Blog
An Unfortunate Recycling Discovery
We're always learning, and this week we learned that a few materials we thought could be recycled relatively easily and locally cannot be. We can still accept these items through...
An Unfortunate Recycling Discovery
We're always learning, and this week we learned that a few materials we thought could be recycled relatively easily and locally cannot be. We can still accept these items through...
What's the Problem with Honeysuckle?
It smells nice, looks nice, and has a pretty name. So why do my friends keep spending their weekends ripping up honeysuckle? I met up with the ringleader, Kaylyn Hobelman...
What's the Problem with Honeysuckle?
It smells nice, looks nice, and has a pretty name. So why do my friends keep spending their weekends ripping up honeysuckle? I met up with the ringleader, Kaylyn Hobelman...
Repair Report: March 2026
Fourteen volunteers showed up and outdid themselves at our fourth Fix-It Clinic! They worked on 36 total items and fixed 31 of them for the highest fix-rate yet (86%)! That's...
Repair Report: March 2026
Fourteen volunteers showed up and outdid themselves at our fourth Fix-It Clinic! They worked on 36 total items and fixed 31 of them for the highest fix-rate yet (86%)! That's...
Setting an Example of More Sustainable Swag
We've been so encouraged this week on our crusade against Unsustainable Swag!* I hope you too will be encouraged by the several steps forward that we witnessed (and not too...
Setting an Example of More Sustainable Swag
We've been so encouraged this week on our crusade against Unsustainable Swag!* I hope you too will be encouraged by the several steps forward that we witnessed (and not too...
Pitch the Plastic Forks
Guess how many plastic utensils are used every day in the U.S. Seriously, just guess. Now raise your guess a little. Maybe a little more. The answer? 100 million. That’s...
Pitch the Plastic Forks
Guess how many plastic utensils are used every day in the U.S. Seriously, just guess. Now raise your guess a little. Maybe a little more. The answer? 100 million. That’s...
How Styrofoam Recycling Works
We've been thinking about (and dreaming about, and tripping over) styrofoam this month during our January styrofoam collection, so we were happy to drop off a very full vanload in...
How Styrofoam Recycling Works
We've been thinking about (and dreaming about, and tripping over) styrofoam this month during our January styrofoam collection, so we were happy to drop off a very full vanload in...
On Bison: Charging Forward, Reflecting the Past
Derek and Kathy Simmit's path to Crown B Bison is a lovely one—rooted in knowledge of history, deep connection to the land, and an appreciation of the natural world. When...
On Bison: Charging Forward, Reflecting the Past
Derek and Kathy Simmit's path to Crown B Bison is a lovely one—rooted in knowledge of history, deep connection to the land, and an appreciation of the natural world. When...
Bigger Dreams
A couple weeks ago, on "Reopening Weekend," one of our long-time customers looked around at our giant new double room and said, "This is your dream, isn't it?" And in...
Bigger Dreams
A couple weeks ago, on "Reopening Weekend," one of our long-time customers looked around at our giant new double room and said, "This is your dream, isn't it?" And in...
A Sunny Solar Future
We showed up. The People spoke. The Shawnee County Planning Commission listened. And they decided to delay voting on their proposed solar regulations until the February meeting to give them time...
A Sunny Solar Future
We showed up. The People spoke. The Shawnee County Planning Commission listened. And they decided to delay voting on their proposed solar regulations until the February meeting to give them time...
Repair Report: January 2026
Another successful Fix-It Clinic is in the books! This clinic boasted: 7 repair volunteers (plus 4 setup and intake volunteers), 25 clients, 32 broken items, and 23 (or more!) items...
Repair Report: January 2026
Another successful Fix-It Clinic is in the books! This clinic boasted: 7 repair volunteers (plus 4 setup and intake volunteers), 25 clients, 32 broken items, and 23 (or more!) items...
Needs More Barstool!
We have a few things to tweak after our "Reopening Weekend," but our first (and most telling) reflection: We need more barstools! It was so wonderful to welcome you into...
Needs More Barstool!
We have a few things to tweak after our "Reopening Weekend," but our first (and most telling) reflection: We need more barstools! It was so wonderful to welcome you into...
The Most Sustainable Shopping Bag
Grocery bags. The perfect example of a seemingly straightforward sustainability issue that turns out to be quite complicated. Plastic bags are easy to hate. They get caught in trees and...
The Most Sustainable Shopping Bag
Grocery bags. The perfect example of a seemingly straightforward sustainability issue that turns out to be quite complicated. Plastic bags are easy to hate. They get caught in trees and...
Repair Report: November 2025
Our second Fix-It Clinic was a solid success! On Saturday, we had: 14 volunteers who served 25 guests with 41 items in need of repair— 31 of which they were...
Repair Report: November 2025
Our second Fix-It Clinic was a solid success! On Saturday, we had: 14 volunteers who served 25 guests with 41 items in need of repair— 31 of which they were...
Make Composting Work for You
There’s lots of science behind composting, but if you get intimidated when people talk about the proper ratio of greens and browns, the message of last week’s Ecofriends presentation was...
Make Composting Work for You
There’s lots of science behind composting, but if you get intimidated when people talk about the proper ratio of greens and browns, the message of last week’s Ecofriends presentation was...
Think Like a Thrift Store: Best Practices for R...
We had a unique opportunity this week to see behind the scenes at one of our favorite local thrift stores. The Giving Tree hosted a tour for the Washburn EcoBods,...
Think Like a Thrift Store: Best Practices for R...
We had a unique opportunity this week to see behind the scenes at one of our favorite local thrift stores. The Giving Tree hosted a tour for the Washburn EcoBods,...
On Balance: Thoughts on Health, Sustainability,...
This blog post was inspired by two comments we’ve received lately from customers. The first was positive: The person said they trust the products we carry and appreciate not having...
On Balance: Thoughts on Health, Sustainability,...
This blog post was inspired by two comments we’ve received lately from customers. The first was positive: The person said they trust the products we carry and appreciate not having...
Repair Report: September 2025
Our first Fix-It Clinic was a resounding success! We were so impressed with our handy volunteers, who took on all sorts of puzzles and challenges with enthusiasm, creativity, and teamwork....
Repair Report: September 2025
Our first Fix-It Clinic was a resounding success! We were so impressed with our handy volunteers, who took on all sorts of puzzles and challenges with enthusiasm, creativity, and teamwork....
Compost Collection Is Here!
Composting your food waste is one of the "easiest," high-impact things you can do to reduce your environmental footprint...but if you live in an apartment or don't have the ability...
Compost Collection Is Here!
Composting your food waste is one of the "easiest," high-impact things you can do to reduce your environmental footprint...but if you live in an apartment or don't have the ability...
Meet M.A.D. Farms: Meat That's Making a Difference
Meet our newest supplier: M.A.D. Farms in Alta Vista, Kansas! Jason and Jocelynn Dagosta started M.A.D. Farms in 2019 after living in Germany for over a decade. They were struck...
Meet M.A.D. Farms: Meat That's Making a Difference
Meet our newest supplier: M.A.D. Farms in Alta Vista, Kansas! Jason and Jocelynn Dagosta started M.A.D. Farms in 2019 after living in Germany for over a decade. They were struck...
Kernza®: Wheat's More Sustainable Cousin
No offense to bread, rice, or pasta, but I find grains pretty boring. In a world of sweet fruits, aromatic spices, and colorful veggies, the various beige starches all blend...
Kernza®: Wheat's More Sustainable Cousin
No offense to bread, rice, or pasta, but I find grains pretty boring. In a world of sweet fruits, aromatic spices, and colorful veggies, the various beige starches all blend...
Tips for Eco-Conscious Clothing Consumption
Today's blog post comes from guest writer Farai Herrald, a local writer and folk herbalist in Topeka. Human beings, regardless of gender, sex, culture, or location have always used clothing...
Tips for Eco-Conscious Clothing Consumption
Today's blog post comes from guest writer Farai Herrald, a local writer and folk herbalist in Topeka. Human beings, regardless of gender, sex, culture, or location have always used clothing...
Your Plastic-Free July Pledges
Plastic-Free July has come to a close, and we've drawn the winner for our "Plastic-Free July Pledge" gift card! Of course everyone who submitted a pledge is a winner! We...
Your Plastic-Free July Pledges
Plastic-Free July has come to a close, and we've drawn the winner for our "Plastic-Free July Pledge" gift card! Of course everyone who submitted a pledge is a winner! We...
Earth Overshoot Day 2025
Today is Earth Overshoot Day—the symbolic day when humans will have used more natural resources in 2025 than the Earth can regenerate in a year. We have data on this...
Earth Overshoot Day 2025
Today is Earth Overshoot Day—the symbolic day when humans will have used more natural resources in 2025 than the Earth can regenerate in a year. We have data on this...
A Great Grant Update
In the extreme heat of summer, the USDA grant funds that were frozen this February have FINALLY thawed! If all goes well, this means we can soon start the process...
A Great Grant Update
In the extreme heat of summer, the USDA grant funds that were frozen this February have FINALLY thawed! If all goes well, this means we can soon start the process...