News April 2013: Barter Opportunities, Lost & Found

BARTER CLEANING FOR WORKSHOPS

WHAT I NEED - Housecleaning 2 hrs/wk, Wednesdays preferred. You travel by TTC, bike or walk. Natural cleaning products & equipment provided. Barter only - 2 hours cleaning for 2 hours DIY natural cosmetic workshop.
Email me at Anarres Health at Gmail dot com

DID YOU LOSE A HAT? A TRAVEL MUG? A SCASRF OVER THE WINTER?
See my lost and found listing here: http://www.anarreshealth.ca/node/1653

The Goal:
~ Simplify my "store" by offering less variety, more quality.
~ Amplify my message by finding more local, more horizontally and fairly traded goods, more alternatives to less sustainable packaging, and fresher, food grade oils.

The Process: (Here is an update.)

~ I've now got local lavender, bee balm and orange mint essential oils, plus lavender and lemon balm true hydrosols! I'll get thse up on my website as soon as I can, but don't hesitate to ask to check them out when you come to Anarres next!

~ I've partnered with Julie Clark of www.ProvinceApothecary.com in developing a signature product line with www.FlowersToFragrance.com farm in Clifford Ontario, near Mount Forest, 158km North West of Toronto.

~ I've been defrauded of $400 by a shea and cocoa butter supplier, Fayad Supplies of ADM-Cameroon http://www.worldoftrade.com/mem_home/33894465680/fayad-supplies.htm . It's a long story, but they falsified their certificates, waybills etc. The drama goes on and on - at present they claim my order is waiting to be forwarded to me from New York State if only I will send them $130, $180, $220 to cover "late fees" that UPS does not actually charge. Chalk this up to experience. I am following up as best I can with all parties implicated to prevent others from experiencing the same nightmare. The certificate below is falsified, and the UK Certifier isn't interested in following up:

~ I've found a great ethically committed supplier of cocoa butter. It's edible and wild crafted (non certified organic) in Borneo. It's processed there, too, unlike most cocoa butter, which is processed in Europe. Local processing means that more money and employment stays in Borneo. I have 25 delicious kgs and hope to locate a source of cocoa buter from the Americas by the next time I need some.

~ After running out of the fantastic shea butter from my friend Thomas Amoah of www.SheaButterMan.ca , and awaiting the oppotunity to buy from Aburi, Ghana, again, I've found a great ethically committed supplier of ripe shea butter thanks to Louie Kibui of www.QuaintCurios.org .. It's wonderfully creamy, and a striking yellow because it's made from ripe shea nuts from the fruit of the karite tree. Quaint Curios has partnered with the co-operative at the Tiehisuma Sheabutter Processing Center, "a household name when it comes to sheabutter processing and they operate one of the biggest handcrafted sheabutter facilities in Ghana. Our principle is guided by the thinking that quality is first before quantity. Our women are committed to all the procedures of quality control and supervision of production enables our quality assurance."

~ I have found two new suppliers for more local (Missouri & Arkansas USA) and not-made-in-China glassware with metal (not plastic!) caps! I'll have these up with their new prices as soon as all my costs (brokering, customs fees etc) are in. Don't hesitate to request to see them when you are at Anarres next. If you need a case (12-48)of food grade jars, you can buy them at http://www.uline.ca/BL_8199/Straight-Sided-Glass-Jars?keywords=Glass%20Jars .