Preface

We're passionate environmentalists. But regardless of a person's views on climate change, there is logical reasoning behind living a more efficient lifestyle.

It's just plain good sense to be less wasteful in a world of ever increasing demands on our natural resources and inhabitable living space.

And it makes sense financially: less waste means more money and resources saved.

Our Promise

It is with great pleasure that we are practicing an eco policy for Fiddleheads Violin School & Shop, effective Fall 2006.

We are making a fully dedicated commitment to be consistent in our business' eco-practices and be considered a fully "green" business.

Though a violin school and shop operations could hardly be considered "harmful" to our environment, we strongly feel we business owners can no longer be complacent in our actions.

The time is ripe to raise our standards to a more environmentally conscious level and work diligently to reduce waste and pollution in ways such as:

Packaging - Office - Car - Recycling Violins - Digital Saves Paper - Education

And proving, in the process, that

Going Green Pays for Itself

Fiddleheads, under ownership of passionate environmentalist Rhiannon Schmitt, earned a "Green Business Award" in 2007.

Fiddleheads is the first business in these awards to receive this distinction.

[Rhiannon pictured during her second pregnancy; Photo by Bob Clark]

Packaging: Our First step

We started with something that bothers many people in retail: wasteful packaging and shipping. Many of my products have come to us surrounded by non-biodegradable materials which are harmful for our environment.  Some examples of this are foam peanuts and bubble wrap used in shipping, and plastic bags on string sets, bows and cases.

We have requested that all our suppliers and makers try to refrain from using such materials when shipping to us and our customers if possible. We ask that they instead try to wrap products in materials which can easily be recycled. On our end we're committing to pack fragile items in biodegradable and recycled materials such as starch peanuts and newspaper.

[Unfortunately, sometimes bubble wrap and foam peanuts still make their way to us and our customers So when we do reuse and ship products with such materials we ask that the customers please reuse them as well or find an appropriate way of recycling them.]

A Green, Home-Based Office

We made a conscious choice to operate Fiddleheads from a home location. This option means, in addition to far more flexibility for us, no daily commute, only one building to maintain and thus a smaller carbon footprint and far less costs.

Heating and Electricity

We have optimized the building over the years for peak efficiency. Insulation has been added everywhere! During winter the furnace is on a schedule (cooler at night) and in summer we keep the heat out with window coverings (no air conditioning). Appliances are Energy Star rated and we have replaced most lights with compact fluorescent bulbs.

When it comes time to replace equipment, we choose models which use less electricity and contain safer materials. Even the printer's toner is packed in tiny, #2 recyclable plastic containers - no more nasty disposable cartridges. The printer, computers and monitors use little power when idle and are rated as "eco" models."

These measures have proven cost-effective. For the past 3 years we have paid only around $1400 CAD per year for heating and electricty, where many neighbours pay double this amount and are not even home during the day!

Green Purchases

We purchase vegetable-based ink pens and other environmentally-friendly products for the office as they become available. All other household purchases are made with the environment in mind and we only buy products in limited or no packaging. Finally, we recycle or compost almost everything that leaves the home. Even the baby wears cloth and flushable/compostable diapers!

Car

An overwhelming majority of greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution comes from our vehicles. We made a financial sacrifice and decided to put more money each month into a car that would lessen our carbon footprint.

Our annual gasoline consumption is now less than half of what we got used on the previous vehicle, even with the rising oil prices, thanks to the hybrid car [Toyota Prius].

Idling Gets You Nowhere

We kindly ask that lessons and shop customers please turn their vehicle engines off while waiting outside Fiddleheads. (More than 10 seconds of idling can use more fuel than turning off the engine and restarting it). Learn more about Engine Idling at this link

Recycling Violins?

Since 1999 we have had the business listed in my town's recycling directory. What do we accept? Old music books and instruments.

It's incredible to think how many people just throw away old sheet music and musical instruments when they can be put in the hands of an eager musician. We have since passed many huge boxes of sheet music, books and instruments on to other musicians.

In 2003 Rhiannon started up a non-profit group, the Shuswap Violin Society. The group had a scholarship fund, workshops and public music events. Best yet was the instrument bank where violins and other instruments were donated to the SVS by the public then loaned out by us to players based on skill or need. When the group voluntarily closed, the instruments were donated to the local community orchestra.

This was recycling at its best!

Digital Saves Paper

We produce an multi-page newsletter several times a year which has a growing readership. Originally we made several hundred paper copies but now post the "Fiddleheads Gazette" online. This saves on printing, paper usage and postage. The digital version also allows the Gazette to be experienced in full colour, which is far more eco-friendly in electrons than in ink.

Violin school students can also enjoy digital sheet music emailed to them at home for practice. As for paper sheet music, we don't photocopy reams of music but instead print off individual songs and pieces as needed in lessons.

Education

In order to better understand better environmental practices Fiddleheads has become a member and/or supporter of groups and societies which promote environmentalism [see below].

We have a lending library with many environmental books and DVD's from New Internationalist and other publishers which we am happy to lend to customers who show interest in ecology and our environment. There are many fascinating links posted below from which one can learn volumes!

**Know the old adage about "teaching a man to fish?" Our family donates funds to causes which aim to educate people as we think this is the best way to promote change towards a healthier humanity.

We also sponsor a young child in Guatemala so she can attend school and learn to read. We also support the Wikimedia Foundation which provides "free access to all human knowledge" in over 100 languages and Avazz, which has made global warming a top priority.

See Charitable Giving page

Going Green Pays for Itself

As world citizens faced with global climate change we can get creative and not be put out financially in the process. We know "efficiency renders efficiency" and we will soon find, with some creativity, being friendly to the earth can also be friendly to our finances. 

For example, the carpet manufacturer Interface, Inc has proven time and again that going "green" pays for itself.

We truly believe when an individual takes action other individuals will be inspired to follow suit and in this grass-roots approach real progress can be made.  It is with these very sincere intentions that we dedicate our business to this eco-policy and hope it may inspire others to consider making positive changes in their homes and workplaces.

At present this Green Policy has helped us gain many new customers from across Canada, the USA, the UK, Europe and Asia. It feels good to make a living in a way which is also helping other people realize their personal eco-polices and goals!

Thank You!

Please feel free to discuss your concerns, offer suggestions and provide feedback to us.  Thank you for taking the time to learn about Fiddleheads' Green Policy.