Sow True Seed this summer!

Sow True Seed is an herb and flower seed company from Asheville, North Carolina. They specialize in heirloom seed varieties. In essence, this means that they gather seeds from plants whose genes have existed for many generations and save them, year after year after year. (Yes, that means that you can save your seeds, too!) Many of these seeds are organic, and all of them are untreated. Not to mention, many of these seeds come from Southern Appalachia, so you won't have any trouble growing your plants in Boone.

We now carry these seeds at Green Mother Goods.

Organic Cilantro



German Chamomile



Broad Leaf Culinary Sage



Valerian



Organic Genovese Basil



Tulsi Sacred (Holy) Basil



South East Native Flower Mix



Partial Shade Flower Mix



Organic Arugula



Dragon Tongue Snap Bush Bean



Royalty Purple Pod Snap Bush Bean



Organic Broccoli



Organic Carrot



Rainbow Chard



Georgia Southern Collards



Organic Cucumber



Dwarf Siberian Kale



Organic Lettuce



Southern Giant Curled Mustard Greens



Emerald Okra



Super Sugar (Edible Pod) Snap Pea



Hot Pepper



Marconi Red Sweet Pepper



Kentucky Field Pumpkin



Organic China Rose Winter Radish



Organic Summer Squash



Scallop Early White Bush Summer Squash



Organic Winter Squash



Organic Cherokee Purple Tomato



Organic Cherry Sweetie Tomato



Mr. Stripey Tomato



Organic Principe Borghese (Paste) Tomato



Come check them out!

Earth Day

A Brief History of Earth Day

The worst oil spill in human history (at the time) took place off of the coast of Santa Barbara, California, in 1969. On the morning of the twenty-eighth of January, a blow out occurred that subsequently caused barrels upon barrels of oil to gush out of an offshore well and to wash up onto the once pristine beaches of Southern California, carrying a current of dead sea birds, dolphins, and other marine life with it. The Energy Division of Santa Barbara Country estimated that Union Oil, the corporation responsible for the catastrophe, had spilled up to 100,000 barrels of oil. That's enough to fill six and a half Olympic sized swimming pools!

People were outraged. Here they were... going along their merry ways, consuming what they needed (and wanted) to consume, putting their blind faith in the companies that brought them the resources they needed to live the American lifestyle. And then this huge oil spill happens, and it reveals to people to potential horrors of their patterns of consumption. "You mean the huge Hummer I drive, the conventional foods I eat, and the cheap trinkets I buy all contributed to this?"







This oil spill deservedly attracted a lot of attention from the political spectrum. Many congressmen, and even President Nixon, visited the site of the spill after it happened. United States Senator Gaylord Nelson was one of these visitors. The spectacle moved him to call for the first national teach-in on the state of the environment, for he believed that public ignorance about environmental issues was one of the main factors that allowed this catastrophe to happen. So, on the twenty-second of April, 1970, the nation for the first time came together in different locations all across the United States to talk about the oil spill, the environment, and the things we can do about it.

Thus, Earth Day was born.

Earth Day Today

We're still having oil spills. In 1989, the Exxon Valdez spill injected up to 750,000 barrels of oil into Prince William Sound. And only a year ago, British Petroleum caused the worst oil spill in history, pouring up to five million barrels of oil into the Gulf of Mexico. Five million! That's almost enough to fill three hundred and twenty Olympic sized swimming pools.

And aside from oil spills, we're dealing with a whole range of environmental problems, from climate change, to the genetic engineering of crops, to the pollution of our breathing air and drinking water, to the nuclear issues that have been on the forefront of people's minds since the earthquake in Japan a month ago, and more.

Have we not learned from our mistakes? Has the original intention of Earth Day (i.e. the education of the masses) failed? It sure seems like that. But giving up now would be suicide. We must keep taking the steps that we need to take to save our planet and in turn ourselves.

Ethical, responsible consumption is a huge step. And it's something that you can do every day, instead of just on Earth Day. When you choose to buy anything, make sure that your dollars don't support the destruction of the planet and instead supports the construction of something better. Green Mother Goods exists to encourage and participate in ethical, responsible consumption. The products that we carry in this store come from sustainable sources, sources that hold themselves accountable for the whole process, from production, to distribution, to consumption, to disposal. Check out the websites of some of the lines we carry: Maggie's Organics, Global Girlfriend, Global Crafts, Under the Nile, Plan Toys, Klean Kanteen, Bambu, To-Go Ware, Earth Creations. We also carry a huge variety of local products from local artists.

Stop by the store, and check it out! You can also find us on our website: Green Mother Goods.

This Earth Day

We will be participating in a few festivals over the next few days in celebration of Earth Day. Here is the line up.

Earthtones Music Festival

Date: 19 April 2011
Time: 12:00 PM to 7:00 PM
Location: Duck Pond Field, Stadium Drive, Boone.

Earth Day @ Appalachian State University

Date: 20 April 2011
Time: 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM
Location: Sanford Mall, somewhat in between Belk Library and Central Dining Hall.

Boone in Blossom

Date: 23 and 24 April 2011
Time: ALL WEEKEND!
Location: Grandfather Campground in Banner Elk

Having trouble sleeping?

Is it hard for you to get out of bed? Do you feel exhausted upon waking up, as if you hadn't just spent the last eight hours in dreamland? Do you feel stiff and sore, or have you developed back problems? Are you often irritable, especially in the early hours of the morning? Maybe it's your bed.

We spend about a third of our lives in our beds. The eight (give or take) hours that you spend sleeping in your bed each night set the foundation for your overall health, well being, and vitality. Check to see if your mattress has lumps, creases, or valleys or if it makes creaking noises. These are telltale signs that you may not be getting the best night's sleep possible.

If you're ready to invest in a better night's sleep, then come to Green Mother Goods and we'll help you find the best bedding materials for you. We carry products from both Natura World and Ultimate Sleep. These companies' products in no way fall short of being extremely high quality. And best of all, they are quite affordable, considering the fact that they last for years and don't follow the rules of planned obsolescence (unlike most of the cheaper products you'll find on the market).

Here's a little bit about them.

Natura World



Back in 1994, Harry and Ralph Rossdeutscher started Natura World in an attempt to create bedding products that aren't only comfortable, but healthy as well. Their mattresses come in different firmness levels so that you can find one that suits your specific needs. And all of them are made out of both natural (or organic, depending on your request) latex and wool.

If you are allergic to latex, don't be afraid of these mattresses! Natural latex is, hence the name, not the same as the artificial stuff that many people have allergic reactions to. This natural latex is also known as Talalay latex, and it comes straight from the rubber tree and is minimally processed. No allergic reactions to fear here!



The wool serves as a temperature and humidity regulator. Wool has the natural tendency to absorb humidity and then help it evaporate. For you, this means that your mattress won't smell like sweat, your pillow won't smell like drool, and no microbes will infest your sleep space. And the fact that you don't have to wash your bedding materials as much will make them last longer and thus prolong your investment.

Ultimate Sleep

Like Natura World, Ultimate Sleep also makes its mattresses out of natural latex. They also have a natural latex foam mattress. It's a little bit firmer than the regular mattresses, so it comes with a 30 day trial period just in case you don't like it.

Ultimate Sleep mattresses can be delivered to you free of charge. Ultimate Sleep also offers White Glove Shipping for $109. This means that they'll bring your mattress inside for you so that you don't have to. For an extra $50, they'll even take away your old mattress.

They also carry crib mattresses! And like the adult-sized mattresses, they also made out of natural latex and wool, which renders them non-toxic, resistance to moisture build up, anti-microbial, and dust free. Only the best for your baby as she grows and develops.



We carry a few sample products here at the store. Stop by and take a nap! When you wake up, we'll help you order whatever best suits your specific needs. :)

Earth Creations

Joy Maples and Martin Ledvina, co-founders of Earth Creations, met almost two decades ago. With Joy's insight and Martin's knowledge, the two of them developed a special technique to dye clothing with ingredients found only in nature.



Even though time has passed, their mission remains the same. Protect the Earth, and be inspired by it. Earth Creations strives to protect the Earth through implementing sustainable agricultural practices, manufacturing practices, and renewable resources.

At the same time, they also strive to protect people. (Well, I mean, we are all part of the Earth, right?) They take responsibility for every step of the production process. Through offer them more than adequate wages, they ensure the livelihoods of everyone in this process, from the cotton growers, to the garment sewers.

And have I mentioned how awesome their products are? See for yourself....



This is the Carolina Dirt Shirt. As its name suggests, this shirt's dye comes from the dirt that sits underneath your feet right now. (That is, if you're in North Carolina like we are.)



This is the Infinity Skirt, an article of clothing that you can wear as a skirt, a dress, as a halter top, and so on. We have it one of these on display at Green Mother Goods. Stop by, and see all the different ways you can wear it.

We have all of these Earth Creations pieces, and so much more, at Green Mother Goods. Not to mention, all of our Earth Creations products are now on sale at ten, fifteen, twenty... even fifty percent off! Come by, and try on whatever you'd like. Also, check out the Earth Creations website. If you like something on the website that we don't carry at the store, we'll gladly order it for you.

We hope to see you soon!

Harmony Acres

About six years ago, when Cory and Dale Emmons decided to take a stab a making their own soap, they had no idea that it would eventually flourish into a business. They learned the art from one of their friends, who had been making her own soap for some time and inspired them to do the same. The first batch turned out beautifully. Honey oat. Then, they made a batch of peppermint soap. And then, coffee soap. They passed their creations out amongst their friends, who (to Cory's and Dale's surprise) kept coming back for more.

Despite the fact that quite a few people had developed a liking to their soaps, Cory and Dale didn't even consider starting a business at this point. Dale's career in the military had kept them on the road, moving from place to place. While this lifestyle was satisfying in its own way, Cory had always wanted to settle down on a farm somewhere and root their family.

This finally happened four years ago, when the Emmons family moved to the mountains of Western North Carolina. Soon after settling in, they met one of their neighbors. Upon meeting him, Cory noticed that he, who often worked in the fields, had poison ivy all over his hands. "I can make something for you that will help," she told him. And she did. Pleasantly surprised and incredibly grateful, her neighbor encouraged her to start a business for the making of soaps and creams and all things related. Remembering how much people liked her creations in the past, she decided to take this idea and run with it. In an act of bravery, Cory and Dale took the last bit of money they had in the bank, invested it in soap making ingredients and equipment, and thus gave birth to a brand new company... Harmony Acres.

Their first day at the Horn in the West Farmers' Market didn't bring the Harmony Acres gang (Cory, Dale, and their eight kids) much financial success, but it was enough to motivate them to keep going. Gradually, the family business grew and grew and grew, and now... Harmony Acres is a household name in Boone. Come to Green Mother Goods, and check out all of the Harmony Acres products we carry, from lip balms, to soaps, to lotions, and so much more.

And about that farm? It's flourishing too. The Emmons family grows vegetables, raises turkeys (during the Thanksgiving season), and raises chickens, the eggs from which you can purchase for $3.50 a dozen at Green Mother Goods every Saturday around one o'clock in the afternoon. Take this from someone who has tasted these eggs: They're worth every penny. But the taste isn't all that matters. When you purchase things from the Emmons family, you know exactly where you're money is going, and you know exactly what you're getting in the products you purchase.

So, support the local economy as much as you can. Your Boone needs it.

UPDATE!

The Emmons family only delivers eggs to Boone every Saturday if they know that people will buy them. So, e-mail them at get-smelly@harmonyacressoap.com, get on their mailing list, and let them know whenever you're interested in buying eggs. There is spinach available for purchase right now, too!

I will talk about this more as May approaches, but the Emmons family plans to regularly sell their produce at a couple farmers' markets around town this spring and summer. They're also a CSA farm, so if you're interested ask them about that too when you e-mail them.

Everyone likes a Valentine's Day gift...

...so come to Green Mother Goods and treat someone you love to something nice. We're having store wide sales on many of our product lines -- from Plan Toys, to Maggie's Organics, to Global Girlfriend, to Kleen Kanteen, to ThinkBaby, and more. So, show your love with a little last minute shopping.

Happy Valentine's Day, everyone!

Under the Nile

At Green Mother Goods, we carry an array of products from Under the Nile, a fair trade company based out of Egypt. Because of the products' beauty, the company's integrity, and the country's significance to the current global paradigm shift, I will dedicate this entire blog entry to Under the Nile.

THE PLACE



Egypt is one of the most populous countries in its region, with a population of about 80 million. The vast majority of these 80 million people lives in close proximity to the Nile River, where all the fertile land is. Needless to say, this is where most of the economic activity takes place. Although the economy has slowed down since the start of the global economic crisis and especially since the start of the protests, it remains in a relatively healthy state, in neoliberal terms. It has a high GDP and substantial growth rates, but none of this benefits the average Egyptian person. The GDP per capita comes out to be a few thousand (U.S.) dollars, but by no means does this mean that every person earns a few thousand dollars every year. Thanks to neoliberal globalization and its funny ways of making rich people richer and poor people poorer, massive wealth inequalities plague the Egyptian people. Many of them live their lives without health care, education, healthy working conditions, and adequate nutrition, much less the disposable income that allows us to freely consume here in the West. Under the Nile is one of the organizations that exists to help these people, to try to make their lives a little more pleasant in the midst of neoliberal globalization.

THE PEOPLE

There are almost 3,000 people who work for Under the Nile. Each and every one of these workers not only receive a fair price for their products (the cotton growers, the weavers, etc.) and a fair wage for their labor (the factory workers); they also receive a plethora of unique benefits:



Under the Nile gives each farm (which are all organic, by the way) access to a group of biodynamic engineers to help with any problems that may arise.



They provide each worker with two organic meals every day.



They provide not only each worker, but each member of the community, with health care (which includes emergency service, dentistry, surgery, etc.) and schooling (which includes general subjects as well as special subjects, like art and music).

Under the Nile does something that most companies in this day and age rarely do: They care about the people behind the product. And beautiful, healthy people lead to beautiful, healthy products.

THE PRODUCTS

The Under the Nile products that we carry at Green Mother Goods include baby clothes and toys. All products are made from 100% handpicked organic cotton, grown exclusively in Egypt. Egyptian cotton tends to be extremely soft and durable, so all of the products are soft to the touch and built to last. Under the Nile's dyeing process uses only metal-free dyes or vegetable dyes, so absolutely no harm will be done to your baby's body.



Many of the toys that you see out there are stuffed with a mysterious ingredient called "fluff" that causes many health problems for babies and toddlers, such as allergic reactions and respiratory problems. All Under the Nile toys are hand crafted and stuffed with organic cotton, so you're not compromising your child's health for a bit of fun.



All in all, Under the Nile represents the ideal company -- fair to the economy, fair to local cultures, fair to the producers, fair to the consumers, fair to the environment. That's what fair trade is all about. You're welcome to make a pit stop at Green Mother Goods any time and check out our products, Under the Nile and more.