The Greenridge Herbal Thymes

Artificial Fragrances - Not from our Backyards

Looks pretty, right? Well looks can be deceiving! This is a picture that symbolizes the artificial fragrances found in many bodycare and facial care products today.
You know when you go somewhere and you can't even breathe the air because all you can smell is someone's perfume? Most likely it's loaded with chemicals, and these chemicals are not biodegradeable so they permeate the air intensely all around us. I literally start sneezing - I can't help it - and my nose starts running, and all sorts of allergic reactions take place when I'm around people who wear perfume. This is because we don't use any chemicals in our home, or on our bodies. So when I do come into contact with me, my body says "No Way!" Imagine, how so many people live with these chemicals surrounding their every move. Our skin being our largest organ, does absorb whatever you put onto it.
Remember to always read your labels, no matter what you are buying. If it says "fragrance" avoid it at all costs. It's not natural, and never will be. If you want a natural fragrance stick ONLY with essential oils, which are derived from plants. If you see a product that is labelled "aromatherapy" still read the ingredients. There are many products I see all the time which still contain fragrance oils, but the label reflects that the product has have aromatherapy benefits or contains organic ingredients. Not true! Well, it may contain organic ingredients, but how good can they work when they are laced with chemicals?
Be safe, be happy, and read your labels on everything you consume. Always.

Taking the Organic Power Back

Ten years ago when I started my business, I remember the little farmer's market stands I had in both Southern Illinois and Colorado. I loved meeting all the people, and answering their skincare questions, which is how I was able to develop my product line - by listening.
I also remember answering one same question over and over again: What is "organic"?
After explaining the definition of "organic," I always thought to myself, this is definately going to be a popular thing one of these days when people start understanding! At the time, my company was one of the only ones I was aware of that was using almost all certified organic ingredients.
In the last 3 years, the organic industry has grown by leaps and bounds, which is great for my little business. It means that more consumers today are educated, so I don't have to spend as much time educating. It also means that with more awareness, there is much more hope that chemicals can start to be eliminated from our food and drinking water.

The problem I see though, is that there is still a lack of education surrounding organics. People find my company usually online, and are so excited we are organic, that they fail to examine the products more closely. While our company prides itself on not using artificial colors, preservatives, sulfates, ureas, and other nasty chemicals, there are still loads of companies throwing around the word "organic" to make a quick buck, while still harboring the harmful chemicals like parabens, propylene glycol, talc, and more.
So, as a consumer I encourage you to take control of your life, your body, your planet by reading all of the ingredients you consume whether it's food, beauty, or life related. If you can't pronounce it, don't buy it.
We proudly list ALL of our ingredients because we have nothing to hide. Get yourself in the habit of reading ingredients on everything. You will be very surprised what you find! With Greenridge Herbals, you should be happily surprised!

Coconuts are Cute!

I always tout coconuts for the myriad of benefits they offer, but they are still so under-rated!
Coconut is rich in fiber, vitamins, and minerals. Coconut oil is of special interest because it possesses healing properties far beyond that of any other dietary oil. Only recently (this past year) have I begun to really understand the secrets to coconut's amazing healing powers, both inside and out.
I have become addicted to coconuts both inside and out. This is why I created the Pumpkin Face Cream, a beautiful facial treatment that leaves skin looking impeccable. And it's also why I incorporated Coconut Oil into the Organic Hair Conditioner. We only use Extra Virgin Centifuge Extracted Coconut Oil. It smells heavenly, just like real coconuts!

Here are some more benefits of this wonderful food:
*Anti-oxidizing
*Increases calcium and magnesium absorption
*Supports tissue healing and repair
*Helps to protect the body from harmful free radicals that promote premature aging and wrinkles
*Prevents sagging skin and age spots
*Promotes healthy looking hair
*Offers protection from the damaging effects of sun's UV radiation
*Helps control dandruff

As far as eating it goes, can you actually believe that it can help you lose weight? Coconut oil is utilized by the body to produce energy in preference to being stored as body fat like other dietary fats.

Now I'm not talking coconut oil that's been heat processed, or coconut milk in a can! If you want to try coconuts, buy the real coconut in it's shell or the extra virgin coconut oil, or try one of our delightful coconut-enriched products today!

Is Your Home Cleaning "Green" ?

Now-a-days, the domestic goddess still rules the roost. She cleans, she cooks, she does the laundry (sometimes). What's her secret to those sparkling kitchen floors, the glowing countertops, the shiny sinks? If you're like her, you don't want to spend a fortune on cleaning products, you just want your house to look and smell clean, and get rid of all that bacterial stuff. You want to be green, and still be clean.
Here are some homemade tips that will help keep your house in tip-top shape, using all-natural ingredients, that are simple yet effective, and easy on the wallet that you should never live without:

1. Vinegar - dilute 2/3 vinegar with 1/3 water into a large spritz bottle. Add a tablespoon of your favorite essential oils. My favorites for cleaning are: lemon, eucalyptus, lavender, tea tree, peppermint, and cypress. I rotate depending on the mood I am in. Sometimes it's just lavender, sometimes just lemon. Sometimes a nice combo. Label the bottle in black marker so you know what it is. Use this on: floors (laminate, most hardwoods, tile), countertops, cabinets, almost anything. It cuts grease, removes stains, and is antibacterial.

2. Baking Soda - combine this with your vinegar solution and rub a dub dubb in your tub until it sparkles bright. You can also use this combo on toilets and vanities. Baking Soda disinfects and enhances the cleaning power of soap.

3. Essential Oils - adding essential oils to your formulations helps to provide both antibacterial and disinfecting properties, and of couse will add a beautiful fragrance with aromatherapy benefits.

4. Lemon juice - after using lemons in your food preparations, don't discard them right away. Use a lemon to wipe your wooden cutting boards, or to help disinfect and clean your counter. Just use the actual lemon, rub a dub dubb, and then wipe with vinegar. Oh la la!

5. Borax - this natural mineral which helps to kill mold and bacteria can be used in the shower or damp areas when mold and mildew tend to accumulate. Use with baking soda or your Vinegar solution for best results.

6. Club Soda - to get sparkley mirrors and glass use Club Soda. Just fill a spray bottle and wip clean with a paper towel or rag.

HINTS
* Label all of your ingredients and keep them out of reach of children. While most of these all natural cleaners are not poisonous, some can be harmful or even fatal if swallowed by children or pets.
* Make your products in large quantities so they will be handy and ready to use when needed.
* Don't ever mix homemade cleaners with commercial cleaners, because when mixed, they can produce toxic gases.

So stop using harsh chemicals which can be making you and your family sick, and harming the environment. Go green and get clean!!!

Real or Fake? The real ethical dilemma...

This year like always I come to ponder over the question about getting our family a real or fake tree. For the past few years we have been buying a living tree, and then planting it. However here in Florida we have a limited selection of trees that we can plant which resemble Christmas trees. So last year I was enticed when visiting a friend's home of the fresh scent of pine needles filling the home, and it reminded me so much of when we lived in the mountains of Colorado that I went and purchased a real tree for Christmas only a few days before Christmas. I'll admit it was nice and after doing some research I was suprised to learn about the pro's and con's to each.

Real Trees
Pros - They smell like the spirit of the season
Pro - You can support a local charity by purchasing a real tree

Con - They don't last as long
Con - They can be more difficult to set up and take care of

Fake Trees
Pro - Easy to set up and take down
Pro - You don't have to water it

Con - Most fake trees (85%) in the U.S. are imported from China. Almost 10 Million fake trees were sold worldwide in 2003.*
Con As noted in the Washington Post, "On the concrete floors of Zhang's Shuitou Company factory, migrant workers, most earning about $100 a month, squat in front of hissing machinery as they melt chips into moildable plastic..."
Con - Most fake trees contain PVC (polyvinyl chloride).*
Con - The potential for lead poisoning is great enough that fake trees made in China are required by California Prop 65 to have a warning label.*
(*Taken from the American Christmas Tree Association).

I've also learned that going to the local groups selling real Christmas trees are having a harder time this year competing against the big box retailers, so this would be a good opportunity to support a local charity.
It's a hard decision, and with lots of options out there, ultimately like I mentioned there are a lot of pros and cons to each. Whatever you decide to choose this year, I hope your tree brings you much joy and happiness, and helps you to remember the true spirit of the season.

It's Always "Greener"at Greenridge Herbals

We're always looking for ways to make our company more green and lately we have been placing a lot of importance on recycling and biodegradeable packaging. Plastic packaging fills our landfills at an alarming pace and pollutes our waterways. We have mostly turned to glass for almost all of our packaging needs because glass is more likely to be kept and reused or recycled.
Our labels are easy to peel off once you are done with the product (we do this intentionally so that jars and bottles can be reused).

Here are some tips on how you can reuse our glass jars or bottles:

1. Use jars for food storage. Just run them thru the dishwasher and keep on hand to store soups, sauces, dressings, pates, veggies, and more.
2. Refill small jars to use when travelling. Just like above, run them thru the dishwasher or rinse out and they will last you a long time.
3. Use jars for gifts. Fill them with cookie mix, and attach a recipe. Affix your own label and place in a pretty bag. These are great to do with kids.
4. Store craft items such as pins, buttons, and miscellaneous items.
5. Use empty blue glass bottles for a beautiful flower vase. Place wildflowers in them and give as a gift, or place an a bathroom where the light will reflect the beautiful blue hues.

Remember, reduce, reuse and recycle to help save and preserve our planet for our children