Greenhouse Surfboards

The seminal book on Great Lakes surf craft is here, and I'm honored to be included amongst an amazing roster of visionary artists and lovers of the waters we thrive in. Much mahalo to , , .hart51. , .dorairaj and many others for believing, as I did that we would make the world's first surfboard from leaves. And he'll yes, that's exactly what we did!

So many in our surf community have been there, and witnessed this VERY long journey toward creating the world's first surfboard made of leaves. But today's Lake Effect interview sums it all up in a way that feels authentic and heartfelt. It's a beefy 17 minutes long, but is an honest discussion about friends, a growing community, and an unflinching recognition that sometimes, now more than ever, we have to create solutions rather than wait for them.

Kudos and props to Audrey and her Lake Effect team for making me feel right at home and opening the door for such a candid and revealing discussion about the visioning, and creative process and the magic of catching one very important wave.

Mahalo nui loa.

Milwaukee surfer shapes eco-friendly board that ‘captures the beauty of surfing while respecting the water’ Local surfer and Greenhouse Surfboards founder Ken Cole created the world’s first leaf-based surfboard to encompass what he believes is the art, soul and sustainable future of surfing.

Happy Last Earth Day Without A Surfboard Made From Leaves Day!

A chilly day warm with stoke, aloha, and endless glides. From Milwaukee to Chicago and all breaks in between, yesterday was 100% freshwater magic. Shakka and fist bumps to , , and the crew up in PW for sharing a few waves, being a part of a memorable day, and for the photo and quick li'l clip of one of the many waves caught and hoots hollered.

Green (and good) things come to those who wait! Our leaf based surfboard will be waxed up soon.

This Earth Day we announce that we will make no more foam boards. Zero, nada, none. Try as we might to make truly sustainable boards, like every shaper out there, we ultimately rely on a petroleum based foam core that is over 95 percent of a surfboard's mass. This further perpetuates our reliance on an industry that is the primary contributor to climate change. And while our production at Greenhouse was by no means prolific, our intentions were noble, materials closer to sustainable, and boards, well, they turned out bad ass and beautiful. In the end we realized that we fell short of true sustainability. In the process, however, we invented a now patent pending leaf based composite that is a true step away from the toxic products that were in conflict with our professed love of our planet, and is leaps and bounds closer to true sustainability - Greenhouse Composites]

Happy Earth Day to you, yours and all those shapers out there making fine surfcraft with noble intention in their heart and a keen and unwavering eye on sustainability. Your work continues to inspire those both in and out of the lineup. For us, our path forward is to focus all our efforts and energy on a leaf based composite that we feel will contribute to constructive change, instead of climate change. From the soil, not from oil my friends. That's the Greenhouse way. Greenhouse Composites]

A li'l Bump Day on Hump Day during on our Great Lake Michigan!

Congrats to Marty Grimes! The 1st Black skateboarder inducted into the ! You are a pioneer on so many levels and helped me, and countless other "Blacks don't skate!" folks out there realize that we aren't alone and can carve just as good, if not better than anyone else in the world. Glad to have crossed paths with you in SoCal with the and hope to see you in the lineup soon. Mahalo nui loa! photo by -

Meet the Team: Designer Steve Tolle is as comfortable on a wave as he is turning our concepts into reality. From a leaf-based surfboard to leaf-based chairs, our goal is to prove that true sustainability can be done both in the water and on land. Because while not everybody surfs, everybody sits. .dorairaj

"Our addiction to fossil fuels is pushing humanity to the brink. Either we stop it-or it stops us." UN Secretary General Guterres' statement at COP26 resonates with surf's reliance/addiction to the current state of surfboard production. As we are part of the problem, we must be part of the solution. Our awareness and efforts are growing on an increasingly larger scale. And while the waves will always be there, there is no guarantee that humanity will be there to ride them. Mahalo nui loa to all those individuals and organizations bringing awareness to this issue and helping us chart a path forward.

A magical Glide n' Ride fall weekend in Wisconsin. Blessed beyond belief to witness a sunrise on Lake Michigan, surf with the crew on Saturday, and then hit the trails amidst the leaves, rock gardens and nice flowy sections on Sunday. Good times indeed. Mahalo nui loa to for the surf and shared waves and to the rest for a li'l talk story and memorable moments.