I really like the look and feel of the Mr. Ellie Pooh note cards that I use. The paper has a good tooth that works well with the black Staedtler pens that I use for writing and illustrating, without the bleed that’s the hallmark of a cheap paper or the uneven surface that’s the hallmark of a poorly-made handmade paper. The paper is mostly even in tone, but it’s interspersed with colored fibers–it’s unclear if these fibers are from the post-consumer paper or the elephant dung, unfortunately, because it would be cool to know, but they add to the look of the paper without taking away from its smooth writing surface.
Since the mission of Mr. Ellie Pooh is to make this paper in facilities local to the Sri Lankan elephants, by workers also native to the area, I wish that its web site had some photos to show of these manufacturing facilities. I’m reminded by this of my review of the Glee Gum Make Your Own Chewing Gum kit, since the Glee Gum web site has several interactive online demonstrations and other educational posts explaining how its products are also rooted in local sustainability–check out From Tree to Glee, if you want to know what I mean. Wouldn’t something like From Poop to Paper be really cool?
Since elephant dung paper is so good, though, the real question is what other herbivore poop would also make good paper? Cows? Giraffes?
Vegans?
Love the last line!
I’ve wondered what uses poop could be. We read in a book somewhere that dried horse droppings make a great fire starter. I would imagine cow poop would be as well.