Valley Green Naturals News From The Farm

Read the Latest on Parabens and Breast Cancer

2012-01-23T10:06:00.000-05:00

We don't know about you, but at Valley Green, we're pretty happy that colder temperatures have finally set in. Cold weather during the winter is a necessary part of having a successful growing season the following spring and summer. (Not to mention we just like to curl up with a good book next to the wood stove!) Of course, during the cold month of January, it's also fun to curl up with your laptop and go shopping!

Have you heard about chemical preservatives, known as "parabens" and how they relate to breast cancer?

Read the latest from Jill Ettinger's article on OrganicAuthority.com about why it's important to avoid these chemicals that are found in everything from our shampoos and deodorants, to body lotions and foods.

All Valley Green Naturals products are free of parabens, phthalates, sodium laurel/laureth sulfate, formaldehyde, and petrochemicals. Orders are made fresh weekly, and all items are caringly hand-blended, bottled, labeled and shipped on-site at the Valley Green Farm.

Tried, Tested & Tasty!

We discovered these gluten-free tasty morsels over the holidays! Made by "The Cookie Jar," you can find them, along with other natural and organic sweet treats on Abe's Market!

Need Some Serious Comfort Food?

Kick up the heat and try Cindy's Spicy Cheesy Chicken Bake! It's another new post in the Valley Green Kitchen on Just-a-Pinch.com.

'Til next time, all our natural best!

Cindy DeVore &
The Hardworking Team at Valley Green

Visit Valley Green Naturals Now!

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year!

2011-12-18T07:59:00.000-05:00

It's a fun and exciting time of the year at the Valley Green farm! This year, we're thanking all of our customers and friends, and wishing you a joyous, peaceful and happy holiday season with a discount-a-day for the 12 days before Christmas!

Check out the daily "News From The Farm" posts on our web site, or subscribe to our newsletter for updates.

And have a wonderful holiday season!

Cindy DeVore

and the hard-working Elves at Valley Green Naturals

Thanksgiving Thoughts... A celebration of happiness and hope

2011-11-21T08:41:00.001-05:00

Enjoy your holiday feast, knowing you've helped

Now, more than ever, folks need assistance.

There's no kind act too small when it comes to feeding the hungry. With every $1, our regional food bank in the Blue Ridge area can provide 4 meals to feed the hungry. And honestly, you may be surprised by just how many people need help these days.

Think about the millions who have been unemployed for some time now. Eventually, their benefits run out. And where can they turn to feed their families? Fortunately, people like those at the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank and thousands of other workers and volunteers across the country have made it their priority to take care of others in need.

Our regional food bank feeds thousands of elderly citizens and families in the Piedmont region, and there are many local and regional organizations across the country doing the same work. Valley Green Naturals donates financial support to the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank. This holiday season, we're asking others to make a contribution as well - or donate to the local food providers in your area. No amount is too small.

Remember... Just $1 feeds 4 people. With your help, you'll sit down to your Thanksgiving dinner, knowing that others may celebrate the holiday without hunger.

Help feed those in need

From now, through December 31st of this year, when you purchase Valley Green Naturals Simple! Perfecting Cream or Hydration Plus Facial Therapy, we will donate 20% of proceeds from each sale to the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank to help provide meals to those in need.

With every $1 received by the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank, they can provide 4 meals to feed the hungry. Not since the Great Depression have so many been in need of help.

Show your support when you purchase these products from Valley Green Naturals. Every dollar makes a difference to those in need.

Nanny's Holiday Purple Cabbage

Talk about beautiful and seasonal goodness!

I can't remember a Thanksgiving in my life when our family hasn't prepared my grandmother Nanny's purple cabbage -- or as she used to call it, "red" cabbage.

It must be the German heritage in me that absolutely loves the flavor of this wonderful side dish of the Autumn season. This is an heirloom recipe in our family -- simple to make -- and I hope you enjoy it as much as our family has for generations.

You can find ingredients and directions for this dish in Cindy's Recipe Box on Just-a-Pinch.com!

Tell us your favorite holiday recipes!

If you're willing to give up a few family secrets, we'd love to post them on our Facebook page, with credit to the creative Chef and originator, of course!

Happy Thanksgiving

As we gather with friends and family this Thanksgiving, we know that we have so much for which to be thankful. Every morning, when we wake up on the Valley Green farm, the beauty that surrounds us is a constant reminder of how bountiful Mother Nature is in meeting our everyday needs. This holiday season, we are thankful for our health, our happiness, our hopes, and for the many people who have supported our dream to make Valley Green Naturals a reality. Thank you to all of our lovely customers, whom we also call our friends.

Happy Thanksgiving to all!

Cindy DeVore & The Hard-working Team at Valley Green

Visit the Valley Green Naturals Web Site

Crab Cakes, New Gift Set & "Things That Go Bump In The Night!"

2011-10-07T16:27:00.001-04:00

Double double, toil & trouble,
Fires burn & caldrons bubble!
See what we're cooking up this month at Valley Green!

Things that go bump in the night...

The Valley Green farm house is 268 years old this Halloween!

This time of year, there's a lot of activity in the old place. Of course, we're busy making products and filling retail orders for the upcoming holidays, but often, there's a different kind of bustle in the air during the harvest season. Doors have blown open, chairs have been moved, TVs have popped on and off, even a rap-rap-rapping at the front door has been heard, yet no one ever is there... at least no one who we can see!

Last year, HGTV's FrontDoor.com included one of the many haunting stories from the Valley Green House in their feature article on "Living With Ghosts." This old house has seen the Colonization of Virginia, the French and Indian War, the Revolutionary War, the Civil War, and quite a bit of amazing history since.

The Valley Green home and hobby farm helped to inspire the name of our company, and we're very pleased to be one of the families in history to occupy this fantastic property... even if we're not the only ones residing here!

New Gift Set for Guys

Coming Soon! Just in time for the holiday shopping season, Valley Green Naturals will be introducing its newest gift line for men. The Hunter's Call Collection will include Valley Green Naturals Organic Shampoo For Men with matching scented Organic Shower Gel. Also included is our new Hunter's Call natural soothing Aftershave. Finishing touches in this masculine box of natural luxury include a wrapped, scented goat's milk soap and two packs of organic tea. All products are scented with our very popular and phthalate-free English Tweed fragrance for men. Look for this product on our web site in the next couple of weeks!

Valley Green's Southern-style Crab Cakes

In case you missed our Facebook post last week, Cindy made her delicious Southern-style Crab Cakes with creole seasoning. A Valley Green cookbook featuring many of our favorite country recipes and tips from the farm is now in the works. In the meantime, as the recipes are loaded online, you can find them in Cindy's recipe box at JustAPinch.com!

Love Fresh Eggs?

If you've been thinking about keeping a backyard flock, you'll want to check out the handy references and vendors we've mentioned in our past News From The Farm blog post on the subject. Collect the hatchery catalogs from the companies we've listed, and make plans over the winter to welcome your new feathered friends. By spring you can be set up and ready to order your baby chicks!

Join Us!

Saturday, October 22nd, 3:00 to 6:00 p.m. Enjoy free wine tasting, hot apple cider, appetizers and free samples of Valley Green Naturals products! Where? Heritage Cabinet Supply, 59 Culpeper Street, in Old Town Warrenton, Virginia.

Since our start in 2009, we have worked hard to produce unique natural products with the very best quality ingredients for our customers. At Valley Green Naturals, we believe in keeping prices affordable so that more folks can purchase and enjoy natural and organic goods. For those who'd like to get a headstart on holiday shopping, we're offering a 20% discount on all orders placed by October 15th. Just visit the Valley Green Naturals web site, and use Promo Code "HappyFall" in your shopping cart at checkout.

As always, we appreciate each and every one of you, and we wish you an enjoyable and lovely autumn season! Happy Fall, Y'all!

- Cindy DeVore & The Hard-working Team at Valley Green

http://www.valleygreennaturals.com/

Ooo-la-la, Onions!

2011-09-13T10:33:00.002-04:00

If you had the forethought to plant onions this past spring, you are one of the fortunate folks who has the pleasure of harvesting those beautiful, mature, end-of-summer delights from the garden! Onions are good for you; they store well, and they're a staple ingredient in many fabulous dishes.

But even if you're not pulling onions from the dirt outside your house, there are ample supplies at local farmer's markets and grocery stores. Just look for naturally-grown or USDA organic onions that are herbacide- and pesticide-free. If you are harvesting your own onions from the garden, be sure to let them dry out properly before storing. The National Gardening Association has some great information about harvesting and storing your own onions.

Around this time of year, my family gets a hankering for a dish that, in 18th century France, was considered "food for the poor." Onions are plentiful and easy to grow. It only made sense that the French, who can take just about anything and make it taste wonderful with butter, would fashion a soup that would endure through the ages. Soupe à l'oignon, or French Onion Soup as it has come to be known, can be made with just a few ingredients, or enough to fill an entire recipe card. The secret to the perfect onion soup is how slowly and thoughtfully the onions are cooked. Carmelization -- the slow-cooking of onions in olive oil or butter to draw out the onions' complex sugars -- is an important step. Some recipes call for 30 minutes of cook time; others require hours. Our recipe is a happy medium between those two. And every time we serve this dish at Valley Green, it receives rave reviews.

So without further ado, I hope you'll enjoy this recipe for Valley Green Farm's French Onion Soup!

Ingredients:

1 1/2 stick organic butter
4 lbs organic yellow onions, peeled and sliced
1 tsp chopped fresh thyme
1 1/2 tsp organic sugar
1 Tbsp flour
2 cups Chardonnay wine
64 oz. organic chicken broth or stock
1 tsp black pepper
1 loaf French bread, sliced into 1/2 inch thick pieces
1/2 stick organic butter
1/4 tsp garlic salt
2 Tbsp Grey Poupon or good Dijon mustard
2 cups Gruyere cheese, shredded

Directions:

1. Melt 1 1/2 sticks of butter in large pot. Add onions and stir to coat well with butter. Cook over medium-low heat 8 to 10 minutes, stirring occasionally until onions begin to soften.

2. Reduce heat to very low. Add 1 cup wine. Stir in thyme. Cover pot and cook onions about 20 minutes, stirring frequently, until they are very soft.

TIP: The key to success with this soup is to cook the onions slowly. Cooking too quickly can cause soup to be bitter. Use very low heat.)

3. Uncover pot and increase heat slightly. Stir in sugar, flour and remaining wine, and cook for 5-10 minutes uncovered. Add chicken broth (or stock) and pepper, and cook for another 5 minutes uncovered. Soup should be bubbling lightly.

4. Reduce heat to low again. Cover pot and let simmer (very low) for 25-30 more minutes. Stir every 5 minutes.

5. Heat oven broiler. Melt 1/2 stick butter in dish in microwave. Add garlic salt to melted butter and mix well. Place French bread slices on cookie sheet and brush the tops of each with your melted garlic butter. Place under broiler for 1 minute or less to toast VERY lightly.

6. Remove your croutes from the oven and brush each piece lightly with Grey Poupon or Dijon mustard. Sprinkle each piece with Gruyere cheese and place under broiler again. (Reserve remaining Gruyere cheese for soup topping.) Toast croutes approximately 1 minute or until cheese is melted and bubbly. Remove croutes from oven and place 2-3 in the bottom of each soup bowl.

7. Ladle French Onion Soup into bowls. Float 3-4 more croutes in each soup, and sprinkle each bowl with a generous amount of Gruyere cheese.

Makes approximately 8 servings.

This soup is wonderful when re-heated! Store your croutes and gruyere cheese separately in the refrigerator. Reheat soup on stove; drop croutes into hot soup and top with gruyere cheese, and you're ready to go!

In the words of Julia Child,

Bon Appetit!

Cindy DeVore
And the hard-working Team at Valley Green

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There's always something special going on at Abe's!

Don't forget to stop by and check out the latest all-natural goods offered by Abe's Market!

From munchies and sauces, to toys and decor, you'll find it at Abe's! Valley Green Naturals is proud to be a part of the fantastic community of eco-savvy, earth-friendly and body-safe product sellers on Abe's Market!

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Valley Green Naturals products are now available at Heritage Cabinet Supply!

That's right! Heritage Cabinet Supply in Old Town Warrenton, Virginia sells much more than cabinets!

Virginia locals - stop by and say hi! And check out their new inventory of Valley Green Naturals products. Visit Heritage Cabinet Supply at 59 Culpeper Street, Warrenton, Virginia.

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Keep It Simple - a plan that works

2011-08-28T09:34:00.002-04:00

You know those TV commercials with the beautiful models twirling carefree through city streets, seemingly oblivious to everything around them? One image after another of pretty young faces flashes across the TV screen, showing you “visible results.” This is what you’ll look like if you use our product, the images say to our subconscious. And we are transfixed.

Companies that produce those TV commercials are the mega-giants of their industry. Their products are mass produced cheaply and efficiently on a conveyor line. Ingredients in those mass-produced products include things like “dimethicone, octocrylene, ensulizole, and octisalate.”

Chemists who work in product development for these companies would have you believe that each new ingredient is the latest advancement in anti-aging or body-enhancing formulas. Who cares if you can’t pronounce it – it’ll tighten your skin, so try it!

I mean, honestly, a generation ago, we weren’t using all these strange chemicals to make

ourselves look young and pretty. And I can assure you, lovely Cleopatra had only nature’s ingredients at her disposal; yet she managed to leave a beauty legacy that has endured through the centuries.

When I ventured into my mid-forties, I suppose it would have been easy to fall into the trap of seeking out the latest and best facial moisturizers and anti-aging serums. Instead, however, being one who embraces a simpler and less complicated lifestyle, I shunned all chemicals and began studying botanicals and natural oils to learn just what nature has to offer. I’m at a slight advantage over Cleopatra as I have a world of information at my fingertips through the Internet. Nonetheless, my drive and motivation to find the ultimate natural anti-aging ingredients are the same as hers were over 2,000 years ago.

Given all that I have learned about natural ingredients over the past several years, one common belief seems to join all that we work to achieve at Valley Green Naturals: Simple is better.

We like that old saying, “Keep it simple, stupid!” Nothing could be more accurate – not only when it comes to producing high-quality natural products, but also the way in which customers should be treated and business should be handled. I’m an old-school girl, and on the farm we’re an old-school team. That attitude translates into every aspect of what we do at Valley Green Naturals.

Our products are chocked full of the most beneficial botanicals and super-foods for the body that nature can offer.

Does the maker of that commercial-brand facial cleanser actually stand near active bee hives, watching the beekeeper pull the honey that’s used in the product? I don’t think so! But at Valley Green Naturals, we do.

Does the manufacturer of that well-recognized shampoo bother to ensure that there is no carcinogen contamination in the formula before people scrub it into their scalps? Doubtful. But at Valley Green Naturals, no way will you find carcinogens in our products!

And that new facial moisturizer that contains nano-particles to “deeply penetrate skin layers” – does that big company tell consumers that nano-technology is largely untested, and that those chemical ingredients are bound to slip into the bloodstream and vital organs? Ok, you got us again… Of course they won’t tell you if they don’t have to.

And by the way, we don’t use nano-ingredients at Valley Green Naturals because we think they’re unsafe.

Those chemical-laden products and anti-aging formulas you see on TV and in magazines just don’t hold a candle to what nature can offer. Valley Green Naturals product ingredient lists are short and simple. We do things the old-fashioned way, like hand-blending our products, steeping our own botanical oils, and working together as a trusted team to make a difference in the lives of our wonderful customers.

Call us old-fashioned if you’d like; we won’t deny it. “Simple” works. ‘Nuf said.

Have a wonderful day!

Cindy DeVore
And the hard-working Team at Valley Green

Welcome to our Techno-Farm!

2011-07-22T09:22:00.000-04:00

It took an official entry into midlife for me to realize that certain benefits really do come with age -- and I'm not referring to my upcoming membership with the AARP (although I've heard they're pretty great). I'm talking about having enough history behind me to truly appreciate where we've been, and how far we have come.

Show of hands... how many of you actually have used a manual typewriter? And I don't mean an IBM Selectric -- I'm talking manual, plink-plonk. At age 6, when I begged my parents for that blue toy typewriter, I'm sure they never imagined that one day their daughter would smoke laptop keyboards at 90 words a minute, blogging about techno advances. And when we all played "Pong" for the first time (remember that?), I certainly never thought about future needs for a playroom that can accommodate actual-size rumbling car racing seats with steering wheel, gear shift, accelerator, break and clutch pedals, and a giant flat screen TV with surround sound. It's like something out of Fahrenheit 451! And don't even get me started on smart phones and texting...

We have all this great technology, with which, thanks to my kids, I've been forced to stay somewhat current. But what have all of these technological advances done to us as people? After all, we really are social animals who need human contact. Don't get me wrong -- I embrace new technology as much as the next person. But I can't be alone in thinking that we are slowly but surely losing touch with each other. When someone writes me a check, I don't even need to drive to the bank anymore to make a deposit. I can scan it, log into my online banking, and proceed with the transaction electronically. And ah! That just gave me more time to accomplish something else in my day, which very likely will involve being online and void of contact with others.

The ever-growing "cold world" we're facing has long been a contributing thrust behind our

business, Valley Green Naturals. We're small... caring... concerned about others and our world... and we like it that way! How many businesses exist today in which you can communicate directly with those who make the product they sell? And how many of the businesses that provide products to meet our daily needs are passionate about what they do?

We love interaction with customers. In fact, we encourage it! This is where technology comes in, in a very positive way to enhance personal contact. Companies that provide a service or product to customers, regardless of what that product or service is, need not only to espouse about themselves, but they need to listen. We genuinely want to know what our customers need and want from us. Fulfilling those needs and making our customers' lives a little better in some way makes all that we do worthwhile. It's energizing to receive messages from folks who have been touched positively by products produced by Valley Green Naturals. Each new day in the company is even better than the last. And there's an old saying: If you love what you do, it isn't work!

While we're on the subject of using technology to reach out in a personal way, there's another company whose goals are like our own in providing good-old homegrown personal service to their customers. Abe's Market is a unique online place for finding all things natural and organic. Toys, munchies, clothes, bags, soaps, shampoos, pet treats, vitamins, home decor... you name it; they've got it! Know what else they've got in this crazy-techno-world? Incredible personalized customer service. Just like with Valley Green Naturals, if you've got a question about a product, you'll get an answer straight from the people who make it. Abe's values each and every one of their customers like they are members of a family. And that's why Valley Green Naturals is pleased to also be a part of the Abe's Market seller community.

So, while the rest of the world goes further into the depths of online solo-ness, rest assured that there still are folks out there who use technology to offer a "visit on the farm" or a real live chat with a baker or toymaker! How cool is that?

We've come a long way, baby!

Cindy DeVore
And the hard-working team at Valley Green

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We're Buzzing About Bees!

2011-07-10T19:43:00.000-04:00

At Valley Green Naturals, we are super-food fanatics! Art and I make it a game to find the very best foods that benefit the body naturally -- and we love to share our findings!

Did you know that bees produce four different products that are highly beneficial to maintaining good health?

Bee pollen is commonly referred to as one of nature's perfect foods. It's rich in vitamins, minerals, enzymes, flavonoids, and amino acids. This fabulous food from nature is known to be highly concentrated with Vitamins A, C, D and E. It's also been shown to be extraordinarily rich in B-complex vitamins, which are absolutely essential to nearly every system in the human body. Bee pollen's flavonoids and antioxidant compounds make it a fantastic fighter of free radicals. And, as we know from our previous newsletter posts, free radicals are those crazed and unstable atoms that destroy our cells. Taking bee pollen is an exceptional way to fight them!

Royal Jelly is so named because it's used in the hive as nourishment exclusively for the Queen Bee. A special group of young nurse bees create the milky substance for the Queen by mixing honey and bee pollen with enzymes in the glands of their throats. Not too appealing, you say? Consider this: Royal Jelly is so nutritionally packed that its benefits to the human body include strengthening the immune system, lowering cholesterol, boosting energy, and acting as a natural antibiotic, anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer supplement. Some folks even have claimed greater mental capacity after taking Royal Jelly.

Our favorite bee-produced products are honey and bee propolis. We've talked about honey before

and all its antioxidizing benefits -- not to mention that fresh and locally-sourced honey tastes darn good! But the best product that's often overlooked is Propolis. At Valley Green Naturals, we're so impressed with bee propolis that we use it as a topical ingredient in our products! In fact, according to the Nutritional Supplement Educational Centre, Naturopaths have found that bee propolis is one of the most powerful topical antimicrobial agents humans can use. This little wonder of nature is otherwise known as the "bee glue" that holds the bee hive together. Bees gather resin from leaf buds and tree bark, bringing it to the hive for the workers. The worker bees then add salivary secretions and wax flakes. The sticky substance is then spread throughout the hive to maintain a firm construction of the bees' home.

So "bee glue" holds things together... But wait, there's more! Researchers have discovered that bee propolis prevents growth of fungi, viruses, bacteria and disease in the bee colony. Naturally, when humans began using bee propolis, they found its health benefits to be off the charts! Propolis has been used to fight viral infections like tuberculosis, malaria and colds. And because it is thought to have anti-inflammatory and healing effects on internal digestive organs, it has been used for treatment of peptic ulcers and ulcerative colitis. But it is the topical use of propolis that caught our attention at Valley Green Naturals! Bee propolis' antibacterial and wound-healing properties make it an ideal ingredient in products that help to naturally fight acne and occasional skin break-outs. Its skin-soothing anti-inflammatory compounds also gave us reason to include it as a key ingredient in Betty Lou's Bikini Bump Balm, a product made to relieve irritation and razor burn from shaving.

Valley Green Naturals Cool Clarity! facial care line is especially beneficial to those with oily and combination skin. The natural antioxidizing and antibacterial properties of the Honey Facial Cleanser help to reduce bacteria on the skin, while the organic soap ingredients gently lift away dirt from pores. The Toner contains soothing astringent-like essential oils, also with antibacterial properties, while the Facial Quencher contains our favorite Bee Propolis to put the finishing touch on healthy skin.

When shopping for bee pollen, Royal Jelly and propolis, it's important to find a reputable retailer who carries products that are made in pharmaceutical GMP compliant facilities. Always exercise caution to ensure that your supplements are not tainted with contaminants such as pesticides, herbicides and environmental chemicals. For maximum health benefits, select supplements that are freeze-dried (not heat-dried). This process helps to better preserve vital nutrients. You also can contact the supplement manufacturer to request a Certificate of Analysis to confirm the potency of their products. Glory Bee Foods, in Oregon, is an excellent source for purchasing bee product supplements.

For the outside of your body, visit our web site and read about our Cool Clarity facial care line and Betty Lou's Bikini Balm. (Guys, this products is great for soothing razor burn on the face and neck also!)

Please remember, if you are allergic to bee stings, use of bee products could cause serious allergic reaction requiring immediate medical attention. If you develop any side effects after taking or using a bee product, you should discontinue its use immediately and talk with your doctor.

Have a buzzingly beautiful day!

Cindy DeVore
And the hard-working team at Valley Green

Sulfates, Sorbates & Savvy

2011-06-13T09:00:00.000-04:00

There's a lot of talk these days about avoiding products that contain "sulfates" and "petrochemicals." But how many folks know why they should avoid these ingredients? And more important, which ones are hazardous?

Ever since I was a child, I can remember having an actual "fear" of chemicals. My Dad, a physician doing medical research that sometimes involved microscopic photography, had a darkroom not only at the Medical University where he worked, but also in our home. He has always loved photography, and in those days, he knew well how to safely handle the chemicals necessary for developing one's own work. Multiple times, Dad tried to get me interested in learning my way around a darkroom, but I could never get passed the trays of smelly liquids, which I knew contained chemicals that probably weren't good for us. Silly, I think now... but a childhood fear nonetheless.

All grown up and a lot wiser of the world, I learned to live with, and even consume, the

difficult-to-pronounce chemicals that come our way, each and every day. That is, until, one sleepy-eyed morning while brushing my teeth. I was looking at my husband's can of shaving cream on the bathroom shelf and saw "Propane" listed in the ingredients. Propane? On your face??? They were kidding, right?

Nope, they weren't kidding. And the rest of the ingredient list on that can of shaving cream looked just as scary!

But here's the rub... Yes, that was a bad product that no longer can be found in our home because we stopped buying it. But for many other products, did you know that a lot of those scary-sounding chemical names aren't scary at all? Of the following ingredients, can you identify which one was awarded the highest toxicity rating on the Environmental Working Group's Hazard Scale?

a) Behentrimonium methosulfate
b) Sodium laureth sulfate
c) Sodium lauryl sulfate

All three products contain sulfates; yet, the correct answer is b) Sodium laureth sulfate.

Want to know why? We're happy to explain...

According to the Environmental Working Group's Skin Deep Database, Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES) is an ingredient derived from ethoxylated lauryl alcohol and used as a surfactant. It is also an ingredient that is commonly contaminated with toxic manufacturing impurities such as 1,4-dioxane and ethylene oxide (a/k/a known carcinogens). Its contamination with unwanted byproducts is the reason that it's considered a hazardous ingredient. The other two ingredients listed: a) Behentrimonium methosulfate, an anti-static and hair-conditioning agent, ranks 0; and c) Sodium lauryl sulfate, a surfactant and foaming agent, ranks 1-2, depending on use. (Neither of these latter two ingredients are known to be contaminated with carcinogens.)

Both 1,4-dioxane and Ethylene Oxide rank a robust 10 on the EWG's hazard scale. These carcinogenic byproducts contaminate up to 46% of personal care products tested! (See articles and sources). Although it's been shown that 1,4-dioxane can easily be removed from products before they are sold, for cost reasons, most manufacturers fail to take this simple step.

And just when you thought it was safe to go back into the shower, we ask that you please take a closer look at the "sorbates" on your product labeling as well. For the same reason that one sulfate may be safe, while another may be carcinogenic, other so-called "safe" ingredients commonly found in products that are listed as "natural" or "organic" can be just as confusing.

Polysorbate-20, -40, -60 and -80 don't pass muster with us for being safe ingredients! In fact, they're listed right alongside Sodium Laureth Sulfate as common carriers of 1,4-dioxane and ethylene oxide. If you're interested in checking out a comprehensive list of all ingredients suspected to be contaminated with our featured carcinogens of the day, here it is. The top name in each category is the name most commonly found on product labels. So while you're busy looking for sulfates in products, be sure to check out those pesky polysorbates too!

Is your brain ready to explode? Ok. Enough for today. But as we've said over and again in our newsletters, all it takes is a little studying to be an informed consumer. Don't rush to judge an ingredient before checking it out -- but most certainly do check ingredients listed on all product labels! You may be surprised at what you find.

Have a naturally wonderful day!

Cindy DeVore
And the hard-working team at Valley Green

Important Note: The Environmental Working Group has recently re-designed their Skin Deep Database. The previous database contained Emulsifying Wax NF -- an ingredient we use often at Valley Green Naturals, and one that ranked 0 for lowest toxicity on the EWG's Skin Deep Database. We discovered that after the re-design the database now lists only Emulsifying Wax, and no longer lists Emulsifying Wax NF. These two ingredients are very different, with the "NF" being crucial to ensuring production of body-safe products. We have contacted the EWG, asking that they re-list this ingredient on their database. We encourage others to make contact with this request as well.

Also, the EWG is a non-profit group in Washington, D.C. that relies solely on member donations to provide important services and information to consumers. Please consider making a small (or large) donation when visiting the database.

Pack a lunch and c'mon along!

2011-05-14T00:47:00.003-04:00

We'll go to the ends of the earth to buy natural goods!

Art and I have a real weakness for "real" things.
We like our foods to be what nature intended… free of pesticides, hormones, antibiotics and chemicals whose names we can’t pronounce. We prefer to buy items that are organic, fresh and locally-produced.

We took a road trip yesterday to buy some Amish butter. (We have to pack a picnic since we travel about 40 miles into the Shenandoah Valley for it.) When it comes to real butter, we’ve grown particularly fond of the sweet creamery stuff made by the local Amish community. It’s quite an indulgence! We even purchased a lovely handmade French butter crock to keep it at room temperature without spoiling – such a great invention!

During our little jaunt into the Valley, I thought about how much we had changed our shopping

practices over the past several years. Education has had a lot to do with that. The more educated we are about the food and items used in our daily lives, the more likely we are to shop for safe and natural products. Higher demand for natural and organic goods equals more competition among producers. And logically, competition means lower prices!

Several years ago, a doctor friend of mine recommended a DVD, called “The Future of Food.” I’ve got to say, the film literally rocked my world.

I had heard of genetically modified organisms (GMOs), but I never paid much attention to what they were all about. That is until I learned about the chemical company, Monsanto, and its ever-reaching control over the world’s food supply.

There is so much information available now about the dangers of genetically modified foods that rather than read about it in a short newsletter, you’re better off checking out our links and DVD recommendations. This information not only will infuriate you, but hopefully, it will change the way you look at the foods you eat and how one company’s monopoly on the food supply has affected farming around the world.

The Institute for Responsible Technology is an excellent source for information on the dangers of GMOs. The site provides a downloadable Non-GMO Shopping Guide in both print and iPhone App versions.

You will definitely want to check out our recommended DVDs, “Food, Inc.” and “The Future of Food.” Both are available through Netflix or for purchase on Amazon.com. Here’s a short clip from Food, Inc. As far as I’m concerned, this film is required viewing for healthful eating and an informed Nation.

Organic foods and local produce can be found in nearly every community in the country. A national online organization called LocalHarvest.org is a great place to find organic and natural foods, farms and farmer’s markets in your area. Just plug in your zip code and go shopping!

And finally, don’t forget our good friends at Abe’s Market! Abe’s is a one-stop shop for all of your natural and organic needs. They’ve got everything from personal care, to food, toys, clothes and even organic shower curtains! It’s a fun place to shop!

For more information on how to find “real” foods, check out the Center For Food Safety. They, too, offer a downloadable “True Food” shoppers guide to help you find products that are free of hormones, GMOs and irradiation.

I'm heading to the kitchen now for some GMO-free toast with Amish butter and local jam!

Happy Mother’s Day, and here’s to your enlightened good health!

Cindy DeVore
And the hard-working team at Valley Green

Mother's Day is May 8th!

2011-05-01T09:43:00.000-04:00

Valley Green Naturals offers delightful gifts to please every Mom!

Take advantage of our limited-time Mother's Day gift discounts!

Mother's Day is right around the corner. Don't wait until the last minute, wondering what to get this year! Order your Mom a special gift that she'll remember always. And use the discount codes below to make your purchase even nicer!

Valley Green Naturals Day at the Spa Gift Box is loaded with our most popular pampering products. Your Mom will enjoy luscious lavender Bath & Body Oil, tea tree- and peppermint-infused organic Bath & Shower Wash, detoxifying Dead Sea Mineral Masque, and Valley Green Naturals famous Wildflower Honey Sugar Scrub, infused with cooling peppermint. The gift box comes with two packs of herbal tea, a ribbon-tied washcloth, and gift card for your personal message to say, "I love you Mom!"

For a limited time, customers can take a $5.00 discount off all Day at the Spa Gift Box purchases! Just enter Discount Code "MomSpaDay" in your shopping cart at check-out.

Need another gift idea for Mom's special day? Check out our new Blue Ridge Gift Set. Just like our spa gift box, the delightful products in the Blue Ridge set will bring smiles and grateful hugs! All Moms will love our Dead Sea Bath Salts, scented with

delicious tangerine essential oil. And those who like to toil in the garden -- or just enjoy a luxurious hand cream -- will love Valley Green Naturals Gardener's Glee Dry Hand Remedy with our famous Gardener's Blend fragrance. Finally, we wouldn't want to leave out our body-pampering Wildflower Sugar Scrub with cooling peppermint! Of course, this gift set also includes herbal teas and a pretty, ribbon-tied washcloth and gift card.

The Blue Ridge Gift Set is available with a discount of $3.00 when you enter Discount Code "BlueRidgeGift" in your shopping cart at check-out.

Hurry, though! These discount offers expire at midnight, Monday, May 2nd. All orders received by the deadline will be prepared and shipped by Priority Mail to reach your Mom by Mother's Day. How much easier could it be?

This Mother's Day, show your Mom how much you care with a gift of natural, body-safe and eco-friendly products from Valley Green Naturals!

With love to Mothers everywhere,

Cindy, Art, Mary & Doug
Valley Green Naturals

Happy Earth Week!

2011-04-21T15:27:00.003-04:00

Celebrate the World!

With botanical extracts from nature like goji berry, ginger root, hibiscus and pomegranate, we can thank our beautiful Mother Earth for the bounty of skin-nourishing goodness available to us!

In celebration of Earth Week, Valley Green Naturals is offering Free Shipping on all orders placed by Sunday at midnight.

Valley Green Naturals products are free of phthalates, sulfates, parabens and petrochemicals. Our products are made with only the purest natural ingredients, all of which are body-safe and eco-friendly.

What does it mean when an ingredient is eco-friendly? It means that our botanical extracts and oils are cold-pressed or produced organically. It means that the plants from which our oils are produced are pure and natural, from germination to extraction. It means an assurance of long-term sustainability of the crops and chemical-free farming. And it means that products are packaged and shipped using recyclable, re-purposed and earth-friendly materials.

At Valley Green Naturals, we support sustainable farming and fair trade on a global basis. Whenever possible, our ingredients are sourced locally from Virginia's Piedmont. And ingredients that must come from far-away lands are chosen based on principles of long-term farming and fair wages paid to the farmers who harvest them.

To take advantage of Earth Week's free shipping offer, please visit Valley Green Naturals and enter Discount Code "HappyEarthWeek" in your shopping cart at checkout. (Hurry, this offer expires 4/24/11 at midnight.)

We hope that you have a wonderful week and enjoy Earth Day celebrations on April 22nd!

Here's to protecting our world!

Cindy DeVore
And the Hardworking Team at Valley Green

Honey is Nature's Super-food!

2011-04-06T08:14:00.000-04:00

Why We Love Honey!
It's a Super Food not only for your insides, but for your outside, too.

Ever listen to those product ads on TV that tell us we need to "fight free-radicals?" Does anyone really know what that means?

A physicist's response might be something along the lines of... "Free-radicals are minute groups of atoms with at least one unpaired electron, causing the chemical particle to be unstable..." Yeah, you get the idea. But what's the plain language story on these tiny thinga-ma-jigs that do so much damage to our bodies?

In short... they destroy our cells. It's true that free-radicals are atoms that are unstable. And the harder truth is, they chip away at cell walls, one molecule at a time, until cells lose their chemical balance and become dysfunctional. And the worst part is free-radicals are everywhere! There's no avoiding them. And they'll attack not only skin, but every cell in the body. Know what that spells? C-A-N-C-E-R. So in those same commercials where you're hearing that you should fight free-radicals, how many of those companies are offering nature-made ways to do it?

Here's where one of our favorite foods comes into the picture. Honey is one powerful antioxidant! And antioxidants are known to pack a mighty punch on free-radicals both inside and outside the body. Eating foods that are rich with antioxidant ingredients, such as honey, pomegranates, avocados, broccoli and raspberries, to name just a few, will help to neutralize damage caused by free-radicals on the inside of your body. And thank goodness these super-foods from Mother Nature also work to protect skin cells and help to slow signs of aging! At Valley Green Naturals, we use honey as a skin cleanser every day. And our creams and lotions are sure to delight free-radical freedom fighters with polyphenol-rich pomegranate seed oil and a host of other antioxidant ingredients like wheat germ oil, rosemary extract, green tea extract, tangerine and lemon.

I've said it before, and I'll say it again... There's nothing better than what's offered by nature to keep us healthy and well. We just need to pay attention to the bounty of goodies that's offered to us! The Cancer Cure Foundation has a comprehensive list of free-radical fighting super foods that are great for feeding your insides. And you can visit the Environmental Working Group's web site for more information on how to avoid toxins in your food, home and personal care.

In the meantime, we hope that you'll check out the fantastic honey-based and body-safe products

from Valley Green Naturals. It's springtime, and the honeybees will soon be working arduously to bring us their super-food! This week we're offering our subscribers a 10% discount on your total order when you buy two or more products from Valley Green Naturals. Hurry, though, this discount expires April 10th!

To take advantage of the offer, just enter Discount Code: "SpringFling2011" in your shopping cart at check-out. The discount will be automatically deducted from your purchase total. And thanks for being a loyal customer and subscriber to our newsletter!

All our Natural Best,

Cindy DeVore
And the hard-working team at Valley Green

Good Health Resolutions

2010-12-26T09:06:00.000-05:00

Around this time of the year, many people begin to think about a New Year's Resolution to lose weight. And for the past four years or so, I've counted myself among those who make promises to eat better (and eat less), exercise more, and shed some of that excess body cushioning!

I began losing my svelte-self around four years ago. I was then 44 years old, busier than ever, with less time for exercising and eating well. And, like so many others dealing with a downturn in the economy, I was financially stressed. I've always wished that I could be one of those women who just can't eat when I'm upset about something. But oh, no.... for as long as I can remember, food has always been my comfort. In fact, just the saying the words, "comfort food" conjures images of steaming chicken pot pies, mashed potatoes and deliciously fattening cream soups!

And although I've managed to improve the quality of the food I'm eating these days (Art and I buy groceries that are certified organic whenever possible), that doesn't mean that I've reduced my fat, cholesterol or calorie intake in a healthful manner. In fact, did you know that you can make an absolutely awesome dish of totally organic Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo? The pure, organic butter makes it taste incredible. Sorry... there I go again!

Organic dishes may be chemical- and pesticide-free, but I'm sorry to say, they're not always low-cal...

Yesterday, as I emptied my Christmas stocking of its goodies, I found a gift to myself that I had stuck in the bottom of the sock about a week ago. It's called the "Walking Fit Kit," and it contains simply a pedometer and an audio CD that's supposed to get you motivated and moving. This week, I also read an article in Family Circle that featured several women who lost anywhere from 75 to 120 pounds simply by walking every day and eating a more healthful diet.

What could be easier? I thought. Ha!

As my business continues to grow, and my schedule gets busier, I find that I have an easy excuse for failing to exercise. Yet, I also know that there are CEOs of Fortune 500 companies who make their daily work-out an absolute priority in their lives.

So this is where it's time to get serious. And my business partner, Mary (who, by the way, has never lost her svelteness), has chosen a 5K run for the two of us to participate in this coming spring. I think I'd better get moving!

Even though we haven't yet turned the corner on a New Year, I'm starting today! And as an extra incentive to keep at it, I'll be sharing my progress on the blog. That picture you see at the top of this post was me, about five years ago. Here I was this past summer, about 30 pounds heavier...

Just as big and exciting changes are underway for Valley Green Naturals in the next year, big changes are underway for me, too.

I resolve to be healthier in 2011! Join me, and share your experience!

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Cindy

Longing for Those Brisk Days of Fall...

2010-09-15T09:18:00.000-04:00

It's been a particularly hot summer in Virginia this year, and we've had little rain throughout the season. But as I look out my office window at Valley Green, I see that the apple trees have provided an abundance of crisp fruit this year, in spite of the dry earth beneath them.

Whenever I get past my birthday (which falls on the 12th of September, every single year), I begin to feel nostalgic, remembering the days of my childhood in Oregon. I was fortunate to have attended a very unique school in Portland, called Catlin Gabel. The large campus was situated on a beautiful old apple orchard and farm. I remember how delightful our surroundings were, especially in the fall. Back to school among old friends, we all played in the fall soccer games and shared stories of the summer. Lunchtime meant a trip to the old "Barn" which still today, serves as the campus cafeteria. Though, my friends and I preferred to lunch outside on the lush green grass of the paddock.

I remember plucking fresh apples from the ancient and untended orchard on the campus. They weren't sprayed with any insecticide, so you had to look for the good ones to avoid the bugs and worms. But oh, how they tasted! To this day, I haven't eaten an apple as sweet as those that I remember from that old orchard.

So to get you reminiscing about the autumn days of your childhood, I thought I'd share a special recipe with you for Apple Spice Muffins. And of course, if you can buy your eggs, butter, milk and apples from a local co-op or farmer's market, your muffins will be even tastier!

1/4 cup butter
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp ground allspice
1 extra-large egg (or 2 small farm eggs)
2 cups flour
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
3/4 cup milk
1/4 cup chopped apple

Topping:
2 tbsp butter
1/2 cup brown sugar

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Cream butter and sugar together. Stir in the spices and egg. In a separate bowl, combine flour, baking powder and baking soda. Add to butter mixture, alternating with milk. Add chopped apple and stir well. Pour into paper muffin cups. For topping, melt butter and add brown sugar. Spoon mixture onto tops of muffin batter. Bake at 350 for 15 minutes. Test with knife to make sure they're baked through.

There now... can't you just feel that brisk air stirring outside?

Here's to the coming days of Fall!

Cindy

Fashion Editor & Lifestyle Expert Dawn Del Russo Reviews Valley Green Naturals Sugar Scrub

2010-08-25T13:59:00.001-04:00

The Poisonous Truth About Your Morning Shower... Tea Tree Shampoo to the Rescue!

2010-08-19T07:53:00.001-04:00

Ahh, the morning wake-up shower! Warm water pours over your face and body, waking the senses and bringing a fresh start to your day. The shower trickles over your wet hair, and you open your favorite bottle of shampoo… this one smells woodsy, like the fresh outdoors! You take a good whiff and lather up. Mmm, the scent and rich suds are delightful! What a fabulous way to start your day…

But what if we rock your morning-world with a dirty little secret? Read More --->

Avoid the "Nano" Health Controversy with Natural Skin Care

2010-07-27T08:10:00.000-04:00

Imagine, for a moment, skin creams and facial foundations, with nano-particles of aluminum, zinc and silica, ground so finely that they act like iridescent crystals to give your face a radiant glow!

Next, imagine that scientific advances in the beauty and skin care industry offer the chance for these nano-ingredients to penetrate all of the epidermal layers of your skin, so that they may travel even further into your body.

And finally, imagine that those nano-particles are so small, they are able to slip through the skin’s innermost layers, interacting with your immune system, and filtering straight into your bloodstream and vital organs.

Nanotechnology is the science of manipulating molecules on the nanoscale, which is 80,000 times smaller than the width of a human hair.

Amazing, you say? Absolutely!

Safe? …Well, that’s another story.

READ MORE --->

Shampoos Without Sodium Laureth Sulfate - The Hidden Dangers of Sulfates that Every Family Should Know

2010-07-11T08:14:00.001-04:00

Shampoos free of sodium laureth sulfate (SLES for short) are in high demand these days, as consumers learn more about the dangers of this ingredient that’s found in hundreds of everyday personal care products.

What are sulfates, you ask? The long and short of it is this: sulfates are used to create foam and lather in hundreds of products used by families every, single day – multiple times a day. Otherwise known as “foaming boosters,” sulfates are an inexpensive way for manufacturers to give consumers that “rich and creamy” lather and foam they expect in everything from their soap, to their toothpaste, to shaving cream, mouthwash and shampoo. Sulfates rank as a prominent ingredient in clothing detergent and dishwashing liquid as well.

The carcinogenic dangers of sulfate byproducts contaminating these ingredients remains uknown to most trusting consumers who buy top brands -- many of which are now labeled as "natural!" Read More --->

Wrinkle Reduction from Salt? Yes! But wait, there's more...

2010-06-26T13:03:00.001-04:00

Dating from the time of the ancient Egyptians, various cultures and groups of people have found therapeutic uses for Dead Sea Salts, from bath soaks to unguents and body wraps. Two thousand years ago, Flavius wrote that the salts from the Dead Sea “heal the human body.”

We won’t go so far as to claim “healing powers” of our Bath Salts (that would be against FDA rules), but studies have shown that there are definite health benefits to bathing in magnesium chloride-rich waters. Dead Sea Salts are unique to any other salts in the world in that they contain very high levels of magnesium and potassium chlorides.

In recent research about Dead Sea Salt and its effect on patients suffering from psoriasis, Dr. J. Arndt made a study on fifty patients aged between 14 and 77 years old who were treated with Dead Sea Salts. The baths were controlled and skin of the patients was thoroughly rinsed with running water. Patients were treated with 3-4 Dead Sea Salt baths per week, for 3 weeks. Results showed that the majority of patients’ symptoms were significantly diminished within the first week of treatment, with steady improvements observed in the following weeks. The most important noted relief was from the itching associated with psoriasis. More than half (54%) of the patients were totally healed, while 22 cases marked impressive improvements.1

Sufferers of common skin ailments and disorders, such as acne, eczema and dermatitis also have discovered the benefits of regular soaks in Dead Sea Salt baths. One study, conducted by Erhhardt Proksch, MD, PhD, reported that the high concentration of magnesium in Dead Sea Salt was instrumental in improving skin hydration and reducing inflammation.2 Further research by Dr. Proksch found that Dead Sea Salts can play a significant role as an anti-aging treatment. Dr. Proksch’s findings indicated that Dead Sea Salt benefits showed a 40% reduction in the depth of wrinkling.3

And, maybe the most important point to all of us in our busy world… did we mention that Salt baths can help to calm frazzled nerves? Dead Sea Salts are legendary for their healing and beautifying properties. Containing 21 different minerals, here’s a short list of what this miracle of nature’s ingredients reportedly can do for you:

**Magnesium: Reported to be effective in promoting quick healing of skin tissue and provides the skin’s surface with anti-allergic elements. Also essential for cell metabolism.

**Bromide: Soothes skin, relaxes body muscles, and calms nerves.

**Sulfur: A natural disinfectant. Very effective in fighting acne. Also known as a powerful detoxifying agent that works closely with the liver to rid the body of toxins.

**Potassium: Helps balance moisture in the skin and body, aiding in the reduction of water retention and in the nourishment of cells. Potassium also regulates the nervous system.

**Calcium: Strengthens cell membranes and cleanses pores. An essential mineral, also known to strengthen nails, bones and teeth.

**Sodium: A powerful detoxifying agent helps cells retain nourishment and expel waste. Also relieves stiffness and muscle cramps.

**Zinc: When applied topically, it is known to protect the skin against sunburn and windburn. It is also known to boost the immune system. Internally, it is a key factor in enzymatic regulation of cell proliferation.

Valley Green Naturals Dead Sea Bath Salts are packaged in a beautiful Lucia-style corked bottle, wrapped with hemp and tied with a decorative bead. Our salts are available unscented, or you may choose a fragrance or pure essential oil addition from our Fragrance List, to provide a relaxing aromatherapy experience.

Is that nice, soothing Salt Bath calling you yet? Sign up for our Newsletter and receive a coupon for $3.00 off your purchase of our fragrant Dead Sea Salts (offer ends July 10th - so hurry!). They make the perfect gift too!
Visit: http://www.valleygreennaturals.com/

Article Sources:
1 Harari, Marco. "Demographic evaluation of successful antipsoriatic climatotherapy at the Dead Sea (Israel) DMZ Clinic". International journal of dermatology 36 (4): 304–305. doi:10.1046/j.1365-4362.1997.00204.x

2 Proksch, Ehrhardt MD, PhD et al. "Bathing in a magnesium-rich Dead Sea salt solution improves skin barrier function, enhances skin hydration, and reduces inflammation in atopic dry skin", International Journal of Dermatology, February 2005. Retrieved on 2008-04-13.

3 Ehrhardt, Proksch. "Bathing in a magnesium-rich Dead Sea salt solution: follow-on review". International journal of dermatology 46 (2): 177–179. doi:10.1111/j.1365-4632.2005.02079.x

True or False? The Web of Organic Labeling Deceit

2010-06-12T13:30:00.001-04:00

Confused about what is “natural” and what is “organic?” You’re not alone.

Recent reports have shown that the lack of regulations in the natural cosmetics and skin care industry causes great confusion for consumers, and can be downright misleading. The Environmental Working Group (EWG) in Washington, D.C. issued a report indicating that of the 10,500 ingredients used in natural- and organic-labeled items, only 11 percent had been tested and approved by the FDA.

Did you know that a product can be labeled organic, even if it contains only one organic ingredient? Did you also know that many of the other ingredients in a given “organic” or “natural” product may actually be hazardous to your health – even carcinogenic?

Claims written on the labels of many cosmetics and body care products are not currently backed up by any federal agency in the same way that organic food products are backed by the USDA. Words like “noncomedogenic” on a bottle of lotion simply mean to the industry that the product doesn’t cause pimples. Unfortunately, there is no standard to actually back up that statement.

Studies have shown that ingredients in fragrance oils can include 30 to 40 chemicals and dangerous phthalates which may interfere with the development of male reproductive organs. If a company uses the term “Fragrance-free,” it simply means that they have not added any fragrance to make the product smell like something else. But, believe it or not, that rule doesn’t count if a fragrance has been added to the product to counteract the natural smell of the actual ingredients. Again, the consumer remains uninformed.

The EWG’s Skin Deep Report analyzed the ingredients of thousands of products and identified those that contained possible carcinogens and ingredients of concern. Repeatedly, the Skin Deep report lists coal tar and lead acetate, often found in dark colors of hair dye; phthalates and plasticizers, which interfere with reproductive organs; paraben chemical preservatives and sodium laurel/laureth sulphate, which may be carcinogenic and are found in everything from shampoos to shaving cream; formaldehyde, present in nail polishes, and silica, often present in toothpaste and face powders.

Recently, a variety of popular brands, purporting to contain “organic” and “natural” ingredients were analyzed by the EWG and given Hazard Level scores for their products. Here is a spreadsheet detailing the findings. Brands are listed across the top of the page. Click on the manufacturer’s name tab to see how their products ranked. http://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?key=0AmQUe_l_s2kvdGlsZmZZY2VGOV83dkhUb1ZGUWlpMVE&gid=3

So what can you do to protect yourself and your family? Be informed. And be vigilant about reading product labels, and checking out the ingredients. The hazard level and related studies of virtually any chemical ingredient can be checked on the EWG’s site at: http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/

At Valley Green Naturals, we strive to produce personal care products that are safe for ourselves, our families, and the environment. We recommend ordering our custom-blended products with pure essential oils, but we also offer phthalate-free fragrance oils for customers who desire a wider choice of fragrances. Our lotions, creams and shampoos are paraben-free and contain cold-pressed and certified organic oils. We research every ingredient that we use in our products, and each one (never rating higher than a Level 0 or 1) is listed on our product labels. At Valley Green Naturals, we will call a product “organic” only when we can back it up with our supplier’s USDA National Organic Program (NOP) Certification.

And best of all, we love answering questions and educating our customers! Drop us a line to ask questions about our products or ingredients anytime – or just to say hello!
We love hearing from you!

To your natural good health,

Cindy, Art, Mary & Doug
The Team at Valley Green Naturals, LLC
http://www.valleygreennaturals.com/

The Herb Garden - Add Some Flavor & Spice to Your Life!

2010-05-08T11:39:00.003-04:00

Although my 25-year-old daughter has grown up to be a fabulous chef (who now lives and works in Australia), I don't consider myself to be a great cook in the kitchen. Nor do I have a "knowing palate." But I've always admired people who can taste the various flavors and components mixed into any dish. It's a bit like a wine enthusiast who, upon tasting various varietals, can tell you where the wine is from because the "dirt" where the grapes were grown gives the wine a certain flavor. I love wine. But I'll be darned if I can taste any dirt!

On the other hand, playing in the dirt (a/k/a gardening) is one of my favorite pastimes! In addition to our vegetable gardens at Valley Green, I always love to plant a small herb garden, just for me. With my tiny little corner of the earth, I can plant whatever I want, without discussion of who likes what, how much to plant, or "why are you growing that?"

Growing herbs is fun, and it can be accomplished by any gardener -- even the apartment dweller in the city! I use herbs not only in cooking, but also in our Valley Green Naturals personal care products. I love making botanical soaps and bath salts with mint, lavender and rosemary that has been grown in my own herb garden, free of pesticides and herbicides, and dried in my old butler's pantry. Using my own naturally grown and dried herbs really adds to the "special-ness" of our company's products!
At the same time, growing herbs like tarragon, sweet basil, chives and oregano will bring a nice variety of spices to your kitchen! I like using crushed tarragon combined with ground black pepper as a rub for steaks before grilling them. This year, I've already started a nice planting of "Cinnamon Basil" in a container at my front door. I plucked a few leaves the other night and tossed them into my organic Alfredo sauce as it cooked on the stove. The aroma, the flavor, and the view of the vineyard from my kitchen window, made me feel like I was cooking in a kitchen somewhere in Tuscany!

To make a small patch in your yard for growing herbs, you don't even need to tear up the ground. Shown at left is a fancier version of a raised garden bed. But you can make a simple herb frame from 4 equal-size 2x4s; attach them with corner braces (available at your local hardware store), and fill the square frame with dirt. For mine, I purchased 6 bags of quality top soil for the fill dirt and placed plastic on the ground, inside the frame as a weed barrier before pouring in the dirt. (A large, cut-open garbage bag works well as your weed barrier.)

I planted the herb seeds according to the seed packet directions, in tidy rows. As of today (6 days later), they are just beginning to germinate! Soon, we'll have chamomile, lavender, parsley, chives, tarragon, oregano, and sweet basil. And growing in containers on my sunny porch steps, I have rosemary, chives, oregano and cinnamon basil. (Fourteenth century folklore says that growing rosemary at the entrance to your home helps to ward off bad things while it brings in love!)

Apartment dwellers, or those with limited yard space, will find that herbs grow very nicely in containers! The key to container gardening is to make sure that you water consistently, and keep your herb plants evenly moist. Since containers sit above ground, they are more likely to dry out faster, which will quickly kill fragile seedlings. Keep your containers in a sunny space, and as your plants grow, turn the containers periodically to ensure they fill out evenly.

The nice thing about growing herbs is that you can experiment to your heart's delight with the various flavors and aromas they offer. I've even decided to grow Chamomile this year to make tea! The May/June 2010 issue of one of my favorite magazines, Hobby Farm Home, celebrates cooking with Lavender! The issue includes some really neat recipes for Lavender Butter, Marinated Goat Cheese, Lavender Citrus Salad & Dressing, Lavender Potato and Leek Soup, and even Greek Lamb Chops with Lavender. My favorite recipe from this issue is for White Chocolate-lavender Cheesecake, and I have included it below! Remember to always buy organic ingredients whenever possible!

White Chocolate-lavender Cheesecake
(from the May-June 2010 issue of Hobby Farm Home magazine)

Ingredients:
1 & 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs
1 & 3/4 pounds cream cheese, softened
4 farm-fresh eggs
1 & 1/2 tsp. dried lavender buds (use food grade if purchased)
1 T. grated orange peel
1/4 cup melted butter
3/4 cup sugar
1 tsp. vanilla extract
2 T. orange liqueur
4 ounces white chocolate, melted

Preparation:
Combine cracker crumbs with butter to form crust. Put into 9-inch springform pan.
Beat cream cheese with sugar. Add eggs one at a time. Beat in white chocolate, vanilla, lavender, orange peel and liqueur.
Spoon into crust. Bake at 300 degrees F for 1 hour and 20 minutes.
Cool completely; refrigerate until cold.
Unmold and slice with knife dipped in boiling water.
Makes 12 servings.

Yummmmmy!

For more recipes mentioned in this month's issue of Hobby Farm Home, visit: www.hobbyfarmhome.com/cookinglavender

So for now, I'm off to check my herb seedlings and toil in the dirt!

Happy gardening, and have a 'naturally' wonderful day!

Cindy

Valley Green Gardening - Day 1!

2010-05-01T19:29:00.001-04:00

Well, it's not actually "Day 1" for getting our gardens ready here at Valley Green. But today was one of the biggest prep days we've had (and also the hottest), so it felt like our "new beginning for Spring!"

We have a couple of different areas where we like to plant vegetables. Our smaller garden is only about 14 x 10 feet. It's just enough space to grow a couple of rows of beans (my favorite), lots of tomato plants, some okra, lettuce, spinach, peas, cucumbers, squash and peppers. Our overflow of seeds will go into the much larger garden that borders our neighbor's property.

It was this humongous "field" that we worked on today. Truth is, Art and our friends worked on it. I was tucked into the kitchen all day, making shampoo, creams and soaps to fulfill Mother's Day orders from Valley Green Naturals. (But fear not.... I really cheered those guys on from my air conditioned space!)

After the dust settled from all the tilling, I took some photos of our "big" garden space, along with the freshly tilled spot next to it (which is reserved this year for growing Japanese Popcorn).

Art is spending his early evening hours raking the remaining rocks and clumps of grass from the dirt so that we'll have a nice weed-free start when we plant the seeds tomorrow.

It's been a beautiful day at Valley Green! We'll keep you posted as the veggies progress!

Here's to dirt under your nails and farmers' tans!

Cindy & Art

Mmmmm.... Fresh Sweet Veggies!

2010-04-29T12:49:00.000-04:00

I don't know about the rest of you, but every year, when spring arrives, I just can't wait to plant my garden! This April has been a little tough for those of us who are hankering to get seeds in the ground. Normally, in Virginia, you can start planting around mid-April. Today is April 29th, however, and we had, yet another, frost last night... hopefully, the last one of the season!

If you have never planted a garden but love the thought of enjoying home-grown fresh vegetables this summer, I'd like to offer a few tips. Let me preface this, though, by stating that I'm no master gardener -- FAR from it! Each year is another experiment for Art and myself to try new ideas, new plantings, new trellises... whatever strikes our fancy. This year, we've chosen to grow Japanese Popcorn in its own separate, little field. If it goes well, we're hoping to harvest and bottle it as a new Valley Green Naturals product this fall! (We'll see how it goes...)

Even if you have limited space, planting and tending a garden can be really fun and simple -- and OH-SO Rewarding! Started plants can be found at nearly any garden center, Lowe's or Home Depot. If you're looking to grow organic, visit http://www.localharvest.org/ to find garden centers or home growers in your area who offer organic seeds and plants. An important note: Don't let anyone talk you into buying "Round-up Ready Corn or other seeds." This is a genetically modified seed that can't be killed by spraying Round-up weed killer. It is readily available at farmers' co-ops and garden centers. When Art and I first started growing our own vegetables, "Round-up Ready" was recommended to us by several people. (Besides, who in the world would want to spray their home-grown, fresh vegetables with an herbacide anyway?... we figured that a lot of people must do so... yuck.) Cultivating soil and hand-pulling weeds will ensure a fresh and chemical-free garden for your family and friends!

Plan your garden in a sunny spot. Ideally, you should allow 9 to 12 inches between each planting (2 feet for tomatoes), and you should be able to walk between your rows. Sketch out a plan before breaking dirt so that you have a good sense of what will go where. If your soil is thick clay, you may want to purchase and add some compost to loosen it up a bit and provide nutrients. You would be amazed at how much better your vegetable plants will produce simply by being planted in good soil.

Ok, so my thoughts on some of the easiest vegetables to grow...

#1) Tomatoes. You simply can't have a garden without growing fresh tomatoes... at least that's my opinion! For a small garden, buy 1 to 4 plants, depending on how many tomatoes you would like, and how much space you have available. Tomato plants continue to produce all summer long, and they can be big producers if they like the soil and are tended properly. Yellow tomatoes are my all-time favorite! Remember to allow about 2 feet between plants. You will also want to stake or cage them as they grow. Cages are available at local hardware or garden stores. Don't wait too long to do this as the fruit can get heavy and cause vine breakage.

#2)Green Beans! I suggest bush-style green beans. These are awesome little producers and are very easy to grow from seed planted directly in the garden. Plant seeds about one and one-half inch deep, and cover lightly with soil. Allow about 9 to 12 inches between each plant. I love fresh garden beans so much, I usually grow an entire row of them. They, too, produce all summer long.

#3) Cucumbers. This is one plant that you definitely don't need too many of! One plant will produce enough cucumbers for you, your kids, your neighbors, your relatives.... well, unless you're planning to do some pickeling, you will likely be happy with the number of cucs received from one or two plants. Use a staking method or frame with chicken wire to allow the vines to climb and hang off the ground.

#4) Peppers of any kind. Again, one or two plants are usually enough to supply you with an abudance of peppers all summer long! We've grown jalapenos, red and yellow bell peppers (I don't like green ones!), banana peppers and cayennes. Be careful when harvesting the hot ones! Use gloves and wash your hands well before touching your face or eyes. The oils produced by the hot peppers can burn!

#5) Head Lettuce. Just watch out for the bunny rabbits with this one! They love lettuce! We actually planted lettuce from seed last year, and it did very well. I like lots of salads, so I planted two rows. As you cut the heads, new lettuce will grow again! Isn't amazing how Mother Nature just keeps on producing for us!

#6) Zucchini and Yellow Squash. Every year, I make the mistake of planting too many of these incredible producers! Last year, though, I came up with an amazing zucchini-chocolate bread, so I was able to use most of them throughout the summer. Art and I like to slice and cook them up with organic butter and garlic. Then we serve them over steak or with fish from the grill. They're awesome! These plants should be allowed quite a bit of space. Plant seeds or plants at least two feet apart, and allow space for some sprawl. These guys really like to stretch out!

#7) Sweet corn. If you have the space available, by all means, plant some corn! Nothing tastes better with a summer barbeque! Find a sunny, square area. If you are REALLY limited on space, Corn can be planted as little as 3 rows deep, by 3 rows wide (9 seeds). In one garden, several summers ago, I planted 5 by 5. Planting in a square is important as each stalk pollinates the others when the wind blows. Seeds should be planted about 9 to 12 inches apart, and your corn should be "knee-high by the 4th of July" to ensure a good summer harvest.

Watering the garden is really only necessary if you go for more than one week without any rain. If I do water, I like to do it first thing in the morning, while everything is still cool outside. It gives the garden a nice "boost" for a hot day.

So those are my thoughts on planting a basic garden. All easy plants, and all great producers! And you won't believe how great everything will taste! This is especially true when your vegetables are the fruit of your very own labor!

Happy Spring! And Happy Gardening!

Cindy

Your Right to Know! Recommended Reading

2010-04-29T10:38:00.000-04:00

More than half of America’s processed grocery products, from cornflakes to diet drinks, contain genetically altered ingredients. They are unlabeled and untested, and we’re eating it. YOUR RIGHT TO KNOW is a complete reference guide outlining how genetically modified foods get onto the family dining table and what consumers can do about it.

Shopping organic is easier than you think!

- Cindy

Non-GMO Shopping Guide - FREE Download!

2010-04-04T14:40:00.005-04:00

Click here to download the Free Shopping Guide http://www.nongmoshoppingguide.com/SG/DownloadtheGuide/index.cfm

Genetically modified foods are linked to toxic and allergic reactions, sick, sterile, and dead livestock, and damage to virtually every organ studied in lab animals. They are banned by food manufacturers in Europe and elsewhere, yet GMOs are present in the vast majority of processed foods in the US!

Do you drink sodas? Have you eaten popcorn? Does your baby eat baby food or drink packaged formulas? Do you eat bread? Cereal? Breakfast Bars? How about frozen entrees or pizza? Do you like chips and salsa? How about ice cream? Do you put mayonnaise or ketchup on your hamburger? Maybe you use a little dressing on your salad? Do you think that your Energy Bars are good for you and your kids? Think again!

Yes, you HAVE been eating GMOs... No, they are NOT safe! Visit http://www.responsibletechnology.org/ for more information on genetically engineered and modified foods and ingredients. Learn how you can join millions of health-conscious shoppers to help push GMOs OUT of the entire food supply.

Eliminate GMOs from your diet. Download the Free Shopping Guide above and learn which brands are non-GMO and which are not. This guide is invaluable in helping families to avoid GMO foods and ingredients.

Here's to Informed Shopping!

Cindy and Art

A MUST-See DVD! Be Afraid... Be Very Afraid!

2010-03-30T21:41:00.001-04:00

I don't mean to belabor the point of healthful foods, but really... is anyone paying attention? People in Europe sure are! And the ONLY reason they're not paying attention here in the U.S. is because of the "Revolving Door" between Monsanto top-paid employees, and their positions within our government agencies like the FDA and EPA. Oh, and I almost forgot... the Supreme Court!

Yeah, that's right. Justice Clarence Thomas worked as an attorney for Monsanto before he wrote the majority opinion in the Supreme Court, forever enforcing U.S. Patent Law stating that plants are subject to patent protection under U.S. law (G.E.M. Ag Supply v. Pioneer High-Bred International).

Talk about a conflict of interest?

Think about how this all relates to the world's food supply! Not only was this a major win for Monsanto, but it tightened the noose around the necks of American farmers by requiring farmers to sign contracts, prohibiting seed saving of any patented seed. The law further allows Monsanto spies to trespass on a farmer's property and check crops for any violations (even if they are pollinated naturally by genetically modified, windblown pollen or seeds from a neighboring farm!).

Here is a clip from a fantastic documentary covering a variety of issues relating to our nation's food supply. Monsanto's corrupt means of monopolizing the world's food supply are profoundly highlighted in the film. You can purchase Food, Inc. from the list of recommended DVDs in the post below. Buy it... watch it... share it!

A little education of the public about what is going on with our food supply can help to effect major change. Right now, corporate greed is taking over.... all at the expense of our health, and the health of our children.

To your enlightened views!
Cindy

Required Viewing for Healthful Eating and an Informed Nation! DVD Recommendations

2010-03-17T18:10:00.013-04:00

Do you want to be an informed consumer? If you don't see any other documentaries this summer, you've got to watch "The World According to Monsanto" and "The Future of Food." Check out the reviews for these excellent documentaries on Amazon. These films should be required viewing in our nation's schools!

Please help to educate more consumers. After viewing these DVDs, share them, and pass along your knowledge and information to others. America has been made deaf and blind to the atrocities being committed in the name of greed. All it takes is a little education of the public to make some very big changes!

To your GMO-FREE Health!
Cindy and Art

To Your Health! Dave Barry's Colonoscopy Journal

2010-02-19T21:45:00.003-05:00

Colonoscopies are important to good preventive health!

This hilarious post by Dave Barry, a Pulitzer Prize-winning humor columnist, has been circulating the Internet through e-mail. We found it so funny, we wanted to share it with our readers here!

Here's what Dave has to say about his colonoscopy experience.

Colonoscopy Journal:

I called my friend Andy Sable, a gastroenterologist, to make an appointment for a colonoscopy.

A few days later, in his office, Andy showed me a color diagram of the colon, a lengthy organ that appears to go all over the place, at one point passing briefly through Minneapolis.

Then Andy explained the colonoscopy procedure to me in a thorough, reassuring and patient manner.

I nodded thoughtfully, but I didn't really hear anything he said, because my brain was shrieking, "HE'S GOING TO STICK A TUBE 17,000 FEET UP YOUR BEHIND!"

I left Andy's office with some written instructions, and a prescription for a product called "MoviPrep," which comes in a box large enough to hold a microwave oven. I will discuss MoviPrep in detail later; for now, suffice it to say that we must never allow it to fall into the hands of America's enemies.

I spent the next several days productively sitting around being nervous.

Then, on the day before my colonoscopy, I began my preparation. In accordance with my instructions, I didn't eat any solid food that day; all I had was chicken broth, which is basically water, only with less flavor.

Then, in the evening, I took the MoviPrep.

You mix two packets of powder together in a one-liter plastic jug, then you fill it with lukewarm water. (For those unfamiliar with the metric system, a liter is about 32 gallons). Then you have to drink the whole jug. This takes about an hour, because MoviPrep tastes -- and here I am being kind -- like a mixture of goat spit and urinal cleanser, with just a hint of lemon.

The instructions for MoviPrep, clearly written by somebody with a great sense of humor, state that after you drink it, 'a loose, watery bowel movement may result.'

This is kind of like saying that after you jump off your roof, you may experience contact with the ground.

MoviPrep is a nuclear laxative. I don't want to be too graphic, here, but have you ever seen a space-shuttle launch? This is pretty much the MoviPrep experience, with you as the shuttle... There are times you wish the commode had a seat belt. You spend several hours pretty much confined to the bathroom, spurting violently. You eliminate everything. And then, when you figure you must be totally empty, you have to drink another liter of MoviPrep, at which point, as far as I can tell, your bowels travel into the future and start eliminating food that you have not even eaten yet.

After an action-packed evening, I finally got to sleep.

The next morning, my wife drove me to the clinic. I was very nervous. Not only was I worried about the procedure, but I had been experiencing occasional return bouts of MoviPrep spurtage. I was thinking, "What if I spurt on Andy?" How do you apologize to a friend for something like that? Flowers would not be enough.

At the clinic, I had to sign many forms acknowledging that I understood and totally agreed with whatever the heck the forms said... Then they led Me to a room full of other colonoscopy people, where I went inside a little curtained space and took off my clothes and put on one of those hospital garments designed by sadist perverts, the kind that, when you put it on, makes you feel even more naked than when you are actually naked...

Then a nurse named Eddie put a little needle in a vein in my left hand. Ordinarily I would have fainted, but Eddie was very good, and I was already lying down. Eddie also told me that some people put vodka in their MoviPrep.

At first I was ticked off that I hadn't thought of this, but then I pondered what would happen if you got yourself too tipsy to make it to the bathroom, so you were staggering around in full Fire Hose Mode. You would have no choice but to burn your house.

When everything was ready, Eddie wheeled me into the procedure room, where Andy was waiting with a nurse and an anesthesiologist. I did not see the 17,000-foot tube, but I knew Andy had it hidden around there somewhere. I was seriously nervous at this point.

Andy had me roll over on my left side, and the anesthesiologist began hooking something up to the needle in my hand.

There was music playing in the room, and I realized that the song was "Dancing Queen" by ABBA. I remarked to Andy that, of all the songs that could be playing during this particular procedure, "Dancing Queen" had to be the least appropriate.

"You want me to turn it up?" said Andy, from somewhere behind me.

"Ha ha," I said. And then it was time, the moment I had been dreading for more than a decade. If you are squeamish, prepare yourself, because I am going to tell you, in explicit detail, exactly what it was like.

I have no idea. Really. I slept through it. One moment, ABBA was yelling "Dancing Queen, feel the beat of the tambourine," and the next moment, I was back in the other room, waking up in a very mellow mood.

Andy was looking down at me and asking me how I felt. I felt excellent. I felt even more excellent when Andy told me that it was all over, and that my colon had passed with flying colors. I have never been prouder of an internal organ.

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On the subject of Colonoscopies...

Colonoscopies are no joke, but these comments during the exam were quite humorous. A physician claimed that the following are actual comments made by his patients (predominately male) while he was performing their colonoscopies:

1. "Take it easy, Doc. You're boldly going where no man has gone before!"

2. "Find Amelia Earhart yet?"

3. "Can you hear me NOW?"

4. "Are we there yet? Are we there yet? Are we there yet?"

5. "You know, in Arkansas, we're now legally married."

6. "Any sign of the trapped miners, Chief?"

7. "You put your left hand in, you take your left hand out..."

8. "Hey! Now I know how a Muppet feels!"

9. "If your hand doesn't fit, you must quit!"

10. "Hey Doc, let me know if you find my dignity."

11. "You used to be an executive at Enron, didn't you?"

12. "God, now I know why I am not gay..."

And the best one of all:

13. "Could you write a note for my wife saying that my head is not up there?"

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Laugh a little (or a lot!), and have a naturally healthful day!

Cindy

Chickens, Lies & Videotape

2010-01-30T07:58:00.000-05:00

I'm not an extremist. Nor am I one to force my views down the throats of others. But when I'm aware of a fact that I, as an average person, am shocked and appalled to know, I feel compelled to share the fact with other people.

Issues of animal cruelty are appalling to most anyone. And yes, there's always an argument about agricultural animals and the fact that they are a food source for millions of people. However, simply because an animal is raised and slaughtered, or its eggs are used for human consumption, does NOT mean that the life of that animal must be dreadful.

We have included links on our Blog to a three-part video, entitled "Wegmans Cruelty." Anyone who buys commercially produced eggs should watch this video. And keep in mind that it isn't just Wegmans who is guilty of these atrocities. This is an important issue that we, as humane creatures on this earth, should address. And it's not only in egg production, but also in agricultural animal farming of all kinds. The video speaks for itself...

In response to the outrageous and deplorable stories that Art and I have read over the years about chicken and egg farms, and the treatment of the birds, we took steps, in our own little way, and began raising our own chickens. When a friend of ours told us about "chicken auctions" and the variety of hens available to purchase for egg production, we decided to ready some space for new chickens and head to the auction.

We were thrilled to find gorgeous roosters, a large variety of baby chicks, and full-grown, egg-producing hens. Since I'm a sucker for "rescuing" older animals, (and for the fact that I had never raised baby chicks before), I raised my auction paddle and purchased six lovely and healthy hens, and one rooster who I named "Foghorn."

At home, the chickens were delighted with their new accommodations! And we had purchased a perfect number of hens to provide eggs for our little family. Our flock consisted of a Black Giant, a Rhode Island Red, two very pretty Brahmas, a small Buff Orpington, and a scrawny little white Leghorn. I named them Winnie, Ruby, Thelma & Louise, and Wilma & Betty, respectively. Our rooster, Foghorn, had the most perfect, "Cock-a-doodle-doo!" anyone has ever heard. (Sadly, Foghorn passed on this past fall.)

As the year passed, Art and I perused the "chicken and egg catalogs" of Murray McMurray, My Pet Chicken, and Randall Burkey. After all, when you become a chicken owner, you can't help but develop an interest in all of the delightful (and some endangered) breeds of poultry! We also had become aware of the increasing interest from folks who are attempting to follow the locavore movement of "buying fresh and buying local." I checked out a few web sites, including "LocalHarvest.org" and found a small number of local egg producers in our county. Like us, they all appeared to be low-volume producers of all-natural or organic eggs. Our enthusiasm grew!

In the fall of 2008, I called Randall Burkey Company and ordered a combination of 25 baby chicks that would be sent to me as soon as they were born in December. We readied our home (with a special room, brooder, and heat lamps), and on December 12th, they arrived! As the chicks grew, Art built a special shelter inside our hen house just for them. We used three heat lamps, a 5x2' frame, and lots of chicken wire to protect the babies from the other birds.

In the spring, when the chicks were close to being the size of the other birds, we opened up their shelter and let them roam free. It was awesome! The other birds established the pecking order and readily accepted the babies into the flock. Unfortunately, two of the babies turned out to be roosters (even though we had ordered all poulets). That happens sometimes. We kept the brilliant New Hampshire Red rooster and gave away the smaller (and very sweet) Black Austrolope to a friend.

Fast forward to late summer 2009. Valley Green Naturals is now listed on LocalHarvest.org, our happy chickens produce an average of 20 eggs per day, and folks come from near and far to buy them! They love the fresh eggs, but they also love supporting local and small-volume producers. One lady even came out to "inspect" the happiness of our chickens before she decided to buy their eggs! We love that!

We may not be able to completely stop what is happening to birds in commercial egg production, but we're working to do our small part to boycott (and help others to boycott) commercial egg farms. We eat and sell totally natural, antibiotic-free eggs, and we're enjoying the wonderful hobby of chicken-keeping in the process!

Keeping a small flock of chickens is amazingly fun and easy! Here are some helpful and interesting links if you've thought about raising your own chickens!

www.randallburkey.com (live chicks, eggs and supplies)
mcmurrayhatchery.com (live chicks, eggs and supplies)
www.eggcartons.com (discounted egg cartons)
www.backyardpoultrymag.com (Backyard Poultry Magazine Bookstore - order books such as "Barnyard in your Backyard") or "Storey's Guide to Raising Chickens"
www.critter-cages.com (reasonably priced and small chicken coops)
www.omlet.us (Omlet's Eglu chicken coop)
www.mypetchicken.com (live chicks for smaller orders, supplies & FUN stuff!)

If you're considering starting your own backyard flock, feel free to e-mail us, at cindy@valleygreennaturals.com. It's always helpful to get advice from people who have some experience with chickens, especially when you're first starting out. We'd love to help!

Here's to Happy Chickens and Fresh Eggs!

Cindy

Beware of "Natural" Labeling!

2010-01-22T22:44:00.000-05:00

If you, yourself, are not a producer of natural or organic products, you're very likely a person who relies on ingredient labeling to tell you what you're putting into, or onto, your body.

But did you know that virtually anyone, or any company, can call their products "natural" without actually offering natural ingredients? And worse, have you ever taken a close look at the labels of "organic" products, only to find out that they contain only one or two organic ingredients, while some of the remaining ingredients could actually be considered harmful?

Unfortunately, these violations of what I call "labeling ethics" are real and happen regularly, from small producers of handmade products, on up to major corporations. Everyone seems to want a piece of the "natural pie."

While I could soap-box all day on this issue -- and I'm sure many of our readers would agree and chime in -- here is the long and short of it:

If you want to buy truly natural products, read your labels carefully. Here are some ingredients to look out for:

1. Sulphates. Sodium laurel and sodium laureth sulphates are in nearly every foaming product on the market (including toothpaste!) Sulphates are reported to contain carcinogens and are hazardous to our health! There are lots of new products on the market that do not contain sulphates and do a fine job of lathering with natural soap or saponified organic oils, so check your labels carefully!

2. Parabens. These chemical preservatives actually have been banned in some countries! Look for products that offer "paraben-free" ingredients. Parabens often are listed as "methyl-" or "propylparaben." Alternatives for parabens include rosemary extract, potassium sorbate, vitamin E oil, and citric acid. (Just remember that the product's shelf life is shorter!)

3. Phthalates. Many of us adore deliciously fragrant products! At Valley Green Naturals, we love producing fragrant (but safe) shampoos, lotions and soaps. Here's what you need to look out for: fragrance oils usually contain phthalates. These synthetics have been banned in some countries and are not safe ingredients. However, ingredient testing would find them regularly in "natural" products! And here's the rub: the FDA does not require that phthalates are listed on labels. You can surmise that a product contains phthalates if a label lists the word, "fragrance."

Look for products that list their fragrance oils as "phthalate-free." Many companies and labs are beginning in earnest to produce fragrance oils that are phthalate-free, but usually it's the smaller soap and personal care producers that will take the time, and spend the money, to purchase these fragrance oils. If you find products with "pure essential oils," that's great! Be aware, however, that some essential oils can actually be toxic. Check out the safety of those oils on the Environmental Working Group's web site: www.cosmeticsdatabase.com And never use essential oils on animals (particularly, cats).

4. Chemically extracted oils. Always check to see how a product's natural oils are obtained. Are they distilled? Expeller-pressed? Chemically extracted? If you want a true natural product, without chemical extractions, look for products that offer oils that are "expeller-pressed." Your best bet is to purchase products that list each oil or ingredient as organic.

There is a whole world of "natural" and "organic" products out there for consumer consumption. Unfortunately, the FDA does not regulate personal care products or cosmetics as closely as they should when it comes to labeling. In this world, there are lies of "admission" and lies of "ommission." Unfortunately, in the matter of product labeling, much of what consumers need to know is ommitted from ingredient labels.

Just be an informed consumer... read labels carefully; know what to look for, and know what you're really getting! If you shop on Etsy, Abe's Market, or other small-producer web sites, contact the seller and ask questions about their ingredients! Most of these people are very happy to discuss their products and ingredients with you.

The Environmental Working Group offers a fantastic web site to check out the safety of thousands of ingredients. Just type in either the common or chemical name of the ingredient in the search box, and read about its hazard level; industry uses, and any studies that have been conducted. The web site is: www.cosmeticsdatabase.com.

Have a naturally wonderful day!

Cindy

Natural Living DVD Recommendations

2010-01-17T13:22:00.001-05:00

Check out our recommendations for books and DVDs in Amazon block on this Blog. At Valley Green Naturals, we not only try hard to take care of the 'outside' of our bodies, but we look for ways to take care of our 'insides' too!

"The Future of Food" is a movie that was recommended to me by a friend. We had been talking about GMOs (genetically modified organisms) and how prevalent they are in our food supply (literally, in nearly everything that we eat). She asked if I had seen "The Future of Food" and told me that it would change my whole viewpoint on our food supply in this country.

I rented the DVD from NetFlix, and was she ever right! If you don't watch any of the other DVDs we've recommended here in our blog, you have GOT to watch The Future of Food. It should be required viewing in our nation's schools.

This well-made documentary will absolutely infuriate you about what big business and our government leaders have to done to North American farmers and our food supply. And from what I have read, it's now happening worldwide. There are reports of farmers in Third World countries, committing suicide because they can no longer maintain their livelihood. When you watch the DVD, you'll learn that it's all thanks to Monsanto Chemical Company (who, by the way, now goes by the just "Monsanto"). If you listen to NPR, you've probably heard Monsanto's ridiculous radio advertisements about how they're "helping farmers" around the globe.

Quite the opposite is true. Monsanto, and a handful of other mega-companies in our country, are working diligently to maintain complete control over food supplies around the world. And you can count on this being a fact, right down to your backyard garden! Watch the DVD, and you'll understand.

When you see The Future of Food, you'll want to change the way you shop for food. Everyone we know who has seen this documentary now supports local producers and organic farmers. I can almost guarantee that you will too! It's a MUST-see!

Have a Naturally Great Day!

Cindy

Welcome to Our Blog!

2010-01-16T00:31:00.001-05:00

We are the people behind Valley Green Naturals, and we're happy to have you visit our Blog!

Our natural, organic and botanical personal care products are individually hand blended, a few ounces at a time, in our 267-year-old farm house in the Northern Piedmont region of Virginia.

At Valley Green Naturals, if it's in our product, it's on our labels! With each of our skin-nourishing creations, you'll find

- Healing emollients and only the purest ingredients
- Available Unscented -- just ask at check-out
- FREE of dibutyl phthalate, parabens, sulphates & dangerous chemicals
- Cruelty-free ingredients
- Many organic and vegan-friendly items
- Excellent customer service!

You can find Valley Green Naturals products in several places on the web:

www.valleygreennaturals.com

www.abesmarket.com (Check out this fabulous site for all things natural!)

www.cindydevore.etsy.com (Of course we're Etsians!)

Our products also are available locally at The Natural Marketplace, in Warrenton, Virginia; The Lost River General Store, Lost River, West Virginia, and the Marshall Veterinary Clinic, in Marshall, Virginia.

Our Blog is a place to communicate with our customers and friends about our latest products, as well as provide interesting articles and links related to organic and natural living!

We hope you enjoy your stay, and please post a comment!

In the meantime, breathe in.... breathe out.... relax.... and "organify!"

Our very best wishes,

Cindy & Art DeVore
Working to 'Organify' the World, One Body at a Time!

Watch a video about Valley Green Naturals, produced by Abe's Market: http://vimeo.com/9487919