Do you get to travel?

I answer that question almost daily when I'm in the shop. People are amazed at the unique handmade products from all over the world, and know that traveling to pick them out would be the best part of the job. It would be amazing, and I'd love to do some of it as we grow, but the truth is, importing items fairly is a big commitment that a small shop can't completely meet.

The heart of Fair Trade is relationship. People who have traveled and bought items in marketplaces around the world tell me, "Oh, I just don't barter, I pay what the artist asks. That's Fair Trade."

Hmmmm, not really. Fair Trade means that the artist and the buyer work together to come to a mutual agreement about price, yes, but it's much more than that. While buying one time from an artist at a higher price (in local currency terms) makes everyone feel good, it doesn't actually support the artist long term. That's where the relationship of Fair Trade steps in.

In relationship, buyers may pay some of the agreed upon price up front so that artists can buy the goods needed to make it, and also can survive while doing the work. Then the remainder is paid upon completion of the work. That relationship means that Fair Trade importers endeavor not to place just one order, but to develop a long term commitment to an artist, or group, so that they are able to plan and have more stability. Fair Trade importers may also help with technical assistance on issues like product design and safety testing.

So how do we know something is truly fairly traded, if we are not the ones meeting the artists. Again, it comes down to relationship. We work primarily with Fair Trade importers who are members of the Fair Trade Federation. This way, we know they already agree to the same standards we support. When we work with an importer who is not a member of the Fair Trade Federation, we get to know them and chose partners who value people and the planet like we do.

One day I may get to travel to meet more of our artists, until then, I enjoy the stories and live a little vicariously through our amazing partners. DeLona

Make Love Sustainable

There's no better time to green up your love life than during these cold winter spells.

DeLona and I attended the Green Business Conference put on annually by Co-Op America (now Green America) a few years ago and met Wendy Strgar, founder of Good Clean Love, based in Eugene. She wowed us with her spiel and passion to promote sustainable love relationships with her all natural intimacy products and we placed our first order within the month.

Okay, so we were a bit curious to take a few things home ourselves - in the interests of market research of course. Since then Good Clean Love items have had a home at Small Planet in one corner or another of the shop - and more than a few loyal local fans.

However, today in honor of Girl's Night Out, Good Clean Love is moving out of the cozy corners and into the limelight! From 5-8pm tonight we'll be throwing a Make Love Sustainable party and sharing our favorite GCL products such as all natural lubricants and massage oils, body butters and hot oil passion candles. And for a short time only we'll be offering a few other surprises - books, games, and accessories - all best sellers from Good Clean Love.

Here are a few things we've learned from Wendy about enhancing your intimate relationships. Studies show that the benefits of an active sex life include (just in case you need some extra encouragement).

• Stronger immune response


• Better heart health


• Reduction of chronic pain


• Lower incidence of depression
  
• Decreased fear and anxiety and a greater sense of well-being
  

Though the majority of commonly found intimacy products contain petrochemicals and preserved with methyl and propyl parabens, Good Clean Love products are organic and use only natural ingredients that not only feel good, but are good for you.
Come join the party tonight, Wednesday, 1/21st, from 5-8pm! You might even win a Romance Basket full of Good Clean Love products.

Karen

Doubletake

Human beings suffer, they torture one another, they get hurt and get hard. No poem or play or song can fully right a wrong inflicted and endured.


The innocent in gaols beat on their bars together. A hunger-striker's father stands in the graveyard dumb. The police widow in veils faints at the funeral home


History says, Don't hope on this side of the grave. But then, once in a lifetime the longed for tidal wave of justice can rise up, and hope and history rhyme.


So hope for a great sea-change on the far side of revenge. Believe that a further shore is reachable from here. Believe in miracles and cures and healing wells.


Call the miracle self-healing: The utter self-revealing double-take of feeling. If there's fire on the mountain or lightning and storm and a god speaks from the sky,


That means someone is hearing the outcry and the birth-cry of new life at its term.

Seamus Heaney