Gifts That Give Back; 
The lES Ecology Shop 
forest resources harvested 
in a sustainable manner 
without damaging forest 
ecosystems. These can be 
non-timber forest resources 
such as nuts, fruits, seeds, 
and rubber, as well as wood 
products that are respon- 
sibly harvested from man- 
aged forests.” By creating a 
market for these products, 
stores like the Ecology 
Shop create an economic 
incentive for indigenous 
communities to conserve 
their natural resources rather than destroyirig 
habitats for activities like cattle ranching or 
timber extraction. 
Sculptures carved out of tagua nut are an excel- 
lent example of a sustainable product. Called 
“vegetable ivory,” tagua nuts are from the Tauga 
The Ecology Shop offers a range on intricately 
carved gourd boxes, handmade in Peru 
palm tree {Phytelephas equatorialh), which grows in 
the South American rainforest. Gathered when 
they fall to the ground, tagua nuts are a renew- 
able resource produced by living trees, thus 
encouraging sustainable forestry practices. The 
nuts take 3-8 years to form. Wlien dried, the 
insides of the brown nuts become a dense mill<y 
white. Artisans cut and polish the nuts until 
the final product resembles an ethical alterna- 
tive to animal ivory. “Tlie end result,” remarks 
Ms. Panorotti, “is a charming figurine from a 
company that encourages rainforest health and 
the sensible use of natural resources.” 
The etched gourds sold at the Ecology Shop 
provide an unlikely canvas for intricate nature 
scenes. Made in Peru, the gourds are sustainably 
harvested, dried, and painstakingly adorned by 
Crafted out of phone wire, these decorative bowls provide 
financial independence to women in South Africa 
skilled artisans. Some feature tropical birds 
and jungle animals, while others depict 
insect life. Smaller ornaments are perfect for 
holiday decorating, while the larger lidded 
vessels make beautiful keepsake boxes. Ms. 
Panorotti notes, “When we introduced them 
last winter, they were one of our best sellers. 
When you buy a Lucuma gourd you get a 
stunning piece of craftsmanship while also 
supporting traditional crafts.” 
Another example of sustainable merchandise 
is the stationary sold at the Ecology Shop. 
Several of the lines offered are produced 
using paper from annual plants, such as 
kenaf and hemp, instead of trees. Panorotti 
notes that, “The advantage of annual-based 
paper is that it is much easier, both mechani- 
cally and chemically, to extract fibers from 
annuals than from trees. Plants like hemp 
have longer fibers, which means they can be 
recycled more times than tree-based paper.” 
Some products are sustainable because of 
how they are made and not what they are 
made of Traditionally, coffee was grown 
beneath a canopy, with the canopy sup- 
porting wildlife while mitigating the effects 
of severe rain and sun. With the advent of 
chemical fertilizers and pesticides, most 
modern coffee plantations have eliminated 
canopy trees in favor of increased crops. 
The environmental costs incurred, including 
the destruction of bird habitat and pesti- 
cide contamination, have been severe. The 
Ecology Shop offers shade-grown coffee by 
Thanksgiving Company; proceeds of the 
Bird Song Blends help fund American Bird- 
ing Association Programs. 
The elegant wooden boxes sold in the Ecol- 
ogy Shop are handcrafted by Heartwood 
Creations, a company that participates in 
reforestation. Since 1990, the company 
reports that donations have led to the plant- 
contimied on page 3 
A tagua nut seal figurine 
Sleek tagua nut figurines grace the shelves. A 
bounty of elegant etched gourds, available as 
ornaments or sleek jars, are on display. South 
African baskets, woven in vibrant hues, are 
ready for giving. A wealth of information on 
ecology, nature, and gardening lies waiting 
to be discovered on the bookshelves. From 
delicate porcelain flower pins to musical instru- 
ments disguised as frogs, the lES Ecology Shop 
is bursting with engaging merchandise. 
For the past two and a half years. Visitor 
Services Coordinator Luanne Panarotti has 
been managing the shop. Under her guid- 
ance, with help from Visitor Services Assistant 
Ginny Fidler and a suite of staff members and 
volunteers, the merchandise has evolved from 
traditional gift shop fare to an array of unique 
Earth-friendly products. From hard-to-find 
gardening tools to garden sculptures made 
from recycled oil drums, Ms. Panorotti strives 
to engage shoppers of all ages in ecological 
inquiry. By encouraging consumers to think 
about the origins of products, and promoting 
merchandise that nurtures the Earth and the 
mind, the lES Ecology Shop helps enrich the 
visitor experience. 
When buying new merchandise, Ms. Panorotti 
focuses on four groups of products; recycled 
merchandise, sustainable merchandise, socially 
responsible merchandise, and wood products 
from companies that participate in reforesta- 
tion programs. Vibrant wire bowls, woven 
from telephone wire, are an example of both 
reclaimed and socially responsible merchan- 
dise. The bowls, with their spirals of color, are 
made by a cooperative of South African craft- 
ers using discarded phone wire. Wires that once 
facilitated communication are transformed into 
conversation pieces. Beautiful in their own 
right, the sale of the bowls helps encourage 
clever recycling. 
Ms. Panorotti describes sustainable mer- 
chandise as, “Products made from renewable 
Lori Quiller 
