The Greenridge Herbal Thymes

Top Pesticide Fruit & Veggie Content List

Here's the Top Ten list of foods I try to always buy organic. This list consists of food with the highest pesticide residues:
1. Peaches
2. Strawberries
3. Canteloupe
4. Cherries
5. Apricots
6. Watermelon
7. Apples
8. Green Beans
9. Spinach
10. Corn

After reading in today's local paper about a child with a gene mutation that caused her life-long disability, I thought about the connection to the genetically modified food (GMOs) in our society, and the lack of governmental regulation around these large companies like Monstanto. Is there a connection?
GMOs are plants and animals that have had their genetic make up altered to exhibit traits that are not naturally theirs. GMOs are not natural. In nature, natural selection can occur, and bring out the most favorable traits from two different plants.
GM foods were first put on the market in the early 1990s. The most common modified foods are derived from soybeans, corn, canola, and cotton seed oil.

Did you know that big companies like to sell sterile seed, so the farmers keep buying from them? Monsanto genetically alters seeds to sell to US farmers and also farmers in third-world countries, threatening bio-diversity and food supplies around the world. The first year the seeds are bountiful, bringing in a beautiful harvest. The next year, they are sterile. Sterile seeds containing what are referred to as “terminator genes” were developed back in the 1990s. These genes would “terminate” the life cycle of the plant using Genetic Use Restriction Technologies or “GURT”. Since these genes just started becoming available in the 1990s we have no idea the long-term effects it will have on the health of our food, our soil, and our children.

GMOs should be eliminated from our society. Please help to avoid buying non-organic foods, and foods containing GMOs. Lately the price of organic food is almost the same as non-organic food. Even in these economic times, you can make a big difference. Your purchases count. Your voice counts. Go organic!

FDA Globalization Act of 2008

If you love handmade beauty products, we need your voices to be heard.
The FDA Globalization Act is trying to place unfair regulations and standards on small companies like ourselves. If passed this law would make it impossible for small and family owned businesss to start and compete in the market. It would impose thousands of dollars in yearly fees, and mounds of paperwork where time in small business is already so valuable.
If this happens, the only companies that would be able to compete in the personal care market are the priviledged, well-funded, largest companies in the world. Please watch this video:

Donna Maria, President of the Indie Beauty Network which I am a member of, is spearheading this effort. Donna Maria is a remarkable woman who sets such an amazing example to women of all walks of life. She helps to encourage us as small business owners, moms, and strong women. She is also a lawyer thankfully and knows a lot about the insides and out of this business. She has probably been preparing for this day for a long time because as we all know, big business has a lot of money. They don't like it when little people like us take away from their profits. And small business like us are growing thanks to the internet and the fact that people don't really like to support big business when they can support women-owned family businesses that provide excellent products and personalized customer service. Let's help Donna Maria collect 100,000 signatures. Please pass this link on to as many people as you can. Thank you!

Please sign the petition at this link

Here's the link to more information on this topic

California Files Lawsuit Against Whole Foods, Avalon, and Others Whose Products Tested Positive for Carcinogenic 1,4-Dioxane in OCA Study

The Attorney General of California has filed a lawsuit against a number of natural personal care companies whose products allegedly contain levels of a carcinogenic compound.

Avalon Natural products, which manufactures Alba, Un-petroleum and Avalon Organics brands, has been accused of failing to warn consumers that its products contain 1,4-Dioxane. Under the state's Proposition 65 consumer products should not expose consumers to chemicals known to the state to cause cancer or reproductive toxicity without giving clear and reasonable warning. Here is the link to the article:
Link to the Press Release
(Thanks to my wonderful California friend A.J. for making me aware of this today!)

Great. Cancer. Reproductive Toxicity. We just wanted to moisturize our skin! Why, I ask, is it necessary to add all these other chemicals?

Yikes! Did you know these products were found at Whole Foods and health food stores across the country? Don't feel relaxed when you walk into a health food store. You need to be aware of what you are buying, even if you are at a "health food store." Now, it's not even safe to read your ingredient labels because you don't know if you can trust what goes into them.

You can be safe with us, as we only list every single ingredient we use. At first, it's a little frightening to give out my handmade recipes that took me years to formulate, I have to admit. But I have found that over the years customers really appreciate knowing what is in the product, because of the vast array of sensitivities.

Did you know that we are a wheat-free/gluten-free company? Yeap, that's right! We don't use any wheat products. There was an ingredient we used to use: wheat germ oil. But, we no longer find it necessary.

This article is just another reason to turn to a small handcrafted skincare company like ourselves that you can trust for your sensitive skincare needs. If you have any question, you can always call me and talk to me over the phone. You can email me too. I'd love to hear from you!

Mother's Day is Sunday, May 11th

Mother's Day is just around the corner and we have a wonderful selection of healthy, natural skincare products that any mother would love. Our last ship date for items to arrive before Mother's Day means placing your order by 6pm Wednesday, May 7th. This gives up time to prepare and pack up your items and ship them out on Thursday.
Please think of us for all your Mother's Day gifting needs!

Shea Butter Lotion Back in Stock!

Just in time for that dry, itchy, winter weather skin - we've finally got a fresh Shea Butter Lotion batch made up. We went for a few months on this one because we were so busy with keeping up with just filling orders around the holidays, and then we got slammed for Valentine's Day! We barely were able to keep up with the other lotions, but looks like things are back on track now.
Soooo, enjoy!

President's Day CatchUp

Today is the day after President's Day and we're catching up on all orders placed over the weekend. If you placed an order over the weekend (beginning Friday) it will ship out tomorrow (Wednesday Feb 20th). We took the weekend and holiday off, plus Valentine's Day, so we are a little behind. But, we really needed the break. We rarely take a weekend off and I have to say it was VERY nice to get a little rejuvenation.
I have a few new products in the works right now I am very excited about that I can hopefully share with you soon.
I am still extremely excited about our new Hair Conditioner, it has been getting RAVE reviews that I need to post on the site so you can hear what others are saying. This is a totally new and revolutionary product. There is NOTHING else like it on the market.
Your hair has never had it so good!
I'm hoping to put together a hair care gift pack soon because the hair items are becoming a larger part of our biz.
Well I hope you all had a happy President's Day!