Our Mission
The O Zone serves as a resource center for sustainable lifestyle choices. The term sustainability is multifaceted and can be applied to each element of our lives. Many decisions we make personally, and collectively as a community, effect how well we will be able to sustain ourselves and our planet over the long term. The O Zone presents community members with the opportunity to learn about their options as well as engage in sustainability practices, whether through our bulk refill store, our Community Compost CSA program, or our various workshops.
By partnering with local businesses and organizations, The O Zone bring together a body of passionate individuals whose aim is to create sustainable systems at the core of our community. Whether one is an avid environmentalist or someone who simply appreciates the hard work of a community-based organization, The O Zone will serve as a valuable resource for all
About the Owner
Amelia Legare
Soon after graduating from SUNY Plattsburgh with a BSN in Nursing, Amelia discovered that her passion for healthcare is rooted in the realms of preventative medicine. From this point she began her journey into the field of garden-to-institution education, fulfilling the role as garden educator at Mill Road Elementary School in Red Hook, NY.
Alongside her role as an educator, Amelia has also been owner and operator of Avant-Gardens since 2015. Through this horticultural design and maintenance business, Amelia has hoped to instill gardening inspiration into her community by revealing the vast benefits of creating and maintaining a productive home garden. From planting fruit trees that are supported by a community of green manure crops, to establishing a compost system that returns fertility to the soil, it becomes apparent that the home garden can serve not only as a beautiful sight to look upon, but also as a means of food production, environmental enhancement, and promotion of physical and emotional well-being.
In order to relay this message further, Amelia has decided to establish a base of operations, where workshops can be held and services can be offered. The O Zone is where this part of her sustainability journey begins.
This marketplace specializes in supplying bulk-refill items, including body soaps, shampoos, lotions, detergents, and household cleaning products. Products are sourced from companies including Vermont Soap, Chagrin Valley Soap & Salve, Meliora Cleaning Products, Ecos, Bees Wraps and U-Konserve to name a few. For a full list of our bulk refill options, click here!
Buying in bulk provides tangible environmental, economic and nutritional benefits; it is the most sustainable option for consumers. By serving as a market for bulk goods, The O Zone’s patrons will produce less waste by reducing the amount of packaging that is utilized while shopping. According to research, “if everyone bought in bulk, we'd save enough waste to eliminate 1.1 million fewer trips to the landfill per year,” (Healthy Child Healthy World, 2014). By offering alternative solutions to the plastic-heavy goods that are available in today’s retail super stores, The O Zone is engaging community members in proactive environmental measures.
Workshops & discussion groups
The O Zone evolves around sustainable community systems that fuel our neighbors and the environment. We work hand-in-hand with fellow community members and educators to bring about workshops that inspire and inform attendees on the many ways that they can practice sustainability. Subjects of interest include local invasive species management, food justice practices, pollinator gardening, farm-to-school programming, and farm-to-institution initiatives.
It is important to note that the learning center is also available for use by groups or individuals looking to host their own classes or gatherings!
Community compost CSA program
Along with buying bulk, residents are able to enroll in the Compost CSA program, an initiative that assists in reducing our community’s carbon footprint. The O Zone provides a weekly residential or commercial food scrap pick-up service for those who would like to participate in composting. You can also drop off your compost weekly at the center yourself. In return, CSA members receive a predetermined amount of processed compost right in time for spring planting.
Forty percent of all food produced for human consumption goes to waste each year. The majority of that ends up in the landfill where it produces methane gas, a greenhouse gas twenty-five times more potent than carbon dioxide. When this food waste is composted, on the other hand, it is aerobically digested and turns into a nutrient-rich organic fertilizer. This fertilizer improves our soil content and leads to healthier grasslands and forest systems.
