Sustainable Smudging

We had two customers special order smudge sticks in the last couple weeks - enough this month to nudge our favorite wild plants vender, Juniper Ridge to the top of the "to be ordered" list.  Smudge sticks are not one of our signature items like prayer flags or fair trade chocolate, nor are they very noteworthy to the casual shopper the way any of our items made from recycled materials are.

Instead it's the item that a dedicated customer gets in her car and drives 5 miles into town for, scouts around a 2 block radius to find a parking space for, walks directly in the shop to the smudge corner, makes her choice without a glance at anything else and heads to the cash register for.  It's the item that quietly, unobtrusively sells out quicker than we can get the word out that they're back in.  Those who smudge regularly like to be stocked and will go out of their way for a good smudge stick. 

And ours are good!  From the moment the plants are sustainably wildcrafted (carefully harvested in the heart of their range) "from the mountains and deserts of the West", bundled into sticks, and packaged in vegetable based biodegradable plastic - Juniper Ridge does it right.  

And how exactly do you use a smudge stick? Here's what  Juniper Ridge has to say on their website, "Smudge sticks are the most natural form of incense—they’re just wild plant trimmings, nothing else. Just light the tip on fire, blow out the flame and let it smolder. Extinguish with sand or water when you are done. They’re also great in the fireplace."

We have 3 varieties in stock at the moment - 

White Sage:  Traditionally used to clear spaces of stale, or negative air, feelings, and energies.  When a change is in order sage is your herb to move out the old.  Found in the rugged mountains of the Southwest, Sage is used  ceremonially in purification rituals. 

Western Red Cedar:  "In the Pacific Northwest, the people burn cedar for purification in much the same way as sage - it drives out negative energy; but it also brings in good influences. The spirit of cedar is considered very ancient and wise by Pacific Northwest tribes, and old, downed cedar trees are honored with offerings and prayers." (http://www.asunam.com/smudge_ceremony.html

Mugwort:  Described best on the JR website, "Mugwort, also known as Dream Weed for its unique ability to stimulate dreams, is found in the mountains of the West Coast from California north through British Columbia. It is renowned as a smudging herb for its subtle, sweet scent and dream-inducing qualities. So burn a little before you go to sleep and dream sweet dreams of wildflower meadows heavy with the smell of the waning winter rains and new green life rising all around you."

Get 'em while they last!


Karen

Hope in Haiti

Common Good Thursday is back on May 20th to raise money for Haiti Foundation of Hope, a non profit that has been at work in Haiti building schools and clinics  for the past 20 years.  The organization has it's U.S. base in Vancouver, Washington and maintains a low overhead ensuring effective use of donations on the ground in Haiti.  Other programs Foundations of Hope is involved in include micro-loan, community health, clean water and a woman's trade school.

Next Thursday Small Planet Trading will share Haiti Foundation of Hope information and donate 25% of the day's sales to their work.  Come support Fair Trade, kids, and community development in Haiti!

A few World Fair Trade Day Photos

Fair Trade My Home Photo Contest

Win Fair Trade prizes!
Show us the funny, beautiful
and meaningful ways you use
Fair Trade goods at home.

Send or bring photos to Small
Planet Trading and we'll include
them in our Fair Trade My Home
Photo Exhibit and enter you
in the photo contest! 

PRIZES! 
$25 Gift Certificate for
most beautiful
$25 Gift Certificate for
most funny

Submit photos to:
Small Planet Trading
202 Cascade Ave.
Hood River, OR 97031
info@smallplanettrading.com

Winners will be announced on
Saturday, May 8th - at the
World Fair Trade Day Event!

Photograph captions should accompany
all submissions, and should include the
subject of the image, the location the
image was taken, and photographer contact
details.

By entering the contest you grant to Small
Planet Trading the right to use your photo
and caption in promotions and other
publications, both specifically related to Fair
Trade and World Fair Trade Day.

Hail to the Kale (& Broccoli)!

Thoughts on an apple core

A customer came in the store the other day eating an apple.  As he finished, he asked if I had a trash can he so he could toss the core.  When I opened our little BioBag compost pale for him, he got a funny look on his face.

"Is that for compost?" he asked.  "Sure is," I answered.

Still holding the core, he took his time looking at the contents of my food waste bag-- so I looked too.  Coffee grounds, filters, and tea bags from our sample table, an avocado peel from Karen's lunch the day before, my own latest apple core poking out below-- pretty typical for a Small Planet week. 

"What do you do with it?" he asked.

"Oh, take it home to my compost pile," I said.

He tossed the core in and gave me a big smile, "I could do that too."

I must have looked amused, because he continued.  "No, I mean, I compost at home but at my office we just throw all of the food stuff in the trash.  We make coffee, have snacks or lunches.  I never thought about taking it home."

At Small Planet we usually take home two small bags of food waste a week plus a large bag of recyclables.  That means that what is left to go to the landfill is usually a very small bag once a week or less.  Every office or workspace would be different, but adding a food waste container in the break room or near the coffee maker is an easy start.  Our Biobag compostable bags make this easy and mess-free too. 

Earth Day is coming up-- why not green the office today?

Oh, and BioBags are the April Special on our webshop-- email us if you also need us to send along the handy food waste bucket too.  --DeLona

Watch Our Veggies Grow...but hold the Brussel Sprouts

There are veggies growing in the window of Small Planet Trading.  They are tiny little spurts of green at the moment, not really much to look at, but I find myself checking on them several times a day.  They have the most wonderful names:  Rosa Bianca Eggplant, Space Spinach, Packman Broccoli, Green Zebra Tomato, Cherokee Purple Tomato, Winterbor Kale and more.

When the Hood River County Historical Museum asked if downtown businesses would like to feature a local farm in their window to promote the Farm Life exhibit and series we thought it would be fun but had no idea what we could put in the window that would represent Farm Life.  Luckily Nick and Kristin Walrod at Dancing Moon Farm knew exactly what to do.  These plants really do say it all.  Growing.  Food.  History.  Newness.  Soil.  Risk. 

I am grateful to live so close to where my food is grown.  To get to know the people who make it their life passion to bring amazing vegetables and fruit to my table.  Being a part of a CSA has allowed me to try new foods and meet new people.  I like that my boys understand where their food comes from and what it means to eat with the seasons.  It has also given them a unique sense of food choices too.

My youngest son Mateo, when asked what food was his least favorite recently said, "Brussel Sprouts."

"Um, have you actually eaten Brussel Sprouts?" I asked.

"No, and I don't want to.  Please don't buy any."

I had to smile.  "OK," I answered.  "I won't, but if we get any in our farm box, we'll have to try them."

He looked at me for a minute and then smiled.  "I'll just ask Lucy to tell her dad not to plant any." 

I had to laugh and felt a deep gratitude that at 8 years old he has such an easy connection to his food.  I hope it's one he'll always have.    --DeLona

Come on by and watch the veggie starts grow.  Or check back here for more photos.