people + place
art AND science
At Foerstel, we like to use both sides of our brain. For instance, here’s a recent science experiment that was discovered in the back of the refrigerator. Conclusion: raw, slightly cracked eggs tucked away in a darkly lit, cold environment produce rubber balls (although not round ones). We’ll keep you posted on our next experiment.
blank white wall = freakin’ genius idea
Debbie is a genius. Well…Debbie had a genius idea. And a freakin’ genius one at that!!
For more than a year a large, blank white wall in the office had been staring us in the face day after day. It was asking for something. Something unique. Something creative. And that’s what it got! 18 square blank canvases were turned into beautiful art by designers, account managers, accountants, web programmers….and Ralphie, the office cat. On the due date, our newly created canvases came into the office, the identity of the artist known only to one of us, and we all had to guess who created each one. It was really fun, and somewhat surprising, to see the amazing amount of creativity and thought that went into each piece. The unexpected bonus was the team-building benefit, and our new art installation is beautiful, to boot!
The video says it all…
a little tidbit about little cars
We were recently talking about little cars at work and it made me remember a car my dad bought when I was 9 or 10 years old. My brother and I used to sit in that car (just like the one in the picture) for hours and practice our clutch, shifting, and steering skills. Of course it wasn’t running and wasn’t going anywhere.
When it was time for me to learn to drive on the road, I was ready to go! However, the first vehicle I ended up driving was my dad’s old 4-door Dodge pickup that was 6-7 feet wide and what seemed to be 20 feet long! Believe me–4-door pickups were NOT popular when I was 15.
I didn’t practice my “reverse” skills on that little Subaru, so I’ll tell you about the brick retaining wall I knocked over with the Dodge pickup another time.
on the horizon
Hearing and seeing new things are all part of downtown Boise life. This morning was no exception. Hot air balloons were continually rising from above the Connector–probably about 15 in all. Boise is such a great place to live and work! more »
john-out to lunch
Mati and John
Around the office, we have always had an “inkling” that John marches to the beat of a different drummer. So the fact that this fellow designer has decided to take a 6-month sabbatical to work on a personal project has come as no surprise.
Eleven years and two print runs later, the Inklings product is available and ready to share, but they’ve had problems getting it into the right distribution channels. That’s what the 6-month sabbatical is for—a new plan.
Good luck you crazy kids.
local, organic farm tour
Early last Wednesday morning, strong coffee in hand, Jim Hall and I made the 2 hour journey to Buhl, one of Southwest Idaho’s quaint farming towns. We volunteered to help with the Organic Farm Tour sponsored by NCAP (Northwest Coalition for Alternatives to Pesticides). As members of NCAP and with a good portion of our business being in the organic food industry, Jim and I thought volunteering would give us the opportunity to learn more about local sustainable agriculture. Little did we know how much our help was needed. Jen Miller, the only NCAP staff member in Idaho, handles each event from beginning to end.
NCAP organizes these tours each summer at several different farms to give organic farmers a forum to discuss and learn from experts and their peers in the sustainable agriculture community. This particular tour was hosted by Mike Heath at his farm, M&M Heath Organic Farms. Mike is a leader in Idaho’s organic agriculture and has been farming organically for 28 years. He currently runs 450 acres of certified organic production!
The day included several speakers from University of Idaho, Natural Resources Conservation Service, and Idaho’s Bounty, tours of two of Mike’s fields, a 15-minute downpour that drenched us while we toured the first field, and a delicious lunch that consisted of all local foods from Mike’s and neighboring farms. We were amazed at the network of programs and agencies available to assist organic farmers. Valuable information was shared about agricultural trials and tests, non-pesticide alternatives for potato blight and other common pests, the best process for rotating crops, and more! You cannot help but admire this community of local farmers and organic agricultural specialists in their quest for a better food supply and a better environment. Foerstel applauds the local organic farmers in Idaho!
white wall + creative people = results
The modern architecture in our building (aka large white spaces) prompted us to create some modern art of our own. Each of us took home a 16×16-inch canvas and in a month we brought them back together to display who we are collectively. Ralphie, our resident cat, painted her all-black masterpiece with metallic paint, to hold all the paperclips she collects from around the office.
for the love of facebook
Can’t get enough facebook? Pick up an Idaho Shakespeare program next time you’re at Shakespeare Under the Stars and see how creative foerstel can be (in print)!
pedal to the metal
Closed course, eight hairpin turns in two miles, driving a precision German car as fast as possible, what’s not to like? Welcome to the Bogus Basin Bacchanalia - the only officially sanctioned hillcross event by the Porsche Club of America, sponsored locally by the Silver Sage Porsche Club. Jeff seemed like the perfect designer for this fun project, being a Porsche lover himself (ask him about his vintage 1968 911). Both he and Tom will be participating in this event over Memorial Day - boys will be boys!
one is a lonely yet efficient number
Here is a true example of “it’s the little things that matter.”
To truly understand the genesis of this idea, you have to first understand the large and well-used soapbox we have in our office. On any given day one to seven people can be found standing on it spouting their opinion about a current topic of imagined interest. One day I was having a discussion with Mary K about how you really can dry your hands with one paper towel. She is a great believer in this concept and so am I - drilling it into my kids in all public restrooms we visit. So why not at work? We both realized we take two towels at work just out of habit. This deserved not only stepping on the soapbox and shouting at the top of my voice, but also a sign. Oooo, my favorite!
So, I made it an office-wide challenge for May. A sign went into the men’s and women’s facilities on the paper towel holder. I am happy to report (from the women’s side at least) that I have seen many very wet “one-sies” in the trash lately. Good job team!
