Events note: Sunny Day Earth Solutions will be one of the presenters at Solutions Vol. 2 on Friday, Oct. 19. This is the second gathering of Solutions Twin Cities, an organization co-founded by Prospect Park resident Troy Gallas. The event runs from 7 p.m. to midnight at Studio 1414, located at 1414 NE Marshall St. Sunny Day Earth Solutions’ Ramy Selim and other “solutionists” will give six-minute, 40 second presentations about their respective efforts in the area of sustainability. The informal event will also feature food, drink and a dj. Check the organization at www.solutionstwincities.org: www.solutionstwincities.org

The following day, Sunny Day earth Solutions will celebrate its grand opening, starting at 12:45 with a “pachyderm paper” workshop for the kids (see story below for explanation), followed by workshops on alternative homes, building bird houses with sticks and mud, reducing life pollution and your persona “footprint” on the planet, solar energy and, finally, the building of a straw bale wall. Visit the Sunndy Day website (listed below) for more information.

Story by John O’Brien:

Inside Sunny Day Earth Solutions, a newly opened store in the Como neighborhood, hangs a sign with this saying: “Solar — it isn’t just for hippies anymore”.

The author of the phrase is Ramy Selim. The Como resident and self-described handyman has worked as an electrician and plumber in the neighborhood for a dozen years, and he is a Midwest Renewable Energy Association (MREA) certified solar site assessor.

You might have seen Selim driving his SVO (short for “straight veggie oil”) car, which he fills up with used oil from the Sportsman’ Pub and Grill, 2124 SE Como Ave.

Selim clearly has a passion for learning and educating others about sustainable living, from recycling to alternative sources of energy. Now, he has brought his passion to Como Avenue, where he opened Sunny Day Earth Solutions at 1000 26th Ave. SE.

Hanging from the ceiling are other hand-written posters with quotes touting the “green” lifestyle, like the late Jimi Hendrix ruminating on peace and love. Beneath them is a store full of products that provide alternative sources of power, are made from recycled materials, or offer solutions for a more sustainable planet.

Some interesting products are chic-looking bags of various sizes and shapes made completely out of recycled billboard material and backpacks with solar panels outside that can charge cell phones and MP3 players.

There are some more unusual items, as well, including ingenious uses of waste products, both human- and animal-made. Take the “Pachyderm Paper” stationery, made from elephant dung from Sri Lanka, where an average adult elephant produces about 500 pounds of dung per day, and, according to company literature, the commodity is freely available. (Check it out at www.mrelliepooh.com.) Next to the elephant dung stationery are products fashioned from some of the billions of single-use chopsticks disposed of every year.

There is a small book section that includes the intriguing title “Organic Wedding.” In the rear of the store there are “compostable picnic products” — cups, plates and cutlery made from corn, sugarcane and potatoes. Next to these are recycled yogurt-cup toothbrushes that should come in handy after a meal that just might include corn, sugarcane or potatoes. Also in this section are biodegradable garbage and leaf bags that can break down in as little as 45 days.

Environmentally friendly products include actor Ed Begley Jr.’s all-natural household cleaning products and Alma Win Cleanut laundry detergent, made from soap nuts and bearing the official vegan seal of approval.

Selim hopes to bolster the retail side of Sunny Day Earth Solutions with workshops, a yearly onsite eco-fair and much more. So far the business has generated a lot of interest, including coverage by local television and radio.

Sunny Day Earth Solutions is open Tuesday–Friday, 10–6:30 p.m.; Saturday, 11–2 p.m.; and Sunday, 12–4 p.m. Check them out online at www.sunnydayearthsolutions.com.

last revised: October 18, 2007

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