We are so lucky! So many good things have happened for us as we’ve been growing Herb’n Organics. The latest gift has been the involvement of Ms. Brett Pedley, a senior at ASU in the School of Sustainability.
We first met when her class came to Wilson Gardens, where we’re located, to sit under the big old mulberry on the deck and talk about urban gardening–growing food in a urban setting. A few days later, Brett called and asked about doing an internship with us over the summer. Her timing was incredible because we were just starting the process of getting Green Certification from Green America-a huge undertaking. Perhaps the most daunting component is the research involving interviewing all our suppliers to determine their level of commitment to sustainable operation. When we suggested that Brett take on that project for her internship, she loved it! And so did her internship director.
The internship program requires that she blog weekly to share her thought, challenges and progress. We’ve been reading her postings and she’s agreed to share them with our readers. She writes very well and asks the right questions. W e though you might enjoy following her progress as well.
Check out her blog at: locallifecycle.wordpress.com
Enjoy,
Diann

Herb’n Organics is in the process of applying for ‘Green America’ certification for our products. Green America is perhaps the most respected arbiter of what constitutes a sustainable business in the US. The organization was originally ‘Co-Op America’ and has been active for years in the forefront of alternative business models and now they’ve changed their name to reflect the most pressing needs in business and sustainable living in the 21st century.
So anyway, the process to obtain certification is quite intense from a time perspective and unlike many other ‘certifications’ available, it’s very affordable from a financial perspective. For me the most challenging part of the process is interviewing and questioning all our suppliers to determine how sustainably these businesses are run.
Just as I was lamenting the time this task would take, the universe gave us an amazing gift: an intern from ASU’s School of Sustainability! Brett visited the Urban Farm that our cottage sits in and was taken by the idea of a sustainable business in such a setting. She asked if there was a project she could tackle over the summer and we jumped for joy as we explained our need. The Internship Coordinator agreed that it was a great project and it’s official!
We gratefully welcome Brett into our HNO world and are very excited to learn what she will discover as she interacts with suppliers and colleagues. She’s looking at issues such as sourcing of materials, recycling efforts, countries of origin, worker compensation. Very exciting! But I think her favorite part is visiting with the dogs and getting organic free-range eggs warm from the nest. Life is good!!
Diann

One of the main goals of Herb’n Organics is to produce and market our wonderful products as sustainably as possible. We upcycle ingredient bottles, we focus on refills and reuse of our bottles, and we use repurposed vinyl and post consumer waste paper with water-based inks on all our printed materials. We’ve always been proud that we don’t ship water in our cleaning products and we are over-the-moon-jazzed to announce that we now ship and sell our fabulous Go Green Dog shampoo and crate spray with the tiniest amount of water possible, the rest can be added at your home. This again significantly lowers our shipping costs and streamlines production.
Over the next several months, look for our new labels reiterating our commitment to resource preservation and to donating 10% of Go Green Dog net sales to nonprofit animal rescue organizations.
This is a strange, exciting and challenging time to be building a business dedicated to sustainability and respect for the earth, but we believe that this is the future for all businesses. We may be in the forefront, but others will follow and decisions will be made for reasons other than profit for profit’s sake.

It’s that time of year again…or if you live in Arizona, life as usual. Time for hats and sunscreen and if we’re really serious, long sleeved, light weight shirts. My go-to source for information on the effectiveness of the various products on the market that claim SPF 10 to SPF 100 is the Environmental Working Groups 2010 list of sunscreen products. (www.ewg.org/2010sunscreen)
I’ve been buying Jason mineral sunscreen from Whole Foods Markets for over a year and it really works. OK. It goes on thick and white (that’s the zinc-remember lifeguard’s noses?) and you have to work it in, but there is no scent (YAY!) and it lasts up to 3 hours (most are 2 hours). And it doesn’t make my face break out. Just stops UVA and UVB rays from the sun.
Some of the most commonly available brands in drug stores are in the ‘Hall of Shame’ on the EWG website, so as always, READ THE LABEL! You’re looking for titanium and zinc…especially for children. If you were listening to Diane Rhem on NPR the other morning (look for the podcast at NRP.org) they did an entire program about skin cancer and sunscreens. The main takeaway point for me was that the major damage is done in childhood and adolescence…and don’t get me going about the risks of tanning beds!
So heads up and eyes open. Take care of yourselves and your loved ones. A little sun is all you need for Vitamin D..and don’t get it between 10am and 2 pm.
Peace and Health,
DFiann

My first born son Jeff & his first born son Jeremiah! Are they cute or what!!!??? I can’t believe Jeremiah is 2 mos. old already! I won’t tell you how old Jeff is… but I will tell you he’s older than me! =]