Consumerville

I always say, if you knew everything about your consumer purchase -where it comes from, the conditions of the people who made it, where the source components come from - then you could make an intelligent consumer choice.  Save the world!  Encourage healthy and safe working conditions!

So faced with a choice of patio furniture - most of which is very ugly, to my surprise we found some sustainably harvested Ipe wood furniture.  The wood is grown in Bolivia and certified by the Forest Stewardship Council, and manufactured by Jensen Leisure Furniture.

In the store (Fishels in Beaverton) they even have an entire book about their community, where the wood is grown, how it is harvested, how it has helped the community with jobs, income for education, housing.

And it is the most beautiful wood furniture, and way prettier than any other patio furniture out there.  So maybe the consumer choice is political.  rah.