From BBQ Grill to Planter

Planting to kick start Earth Month

With Earth Hour approaching, it was no longer fair that I postpone putting plants outside the shop.  Doing things practically, with form and function a priority, while maintaining the spirit of Earth Month at our shop meant that I needed to allow myself to go beyond the typical. On the day before the event, Lubna and I headed to the Friday market looking to up-cycle secondhand items and planter pots was on our list, but nothing suitable was found.

Literally, out of the stillness of my mind, an idea of heading to the tin market emerged.  Now this market largely specializes in large trunks for which many expats would pack items in and ship to their home countries.

Trunks and more

Chaminda planting

Now what I wanted to do was to block off the parking area in front of our shop to make room for the Earth Hour event planned for the next day.  Yet it was important that whatever is placed there was high enough to be visible to someone sitting in their car, that it was light enough to lift and move, and that beautiful succulents, creepers, and flowers can grow in.

As we browsed through the market scouting, the perfect yet least likely solution dawned to me... a barbeque grill! Yes.. yes.. and why not?  The unconventional always thrilled me.  Besides, it covered every aspect of concern- height, weight, function and practicality.

A stroll through the market

And what made this process well worth sharing is that on the afternoon of Earth Hour, Lubna, Chaminda and I planted.  The sense of touch and connection Earth while smoothing soil around the base of the new planters coupled with being outdoors and the thrill of finally getting to planting at the shop were all a part of a milestone for LB o J'zazz.

Our BBQ planters

What a perfect way to salute and welcome Earth Month at our shop.

Earth Hour jump starts Earth Month

Could it possibly be a whole year already since we hosted our first in-shop Earth Hour event?!  With only a few days to go, March 31st will witness a global movement  whereby individuals, companies and countries will switch lights off in an effort to highlight their concerns around the changing climate and our lifestyles.  This will also mark the beginning for LB o J'zazz's month of activities, classes, exhibitions and events garnered around all things related to sustainability and our precious Mother Earth.

Courtesy of Beautiful Planet Earth

Do join us this Saturday from 8:30 p.m. for 1 HOUR at our shop in Shaab El-Bahry.  All  lights will be switched off and replaced by candle light.  We will sit on the floor, outdoors, and reminisce on stories, experiences, adventures and moments when we were in awe of Earth and her miracles.

We are also very excited to share with you a little special something we arranged with IKEA which will help you help Her (Earth) in a very significant way. 

Here's to you, Mother Earth:

Lubna, Chaminda and I look forward to hosting and sharing this special hour and evening with you.  For more information, please call 22610686 or email us at: info@lbojzazz.com.


Until then.. PEACE

(P.S. Do keep some room for some delicious home-made healthy muffins)

Earth Day and our little take on this

 

A succulent in Lubna's Pot Garden 

 

Both Bettina and I have been passionately committed to seeking a healthier and less polluted environment, wise and practical urban planning, sustainability and green building.  In our corporate paths, we worked separately and in parallel without really deciding on the how but rather, on the why.  So, as LB o J'zazz came to be, we were, for the first time able to put our ideas and life philosophy in motion without having to battle the bottom line profit-hungry and ignorant powers-that-be on the immense and critical importance of protecting, saving and nurturing our planet. So, as we are now the-powers-that-be; it took very little convincing. .
Earth Day is just around the corner on April 22nd and we will be sharing with you our stories, practices and ideas that as a tiny entrepreneurial business we live by day to day and share with our customers and friends.  It is a main part of our mission to seek and work with companies that are committed to healthier modes of production, reducing carbon emissions, recycling, upcycling, Fair Trade  and a lot more.
On this note, we kick off our series of blogs leading up and continuing well after Earth Day with a link to Earth Day Network.  You can find Earth Day activities and events across the globe and get access to many innovative and simple ways to contribute to embracing the planet we live on for us now and the generations that will follow.  In addition to tools for teachers and companies to incorporate Environmental education. 
We also welcome you to offer and share your daily acts of nurturing and preserving Mother Earth through our blog and comments.  

By merely buying local and handmade in itself may contribute to this effort. You can go to  http://www.earthday.net/