Eco-Gift Business Program Brings a Crafty Start to the Holiday Season
The Rocky Mountain Flatbread Company has always factored pie differently. For starters, their staff are often as busy at school as in the kitchen. Family-friendly from the start, the Rocky Mountain Education Society delivers direct to the classroom – especially approaching the holiday season.
On Wednesday December 8, 2010 from 3.30 PM to 6.00 PM, Rocky Mountain Flatbread’s Kitsilano location is hosting an Eco Craft Fair. Students from local schools will be selling eco-gifts they have been busy creating over the last 6 weeks with our Education Society Crew. Kids will also be able to create their own eco-gifts for family & friends.
Back in September, over 100 students signed up for the Rocky Mountain Education Society’s innovative Eco-Gift Business Program. Students were challenged over a six-week period to create Eco Holiday Gifts for sale in their schools, with profits made going to a charity of their choosing. City Farmer, SPCA & World Vision are at the top of their lists.
“Students love creating their own eco-businesses and it brings to life everything they have been learning in the classroom. It also gives them a sense of worth & making a difference – essential life skills for changing the world!” says Suzanne Fielden founder of Rocky Mountain Education Society.
Before getting down to business the students explored some of the true costs of the holiday season:
Canadians spend approximately $10 billion dollars extra on gifts & foods.
Each Canadian spends about 50 extra hours shopping during the holiday season.
Christmas time is now officially the holiday which creates the most green house gases.
90% of gifts given over the holiday period end up at the dump within 6 months!
“So is this what the holiday season is about – shopping, polluting, spending billions of dollars on gifts?” Fielden asked the students. The response from the students has been amazing, both in terms of comprehension and productivity.
“We have lost some of the true meaning of Christmas” says Andrew, a Grade 5 student from Trafalgar School. “The holidays is about spending time with family & giving gifts but not at the cost of the environment.”
Students were inspired into create gifts with meaning with less impact to the environment. They quickly went to work brainstorming gifts they could make. The eco-gifts that made the top 7 for production included:
Homemade Spa Products – Sea Salts with Lavender & Sugar Scrubs in mason jars;
Organic Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookie Mix & Cranberry Muffin Mix in mason jars;
Sock Monkeys;
Chestnut Christmas Tree Decorations;
Junk Mail Magnets;
Homemade Junk Mail Envelopes;
Holiday Cards & Tags crafted from used cereal boxes & junk mail.
All of these products are now in full production at Lord Tennyson School, Grandview Kid Safe Program and Trafalgar Elementary School getting ready for sale time.
“Will these 100 students still ask for a new I pod, game machine or latest gadget? Probably, but they just may ask for a little bit less this holiday season and give a few more hand made eco-gifts to family & friends,” says Mme. Lam, Grade 5 teacher from Trafalgar Elementary School. “That is pretty good in my books! This program has given students true social responsibility skills.”
Together with the Earth Bites and Local Hero projects, the Eco Gift Business Program sustains the Rocky Mountain Flatbread Company’s greater commitment to community. For more details on any of the Rocky Mountain Education Society programs visit: www.rockymountainflatbread.ca/school.
