MOSS IS THE NEW GREEN. The Twin Cities' first wide-ranging eco-lifestyle store, Twin Cities Green, has rebranded as Moss Envy and relocated from Uptown Minneapolis to Calhoun Commons on Excelsior Boulevard. The new store is intentionally more sophisticated and more mainstream. And it's in the same center as a Whole Foods store (hey, even environmentally conscious shoppers appreciate convenient parking). Owners Tina and Ryan North believe the general public is ready to incorporate green into their lives. They offer an array of products, from clothes and makeup to bedding and furniture, that make it easier. "Don't feel like you have to do it all - that gets overwhelming," Tina North said. Here are five places to start.

1. Flooring. Moss Envy's wood floor used to be a 100-year-old Minnesota barn, and you, too, can incorporate reclaimed flooring into your home. Every purchase supports a local company, and each client gets a framed picture of what the floor used to be.

2. Countertops. Made with 75 percent recycled content composed of post-industrial or post-consumer materials and bound by an environmentally friendly resin, countertops from Eco by Cosentino are durable enough to rival granite.

3. Mattresses. Clear the chemicals - and the bedbugs - out of your bedroom. The mattresses sold here are made of latex, wool and cotton. Crib size available, too.

4. Air fresheners. SunLeaf Naturals diffusers are made entirely with essential oils by a Waconia-based company.

5. Vintage home decor. Authentic midcentury furnishings and accents are sprinkled throughout the store, like a wood highboy in great condition for just $180. Moss Envy: 3056 Excelsior Blvd., Minneapolis; 612-374-4581; mossenvy.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Jean Pieri)
(Jean Pieri)