It’s all about green, isn’t it?

From Wikipedia, the color associated with Saint Patrick is Blue. Over the years the color green and its association with Saint Patrick's day grew. Green ribbons and Shamrocks were worn in celebration of St Patrick's Day as early as the 17th century. Saint Patrick is said to have used the shamrock, a three-leaved plant, to explain the Holy Trinity to the pagans and the wearing and display of shamrocks and shamrock-inspired designs have become a ubiquitous feature of the day.  In the 1798 rebellion to make a political statement, Irish soldiers wore full green uniforms on March 17th in hopes of catching public attention.

In the world of Pino Gelato, use the word in the Old English style; growan, "to grow".  Green symbolizes nature, ecology, and environment.

As you know, we at Pino Gelato have incorporated green practices in our day to day lives and business operations.  We know many of our fans subscribe to the same practices and we applaud you! We recently discovered something that will interest you. The EcoCradle™ line of products from Ecovative Design, made from mushrooms!

Yes, we said MUSHROOMS!

Ecovative Design uses fungal mycelium, which is, basically, the roots of mushrooms. The mycelium acts like a glue to bond agricultural byproducts like rice hulls or cotton gin trash together into an all-natural rigid material. The finished material has similar material properties and cost as Styrofoam. BUT, unlike everyone’s favorite packing material, EcoCradle™ are 100% biodegradable and compostable! They will do well in your garden and home compost pile but the implications for our environment are larger when you think of a landfill. OooH. 

The Ecovative Design team is now working on prototypes for insulated coolers.

We think this is awesome. Speaking of Gardens, what are you planting this year? Flowers? Veggies? What grows well in your climate? Soil? 

The Green Scoop

You know what I’m talking about.

So sweet…

So refreshing…

So green…

I’m talking about my favorite flavor of gelato - Mint Chocolate Chip! I must say that it is a delectable choice for a pleasant winter day. Sitting on a plaza or park bench with a charming little dish of Italian dessert paradise. Enjoying the relaxing moment of life and allowing the gelato to cleanse the palette and soul… sigh.

Whoa…! Sorry about the daydream… back to blogging!

Well, as much as I do love my mint chip gelato (and I do!), there is something else that I have been wanting to share with you.


Do you know what else is sweet, refreshing, and green?

Actively taking care of the environment everyday.

Last month, we shared with you many of things we are doing at Pino Gelato to help take care of the environment so we can all continue to enjoy life on this beautiful planet. If you didn’t have a chance to read it, scroll down a bit to January 20th and see what kinds of actions we are taking!

We want you to be a part of our eco-friendly family of gelatorians! Come into Pino Gelato and share the things you have done over the past month to change your impact on the world.

If you didn’t have a chance to change anything in busy-busy January, don’t lose your chocolate chips. You can still do something! After googleing and facebooking, like many of us do on the weekends, we noticed that this week is the Random Acts of Kindness Week. What a perfect time to make a difference?!

We challenge you to dedicate this week to making at least one change in your life that can support the environment!

When you have done that random act of kindness for the earth, then act kindly toward your community and society by posting that idea here on the blog, on our face book page, and/or tell your friends about it!

As individuals, we may not feel like we can make a difference, but we are all a part of a giant green scoop of difference. You are the chocolate chips that make that mint gelato so sweet and worth changing for.

Take a moment today to come to Pino Gelato and start making a difference!

Change YOUR world, one scoop at a time!

Hello Gelatorians!

First of all, have you celebrated your new year's resolution success with a little gelato or espresso at Pino Gelato yet? You could even have some as a little pick-me-up to get you going again. :)
Remember at the beginning of January when we shared the Corners of 4 with you and explained that we are looking to help you with your resolutions… and we weren’t joking!

Here we are making a statement!

As the world is changing, both in our communities and on a larger scale, we recognize that people around the globe are making a difference by being aware of their actions and how they affect the environment. At Pino Gelato, we know we can either harm ecosystems or make a choice to positively support the environment. We are consciously making the decision everyday to be friends of the environment, and we invite YOU to change with us! 

When you support Pino Gelato, you can rest assured that your delicious gelato is part of the “going green” process. We are:

Switching to biodegradable cups

Utilizing biodegradable trash can liners

Switching to biodegradable napkins and paper towels

Switching to-go pints and quarts containers to biodegradable ones
Here are some more easy but significant changes we have made that you can also do!

　
Replacing the fluorescent bulbs with LED (Low Emitting Diode) lights
Recycling all plastic packaging

Recycling all corrugated cardboard boxes

Participating in Palmetto Electric's Green Power initiative to purchase electricity generated by renewable resources                 - For those outside of HHI, call or message your electric company and encourage them to purchase “green power”

We invite you to implement a few of these ideas in your home, and we’ll check on you in a couple of weeks to see how you are doing.

Consider this:

“Be the change you wish to see in the world.” - Gandhi