Blogroll (LINKS)

The Dream Shop, Green Store Is Now Open In Ann Arbor, Michigan

April 13th, 2010

The Dream Shop, has opened its first store in the lovely downtown of Ann Arbor, Michigan. You can find it at 215 S. State street, between Liberty and Washington. Our hours are 11-7, Monday through Saturday. Come look at all the wonderful ways you can GO Green. We carry a wide range of items from organic clothing and bath products to items made from recycled materials. We have LED and CFL lighting, cups plates and cutlery for your next get together, pet supplies, fancy footwear, hats, musicians gear, baby products and much much more.

We have also incorporated a resale section, for items to be kept from being thrown into the landfill. Reduce, reuse, recycle is the mantra. So you will find many interesting items awaiting you here. With many more to come. Check our online store or come down to see many more products in person at the brand new store.

Being green never got easier.

Splaff, The Company That Recycles Bike Tubes

April 13th, 2010

Splaff has made some of the most durable products on the market, by recycling old bike tubes and using them in all of their wonderful ways. Their products include, flip flops, bags, wallets, belts, guitar straps and wristbands. Their environmentally friendly items, made from recycled bicycle tubes and hemp, are the most durable products of their kind. No one can match the strength and appeal of these well produced and interesting GREEN sellers.

While in San Fransisco, I had the opportunity to meet someone who had a wallet from Splaff that was five years old. It was amazing how great this product at held up over this long period of time. It looked great, hardly any noticeable wear and tear. He swore by them and now I do too! It looks like a black leather wallet, but seems to last even longer. I use one now and just love it. The texture also keeps it snug in your pocket without slipping.

I also use their guitar strap and that one is nice because of the non-slipping aspect. However you put it on, it stays that way, holding tightly to its position. Staying just how you like it. Once again, this item is also very durable and nice looking. Their belts are really nice too! And they both come with or without the stylish grommet adornments.

These products will impress you and your friends. They make perfect gifts to anyone you know. Whether they are of the GREEN mindset or not. Stylish and long lasting, you will carry these products with a sense of pride, in doing some good for the environment. This product makes it very easy to be green.

The Dream Shop is attending The San Fransisco Green Festival Nov.13-15

November 9th, 2009

The Dream Shop will be escaping the winter chills of Ann Arbor, Michigan, to set up a booth, November 13th – 15th, at the San Fransisco green festival in California. This is the largest green festival in the nation, hosting over 150 speakers and over 400 green businesses. They have been doing this earth friendly event for 9 years and have the best of what there is to offer, when it comes to sustainable green products and information. They have many excellent speakers like Amy Goodman of democracy now, exhibitors of great new products like what we have at The Dream Shop and they also offer many workshops to really delve deeper into earth conscious ideas for business and consumers, alike.

The green movement is growing larger every year, thanks to the initiative of those supporting Green America, the main force behind the green festival. And, we hope to meet many of the hip consumers and businesses that will be there this year, supporting the cause that can save the planet, from catastrophies related to resource depletion and waste. We all need to be more mindful of what we can do, to use less and recycle more. We owe it to future generations, to leave them an equally beautiful planet to live in, as we were given. If we all do, just a little more towards this end, we can create a sustainable path that our kids and then their kids will forever follow. Setting an example for the course of the future is a very important step we need to take now.

We will be offering many examples of products that can help the environment and some that can save you money at the same time. The CFL and LED light bulbs we offer can help save you money by reducing energy consumption. Estimated savings of up to 15% off your home electricity bill, can be achieved by replacing your standard bulbs, to these new earth friendly ones. And if you include other products that reduce electricity like energy star electronics, along with water saving devices like low flow faucets and showerheads, your energy bills can be ruduced by up to 50%, by some estimates. So it is clearly worthwhile to start becoming concerned with these products, if not for the well being of the environment, then for your yearly savings, which can be in the thousands of dollars.

The green festival, offers almost every example of how to save money and the environment, that is currently known. So come out, if you can, and learn about these wonderful possibilities, and pick up some of these items for yourself. We also hope to learn about some great new items that we can offer you online at our store, while we are there, showing off the cool items we have found thus far in our search. Things like, belts, guitar straps and wallets made out of recycled bicycle innertubes, by Splaff. And, Wheatware’s golf tees and guitar picks, made out of the nations surplus wheat crops, into a compostable plastic product.

There will be much to discover there, and we can’t wait to be part of it. Checking out the other booth’s and looking for new products, to incorporate into our online store, will be exciting too. Let’s all hope this will be a great event, to learn about many new possibilities.

If you would like to find out more about the green festival and what they have to offer this year, check them out at http://www.greenfestivals.org/

Nature’s Perfect Oil

August 1st, 2009

Organic Hemp seed and oil products, based in the USA, using Hemp grown in Canada.

Their supplier is Hemp Oil Canada who is certified Organic by Pro-Cert Organic Systems and the USDA.


About Nature’s Perfect Oil

Kathleen Kersh has hope that everyone can live a peaceful, happy and healthy life. Through much research they discovered that the proper balance of Omega oils, 3, 6, & 9 are vitally important to our health. They were pleasantly surprised to find out that Hemp oil was indeed “Natures Most Perfect Oil”. And after incorporating the oil into their diet they were VERY EXCITED at the changes that began to happen. Everything from better energy, blood pressure, regularity, cholesterol, hair, nails, skin, pain reduction and so much more. Then they began to take the necessary steps towards putting together a quality line of Hemp Oil products that could benefit the world. This U.S. based company “Natures Perfect Oil” is proud to offer their wonderful products, and we are happy to carry them.

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Visit our Booth at The Detroit Tigers Going Green Weekend 7/25 & 7/26

July 17th, 2009

We are excited to be part of the, “going, going, green!” weekend, in Detroit, right outside of the stadium, when the Detroit Tigers will be taking on the Chicago White Sox. The mission of this event is to educate the fans of the Detroit Tigers and other residents of the Metro Detroit area about the products and services that can help make their lives more GREEN. Showing you ways to reduce your carbon footprint, will be the theme of this event. Exhibitors will be there showing off their products and services related to environmental causes and practices. Booths will be located on the west side of Comerica Park, in front of the stadium and on the street up to Woodward Ave.

Come down to this event and check out our booth. We will be displaying some new items, not even listed on the website yet. Some of these new items are from Splaff, a company that recycles car tires, bicycle inter tubes and uses hemp fabric, where needed, to make some really great sandals, bags, belts, guitar straps and more.We should also have some new LED light bulbs, that will really save you a lot of money, from Feit Electric. As well as, the many different products you can find on our website. All earth friendly, organic and sweatshop-free.

Going, Going, GREEN! Trade Show hours:

Saturday, July 25, 12 pm – 8 pm

Sunday, July 26, 12 pm – 8 pm

For more information, go to www.tigers.com/green

P.S. FREE reusable shopping bag for the first 10,000 fans on Saturday.

Bands O’ Green! Musicians Making Earth Friendly, Sound Good.

June 21st, 2009

By: Shane Houghtalin

Musicians usually seem to be some of the most cutting edge people on the planet. And, It seems that it is no different even when it comes time, to being a responsible steward of the planet. There are quite a few ways that bands can, go green. They can offer the album online, cheaper or with more tracks, to encourage less physical waste and shipping pollution. They can offer recycled cardboard CD cases, instead of using traditional plastic ones. And, they can play on instruments or use accessories, that are made in an eco-friendly fashion.
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Marijuana Phone Poll 973-409-3274, Scam or Legit?

June 20th, 2009

By: Shane Houghtalin

My buddy sent me a text message about this phone number 973-409-3274, I needed to call, to help legalize marijuana.  Claiming to be connected to Obama and Change.org, I wanted to know what the truth was.  The fact that it was created by Humor Hot lines, created some serious confusion. I found some that thought it was a scam and some that thought it was legit. Then I found a good site with someone who seems to have done their research. This article I found, should help clear up some of this confusion.

Marijuana Phone Poll NOT a Scam, Just Confusing

“Do NOT Call” This is what one Youtuber has to say about it

But, let me know what you think! Will this grassroots campaign, even if its legitimate, really change the minds of the powers that be? Will Obama really sign a bill to legalize marijuana?

Rethinking the GDP (Repost from Green America)

June 19th, 2009

February 26, 2009

When the Commerce Department announced the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) figures for the fourth quarter of 2008 at the end of January, they revealed a historical context for our economic slide – the 3.8% GDP shrinkage at the end of 2008 is the fastest pace for an economic slowdown in a quarter of a century.

Consumer spending, stated the Commerce Department, has fallen sharply, with big-ticket spending plunging even faster, falling off by 22% for the 2008 fourth quarter.

But what if the GDP – measuring the market value of a country’s economic output – isn’t the best indicator of societal well-being?

“GDP growth is mostly a measure of growth in consumption, which is the driving cause of environmental decline,” writes Positive Futures Network chair David Korten in his new book, Agenda for a New Economy. “Human health and well-being depend on a great many things that do have market value: food, housing, transportation, education, health care, and many other essentials of a healthy life.  These, however, are means, not ends, and their real value is a function of how they contribute to improving human and natural health and vitality.”

Because the GDP measures quantity of consumption only, rather than quality of that consumption (and its costs to society or the environment), relying on such a measurement  suggests an underlying assumption that material growth and wealth accumulation are the greatest goods. In actuality, the GDP remains largely silent on societal well-being.

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The Low Down, on Low-Flow Shower Heads!

June 16th, 2009

By: Shane Houghtalin

(Videos Related to this article are posted at the end)

Purchasing a low-flow shower head is an excellent way to save money while conserving water.  And, they are really easy to install, as Sierra Club will show you in a video posted below. Combining low-flow shower heads and faucet aerators can reduce water use by up to 50% and your cost of heating the water by that much too! These items will pay for themselves within a few months, so there’s no good reason not to switch.

These types of shower heads should cut water use down to 2.5gpm or less. The best ones can take it as low as half a gallon per minute. And they don’t have to sacrifice any pressure to do it. As long as you get the right one. I will show you, what I have found out in my research.
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Eco-Friendly Guide to Green Products and Ideas

June 16th, 2009

By: Shane Houghtalin

Eco-Friendly

Environmentally friendly goods and services that cause little damage to the environment.


    Products and Services related to the environment

  • Hemp – Minimal harm to environment when compared to most common crops and can satisfy many commercial and industrial demands.
  • Organic Farming – The benefits of a healthier ORGANIC lifestyle
  • Solar - Harness The FREE ENERGY of our SUN with SOLAR.
  • Home Products – MONEY and ENERGY saving products that can be used around the house
  • Wind Power – The Friendly FREE ENERGY producer
  • Bio-Fuel – FUEL made from plant matter Like Hemp, Corn, Soy and Sunflower oils
  • Textiles The impact textiles have on the environment

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