Gifts from the Top of the World

Here's a great story from right here in Maine! A few years ago, Jeff Clapp was sitting at home watching a documentary about the oxygen cylinders and other debris left behind by mountaineers climbing Mount Everest. He was dismayed that this beautiful place was littered with garbage, and he decided to do something about it!

He traveled to Nepal and worked with Sherpas to collect the cylinders. Now, he is sculpting them into amazing bells and bowls. He sells them on his website, Bells from Everest. If you can't afford a bell or bowl, you can consider purchasing the Everest Ornament, which is a clear glass ornament filled with strands of metal that are created from the carving process, another example of his philosophy of not letting anything go to waste. I hear that these were hot gifts in Hollywood this past Christmas!

Jeff's eventual goal is to teach the Sherpas to do the metalworking so that they can set up their own sustainable enterprise. I think this is a great story of innovation and social action!

Recycled Fashion

This week we will host the oral presentations and announce the winners of our Green Products Competition. In recognition of this event, this week I will post about interesting businesses that recycle materials to make their products.

I have been eying these bags for some time now. Ecoist develops products made from recycled, organic, or earth-friendly materials, that are manufactured through a fair trade network. I love the clutches made from candy and bottle wrappers, the totes made from recycled rice bags, and the bags made from old movie posters. What's also great is that each one is unique, so you will stand out in a crowd.

Back at the Blog

We're finally back at it! Welcome to our new blog for the University of Maine Foster Student Innovation Center. The FSIC provides the knowledge, tools and inspiration to help Maine students become innovators and entrepreneurs. We're helping them realize their dreams to start businesses, non-profits and creative projects.

A lot has happened since we originally started a blog, including our name change. We are very honored that the Student Innovation Center has been named in recognition of Bion and Dorain Foster. These two very generous people are dedicated to helping our students succeed, and they have plenty of experience to share with us. Bion has started nearly 50 businesses in his career, and Dorain has many years of management experience, particularly in the hospitality industry.

We have been working with many new students on businesses and projects, and several of our existing student businesses have won grants, received investment, taken on new customers, and created new products. It was an exciting fall!

This blog will feature information about noteworthy events, cutting-edge businesses, cool products, our favorite innovators, and the challenges and opportunities facing innovators and entrepreneurs. Check here regularly for valuable information and when you need a little inspiration to keep you going on the trailblazing path.

My closing thought for the day: "All truths are easy to understand once they are discovered; the point is to discover them." - Galileo Galilei