At Somewhere Over the Rainbow regard for the Earth and the preservation of our environment is central to our philosophy. Being able to live in an area of such immense natural wonder only emphasizes to us the need to do more in that regard.
At present, we contribute to and seek to promote environmental organizations. We are particular fans of The Nature Conservancy (Their Fort Davis Office is our neighbor on State Street), The Big Bend Conservation Alliance, and The International Dark Sky Association to name three. These great organizations overlap in some areas, but cover a diverse range of ecological and cultural ground. From protecting our skies from light pollution, to preserving the land and opting for better agricultural practices; from keeping the aquifer healthy to assisting indigenous peoples with concerns of lands, rights and sovereignty, they serve our Area, and the Earth.
At our shop, we are taking steps to minimize our carbon footprint and be kind to the planet. We use kraft bags and boxes for packaging in lieu of plastic, and are endeavoring to decrease packaging wherever possible. If you order from us, your package may not be beautiful, because it will likely as not be shipped in recycled and repurposed packing materials. When we do need to purchase New packaging, we are mindful that it be as sustainable and recyclable as possible. However, we don’t throw away what is still on hand and serviceable to replace it with the latest trend in eco-conomy or sustainable living. It is wasteful to do so, and just contributes to the never-ending cycle of blind consumerism. We need to reuse items till the end of their useful lifecycles, and thoughtfully buy New with an eye to quality, serviceability and longevity.
We sell mostly items made of natural or recycled materials, and we offer a selection of environmentally friendly household supplies. We do organic whenever possible, and are pledged to get better as we learn and grow. As we begin to interface more with our adopted community, we hope to help educate and illuminate our neighbors and customers. We are Over the Rainbow over things like vintage goods and clothing. We believe in and have long practiced Slow Fashion. We buy only the things we really love new, and wear them for a long time, or resell or donate what remains serviceable and attractive. While we sell a selection of new Tee Shirts (and print them in-house), we also have a rack of quality vintage and used clothing which has already proved quite popular.
As time goes by, and we get better at being Us, we will also constantly strive to get better at serving the Earth, at making choices in sales and services that impact as positively as possible. This is our West Texas Idyll, and we want to help keep it that way.
Till Next time… Happy Trails