"After graduating with a biology degree, I was accepted into the Coastal Resource Management program with the Peace Corps in the Philippines, Shockley says. "My job involved working with local fishermen on the island of Camiguin. We worked together in protecting the mangrove, sea grass and coral reef ecosystems on the island through sustainable fishing activities such as milkfish and mudcrab fattening, mangrove reforestation, and other aquaculture activities. Last year, she launched Tea With Iris, a business that showcases her "upcycled" products - children's clothes, potholders, produce bags and bibs. She makes her products out of old pillowcases, fabrics and nonrecyclable materials, and decorates them with handmade prints and patterns. She often invites customers and friends into her backyard garden to learn how to make products, cook meals from her garden's vegetables and herbs and learn about creative ways to reduce waste in our lives.
Philippines RPCV Leslie Kelly Shockley is quickly becoming a creative role model for her friends and neighbor with a business that showcases her "upcycled" products - children's clothes, potholders, produce bags and bibs
‘Upcycling' gives old things new life
Kimberly Nichols • Special to Palm Desert Sun •
October 14, 2010
Caption:Leslie Shockley's daughter Elle wears a Tea With Iris "upcycled" dress. (Courtesy of Leslie Shockley)
Desert native Leslie Kelly Shockley is quickly becoming a creative role model for her friends and neighbors.
After college, from 1996 to 1998, she joined the Peace Corps, and her world view on recycling and waste was formed.
"After graduating with a biology degree, I was accepted into the Coastal Resource Management program with the Peace Corps in the Philippines, Shockley says. "My job involved working with local fishermen on the island of Camiguin. We worked together in protecting the mangrove, sea grass and coral reef ecosystems on the island through sustainable fishing activities such as milkfish and mudcrab fattening, mangrove reforestation, and other aquaculture activities.
"I also worked with the schools in teaching about the coastal ecosystems and waste management, and created a summer camp with two other Peace Corps volunteers, which allowed students to experience the beauty of their coral reefs by snorkeling.
Waste was dumped into the ocean in that region.
"There were no landfills like we have," she said. "There was no room for trash, so it went into the water. This really made me think about my own life, and I made a commitment to the terms ‘recycle, reduce and reuse.'"
Last year, she launched Tea With Iris, a business that showcases her "upcycled" products - children's clothes, potholders, produce bags and bibs.
She makes her products out of old pillowcases, fabrics and nonrecyclable materials, and decorates them with handmade prints and patterns. She often invites customers and friends into her backyard garden to learn how to make products, cook meals from her garden's vegetables and herbs and learn about creative ways to reduce waste in our lives.
Question: What do you like best about living in the desert?
Answer: I love that I was able to grow up in the Cahuilla Hills of Palm Desert where the desert was our playground. We used to pretend the surrounding hills were our castles. I learned to respect nature at an early age through hiking and riding our horses on the surrounding trails with my family.
As an adult, I love that there is a large community of friends that I grew up with that have moved back to pursue their passions. We are a strong support system to each other and share so much history with this growing valley.
I love that I never have to sit in traffic on a freeway; and that I can bike almost everywhere with my daughter, which gives her a totally different perspective of the world.
Who's this Iris who inspired your company name?
Our desert tortoise, Iris, who we adopted from the Living Desert Reserve, is my daily reminder to slow down. When I was thinking of a name for my company, which I wanted to embody with the lifestyle of "slowing down to enjoy every moment," I instantly thought of her.
Kimberly Nichols is a local writer, artist and advocate for www.artsoasis.org. Her blog, Art-O-Holic, is at mydesert.com/artsscene. Reach her at kimberly@artsoasis.org.
