BY CAROLE ROSNER
Did you know Southern California has a rainy season and that rain runoff can be stored in barrels and reused to water your lawn instead of sprinklers (see sale info on barrels at end of article)? Did you know you use less water and fertilizer when you landscape with plants that are native to Southern California compared to non-native plants? Did you know diapers, t-shirts and flooring can be made out of bamboo?
The Laurel Canyon Avenue exterior of Green and Greener, with its wrought iron gates, is inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright’s Tree of Life Stained Glass Window. Photo courtesy Green and Greener.
I didn’t know any of this (except that it rains here) until I spoke with Studio City native Alegre Ramos, co-owner of Green and Greener, an eco-friendly general store, interior design and landscape center, in Valley Village, close to where she grew up.
After selling products online for a year and a half, Ramos and her husband Sean Cantalupo opened Green and Greener in 2008. Ramos said she hopes the store reminds people of a “community” where all types of products and services are available and people can “reduce so many short car drives.”
Green and Greener owner Alegre Ramos and Chloe. Photo: Carole Rosner
Ramos became even more eco-conscious after studying for an advanced degree in interior design at UCLA with her mentor, architect David Hertz, whose environmentally responsible approach to architecture inspired her to continue her work not just with home design, but with textiles, gardening and indoor products as well.
“Green design is good design,” said Ramos. At Green and Greener, the products are appealing both for design and for function. “You can always go greener” is the motto at Green and Greener.
Green and Greener stocks household items (such as reusable sandwich wrappers with Velcro closures and Smart Strip Power Strips which turn everything off with one button), children’s items (including cute kid-sized backpacks made from recycled water bottles and hemp/bamboo diapers and underwear), beauty products (Have you seen fruit pigmented tinted moisturizers with SPF20 or carrot facial scrubs?), and home decorating supplies (I was excited to see ceiling tiles that look like pressed tin but are made out of cork).
Green and Greener is an eco-general store, interior design and landscape center. Courtesy Green and Greener
Ramos offers a wealth of information on green living. In addition to taking on clients as an interior/landscape designer, she is often hired as a public speaker. She educates her customers on everything from the benefits of a rain barrel to local SAFE collection centers for disposable waste (light bulbs, prescription drugs, e-waste, etc.). She is currently working with actor Mark DeCarlo on a series of webisodes which focus on DeCarlo “greening” his house (www.greenhousevideos.com).
Ramos hopes that by buying locally-made products and understanding how a product is manufactured, people will start to think that “what’s good for the environment is good for me.” At Green and Greener, even without selling giant pickles, sacks of flour or penny candy, this new-generation general store has everything you need to make an eco-difference.
Diapers made of bamboo. Photo: Carole Rosner
Special Event: On October 17 from 12-3pm Green and Greener will be selling extra large rain barrels (holds 1800 gallons!) at a 10% discount.
Alegre Ramos and husband/partner Sean Cantalupo.
Green and Greener 4838 Laurel Canyon Blvd, Valley Village, CA 91607 (818) 358-4313 www.green-and-greener.com Parking on street or in lot in back New Store Hours: Tues – Fri 11am – 6pm, and Sat/Sun 12pm – 5pm Ongoing no-driving discount: 10% off for getting to the physical store without driving (Walking, biking, skating, running and taking the bus all get you ten percent off!)
Carole Rosner is a native Valley Girl who has lived in Studio City for the past 11 years. She is a strong supporter of her local public schools and an active volunteer in her neighborhood. Some of her favorite things to do in Studio City are to celebrate 4th of July at CBS Radford, walk along Ventura Blvd. and browse through the racks at Crossroads Trading Company.
About Karen Young
