Green Springs Bodyworks

Happy Valentine's Day

2011-02-12T17:39:00.000-08:00

http://www.etsy.com/listing/59441976/minty-sweet-sugar-scrub-body-polish

In honor of Valentine's Day and Spring I added three new items to my shop. Pink Sunset Goat's Milk Soap, Kilauea Volcano Soap, and Violets perfume. To read more about them click on my Etsy Shop Link to the right.

We have been very busy here in the Green Springs working on new creations for spring and summer. Look for more Body Whips and Sweet Scrubs to be listed soon. I am also working on a Neem Bar that works great on cracked heels. My heels have been nice and smooth since I started using it last summer and all my testers have also had success healing their cracked or dry heels.

Every Valentine's Day I pamper my hubby. Yesterday he twisted his ankle really bad and is limping, so I have a massage planned for him using my infused arnica oil followed by this footbath:
Soothing Foot Bath
1/2 cup Epsom Salts
mix the following flowers and store in a glass container. Place a handful of these herbs in a basin with epsom salt and warm water. Enjoy!

1/4 Cup Calendula Flowers
1/4 Cup Rose Petals
1/4 cup Lavender Flowers
1/4 cup Comfrey Leaf

Follow with a foot scrub. I like to use my Minty Sweet Sugar Scrub. End with a foot massage.

Safeteam Challenge

2010-12-04T14:49:00.000-08:00

SAFE Team's Christmas Carol Challenge

Is that favorite Christmas song running through your ahead already? Is it Silent Night? Deck the Halls? Santa Baby? Or, I Want A Hippopotamus for Christmas?

This month, SAFE team members were given the challenge to create a soap based on their favorite holiday tune. You job is to pick a favorite. Vote by telling which one gets you humming in the comments section and you'll be entered to win the winning bar! Good luck, and Merry Christmas!

Below is my entry:

1. Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy - Goat's Milk Soap by greensprings0

I choose this song because every Christmas we watch our granddaughter perform the Nutcracker with her ballet school. This year is the first time she will dance on pointe. She has been waiting a long time for this moment.

Wanting a complex sweet scent, I choose lavender, rose, ylang ylang and pettigrain essential oils.

Thanksgiving

2010-11-28T17:53:00.000-08:00

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving we put up or decorations, played in the snow and cross country skied today.

For your holiday shopping pleasure, the Green Springs Elves have been busy in the workshop creating lots of new soaps, individual bath scrubs and more!

As as thank you to all my wonderful customers I am having a sale at www.greensprings0.etsy.com : ♥GREEN SPRINGS BLACK FRIDAY THROUGH CYBER MONDAY SALE♥ Free local delivery with shipping refunded via paypal.
~ Nov. 26th through Midnight PST on Nov. 29th~
20 % off entire store and a free gift with every purchase. Use coupon code: GREEN4THEPLANETANDU at checkout.

Combined flat-rate shipping on up to 7 soaps is only $4.75 within the US, $11 for Canada and Mexico, and $13 for everywhere else. Shipping overages over $1.00 refunded.

THE HEART OF THE COMMUNITY

2010-11-22T07:56:00.000-08:00

Located along beautiful Ashland Creek the Ashland Recycling is truly the heart of the community. Even though most residents (not us we live in the mountains) now have curbside recycling it’s still a happening spot. Tim Church pictured below has worked here for the past 20 years. On many occasions he has greeted me at my car and helped me unload my recycling. Thanks Tim! Tim is also an excellent musician and plays at many different venues. Tim also saves bubble wrap and packaging peanuts in the building to the left. Thanks Tim you have saved me lots of $$$$!

Tim brings dogs from the animal shelter to work with him and my husband and I enjoy visiting with them. Below is an article from the Mail Tribune.

ASHLAND — Christmas came early for Jaxon, a rescued three-legged canine waiting for a prosthetic limb since September.

After weeks of measurements, castings and temporary prosthetics, Jaxon's new leg was shipped just after Thanksgiving by Denver-based Orthopets, which specializes in pet orthotics.

And he's been running on all fours ever since.

The 1-year-old black Labrador-Great Dane mix was rescued from the Jackson County animal shelter in August by Tim Church, an employee at the Ashland Recycling Center, and his wife, Lucinda. Church has helped find homes for more than 200 animals since 1992 by fostering them at the center. Church decided to adopt Jaxon himself and help the dog get a new leg.

Tim: As far as recycling, it's a good thing to do. It's hard to change the world, but if you work on your little corner of it, doing what you can, it all adds up. My wife and I are volunteers at the animal shelter, and members of FOTAS (Friends of the Animal Shelter). We have fostered and found homes for around two hundred dogs, and a few cats, in the past 15 years. We've recently stopped fostering, but I still take an adoptable dog from the Jackson County Animal Shelter to the recycling center almost every week. Dogs are good people. But please folks, get your pets spayed and neutered. The statistics say that one unspayed female dog and her offspring can produce 67,000 dogs in six years!
Tim: We've had Huggy Bear for about eight years. I brought him from the shelter in the hopes he would get adopted. He was adopted one day and brought back the next because he was such a pain in the ass. So my wife and I adopted him. He was still a pain in the ass, but has mellowed over the years. His name is Huggy Bear because when we adopted him he looked like a bear and would stand on his hind legs and hug us.

Also located here is the world famous Ashland Free Box. Here you can see homeless people along side socialites digging for treasures. Because of Tim and some faithful volunteers this operation runs smoothly. You will rarely find tattered or stained clothes. I often find cashmere sweaters and new looking clothes for my five grandkids.

Tim had this to say in an interview in 2007: I enjoy the freebox dynamics. It's actually kind of famous. I often hear comments like, "We're on our way from L.A. to Seattle, and had to stop and check out this awesome freebox we've heard about!" All kinds of people utilize the freebox: mothers and kids, homeless people, grandparents, people who drive expensive cars .

Right next door is the awesome state of the art Ashland Skate Park. What a great idea to locate it here because there are always adults nearby to supervise. I love to sit and watch the skaters especially Keenan my 11 year old grandson.

Next we have the Backyard Compost Demonstration. It is here that I learned all about composting 20 years ago. I still have the free worm bin I was given when I completed the class.

This plaque is in memory of the man who started it all: Julian Henry was instrumental in setting up this center. Unfortunately he died in his 30s and never got to see what a success it became. Many days you will see a vase of fresh flowers on the chair below.

If you ever get to Ashland be sure to check it out. It’s located at Water Street and Van Ness.

INFUSED OILS MAKE GREAT GIFTS

2010-11-07T09:36:00.000-08:00

Sorry I haven't posted in a while. Fall is my busiest time of the year. Since I make most of my holiday gifts I need to get started early. I have also been making new products for my Etsy Shop. After wild crafting herbs and flowers in the fall they are now solar infusing nicely on my windowsills. Besides the multi-herb oil pictured in the previous post, I have also infused the vanilla oil pictured.

The beautiful calendula was picked yesterday in the garden. It's unusual for it to still be blooming in November so I am really thankful. Calendula is an amazing herb. It is especially good for babies because of it is so gentle and healing. Some of the other infusions I am making are comfrey, arnica, St. John's Wort, and elderflower. For holiday gifts I am infusing rosemary, thyme, fennel, and tarragon in organic olive oil.

I like the slower solar infused method, only using dried herbs and add Vit E oil to prevent rancidity and to increase shelf life. If stored away from heat and light, your oil should last a year or two if not longer.This is how I do it:

Dry the herbs to remove all water. This can be done with a food dehydrator or just by leaving in the sun. After the flowers and herbs are dry, you can add them to the olive oil. Whole sprigs of thyme, rosemary, dried peppers, etc. can decorate the inside of the bottle this way.

The oil will pick up the flavor fairly quickly, in the first few weeks, and then slowly intensify. It is fine to leave the herbs in for a long time; eventually all the flavor leaves the herbs and the oil flavor stabilizes. I like to infuse the herbs in the decorative beer bottles pictured when giving as gifts. For the herbal infused olive oils I like to attach a recipe to the bottle. For the infused massage oils like vanilla, comfrey, calendula, St. John's wort, arnica I sometimes like to essential oils known for healing or relaxation.

Happy Holidays and don't forget to visit my Etsy Store for my big Black Friday Sale.

Wildcrafting in the Green Springs

2010-07-19T20:08:00.000-07:00

Summer is my busiest time of the year, but also my favorite. This is the view that greeted me this morning on my search for arnica, elderflowers, and St. John's Wort. I get up early and hop on my Mountain Bike with 3 cloth bags and the search is on. All of these herbs are quite beneficial and I use them in my skin care line. I infuse the fresh St John's Wort in organic olive oil and it turns this beautiful red color. I also mix it with the lye to get a reddish orange colored herbal soap.

Today I also made a new perfume for an online perfume swap I am participating in. It's a winner so look for it to be listed on Etsy once it's married and mellowed a while. I will also be listing affordable samples of my 4 signature perfumes once I get around to taking pictures. If you are in the Rogue Valley (Or.), please stop by the Growers and Crafters Market and say hi. I am at the Ashland Armory on Tue. Medford Armory on Thur. and in Ashland on Sat. next to the Post Office.

Have a wonderful summer and don't forget to smell the roses!

SPRING AND THE COLUMBINES HAVE FINALLY ARRIVED

2010-06-15T19:25:00.000-07:00

Spring arrived late this year to the Green Springs but due to all the rain the Columbines are blooming the like crazy. Columbines have always been my favorite flower and the huge Rocky Mountain Blue Columbine which is the state flower of Colorado is my favorite. It was there that I first discovered the Columbine 30 years ago. They come in many different colors and sizes. I love them for their beauty and also because they bring my favorite bird, the hummingbird to my windows. Red Columbine, Aquilegia canadense, is especially valuable in a hummingbird garden because it blooms just when Rufous Hummingbirds are beginning to return from their wintering grounds. Feeding hummingbirds must hover directly beneath the Columbine flower, aiming their beaks straight upward to sample the nectar. I have actually tasted the nectar and it is delicious.

Sea of Love

2010-06-09T08:17:00.000-07:00

This month Etsy Earth Team's theme is the ocean and plastics. The blog is chock full of articles, videos, hints and recommendations. I am proud of this team which does so much to help save our precious earth.
The team also has a shop where members donate items and part of the money goes to the team treasury and part is donated to causes near and dear to our hearts. http://www.etsy.com/shop/EtsyEarthTeam

I created this organic soap for my Etsy shop called "Sea of Love" in honor of this months theme. Every month there will be a new theme so for a wealth of information please be sure to check out Etsy Earth. Next month's theme is "Summer Breeze" featuring natural fiber, industrial hemp and farming.

Neroli (orange blossom) Face Food

2010-05-23T14:57:00.000-07:00

I finally splurged on some more neroli essential oil to make a Neroli Face Food. This is the same formula as my other Face Foods except neroli is the only essential used, producing a very fragrant, fresh scent. Neroli is one of the most expensive essential oils because it take one ton of orange blossoms to make one quart of essential oil.

Neroli Face Food benefits all skin types, sensitive, mature, and oily. Neroli is said to have cell stimulating properties and helps with broken capillaries, neroli oil stimulates new cell growth, heals scars and helps prevents stretch marks. It also benefits sensitive and mature skin while being slightly astringent for oily complexions.
It helps to re-hydrate, soften and boost rejuvenation.

Common Uses: Neroli Essential Oil increases circulation and stimulates new cell growth. It can prevent scarring and stretch marks, and has been found useful in treating skin conditions linked to emotional stress. Any type of skin can benefit from this oil, although it is particularly good for dry, irritated or sensitive skin. It regulates oiliness and minimizes enlarged pores. Neroli Oil helps to clear acne and blemished skin, especially if the skin lacks moisture. With regular treatment, it can reduce the appearance of fragile or broken capillaries and varicose veins. Other properties include being antidepressant, antiseptic, antispasmodic, aphrodisiac, carminative, cordial, deodorant, digestive, stimulant (nervous) and tonic (cardiac, circulatory).

Consistency: Medium

Note: Middle

Strength of Aroma: Strong

Blends well with: Lavender, Lemon, Clary Sage, Myrrh and spice oils such as Nutmeg, Cinnamon and Clove.

Aromatic Scent: Neroli Essential Oil has a sweet, floral citrus aroma. Many aromatherapists refer to Neroli as an exotic and exquisite essential oil.

History: Though Bitter Orange Essential Oil has been around for centuries, Neroli Essential Oil wasn’t discovered until the seventeenth century. It was named after Anna Maria de la Tremoille, princess of Nerola. The oils properties were extremely valued by the people of Venice who used it against plague and fevers.

Cautions: This oil is non-toxic and non-sensitizing.

To purchase this or any of my other Face Food Moisturizers click on my Etsy link.

Green Springs Featured in Eco-Etsy Auction

2010-04-19T11:03:00.001-07:00

Bring out the green diva in you and treat yourself to this Health and Beauty bag filled with:

Bath Salts by HerbanLifestyle

Lavender Heart Sachet by Pouch

Spa Goods by HerbFriend

Soap/RoseCream by GreenSprings0

Organic Cotton Washcloths and Makeup Removers by Ecokaren

Felted Wool Pouch by Karen Meyers

These items will be packaged in a reusable T-Shirt Bag by zJayne

Retail Value: $115

The Minimum Bid: $25

Bid Increment: $5

Please leave your bid in the comment section below.

See other categories for bidding:

Baby Home Fashion Jewelry Paper Goods

*Please read the bidding guideline on the bottom of the main page before bidding. All bids are binding, meaning, if you win the item, you must pay for the item.*

Good Luck!

Desert Solitude

2010-04-11T22:37:00.000-07:00

My dad passed away last month so when I returned from his funeral in Florida I was in need of some solitude. We traveled to Death Valley and Joshua Tree National Park for some r & r. Being out of cell phone
and internet range for one week really helped me to relax and reflect. Our days were spent hiking, climbing, biking, relaxing, and getting in touch with nature. Not many flowers were blooming yet so we were really excited to find this one cactus (pictured) blooming in a vibrant shade of red. After four days camping in Death Valley we headed for Joshua Tree for some rock climbing. Joshua Tree is named after the tree with the large white flower pictured. Look for more pictures to be posted on my Face Book page. Many of these beautiful trees are dying because of Global Warming. We are committed to doing everything in our power to stop Global Warming which we see happening all around us. As Earth Day draws near I hope that everyone will make an effort to help save our precious Earth for future generations.

Skijoring with the huskies

2010-01-24T08:11:00.001-08:00

Here is a picture of the dogs taking a break while skijoring at Hyatt Lake yesterday. Hyatt Lake is located outside of Ashland Oregon in the beautiful Cascade Siskiyou National Monument. It is one of our favorite places to play year round. We love to ski around it in the winter, take the canoe on it, bike around it, swim across it, dog sled, hike and run around it. We are sometimes rewarded with a view of ospreys and eagles soaring high above.

Cabin Fever

2010-01-24T07:47:00.001-08:00

I have had a serious case of cabin fever since the beginning of January.
We moved to the mountains 20 years ago because we love the snow but hadn't had any snow since Christmas Eve. While the East was getting dumped on, here in the Green Springs all we were getting is rain. Because of Global Warming we have really noticed a difference in our weather. In the past snow would stay on the ground for weeks at a time, but in the last few years it's only a few days. So I have been keeping busy doing things like taking inventory, organizing, ordering supplies, and getting ready for taxes and filling orders. Friday it finally happened! We had a nice snowstorm followed by a sunny Saturday. Hurray for sun! We headed up to Hyatt Lake (pictured above) to ski around it. The views are breathtaking with Mt. McLaughlin visible most of the way. It was an easy 10 mile ski around the lake, and then it was the dogs turn. We love to skijor with them so we hook them up to our waists and they pull us until they are tired. Today we will do it again but this time we will go to Buck Prairie and bring the dogsled. I am off to make blueberry pancakes and coffee, pack a lunch and head up the mountain. Life it good!

Safeteam Gift Guide and Weekend Sale

2009-11-14T07:49:00.001-08:00

This weekend some members of the SAFETEAM are having a weekend sale. http://etsysafeteam.blogspot.com/ Just in time for the holidays I am having a 20 % off sale ending November 15 at midnight PST. So hurry over to my shop and check it out. Also check out the Safeteam mens gift guide, my Vanilla Mocha Soap is featured. Look for Whipped Shea Butter, Essential Oil Perfumes, Shampoo Bars and more to be listed soon. So check back often or click on the Etsy link on the right.

St John's Wort for the body, mind and spirit

2009-09-21T18:48:00.000-07:00

Above is the soap I made using oil infused with St. John's Wort (hypericium perforatum). Herbal folklore name is flower of the fairies and wolf medicine. This is one of my favorite herbs and grows abundantly in the surrounding mountains. I filled a glass gallon jar full of flowers and added organic olive oil. I then set the jar in the sun to infuse for at least 6 weeks making sure to turn and shake once a day. I use the oil in many of my lotions and potions.
Last week I burned my fingers with the steam from the canner. I quickly rubbed St. John's Wort oil on the burn and the pain stopped immediately! St. John's Wort oil has the ability to penetrate nerve endings thus relieving pain. I also use this oil for painful joints.
If I am feeling blue, I like to take a few drops of tinctured St. John's to lift my spirits.
The soap pictured is called Citrus Sweet Goat's Milk Soap
I used the following 5 fold essential oils: lemon, lime, blood orange, tangerine and grapefruit. I also added a touch of patchouli which gives it its sweetness and anchors the scent. Lastly I add a bit of Litsea Cubeba essential oil.

The natural colorant is fresh St. John's Wort infused in organic oils to give the soap a nice reddish color. It never ceases to amaze me that the gold St. John's Wort flowers turn the oil to a beautiful red.

Bath Time

2009-09-07T17:39:00.000-07:00

Fall is the time I get back to taking long luxurious soaks in my claw foot tub. When we were building our log cabin, one my first priorities was finding a big old claw foot tub. This weekend I made up a batch of vanilla and lavender scented bath salts. The following recipe makes enough for many baths: I use 1 cup of dead sea salt, 1 cup of epsom salt, and 1/2 cup powdered organic milk. I place everything in a large zip lock bag and mix well. Then I add a small whole vanilla bean scraped and cut into little pieces and lavender essential oil, I use a teaspoonful but you may want to ad more or less. I shake the bag daily for a few weeks then it's ready to use. Once I draw the bath I add a tablespoon or two of the bath salts and soak my cares away.
Sometimes I will ad dried rose petals or hollyhocks for a spa-like experience. Now is the perfect time to treat yourself to Clean and Glow, my oil based cleansing method and don't forget Green Springs skin softening goat's milk soap scented only with essential oils and or herbs. Goat's Milk exfoliates naturally. Treat your feet to a rub down with our Shower and Glow made with dead sea salt and herbal infused organic oils. Relax and let the salts and essential oil do its work. Sweet dreams!

The Three R's

2009-08-12T19:50:00.001-07:00

This mama bear visited our campsite in the Sierras after our dogs scared her up the tree. After a few hours she came down and was on her way. We were lucky to see three other bears during our trip and a mother deer nursing her fawn. Camping and being out of cell and computer range for two whole weeks is just what I needed.

Days were spent hiking, biking, swimming, reconnecting with my husband and just plain relaxing. Our tent has a mesh top and we watched the stars in the comfort of our sleeping bags.

I spent a lot of time thinking about my business and the direction I want it to go. I tend to try to do to much and get burned out. I'm an Aries so that may explain it! If someone asks why I don't have a certain scent of soap or lotion, I always need to make it and list it in my store, even tho that person sometimes never comes back to buy it. More often than not it sits in the store a long time before someone does buy it.

This is how I came up with the Three R's. You have always heard of reduce, reuse, recycle, my three R's are relax, reconnect and reinvent. Relax: is something I do not do as often as I should, but on vacation it felt so good to just do nothing. Reconnect: I am painfully aware how short life is and my goal is to reconnect with family, friends, and neighbors regardless of how busy we all are. So friends and family be forewarned, I will be bugging you to get together more! It's really easy to become isolated in our busy lives, but what's life about without, family, friends and neighbors. Reinvent: realizing that "less is more" I have decided to cut back on offering so many different types of products and only focus on the ones that I and my customers love the most. This will free up quite a bit of time so I can relax, reconnect and reinvent my shop and product line.

So if you don't hear from me or see as much in my store online, know that I am living my life to the fullest and enjoying it as much as I can which will make me refreshed and focused so that I can continue to make amazing organic eco friendly products. Also now I can spend more time trying to save the planet for my grandkids. ANOTHER WORLD IS POSSIBLE!

P.S. Don't worry I will still be making FACE FOOD.

TIME FLIES WHEN YOU'RE HAVIN FUN

2009-07-15T14:47:00.000-07:00

Can you believe Suka is 6 months old already? He is almost as big as Tenaya pictured with the beautiful blue eyes. He loves to chase her around their fenced in yard. Sometimes he grabs a hold of her tail while they are racing around! They have worn a racetrack into our yard and Tenaya is so fast the only way Suka can catch her is if he takes a short cut.

I am almost done wild crafting Arnica, St. John's wort, and Elderflowers. I made a beautiful soap using St. John's Wort Flowers that I will post in a few days. I also made a nice salt bar that is a goat's milk soap bar with dead sea salt and French green clay. It smells amazing.
I still have many soaps, potions and lotions to make for my markets and shows. Visit me in Jacksonville Oregon Labor Day weekend for the Arts Festival. Then it's time to gear up cause Christmas is right around the corner. Time sure flies!

Back By Popular Demand

2009-06-21T20:20:00.000-07:00

Rose Complexion Bar is back in stock. This organic bar is a labor of love. It starts with 100% Goat Milk from Nubian Goats (see post below). Nubian goat milk has high milk fat producing a super rich bar. Goat's milk is high in lactic acid which naturally exfoliates your skin. The organic oils used in this soap are infused with herbs and the most fragrant rose petals saved just for this soap. The oils are solar infused for six weeks and smell heavenly. Just before pouring the cold processed soap I add a generous amount of rose absolute, rose geranium, and palmarosa essential oils. The bar is then cured for about a month producing a gentle, long lasting bar. I love to use this decadent bar all over my body, try it your skin will feel the difference!

ECO LAWN MOWER AND WEEDEATER

2009-06-13T15:50:00.001-07:00

My daughter's Nubian Goats bring new meaning to the phrase "will work for food". Besides furnishing us with delicious goat's milk that we drink and cook with, makes fantastic cheese, and super rich goat's milk soap, they are also tireless lawn mowers. Right now they are busy clearing the field of blackberries! The herd is very affectionate and love to go on walks with the kids.

On the curing rack is my favorite soap, a wonderful batch of my 100 percent goat's milk soap scented with neroli and rose absolute. Look for that to be listed again on Etsy in 4 more weeks. A long cure makes for a milder long lasting bar. Next up is East Meets West goat's milk soap. This is my next favorite soap, scented with patchouli, frankincense, myrrh, lavender, and lime, the scent is exotic and unusual. Customers who hate the smell of patchouli always love this soap.

Nature's Gold Rose Facial Oil

2009-06-06T19:58:00.000-07:00

Natures Gold is made with the oil pictured in the post below. I bottle the precious organic herbal infused oil in a frosted glass 2 oz container, add a few fragrant rose petals, rose essential oil, vitamin E and viola this facial oil gives your skin a dewy appearance and silky feel. The oil soothes dry, damaged skin and the rose scent is uplifting.
Rose is an aphrodisiac since ancient times and this oil is also great for a sensual massage.

Nature's Gold

2009-05-31T10:22:00.000-07:00

This beautiful infused oil is where it all begins. Most of Green Springs Bodyworks products start with this herbal infused organic olive oil. This jar is chock full of healing herbs and flowers, solar infused for four to six weeks. I lovingly pick and forage the herbs and flowers in the early morning preferably during the time of the full moon. I have been wild crafting herbs for over twenty years and I make sure to walk gently and only pick what I can use. It sometimes takes weeks to find enough herbs for one batch as I go to many different locations in the surrounding mountains so as not to deplete any one place. Often I come across herbs that I use for natural dyeing, I am also a fiber artist so it's great when I can also find natural dye plants while I am wild crafting!

One of my favorite herbs to infuse is St. John's Wort. Picked at the peak of perfection this oil will bless you with the most beautiful deep red oil that is one of my most prized healing oils. I usually harvest that in July but Spring arrived late this year so it may bloom later. I will post a picture of that oil when I infuse it. Well, I better get back to my garden, it rained heavily last night so I need to take advantage and get in there and pull weeds before the ground hardens. Happy Spring !

Guardian of the Spring

2009-05-17T07:58:00.000-07:00

This majestic Ponderosa Pine stands guardian over the spring I posted about below. The picture on the left was taken at sunrise, the right was taken before sunset. This is the view we have from our bedroom window and is one of the reasons we chose to buy land 5 miles up a bumpy dirt road.
This beautiful tree is over 200 ft. tall and the bark smells just like vanilla.

A few years ago the dogs and I came face to face with a cougar walking up the road around 10am. He or she turned to face us and I just about had a heart attack, the dogs started barking like crazy and it bound over a fence and was gone in a flash. I have always wanted to see a cougar and finally got my chance, I just wish we had been safe and sound in the car. We routinely see coyotes, bobcats, red fox, great gray owls, blue herons and the occasional rattle snake and black bear. Living in the mountains can be hard and sometimes lonely, but thanks to our wonderful neighbors, both human and not, there is no other place I'd rather be.

This is why they call it the Green Springs

2009-05-15T10:36:00.000-07:00

This beautiful spring a mere 100 yards from my house is why they call the area in which I live the Green Springs. There are many such springs in the area. We drink from this spring and the water tastes like water should taste, pure and fresh. Whenever I need to get away from it all this is where you will find me.
In the next post I will show you our majestic old growth Ponderosa Pine, guardian of the spring. The area around the spring teams with herbs and flowers that I gather to use in my products. If I am lucky I can find violets hidden among the nutrient rich soil. Oregon grape, plantain and wild strawberries are plentiful.

Well I better get over to the spring, today I am making bamboo soap. As I draw water from our spring to use in the soap, I will give thanks to her and bless the herbs that I have gathered.
I also say a blessing every time I make one of my organic potions, lotions or creams. I feel it brings me and the person receiving it luck.

If you are ever in Oregon, head up Hwy. 66 to the Green Springs, the area is so special, President Clinton protected it and it is called the Cascade Siskiyou National Monument. Our land is within the boundaries and will be protected for future generations. The hub of the community is the Green Springs Inn, check it out, great food and good prices. Happy Spring!!

GREEN SPRINGS AT THE ROGUE VALLEY GROWERS MARKET - SAVING THE PLANET ONE FACE AT A TIME

2009-05-05T20:12:00.001-07:00

This is my booth at the Growers Market. I sell in Ashland on Tue. and in Medford on Wed. In a few weeks I will also be selling Saturdays in Ashland. One of my favorite things about the markets is meeting expectant parents then getting to see the new babies and watching them grow. The local community is really supportive and come rain or shine.

Our biggest seller is our fabulous organic Face Food. Many of our customers are tourists and purchase it at the markets and can't live without it, so I also sell it online. Also pictured is my hand-spun hand painted fiber art, yarn, and baby clothing made from recycled sweaters. In the future I hope to open a shop on Etsy and Artfire listing those items. Please stop by and say hi, if you are ever in Ashland or Medford Oregon on those days. The market runs from March until late November.

GREEN SPRINGS - LIVING UP TO OUR NAME

2009-05-03T18:58:00.000-07:00

Twenty five years ago we moved our family from Cleveland, Ohio to the mountains of Southern Oregon to a small community called the Green Springs. Back then it consisted of loggers, hippies, and back to the landers. For the most part everyone got along because we were all somewhat isolated and depended on our neighbors. We purchased 10 acres and began living our dream. We built a small cabin with logs killed by beetle infestation, grew our own fruits and vegetables and tried to walk gently on the land. I learned how to garden, spin, weave and make soaps, lotions and potions, and was commitment to eating organic and out of necessity we reduced, reused and recycled.

Fast forward to the present. My goal is help others go organic and eco-friendly , and make every attempt to save the world for my five grandchildren, and future generations. I now market my fabulous skin care products and call my business Green Springs Bodyworks. My products and packaging are eco-friendly and most of the ingredients are organic. What I do not grow or wild-craft, I try to purchase locally. I trade a local vendor face cream for his wonderful organic olive oil. Our butters are purchased from a sustainable women's co-operatives. We offer a $1.00 refund for recycled containers and I usually go home from the markets I sell at with a big bag of returned bottles and jars. Last April I decided to spread the word further on the Web. My products can be purchased on Etsy, Artfire, and here on the blog.

Unfortunately the bigger Siberian Husky pictured died right after Christmas. Here is a recent picture of Suka our newest member of the sled dog team. Tenaya, his big sister is three and loves her newly adopted companion.

Happy Earth Day

2009-04-24T09:03:00.000-07:00

These items from the Ecoetsy Team were a big hit at my Growers Market Booth. To celebrate Earth Day I downloaded these awesome Green Share seed packets from http://lolaness.com and filled them with my organic seeds. I used calendula and amaranth. Also pictured is a kootsac from www.kootsac.etsy.com. It is a re-usable bulk food bag for produce. I purchased two bags and used them to put all my vegis in. The bags are very well made and hold a lot. The customers and vendors were very interested in these items and I enjoyed sharing. Happy Earth Day everyone!

Silk Tie Dyed Easter Eggs

2009-04-10T09:59:00.000-07:00

I've Been Featured

2009-04-10T08:58:00.000-07:00

Happy Easter! I have been featured on Ecogeneration's blog: http://ecogeneration.blogspot.com
There are many wonderful eco-friendly items featured including my Moonlight on the Adriatic Soap.
The whole family is coming for Easter Brunch along with our extended family. It is snowing right now so I hope it clears up by Sunday for our annual Easter Egg Treasure Hunt. My daughter will be bring her duck eggs, which we will dye with pieces of old silk ties. It is super easy and so eco-friendly. I use old silk ties that my husband no longer wears and cut a piece of the tie big enough to wrap around the egg. Then cover the egg with a piece of cotton material, I use old sheets. Secure with a twist tie and place all the eggs in a pan full of cold water with a tablespoon of vinegar and boil as usual. When you remove the fabric you will be left with a beautiful unique colored and patterned egg. Try it the kids love it!
I make it a treasure hunt with lots of clues and my husband hides the eggs in our woods (we rope off an area). The golden egg will be well hidden as usual so the adults can have fun helping the little ones search. I hope everyone has a wonderful holiday!

SAFE team's International Soap Challenge

2009-04-01T09:44:00.000-07:00

Vote for your favorite soap with a chance to win one! SAFE team's International Soap Challenge - come vote http://etsysafeteam.blogspo...
If you vote in this challenge and purchase any item from my store you will receive a free organic lip balm! Just put "voted" in the message to seller.

Moonlight on the Adriatic

This is the soap I created for the challenge. Last summer I traveled to Croatia the home of my ancestors. I had no idea what a lovely country it is. Beautiful lavender grows everywhere and they produce the most delicious grassy green olive oil. I tried to recreate the blue-green Adriatic Sea in this soap. It is made with organic ingredients, 100 %, goat's milk, french green clay and pure essential oils of lavender, jasmine and litsea.

Meet the Newest Member of our Pack

2009-03-29T09:37:00.001-07:00

Introducing Suka our 12 week old puppy, pictured with his pack member Tenaya. In January we lost our male husky Neeka to cancer, Tenaya stopped eating and would hide under the sofa and bed, we could tell she really missed Neeka. I found this adorable pup and we have had him for 2 weeks. He is a bundle of joy and he is doing great. I have been busy puppy-proofing everything. My computer time is limited as I have to watch him every minute he is awake. He is thriving on a raw meat diet and loves all kinds of fruits and vegis too. This weekend we took him to the coast and we all had a great time.
We like to explore old graveyards and took the above picture. I will keep you updated on our pack.
Don't forget to participate in Ecoetsy March Madness Free and Green Promo.

Hurry March Madness End Soon

2009-03-29T08:27:00.000-07:00

Etsy Eco-Team is hosting March Madness Free and Green. http://www.ecoetsy.com/marchmadness.html
Simply purchase an item from any of the participating sellers and put "Free and Green" in the message field. You will receive a free eco-friendly gift!

Purchased on Etsy for my Valentine's Day Ambush

2009-02-06T08:59:00.000-08:00

I purchased this on Etsy for my Valentine.
Scentual Soundtracks: http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=6371978 offers decadent
sensual ingredients in her skin care products.
Money is tight so my plan is to ambush my husband and give him a candlelight dinner and his very first spa treatment. More about that in another post.

I choose this Facial Mask because of it's wonderful chocolate scent and it looks just like chocolate! The skin pampering ingredients are: rhassoul clay, powdered coconut, powdered chocolate, ground flaxseed, and jojoba oil. It comes in a beautiful eco-friendly cobalt blue glass jar. All you do is take out a level teaspoon of the mask and put it in a small container. Measure 2-3 tsp. of liquid, I plan to use whipping cream, but the possibilities are endless. Buttermilk, yogurt, olive or jojoba oil, honey, milk, green tea, or water, are all good choices. Add liquid, stir and microwave 10-15 seconds. I don't have a microwave so I just put the mixture in a double boiler over water and simmer gently for a few minutes. Apply to face or body and leave on for 5 to 15 minutes. Rinse with lukewarm water,
then tone and moisturize. It leaves you skin feeling silky soft and clean. I just love it and want to share with my hubby and you!

Check back next week for my full ambush spa plan!

Etsy Treasury

2009-02-03T20:40:00.000-08:00

My organic soap is featured in this lovely treasury, check it out here:
http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list.php?room_id=37540
You can also view the curators shop here: http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5981407
Her work is amazing!

Eco-friendly Christmas

2009-01-31T17:40:00.001-08:00

This Christmas our family decided to make or recycle all of our gifts. The youngest (pictured) told his grandmother he wanted a roll of duct tape for Christmas. We got such a kick out of what he created with it. The knights helmet and wooden sword (covered in duct tape) has been played with more than any of the plastic sets he has had in the past. When it starts to get worn looking, there is nothing a little duct tape can't fix. You can see from the picture how proud he is of his creation, and best of all, his friends all want him to show them how to make one!!
I knitted earflap hats and socks, and gave my organic soaps to everyone. My husband took wooden boxes and wood burned each grandchild's name (we have five) and date and we decorated each box with glass beads or shells, and added a lock and key. Each child received there own special treasure chest.
I received a basket of jams, honey, salsa, garlic braid, and beeswax candles from my daughter and her family, my son's family gave us a beautiful photo album filled with family photos. It was truly the best Christmas ever!!!

KISS YOUR SHAVING CREAM GOODBYE

2009-01-22T10:01:00.000-08:00

~VEGAN HANDCRAFTED COLD PROCESSED ROSE CLAY SOAP 5-6oz~

Great gift for Valentines Day. Priced $1.00 off!

No need to still be shaving with commercial shaving creams. Try our organic, eco-friendly alternative! The rose kaolin clay in the soap gives a nice slip so shaving is a breeze. All our products are colored naturally and scented with pure essential oils.

Hurry over to www.greensprings0.etsy.com and pick one up for your Valentine or yourself!

Organic Washcloths by Ecogeneration

2008-12-30T15:32:00.000-08:00

These three organic handknit washcloths by ecogeneration http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=18809058
are perfect to use with our organic Frankincense Clean and Glow.
Nothing feels better on your skin than organic cotton. Ecogeneration's motto is: reduce, recycle, and reuse.

OCM (oil cleansing method is used in many spas). I first experienced it in a day spa and became hooked! The organic oils can actually unclog pores and is less drying than other cleansers.

Here is how it works, shake well to blend the oils, (I like to apply it in the bath or shower since it is so relaxing and the steam makes it work even better). Apply a small amount to your face and neck in a circular motion, cover your face with a warm wash cloth (organic if possible) and let it revitalize your face for a minute or two. If you have time, apply the warm wash cloth a second or third time, wring out the cloth and remove any remaining oils in a circular motion. Your skin will feel deep-down clean. Follow with a toner or one of our HYDROSOLS.

Clean and Glow comes in a cobalt blue glass bottle and contains herbal infused organic olive oil, organic jojoba oil, organic caster oil, vitamin E, pure essential oil, organic roobios tea extract, and organic black willowbark extract. This formula is rich in powerful antioxidants, and vitamin and mineral rich oils. YOUR SKIN WILL FEEL THE DIFFERENCE!

ECO ETSY

2008-12-26T19:12:00.000-08:00

We are now proud members of the fabulous Team Eco Etsy check out their blog here: http://ecoetsy.blogspot.com
And remember "another world is possible".

Our Holiday Greeting

2008-12-23T17:06:00.000-08:00

http://www.jacquielawson.com/viewcard.asp?code=1675916744561&source=jl999

These guys are going with me to see the Nutcracker

2008-12-19T23:10:00.000-08:00

Tomorrow our family will be going to see the Nutcracker. I found these adorable hair clips or pins from Punkynmunky and had to have them.
She does a fantastic job and I have purchased a ballerina and karate boy from here in the past. Check out her shop at: http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5537062

Article by Kayla Fioravanti owner of Essential Wholesale

2008-12-14T22:46:00.000-08:00

The Word is Spreading, Avoid Phthalates!

I’ve been preaching about the negative side effects of fragrance oils and phthalates for some time now. But for many people the message is just hitting home today with the release a study in the February edition of Pediatrics.

The study's lead author, Dr. Sheela Sathyanarayana, a University of Washington pediatrician, has finally brought the issue of the dangers of phthalates to the main stream media. The study as been reported all day on the news networks like the Fox News, ABC, and the Washington Post. Even the critics are talking about the study at the PR Newswire.

Phthalates are used in the cosmetic industry as fixatives to hold fragrances. Most fragrance oils on the market contain phthalates in order to insure that the scent will linger on the skin and clothes longer. We are exposed to phthalates everyday. Phthalates are found in most commercial fragrances that are not 100% pure unadulterated essential oils. Your family is exposed to phthalates in: commercial air fresheners, plug-in air fresheners, laundry and household products, baby products, perfumes, cosmetics, shampoos, conditioners, deodorants, shower gels and much more. In order to avoid phthalates you must avoid adding fragrance oils to your products or purchase phthalate-free fragrances.

Some believe we should wait for more studies to come out to determine the exact extent of the dangers of phthalates. I believe consumers have learned their lesson with waiting for more studies to prove the dangers in the case of cigarettes. Why risk waiting for more studies when the only purpose to use phthalates in cosmetics is as a fixative or adhesive for fragrance? Babies don’t need to smell like their lotion, shampoo, diaper ointment or laundry soap all day long, and neither do we. All companies should demand the removal of phthalates from fragrance chemicals or switch to unadulterated essential oils. Despite significant evidence from many studies, Stephanie Kwisnek, a spokeswoman for the Food and Drug Administration, said that the FDA "has no compelling evidence that phthalates pose a safety risk when used in cosmetics. Should new data emerge, we will inform the public as well as the industry." (Associated Press)

Consumers have the power to change the cosmetic industry as proven by the public outcry for paraben-free products, which did transform the industry from the outside in. In the coming months I expect that consumers will become more educated on this subject and demand “phthalate free” products. This will not only change the way consumers read baby product labels, but how they look at all cosmetic, personal care and household product labels. With a peek into the mysterious ingredients hidden behind the term “fragrance oils”, consumers will wonder what other ingredients are going undisclosed. Now is the time to transition your product line to be either “fragrance free” or scented with only 100% pure unadulterated essential oils.

At Green Springs Body Works we have always avoided using fragrance oils. They happen to give me a headache and do not smell real to me. Essential oils can actually get rid of a headache. Try lavender, eucalyptus and mint. You can either inhale them or put a few drops in a carrier oil and rub into your temples.

We use only pure therapeutic essential oils to scent our products, scent with herbs, or make unscented products for those who prefer not to have any scent. Check out our website www.greensprings0.etsy.com for our Aromatic Intentions. Great for stress relief!

Green Springs is Featured in ETSY Storque Article

2008-12-11T10:28:00.000-08:00

We are featured in the ETSY Storque article "Shop Local Oregon":
http://www.etsy.com/storque/spotlight/gift-ideas-shop-local-oregon-with-thisisalliknow-2980/
This article features sellers from the Pacific Northwest, we are pictured under Green Springs Bodyworks. Check it out! Well I better get some z's my eyes are closing and it is way past my bedtime.

These tubes are 100% recycled plastic

2008-12-09T13:15:00.000-08:00

We use 100% recycled plastic for our lip balm tubes. Purchase any item over $15.00 at:
www.greensprings0.etsy.com and get a free Citrus Bliss Organic Lip Balm. Offer ends at midnight Dec. 24 2008.
ANOTHER WORLD IS POSSIBLE!

Organic Soap Sale

2008-12-08T14:17:00.000-08:00

Hurry over to www.greensprings0.etsy.com for this fabulous deal on organic soaps for your holiday gift giving. Scented naturally or with pure essential oils, no artificial colors or fragrances.
YOUR SKIN WILL FEEL THE DIFFERENCE!

Our Holiday Gift to You

2008-12-02T13:55:00.000-08:00

Hurry over to www.greensprings0.etsy.com for your free organic lip balm with every order over $15.00.
I can also fill a first class priority envelope with up to 8 soaps for only $5.00 shipping.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

2008-11-27T10:04:00.000-08:00

I am so thankful for this beautiful sunset, taken right out my front door!
I am thankful for having a loving, healthy, happy family!
I am thankful for having a growing organic business that is my passion!
I am thankful for our wonderful new president! ANOTHER WORLD IS POSSIBLE

BLACK FRIDAY BONANZA

2008-11-26T15:23:00.000-08:00

Free Shipping at www.greensprings0.etsy.com starting at midnight 11/28 - 12/1
Organic bath and body products for the whole family. Pets too!
Plus free organic gift with each purchase. See ya soon!

TWEET TWEET

2008-11-26T08:20:00.000-08:00

I am on Twitter, please come and follow me. Happy Thanksgiving for those who celebrate it.
http://twitter.com/greensprings0

ORGANIC SOAP SALE

2008-11-24T19:15:00.000-08:00

Hurry over to www.greensprings0.etsy.com and get 4 big bars of organic soap for the price of three! Sale ends at midnight 11/27. Organic and scented with pure essential oils or unscented for that special person on your holiday list. Great gift for teachers too.

I am in The Little Black Box!

2008-11-07T13:02:00.000-08:00

The Little Black Box: http://www.thelittleblackboxes.com/ goes on sale today November 7 th.
I have sent 3 of our products to be included in the boxes. The Little Black Box website lists all the shops that are participating.

Check out my Etsy shop: http://www.greensprings0.etsy.com for your holiday shopping needs.

And The Winner Is!

2008-10-06T08:41:00.000-07:00

Heather comment #44 is the winner of the Handmade Showcase Giveaway for our creamy handcrafted soap and FACE FOOD sample. Congrats. Heather.
Check back soon for another great giveaway from Green Springs Bodyworks.

Green Springs Home Spa Recipe

2008-09-24T10:59:00.000-07:00

Fall is a great time to treat yourself to a herbal bath. Herbal baths ease the stresses of daily life, heals, refreshes and purifies the body. Gather up fragrant rose petals, fresh is best but dried is fine, hollyhock, calendula or marigold, hibiscus, basil, rue, lavender, St. John's wort, yarrow, lemon balm, and sage are all excellent choices. Collect your plants with intention and prayer.

Add the herbs to a large pot containing 1 to 2 gallons of hot water. Use 1 -2 quarts of fresh herbs, or 1-2 cups of dried herbs. Crush the herbs with both hands into the water as you offer your prayers or thanks to the plants. Once the water has cooled a bit place your feet in the water to soak.

Next draw a warm bath, light some incense and candles and spray the room with our AROMATIC INTENTIONS. Enter the tub and slowly pour the herbal bath water over yourself. Pour any remaining liquid over your head. Rest, meditate, and be with yourself in this healing way.

Finish by massaging your body using our creamy ORGANIC GOAT'S MILK SOAP, your skin will feel silky soft.

Handmade Showcase Giveaway

2008-09-19T07:38:00.001-07:00

Hurry over to Handmade Showcase http://bathbodycandle.blogspot.com/2008/09/green-springs-bodyworks-organic-soap.html and sign up for the giveaway! The winner will receive one of our super moisturizing soaps and a free sample of our fabulous FACE FOOD. Winner will be chosen on 10/04/08.
Good Luck!

Purchased on Etsy

2008-09-14T15:56:00.001-07:00

My huskies loved these sweet peanut butter piggies I purchased from organic dog www.organidog.etsy.com. The price is very reasonable, and best of all it's ORGANIC!

Our Best Friends Eat Organic

2008-09-14T08:17:00.000-07:00

Our two huskies thrive on a organic raw meat diet. The larger one is twelve and the smaller one is a year old. Ever since two of our other huskies died at a fairly young ages of cancer we switched to making our own dog food.
Their diet consists mainly of organic raw chicken necks which they eat whole. Every so often I give them free range ground beef. I buy my chicken in a 40 lb box. When working with the raw meat I always wear disposable gloves. The chicken is put into zip lock bags and frozen until needed. The box costs $40.00 and is enough to make meals for one month. They get whatever organic vegis we are having, sometimes cooked, but mostly raw. I top of the meal with a sprinkle of Healthy Powder which consists of ground up egg shells (baked), nutritional yeast, kelp powder, ground flaxseed and a small amount of vitamin C. This recipe is in the book Natural Health for Dogs and Cats by Richard H. Pitcairn.
There are excellent recipes in the book. Dog Biscuits Deluxe is their favorite biscuit recipe. I would be happy to answer any questions and comments.

Be sure to check out Ticked-off our all natural insect repellent listed on Etsy.

AND THE WINNER IS:

2008-09-06T20:41:00.000-07:00

Smooshian (Sarah) was the winner of the Etsylovesfeedback drawing for the fab FACE FOOD SET.
She chose the Rose Face Food Set (excellent choice) and it is on the way.
Etsylovesfeedback received a record number of comments about the giveaway and I enjoyed reading each and every one of them. We are looking forward to more giveaways so keep checking here.

FABULOUS ORGANIC FACE FOOD DRAWING

2008-08-28T09:03:00.000-07:00

Hurry over to Love Etsy Feedback http://loveetsyfeedback.blogspot.com/2008/08/feature-44.html

and enter to win our fabulous organic FACE FOOD SET in either rose or lavender. I am also doing a special promotion for a free lip balm with every order, details are listed there.

Memo Cube from Chasing Lilies on Etsy

2008-08-27T23:22:00.000-07:00

Is this clever or what?

2008-08-27T23:12:00.001-07:00

I recently purchased this from Chasing Lilies: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?ref=vt_related_1&listing_id=14739050
They come in different colors, mine is bright pink. I put a bouquet of flowers in the center and use it on my table at the Growers Market. It even comes with chalk for the chalkboard.

Back from BC

2008-08-27T21:04:00.000-07:00

My husband and I spent our vacation this year on beautiful Vancouver Island. We had the best time camping, biking, hiking, and visiting organic farms. We spent one day working on a farm and for our labor were given enough vegetables for the week. I made sure we stopped at all the local farmers markets and festivals. The high point of our visit was an all day free concert in Victoria where Sara McLaughlin performed.
To return home we took the ferry into Port Angeles Washington, explored Olympic National Park then headed down the Hood Canal. I talked my hubby into stopping at some of the fragrant lavender farms in the Sequim, Wa. area and I was one happy camper!
So now that we are home I have so much catching up to do. This week I made 3 new batches of soap, they need to cure for a month and then will be up on Etsy. My fav. is a spicy sweet concoction with some, clove, geranium, fennel, ylang ylang, and patchouli as a fixative. In case some of you are wondering, fixatives reduce the tendency of a scent vaporizing, and make it last longer.
Check out our Etsy Organic Blog at: http://etsyorganicteam.blogspot.com/ and the etsyorganicteam on flickr. The membership has grown to 51 members strong.
If anyone has any suggestions for a name for the soap I described please respond below. Blessings

Balmbastic review

2008-07-10T19:28:00.000-07:00

Check out the review of our awesome lip balm at:
http://balmbastic.blogspot.com/2008_07_01_archive.html
This is our very first review and we are looking forward to many more.

My business partner and I spent the morning in the mountains
collecting herbs to use in our products. We are lucky to be neighbors
and live in the beautiful Cascade-Siskiyou Mountains of
Southern Oregon. It was a relaxing time and we
were able to discuss our goals and future plans for our business.
We need to take time and do that more often, but with four Growers Markets a
week and our Etsy site we are very busy but it is a lot of fun.
We would love to hear from you.

Welcome to the Green Springs

2008-07-10T17:40:00.000-07:00

home of Green Springs Bodyworks, we create organic body care products for the whole family. Our fabulous FACE FOOD is pictured to the right. Try it and your skin will feel the difference! Please check out our website at www.greensprings0.etsy.com. We would love to hear from you.