Green Scene

by Virginia Rasch

A blog featuring some of the successful sustainable initiatives by Kootenay businesses.

Welcome to Green Scene—a blog featuring environmentally friendly or sustainable initiatives. The Kootenays are a special region in British Columbia with amazing natural beauty. We are looking for stories about people, organizations or businesses that show a fresh, green approach to sustaining this precious environment. Please submit your idea, and we will follow up with you for a possible entry on this page.

Virginia is a writer and copy editor with Koocanusa Publications. She is an avid outdoor recreationist in all seasons and has lived in the Kootenays for 10 years. With degrees in the natural sciences, she has worked as a tour guide, an environmentalist, a writer, and a copy editor of scientific publications. Virginia now brings her passion for everything green to Kootenay Business. View all of Virginia Rasch’s articles

Recent Green Scene articles

Shade Sails Canada staff is passing out bags from their second company at their Dragons’ Den appearance in October.

West Kootenay, Revelstoke, Environment, Retail, Small Business Vibrant and stylish bags are created by the Green Bag Company in Revelstoke, B.C.

The Green Bag Company in Revelstoke, B.C., is creating upscale, upcycled bags of all sizes and shapes

by Virginia Rasch

CFO Krystle Seed, CEO and president Ken Kalesnikoff, and COO Chris Kalesnikoff visit Kallesoe Machinery in Denmark to see their new state-of-the-art glulam line in action.

West Kootenay, Castlegar, Environment, Forestry Kudos to the Kalesnikoff Lumber Company

The fourth generation keeps Kalesnikoff Lumber Company a proud and successful enterprise with its forward-thinking approach to forestry

by Virginia Rasch

A group of Silverton citizens hold up signs in support of the 100% Renewable Kootenays campaign.

West Kootenay, Nelson, New Denver, Rossland, Salmo, Slocan, Energy, Environment Five West Kootenay communities are leading the way in renewable energy

Five West Kootenay communities have signed on to the EcoSociety’s 100% Renewable Kootenays campaign. Meet the early adopters of change.

by Virginia Rasch

Darcy Wanuk is wearing one of her creations, a jean jacket with swaths of added cloth.

East Kootenay, Kimberley, Environment, Small Business Darcy Wanuk repurposes old textiles into funky, fun clothes for women

Darcy Wanuk started stitch + cloth Ecodesigns in Kimberley, B.C., to reconstruct old textiles into funky women’s clothing

by Virginia Rasch

As manager of Cominco Gardens, Dan Matheson spends a lot of time in the gardens. Here, he is standing next to tall purple delphiniums.

East Kootenay, Kimberley, Tourism Cominco Gardens: A floral work of art

While checking out Kimberley’s visitor attractions, don’t forget the flowerful Cominco Gardens

by Virginia Rasch

Attila Lepsis standing in front of distillery.

East Kootenay, Cranbrook, Cuisine Elderberry Bros. Farms sells schnapps and more

The Elderberry Bros. Farms in Cranbrook, B.C., sells many elderberry delights, including schnapps

by Virginia Rasch

Paul Denchuk and Meredith Hamstead are standing together in front of a home.

East Kootenay, Invermere, Energy, Environment, Small Business thinkBright Homes: A lighter touch on the planet

thinkBright Homes, based in Invermere, B.C., is at the cutting edge of the green building industry

by Virginia Rasch

The two owners, Petra and Tiffany Ware, are standing in their store with body care products on shelves behind them.

East Kootenay, Cranbrook, Health & Wellness, Retail, Small Business Your nose knows the difference in natural body care products

Petra Naturally in Cranbrook, B.C., expanded to offer even more natural bath and body products and loose teas

by Virginia Rasch

Shown is the interior of a tiny house, showing the kitchen in the foreground with lots of wood everywhere.

West Kootenay, Nelson, Environment, Small Business Nelson Tiny Houses are big on charm

Nelson Tiny Houses in Nelson, B.C., proves that downsizing can mean upgrading

by Virginia Rasch

Two female students are wearing warm layers of clothes and are holding a sign that says

West Kootenay, Castlegar, Nelson, Energy, Environment A Cool Challenge

Selkirk College is participating in the BC Cool Campus Challenge to lower its environmental footprint

by Virginia Rasch

The two owners of The Purist Pantry are shown seated: Todd and Melinda Kopet.

West Kootenay, Rossland, Cuisine, Environment, Small Business The Purist Pantry in Rossland offers healthy foods from scratch

Melinda and Todd Kopet create healthy foods from scratch out of The Purist Pantry in Rossland, B.C.

by Virginia Rasch

Alicia and Nicola Herman stand in front of their storefront, Grow Tea & Elixir Corner in Kimberley, B.C.

East Kootenay, Kimberley, Environment, Health & Wellness, Small Business Growing a sustainable business in Kimberley, B.C.

Grow Tea & Elixir Corner won the Kimberley chamber’s Environmental Stewardship Excellence Award in 2018

by Virginia Rasch

Jill Bentley-Lobban stands in front of her new store in Kimberley.

East Kootenay, Kimberley, Environment, Health & Wellness, Retail, Small Business Fulfill your shopping needs at fullfill in Kimberley

Newly opened fullfill in Kimberley, B.C., is a green alternative to traditional stores

by Virginia Rasch

A bugling bull elk sits in a forest opening.

East Kootenay, Environment, Forestry National Forest Week 2018

National Forest Week (September 23 to 29, 2018) celebrates the research we undertake in our forests, including studies on our Rocky Mountain elk

by Virginia Rasch

Owners Gabriele and Frank Lorenz are standing in front of the Lido Motel in Radium Hot Springs, B.C.

East Kootenay, Radium Hot Springs, Energy, Entertainment and Hospitality The Lido Motel in Radium Hot Springs, B.C., has your values at heart

Green travellers are enthusiastically welcomed at the Lido Motel in Radium Hot Springs, B.C.

by Virginia Rasch

Lana Schanzenbach is holding several of her Little Lunches Reusable Wraps.

East Kootenay, Creston, Cuisine, Environment, Small Business Little Lunches Reusable Wraps reduce your plastic use

Little Lunches Reusable Wraps keep food fresh and reduce plastic use in your lunchbox

by Virginia Rasch

Colourful beehives are lined up underneath blooming apple trees.

Agriculture, Environment Bee involved in bee health

The Province of BC has announced the new BeeBC Program

by Virginia Rasch

A woman's hands hold an eggplant at a farmers market stall. A chalk sign reads

Agriculture, Environment Farm fresh, close to home—here’s a list of all the farmers markets in the Kootenay region

Buying local gives back to your community and your health. Read on to find out where you can get the freshest, organic products at these Kootenay farmers market

by Zoë Dupley