Eco Design Fair

Today, Michael, Werner, and I went to the 5th annual Eco Design Fair at Jiashan market. The weather was warm, a lot of people were out, and for the first time I noticed green leaves sprouting on the trees. Finally finally spring is here.

There was an organic farmers market, which was just a few stalls of small vegetables...amazing how we're so used to the jumbo-sized everything we find at supermarkets. I like farmers markets, but I didn't feel like spending 20 kuai on celery today. The courtyard area was eco-friendly baby products and clothing, but since I don't have a baby... There were also workshops and lectures throughout the day.

Adam Minter, blogger at shanghaiscrap.com, was one of the keynote speakers, and he gave a very interesting speech about the scrap recycling industry. His main point was that in order for recycling to become more efficient, it has to become more profitable. Recycling is already a huge industry. Although a lot of people disparage the recycling industry as dirty and a sham, most factories do their job efficiently and well. I learned that almost half the world's steel is from scrap...it gives me a newfound appreciation for the street scrap peddlars with their ridiculously overloaded bicycle carts.

After the speech, we went and got free vegan ice cream at the Freshary booth...black sesame and vanilla swirl cone. Two little French kids came up and asked for strawberry ice cream--in perfect Chinese. My brain was a bit confused.

We stopped briefly at Source, a clothing store/gallery, went to 85 C bakery, and then went home just as it started to rain. I guess Shanghai weather will always be this bipolar, even in the spring.