Mom and Daughter Duo Wins Whole Foods' Reuse Contest

With the and summer upon us, we’re all looking for a little hammock time.

If you’re a member of the Sharpe family, you have a hammock on hand that is as artful as it is comfortable. The mother-daughter duo of Ronnie and Amelia Sharpe created the Banner ‘ammock, as they call it, by weaving an old vinyl marketing banner and a laminated poster and utilizing wood and rope they salvaged from a dumpster.

The art project was part of Whole Foods Market’s Creative Reuse contest, which challenged local residents to make art work out of items that the grocery chain would be throwing out. The Sharpes’ Banner ‘ammock garnered first prize and is on display at 142 Throckmorton Theatre through June 30 as part of the “From Here to Eternity” exhibit, which features the work of the work of Judith Selby Lang and Richard Lang.

The Sharpes won a $1,000 grant for the Mill Valley Children’s Garden at , where Amelia Sharpe just finished second grade.

"Whole Foods Market has a mission to recycle and reduce waste,” said Susan Grelock of Whole Foods in Marin. “Still, grocery stores make some waste that is difficult to recycle or reuse. We are looking for ways to reuse our regular waste items - and support local nonprofits at the same time."

Participants had a range of waste products to choose from, including cardboard, vinyl banners, laminated signs, and posters. Entrants made everything from beach bags to bird houses. The entries were displayed at the Whole Foods Market in San Rafael on April 30.

A trio of judges picked the winners, who were honored at a Creative Reuse event at the Throckmorton last week.

Jen Byrne (working for Mission Kids Co-op) and Ellen Litwiller (working for Sun Valley Elementary School) tied in the People’s Choice category, and several other entrants were recognized by being named "Nickels for Nonprofits" recipients, in which Whole Foods shoppers donate a nickel to a nonprofit each time they bring in their own reusable bag.