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San Francisco, I'm Green...with Envy

San Francisco is driving me to a perpetual state of jealousy.

The reasons are many, but today it is because the city has so many cool stores. For example, I just heard of a new place called Green 11 that seems super amazing.

Located on Union Street in the Cow Hollow neighborhood, Green 11 sells organic beauty products and household cleaners that you can buy and take home in your own reusable containers.

Specifically, the store is offering concentrated organic shampoo, conditioner, shower gel, lotion, liquid soap, kitchen cleaners, bath cleaners, and laundry detergent.

In Chicago, you absolutely can't get these types of products in your own containers. I swear if I had the cojones I'd open a store simply so I could get them.

Anyways, check out the additional pictures below as evidence of how cool San Fran is.

Darn you, San Francisco!





























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Jen-Jen said…
That's nice, but remember that to buy a tiny house in San Francisco, you still have to pay well over $1 million. Only the rich can live there, unless you want to live in public housing or a transient hotel. How eco-friendly is that?
May 16, 2009 at 12:50 PM
Anonymous said…
It's good to occupy small spaces. I mean who really needs a 16,000 square foot house when you can only be in one room at a time anyway? In San Francisco, residents make use of the whole city. We walk outside and hang around on the streets when its a nice day. Small spaces force you to reduce your consumption because you lack storage space. I believe the next eco-movement should be living in smaller spaces. Less is more!
May 16, 2009 at 4:34 PM
caramimi said…
You can get bulk cleaners and beauty products at Rainbow Grocery as well http://www.rainbowgrocery.org/. Maybe you can ask your local health food market to stock bulk items.

Yes, SF can be pricey, but it's mainly the rents/housing. You can shop smart on the cheap, and there are many things to do for little to no money. I've lived here for years, rented in a great neighborhood and do not live in public housing or a transient hotel. I absolutely love living here -- I just make sure to spend wisely.

Love your blog btw! You've been inspiring.
May 16, 2009 at 9:29 PM
Anonymous said…
@Jen-Jen Who needs to buy a house? I've lived in the San Francisco Bay Area since 1989 quite happily renting nice apartments without being rich. Of course, our definition of nice might not be the same. I don't need a lot. In fact, all I really need is great public transit and walkable streets... which we have aplenty.

Jeanne -- I'll have to check out that store. When I do, I'll think of you and gloat. :-)
May 16, 2009 at 11:43 PM
a/k/a Nadine said…
What a cool store! I'd be happy to find somewhere I could buy loose tea in refillable containers in my own city.
May 17, 2009 at 5:34 AM
Lisa said…
I'm jealous as well!! That is really cool.
May 17, 2009 at 6:21 PM
Abi said…
you can buy some products in bulk in DeKalb, IL at Duck Soup Coop. shampoo, lotion, etc. and some foods as well. just an FYI if you're ever out West!
May 18, 2009 at 6:23 AM
Anne said…
What a neat store! It would be great if we had one in Chicago... :) I would love to live in San Fransicsco though.
May 18, 2009 at 6:53 AM
Anonymous said…
I'm using the same containers for my laundy detergent, my dish soap, my cleaning liquid etc. for about 10 years. I can refill them at my local Bioshop (Belgium). Doing so even gets you a 10% discount as well.
May 20, 2009 at 5:26 AM
Jessimaca said…
I LOVE the blog! I've had it under bookmarked in my Favorites and am now working on an English paper about the effects of plastic (possibly leaning specifically towards plastic bags). Do you think it would be possible for me to interview you? You seem like a great inspiration! I'd love to write about some of your experiences with being more ecofriendly. :) I'd love to hear from you if you would consider.

Thanks!
Jessica (jnickasio@gmail.com)
May 24, 2009 at 7:44 PM
Byrd Reinhardt said…
I just read an article in Hemispheres magazine (http://www.hemispheresmagazine.com/2009/05/01/a-london-grocer-unwraps-the-secret-to-eco-shopping/) about a lady who runs a similar shop, "Unpackaged," in London. Great news to hear!
May 27, 2009 at 12:17 PM
Analee said…
i noticed the containers at green11 are all plastic. it is great that the customers can reuse their own containers thus creating less waste that way, but...

since my discovery of your blog, i have been inspired to pay attention to all my plastics (and i couldn't believe how many few things in my house were plastic-free). i have vowed to make my own household cleaners (that is my baby step #1 - vinegar comes in glass containers and baking soda in paper!!! yay!!!) - but i'm having trouble finding any spray bottles sans plastics! i really don't want to reuse my old containers since they had such awful chemicals in them... i can't believe i've subjected my family to the fumes!!!

do you have any suggestions or ideas of plastic free spray bottles?

analee
theoutcrop@yahoo.com
June 11, 2009 at 8:58 AM
Jeanne said…
Analee, I can't imagine plastic free spray bottles exist so I'm guessing the best thing you can do is periodically check your local thrift stores for one.
June 12, 2009 at 8:42 AM
Anonymous said…
If anyone ever came up with a plastic-free spray bottle, I'd be all over it. But like you, I can't imagine how it would be made either. My guess is that plastic actually made the spray bottle possible in the first place.
June 12, 2009 at 10:56 AM
Anonymous said…
I read this post a while ago and am now trying to talk my entrepreneur-y significant other into opening this type of shop in our town. . .he's a little skeptical, but I think I can wear him down.
June 22, 2009 at 6:16 PM
A Life Less Complicated said…
I love your blog! I was searching for my own when I found you... lol. I'm hooked and I'm totally adding you to my blog roll!
Ironically, there's a store in Newport, RI called Green Envy. :)
June 25, 2009 at 6:38 AM
Claudia said…
I buy Dr. Bronner's liquid soap in 1 gallon containers from the Vitamin Shoppe. My boyfriend uses it too and it even works as shampoo, so we don't have to buy anything else.
August 30, 2009 at 10:30 AM
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