An Easy Way You Can Help Change the World
I'm a "Crunchy Mama" surrounded by like-minded Mamas and we all have one very important mission in common: We are trying to save the world for our children. We all see that the current food system, particularly in America, is broken. Our seeds have been genetically-modified. 75% of our food is sprayed with a chemical called glyphosate that is toxic to pretty much anything that isn't genetically-modified (including our gut bacteria.) We see that the so-called "health" care system is truly a "sick" care system. We are seeing companies selling health solutions that range from (let's face it) poison, to synthetic garbage that makes for expensive urine, to products filled with binders and fillers and other non-food components. We've become jaded, cynical, frustrated, and even scared.
As a Mama Bear on a MISSION, I have made it my priority to search out the people and the companies who can provide us with answers and solutions. I have learned to read labels, understand the different types of third-party certifications, and build a community around me where collectively we know how to find ANSWERS. I have taken steps to minimize my carbon footprint, minimize my plastic use, grow my own food, and most importantly, VOTE WITH MY DOLLARS.
So the title of this blog post is about changing the world in an easy way, and that's where the vote-with-my-dollars part comes in. In a nutshell, you vote with your dollars by supporting the people and the companies that are doing it right. They are truly aware of being eco-friendly (versus just giving lip-service to it). They are careful to control their carbon footprint whenever they can. They source their ingredients from truly natural sources. They are nearly fanatical about avoiding toxins in their products. They engage in third-party certification so the consumer knows that someone is watching out for them. And they never, ever greenwash.
Examples of conscientious buying and voting with your dollars include:
Buying organic certified chocolate or coffee that is fair-trade certified so you know the farmers are being treated fairly.
Buying from companies who use re-usable energy sources.
Shopping at grocery stores that support organic and non-GMO verified companies.
Refusing to buy from companies that support GMO-farming even if the product is clean. There are many examples of once privately-owned organic food or personal care companies being bought out by large conglomerates. For example, Annie's is now owned by General Mills. Tom's of Maine by Colgate, and Burt's Bees by Clorox. All of those large conglomerates fight against GMO-labeling.
Refusing to eat genetically-modified foods or food sprayed with glyphosate. That includes pretty much all grains, lentils, and canola that is not certified organic.
Refusing a plastic straw in your drink at a restaurant, or supporting restaurants that use paper straws.
Bringing your own re-usable shopping bags and refusing plastic bags.
Supporting restaurants that are farm-to-table, and use organic food whenever possible.
Buying organic cotton clothing, or even children's pajamas that don't have flame retardants on them.
In a perfect world where time wasn't limited I would be that Mom that is making my own deodorant and lotion and growing all my own food and brewing my own natural medicines. But frankly, I don't have that kind of time. I have made it easier on myself by finding companies who do it the way I would and using my dollars to vote for their success. In this way I protect my family and I change the world by supporting truly eco-friendly companies. I believe wholeheartedly that this lifestyle is part of a Higher Living Journey.
If you look under "Products" on this website, you will see the companies I have decided to partner with and help them to further their mission. While those companies aren't the only ones out there that are truly conscientious of making a difference in the world, I want to highlight a few reasons that I think make these companies stand out over the masses.
Purium Health Products is the passion and mission of co-founders David Sandovol and Amy Venner-Hamdhi. Started in a 1200 sq foot warehouse nearly 25 years ago, Purium has made it their mission to end human suffering. The vehicle they are using to reach this goal is whole, superfood nutrition. David Sandovol realized years ago that there was a food crisis beginning and he decided that he could not beat the companies doing it wrong, so they would be a company that did it right! After a great deal of growth, they now operate out of a 40,000 square foot facility in Southern California. They choose to work with farmers who are far away from polluting industry and use only organic practices. They use a patented process using very low heat to maintain the freshness and purity of their foods, turning the foods into powders, capsules, and tablets. Purium products are LIVE food once the water is added back into them; think of it as putting the food into suspended animation until you are ready to eat them. This also means that Purium is truly healthy, FAST food (which is awesome as a mother of three!) Because of this unique system of distributing food, it greatly reduces the carbon impact by utilizing the whole plant, decreasing the amount of space needed to transport the food (therefore fewer trucks), and because Purium is the manufacturer with no middle man, the food goes straight from farm-to-family. After taking a personal tour of the manufacturing facility, I could write 6 pages alone on the extreme attention to detail paid to insuring the purity and safety of each product. They test for everything from pathogenic bacteria to mold to yeast to heavy metals to gluten. They are certified organic, certified Non-GMO, Certified Kosher, and follow Good Manufacturing Practices as out-lined by the FDA. The warehouse uses "just-in-time" inventory to keep their carbon footprint as small as possible.
But here are the stories that really make Purium stand out from all others. 2 years ago they realized they needed to secure enough farmers to do organic rice farming because they were outgrowing their sources. David Sandovol traveled to Thailand, where he met with 30 independent farmers who were about to sign on the bottom line with Monsanto. (If you don't already know, Monsanto is the food giant that is pushing GMO foods and is the maker of glyphosate). He was able to convince all 30 farmers to sign to work with Purium instead, and to do all their farming according to organic certification rules. He then donated a po