What's the oddest request you've ever received?
Hmmm, I’m not sure I should say that in print! Let me just say that we see and talk to a LOT of people, and they always find a way to surprise us! Just when you think you can’t be taken off guard, someone will stop in and prove us wrong.
What advice do you have for potential business owners?
Find out what services are out there and available for FREE before you pay for a service. At the same time, be willing to pay for really specialized help. It’s usually worth it. Also, be prepared to work long hours. You really better love what you’re doing. If you’re passionate about what you do, the hours won’t seem so long.
Where's your favorite place for an after-work meal?
Most retailers would tell you, this doesn’t happen often. After work, mom duties kick in (we have 2 kids, 6 & 8,) then sometimes it’s back to work again! However, if we do get out, we need gluten-free options, so we love Mellow Mushroom & Northstar Café for a causal night out & like Cameron Mitchell Restaurants if it’s a fancier occasion. They actually have full gluten-free menus & don’t simply suggest you order a salad or a sandwich with no bun!
What are some of your most popular products?
We have such a wide range of products, so our most popular vary widely. Our countertop compost pail is always a hit. It comes in stainless steel or bamboo & looks similar to a cookie jar, but it has a set of 2 carbon filters in the lid and is meant to collect food scraps until you compost them. Because of the filters it doesn’t smell at all, and you don’t get fruit flies etc., even if you let the food collect for a week before composting. Gifts of all sorts, from household accessories to jewelry, are also very popular since many are either handmade locally, and/or fair trade. We also have a hard time keeping our stainless steel reusable drink straws and our Charlies’s Laundry Soap & Household Cleaners in stock! On the other hand, come spring, our rain barrels & composters become our most popular items. They look like big planters and have an easy to install diverter. Having this diverter avoids overflow issues when the barrel is full and it can be removed for winterizing too.
Do you play music in your store? What kind?
Yes, our music is quite an eclectic mix. You can expect to hear everything; Jack Johnson, Coldplay, U2, John Lennon, Dave Mathews, the Beatles and even a little Frank Sinatra and Barry White too. And what green store would be complete without an occasional John Denver song?
Which one of your products do you use most?
I use many things daily: Lavender Bergamot Body Wash with recycled bath pouf sponge, Zum facial toner, Lavera mineral makeup, & finally I finish the day with my Booda Butter body butter before bed. That’s what I use the MOST, but I also love my herb snips & tomato knife, my SnackTaxi reuseable snack/sandwich bags, and our Way Out Wax candles. They are scented with nothing but essential oils and are heavenly, if I do say so myself! There’s also hardly a day that goes by that I’m not wearing jewelry from the store! That’s one of the best “perks” of the job since I’ve always been somewhat of a jewelry “addict” of sorts. If Steve, my husband were answering, he’d say, “the Zip-It Strip” which is a small plastic pronged strip that cleans drains without the need for chemicals.
Do you have a website or online store?
Yes! We just launched our online store at 11am on 11/11/11. Since it is a new addition, we are still adding new products and information weekly, if not daily at this point. You can find us at www.GenerationGreenStore.com. You can also follow us on Facebook & Twitter to get more frequent updates, info on store promotions (SALES!), new product introductions, green living tips & more!
FB: http://www.facebook.com/GenerationGreenStore
Twitter: @GenGreenStore
The Johnson's Recipe for Gluten-Free Black Bean Lasagna:
1 8 ounce box Gluten Free Lasagne Noodles (or your favorite noodle)
2 15 ounce cans black beans, drained
1/2 cup chopped onion (optional)
1/2 cup chopped bell pepper (optional)
2 cloves garlic, minced or shaved over a microplane
1 32 ounce jar of pasta sauce (our local favorite is Mid's from Navarre Ohio)
1 12 ounce container of ricotta OR cottage cheese
1 8 ounce package cream cheese, softened
1 bunch fresh spinach, quickly wilted in a pan, OR 1 box frozen spinach, thawed &
drained
1 large tomato, sliced
1 tablespoon olive oil
Cook noodles according to package directions & drain. Mash one can of beans (I use my avocado masher, but a fork can also be used) and set aside. Add olive oil to pan; add onion, green pepper & garlic. Cook & stir until tender & just starting to brown. Add mashed beans, un-mashed beans and tomato sauce. Heat through.
In a large mixing bowl combine cottage cheese (or ricotta), cream cheese & spinach. I also use my avocado masher to blend these easily.
Spray a 9x13 glass baking dish with cooking spray. Put a thin layer of sauce in bottom of pan. Lay 3 noodles in pan, then 1/3 of the bean mixture, then 1/3 of the cheese/spinach mixture. Repeat layers.
Bake covered at 350 for 40-45 minutes (or until heated through & bubbling). Let stand for 10. Garnish with sliced tomatoes*.
*Note: in the winter I usually put the tomatoes on then bake for an additional 5 minutes. In the summer, I prefer the cool tomatoes as a garnish on top.
A helpful tip from Heather Johnson:
"Fresh is always better. Whenever possible use fresh ingredients. If you can't find some of the main ingredients, at least use fresh herbs. It's just one of the many perks to eating fresh, local, seasonal foods; they simply taste better."
