Ryan Is Hungry » Commerce

Revisiting :: Swap-O-Rama-Rama: Don’t Commodify, Modify!

ryanne — Sat, 23 Feb 2008 21:15:05 +0000

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As Jay and I prepare for a big move back to the East Coast (Rural Virginia/DC area to be exact-we’re officially bi-coastal now!), we’re dispersing most of our possessions back into the world via Craigslist, Freecycle and Etsy. Yep, we’re moving again. We still love the SF Bay area and the San Mateo Eco-Village very much, but we’re feeling the need to start building something of our own. Jay’s dad has land in Virginia that is the perfect spot to put to use what we’ve learned this past year about gardening and sustainable building (thanks to all of you and this here blog!). What a perfect time to re-visit the Swap-O-Rama-Rama video! More to come about the move…
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You might recognize Wendy Tremayne from our Green Acre Series here on RyanIsHungry. Wendy founded Swap-O-Rama-Rama as a way to break out the consumer cycle of shopping for clothes. Utilizing the abundance that just a few people’s closets can bare, adding a little creativity with fancy sewing machines and silkscreen artists for custom modifications, Swap-O-Rama-Rama makes recycling clothes fun and social. This particular swap was part of Maker Faire, an event to celebrate makers of all kinds from robot artists to crafters to computer hackers.

As Wendy says here:

There is no creativity in consumerism…makers don’t make good consumers. The less you know, the less you can make, the more you’re going to buy.

Want to produce a Swap-O-Rama-Rama where you live? You can! Because it’s Creative Commons licensed! Contact Wendy through the site and she’ll get you started!

Runtime- 4:53

[tags] swaporamarama, wendy tremayne, clothing swap, recycle clothes, recycling, green, sustainable, gift economy, maker faire, san francisco, ryanishungry[/tags]

Etsy.com- The Best Way to Shop Handmade Online

ryanne — Sat, 02 Feb 2008 14:00:21 +0000

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OMG! I love Etsy.com. How have I not heard of this site before now? Etsy is an online marketplace where only handmade, original goods are sold. Search by catagory, location or by color (that’s awesome!!). It’s not just for crafters either, there’s also a nice selection of edible goods. Next time you have a gift to give or you want something for yourself but are boycotting the box stores, check out Etsy. Rumor has it (ok its a fact) that our good friend and fellow videoblogger, Bre Pettis of Make Zine fame is now producing videos for Etsy! Wow, what a combination! More info about Esty here.

[tags]etsy, brepettis, handmade, crafts[/tags]

Diane Dupont: One Love Body Care

ryanne — Sat, 25 Aug 2007 02:38:05 +0000

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For my last birthday, I received a big, old box of fancy handmade soaps and lotions as a present from my mom. She lives in New Bedford, Massachusetts and is big into the local arts and crafts scene, as she was a crafter herself my whole childhood. This luscious cornucopia of products on my doorstep was cultivated and created by Diane Dupont of One Love Body Care, an independent grower and craftsperson making her living out of a workshop in her apartment. I was able to track her down for an interview while I was in town for a visit. Diane is a lively business woman with a knack for telling a good farmer’s market/craft show story. Making a living by growing and perfecting your own product is no small feat, but given the choice to return to a 9-5 office job, Diane tells me she’d never go back in a million years.

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[tags]gardening, soap, diy, handmade soap, independent business, crafter, farmers market, diandupont, onelovebodycare, westport, ryanishungry[/tags]

EcoTuesday: Green Business Networking Can Be Fun

ryanne — Wed, 01 Aug 2007 03:37:22 +0000

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Nikki Martinez and Oren Jaffe started EcoTuesday as a chill networking event for Green business folk to interact with each other. Structure is the key to success at EcoTuesday. The event opens with speakers from various green backgrounds- a good topic to spark conversations later. Next, everyone has a chance to introduce themselves and what they’re passionate about- second great topic to chat about. Finally, it’s walk around and mingle time- introduce yourself to the CEO of that small solar business, get an interview with some potential employees or start a business revolution with other fellow green upstarts. EcoTuesday strives to be a place for green and sustainable partnerships to form helping to strengthen the larger green movement with the proper economic strength and business savvy.

Runtime- 4:45

[tags]ecotuesday, green business, green drinks, happy hour, green networking, networking, nikki martinez, oren jaffe, san francisco, ryanishungry[/tags]

Making vs Consuming: A Conversation with Wendy Tremayne

ryanne — Mon, 23 Jul 2007 21:12:46 +0000

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We are constantly bombarded with images and advertising pushing us to buy more, buy better, buy often. What happens when we stop buying so much and start making? More innovation, more creativity and more knowledge can be shared.

Wendy, founder of Swap-O-Rama-Rama, explains her thinking on consumerism aptly:

It’s easy and even mundane to say, ‘This is as good as it gets.’ It is such a more exciting place to say ‘We can do so much better with everything.’ This should be a never ending thought.

Runtime- 4:43

[tags] swaporamarama, wendy tremayne, clothing swap, recycle clothes, recycling, green, sustainable, gift economy, san francisco, ryanishungry[/tags]

Swap-O-Rama-Rama: Don’t Commodify, Modify!

ryanne — Thu, 19 Jul 2007 06:16:52 +0000

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You might recognize Wendy Tremayne from our Green Acre Series here on RyanIsHungry. Wendy founded Swap-O-Rama-Rama as a way to break out the consumer cycle of shopping for clothes. Utilizing the abundance that just a few people’s closets can bare, adding a little creativity with fancy sewing machines and silkscreen artists for custom modifications, Swap-O-Rama-Rama makes recycling clothes fun and social. This particular swap was part of Maker Faire, an event to celebrate makers of all kinds from robot artists to crafters to computer hackers.

As Wendy says here:

There is no creativity in consumerism…makers don’t make good consumers. The less you know, the less you can make, the more you’re going to buy.

Want to produce a Swap-O-Rama-Rama where you live? You can! Because it’s Creative Commons licensed! Contact Wendy through the site and she’ll get you started!

Runtime- 4:53

[tags] swaporamarama, wendy tremayne, clothing swap, recycle clothes, recycling, green, sustainable, gift economy, maker faire, san francisco, ryanishungry[/tags]

The Gift Economy: Really Really Free Market SF

ryanne — Wed, 11 Jul 2007 04:45:54 +0000

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Update: If you are a media outlet and would like to use this video or photo, please do. As it is Creative Commons Licensed media, please include the attribution “Courtesy RyanIsHungry.com”. Thank you.

A beautiful day in the park, a fresh homemade meal, some free clothes and books- what could be better? The Really Really Free Market, as opposed to the Not-So-Free Free Market, breaks down the myth of scarcity and encourages us to take advantage of the abundance all around us. Kirsten Brydum, RRFM organizer, gave us the low down on how great it feels to get rid of your stuff, share knowledge and maybe find that odd item you’ve been searching for. This is not a barter situation, where you’re still weighing your stuff against what you think it could be worth in dollars. This is about giving and receiving through a gift economy which encourages sharing without the expectation of payment. The Really Really Free Market is like hanging out on Freecycle or Craigslist Free Listings, except you’re breathing fresh air and seeing people f2f (face to face) instead of p2p (peer to peer)! Imagine that!

Check out the Wikipedia entry on The Really Really Free Market to find one in your area, or start your own! All you need are some friends, some stuff or some knowledge to share!

Runtime- 3:12

[tags]really really free market, rrfm, gift economy, barter, trade, san francisco, dolores park, ryanishungry[/tags]

Co-Working: Independent Workers Unite

ryanne — Wed, 27 Jun 2007 17:39:25 +0000

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Many people strive for the freedom that working for themselves and freelancing brings. You can work odd hours in your pajamas at home, travel to exotic locals but still be on the job, not have to clock in at an office. After the initial exhilaration of being independent cools a bit, there is something missing- co-workers and the social environment that working for a company can bring. Enter Co-Working. Co-Working is an idea that independent workers still want and need social interaction and structure during working hours. Going stir crazy working in your living room? Can’t stand that Madonna remix album they keep repeating at the cafe? Want to bounce your ideas off some other geeks? Co-Working!

We started our Co-Working experience at The Hat Factory here in San Francisco. The most unexpected benefit, besides meeting great people, was the ability to separate work time from relax time- not an easy task for a freelancer. Our day schedule looked like this: Get up, go to Hat Factory, work for 6-8 hours, come home, put the computer to sleep, cook dinner, watch a movie. Hey, we didn’t end up working for 12 hours today! We have a sustainable, not-burnt out life outside our work! Thanks Co-Working!

Thanks to Brad Neuberg and Chris Messina and Tara Hunt, from Citizen Space, for sitting down with us and explaining how Co-Working got started and what it all means. Get involved in starting your own Co-Working space by connecting to the folks already doing it! Check out the Co-Working Wiki, Blog and E-mail list.

Runtime- 6:31

[tags]coworking, barcamp, brad neuberg, chris messina, tara hunt, citizen space, citizen agency, san francisco, ryanishungry[/tags]

Girl Talk: Illegal Art At Its Finest

ryanne — Mon, 25 Jun 2007 19:32:48 +0000

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Gregg Gillis aka Girl Talk is best known for his wild live shows, super hot beats and, most controversially, that his music is entirely derived from other popular artists. Under current copyright law, Girl Talk’s blatant use of samples is considered stealing. Gregg considers it fair use and positive promotion for other artists. As debates over copyright are fueled by the ever growing remix, mashup and digital sampling culture we now live in, we have to ask ourselves- Is it ok to have so many restrictions, with the threat of legal action, on what is fair game for making art?

Check out Brett Gaylor’s Open Source Cinema project for tons more Girl Talk clips. Look in the sidebar for Related Videos (on RyanIsHungry and Open Source Cinema). Thanks Brett for connecting us!

Runtime- 5:58

[tags]girl talk, illegal art, gregg gillis, creative commons, remix, mashup[/tags]

Jon Phillips: Creative Commons Guru

ryanne — Thu, 07 Jun 2007 06:30:07 +0000

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We’re constantly thinking about sustainability- in the environment we live as well as in the way we work and produce media. Creative Commons is a non-profit organization trying to change the way people use copyright and licensing for media and intellectual property. Instead of the traditional “all rights reserved” model for distributing works, Creative Commons continues to educate creators about the advantages that come with the “some rights reserved” model.

Jon Phillips is an artist, educator, open source developer and Creative Commons evangelist who loves to school companies and the general public on the freedom that can be created by a true participatory culture. A culture of sharing and respectful negotiation between maker and taker. Catch Jon speaking at The First Annual Pixelodeon Festival, June 9-10 at The American Film Institute in Los Angeles.

Runtime- 6:09

[tags]creativecommons, jonphillips, sanfrancisco, pixelodeon, ryanishungry, cc[/tags]

Ivan Storck: Sustainable Entrepreneur

ryanne — Fri, 01 Jun 2007 17:14:22 +0000

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Ivan runs his businesses, Sustainable Marketing and Sustainble Websites, out of Citizen Space, one of several co-working spaces cropping up in San Francisco. As a small business owner in the valley of tech giants, Ivan is working to create a community of creative and green entrepreneurs who are not exactly competing, but propping each other up. Ivan shares his enthusiasm for green energy credits, carbon offsets and the triple bottom line: People, Planet, Profit.

Runtime: 5:04

ACCRC: James Burgett- Saving Computers from the Landfill

ryanne — Fri, 04 May 2007 19:10:07 +0000

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James Burgett founded the ACCRC, Alameda County Computer Resource Center, to essentially make money off of equipment that other people thought was obsolete garbage. Thirteen years later he’s reformatted, refurbished and donated thousands of computers to folks who might not ever have the chance to own one. The ACCRC offers workshops on how to refurbish and reuse junked equipment and how to install and use the open source OS Ubuntu Linux which is free for all. Saving valuable equipment from the landfill, James explains, is not exactly profitable for the California Electronics Recycling Initiative, which encourages recyclers to mine and grind parts rather than refurb for reuse. Thanks for the tour James! Thanks to Alex and Rudy at Monkeybrains.net for telling us about ACCRC!

Runtime- 6:51

[tags]ACCRC, James Burgett, Alameda County Computer Resource Center, Oakland, recycle, refurbish, reuse, computers, electronics, ryanishungry[/tags]

MonkeyBrains.net: Keepin It Real for a Decade

ryanne — Tue, 10 Apr 2007 20:13:49 +0000

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Sustainability can mean a lot of things to a lot of people. In Silicon Valley business terms it can mean sink or swim in an ocean of sharks. MonkeyBrains is a local, independent ISP (internet service provider) that started up at the height of the last boom and is a shining beacon of hope that companies can come out of a bubble alive and kickin’.

We first met Alex from MonkeyBrains when he hooked us up with killer WiFi and Live Video streaming for Vloggercon06 at The Swedish American Hall. The MonkeyBrains crew did such an amazing job and were so cool under pressure that we felt the need to dig deeper to hear their story. Thanks Alex and Rudy for having us over!

Runtime- 8:21

[tags]monkeybrains, monkeybrains.net, rudyrucker, alexmenendez, isp, colo, colocation, sanfrancisco, geeks, ryanishungry[/tags]

Rolling Press: Eugene Lee Drops Some Green Printing Science

ryanne — Tue, 03 Apr 2007 06:36:02 +0000

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In the heart of Park Slope Brooklyn, Rolling Press is, unlike traditional offset printing presses, the perfect neighbor. No loud noises, no harsh fumes- Rolling Press is a dual purpose live/work studio and home to president, Eugene Lee. Eugene gives us a tour and drops some science on how printing can be as green as possible- not only by using green materials, but by cutting out unnecessary, outdated chemical processes. Check out RollingPress.com.

Runtime- 4:04

[tags]offset printing, green printing, green, sustainable, rolling press, park slope, brooklyn, eugene lee, nyc, videobloggingweek2007, ryanishungry[/tags]

James Kao: CEO Green Citizen

ryanne — Sat, 17 Mar 2007 00:55:24 +0000

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Our last video at Green Citizen showed how easy it was to recycle your old electronics and the process in which they start to get sorted out. James Kao talks to us about why it’s important to sort and keep track of products as part of the Cradle to Cradle methodology. Cradle to Cradle is a book about the elimination of waste that you should all check out. Visit Green Citizen and please recycle your old, geeky toys properly!

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[tags]green citizen, green, recycle, electronics, sanfrancisco, ryanishungry[/tags]

Green Citizen: Recycle That Old Dell

ryanne — Sat, 10 Mar 2007 15:22:21 +0000

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As techy geeks, we tend to accrue lots of electronics over time. Once they are past the point of no return, what are you supposed to do with them? Green Citizen is trying to help geeks like you and I be as green as possible with our worn out electronics by providing proper recycling facilities specifically for old computers, batteries, phones and anything else Silicon Valley has produced in the last 30 years. Don’t dump that old Cathode Ray Tube TV on the curb- bring it to Green Citizen for free! Drop off points are located in downtown San Francisco and Los Altos.

Stay tuned for a conversation with Green Citizen’s CEO James Kao.

Runtime-6:00

[tags]green, green citizen, san francisco, silicon valley, recycle, ryanishungry[/tags]

Longleaf Lumber- The Finished Goods

ryanne — Wed, 21 Feb 2007 18:39:51 +0000

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Continuing our visit at Longleaf Lumber, we get a tour of the finished goods in their showroom in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Alice shows off some luscious, antique samples as well as sustainably harvested bamboo and cork. For those of you wood-philes, this is the place to get a real fix of the creative possibilities of using recycled and sustainable materials. See the first video of co-owner, Marc, at their Berwick, Maine mill.

Check out examples of what other folks have used Longleaf Lumber for: http://longleaflumber.com

Runtime- 5:39

[tags]reclaimed lumber, lumber, recycled lumber, massachusetts, cambridge, long leaf lumber, antique wood, antique lumber, ryanishungry[/tags]

Longleaf Lumber- Reclaims More Than Just Wood

ryanne — Wed, 14 Feb 2007 00:33:41 +0000

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The ideas and business model behind Longleaf Lumber tickle our fancy in more ways than one. By reclaiming antique wood from demolition sites, Marc Poirier is the ultimate recycler. Like an archeologist, Marc delivers the history and stories behind almost every timber in his Berwick, Maine stock. Look closely and you’ll easily see the difference between a 400 year old limb and a newly sawn board from a warehouse store. Stay tuned as our story continues in the next video at The Longleaf Showroom in Cambridge, Mass. Special thanks to Ashley and Kyra from SustainableRoute.com for production support.

Check out Longleaf Lumber.

Runtime- 6:39

[tags]reclaimed lumber, lumber, recycled lumber, maine, berwick maine, long leaf lumber, wood, ryanishungry[/tags]

Selling Out Isn’t Easy

ryanne — Sat, 23 Dec 2006 20:10:03 +0000

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We have just signed a one-year deal with Podtech to license our videos on “sustainable culture”. For over 2 years now, the Videoblogging Group has discussed money and advertising. We’ve always been a pretty big opponent of traditional models creeping into our new art form. Check out this video Jay made in 2005.

Here are three reasons the deal made sense to us.

We own our content. After a year, Podtech will have paid us to create a library of videos. They didn’t even flinch when we negotiated this point. They deserve credit for this alone. Podtech will have exclusive rights to put ads on our videos.

Shows are different than our personal videoblogs. Ryanne and I each have our own blogs where we’ll keep posting our crazy videos. Advertising would never work there. But RyanisHungry is our attempt to create themed content that basically takes the best part of TV viewing and applies it to the web. We’ll be focusing on personal stories of people changing their habits. Here’s an example of what we’ll be doing. So far, Podtech has made clear that we have artistic control as long as we focus on sustainable culture.

Guaranteed money. Podtech is giving us a set amount of money each month. We certainly aren’t getting rich, but one of us can work on these videos full time since it’s content we believe in. I’m not sure I trust the “advertising revenue sharing” that other sites like Revver are pioneering just yet. To me, only the most popular videos can make a decent living for ads clicks. I also don’t have time to go out and find customized sponsorship.

I hope that we can set the example for future deals that will be fair to both videobloggers and companies. I give Podtech props for being so progressive during this honeymoon period. We expect to continue working well together. I give a big shout out to Morty Wiggins and Colette Vogele (who wrote the Legal Guide for Podcasters) for helping us through this process.

So watch our for the first videos starting on January 15th. Two videos a week for a year. oh boy.

Check out the interview we did with Madge Weinstein of Yeast Radio, featured on Evilvlog.

Technorati Tags: sustainablity, sustainable, podtech, green, sanfrancisco, ryanishungry

Ryan Is Hungry » Commerce

Revisiting :: Swap-O-Rama-Rama: Don’t Commodify, Modify!

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