March 2010 Newsletter

Greetings from Herban Paradise! The approach of Spring is always so exciting, isn't it? In just the past few days I've seen buds pop out on the pussy willows, a flock of robins appear in the garden, and the red-tail hawk back nesting in my pine trees.

Of course I'm "chomping at the bit" eager to start gardening, but I recently had another kind of thrill:

Being interviewed by the fabulous Donna Maria for "The Indie Business Experience"!

Donna Maria Coles Johnson, Chief Executive Indie Founder of the Indie Beauty Network, the leading trade organization in the independently-owned beauty business industry. A passionate spokesperson for entrepreneurs from all walks of life, Donna Maria guides and supports Indies with knowledge she's gained from being "in the trenches" combined with expertise at utilizing online tools to connect with the world. Known for her innovative yet friendly style, Donna Maria shares information via her blog, newsletter, and weekly radio show.

 

Here's an excerpt from the interview:

dM: What's your niche?

Sheri: I came to bodycare-making through my study of Western Herbalism, which also is what inspired me to begin gardening. Being part of the whole process, from the time the seed is planted until the time the label is put on the jar, gives me a unique perspective I think, a bigger vision of the impact of my actions.

Because of this, I'm extraordinarily careful when choosing ingredients I can't supply for myself, careful (and caring!) when handcrafting my products, careful to use only recyclable packaging, and adamant about not using any animal products in my bodycare.

But even though I'm vegan and certified cruelty-free by both PETA's Caring Consumer program and the Leaping Bunny program, I want to move beyond the idea of "cruelty-free" and explore my concept of "love promoting". This is more than just a tagline for me -- When you use my products, I sincerely want you to "Feel Good in Your Skin". To me, this means, besides feeling and smelling good, my products have to be good for you and be good for the planet too.

dM: I know you recently withdrew from Whole Foods Market. Why did you make that decision? Any fallout?

Sheri: It wasn't a difficult decision to pull my skin care from Whole Foods Market because I knew in my heart it was the right decision for me. The more I learned about their business practices, the less good I felt about being there. When I couldn't *feel good* about telling people I had my product there, I knew I had to go.

But yes, there has been a BIG fallout. I would have made the decision anyway, but at the time, I believed I'd be picking up another grocery store account which unfortunately never materialized.

This venture, though, is part of a larger adventure I'm on with my husband as we work towards sustainable living and transition into full-time farming. We believe this business will grow way beyond the income I was making with Whole Foods, and will also be supplemented by selling herb plants and herbal medicines as well as our garden veggies and mushrooms....

(continue reading at the Indie Beauty Network website)

"If you're after getting the honey... Then you don't go killing all the bees"
from the song "Johnny Appleseed", by Joe Strummer & The Mescaleros

Pesticides are believed to be a contributing factor to Colony Collapse Disorder, along with a toxic soup of parasitic mites, a new virus that attacks bees' immune systems, the stress of "industrialized pollination" (trucking thousands and thousands of colonies across the country for agriculture), and an inadequate food supply.

Bees are believed to be in long-term decline. To help relieve some of the pressure, I don't use any bee products in my skin and bodycare. I also make sure to include plants that offer healthy food for the bees in my garden.

Lemon balm, bee balm, all the mints, basils (especially Holy Basil!), oregano, chives, anise hyssop, motherwort, catnip, red clover, and echinacea (purple coneflower) seem to be the favorites in my garden. But the list of herbs loved by bees is a long one and also includes lavender, rosemary, thyme, sage, hyssop, marjoram, borage, and the rose family.

Add some of these herbs to your garden this year and give some sweet love back to the bees.

Read more posts at http://paradisecityherbal.com/blog/

D.I.Y. (Do It Yourself!)

Hemp Seed Hair Treatment

This nourishing, deep-conditioning treatment softens and smooths hair while reducing split ends. It increases elasticity, manageability, and shine. All you need is some pure, fresh hemp seed oil. It's perfect for all hair types, except very greasy.

Hemp Seed Oil is a highly nutritious food, and contains anti-oxidants, protein, carotene, phytosterols, phospholipids, as well as a number of minerals including calcium, magnesium, sulfur, potassium, iron, zinc, and phosphorus. It is a source of complete protein and contains all twenty know amino acids, including the nine essential amino acids. It also contains Vitamins A, B1, B2, B3, B6, C, D, and E. The green color in Hemp Seed Oil is a result of the high level of chlorophyll which is naturally present in the seeds. Perhaps the most valued property of Hemp Seed Oil is its percentage of Essential Fatty Acids, which is higher than any other plant in the world. It contains both Omega-6 and Omega-3 Essential Fatty Acids. In cosmetic and bodycare products, Hemp Seed Oil is anti-inflammatory, anti-ageing, balances dry skin, fights skin inflammations, helps heal skin lesions, has anti-oxidants, and contains moisture balancing properties. The oil is non-greasy, readily absorbs into the pores, is an emollient, and has rejuvenating and moisturizing properties for the skin. - from the Organic Hemp Seed Oil profile at Mountain Rose Herbs

• Gently warm a few tablespoons of hemp seed oil, apply to hair, and lightly massage making sure you cover your scalp as well as the ends of your hair

• Cover hair with a plastic shower cap to keep the warmth in (and to protect your clothes from the oil)

• Leave oil on for at least an hour for optimum effect

• Wash out with cool water

This treatment can be enhanced by adding herbs suitable to your hair type. Just let the herbs infuse in the hemp seed oil for several days, then strain out.

• dry hair: chamomile, marshmallow, peach leaf, red clover

• dandruff: chamomile, lemongrass, nettle, rosemary

• oily hair: bee balm, lemongrass, peppermint, rosebuds

• for shine: calendula, chamomile, nettle, rosemary, sage

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