The Collage Foundation: Taking it Local

By Byron C. James

If New York City is the queen of recycling and eco living, then 3Rliving is its crown jewel. This Park Slope business is a home and lifestyle store dedicated to future friendly products.

Their products cover every aspect of our busy lives, from home furnishings to items for your four-legged friends. As a neurotic New Yorker, I was pleasantly surprised at the serene and aromatic atmosphere. I wanted to sip a tisane and sit a spell. Being there took me back to afternoons spent playing in my grandmother's backyard as she hung clothes to dry in the Carolina sun. From the mint green walls, which lend strength and character, to the colorful bees wax candles, whose hues rival the tea salon at Bergdoff Goodman, this setting is a shoppers' delight.

The home products that tickled my fancy were the wood picture frames made from planks of old Argentinean boats. The recycled glass vases, in shapes that range form tall to grande (think Starbucks), were also a hit. The bamboo cookware is stylish and functional. Whether you are serving sushi to your friends or having a birthday party for your six-year-old, this timeless and elegant cookware will come in handy. And knowing that the food was prepared in these wonderfully renewable resources, will make it taste better too.

Colorful brooms made in Thailand are not only decorative, but also useful. Made of 100% renewable sorghum and bamboo dyed with non-toxic colors, these brooms will give you "sweep dreams." You can also clean with Mrs. Meyers Clean Day Products. A naturally fresh way to remove odors, they are made from a special vegetable protein extract that is fragrant and effective. The Carry-All Cleaning Kit comes with easy-tote box containing Counter Top Spray, All-Purpose Cleaner, Dish Soap and Hand Soap in three fragrant scents lemon verbena, lavender, and geranium. Aromatherapy while you clean, what a concept.

Owners, Samantha and Mark Caserta, are eco-pioneers for bringing the New York green community together. They have given consumers something we have always wanted: products that are healthy, responsible, and beautiful. Kudos to 3Rliving. Reduce. Reuse. Recycle.

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