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Show Friday. buiicir Certifies that ood is eco-friend- fev MARCO HARAKAS South Florida medium-siz- e environmentalists, one of trurning to issues is wood r not to buy. e've all heard how the Id's forests are shrinking. fcst half of the forest that covered Earth is gone, een 1960 and 1990 alone, the Worldwatch Institute, fifth of all the world's trop- fbrests vanished. lid while it's true that the ,ed States has more forest than 50 or 100 years ago, Dominick to rding laSala of World Wildlife ti. many of those replanted ts consist only of a couple tecies of trees, rather than natural 20 to 30 species make up a healthy forest. pes that mean, then, to be a onsible planetary citizen must shun all wood prod- - iie Forest Stewardship ficil, an independent, non- organization headquar- l in Oaxaca, Mexico, has n the guilt out of wood pur- s. Just as you look for the label on a can of jhin-saf- e (caught without flipper- iping drift or gill nets), you can look for the FSC logo on h products, everything from iture and tools to guitars. lie FSC symbol means that forest from which the tim- is managed in an tame sound manner, that selectively harvested, water quality, air quality, wildlife habitat are pro- jd, that diversity of plant ies is preserved. y s a or chain-of-custod- lf Is the assurance that environmentally in his pur- choices. 'he purpose," says Jamie n of FSC, "is to make sure ii consumers see some h) on a product that it has ning. We accredit certifiers nod products, certifiers such mart Wood of the Rainforest nice, based in Vermont, and ilieastern Forest Trust, in Gainesville (Flat. se organizations enrecuy it and assess management tices on the ground." hough the program has Si around since 1993, only yntly has it begun to gain momentum to make a Wed consumer c Seven million acres of forest worldwide are currently J 1 11 ! : - ' ' ' " compa- nies that are leading the effort." Dominick DellaSala, World Wildlife Fund managed under FSC standards. "Twenty certificates have been issued in the United States," says Ervin, from FSC's U.S. in headquarters Waterbury, Vt. "They encompass 1.7 million acres of forest lands." And while certified products still are not plentiful or easy to find, manufacturers of wood products are beginning to see the benefits of buying only certified timber. Those benefits range from improved corporate image and sometimes premium prices to an expanded consumer base. Some companies, eager to buy certified wood, have recently formed the Forest Products Buyers Group. "So far, it's small to medium-siz- e companies that are leading the effort," says DellaSala of WWF. The big impact will come when the major manufacturers sign on, which, he says, is only a matter of time. Looking for the certified label is one way consumers can help preserve forests. Another way is to high-qualit- y reduce wasteful consumption by buying products made of recycled wood. The Nature Company, for example, is using both recycled wood products and certified veneer in the new music listening kiosks being built into its stores nationwide. some "We're making DellaSala. says progress," "We're at a point now where the interested consumer can make a difference at the point of purchase, and it's helping to move conservation along in areas that have stalled." e A directory (' certified wood sources and retailers can be accessed online Web WWF's on page (www. world wild life. org). The site also lists sources of recy- DAILY HKRALP. Home Mugainc Kinulii-Riuil- Newspapers It's secret that gardening can be hard work leading to a pain in the back and blisters on the hand. And then, the plant dies. But take heart, gardeners. Judging from products shown at the recent Western Nursery and Garden Expo in Las Vegas, the new gardening season will be a bit easier, faster and more foolproof. All kinds of garden goods point in that direction. One-ste- p lawn-repa- ir kits, flower gardens, economically correct tools that are easier to use, and flowers even roses that are close to of the prodsome are foolproof ucts that will line the aisles at neighborhood garden centers when serious growing kicks in this spring. Everything from better-fittingarden gloves to seed packets vie for the gardener's eye. At stake are the big bucks gardeners spend on lawn and garden products. According to a Gallup Poll, gardening is the No. 1 leisure activity for U.S. homeowners, a multimillion-dolla- r industry driven by desires for the greenest lawn, the earliest tomato and the most perfect fragrant rose. "The green industry is very healthy right now. It's a combination of the weather and the economy. No one's worrying about El Nino or the stock market," said Steve Atwood, owner of Clyde Robin Seed Co. in Hayward, Calif., and vice presiof California the dent Association of Nurserymen. The rosy garden outlook, he says, "is because so many homeowners are young, and they have money to spend. They're nesting, and they're spending shake-and-gro- w g easy-to-choo- their home and garden. Lucky for us. "Don't expect this trend to turn around any time soon. It's why the garden industry going into the 21st century is going to be in good shape." At the Las Vegas show, more than 650 exhibitors showed every aspect of the green industry from plants and pest controls to garden tools and gift, ideas. As usual in the garden market, practical outweighed glitz, results more important than hype. Here is a sampling: Carpet roses. A pretty pastel pink rose is the newcomer to Monrovia's line of Ground Cover Rose Flower Carpets. This pretty baby named Appleblossom shows multicolored pastel pink petals, a color that contrasts with the iridescent Flower Carpet Pink and the softly clean Flower Carpet White. In California gardens, the Carpet roses have proved to be quite hardy and need no spraying since they're resistant to black spot and mildew. Introduced three years ago, the Carpet roses are showing up in mass plantings, borders and patio pots because they grow like a ground cover very low 20 to 24 inches high. They need trimming once a year when dormant in winter, but that's about all you need to do. They bloom from early spring to early winter. This Kids' gardening. remains a hot market because there are big bucks to be made from parents interested in bonding with their kids in the garden. Kid's gardening products are everywhere. NK Lawn and Garden Products has expanded its line of Kid Garden seeds, but the parents of the youngest also can buy small-siz- e tools, tiny gloves and pint-siz- e planting kits. their money By JOAN JACKSON . "Pooh and Pals" is the name of White Swan's kid line, exclusive licensee of Disney Pooh seed products. Included is a Pooh Wild Bird Feeder, Pooh Outdoor Flower Garden, Pooh flower and vegetable seeds well, you get the idea. The packaging is charming, and the marketing strategy is aimed at "great impulse buying." Better bring the checkbook. Fabulous fakes among the ' pots. I found myself asking, Is it terra-cottor is it poly?" as I ran my hands over the polyethylene pots from Campania. The lightweight polyethylene planters have the natural look of antique terra-cott- a or weathered stone. You have to tap one and then pick it up to tell the difference. The Campania pots range in size from window-bo- x planters to the big stuff price range $24 to $300 depending on size of planters, which are from 14 inches to 52 inches in diameter. "You would pay at least double, if not triple, for real terracotta this size. And these don't crack or chip like terra-cotta,- " David said Tanguay of Campania. Information: (215) on a, 538-110- Little things on wooden sticks. Garden stakes are not exactly new, but they are very au courant, part of the garden art craze that ranges from flamingos to expensive Grecian stonework. stakes These garden are popular because they are generally priced under cheap and cute. They can be $10 tacky or high class, in materials ranging from plastic and wood to glass and brass. I spotted tulips, miniature bird houses, frogs, turtles, sunflowers and butterflies in endless shapes and choices. Judging from the vast array of choices, the only rule is: If it makes you happy, buy it. art-pla- green-thumbe- IT Smm& QSVAyreill Courtyard Home forOnly$585n,o state-by-stat- 1 mi as. HURRY! OFFER EXPIRES SOON. OH COUNTRY (ouKirr wooos WOODS cled goods. "The whole certification effort is where recycling was in the '60s and 70s," says DellaSala. i'agc 15 adgets maite gardening easier ly "So far, it's small to December JWTHE Sot. ; just about recycles at least "Now Hi I 801-235-99- 95 1 DIRECTLY WEST OF UVSC. 1330 S. Geneva Road Orem. everybody their paper. We hope consumers will make those same kinds of informed decisions about the wood products they buy" strMas.,-- 7J rU M tth Ti 1 f fiT " T" IT |
