Gear Box:Ojoba Drums/Natural Bedroom

April 27, 2008

Ojoba Drums

Art Kinney of Unity Fair Trade Marketplace in downtown Traverse City is ready to rumble with a handmade Ojoba drum from the west African country of Ghana. Made of tweneboa hardwood, the craftpersons who make these drums plant a new tree for every one that is harvested. The result? A musical instrument from a renewable resource that supports indigenous people and a cultural tradition. Prices range from $100 to $275.



Natural Bedroom

Sean Burns of the Green Island natural products store in downtown Traverse City recommends this all-natural mattress for a healthy night’s rest. Most mattresses are made with synthetic, petroleum-based materials which can be toxic, including polyurethane foam and harmful fire retardants which “outgas” while you’re sleeping.
By contrast, the all-natural mattresses and bedding at Green Island are made with organic cotton and wool. “Wool is a natural fire-retardant and it also breathes, so the fibers in the mattress dry out quickly, preventing dust mites,” Burns says. “These are made just like traditional mattresses, but without the synthetic materials.”