Caring for the Coast
Mindfully Made
The Hobbyist was built in Tofino. This coastline, its forests, communities and people have shaped so much of what I make.
As the business has grown, I've thought more and more about the responsibility that comes with building a business inspired by a place.
For me, being "mindfully made" isn't about claiming perfection or checking sustainability boxes. It's about continually paying attention to how we make things, what we consume, what we leave behind, where our money goes, and how we participate in the community and ecosystem that make living and working here possible.
Sustainability in Action
Sustainability is something we consider at every stage of making and growing The Hobbyist. We are committed to giving 1% of our sales gp back to Tla-o-qui-aht Tribal Parks alongside maintaining environmental accreditations and certifications that help guide us..
We thoughtfully source our ingredients, choosing local and Canadian suppliers wherever possible and prioritizing quality, transparency and responsible practices. Making our products in small batches in our Tofino studio allows us to produce with intention, manage inventory carefully and reduce unnecessary waste.
We’re also continually looking at the materials that surround our products, not just what goes into them. That means reducing unnecessary packaging and making changes as better solutions become available.
We know there is always more work to do, and our approach is to keep learning, questioning and improving the way we source, make, package and share our products.
1% of all of our sales go to Tla-o-qui-aht Tribal Parks
The Tla-o-qui-aht Tribal Parks Allies certification program was launched to build ethical relationships between the Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation and businesses who operate within the Tla-o-qui-aht Tribal Parks. Allies commit to respecting protocols established by Tla-o-qui-aht leadership, including collecting a Responsible Visitor Fee from their clients. In return, certified Allies earn the right to display the Tribal Parks Allies logo and publicize their commitment to environmental and cultural preservation.
Participating businesses acknowledge Tla-o-qui-aht rights and title, educate themselves and their clients about Tla-o-qui-aht history and politics, and actively support stewardship and regional services. The contributions collected through this program fund critical activities such as environmental monitoring, ecological restoration, and the employment of Tribal Parks Guardians, who play a vital role in maintaining the health and integrity of the parks.
The Tribal Parks Allies program is a first-of-its-kind model of cooperation between Indigenous communities and business owners, ensuring that economic activities within Tla-o-qui-aht territory are aligned with the values of environmental stewardship, cultural respect, and sustainable development.
Surfrider Accreditation
We are currently working on upgrading our
Surfrider accreditation to their new Water Friendly Businesses Program now offered in partnership with BC Green Business.
In partnership with Surfrider Foundation Canada, BC Green Business offers the Water Friendly Business program to businesses across British Columbia. By completing all the Surfrider-approved action points on their sector checklist, businesses have the opportunity to be recognized as a Water Friendly Business, furthering their commitment to protecting our waterways.
These action points include practices that have a direct and positive impact on our water systems, such as reducing single-use plastics, conserving water, minimizing chemical runoff, addressing microplastics, and sourcing sustainable seafood.
An Invitation to Participate
There are a lot of ways to care for a place.
Donate if you're able.
Volunteer your time.
Learn about the land you're visiting and the people who have cared for it since time immemorial.
Support local organizations.
Learn where your food comes from.
Ask questions.
Pay attention.
And maybe take some of what you learn here home with you.
This page features a few of the organizations and initiatives that matter to me right now. Because I don't think loving a place is only about being inspired by it.
I think it's also about participating in its care.
If something speaks to you, give back
The following organizations are doing really good work here and I invite you to check them out as well.
TUCG
Food is part of community resilience.
The Tofino Ucluelet Culinary Guild helps connect west-coast communities with Vancouver Island farmers, growers and producers from all over BC.
This matters to me beyond simply having access to good food. It's about food sovereignty, food security and what access to thoughtfully grown food means when you live somewhere as geographically remote as I do.
Knowing where our food comes from, supporting the people growing it, shortening the distance between farms and our tables, and making nourishing food more accessible are all part of building a healthier and more resilient community.
CLAYOQUOT BIOSPHERE TRUST
We live within something extraordinary.
Tofino is part of the Clayoquot Sound UNESCO Biosphere Region.
It's easy to look around here and see somewhere beautiful.
But this is also an incredibly significant ecological and cultural region, and the idea behind a biosphere region — finding ways for communities and healthy ecosystems to thrive alongside one another — feels deeply connected to what this page is trying to say.
The Clayoquot Biosphere Trust supports conservation, research, education, community development and other initiatives contributing to the long-term wellbeing of this region.
CLAYOQUOT ACTION
Loving a place isn't passive.
Clayoquot Action is a local conservation organization working to protect the lands and waters of Clayoquot Sound, including important work surrounding wild salmon and the ecosystems that depend on them.
I appreciate that their work is a reminder that being awed by a place and protecting it are two different things.
People travel from around the world to experience the forests, ocean and wildlife here. Keeping these ecosystems healthy requires research, advocacy, education and people willing to speak up for them.
WESTCOAST COMMUNITY RESOURCE SOCIETY
Caring for a place means caring for the people who call it home.
Westcoast Community Resources Society provides important services and support to people throughout our west-coast communities, including counselling, women's outreach, youth and family programming, violence prevention, community resources and safe housing/support.
Living in a small, remote community can be incredibly beautiful, but it also comes with challenges that aren't always visible to people visiting here.
Supporting organizations like WCRS is another way of caring for this place — by caring for one another.