Volunteers with bicycles and wagons began moving Earth's General Store to its new location Sunday in Edmonton. (CBC)Earth's General Store — an Edmonton institution when it comes to earth-friendly purchases — is moving to a new location using earth-friendly transportation.

The owner, Michael Kalmanovitch, enlisted wagons, bicycles, and volunteers to make the two-kilometre move up the street to a larger location at 9506 82nd Ave.

Kalmanovitch, who founded the enterprise in 1991, said the strategy is an attempt to reduce the ecological footprint of the move.

Earth's General Store offers products such as environmentally-friendly cleaning supplies, personal care items like shampoos and cloth diapers, and fair-trade coffee, tea and chocolate.

Myles Kitagawa was one of the volunteers who showed up to begin the move.

"We've been loyal customers of Earth's General Store for a long time," he said. "We really support everything that Michael has been doing with this and wanted to fulfill our part of being part of this community around his store."

The store also serves as an information centre for people looking to lower their environmental impact, stocking books and magazines on subjects like composting and building eco-homes.

'It's not crazy'

"This is entirely consistent with how Michael, the choices Michael makes in his life, and how he would like to support others," said regular customer Heather Bessey of the unusual moving method.

"So it's not crazy. I think it is a very positive message to be giving to others about the possibilities that exist for any of us."

Customers have also helped to finance the new location, by providing loans that are paid back in the form of discounts at the store.

Kalmanovitch said he expects the move to the new location to take about two weeks.