total green

Can a t-shirt save the planet?  Barley and Birch, a line of eco-friendly childrenswear, thinks so.  Their motto of “unabashedly organic, planet-saving clothes” pretty much says it all.  Defiance native Kyle Smitley began B&B in January 2009 with the goal of giving children the safest, most organic, and least environmentally harmful clothing possible.  In that quest, the California-based company has made a commitment to deal with manufacturers and suppliers that use solar energy.  They use certified organic cotton and water-based inks without chemicals.  The clothing line is also produced in the United States, to reduce the pollution of trans-ocean shipping.  The line offers tees, lapneck tees, dresses, sweaters, and onesies in several sizes, colors, and designs.  Barley and Birch will launch their online store on November 1 and are sold through 30 retailers nationwide, including locally at Phoenix Earth Food Coop at 1447 W. Sylvania Ave. in Toledo.  A portion of the proceeds from the line also helps fund schools and clinics in Haiti and El Salvador, with plans to expand their work to Kenya in 2011. www.barleyandbirch.com.