Environmental Graffiti

Environmental Graffiti Will be Changing Dramatically Soon. Get a Sneak Preview By Signing Up Here.

From EcoSalon’s latest article Are Kids Overexposed to Eco Fears?
All images courtesy of EcoSalon

A long-time friend of Environmental Graffiti’s, Sara Ost is better known as EcoSalon’s editor-in-chief who ensures that the site remains the cool green place on the web that it is. For those who don’t know EcoSalon, it’s a website dedicated to green living in style – visit and you’ll love it. Sara took the time to talk to us about how EcoSalon got started, her green influences and where she finds inspiration, and plans for EcoSalon. So, relax and grab a cup of herbal infusion as we chat with Sara Ost.

EG: What’s the story behind EcoSalon? How was it born and how did it boom?

Sara Ost: So often the green lifestyle is associated with treehugging and granola – tofu and Birkenstocks. We wanted to show that living green is actually stylish and cool. VivaTerra, the original green catalog company, is EcoSalon’s wonderful corporate sponsor. It’s been a really amazing experience with them from launching in March 2008 to growing into a top 50K site (per Alexa). As for the key to success, we try to really focus on what our readers are into and deliver quality, original editorial covering fashion, design, unique features, interviews, and news, all curated from a credible, thoughtful, stylish yet non-fussy perspective.

An appetizing photo from EcoSalon’s practical article on 175+ Foods, Recipes & Tips

EG: Tell us a bit about yourself and any particular (green) experiences of which we can see traces of in EcoSalon?

Sara Ost: I’m very hands-on, but it’s behind the scenes – scouring the web, refining ideas, developing the brand, so to speak, working with my writers. I try to make the site visibly about the writers and the readers, not me. Personally I’ve always been into green issues, whether it was ten years as a vegetarian (I’ve lapsed, admittedly, bag of shush!) or putting around in my SmartCar these days. I’m also a fashion and design addict, so the site is a reflection of this, in that we strive to define stylish, smart living through eco values and show that there is no conflict between living well and living green.

EG: What do you think gives EcoSalon its inimitable style? What makes it special?

Sara Ost: We try to stay down to earth and not get too preachy – we’re not gung-ho green. Not that there is anything wrong with that. ;) But our view is that eco living is just so sensible and fun, why wouldn’t you dig it? We try not to beat the drum too much, but rather just show what is enjoyable and clever or satisfying about an earth-friendly, people-friendly lifestyle. I think that lack of drama is appealing to our readers. And of course – hey, I’m biased – the stellar writing team sets EcoSalon apart. Each one of our writers brings such quality, personality and perspective.

From EcoSalon’s thought-provoking article Pelicans Are Falling Out of the Sky

EG: What does your typical day involve? Where do you find inspiration?

Sara Ost: Cruising RSS feeds, doing all the social media stuff (Twitter, Digg, Stumbleupon), chatting with other bloggers, working with my writers, editing, publishing, on and on it goes! I’m inspired by art, nature, music, pop culture, social media, and how it all comes together in a fascinating way online. It doesn’t feel like work; I just live it and in a way everything blurs. I wouldn’t want to do anything else.

EG: Tell us a bit about the plans for EcoSalon in the near and not so near the future?

Sara Ost: We’re planning to add more special featured content and some (hopefully fun) extras like widgets. There could be some video in the future, too.

EG: Thank you, Sara, for being part of Environmental Graffiti’s Movers and Shakers series!

If you want to find out all the latest news on the environment, why not subscribe to our RSS feed? We’ll even throw in a free album.