Green Story

Just Us Chickens is a non-profit artists' cooperative comprised of 20 members from the Seacoast area, providing space and support for local artists to display and sell their work. Many of their artists use items found in nature or from local antique and thrift stores. Whenever possible, they buy locally made supplies and paper products, and also provide space to artists who support charities that are working to improve the lives of people in both our local and worldwide communities. The artists themselves serve as volunteer employees at their 9 Walker Street gallery, putting in at least 7 hours a month at the store in exchange for their arts and crafts being displayed. 70 percent of the proceeds of each sale go back to the artist; the remaining 30% goes back into the cooperative.

The store opened its doors in November 2005 and has since grown into a staple of local entrepreneurship on the Seacoast. Items sold in the store include: hand painted used furniture; pottery; jewelry; change purses made from recycled neck ties, purses made out of sleeves of jackets; and more. Because everything is locally made, there are no transportation costs, a fact which renders the store's overall environmental impact minimal. The space doesn't use air conditioning in the summer, greatly cutting down on their month-to-month energy costs. The co-op is also heavily involved in the local community, holding fundraisers and classes for groups such as Kittery Womenade.  An event for the charity  last February -- typically the slowest time of year for the store -- resulted in $1100 in sales and proceeds for the group.