I Wished for Cosa Verde, and It Was So

I've been wishing for an online marketplace specializing in eco-friendly products. I've been longing for a curated site that separates the crafty wheat from the green-washed chaff. It's as if Liz Grotyohann and Jeff Fein-Worton of Cosa Verde answered my mental pleas. Their beautiful gallery, launched in February, connects indie makers with environmentally conscious shoppers.

A sampling of Cosa Verde's 120 eco-conscious vendors

To date, CV hosts 120 subscribers peddling jewelry, home decor, stationery, apparel, beauty products, and more. Sellers' wares must fit into at least one "green" category, such as organic, repurposed, or cruelty-free. Icons in each product listing indicate exactly how it's eco-friendly -- a refreshing dose of transparency.

Cosa Verde offers many ways to find a treasure: you can sample "today's picks," read a "featured store" sidebar, type a keyword, browse a product category, or even ask the search engine to "surprise" you. A huge benefit for both sellers and buyers, Liz and Jeff handpick the designers they represent, so your searches turn up a manageable batch of only high-quality merch.

The engaged co-owners walk the walk with biz practices that make my eyes misty. For example, they purchase clean, renewable energy for their home office; strive to be paperless; plant 10 trees for every new store opened; and donate 10 percent of all sellers' fees to charities such as Accion International.

Liz and Jeff are no pretentious, mean greenies. I chatted with the couple at May's Summit of Awesome and noted that while they're thinking big, they're still making small lifestyle changes when they can, humbly working their day jobs, and sharing silly anecdotes about their cats.

Lovely co-owners Liz and Jeff and their kitty children

Cosa Verde and its creators epitomize for me what the new wave of craft is all about. If you're selling, make a product with an impact beyond putting a few bucks in your pocket. If you're buying, carefully consider the maker and process you're supporting. Thanks to this new website, the DIY marketplace is now an even more inspiring place to be.