Organic Goods You Shouldn't Comprimise On.

When seeking out organic goods it is easy to know what we don't want. But, wouldn't it be nice to know what we do want when choosing to buy organic?

Health.com put out a list of 12 Things You Should Definitely Buy Organic. Over half of the items on the list are food products, which is expected, but in a city like this we know there is more to organic than what we eat. We were happy to see, a product we are very familiar with, the mattress, found a place on the list. The bedroom is a great place to start when considering ways to create a healthy home.



This slide show is more than a recommendation, it provides information that can lead to a deeper search into the organic world. It does a good job in explaining why they recommend what they do, and provide you with other avenues to research for yourself.

Maybe you'll learn something new today!

Learn More about Creating a Healthy Bedroom

Find ways to go beyond the organic mattress in your room and gain the tools to create your ideal resting place.



If you are searching for ways to make your bedroom a healthy sleeping space we hear that Eco-Remedi is putting on a tele-class to help you learn more about creating one. The tele-class is an online event that will offer professional opinions on what makes a healthy bedroom.

Fit Home: "Bedrooms with Benefits" will cover top secrets from professional designers, environmental health specialists, LEED architects, nutritionists, and even a loveologist!

If you are interested in learning more, follow the link to the "Bedrooms with Benefits" flier.

How To Waterproof an Organic Mattress

All great beds deserve great protection and organics always seem to find an interesting alternative for your needs. We have found that some people like to keep with the traditional ways of protecting a mattress and some people are curious to find a modern way to do the same.

Here you will find three very different ways to protect your mattress from moisture in a healthy way.



Wool Mattress Protector
aka. puddle pad, moisture barrier, felted pad

Wool is a traditional way to protect a mattress from all things wet. This method has stood the test of time for a reason, it does the job very well. Here you have an organic solution that uses nothing but the natural wool fiber. The fiber is woven together and felted to create a coarse yet soft surface. The process of felting is what gives the product the ability to repel water so it puddles up on top of the protector, instead of absorbing into the fiber. This type of protector is not able to be washed, and is usually paired with a cotton mattress pad.

One additional benefit to using wool as the primary form of protection is its capability to regulate temperature. The fiber will keep the body at a desirable temperature all through the night.



When searching for a wool protector.

Feel the fiber.
You will be able to feel the individual fibers easily. It will be coarse like a close cut beard.

Look closely.
You will be able to see the raised fibers, this is how to tell it is a repellent protector.


Organic Cotton Mattress Pad
aka. flannel mattress pad

Anther traditional way of creating a barrier between outside inhabitants and your mattress is another natural fiber. Cotton, that is quilted together to form a thick, tight cover is a popular solution for most adults and teens. It does not act as a repellent, instead it absorbs a good amount of moisture before it has time to make contact with the mattress. If you are concerned about excessive moisture this is a good product to pair with a wool moisture barrier because the cotton pad can easily be washed.

Waterpoof Organic Cotton Mattress Barrier
aka. fitted sheet moisture barrier, recycled polyurethane barrier

Waterproof and organic? This is an up and coming alternative to the vinyl material that used to be used as a fail safe way to protect a mattress from all things wet. Here you have an organic cotton fitted sheet that has a recycled polyurethane coating on the underside. In order to add the waterproof element to the product an engineered substance is introduced to the manufacturing process of the product. This means, plastic products, like bottles and bags, that would have been thrown away are now given a new life as a mattress protector. On the top side you have an ultra soft 100% organic cotton and on the other you have a thin, completely breathable protective barrier. The polyurethane used in this product is inert, there is no off gassing or PVC in the product.

It too comes with an added benefit, it can double as both a fitted sheet and the mattress protector.



When searching for a cotton protector

Feel the product.
The topside should feel nice and smooth like other organic cottons you have felt and the product as a whole should be very flexible, not stiff.

Ask questions.
Be sure that the protective coating is innate, and has no off gassing. You can feel confident if it is recycled it will be an innate product.

When searching for an organic way to moisture proof your mattress these three options are a great way to protect your mattress and are available here in the shop for you to take home today!

What Is It That Makes Silk So Irresistable?

We just received our first order of DreamSacks Silk Pillowcases and thought you may like to hear our take on a highly sought after fiber.

It has a luminesent color, it makes you feel great, and even gives you a pillowcase you can happily use all year round. It can be a great upgrade to any bedroom. Take our new pillowcase for example. DreamSacks makes a great lightweight and strong case that can provide you with a natural comfort solution.

For those that care about its aesthetic uses.

We hear, "They look and feel so great."

The color luminosity comes from the triangular fibers, a prism like configuration, that allow the light to refract off of it in different directions. The smooth feel of the fiber is created in the way it is "thrown" or weaved together. To get a crinkly fabric an artist will use what is refereed to as a crepe thread method. To get a sheer fabric, like the one in our shop, an artist will use a single thread method.

Legend will say, it makes you look youthful. It helps lessen wrinkles and keeps curly hair tame.

We have heard the tight weave of a pillowcase actually helps lower the amount of wrinkles you wake up with in the morning. The same goes for your curly locks, the smooth surface gives less friction when flipping around in your sleep. It is said to keep a your hair frizz free and shinny, for a longer period of time. Although we have no scientific proof, it seems to make sense!

For those that care about it's practical uses.

We will hear, "I love the way it keeps me warm in the winter and cool in the summer."

Silk acts like a terry cloth by absorbing up to 30% of it's weight in moisture, which is linked to regulating your body temperature. In the summer when you sweat, the moisture is absorbed into the fiber and off of your body allowing your skin to breath freely. In the winter the tight weave of the fiber keeps your body heat close to your skin to create a natural thermostat. The silk pillowcase feels even better on the Kapok pillow. We have it out ready to try!

Pictured above is our color selection. Also available Green Tea and Soft Blue.

Portland Fall Home and Garden Show

One of our healthy living resources, Eco Remedy, has asked us to be part of Serving Up Style-Designers Fighting Lupus to raise awareness, while showcasing new dinning trends in the market. You can find styles from modern to contemporary starting today, Thursday through Sunday October 3rd. Click here for more information on show hours and more.

Bed Bugs and organic mattresses

You might know that organic mattresses use organic wool to satisfy federal requirements regarding flamibility but did you know that that same organic wool is also a dust mite and BED BUG repellent. The lanolin in organic wool, which is a wax like substance produced by sheep as a water repellent, is not friendly at all to bed bugs. So If you are looking for another reason to purchase an organic mattress here it is.

Savvy Rest joins INC. 500 list

Read about Michael at Savvy Rest. It is a great read and of course Savvy Rest produces a great mattress.


http://www.inc.com/magazine/20100901/from-the-ashram-to-the-strip-mall.html