France Bans the Bag

France passed a law banning the distribution of free plastic bags beginning 1/1/2010. Most shoppers and most stores have voluntarily given them up already. Though you have to remember, this is the country that has used baskets for EVERYTHING for decades.

The French in general, according to most reports and polls, are keenly aware of plastic bags' influence on the environment.

This pic is from the Parc in Beaune. It's pond is full of all kinds of birds & fowl and there are some huge nesting houses for them right on the water. In summer especially the parc is packed and the kids line up for the merry-go-round. We love to "pique-nique" there and then walk through the adjacent vineyards. There is never a scrap of litter in the parc and the water is very clean as it comes from the local montagne.

Champignons

While we're talking about the Saturday market, here is a good photo from last fall. At the market, you don't just go get "mushrooms"...there are 10 kinds of mushrooms here, all fresh, of course. It's like having Berkeley Bowl at your doorstep!

Note that all of the mushrooms are displayed in baskets.....

R took this photo btw and I have to give him credit.

My boyfriend of several years, R, and I have spent a lot of time in France. I lived in Paris for 2 years too so the whole French thing is not new to me!

So this is where it all started, in the market in Beaune, in Burgundy, when I left town before he did but sent him back to the Saturday market to get a basket I was obsessed with (yeah, that's the right word!); incidentally it was my Eze basket GM.

Everyone uses baskets in Beaune and you see a wide range at the market on Saturday, which draws a large crowd from the region. I will post more photos of the market later.

The History of Baskets in One Post

Welcome to my Blog! I wanted a way to write about everything that has happened up until this point in the creation of French Basketeer. Some people have said "you did that so fast!" but it was August 2007, close to a year ago, when I registered the domain name and began working on the concept. Since then I have been busy sourcing the baskets, tweaking the designs and pulling together all of the business and creative elements of the company. We officially launched on May 31, 2008.

There are stories to tell here, not just about starting a business, but about being environmentally conscious (and looking good while you do it!); keeping up with the rest of the world on eliminating plastic bags; aiding women in the 13th poorest country in the world...France and French influences are woven throughout the story...I'll stop there for now.

Please check back often for most posts, and above all, I hope everyone uses and enjoys their baskets!