This week we are highlighting a couple of businesses that help make better use of your urban space, whether you have a little patio or a huge yard.

First up, we have Envy, a plant and patio studio for urban terrain that used to be located in Cortona's space. Envy has a fun selection of plants that will definitely liven up your living space or add some variety to your yard! Their new shop on 15th between Pine and Madison St is fun to visit, and the customer service is great. Check it out, and maybe you'll find something fun to add to your home!

Second, we have Earth Systems NW, a local company that specializes in innovative and economical solutions for preserving rainwater. They are committed to help you save water, save money, and save the planet. Their website offers tools to help you calculate how much rainwater you can harvest, as well as lots of information on cisterns and other solutions for water. This is a great company that is committed to positively impacting the environment!

For the month of July we are showing photography from one of our very own Cortona Cafe baristas: Rochelle March!

"Rochelle March carries a camera generally everywhere she goes. Her favorites include her trusty Diana Ft analog and amazing underwater fisheye, although she has a small collection of toy and lomography cameras that she plays with. She loves experimenting with multiple and long exposures, lens slicing, and uneven advancing. She also uses a wide variety of lenses and film types from super-wide to fisheye and 110m telephoto, and redscale to slide film cross-processed to old school color and black and white 120 iso." (-Rochelle March)

You can find more photos from Rochelle at her blog. There is a box full of handmade photo postcards at the register on sale for $2 each in addition to her hangings on the wall at Cortona. Any questions for the artist? Contact her through her blog or come visit her at work!

Happy fourth of July to all our friends and neighbors! We're closing at 5pm today - have a great evening watching fireworks!!

In line with our passion to serve as many organic products as possible, we have come upon a great new organic source for our maple syrup. Our store manager, Tracy, met one of the family members from Stannard Farm in Vermont at a farmer's market recently and realized that we should start serving their organic maple syrup as soon as possible. We had some delivered last Friday, and we are serving it now! Come on by and order and waffle and savor the pure and delicious flavor that comes from organic maple syrup.

Stannard Farm has been in the same family for 70 years, and they have been "sugaring" maple syrup since 1974. They currently tap about 1800 trees and produce 500 gallons of pure maple syrup every year. They've also been certified organic since 2007, so you can be assured that their syrup is the purest possible, free of any additives and good for the long-term health of the trees and environment.