Post Holiday R & R

Wedge Worldwide hopes that you had a wonderful holiday season and that the year ahead will be an outstanding one! Now that the excitement and busyness are winding down are you feeling like you could use a little pampering and well earned rest? Allow us to recommend a few all natural products that will sooth your senses and calm your mind.

A hot, fragrant foot bath is a wonderful winter treat. This is an ideal activity to preform right before bed as it will deeply relax you and promote a great nights sleep. Simply fill up a large bowl with hot water and put a few pumps of one of our Dr. Hauschka Aromatherapy Baths in the bowl and stir. The bowl should be deep enough so that the water will cover your ankles. Sit back in a chair with a blanket as you soak and listen to soothing music. This is a great time to do some deep breathing and let your mind settle. Hauschka's Lavender Bath is the perfect choice for sweet dreams and easing anxiety and stress. The smell is amazing too! Or for those who are feeling chilled Rosemary Bath is excellent for cold weather as it is warming and stimulates circulation.

Looking for a little something to make your mornings special and give you some gentle get up and go? How about starting the day off with a warm cup of delectable, special tea? Wedge Worldwide offers a variety of organic and Fair Trade teas that are sure to please. Personally I love our Organic White Peony Tea. This tea has a subtle and beautifully refined taste. It sweetly stimulates my senses without the jittery caffine side effects. Or bring some olfactory fun to your shower with Pangea's fresh scented body wash with Canadian pine and white sage which is packed with organic ingredients and pure essential oils. Or try one of our customer's all time favorites, Stinky Hippie Patchouli Body Wash.

Be sure to check back with us throughout the new year as we continue to add more wonderful new products to our site. Happy New Year!

Celebrate the Holidays With Eco-Friendly Gifts

The final countdown towards the holidays has begun! Are you still looking for a huge variety of beautiful eco-friendly gifts to choose from? Then surf on in; Wedge Worldwide has some truly wonderful ideas for you!

Organic gourmet food treats make a great gift option for anyone. Try our brand new Fair Trade chocolate bars and tea in pretty tea tins from Equal Exchange. We brought in the their yummy hot chocolate too!

Sure to please a variety of folks on your list are the gorgeously scented Juniper Ridge Wild Herb Sachets made from ethically wild-harvested plant trimmings. The wonderful Christmas-tree-smell of the Christmas Fir Sachet is perfect for the holidays. We also highly recommend Juniper Ridge's amazing smelling soap and delicious wild-harvested teas.

In search of just the right thing for the ultra-cool hipster in your life? Check out our new Urban Messenger Bag made from organic cotton and hemp. A chic and eco-conscious choice for stylish women is our Street Purse, available in an assortment of vibrant colors and of course, black. By the way, we think the Anthology Cardigan, made from organic cotton and bamboo, looks great with the Street Purse.

Not sure what to get for Mom? How about a fun Fair Trade ring like the one that states, “If you can dream it you can do it!” Or take a peak at our entire Fair Trade jewelry selection for other fabulous options. Mom might also like something from our natural body care section like the refreshing Lemon Body Wash by Dr. Hauschka, or perhaps something from our popular kitchen and dining area like the colorful, extra large salad bowls made from organic bamboo. These bowls are great for serving large tossed salads, and you can even get a sleek pair of bamboo salad servers to go with it.

Or how about some fantastic organic bulk tea? It's the gift that keeps on giving, by providing the recipient with warming, fragrant cups of tea long after the holidays are over. Wedge Worldwide also carries a expansive assortment of teaware and tea accessories. We have everything from the perfect brew baskets for loose-leaf tea to imaginative tea cups and tea pots. A few favorites are our Green Leaf Tea Cups and the Calligraphy Tea Pot Set.

Happy Holidays!

New E-Gift Certificates Available at Wedge Worldwide

We are so excited to announce that Wedge Worldwide now offers e-gift certificates! Would you love to give gifts this holiday season that support Fair Trade and tread lightly on the earth but aren't quite sure what to get for that special someone? Now it's possible to complete your holiday shopping in minutes while getting everyone on your list the perfect gift.

Visit us at wedgeworldwide.coop and click the e-gift certificate link on our front page. Here you can view the few easy steps you can take to quickly and easily buy a Wedge Worldwide e-gift certificate for your friends and loved ones. With just a couple clicks of the mouse a colorful gift certificate email will be sent to the lucky recipient.

E-gift certificates are available in amounts from ten to two hundred dollars so you can select an amount that supports any level of shopping; from a gourmet treat to natural body care products to the luxurious experience of selecting a variety of products.

At Wedge Wordlwide, we have carefully selected only the finest eco-friendly and Fair Trade products available. We also support businesses that are socially responsible. Many of the companies and artists we work with share a portion of their profits with their communities and give aid to worthy causes such as the environment. Anyone on your list is sure to be delighted by shopping our diverse, fun and visually appealing web site where they can feel good about the causes their purchases support. Socially conscious holiday shopping has never been easier this year on Wedge Worldwide!

Fair Trade Holiday Gift Ideas

What better way is there to share the good will of the holiday season than by giving a Fair Trade gift? Here at Wedge Worldwide we make a concerted effort to locate and offer a wide variety of high quality Fair Trade items. Two important aspects of Fair Trade are that workers and artisans who make a product are paid a living wage for their craft and work under safe conditions. So this year you can enjoy gift giving even more knowing that your purchase is supporting and helping the workers who made it.

Allow us to offer a few fun Fair Trade holiday gift suggestions!

We love these colorful and highly durable Messenger Bags made from recycled rice and feed bags. Each hand-crafted piece is unique! These bags provide a sustainable living to Cambodian weavers and producers, many of whom are female heads of households, disabled due to polio or landmine injury or young women pulled from brothels and taught a trade.

Or peruse our all time customer favorite products from Wedge Worldwide, our extensive Fair Trade Jewelry collection. We offer a variety of gorgeous and unique jewelry from across the globe, and also stunning hand-made pieces by local artist, Robin Rifé.

Our Fair Trade Silk and Velvet Scarves are great items for moms and the women in your life. Wedge Worldwide also offers a variety of lovely products made with pure silk like scarves, sumptuous silk throws and velvet jackets.

We have a variety of lead-free, safe and ecologically sound toys for kids. Take a gander at some of our newer Fair Trade Wooden Play Sets and Puzzles made from reclaimed rubber wood.


A few distinctive items that would fit perfectly in any natural home setting are our Fair Trade Salt Crystal Lamps that give off a soothing warm glow while releasing healthy negative ions. Our Salt Lamps are available in a variety of sizes. We also carry the Planet Lamp, a polished, symmetrical salt crystal.

These are just a few of the Fair Trade items that we carry. Stop by and start planning for your holiday shopping today. Let us wrap your presents with pretty, recycled materials and ship them directly to that special person on your list. And another exciting option is coming soon, look for Wedge Worldwide egift certificates this November!

Great New Products For Combination and Sensitive Skin

We are happy to announce that we have brought in yet another exceptional, extremely pure and natural facial care line at Wedge Worldwide. Allow us to introduce you to Suki Naturals, a collection of ultra-pure, facial care items that will make your skin sing.

Suki was started by Suki Kramer who grew up with severe eczema. Having difficulty finding facial and body care products that would help her troubled, delicate skin, Suki experimented with making her own herbal preparations and skin formulas. Her blends improved with each batch and eventually, her skin radically improved. Suki's holistic, effective and gentle formulas resulted in Suki Naturals, products made for all skin conditions, but with sensitive types like her in mind. Suki Natural's skin and body care line are truly natural products with pure botanical ingredients preserved with essential oils, and contain no synthetic ingredients. Extracts of the most potent parts of healing plants are used to maximize the effectiveness and strength of Suki's unique products. Standardized botanicals perform specific functions such as cell regeneration, anti-inflammation, anti-bacterial, detoxification and antiseptic action.

As always, we have tried and tested these products ourselves here at Wedge Worldwide and have a few favorites that we would love to recommend to you. Personally, I have combination skin, which means that my face tends to be both oily and normal or oily and dry, depending on the season. Naturally, I was pleased to come across products from Suki that were perfect for my skin type.

Let's start off with Suki's Exfoliating Lemongrass Cleanser with chamomile and vitamin C. First of all I love the all-natural scent of this cleanser! It brings to mind fresh lemon aid or delicious lemon curd. The gently exfoliating granules are made from grains of organic sugar and gently melt as you massage them into your skin. My face feels smooth and clean after using this cleanser, not harshly stripped of it's natural oils. Suki says that their Lemongrass Cleanser increases cell turnover & unlike damaging glycolics, utilizes natural, safe AHA's & BHA's, awakening a fresh, new layer of skin safely and gently. I found that with continued use of this product my skin tone looked more even, my skin remained hydrated and the T-zone area of my face that tends towards oiliness was more balanced and less prone to break outs.

Another thing that we appreciate about Suki Naturals is their commitment to causing the least impact on the earth in all of their business practices. They are also leaders in the personal care industry and have set standards for purity in personal care that equal our food standards. Neither Suki Naturals, nor their suppliers, test on animals. And, our vegetarian and vegan friends will be happy to know that many of Suki's products are vegan!

Delicious Fair Trade Organic Chocolate

A great new set of products that we have just brought in at Wedge Worldwide are a variety of super yummy chocolate bars from Theo Chocolates. Theo produces premium, organic, Fair Trade and specialty chocolate. Their founder, Joseph Whinney, pioneered the manufacture and supply of organic chocolate products as the first importer of organic cocoa beans into North America in 1994. Over a decade later, Theo is proud to be the only roaster of organic cocoa beans and the first roaster of Fair Trade certified cocoa beans in the United States. All of their ingredients are carefully selected to ensure they meet their standards for social and environmental responsibility. There's a photo of some of the swell folks from Theo pictured in their Seattle based factory above.

We love the ultra cute illustrations that are different for each flavor! But even more important is how they taste. Theo was generous enough to send us a gigantic box of chocolate samples so everyone here in our office has had the luxury of fully acquainting themselves with all the flavors and deciding on our own personal favorites. Here is a brief run down of the Phinney bar varieties based on our taste tests:

•Nib Brittle and Dark Chocolate Bar- Those who love cocoa nibs will really like this bar. It has a satisfying crunch to it and a pleasant dark, mildly bitter taste. The 65% cacao content packs an enjoyable, but not over powering, punch. It makes my heart beat a little faster with dark chocolate joy.

•Chai Tea Chocolate Bar- Normally I'm much more of a dark chocolate fan, but the milk chocolate Phinney bars really won me over! This unusual and delightful milk chocolate bar is highly enjoyable. Who knew that chai tea and chocolate went so well together? I love the strong hints of cinnamon and milder notes of ginger.

•Bread and Chocolate Bar- This bar is a true work of art! A creative pairing of dark chocolate, buttery bread crumbs and a pinch of sea salt. I was skeptical at first but was pleasantly surprised. It's delicious! Many of my co-workers were a fan of this flavor.

•Coconut Curry and Milk Chocolate Bar- It's hard to choose but I think that this flavor is my absolute favorite. I thought it might be kind of funny to put chocolate and curry together but the magical people at Theo have married a perfect blend of delectable tastes in this bar. The spicy curry provides a lovely, gentle background for the delicious toasted coconut that can sometimes be found throughout the bar in tiny little chewy slivers. Yum, yum, yum.

•Vanilla and Milk Chocolate Bar- A friendly, smooth, melt-in-your-mouth bar with satisfying over tones of real Madagascar organic vanilla beans.

I'm already planning on including Theo chocolate bars in my own holiday gift packages that I'll be sending out through Wedge Worldwide this season. Your friends and relatives are sure to enjoy these chocolates but don't forget to treat yourself too!

Wedge Worldwide Talks With One Of the Leaders In the Fair Trade Body Care Movement

Olowo-n'djo Tchala, the founder of Alaffia was in town recently to speak with several of the food co-ops in the Twin Cities area about the philosophy behind the great body care products his company produces. Olowo-n'djo is a tall, engaging, warm-hearted man who's kindness and enthusiasm are contagious. His generosity even extended to cooking us all a traditional African meal that was just delicious!

When Olowo-n'djo was developing Alaffia, he had a big vision. He sought a way to support those living in Togo, Africa, a place where he himself grew up in poverty, that would be culturally, spiritually, economically and ecologically sustainable, all while improving the community. Alaffia is the Fair Trade enterprise that Olowo-n'djo, along with his wife Rose, developed to do just this.

Even though many Africans live in a state of abject poverty, their continent is abundant in natural resources. Olowo-n'djo decided that shea butter was the answer that he was looking for. As he states on his website,"(Shea) is a renewable resource of African origin; shea trees are wild, requiring no chemical fertilizers or pesticides. Furthermore, it is an integral part of many savanna communities and, consequently, there is a wealth of local and traditional knowledge of making shea butter." In fact, Olowo-n'djo grew up collecting shea nuts when he was a child in order to make extra money for his family, so he learned through personal experience that collecting shea nuts is very labor intensive. Producing 1 kg of handcrafted shea butter takes twenty to thirty hours of work. Shea trees can be five to ten miles apart from each other which can add up to a lot of walking to gather nuts. Once the nuts are collected, they are pounded, ground, whipped and clarified over low heat by hand. Alaffia uses traditional extraction processes for their shea butter products, unlike many other commercial shea butters made with hexanes or other petroleum products.

Olowo-n'djo spoke with us about some of the grim difficulties that his fellow Africans grapple with on a daily basis. The life expectancy in Africa is 41 years of age and 50% of the people there survive on $1 per day. Many suffer from AIDS and other devastating illnesses, and have difficulty receiving the health care that they need. He also told us that deforestation has been a large problem, having lost 5.3 million hectares in the 1990's for example. Olowo-n'djo believes poverty is the true cause of these limitations. Fair Trade offers solutions by paying fair wages and being environmentally responsible. In addition, Alaffia and many other companies who are part of the Fair Trade Federation are fully accountable organizations; all of their books and profit information are easily accessible to the public.

Encountering someone like Olowo-n'djo and a great organization such as Alaffia gives me hope for the future. Alaffia not only provides Fair Trade employment for women in West Africa they are also involved in a whole slew of community empowerment projects that support African mothers and school children, and the environment. Like the African school children pictured to the left who received new school desks from Alaffia. Read more about Alaffia and their community projects here. Stop on in to Wedge Worldwide to experience the divineness of their hand-made shea butter or check out all of the great Alaffia products that include hand, face and body lotions, a variety of delicious soaps, shampoos and more. Olowo-n'djo stated during his talk that if all of the products that come from Africa were produced under Fair Trade guidelines, eventually Africa would not need financial assistance from other countries and could build a vibrant economy and stable, healthy way of life for its people. Bring this dream one step closer to reality by supporting Alaffia!

A Cool Earth-Friendly Way to Tote Your Leftovers and Lunch!

Do you love going out to eat but feel a bit depressed at the thought of bringing home your leftovers in ozone-depleting styrofoam containers? Never fear because we have a brilliant solution for you. Take a gander at the Stainless Steel Food Container made by To-Go-Ware available at Wedge Worldwide. It's made up of two stackable units with removable lids (one of the lids even functions as a plate!) that all fit snugly together and snap in place with a clamp by the carrying handle. This food carrier is a well-built, highly durable item that could easily last a lifetime.

I have one that I am quite fond of using for carrying my lunch to work. My To-Go-Ware container moves easily between the fridge, the car, work and the sink or dishwasher. And after all the use its been through, it's never picked up a dent or scratch. If truth be told, one of my favorite things about it besides its superb function and construction is that it is as cute as can be. Other than my Charlie's Angels lunch box that I had when I was in grade school, this is the most stylish step beyond brown-bagging-it that I've found. For me, it is also a total bonus that this carrier is plastic-free, so I am safe from the possibility of unwanted substances leaching into my food.

As luck would have it we also carry a sustainable utensil set that is perfect for lunches, travel or picnics in the great outdoors. Our Fair Trade Bamboo Utensil Set is made from earth-friendly materials, is heat and stain resistant, doesn't absorb flavors and are finished with all-natural, food-safe wood oil. These utensils come in a handy hand-woven Fair Trade fabric carrier that is produced by a woman's co-op in the Thai-Burma region.

So, take a tip from us and bid farewell to those old-school brown bags and Styrofoam and plastic containers that will quickly end up in the recycling bin or even worse, a landfill. Be the first cool kid on your block to be using eco-friendly options!

How To Use Essential Oil Of Lavender

We have some great new products for you to check out! Wedge Worldwide is excited to offer excellent, high-quality essential oils from a great company right from our own backyard.

Minneapolis native Melissa Farris, pictured to the left, is a certified herbalist and aromatherapist who started her first company, Veriditas Botanicals in 1995. Melissa holds the distinction of being the first herbalist to bring organic essential oils to the marketplace and refuses to sell endangered species. Veriditas Botanicals offers pure, therapeutic grade, organic essential oils imported directly from their producers worldwide. Their close relationships with internationally known essential oil distilleries allow them to offer excellent oils produced with fair labor practices at affordable prices. Veriditas has a deep respect for their growers and producers because they make the highest quality medicinal essential oils offered in the world. These organic essential oils are produced with the intention of being used for their healing properties. Veriditas brings them to you with the love and regard in which they were grown.

True Lavender essential oil is the panacea of aromatherapy. Because it is used for so many different ailments, it is considered to be a pocket-sized first aid kit. Keeping a bottle of Lavender is a definite must in your home pharmacy, car or workplace. Reliable, safe and great smelling, this strong oil is gentle enough to be used "neat" or undiluted, directly on the skin.

Melissa offered us some tips on how to use Lavendar Angustifolia therapeutically. A few recipes call for Peppermint, Lemon and Tea Tree essential oils in addition to lavender, but don't worry, Wedge Worldwide carries these oils as well.

How does Lavender work?
Applied topically, True Lavender works in the following ways:
• Analgesic - painkiller
• Anti-inflammatory - reduces swelling, redness or inflammation
• Vulnerary - promotes healing
• Anti-anxiety - prevents and relieves anxiety Indications & Treatments
*Use only organic, therapeutic grade, Lavendula angustifolia

How to use Lavender:
•Sunburns - Apply Lavender to the area. Cover lightly with a high quality lotion and repeat up to 4 times per day.
•Pimples/Acne - Apply 1 drop Lavender per pimple/small acne area. Note: Essential oils are drying. Therefore, if skin is dry, apply lotion after using these essential oils undiluted on the skin.
•Natural Deodorant - Place 1-4 drops of Lavender under each arm.
•Sore Throat & Sore Gums - Lavender is used for sore throat, sore gums, canker sores/mouth ulcers, etc. Rub 1-3 drops of Lavender on sore area with 2 drops of Tea Tree if there are signs of infection.
•Headaches - Try applying 4 drops of Lavender and 2 drops of Peppermint to the back of the neck and head. If you are sensitive to oils, add them to a TBSP of lotion or carrier oil.
•Insect Bites CURE - Apply 1 drop of Lavender to each bite. Itching and/or stinging should cease immediately. Normally, you will only need one application for mosquito bites, but several for spider or other insect bites.
•Travel - To help you stay well when traveling on an airplane, subway, bus, etc. place 5 drops of Lavender, 2 drops Lemon and 2 drops Peppermint on a handkerchief and do 5 inhalations when needed. Upon arrival at a hotel, sprinkle room and bed with Lavender as a great disinfectant.

Also, use oils in tub or shower to encourage air purification and relaxation.
•The Bath - Use 5-25 drops of essential oil of Lavender per tub of bathwater.
•Direct Application - Rub Lavender on body and immerse into bath.
•Milk Bath - Add Lavender to 1 cup of full fat milk. Stir. Add to bath water.
•Muscle Relaxant & Nervous System Tonic - Add to hot bathwater with 4 cups Epsom salts for magnesium benefits. Soak for at least 20 minutes.
•Footbath - Place 5 drops of Lavender on each foot and rub vigorously. Emerge feet into basin filled with hot water. Option - switch from hot to cold water for more stimulation.

Contraindications - If swelling, redness or irritation occurs, discontinue use. If you have sensitive skin, try 1 drop of essential oil on the inner arm and monitor effects for 24 hours. Keep out of reach of children. Do not use internally. Keep away from eyes and mucous membranes. Do not use essential oils undiluted or in large doses. Use with caution while pregnant or nursing. GRAS - Generally regarded as safe.

We hope you have fun immersing yourself in the wonderful healing benefits of lavender! For more great information on how to use and enjoy essential oils we highly recommend the book, Aromatherapy: A Complete Guide to the Healing Art.

Organic Tea Anyone?

I’m not a tea aficionado, by any means, but I do go through tea jags, and when I do, I drink tea from my dragonfly tea mug and my dragonfly tea mug alone.

Why? Because I love my dragonfly tea mug with a deep and irrational passion. I love the color. The weight of it. The little dragonfly on the side. And just so you don’t think I’m being flighty, the ceramic basket is perfect for drinking bulk teas and is much easier to deal with than a tea ball or a tea spoon, the lid (with dragonfly on it!) keeps the water hot during the duration of my tea’s steeping, and I can place the basket holding the wet tea on that upturned dragonfly lid when I’m ready to drink.

Yes, as a matter of fact, I really have thought about this.

My love of this mug has taught me a bit about tea, in our time together, so I thought I would share the teas best sipped from your own dragonfly tea mug:

* Organic White Peony Tea - White tea is perfect for that mellow lift at the end of the day, when the kids are still whipping along at light speed and I’m dragging behind in the groggy slow motion of adulthood. For me, anything stronger than white tea, and my brain is scurrying around all night like a hamster on amphetamines, so this one is perfect. Plus, I really love the clean, rosy aftertaste of this blend (I’m also a fan of the organic silver needle).

* Organic Jasmine Pearl Green Tea - I break out this very special tea when special guests and good friends come over (but no one drinks from the dragonfly tea mug but me!). Jasmine tea puts a nice bounce in everyone’s step after a big feast, and the pearls are just plain pretty.

* Organic Jamaican Red Bush Rooibos - I’m not a fan of herbal tea. I don’t dislike it, but, as a caffeine-freak, it’s just not my first choice. Seriously, though, just look at this blend pictured to the left. It’s a pleasure to have this tea in the house. Earthy, tobacco-like rooibos offset by fruitier, giddier flavors like hibiscus and tangerine. Very nice.

I suppose I should balance this off with a discussion of coffee, but frankly, the dragonfly tea mug and I cannot serve two masters…

It's In The Bag- One Of Many Available On Wedge Worldwide

How Do Smart Shoppers Shop?

They shop with a sturdy basket, that’s what they do, especially if they’re so smart that they shop farmers markets for fresh produce. Remember: Farmers rarely package or wrap their products, so baskets like these Fair Trade Market Baskets and Handle Baskets work best.Why? The flat bottom spreads the impact across the bottom of the basket so you can carry more local eggplants per square inch in it. Also? Sturdy handles. You could put big, fat muskmelons in that basket and it wouldn’t break on you.

And you thought this blog was just another pretty face. ;)

Speaking of pretty faces, I once dated a woman in college who stole a bag like this one from me.

It was black, I kept a journal and my favorite pen in the pen compartment, and the bag hung always on my shoulder like a great, loyal friend – unlike a certain, thieving ex I could mention. But I digress. Anyway, I think the above courier bag is the one that will replace my long lost bag of yore. Why? It has all the cool little zippered pockets and compartments I adore, it’s hemp, it comes in good, bold colors like “faded rose” and “oasis” AND it comes from Transylvania. I mean, are you kidding me? Transylvania? A black, eco-cool, sustainably-hip, hemp bag from the bleeding heart of Goth Country? Oh, yeah. That’s even better than the one I lost. May my ex burn with jealousy...

All right. One last bag for you, and, also, a bit of travel advice: When abroad, always have your passport in a cool carrier like this one. Not only does it keep a vital document neat and accessible, but it also distracts the person who’s checking it. While they should be examining your bags for the expensive goods that you somehow “forgot” to declare, instead, they’ll be thoroughly enticed by your passport bag, thinking to themselves, “Wow. Is that button made of real bone?” Want to go one step further? Combine the Crane passport carrier with the Crane jacket and you'll be a symphony of distractability.

Adorable Fair Trade Stuffed Animals

One of our top-selling gifts at Wedge Worldwide is the menagerie of Kenana Knitted Critters. Kids love these Fair Trade monkeys, elephants, lions, and zebras, all of which are made from wool and dyed with all-natural plant dyes. We’re not certain but we suspect that some big people might like these critters, too.

Kenana Knitted Critters are produced on Kenana Farm, a cattle and sheep ranch in Njoro, Kenya, and the majority of Kenana Knitted Critters’ employees are women, the wives of men who work on Kenana Farm. Seventeen years ago when the owner and distributor of Kenana Knitted Critters, Gloria Delaney, first started her business, there were only 12 women who were knitting critters. Now Gloria has more than 1,000 employees.

Not only do these women earn an income that allows them to support their families, they are also provided with free health care. Several years ago the Kenana women received an extremely large order from one of their accounts. An email from Gloria was given to the knitters to encourage them, but, it came to light, the knitters couldn't read. Immediately, a knitter who was once a teacher was hired to teach the woman how to read and write. The word from the farm is that “Every lady learning to read has become a taller person with pride.” Once classes began, they discovered that many of the women could not see the chalkboard because they needed glasses. Now employees who need glasses are provided with them and three computers have been added to the classroom to help facilitate their learning process. One lady said, “With my glasses on, I feel like an executive.”

The employees of Kenana Knitted Critters also receive on-site lunches and literacy programs through their employer, while the health clinics available to the women address issues such as HIV/AIDS and family planning to name just a few. The clinics also educate employees, so that they’re well-informed and better able to care for themselves and their families. The clinic library contains books on many important health subjects that the women can reference.

Rural life for a woman in Kenya is often quite demanding and difficult and most have few opportunities for employment and independence. A woman's time is often taken up with gathering firewood and water from many kilometers away, tending their essential vegetable gardens, looking after their own children and the children of sick relatives, or caring for elderly parents and in-laws. A traditional Kenyan family consists of a woman who stays home while her husband works. It is up to the man to provide enough income for medical care, food, books, and uniforms for children who go to school. In truth, a single income is rarely enough to adequately support a family.

Being employed by Knitted Critters allows a woman to supplement her family’s income and gain self-sufficiency. The women are able to bring their children to work with them, and they also have the option of working at home as time allows. Knitters are offered savings accounts where they may choose to deposit some of their surplus income. This allows them to have their very own nest eggs that can be used for important purchases.

The process of producing a Kenana stuffed animal starts out with the women gathering natural-colored brown fleece from the sheep on their farm. After washing, the fleece is dyed with natural plant dyes that the women grow themselves. The fleece is carded and spun by hand with spinning wheels fashioned from old bicycle wheels. After an adorable critter is finished, an information card is tied to the animal that bears the artist’s signature. Gloria says many children have emailed the women who knitted their beloved toy animals.

We have to admit, the Kenana Knitted Critters are so endearing and charming, a few of us big people at Wedge Worldwide can't quite stop ourselves from squeezing and playing with them when a new order arrives in our warehouse. These charming jungle animals are a huge customer favorite for us and are sure to delight your young (or not so young) loved ones!

Weleda's Pure, Organic, Biodynamic Body Care

All of us who work at Wedge Worldwide feel a special fondness for the great body care products from the German-based company Weleda. Each item they produce is a super-pure, all-natural gem that is effective and an absolute pleasure to use.

Founded in 1921, Weleda has pioneered the use of biodynamic and organic ingredients in the personal care industry. Biodynamics is a holistic, sustainable form of agriculture that could be considered a step above organic practices. All Weleda formulations are free of synthetic additives, preservatives, colorants and fragrances, mineral oils, and parabens. Their pure fragrances consist exclusively of natural essential oils. For the past 80 years, Weleda has adhered to these original quality standards, continuing to use biodynamic and organic ingredients to create its unique preparations. And of course, Weleda and their suppliers do not test their ingredients or products on animals.

For instance, one of the most beautiful body care oils I have ever come across is Weleda's Rose Body Oil. I gave it to my best friend one year for her birthday and when she called to thank me she said, "My god I love this stuff, the smell is incredible! I hide it from the rest of my family and am rationing it so it will last as long as possible." This oil is a special, nurturing treat. It is divine as a body moisturizer, for massage or for adding a few teaspoons to a hot bath. The aroma is pretty delectable; a rosy, warm, scent with subtle musk-like undertones. It's like rubbing liquefied rose petals over your skin.

I'm also a big fan of Weleda's Everon Lip Balm. It is fantastic at protecting and healing very dry and chapped lips and the healthy amount of shea butter added to it packs an extra moisturizing punch. So this is the perfect item to have on hand during dry, windy and cold winter months as well as to heal lips that have been over-exposed to the sun in the summer. The delicious rose and vanilla scent derived from all-natural essential oils make this balm smell good enough to eat!!

Another extra moisturizing skin saving delicacy is Weleda's Skin Food. This is a huge year-round customer favorite for us that its devotees swear by. Skin Food can be used anywhere on the body for healing and moisturizing extremely dry skin, but many love to use it mainly as a hand cream. This formula contains lanolin which is a substance obtained from shorn sheep's wool. The wool is press between rollers in order to express this wax-like substance. Lanolin can be helpful for treating chapped lips, diaper rash, dry skin, itchy skin, rough feet, minor cuts, minor burns and skin abrasions. It easily absorbs into the skin and has even been known to have antibacterial-like properties.

I've used and loved Weleda's toothpaste for years. These products are some of the most natural toothpaste available on the market! All of these mouth care products are sodium lauryl sulfate free. SLS is a sudsing agent that may cause various forms of skin irritation and some have speculated that it could be hazardous to human health. Although this matter is still being debated it is interesting to note that when products foam or suds this is not a sign that true cleaning is occurring. There actually is no real point to those bubbles or foam except that they may give us the illusion of cleanliness. Check out my staff review (simply click on the red review link in the upper right hand corner) for Weleda's Salt Toothpaste. Once you try it, it might become your favorite too!

While we're talking about safe body care ingredients, let me mention the superb, pure and clean Weleda deodorants. These products are in an alcohol base and loaded with natural essential oils that refresh the skin and get rid of unwanted bacteria. Best of all, these deodorants are propylene glycol free. Propylene glycol is an ingredient that is often found in deodorants which makes deodorants effective by acting to block the pores in the sweat glands. Many people have started to question the safety of arresting the body's natural ability to perspire and eliminate toxins. Not to mention creating stagnation in the body's lymph systems under the arms. I have found the Weleda deodorants to be extremely effective at keeping me feeling fresh and sweet-smelling all day long. I love the elegant and easily recycled glass bottles that they come in too! Take a look at the available scents of Sage, Citrus, or Wild Rose.

And hey, men, we have something just for you! Weleda makes a wonderful assortment of body care products for men. And our customers tell us that they're excited by their high-quality, wonderful masculine scents and effectiveness. Wedge Worldwide offers Weleda's Shaving Cream, After Shave Balm and facial Moisture Cream for Men. All of these items also make great, sure to be appreciated gifts!

In addition to Weleda's products being delightful and excellent, they also are big supporters of Fair Trade. Their pure plant extracts and ingredients are harvested throughout the world, either from their own biodynamic medicinal plant gardens or through contractual partnerships with farmers. They work with local farmers, helping them to convert their conventional farms into sustainable, organic agriculture. Weleda believes that fair prices, determined and accepted by both sides, create long-term partnerships based on cooperation, mutual trust and respect. Through building Fair Trade agreements, Weleda offers economic and social support to the communities they partner with. Such practices uphold Weleda's founding virtue, "In harmony with nature and the human being."

Sustainably-Harvested, Wild Herb Products From Juniper Ridge

Juniper Ridge is a small, homegrown, eco-minded business in California that is a good example of the type of producer that we like to support here at Wedge Worldwide. First of all, their highly pleasurable products are an olfactory delight. Just sticking my nose in a bag of their wild herb sachets or wild herb soaps stimulates feelings of happiness and delight in me. But even better, everything that Juniper Ridge produces is made with herbs, leaves, woods and resins from the mountains and deserts of the west that are harvested sustainably by hand. Their wild-crafting practices ensure that the plants they take trimmings from will grow back year after year and will even increase in production rates and health. This sweet little company also gives 10% of their profits to groups that support western wilderness, so when you purchase one of their products you are not only enjoying an all-natural treat from nature, you are also helping to protect it for future generations. Juniper Ridge's products are also made with completely natural ingredients and contain scents that do not have any fillers or artificial fragrance in them. These amazing smells come directly from beautifully fragrant plants!

Ready to start feeling the love? How about tucking a wild herb sachet into a drawer, closet, bed, pillows, car, storage items or anywhere you want to relax and remind yourself of the outdoors. Check out the Douglas Fir Sachet that has an evergreen and lemony smell to it or the Port Orford Cedar Sachet, a gingery cedar from the northwestern coast of California. Juniper Ridge says that when they put baskets of these sachets out at the farmers market in San Francisco, customers walk by their booth and then turn around to come back and ask, “what is that incredible smell?”

Personally, I find their bar soaps to be pretty amazing. The smells are invigorating and uplifting and make bathing fun. These soaps are also biodegradable with all-natural ingredients of 100% vegetable oil and super-fatted shea butter and jojoba for an exceptionally gentle, moisturizing bar. In particular, take a look at the Coastal Sage Scrub Soap, scented with a blend of California coastal sages; the Siskiyou Cedar Soap, which has a wonderful gingery cedar smell to it; the Western Juniper (my personal fave) which is infused with real, wild Juniper from the southwest deserts; and, last but not least, the festive soap gift pack, an assortment of full-sized soaps wrapped in a delicious, gingery Cedar trimming with a pretty, green bow. Any of these soaps are perfect for men as they are outdoorsy and less floral than many traditional, herbal soaps (although women love them, too!).

May I also recommend bringing the outdoors into your home with Juniper Ridge's great-smelling natural incense? Their incense is charcoal and potassium nitrate free and contains no artificial fragrances. This is the only incense around that is made with 100% wild-gathered tree leaves, wood and resins from the Western landscape. It's like experiencing the beauty of a crackling campfire in the fresh mountain air! And speaking of beauty, many of our customers are enamored with the lovely White Sage and Wild Mint Tea and Douglas Fir Tip Tea from Juniper Ridge. White Sage has a rich, earthy, minty flavor that made it a favorite tea for many of the Native American tribes and early settlers of the Southwest while the Douglas Fir Tip Tea has a refreshing, lemony flavor and sweet, forest-like aroma. I know a couple of tea snobs that will only let the highest quality, dreamiest brews pass their lips and they feel a deep fondness for these teas.

Once you try something from Juniper Ridge, you're sure to be hooked. These scents are real, earthy and evocative. Says Hall Newbegin, the founder of Juniper Ridge, “I dream up beautiful things that make people's eyes light up, things that connect people with the outdoors and memories of camping trips and walking with your dad and the tastes of days of fall leaves.”

Holy Basil, Bat Man!

Wedge Worldwide's Organic Auyervedic Shanti Tea has already developed a following from our customers across the country. The main ingredient is Holy Basil, known as Ocimum sanctum in Latin, or as Tulsi in Ayurvedic medicine (an ancient system of natural health care native to India). Holy Basil is a well-known sacred plant in India that has been used medicinally for thousands of years. In fact the Tulsi plant is an important religious symbol in the Hindi tradition. One legend states that this plant was originally the nymph, Tulasi, who was loved and revered by the Indian god, Krishna. To this day many Indian women begin their day by offering blessed water to their Tulsi plants in order to bring blessings from this goddess into their homes. These plants are usually found in Hindu households and temples and the Holy Basil leaves are used in worship practices. The woody stems of the plant are made into prayer beads for rosaries used in the Hindu tradition.

Tulsi has been called “The Incomparable One,” the “Queen of Herbs,” and “The Elixir of Life” for good reason. It has an impressive array of health benefits that westerners and modern scientific research have recently become aware of. Holy Basil is perhaps best known for its ability to regulate and protect the body from stress. This herb supports normal cortisol levels in the body. Cortisol is a hormone that can become elevated when we are continually stressed. This can cause our body to lose it's balance, making it difficult to return to a place of physical and psychological health. Research has shown that Tulsi can aid in returning stressed physiological systems to a normal state. The additional actions of Tulsi are numerous, and I will only mention a few more of them here. Holy Basil improves energy levels, stamina and endurance, it offers significant antioxidant protection and helps the body to protect itself from disease, it boosts the immune system, is anti-inflammatory and gives heart and vascular support which aids in lowering dangerous cholesterol and high blood pressure. It also has been said to be helpful in moderating blood glucose levels in diabetics. This herb falls under the category of an adaptogen, which is a nontoxic herb that helps the body defend itself from stress. Adaptogens have a regulating influence on the body, have the ability to balance the adrenals, the endocrine hormones, the immune system and support the body in maintaining overall homeostasis.*


Organic Auyervedic Shanti Tea is not only good for you, it's a delightful treat for the taste buds. The flavor is mild and pleasant, yet it has an invigorating, herby, spicy aroma and taste. This mildly sweet and cooling blend also contains fennel, orange peel and spearmint. Luckily our Shanti Tea comes in one pound bags so you'll have plenty of nurturing, beautiful cups of tea to look forward to.

Perhaps some of the most compelling aspects of the lore surrounding the sacred Holy Basil plant are that it is not only known for being able to elevate the spirit, it also has been said to assist in balancing the energetic systems of the body and soul known as the chakras. It is reported as being conducive to meditation and in the Ayurvedic tradition has been noted as an herb that helps one to attain enlightenment. For myself, Tulsi is an herb that I have enjoyed for many years and continue to be impressed by. I have noted its calming properties when I have taken it over a period of time and I've been interested in its ability to help me feel a greater sense of openness, peace and interconnection. The Bulk Organic Auyervedic Shanti Tea is is a wonderful way to get to know this special herb and be uplifted by its spiritual and healing powers.


*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product and these statements are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent disease.

Evanhealy Facial Care For Sensitive Skin

My skin is ultra particular about what I can put on it. Many of even the highest quality, all-natural facial creams cause my sensitive skin to easily break out and become red and irritated. That's why I love this cream from evanhealy called Blue Chamomile Day Moisturizer. It's moisturizing, yet it soaks in quickly and is not at all oily. This cream also incorporates the healing properties of essential oils like blue chamomile, excellent for inflammation, redness or puffiness, and lavender which has great toning and pore cleansing properties.

My face has combination skin that can tend towards both oiliness and dryness. It's hard for me to find a moisturizer that can treat the dryness without clogging my pores. I often recommend Blue Chamomile Day Moisturizer to customers who are looking for a natural alternative to traditional drug-store-type non-comogenic (non-pore clogging) facial creams. This evanhealy product is great for all skin types, not just sensitive folks like me! Others who may be interested in trying it would be those who suffer from eczema, psoriasis or rosacea.

I feel that this moisturizer is an excellent choice for men, too, especially those who tend to have irritated skin or ingrown hairs from shaving - and also teenagers or any of us who are prone to acne. (Speaking of break outs, I’ve tried, tested and given my thumbs up to evanhealy's Tea Tree Gel Cleanser.)

If you want to pamper and give your skin even more TLC, try adding evanhealy's Lavender Facial Tonic Hydrosol into your daily facial care routine. Simply spray this product on in the morning and evening after you wash your face, then your skin is ready to be moisturized. I press the tonic into my face and allow it to air-dry which only takes a few seconds. Toning the skin in this way helps to keep your pores clean and your complexion healthy and vibrant.

Here’s a tip for those with dry skin. Spray a tiny puddle of toner into one of your cupped palms, add a few drops of evanhealy's Blue Chamomile Rosehip Treatment Facial Oil, rub your hands together and gently press this mixture into your face. The oil and water absorb instantly into your skin adding a light, protective layer of moisture. This is an ideal way to nourish your face any time throughout the day. I also often use this method during dry winter days in addition to the cream I put on in the morning and evening or in the hot summer months when I want an extremely light moisturizer. In addition, adding a few drops of Rosehip Treatment Oil into a dollop of your face cream is a wonderful way to bring some extra moisturizing oomph to your skin when it is in need.

For dry or aging skin, I recommend evanhealy's Rose Vetiver Day Moisturizer, Rose Geranium Facial Tonic Hydrosol and Rose Vetiver Rosehip Treatment Facial Oil.

Fair Trade Food Goods From the White Earth Reservation

Winona La Duke is a renowned Native American activist, environmentalist, economist and writer, and she’s also a part of the Anishinaaabeg (Ojibwe) community at White Earth in northwestern Minnesota. She and her community have worked together to conceive and begin the White Earth Land Recovery Project whose mission is “to facilitate the recovery of the original land base of the White Earth Indian Reservation, while preserving and restoring traditional practices of sound land stewardship, language fluency, community development, and strengthening (their) spiritual and cultural heritage.” The retail face of this project is Native Harvest, a business that offers naturally harvested foods and hand-made crafts. At Wedge Worldwide, we carry Native Harvest’s wild rice, maple syrup and maple butter. This enterprise was started in order to provide more income for those within the White Earth reservation community through Fair Trade labor and also as a way to share their traditionally made natural food with the general public.

Native Harvest and Winona La Duke are the original Fair Traders in Minnesota. Native Harvest called their domestic, Minnesota-grown products Fair Trade, because they charged what they needed to charge to cover cost of goods and give their tribal members a decent return on their investment. They’ve boldly pioneered Fair Trade in this state, and I feel great about making their foods available on Wedge Worldwide.

Even better, the White Earth Land Recovery Project and Native Harvest are involved in many wonderful environmentally and socially responsible initiatives that make me feel excited about supporting them through purchasing their yummy products. They are committed to caring for their land and using environmental practices such as renewable wind energy, working to save their and all wild rice from becoming cross pollinated with GMO wild rice strains, they are passionate about the bio-diversity of their Anishabee agriculture and work to create heirloom varieties of endangered species of corn, beans and squash and they also harvest maple sugar sap from their bio-diverse land in a sustainable manner that has been certified under the Forest Stewardship Councils. In addition, White Earth and Native Harvest have initiatives to provide healthful traditional foods to the Native Americans in their tribe that are living with diabetes, they teach Ojibwe language classes within their community, and offer a variety of cultural heritage learning programs to their young people.

Wedge Worldwide is proud of the fact that Native Harvest is their first partner for the Wedge's domestic Fair Trade program. One way in which people are seeking to protect small and mid-size farmers from the creeping industrialization of sustainable agriculture is the introduction of Fair Trade into U.S. agriculture. Fair Trade is a trading partnership based on dialog, transparency and respect, that seeks greater equity in trade. It contributes to sustainable development by offering better trading conditions to, and securing the rights of, marginalized producers and workers.

Dr. Hauschka's Rhythmic Night Conditioner

One of my all-time favorite facial care products that I'd love to tell you all about is Dr. Hauschka's Rhythmic Night Conditioner. For me this potion-like substance really has some kind of magical, mysterious effect on my skin that is actually noticeable overnight. I know this sounds over zealous perhaps, like one of those bad wrinkle cream advertisements in non-politically correct women's magazines, but I'm not fibbing! Of course results may vary from person to person and Hauschka actually suggests that Rhythmic Night Conditioner be used for a period of ten days up to one month in order for it to be most effective. But I tend to notice results immediately. Some of the effects this elixir has on my skin is it helps my face look clearer, it evens out the tones and removes blotchiness, it noticeably tightens and shrinks pores and fine lines (love this) and helps to rapidly clear up acne and minimizes break-out redness. It also reduces puffiness, under eye circles and imparts a lovely glow. Predictably after I use this product for 1-3 days people start telling me how nice my skin looks.

Hauschka recommends the use of Rhythmic Night Conditioner during changes of the season, travel, stress or any time that your skin might be going through a transition period or needing a little extra boost. For myself I tend to use it for several days before an event that I want to look great for or when I feel a tad disgruntled by my reflection in the mirror.

The substances in this product are pretty fascinating as well. Hauschka is a company that makes holistic facial and body care products that contain many organic and biodynamically grown ingredients. Their formulas are based on the innate rhythms and wisdom of nature and many of their processes and philosophies can be traced back to ideas that correspond to homeopathy and alchemy. One of the main active ingredients in Rhythmic Night Conditioner is silver which is used to promote regeneration of the skin. Dr. Hauschka feels that there is a corresponding relationship between the moon, the metal silver, and the 28-day rhythm of skin cell renewal. Hauschka says,” youthful skin cells have a 28-day cycle of regeneration, which lengthens as we mature. Rhythmic Night Conditioner supports this process, encouraging the skin to renew itself.” For those who have extremely sensitive skin or skin that tends towards rosacea, Hauschka also makes a Rhythmic Night Conditioner Sensitive formula.