Did You Know? According to The National Christmas Tree Association (NCTA), the Fraser Fir is the most popular Christmas tree in North America. Tip of the Month According to Earth911.com, "Real Christmas trees can be recycled in a variety of ways. They can be turned into mulch and used in gardening and landscaping or chipped and used on hiking trails, paths and walkways. Christmas trees have also been used for erosion control, soil stabilization and shoreline maintenance. When used in this manner, the trees not only stabilize the soil, but also provide habitats for fish, birds, amphibians and mammals. Visit Earth911.com to locate your nearest Christmas tree recycling program. In some areas, community groups, like the Boy Scouts, will come pick up the trees curbside for a small donation and take them to the nearest recycling center for you. Talk to Us Have a question, feedback, or want to see a specific topic covered in our newsletter? Write to us! Tell a friend about CKV Sign up to receive this monthly newsletter

December 2009

Welcome to the December edition of the CK Valenti Designs Newsletter. .: Read Full Issue Online :.

PROJECT SPOTLIGHT

Sustainable Furniture

Last month we attended the Phoenix Green Streets event in downtown Phoenix. The event was a success - we had great foot traffic and an excellent response to our artwork. The photo above is a picture of the main display piece in our booth: a media credenza, built from sustainable materials, including:
- Bamboo plywood with water-based finish
- Environmentally friendly (low VOC) patina
- Scrap steel and copper
- MDF with no added urea formaldehyde

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EDUCATION CORNER

Comments on Bamboo

In the last few years, bamboo products have been gaining popularity as the sustainable choice in many different industries. Bamboo flooring has become popular, as has clothing made from bamboo. We were recently in a local "green" store and asked the salesperson how "green" bamboo can be if it has to travel to the US in large shipping containers from China. The salesperson didn't have an answer for us, which reinforced our suspicion that bamboo may have some compelling sustainable traits, but its use should still be weighed against other woods that can be harvested locally in the United States.

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