Saturday, July 4, 2009
Business
Comment

Fair-trade practices : Annapolis businesses offering more socially conscious goods

Published 12/12/06

The daughter of a reiki master who ran a country inn, Carleen Birnes never considered herself part of mainstream culture.

Photo no longer available
By Paul W. Gillespie--The Capital (Above) Inside Bead Bungalow on Annapolis Street, storer co-owner Carleen Birnes talks to shoppers Leigh Spatafore and her sister Skyler Spatafore about fair-trade goods. (Below) These bamboo bowls are considered fair-trade goods because they are sold by companies that ensure that the artisans who make them are given fair wages and good employment opportunities.
Advertisement

As a teenager, she visited a homeopathic doctor for checkups, exercised with morning yoga and ate organic foods. Her lifestyle is trendy by today's standards, so it's no surprise that the 33-year-old Severna Park resident is now at the forefront of another local and national movement: fair trade.

Fair-trade items are distributed by companies that ensure producers in Third World countries are paid well, have good hours, and an opportunity for advancement - no sweatshops allowed.

At Ms. Birnes' store,...

This story has expired!
You can purchase the full text in our news archives.
YOUR COMMENTS

If you encounter other problems, please email ewiffin@capitalgazette.com and include your name, username, and any errors or messages that are displayed. The more information you can provide, the better able we will be to assist you.

In order to post or vote on a comment, you must be signed in with a hometownannapolis account.

LOGIN TO POST A COMMENT

If you encounter other problems, please email ewiffin@capitalgazette.com and include your name, username, and any errors or messages that are displayed. The more information you can provide, the better able we will be to assist you.

Username: Password:
Jul 11 - Canoe Excursion
Jul 18 - Herp Search
video
video
Home of the Week: Maureen McCunn
video
video
Golf Tip 2: Chipping
video
video
Tea Party Protest
video
video
Project Funway
video
video
U.S. Naval Academy Oath of Office 2009
video
video
U.S. Naval Academy Induction Day 2009

• BUY PHOTOS & VIDEO>>

SPECIAL: Two-for-one 4x6 photo reprints

slideshow
slideshow
Photos of the Week Ending July 3 2009
slideshow
slideshow
Home of the Week: Maureen McCunn
slideshow
slideshow
Osprey banding
slideshow
slideshow
Naval Academy Induction Day 2009
slideshow
slideshow
Bill Burton anniversary celebration
slideshow
slideshow
Carr's Beach Historic Music Festival
#1 - Double murder suspect held without bail
#2 - Hundreds protest taxes at City Dock
#3 - Former SP insurance agent guilty of fraud
#4 - 2009 Kunta Kinte festival canceled
#5 - Police charge ex-boyfriend in double slaying
#6 - Jones family to sue county, Board of Ed
#7 - Employee fatally shot by county police described as erratic
#8 - Police arrest 4 in burglary spree
#9 - Man wounded in city shooting
#10 - Plebes report for duty
#1 - Jones family to sue county, Board of Ed (30 comments)
#2 - Hitler comparison leads to call for GOP leader's resignation (21 comments)
#3 - Two shot dead in Admiral Heights home (15 comments)
#4 - Bike rider struck on West Street (13 comments)
#5 - Pharmacist accused of dealing drugs (11 comments)
HomesInAnnapolis.com

ARNOLD

Edgewater
Advertise
Archive
Blogs
Calendar
Comments
Contact us
Cookbook
Slideshows
Video
AP Video
SUBMIT INFO:
Anniversary
Band info
Birth
Calendar event
Engagement
Letter
Obituary
Wedding