Green Washing

It's just the height of disgusting that toxic, unhealthy greedy products are being promoted as green in my opinion. I'm not the only one taking offense. There are those who are taking it to the courts: http://www.law.com/jsp/ihc/PubArticleIHC.jsp?id=1202431342143 Gotta love it.

Lisa

Lisa just finished the Old House Fair in South Park and is on her way back to the store. While I watched her handing out cards this morning, I remarked "you love selling." She told me "I just love talking to people!" And here's the thing: she is telling the complete truth. If you've been here and you've met Lisa, you already know it's the truth. If you haven't met her, you should: she'll socialize with you, talk green products and installation, listen to what you have to say and at some point make everybody crack up. Those of us who know her, love her! With visitors to Olive Branch she is truly in her element. It is a thing of beauty!

Lynn, co-owner Olive Branch

Green behavior

In order to stay alive and keep meals on the table while Olive Branch is just starting to grow, I still have to “work” (although one of the purposes of Olive Branch is to make money to support ourselves, it does not fall in the “work” category because it doesn’t feel like work). With a Ph.D. and a credential as a board certified behavior analyst (BCBA-D) I have to get continuing education credits to keep my license current. Imagine my mood when I went to the recent behavior analysis conference in Phoenix and got all my credits going to presentations relating to sustainability! How could this be? Because, although technology will help us, it will not save us and ultimately it is our behavior that must change; and the behavior change must happen on a cultural level, as when we as a society took action on littering and smoking. The behavior analysts have a lot to say about how this might happen (although they have no simple answers) and I was fortunate to attend presentations by scientists such as the eminent Lonnie G. Thompson (paleoclimatologist) who can tell us what the priorities for change are. Back here in San Diego, I’m now very excited and fortunate to be in a position to find out exactly what people are doing. I would love to hear from anybody who can tell me (1) what behaviors they have changed toward going green and maybe even more important, (2) what motivated the change. For those of you reading this blog, leave a post and let us know what you're doing!

Lynn, co-owner Olive Branch