visitor at visitor center
We recently had an old friend travel across the Earth to visit Visitor Center! Daisuke Matsushima, co-founder/partner of Paddlers Coffee and old friend.
It had been over 10 years since we last met in Tokyo for the Deus Customs Grand Opening in Harajuku, Japan.
He came to the U.S.A. on important business to go to REI, hike and purchase all the American potato chips he could find. Daisuke also shared his vision of TOO WOOD, a new home-goods concept based on products made entirely of wood. VC was honored to help Daisuke brand his new venture - “TOO WOOD IS TOO GOOD.”
Some of the VC tour included Howard Finster’s Paradise Garden, Cloudland Canyon State Park, Kroger, The High Museum, Dekalb Farmers Market and other American novelties like Chick-Fil-A.
Thanks for visiting Uncle Daisuke.
TOO WOOD: too gooD
TOO WOOD is reimagining everyday objects and not only solving aesthetic issues but beautifying everyday-life.
Co-founder of Paddlers Coffee, Daisuke Matsushima, teamed up with Koishi Woodworks in the Tokushima Prefecture, who is an expert at woodworking and product ideation.
It’s all about integrating quality and timeless design with current products. For example, taking a common touch light and adding a seamless wooden base. Elevating common household products give them a prominent and loved place in your life. Each item is designed to create a sense of pleasure.
OTRO LADO: NATURAL BEESWAX CANDLES
VC has partnered with Otro Lado candle company to help promote These traditional handmade treasures. Each bundle is created by the family of Abuelita Agustina in Huautla, Oaxaca, Mexico. Along with beeswax candles, Agustina has been working with the sacred mushrooms of Huautla since she was a child. She is one of the few remaining elders that learned from María Sabina, the prominent mushroom healer from the region.
The candles are handmade with beeswax collected from hives within the mountains of Huautla. This cultural tradition helps support local ecosystems and pollinators that are vital to our living world. Every candle burns with a different intensity. This elemental and sacred force has the potential to take you on a meaningful journey.
All proceeds from the sale of these candles go to Agustina and her family, and help support the Huatla community and the special guidance that is offered there.
Contact Visitor Center for purchase and more information.
Expose the dark and enjoy this special illumination.
HIDDEN BY NATURE: A story of stripes
While VC was conducting research on mosquito repellent, we had a very simple question, “how do other animals repel buzzing, biting mosquitoes?”
Turns out scientific research has been done on this topic, specifically on zebras and their stripes.
The University of California led a series of experiments to better understand how stripes manipulate the behavior of biting flies. In the study, flies were just as attracted to zebras as they were to horses, but when the fly attempted to land on the zebra, they fly past them or bump into them. Zebra’s stripes were found to protect it from blood-sucking insects, as well as acting as camouflage.
New research suggests that being stripy may also work for people in remote tribal communities who paint their bodies in monochrome shades. The traditional body-paintings of tribespeople in Africa, Australia and Papua New Guinea may offer protection from the blood-sucking horseflies abundant in those areas.
This compelling information lead us to team up with Distefeno Shop in Guatemala, to produce unique mosquito repellent wearables. Our button up cabana shirt and matching pants will surely keep you hidden in nature
Cosmoto: a voice in Zambia
Our good friends and UK collaborators, Robin Mello & Yassa Khan, travel into the heart of Zambia to record the story of anti-poaching efforts. Cosmoto steps inside the mind of three Zambian anti-poaching scouts, a visceral deep dive into the psyche of those who put their lives on the line to battle for the future of our environment.
Director: Robin Mellor / Cinematography: Yassa Khan / Editor: Dfran / Score: David Ayo
Grade: Adam Clark / Sound Mix: Liam Conwell