Nova Covington, a fourth generation herbalist, values the Earth and the healing power of plants. Inspired by her young daughter’s health needs, she created an organic alternative to synthetic soap found in traditional baby products. This fueled the creation of safe skincare solutions and the founding of Goddess Garden in 2004. Goddess Garden has the highest organic content sunscreen on the market. This 70% organic natural sunscreen with a 30 SPF can be part of great gifts available at Best Organics and is available in both kids and adult formulas. Goddess Garden chooses certified organic, fair trade, and sustainably sourced ingredients, and scents products with 100% pure essential oils. We invite you to share this great brand by adding Goddess Garden Sunscreen to a summer fun gift and get 20% off through August 15!! Enter code Summer2010 during checkout.

Also of note: The Environmental Working Group just published a guide on how to choose the safest, most effective sunscreens. We are pleased that Goddess Garden is recommended as a safe sunscreen by EWG’s research!

We just heard that Ellie’s in Boulder is selling eco-friendly, sustainable caskets. The caskets are made from Colorado beetle-kill pine. I doubt anyone would want to receive one in a gift box, but what a fantastic idea! Maybe that’s what they’d call “thinking outside the box”?

We just love partnering with Justin’s Nut Butters. Their squeeze packs are always a well received addition in any Best Organics gift box. But, how did they begin…when I asked the company, they sent me this reply:

“As a long time vegetarian and outdoor enthusiast, Justin has relied on nut butters as a sufficient protein source. in 2003 Justin started making his own varieties of nut butters with his household food processor as a result of frustrations with the lack of great tasting nut butters in stores. With encouragement from friends and family, he started delivering his product to every natural food store around Boulder while still maintaining a full time job. He soon decided he needed to make squeeze packs to carry his nut butter on the go, especially when doing his favorite outdoorsy activities (mountain biking, skiing, hiking, etc). He financed a squeeze pack machine that was used to make shampoo samples in the 80’s (and we still use it today!), and he developed the first-to-market squeeze pack of gourmet almond and peanut butters. Like many entrepreneurs, Justin has come a long way with his line of nut butters, always thinking of new flavor combinations.”

And, we hear that the new chocolate squeeze packs are on their way! I for one can’t wait to try them – I’ve been packing the squeeze packs in the pocket of my ski jacket for instant energy on the slopes all season. I have found that the energy I get from one little squeeze pack can really make a difference in performance. Thanks Justin’s for the great story behind your company!

The Cut-Flower Industry

A few facts…

When you buy cut flowers check on the source and choose organic. And, if possible, choose locally grown flowers.

Do you know that although consumers spend more than $18 million on cut flowers each year:

• Flowers are one of the top pesticide-intensive agricultural crops

• If all the roses purchased for Valentine’s Day were grown organically it would prevent 22,700 pounds of pesticides.
• Flower companies in Ecuador use more than 30 different chemicals and synthetic fertilizers
• There are an estimated 140,000 flower laborers in Ecuador and Colombia, working to grow, harvest, and package for North Americans. Flower workers are routinely prevented from organizing unions, experience sexual harassment, forced pregnancy testing, and numerous health and safety violations, according to the International Labor Rights Forum.

And now for our shameless plug! Why not give a better gift! Buying a Best Organics gift box collection not only supports a variety of companies within the local economy, but is also supporting sustainable and eco-friendly practices. Of course our products are organic, but did you know that our boxes are printed with soy-based ink in Denver using recycled materials. And, right now our Valentine’s Day collections are all on sale!

One of the goals of our new blog is to highlight local, organic food operations. Today I ran across this article from the Vail Daily reporting on Eaton Ranch which is a small cattle operation that sells their beef to places like Larkburger (love that place!).

VAIL VALLEY, Colorado — Stand at the highest point of the Homestead neighborhood in Edwards in Colroado’s Vail Valley and look out over the booming village. Shopping centers, office buildings, recreational fields, schools, condominium complexes, even a world renowned cancer center. Just 20 years ago, you would have seen one Texaco station, one restaurant, and lots of cows.

One half mile west of the Edwards exit off I-70, and south of the interstate there is still a homestead called Eaton Ranch. It looks like an early American home, but actually serves as the base of a small cattle operation. Two years ago, Allana Smith, director of kitchen operations for Vail-based Savory Group, (Larkspur, Larkburger, Avondale) learned that it would be possible for the group to extend their commitment to using local food sources by purchasing an Eaton Ranch steer for the restaurants’ menus.

Chefs Armando Navarro of Larkspur and Jeremy Kittelson of Avondale hand selected one steer who was then given its own pasture in Edwards while the rest of the herd went to graze in another part of the state. The chosen steer was carefully nurtured with a special diet in preparation for its ultimate purpose. The result: tender, flavorful beef organically raised within a few miles of the restaurants.

You may not find local beef in your grocery store or butcher shop, but purchasing the highest quality, organically raised beef available will yield the best flavor. Smaller herds equal the most humane treatment and hence texture and flavor.

Americans love their beef; it’s evident in the popularity of fine steakhouses throughout the country. The best tasting beef is rarely available for purchase in supermarkets. Where’s the compromise? Try wallet-friendly organic ground beef. With America’s biggest day of TV sports fast approaching, why not treat your family and friends to a big pot of chili on Superbowl Sunday?