Eco - Eco Profiles

POSTED: Tuesday, Apr. 21, 2009

Ferndale woman finds niche in reusing bridal wear, jewelry

A Bellingham native, Lynda Fell found herself looking for a new career when her job in the medical field was outsourced in 2007.

"I took the unemployment as an opportunity to turn my longtime love of jewelry collecting into a Web-based business," says Fell.

She soon found a niche. Her business, Gems & Jewels: The Little Green Formal Shop, offers gently used - but still gorgeous - gowns and jewelry for special occasions.

"I felt someone needed to educate and encourage brides on how easy it is to cut waste as they plan their nuptials," she says.

Fell also blends thriftiness and waste reduction into her home life.

"It isn't taking one obvious step and then calling it good, it is about implementing little steps that will have the biggest impact," says Fell. "When one of my children tells me they need more pencils for school, they'll wait until my next trip into town (to reduce pollution and gasoline)."

ABOUT LYNDA CHELDELIN FELL

Age: 43.

Residence: Ferndale.

Occupation: Owner of Gems & Jewels: The Little Green Formal Shop.

Mode of transport: 1996 Dodge Neon.

Average fuel bill: $100 per month.

Eco-cheat: "I feel like I'm cheating by driving a vehicle that is not a hybrid, but I also stand firm against having a car payment. Thriftiness wins out in this case."

Turning point: "While visiting my husband's family in Australia during the summer of 2007, it was apparent that Australians' recycling and reducing practices are quite ahead of us Americans."

First step: Organic rose gardening.

Favorite green Web site: thegreenguide.com.

Pet peeve: "The amount of waste produced by the bridal industry."

Personal eco victory: "Setting up a family recycling process that doesn't make our home's exterior look tacky. As a large family, we produce a rather large amount of recyclable waste, so I purchased five black exterior garbage bins. Although they are neatly lined just outside our front door for easy access, thanks to patio chairs and some nice landscaping that draws the eye away, the bins aren't readily noticed."

BEST TIP

Always choose the least wasteful option.