I have been a bike commuter for over 20 years in the City of Toronto. I cycle year-round; I’ve taken the City of Toronto Can-Bike level 2 course; I ride on side streets and major thoroughfares; I’ve received a number of Bike-Friendly Business Awards; Grassroots has won the City of Toronto Bike Commuter Challenge; I’ve given cycling workshops. I’ve been active in the City of Toronto Bike Week/Month since it started – I know bike commuting, and some days being a cyclist scares the heck out of me.

If you buy any To-Go-Ware product at Grassroots (in-store & online) between June 18, 2010 and July 18, 2010 you will be automatically entered into a randomly selected draw to win 2 (two) tickets to Lilith Fair on July 24, 2010 at the Toronto Molson Canadian Amphitheatre.

As an Ecopreneur I am constantly thinking of new business ideas and innovations that I feel will help improve lives, solve problems, and make the world a better place. Many of my ideas get laughed off the drawing board, some are turned into business plans to assess their viability, and a couple of ideas have been pitched to potential investors.

On Thursday April 22 we will be celebrating the 40th anniversary of Earth Day – what a difference 40 years makes! When Grassroots was just starting out I remember organizing the 25th anniversary of Earth Day in the City of Toronto – we were a small group with a small budget that was able to accomplish big things.

As a business owner and operator, one of the toughest parts of the job is working tirelessly, often alone, without anyone to pat you on the back for a job well done. That being said, I feel that I have probably received more recognition than most retailers or environmentalists.

This is money they could be using to buy more land elsewhere. They have been approached by a large, multi-national oil company with an offer to purchase the land – and they are considering the offer. They are considering the offer because the money they would receive would allow them to purchase other large tracts of ecologically sensitive land in other parts of the U.S.

As a leader in environmentally friendly products we have a responsibility to thoroughly research and review products using a number of screens and criteria. At Grassroots we have a questionnaire that we circulate to potential suppliers so we can get to know them, and their products, in a quick, efficient way…

Exactly this time two years ago (before we had a blog), The Ecopreneur Rob Grand was profiled on the Christmas edition of Live Green Toronto on RogersTV. Host Candice Batista speaks to The Ecopreneur about a variety of sustainable gift ideas for the holidays.

Listen to Rob talk about the history of Grassroots, leaving the financial district for the retail industry and why it’s important to “green” your business.

She has never carried a banner and she’s never waved a placard at a protest, but Lee Ann Santos is an active member of one of the largest, most powerful environmental groups in the country – parents of young children.