Happy Feet

It's raining buckets outside (courtesy of Ida-my fruit trees send you a big "THANK YOU"); my mom is laid up in the hospital following a second (!!!) knee replacement surgery in 5 months; my chickens are molting and look pathetic; and my editor, my publisher's publicist, and another marketing crew member are coming over in a few hours to film some promotional videos for the "Homemade Living" series. I'm scrambling. 

What better thing, then, to sit down and talk about in the midst of this madness than shoes? Makes no sense whatsoever, I know, but I've been meaning to mention this ecologically-minded shoe company ever since I discovered it shoe-shopping with my sister several weeks ago. I figured, when you're stumped for blog topics with millions of other things to do, it's time to roll out the shoe shout-out. 

Groundhog shoes, per their website, has a goal of "reducing our global carbon footprint." They've succeeded remarkably well to that end, being mindful of the manufacturing and processing practices at all levels of production. According to online shoe distributor footlooseandfancy, Groundhog (based out of Ontario, Canada), utilizes the following processes in their shoes:

* All Groundhog Shoes packaging is made from recycled fibers * Where possible Groundhog tries to source materials local to the factories where the shoes are produced- minimizing on transportation * To minimize the effect on our environment, Groundhog Shoes are shipped by sea carriage *All of their leathers are treated with vegetable oil, eliminating dangerous chemicals from the process and from the environment * The bottom of the shoe is Crepe rubber - a natural product that comes from the sap of Lactae Hevea rubber trees * The foot bed is made from natural coconut matting & provides a comfortable platform for the wearer * The foot bed on the interior of the shoe is a soft fabric made with bamboo charcoal – also biodegradable and offering one of nature’s most effective anti bacterial and anti odorants! By manufacturing shoes in an environmentally friendly manner and making sustainable business decisions, Groundhog Footwear has created a line of green shoes anyone would be proud to walk in.

Best of all, they're crazy stylish. I've got my eye on the Beth boots (which I found for considerably less money at Asheville's beloved Discount Shoes). Do you know of other eco-friendly shoes that successfully marry conscientious construction with design? I'd love to hear about them. 

*Image from here.