Getting back to basics? or as the age old proverb goes "if it ain't broke don't fix it..."

Check them out and decide for yourself!

Article 1 - Was George Washington Green

Article 2 - The Green House of the Future

I wonder if our esteemed First President would have appreciated our designs?

What a way to end the week...

2009-04-24T14:49:00.000-07:00

We have the first solid south swell of the spring and summer season filling into the local southern California beaches yesterday and today. So we loaded up the boards and headed to Trestles this early this morning. No pictures to post as we were all too busy surfing. A nice long session of almost 4 hours in 6-10 ft surf with a few Double Overhead sets felt great!

I took out my trusty 6'4" shaped by Cole Simler and had a blast! Too tired to work the rest of the day so I think we'll just start the weekend early with a nice cold one from our favorite local brewery and Maku Furniture supporter.

Have a great weekend! We'll be at the beach making the most of this swell!

Kini Beach

2009-04-23T12:40:00.000-07:00

Check out these killer beach bags that are made from 100% re-purposed (trash) left on the beaches of Waikiki by inconsiderate visitors.

Designed and developed by fellow surfers David “Kawika” Watt, Kealii Mamala, and Dale Geldum, whom all saw an unfortunate abundance of "trash being left behind on island beaches and in hotels each year. These include recreational items such as “boogie boards,” straw and inflatable plastic mats, and literally any other floating device found on the sand and in the water by day’s end."

So they approached the hotels about helping them take care of this problem and here you have it - Kini Beach Tote Bags.

A pretty rad idea and everybody here at Maku are going to pick up a few of these totes on our next trip to the islands!

Mahalo to the crew of Kini Beach nice job keeping the beaches clean!

Huffington Post - I SPI top 10 Great Green Designs

2009-04-22T14:36:00.000-07:00

A Big high 5 to Sarah and Alison from SPI Design for calling out the Maku Chaise Lounge as on of their top 10 picks of Great Green Design in their Earth Day article in the Huffington Post.

Check it out here.

And definitely check out the SPI Design Portfolio, Sarah and Alison do some amazing work!

Happy Earth Day 2009!

2009-04-22T10:14:00.000-07:00

Happy Earth Day 2009 to All. We're taking the day off to go surf and then clean up the beaches as well as cruise around to the local earth day celebrations.

In honor of Earth Day, here are 5 things you can do to lessen your impact on Mother Earth (courtesy of our friends at the Surfrider Foundation)

Vivavi sale this weekend!

2009-04-21T13:04:00.000-07:00

We have been getting a lot of web traffic from the NYC area, not to mention some good orders (Thanks to all in NYC who have ordered some Maku Furniture for your Penthouse, Terrace, or outdoor space so far this year!)

This weekend is a great opportunity in NYC to get some really cool furniture at a great price.

The Lazy E himself will be having a clearance sale at the downtown Vivavi showroom located in the Riverhouse.

Stop by throw some high 5's and check out the latest and greatest in Eco friendly living. Vivavi has it all!

Dates: Friday, Saturday & Sunday (April 24, 25 & 26)
Hours: 10am to 6pm

Location: Vivavi at The Riverhouse (in Battery Park City)
Suite 11N
2 River Terrace
New York, NY

(Cick Here for Directions)

Sustainable Furniture Council - SFC

2009-04-20T12:47:00.000-07:00

Maku Furniture is now a proud member of the Sustainable Furniture Council (SFC for short)

In SFC's own words - "The Sustainable Furnishings Council is a non-profit balanced coalition of industry players created to promote sustainable practices among manufacturers, retailers, and consumers alike with a public tagging program to identify good choices. We are over two hundred and fifty members strong and growing fast. The solution starts with you."

I have been closely watching SFC develop over the past 18 months before joining because I wanted to see if there were any "teeth" in the projects and movement of the group. Certainly any group of manufacturers that are as passionate about Sustainable Practices as we are is a good thing. And to take it a step further the SFC really helps bring truths and realities to those brands which are doing a good job in creating sustainable products vs. those that are "Greenwashing".

Jeff Hiller and the B.O.D. are doing a great job and I think the future is very bright for the SFC and it's members! Maku Furniture is stoked to be a part of this great group!

Welcome Bambeco.com

2009-04-19T20:07:00.000-07:00

A quick high five to the crew at Bambeco.com! Check out the site and products, they are just starting to ramp up for the spring / summer months and will be adding new products weekly.

Of course they have a bunch of Maku Furniture ready to go!! Check out the Maku Coffee Table, Maku Side Table, and Maku Chaise Lounge that are featured front and center!

Jake Shimabukuro - This Saturday Night!

2009-04-10T13:21:00.000-07:00

If you happen to be in the North San Diego County area this weekend check out Jake Shimabukuro on Saturday night at the Grace Theater in O'side. All proceeds from the concert go to the California Surf Museum.

This guy kills it on the Ukulele!

Not The Answer

2009-04-08T17:27:00.000-07:00

So Check it out, as you know I am an avid (perhaps addicted is better) surfer and my life and everyday activities are tied very very close to the ocean. There is just something very special about spending time in the water almost daily. Some call it a greater spirit connection, Ijust love being outdoors...

But I am also a realist and understand the needs of the "greater good" in an effort to maintain commerce and all things that go with living in this greatest country in the world. As such I always try to look at the most viewpoints possible and asses alternatives. In short there are always 2 ways to the same answer...

So when the offshore drilling ban was lifted, I became very concerned (and still am) that we will see the beautiful coastline covered in offshore oil rigs. Not only detracting from the natural beauty of the ocean and those terrific So.Cal sunsets but more importantly adversely affecting the eco system from fish kill to pollution to sea bed damage the list goes on.

Sure Fossil Fuels are the easy answer and the technology to drill for them is readily available. I hope we can all agree that fossil fuels are also not the answer to a longer term problem.

With the advent of Bio Fuels, Natural Gas, Electric, and even Hydrogen engine vehicles (that run on water!) it seems silly to want to continue to exploit our coastlines in hopes of greater corporate profits for companies such as Exxon.

Check out Surfrider Foundations blog on off-shore drilling and decide for yourself and if you want take action and let you congress person, Secretary Salazar, and the president know what you think!

Spring Break!

2009-04-06T22:18:00.001-07:00

Our kids are off from School this week and we have been chilling at the beach, perfect weather, the water is starting to warm up and we have a nice little swell scheduled to fill in on Tuesday...!

I'll have some green wisdom later in the week. Until then make sure you live everyday to the fullest!

Here's a shot from our local beach earlier this afternoon. Sorry for poor quality, shot it with my Iphone.

The Lazy Environmentalist - "on a budget"

2009-04-01T14:18:00.000-07:00

Our good buddy Josh Dorfman aka The Lazy Environmentalist just came out with a new book that is focused around going green on a budget. As the title on the book says - "save money, save time, save the planet".

Aside from being a world renowned expert on green living, Josh also runs the Vivavi showroom in NYC which of course offers all kinds of great Maku Furniture!

You can buy the book here and here is a link to all the eco goodness relating to the launch party a couple of days ago.

Congrats Josh, we'll keep an eye out in the mail for our signed copy... :)

Check out the vid below for all the happening highlights from the launch party.

Earth Hour 2009! (This Saturday 3.28.09)

2009-03-27T12:17:00.000-07:00

Earth Hour 2009, this Saturday from 8:30-9:30 pm at your local time! Invite some friends over, have a party, lite some candles (Maku candle holders...) and vote for mother earth!! Most importantly, turn off your lights and remember 1 person can make a difference... :)

We'll be spreading the word here in Carlsbad and will be sure to post updates on Saturday night!

Take Action here.

A Sea Change

2009-03-26T10:36:00.000-07:00

Continuing on with the Ocean related "theme" of recent posts I thought I would try and bring some attention to what posses to be the newest and potentially greatest threat to our Oceans.

Acidification of our oceans has risen 30% since 1900! Yikes, that's a lot of acid in our most precious of natural resources and the cycle that drives life on our little piece of the galaxy.

A Sea Change documents Sven Huseby's travels through the ancient fishing grounds of his Norwegian ancestors and looks at the acidification of our oceans. From both the human element and the scientific element. Mr. Huseby first learned of this emerging disater when he read Elizabeth Kolbert's article in The New Yorker entitled "The Darkening Sea".

A Sea Change debuted to tremendous acolades at the Environmental Film Festival 2 weeks ago in Washington D.C.

I wonder if President Obama attended the film festival or perhaps he was too busy putting his brackets together for March Madness or setting his schedule for his appearance on The Tonight Show... (Sorry, couldn't resist a little dig on our 44th president but to me it seems he should be focusing on the economic and environment problems at hand versus trying to be a media star or dare I say media whore...)

....Now back to our regularly scheduled programing - So check out the trailer below for what looks to be a great documentary on the plight of our oceans. And remember change starts with one person at a time!

Watch A Sea Change Trailer in News | View More Free Videos Online at Veoh.com

Plastic in the Pacific

2009-03-25T06:36:00.000-07:00

As you have read before on my Blog, I have talked numerous times about the North Pacific Gyre and the HUGE blob of trash floating in the pacific ocean.

I found this article is in Today's Wall Street Journal, page A14. It is nice to see more broad based media outlets covering this potential disaster in the Pacific Ocean.
---------

WSJ
MARCH 25, 2009.

How Big Is That Widening Gyre of Floating Plastic?

In the Pacific, Ocean Flows Sweep Litter Into a Flotilla That Could Be the Size of Quebec or Maybe the U.S. -- No One Knows

By CARL BIALIK

A soup of plastic debris floats off the coast of California, a testament to humanity's reliance on plastic and the failure to dispose of it properly.

Just how big is this oceanic zone? Some say it is about the size of Quebec, or 600,000 square miles -- also described as twice the size of Texas. Others say this expanse of junk swept together by currents is the size of the U.S. -- 3.8 million square miles. Or, it could be twice that size.

The debris floating in a large area of the Pacific Ocean usually isn't visible on the surface.

The Great Pacific Garbage Patch, as it has been called, has become a symbol of what some say is a looming crisis over trash. But this floating mass of plastic in the Pacific Ocean is hard to measure, and few agree on how big it is or how much plastic it holds. That makes it difficult to determine what to do about it.

That hasn't stopped activists and the media from using only the biggest estimates of the patch's size to warn of an environmental catastrophe.

"We've found it really captures the public's imagination and its focus," says Eben Schwartz, marine-debris program manager for the California Coastal Commission, a state agency. However, "as hard as [environmental advocates] try to characterize it accurately, it is prone to mischaracterization."

The plastic-rich portion of the ocean is a product of swirling currents, known as the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre, that gather and concentrate debris. It captured public attention thanks to the efforts of Charles Moore, a woodworker-turned-sea captain who sailed through the zone in 1997 and was stunned to find plastic debris hundreds of miles from land. "That set off alarm bells and made me want to monitor it, made me want to quantify it, made me want to get a better handle on it," says Capt. Moore, a licensed merchant-marine officer. He dedicated the Algalita Marine Research Foundation that he had founded to studying this region of the ocean and publicizing its plastic problem.

The Numbers Guy BlogTaking the Measure of Plastic Soup.
Researchers at the foundation have attempted to quantify the gyre by sailing deep into the Pacific and trawling for plastic and zooplankton using a contraption that resembles a manta ray. Sifting through the entire gyre for plastic would be impossible, so researchers survey a small sample.

But it is difficult to know how to extrapolate their findings to the entire region, or even what that region is. The borders of the gyre shift between seasons, and some scientists, such as Holly Bamford, director of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's marine-debris program, argue that the high-plastic area is confined to a relatively small part of the gyre.

"I admire Charles," says David Karl, an oceanographer at the University of Hawaii. But Capt. Moore's estimate of the size of the plastic patch -- up to twice the size of the U.S. -- strikes Prof. Karl as guesswork. "He doesn't know the edge" of the area.

Capt. Moore has relied on models of ocean currents from a retired NOAA scientist to help estimate the scope of the concentrated-plastic zone, with debris lurking, often in tiny, barely perceptible pieces, at or just below the surface. "I just did a very crude estimate, by getting a globe and placing my hand over the area defined by this current, and placing my hand over the continent of Africa" to see how the two compared, he says. "The condensed-soup part may be considerably less than the whole," he concedes, but he is frustrated by critics who play down the scope of the problem without doing any fieldwork.

Even as the debate over the plastic patch's size continues, some of the foundation's estimates have been reported as scientific certainty. For instance, a decade ago, researchers found that the ratio of plastic to zooplankton by mass was six to one. A more-recent visit turned up an increase in this ratio, to 46 to one, according to the foundation's Web site. But that is an average of the ratio at each testing site, which included some very high ratios, probably anomalies. A more comparable figure is eight to one, representing a more modest increase when results are aggregated across all testing sites.

In addition, comparing plastic and plankton weight might not be an ideal way to measure the problem, according to Angelicque White, a biological oceanographer at the University of Oregon who accompanied Prof. Karl on a recent voyage to the gyre. Dr. White points out that many plankton are too small for the nets, and might not have been included in the count. What's more, while the heaviest bits of plastic inflate the measure of the debris patch, those pieces pose less of an environmental threat, because they are too large for marine creatures to mistake for food.

Capt. Moore said that his scientific papers have made these distinctions clear. But news articles generally haven't. Dr. Bamford says inconsistent units of measurement of the plastic problem have impeded research. "We're trying to develop a standardized method," she says of NOAA, "so we can really get a handle on how this compares to various locations around the world." It's possible that consistent measurement will reveal that other parts of the ocean without a catchy name are just as plastic-rich, or more so.

Some misinformation comes from other environmental groups exaggerating the alarming research. Environmental advocate David Suzuki has written of a "massive, expanding island of plastic debris 30 meters [98 feet] deep and bigger than the province of Quebec." Asked whether the high-plastic region could really be called an island, Bill Wareham, senior marine conservation specialist with the David Suzuki Foundation, says, "It's not going to look like island in the context of, 'Gee, I can walk across that.' But it is a very high density of plastic." He adds, "David speaks in a way where he's framing the issue in a way people can understand it."

Other advocates object to such terminology. "The problem with superlative statements that this is somehow a huge floating mass of plastic is that they inevitably lead to desensitizing people when they learn the truth of it," says David Santillo, a senior scientist with Greenpeace.

Even if scientists and advocates could agree on numbers for the size and plastic concentration of the gyre, it is unclear what they would do with the information. Plastics can harm ocean birds and mammals who eat it, because they carry toxins, can pierce internal organs and can trick animals into thinking they are full. But hard numbers are tough to come by. "It's so hard to say a bird died due to plastic in its stomach," says Dr. Bamford. "We have seen birds mature and live out their whole life, and necropsies show plastic in their stomach."

Though no one thinks any possible benefits of plastic outweigh risks, Prof. Karl did find some positive aspects of the patch -- a high concentration of microorganisms clinging to the debris. "The microorganisms are good for the ocean, because it turns out they're making oxygen," Prof. Karl says. "If plastics were otherwise neutral to the environment, then they'd be helping by harvesting more solar energy." Dr. Bamford says it is possible that a cleanup, even if it were feasible, would do more harm than good, by removing these organisms.

Capt. Moore says quantifying the plastic could provide a starting point for measuring the effectiveness of land-based efforts to choke the flow of plastic to ocean waters. "I would love to have a government agency form a concerted program to quantify the debris," he says. "It's a tragedy of the commons: Nobody owns the problem."

Write to Carl Bialik at numbersguy@wsj.com

Printed in The Wall Street Journal, page A14

Revolution in a Bottle

2009-03-24T15:05:00.000-07:00

Revolution in a bottle looks like a pretty good read. Tom Szaky is the founder of Terracycle. The company philosophy is great and although I haven't read the book yet, it has gotten solid reviews... I'll post more after I read it.

The Fight for Red Lady goes on...

2009-03-23T21:54:00.000-07:00

I was fortunate enough to grow up in an amazing little town called Crested Butte in the high country of Colorado. Back then The Butte boasted a whopping population of right around 1000 people. Ski Bums, Hippies, or those just looking to get away from the rat race. Funny enough the population still hovers around 1000, The Skiing is great, and my moms favorite place to hang out - The Wooden Nickel is still there.

I try and make it back to CB every couple of years and I have a sneaking suspicion that one of these days I'll be back there for good...

Certainly growing up there in the late 60's on through the 70's and beyond is with out a doubt why I have such an affinity for all things outdoors and a keen respect for our environment.

But aside from the unique atmosphere of CB - the long winters, great skiing, mud season and the rest of what most people think of when Crested Butte comes to mind. There were incredible summertime excursions to Irwin Lake, The Maroon Bells, Gothic, fishing in or "tubing" down the slate river or riding our bikes as far as we could on Red Lady aka Mt Emmons.

It must have been when I was around 10 years old in the late 70's that a mining company came to town and wanted to take all the molybdenum out of the Red Lady. The town came together and fought the Amax Mining company and soon after they left. Well it sounds like the fight for Mt Emmons is once again on.

Check out here for more info and the High Country Citizens Alliance Blog to help the town of CB stop the unwanted threats towards The Red Lady.

If you ever have the opportunity to get to CB, stop in to the Wooden Nickle, look for the picture of Botsie and D.P. on the wall and share some time in a truly magical place.

Red Lady from the Historic Crested Butte Train Depot from HCCA on Vimeo.

Vernal Equinox 2009!

2009-03-20T13:56:00.000-07:00

Holy Smokes, I forgot today was the first day of Spring! That right no more old man winter.

And what a crummy winter it has been here in So.Cal. Sure we are a bit spoiled with the constant 70 degree winter days and hanging out on the beach in January... :) By the way, it's dreary and in the low 60's today incase that makes anybody feel better

What I'm talking about is surf related. The winter of 2008-2009 has to go down as one of the smallest and lamest winters in recent memory. In fact, there were only a couple of decent swells this winter around Thanksgiving time and then again in early February. Neither of which produced anything near the "adrenaline pumping / scary range"

So here's to Spring 2009, may the southern hemisphere start to fire up to send us some great south swell and may the water warm up so we can get out of those funny rubber suits we surfers wear when the water is cold!

Spring has Sprung my friends, shed your hoodies and sweaters, break out the flip flops, tend to your gardens and start working on your tan! Summer is right around the corner...

The Gardens of Babylon and Urban Patio in Nashville

2009-03-20T13:29:00.000-07:00

One of our best specialty retailers Deb from Urban Patio in Nashville Tennessee sent over these shots from the Nashville Home and Garden show last weekend. Urban Patio partnered with The Gardens of Babylon (also from Nashville) to create this amazing display of vertical gardening and featured the Maku Furniture lounge chair and Maku side table. Combined they won the American Horticulture Society Environmental Award for the show!

Congrats to Deb and crew, keep up the rocking job!

Pick up 3, and a difference you will see....

2009-03-19T14:04:00.000-07:00

I've been meaning to talk about this Super Grom named Cobi Emery from nearby Del Mar. 2 years ago when Cobi was 10 he started Pick up 3 as a way to bring increased attention to pollution on the local San Diego beaches.

Now at 12 years old and a couple of years into his project he has made such a tremendous difference. Just think what can be done if we all took the same passion, verve, and stoke that young Cobi has...

A big High 5 Cobi and I'd be happy to share a wave with you any day! Keep up the great work!

Green Beer, Green and More, Green Living, and my Great Grandma (2009 edition)

2009-03-17T10:33:00.001-07:00

Happy St. Patricks day to all!

March 17th is a special day for me as it is my great grandmothers birthday. All though she passed some years back today she would be 111, born in 1898.

Nana was a great woman who grew up during the great depression and dustbowl days of the early 1900's. No matter what, she always had a great outlook because she had seen so much and been through so much.

I think there are a lot of parallels that can be drawn from yesteryear to now. Certainly the economic conditions are an easy one. As well as the drought many western states are seeing right now.

But also, there was this little thing going on back then called The Industrial Revolution. Although it was near the end if not the end of the Industrial revolution by the late 1800's and as the great depression began to take hold. People looked back to the ways they had lived prior to Industry and the technology taking over.

More specifically, people looked back to their environment and started to realize the damage and destruction that had taken place on the precious natural resources of our country.

The result? The birth of the environmental movement.

Early on in 1848, Henry David Thoreau published his book Walden. As you may recall, it told of Thoreau's two-year living experiment in the woods near Walden Pond. Shortly after, John Muir founded the Sierra Club in 1892. Two decades later William Hornaday published "Our Vanishing Wildlife" in 1913. Prompted by the incredible decimation of the American Buffalo this book was truly one of the first to shed light on the subject and the loss of certain species throughout the plains of America West.

So what am I getting at here? You can look at history and say that some incredible things spurred out of the great depressions(despite incredible hardships of many) and the post industrial revolution era's.

I believe this is much like the "Green Movement" of current. When masses of people are challenged, great things happen. The increased focus on renewable energies such as Solar Power, Fossil Fuel alternatives such as Bio Diesel. And although as members of this great country we don't individually have a lot of disposable income right now to spend on "greening" our lives. The eco friendly movement carries on and companies at all levels are working to come up with ways to make great products that improve not only our lives but more importantly our environment!

So on this day, as my great grandma would say, remember good things are happening and everything will be ok! (Thanks Nana!)

Before we countdown the top 10 ways to green your life, I'd like to welcome Greenandmore.com to the Maku furniture family. The Green and more crew has tons of great ways to green your life!

So lets get to the countdown of the top 10 ways to Green your life (inexpesively)

10. Replace your lightbulbs with newer ones that use less energy and last longer.

9. Look at your watering habits throughout your yard. Is water running off or are sprinklers hitting the sidewalk or street? Believe it or not the majority of home water consumption is spent on the lawn... Check those sprinklers - save water and save money!

8. Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle those cans and plastics so they are reintroduced back into the supply chain. This does lower the cost on goods as recycled technology continues to improve.

7. Use only the lights you need to in your house or office. If you aren't in the room, turn em' off or better yet get your company to buy these.

6. Plant a tree!

5. Switch to eco friendly soaps and personal care products

4. Unplug your life - Americans pay $1 billion a year to power our televisions and VCRs while they're turned off.

3.Get rid of Junk mail - Get off those catalog lists and the countless catalogs you look at once and then pitch. Instead Get on line and use the World Wide Web to reduce deforestation. Heck isn't that why Al Gore invented the internet...(hahaha)

2. Reusable Bags

and for the number 1 way to green your life, feel better, and get in shape (Drum roll please!)

*** Park the car and ride your bike to work 1 day a week. As spring approaches it's a great way to reduce emissions and get back in shape for summer!***

I'm off to enjoy a beer and a shot of Irish whiskey in honor of my great grandma. So today on this wonderful St. Paddy's day 2009 I leave you with this limerick of limericks:

"The limerick packs laughs anatomical
In space that is quite economical
But the good ones I've seen
So seldom are clean
And the clean ones so seldom are comical!"

Plastiki

2009-03-09T08:19:00.000-07:00

From JUNK to PLASTIKI, the voyages of these courageous captains in an effort to raise awareness on plastic in our oceans is nothing short of spectacular!

I've made a few posts in the past about JUNK's travels across the pacific from So.Cal to Hawaii. Now David de Rothschild is going to sail a boat made entirely of plastic bottles with a P.E.T. outer shell 12000 nautical miles from San Francisco all the way to Australia! The voyage is taking inspiration from Thor Heyerdal's 1947 expedition - Kontiki.

PLASTIKI is set to sail in April of this year!

Rise Above Plastics

2009-03-06T12:32:00.000-08:00

Check it out, Rise Above Plastics is a site all about the awareness of the effects plastic has on our lives. Since Rise Above Plastics luanched thier website over 11 BILLION plastic bottles have ended up in landfills... YIKES!

You've probably read here in the past about the North Pacific Gyre and the Blob of plastic floating in the Pacific that is 2 times bigger than Texas.

Rise Above Plastics is supported by everybody from the Surfrider Foundation and Jack Johnson (who we really dig!) to the Algalita Foundation, Heal the Bay, Junkraft, and a whole bunch of other really cool people.

How are you going to reduce your plastic usage? A couple of easy ways are to get your own reusable bags for those trips to the grocer and a cool Sigg Water bottle!

Maku Furniture featured on The Alternative Consumer

2009-03-04T10:37:00.000-08:00

One of our favorite sites The Alternative Consumer featured a few Maku Furniture pieces on their site over the weekend. The Maku Sectional, Maku Lounge Chair, and Maku Coffee table were all pictured in a great little blurb about how we use 100% reclaimed wood in our furniture.

And by the way that's Pro Surfer and Maku Lifestyle Ambassador Rizal Tanjung chilling on the lounge chair pictured.

Thanks for the support A.C. crew!

Click here to check it out!

Structured Green - The Creative Gale, Savannah

2009-03-03T14:09:00.000-08:00

Mike and crew are hosting in their store a cool entrepreneurial support event with The Creative Gale. So if your in Savannah, an entrepreneur, or just want to meet some very cool people check it out!

The Creative Gale, this Thursday March 5 at 3:00pm, will be held at the wonderful Structured Green!

A great group of speakers will be coming:

Jamie Wolf – The Creative Coast Alliance

Chris Miller – illuminomics

Nathan Belzer — Belzer Law

Brian OliverSmith — Urban Planet Mobile

Blaz Ruzic -Structured Green

Ray Wenig - Ariel Savannah Angel Partners

We're excited to meet all of the talented, connected people who are attending.

Anyone can attend this Entrepreneurial Support Infrastructure event. Just register online at this link: http://creativegale.net/savannah

Butts at the Beach

2009-03-03T09:24:00.000-08:00

One of my biggest pet peeves is when people throw their cigarette butts out the window. Be it on the highway, in a neighborhood and especially on the beach.

Cigarette butts are the #1 item found in urban run off pollution throughout Southern California. If you smoke, hold on to your butts. If you don't smoke, even better!

As a member of 1% For the Planet we donate a portion of our total sales to our friends at The Surfrider Foundation. They just came out with a cool little PSA on you tube about cigarette butts.

The Labyrinth of the Sand People.

2009-02-28T11:20:00.000-08:00

One of the things I love about living near the beach is that sometimes you still see some "funky" stuff despite the commercialization that is now Southern California. It's nice to know that North County still seems to have a bit of that "funk" especially in Leucadia.

On the occasional low tide afternoons through out the year and particularly as we enter the vernal equinox I'll see the sand people creating their "sand art". Not sandcastles mind you but very cool and intricate designs in the sand.

It turns out this particular "labyrinth" is designed to bring peace and tranquility to those enjoying it. It was also built in celebration of one of the sand people's birthdays. The results were funky crystals, the beat of drums, and dancing through the labyrinth.

Good to see people going to the beat of their own drum still, Keep it funky Leucadia!

(sorry for the poor photo quality, I took these with my iphone since I didn't have my camera with me...)

Even more Custom love... - Vernare

2009-02-27T10:52:00.000-08:00

Check out this rad little custom dining table that just arrived for our top retail partner in LA - Vernare. As with all Maku Furniture pieces this table and chairs is made from 100% reclaimed / repurposed wood. Meaning no live trees are cut down to make our furniture. The wood we use comes from buildings that are being renovated or torn down. Leaving more trees to clean the air and less junk in landfills. sounds like a win win!

We shot these photos in the garden right outside their showroom in the heart of west hollywood just off Melrose. It's such a cool little tranquil getaway that you would never know you are smack in the middle of one of the largest cities in the world...

Evo Lofts L.A. - More Custom pieces...?

2009-02-23T15:43:00.000-08:00

As you may have read at the end of last summer, we did a number of custom table tops for the Evo Lofts in downtown L.A. The Evo Lofts are the premier Eco friendly lofts in So.Cal with not only amazing views and archictecture but they also have LEED Silver certification.

From time to time I like to analyze the metrics of our little furniture project to see who is checking us out and looking at the Maku Furniture website. I continue to see that a lot of you are interested in the Evo Lofts. If you are fortunate enough to live in one of these beautiful buildings and would like to compliment your space with some amazing and sustainable furniture than look no further than our DEZINE partner in LA. Dan and his crew can not only offer you a myriad of eco friendly accessories to beautify your space but they can also design anything custom than you may want for the inside or out! Click here to contact DEZINE LA!

The Search...

2009-02-21T18:08:00.000-08:00

I found this cool little video from my friends at Boardistan via the LA Times. This vid truly gets to the roots of why we as surfers travel to every imaginable corner of the earth in Search of the next rush or the next great wave.

By the way, another double surf session for me today. Surfing with my buddies this morning and then my son this afternoon. What a great way to spend a Saturday!

What? Reclaimed Wood Candle Holders by Maku...!

2009-02-17T11:22:00.000-08:00

The ultimate accessory to your organic living space: Dinner by candlelight, aromatherapy, indoor or out, relaxing transcendence of visual fluxuations...

The Mod Pillar Candle Block and the Obelisk Candle Block are the newest additions to the Maku Collection. Just like every piece in our collection, the candle blocks are hand made of 100% re-purposed / reclaimed teak from Indonesian architecture of yesteryear...

The Mod Pillar Candle Block Set is available as pictured below or with the Maku Frangipani Carving that was found on the Maku Limited Edition Lounge chair from last season.

But wait there's more! the Maku Obelisk Candle Block pictured below is available in 3 different lengths (8", 16", 31") with or without carvings.

Check out the Maku Website to order yours today and be the first on your block to have this very cool eco-friendly accessory! By the way FREE SHIPPING on all Domestic orders!

Everything Green Oregon Expo

2009-02-13T16:03:00.000-08:00

If you are up in the NW and happen to be in Portland this weekend, stop by the Everything Green Expo and see our good friend Dennis Rose from Eclectic Home. Dennis will be showing a bunch of very cool eco friendly furnishings for indoors and out. (including a few Maku pcs!)

Better yet, pick up an organic mattress from Eclectic Home and break it right for Valentines Day...!

Hundreds Attend Global Warming protest...

2009-02-12T10:09:00.001-08:00

While were at it, check out this little gem from Fairbanks AK. Frozen Gore

Aptera

2009-02-09T11:12:00.000-08:00

While on the subject of Electric cars, check out Carlsbadistan based Aptera. Aptera is on the cutting edge of eco friendly automobiles and should have production out and rolling by late fall 2009. These all electric vehicles will be priced from $20,000-$40,000!

Aptera is even using P.E.T. (recyled plastic bottles and cups) for the seats and other parts of the car along with Eco Friendly dyes, etc. And the best part a whopping 230 miles per gallon is achieved in part by a lower coefficent of drag than what Lance Arstrong has on his bike!! WOW!

Now if they only made an Aptera pickup, we'd be all over it. It's pretty cool nonetheless to see a company like Aptera in our humble little village by the sea.

Who Killed the Electric Car...

2009-02-06T10:17:00.000-08:00

Check it out, it's a pretty interesting and compelling movie. Makes you think even more about why gas was approaching $4.50 a gallon last summer and question how a company like GM can put short term profits (Or the lack there of currently) over long term sustainability and most likely greater profitability.

By the way and in the interest of full disclosure, I'm no saint when it comes to cars. I have always driven a Chevy pickup. I use it to the full capability of the vehicle be it camping in Baja or hauling recycled mulch to our garden and back yard and as it fits our lifestyle and needs...

But given the option of a different fuel source or availability of bio diesel I would with out a doubt make a switch.

Here is a link to the trailer of the movie if by chance it is not loading properly below.

Good bye Vegas...

2009-02-04T10:25:00.000-08:00

For the last 17 years as part of working in the Snowboard and wintersports industry (in addition to our little furniture project) I have made the annual pilgrimage to Lost Wages for the Snowsports Industries of America show. Last week was the last SIA show in Las Vegas as it is now moving to Denver.

The gathering of our tribe over the years and the memories of the show in Las Vegas will be hard to top in Denver. But the industry will be much closer to the mountians and the snow so that should be pretty cool instead of spending a week in the desert and a smoke filled casino.

Some memories that come directly to mind -

1997 - getting hit by a car that ran a red light as I skateboarded across Paradise to the 7-11 just across the street from the Las Vegas convention center (That for sure took one, maybe 2 of my 9 lives...)

1992 - 1994 The Snowboard Ghetto as we so affectionetly refered to by our Ski industry "Colleagues". Of course we called the Ski section of the show "The Library..."

The AVN show taking place at the Hilton the same dates as the SIA show. WOW, those were some fun times!

"Smoke" billowing from the windows of Yellow Bus Snowboards and the resulting pizza deliveries. Before they got kicked out of the show.

Rail Jams at the Hard Rock

The Circle Bar at the hard rock and The Round Bar at the Las Vegas Hilton well before the HRH was even built...

Too many good times to list here but check out some of these sites for a recap of shows past and some good stuff.

Shay Boarder.com

The Tackedlbox

Yo Beat

Take it way back with Sacklunch

Transworld Biz

The Black and Gold

2009-02-01T07:55:00.000-08:00

Usually we're talking Green but today we're going Black and Gold. Since our Chargers didn't make the superbowl we are sticking with the AFC and rooting for the Steelers, terrible towels and all!

If the Steelers win they will be the winningest team in superbowl history with 6 wins.

Super Bowl Standings

Team	W	L	Pct.	Pts.	Opp.
San Francisco 49ers	5	0	1.000	188	89
Baltimore Ravens	1	0	1.000	34	7
Chicago Bears	1	0	1.000	46	10
New York Jets	1	0	1.000	16	7
Tampa Bay Buccaneers	1	0	1.000	48	21
Pittsburgh Steelers	5	1	.833	141	110
Green Bay Packers	3	1	.750	127	76
New York Giants	3	1	.750	83	87
Dallas Cowboys	5	3	.625	221	132
Oakland/L.A. Raiders	3	2	.600	132	114
Washington Redskins	3	2	.600	122	103
New England Patriots	3	3	.500	121	165
Baltimore Colts	1	1	.500	23	29
Kansas City Chiefs	1	1	.500	33	42
Miami Dolphins	2	3	.400	74	103
Denver Broncos	2	4	.333	115	206
St. Louis/L.A. Rams	1	2	.333	59	67
Atlanta Falcons	0	1	.000	19	34
Carolina Panthers	0	1	.000	29	32
Tennessee Titans	0	1	.000	16	23
Seattle Seahawks	0	1	.000	10	21
San Diego Chargers	0	1	.000	26	49
Cincinnati Bengals	0	2	.000	37	46
Philadelphia Eagles	0	2	.000	31	51
Buffalo Bills	0	4	.000	73	139
Minnesota Vikings	0	4	.000	34

It's in Da shoes...

2009-01-26T09:11:00.000-08:00

Both my daughter and I are somewhat closet sneakerheads - From Adidas Consortium to Ed Hardy (for her) to Nike Dunk's we like them all. (especially Adidas Y-3!)

So while cruising the world wide web over the weekend I found some super cool shoes from a small company in France called Veja that are also very eco conscious. Check out the The-Grid by Veja

C.U.R.B

2009-01-25T09:39:00.000-08:00

I found this cool little gem of eco wisdom on The Alternative consumer. What a great way to start a green 2009!

The new year ushers in an avalanche of ‘Trends for 2009′ posts and resolutions to get ‘greener.’ My contribution to the mudslide of eco-friendly pronouncements is my green acronyms for 2009 - C.U.R.B.

C - conserve - waste less water, energy, time and materials.

U - unplug - go off-grid: walk, bike, hike and get out in nature.

R - reuse - bags, food containers, clothes, paper. You get the idea.

B - believe - all the small changes made by individuals can make a giant difference.

** Borrowed from The Alternative Consumer. I's a great site, check it out!

Structured Green Blog - Savannah GA

2009-01-23T09:08:00.000-08:00

Our friends over at Structured Green in Savannah GA have a killer little blog that you should check out. http://structuredgreenfurniture.blogspot.com/

And if you are in the Savannah area be sure to stop by and say hello to Mike and crew and check out some of the cool Maku pieces they have in stock!

Bainbridge WA - Eco friendly High School

2009-01-20T18:45:00.001-08:00

Check out this cool new HS in Bainbridge, Washington. It's pretty cool to see LEED certified and eco friendly construction practices becoming more prevalent in all all aspects of our lives.

click here to read more.

Be sure to check out Velocity Art and Design in Seattle for all the best selection of eco friendly furniture in the NW! By the way, John and crew at Velocity Art and Design are proud to offer Maku products as part of their great in store selections!

The elusive Camerfish...

2009-01-13T21:27:00.000-08:00

With the beautiful full moons at night come the highest and lowest tides of the year here in North County San Diego.

We cruised down to Swami's beach on Saturday afternoon to check out the tide pools and spotted the elusive camerfish pictured below.

Rest assured the camera fish was taken to the local "electronics" recycling facility later that weekend...

The Lazy E strikes Again!

2009-01-12T19:59:00.000-08:00

Check it out, our good buddy Josh Dorfman aka The Lazy Environmentalist and owner of the ultra hip eco retailer Vivavi which is a Maku partner has a bitchen new show coming out on the Sundance Channel later this year.

By the way, if you haven't watched the Iconoclast series you should check it out! Coming up next is local Carlsbadistan and super skater Tony Hawk paired with Director Jon Favreau

Congratulations Josh, we can't wait to see the first episode!!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SUNDANCE CHANNEL ORIGINAL SERIES “THE LAZY ENVIRONMENTALIST,” HOSTED BY JOSH DORFMAN, TO PREMIERE ON JUNE 16TH AT 9:00PM E/P

NEW YORK, NY, January 12, 2009 --/WORLD-WIRE/-- Sundance Channel’s original series “The Lazy Environmentalist”, hosted by author, radio and television personality Josh Dorfman, will premiere on June 16th at 9:00pm e/p as part of Sundance Channel’s ecological programming block, The GREEN. The series is made up of seven 30-minute episodes.

In each episode Josh Dorfman will seek out environmental skeptics who are experts in fields as diverse as fashion, food, architecture, business and design in order to prove that a green lifestyle can meet the demands of their professional and private lives. Operating on the theory that consumers should not settle for an expensive product or innovation of inferior design simply because it is environmentally friendly, it is Josh’s mission to bring these experts ecologically -sound options that stand up to their very high standards and show them that living a green lifestyle can not only be done with little sacrifice, it can make their lives easier.

“Josh demonstrates to viewers that they can easily integrate green into their lives, without sacrificing the quality that they expect from products and services,” commented Sundance Channel EVP and GM Laura Michalchyshyn. “This message fit perfectly into our goals of The Green, which includes encouraging people to make changes in their lives that will lessen the impact we are making on our planet.”

Environmental entrepreneur, author and radio personality Josh Dorfman is The Lazy Environmentalist - searching the world for the most innovative and cost-effective green products and services. Based on his book and radio show of the same name, this series revolves around Dorfman’s interaction with and expertise on green products of all varieties, wWhile allowing him to introduce innovators in their respective fields to his doubting subjects. Dorfman is the founder and CEO of Vivavi, a provider of contemporary, eco-friendly furniture and furnishings, working with numerous sustainable designers. He’s also spokesperson for the Filter For Good campaign encouraging consumers to reduce their plastic water bottle waste.

The series is Executive Produced by David Metzler. Executive Producers for Sundance Channel are Laura Michalchyshyn, Lynne Kirby and Mala Chapple.

Have a Merry "maku" Christmas!

2008-12-24T15:18:00.001-08:00

Merry Xmas and best wishes for a happy, healthy, and prosperous 2009 to everybody!

Lots of good stuff coming down the green pipeline for 2009 from your favorite Eco friendly outdoor furniture company...!

Custom Projects

2008-10-14T20:58:00.000-07:00

Just in case anybody reading our blog is interested in custom sustainable projects / furniture, Maku Furniture can do any furniture for any environment. We recently completed a project at the Intercontinental hotel in Chicago and the Four Season Atlanta has some Maku Benches on order!

You've seen the pictures of the EVO loft in downtown LA and that was a spur of the moment project. So if you are looking for custom 1 off piece or have a larger custom project Maku is your go to brand! We'll get you a great price on or under budget and can react to short timelines!

You can contact us by clicking here

By the way, we have a few new pcs that we will be adding to the collection just in time for the holidays. Why not make it a green xmas!

Welcome Urban Patio!

2008-10-12T21:12:00.000-07:00

If you live in Nashville TN , have a design project, or just happen to be cruising through town stop by and check out Maku's newest retail and design partner - Urban Patio. A fresh shipment of Maku Lounge Chairs, side tables and other cool Maku pieces are en route!

Evo Lofts L.A.

2008-09-28T20:21:00.001-07:00

Check out these Custom Maku table tops we made for a designer that is showcasing a bunch of product at the EVO lofts in Downtown L.A. If anybody is intersted in custom projects Maku is your go to. We can do anything custom no matter the quantity.

Big thanks to Menzie and Dan for working with Maku Furniture on this project!

7 years ago today 9.11.2001 Never Forget!

2008-09-11T06:44:00.000-07:00

About this time 7 years ago (6:00 am) I was waking up to do my usual routine of looking out the windows to check the wind and then head down to the beach for a surf. A quick log in to the computer to check the bouys and see what direction the swell is coming from so I can choose the right break to surf.

Of course, I like to flip on the TV and check the news too. My daughter was 4 yrs old and my son was 2. It was that second that I turned on the TV and knew that something very tragic had happened to our country. At that very moment everything seemed so surreal and while my children may never fully understand the ramifications of this day 7 years ago, they will know the history and reasons why our country was attacked. My thoughts go out to each and every family member and person that was directly affected by this heartless attack.

The USA continues to be and will always be the greatest FREE nation in the world!

Bill Byrne BBPR extrodinaire

2008-09-10T21:48:00.000-07:00

Bill Byrne or BBPR the Numero Uno PR Agency to budding Furniture Guru's, Actions Sports Brands, Men of Style, and All Things Project Blue just had some amazing coverage on Good Morning America.

Project Blue is an Eco Awareness program supported by our friends @ Dakine, Billabong, O'Neill, Electric, Reef, and Nixon. As they say "it's not a charity, it's a plan of action!"

As you know we get stoked on anything that helps our oceans and Project Blue as well as the brands I mentioned above are all about bringing greater awareness to the peril of our oceans through the Surfrider Foundation which we support as part of our partnership in 1% For the Planet. Support these brands and they will support mother earth and her vast waters! Check out the coverage here!

http://abcnews.go.com/video/playerIndex?id=5758062

Junk

2008-08-24T13:57:00.000-07:00

I came across this blog a couple of weeks back and have been meaning to post it for all to see. http://junkraft.blogspot.com/

This is the trials and tribulations of 2 guys whom are "Sailing" from So.Cal to Hawaii on a boat made entirely of JUNK! More specifically -

"Sailing to Hawaii on 15,000 plastic bottles and a Cessna 310, to raise awareness about plastic fouling our oceans."

They are currently 180 miles from Hilo HI and have transversed the North Pacific Gyre a couple of times along the way. As you may have read in the past, The North Pacific Gyre is essentially a huge blob of floating plastic in the middle of the pacific where 2 currents terminate and millions of tons of plastic congregate and photo degrade. The environmental impacts of this pollution are affecting everything in the area and making it's way back to us through the food chain.

Here is a link to more info about the crew behind this amazing voyage!

Best day of Surf ever!

2008-08-23T19:12:00.000-07:00

The waves today were 2 ft, crumbly, and an on shore wind but I had the best session of my life and didn't even catch a wave.

Today my 9 yr old son Mason paddled outside and in to the lineup and caught his own waves! He has been surfing for 2 years but until today stayed in the safety of the shore break where he could "hop" onto the whitewash after the wave broke. Well my boy can finally say he is a surfer since he paddled out with me and caught his own waves. I'm one proud dad for sure!!

Here is a pic of him with his new "used" board that we picked up from the crew @ K5 a few months ago. (sorry for the poor quality I took it with my cell phone...)

New Vivavi showroom!

2008-08-18T21:52:00.000-07:00

Our Buddy Josh Dorfman aka the Lazy Environmentalist has opened a new Vivavi showroom in the exclusive and super eco friendly Riverhouse overlooking the Hudson.

Check out the maku lounge chair on the inside corner of the photo above. Thanks Josh and Jodi!!

Date my Ex: Jo & Slade

2008-08-05T22:14:00.001-07:00

Looks like Jo and Slade from the Real Housewives of Orange County are back at it again with the ever riveting and always intriguing "Date My Ex" on Bravo TV.

At least they had the good sense to feature the Maku Dining Collection on the show!

Who would have ever guessed that Slade was so environmentally conscious all the while driving that big ole Hummer... :) Good on you Slade for taking the initiative to outfit your styling pad with some stylie and eco friendly furniture!

Here's a vid snipet from the show titled "The Threatening Breakfast!" Wow the tension in the air is so thick you could cut it with a knife. LOL! Anyway, check out this vid with about 30 seconds left and you'll see a great shot of the Maku dining Collection! Thanks Slade you big eco friendly Stud! Oh and tell Jo to call us, she's hot!

http://video.bravotv.com/player/?id=277325

Mod Livin - New Store!

2008-08-02T14:56:00.000-07:00

Our Good friends at Mod Livin in Denver have opened up another location. We're talking Mod Livin x's 2! Check out the Mod Livin blog for all the great happenings in the Denver area.
And oh yeah, don't forget to stop in and check out some of the great Maku Furniture pcs they have on display.

R.I.P. Ray...

2008-07-30T21:41:00.000-07:00

A bit of a somber post today to celebrate the life of my Friend Ray Lang. Ray passed away yesterday while racing motocross at the Loretta Lynn races in Tennessee. The LL races are the top amateur races for every level of MX.

Ray and I worked together with a number of Snowboard and Action Sports companies and he was not only a friend and incredible person but lived life the way he rode. Hard, Fast, and to Win.

While some might not agree, I would say we can all be so lucky to go out doing something we love!

R.I.P. Ray, you vibrancy, energy, and verve for living will be missed!

Arbus Magazine

2008-07-28T18:30:00.000-07:00

The Maku LE Lounge Chair is Featured in the newest issue of Arbus Magazine. Many thanks to Shaan @ Nest Living for getting some Maku love in this killer zine!

Pics from Nest Living

2008-07-27T20:55:00.000-07:00

Check out these shots of the Maku Lounge Chair and the Maku Side Table that Shaan from Nest Living in Jacksonville Fl sent in of his new store. Looks great and we are stoked to be represented in such a great space!! If anybody is in the Jacksonville area be sure to stop by and say hello to the Nest Living crew.

Reclaimed Wood production...

2008-06-16T20:51:00.000-07:00

As you know at Maku Furniture we use only 100% reclaimed woods throughout our entire collection. Here are a couple of pics of the raw reclaimed wood before and during processing. It's hard to imagine that this these old beams will turn into beautiful outdoor furniture!

By the way, we have put a full analysis on the benefits of using reclaimed woods and as soon as we put a few finishing touches to it we'll post it up for all to see. Pretty much it boils down to this -
For every production run of 100 pcs in the maku collection using Reclaimed wood, Maku preserves 14.72 acres of plantation grown trees absorbing over 36,800 lbs of CO2 and toxins from the air! pretty cool eh!?!

These Beams were taken from a building that was torn down in favor of more modern construction materials.

This is the wood after it has gone through first processing and has been cut down into workable pieces to build Maku furniture.

These are slats for the Maku lounge chair and Maku chaise lounge!

Men's Health Best Life Magazine

2008-06-12T21:10:00.000-07:00

Check out this little bit of radness! The ever sophisticated mag of all things healthy and cool - Men's Health Best Life features none other than yours truly in it's latest issue! 2 great pages with the heartwarming story of how a snowboard executive branches out and starts a contemporary outdoor furniture brand with sustainability at the heart of the DNA. Ala Maku Furniture! And how about the nice product shots of the Maku Chaise, Maku Lounge Chair, and Maku Bench.

Many thanks to my good friend Bill Bryne of BBPR for the tremendous job in helping put this story together! Here is a link to the story in HI RES from the BBPR blog

Baja bbq firepack

2008-06-11T20:52:00.000-07:00

Check this sweet little bbq kit from my friends Mike and Maaike! This would be the perfect compliment to a night chilling on the beach in a Maku Lounge Chair...

eco-friendly instant charcoal packaging designed by Mike and Maaike for Design Annex/ Lazzari

The Baja BBQ Firepack is charcoal packaging that lights instantly and burns away in the grille, making the barbeque experience simple, clean and chemical free. Made from 100% recycled biodegradable paper pulp, the package contains 2 lbs of natural lump charcoal and features an integrated chimney that creates perfect hot coals in 15-20 minutes without the aid of chemicals or lighter fluid. Available at gourmet supermarkets. Manufactured by Lazzari/ Design Annex - patent pending

to see how it works, visit mikeandmaaike.com

Yikes, 1 month!

2008-06-08T22:16:00.000-07:00

WOW, sorry for the lack of updates! I can't believe it has been 1 month since I last posted. I guess a week in Europe (Great beers in Belgium..!) and the daily daily that needs to get done with a quickly growing business has kept me from updating the blog regularly.

The good news - We're here and we are rocking! Warehouse went from overflowing with product to dang near empty in less than a month. Don't worry, production is in full swing and the product pipeline is filling the warehouse back up so keep on ordering the best 100% sustainable furniture.

I've got lots of good stuff to update including some very cool pictures from this current round of production plus a cool analysis I did on Maku Sustainability and how reclaimed wood compares to plantation grown...

More to come in the next few days and thanks for checking it!

Stuctured Green

2008-05-08T20:28:00.000-07:00

Mike from Structured Green in Savannah GA sent us these killer pics of their new store. If you are in or around the Savannah area you definitely have to go by and check them out. For all their info click on the "Where to buy" page on the Maku website. And if you want to buy some Maku pieces from Strutured Green they have the Maku Lounge Chair, Maku Side Table and Maku Chaise in stock!

Going Solar for under a G!

2008-05-07T06:36:00.000-07:00

I found this cool little article courtesy of the Sierra Club. It talks about how you can go solar for under a $1000 and start down the path to low cost eco friendly living! I'm digging on the Solar Ipod Charger!

Solar Projects for Under $1000

While installing enough solar panels to power your home might not be affordable in the short term for many, there are several less expensive solar projects that most home owners can handle.

Some utilities offer incentives and rebates for installing solar panels on your home. Contact your local utility to find out if they offer such incentives. (Here's an example of an incentive program in California.) Lastly, the government will pay you back 30 percent of the cost of your solar installations, up to a maximum of $2000.

Here are a few examples of what you can do for about $1000 or less:

Outdoor solar lighting for decks, walkways, gardens, porches, and garages: $75 per lamp. These are probably the easiest and cheapest solar additions to your home.
Complete solar cabin kits to power an outdoor shed, or remote cabin: Starts at $975 for 80 watt output, $1610 for 165 watt output. After government tax breaks, that's $683 and $1127 respectively.
Even a solar iPod charger! Works with other MP3 players and PDAs also. Only $44.

Here's an excellent, comprehensive guide on solar installation (pdf) from the California Energy Commission. You can also purchase a wide array of installation guides from book sellers. Here's one example.

Maku makes #6 on the Chicago Tribune Eco List!

2008-05-06T07:00:00.000-07:00

Check it out, the Chicago Tribune lists Maku Furniture as #6 out of 20 ways to live green. Even our friends over at Carlsbadistan picked up on the story!

If you are in the Chicago area be sure to stop by Orange Skin and say hello and find out the latest and greatest in the world of modern design.

Welcome Nest Living!

2008-05-05T20:37:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the newest Maku Furniture partner, Nest Living. Shaan and crew have a cool little store in Jacksonville Florida and we are stoked to be working with them!

Here's a big high 5 to Nest Living!