Green Business Profile: Westside Boards

  

     Westside Boards, known for their beautifully crafted bodysurf handplanes, alternative surf craft, and surf inspired furniture delivers high on quality while providing a low impact on the environment. Their sustainable practices contribute to the diversion of trash to our landfills. This green mindset also extends to the shop's sustainable operating practices.

     "All of our products are made from sustainable wood," said West. "We especially use a lot of Paulownia wood, which I feel is a kind of a magical tree. After it's been cut down, the root system in the trunk of the tree actually stays in tact allowing the tree to regenerate itself five or six times. The Polonia wood is also very light weight and buoyant, which is perfect for our products."

     Westside Boards uses an eco-friendly wood sealer from Vermont Natural Coatings made with whey (a byproduct of cheese making) and incorporates upcycled skateboard stringers (the wooden backbone of a surfboard or a durable strip of wood down the length of a board) into their products to add color as well as to incorporate other types of recycled wood. READ MORE. 

Green Business Profile: Olde Towne Jewelry & Loan

     "Businesses have a larger carbon footprint than individuals and homes," said Diana Russell, Store Manager at Olde Towne Jewelry & Loan, "So as businesses, we have a big responsibility to make sure we're doing our best to help the community and the world."

     Founded in 1995, Olde Towne Jewelry & Loan, previously located on Chestnut Street, makes its home at 97 S. Oak Street in downtown Ventura. A new City of Ventura Green Certified Business, this community pawn shop helps clients save money on their purchases as well as help the community to reduce, reuse and recycle with the sale of quality used products.

     "Everything we take in is used," said Russell. "We test all items that are brought into the store and make sure they are working correctly before we put them up for sale. So, as a pawnshop, we're different from a 'thrift' store in that respect. Additionally, if you buy a musical instrument from our store and keep the receipt, you can bring it back to us at a later time and we'll take that instrument and give you the full value of what you paid for the item towards your purchase of another instrument of your choice."

     Olde Towne Jewelry & Loan was founded by Diana's grandfather, Sheldon Wainer. Seven years ago, Diana, a graduate of the Gemological Institute of America with a degree in Psychology from San Diego State University joined the family business management team and now works as store manager.

     The store stepped up their sustainable practices working with City of Ventura Environmental Specialist Courtney Lindberg in order to become green certified.  READ MORE.