Save Energy, Save Money.

Does all your greening really make a difference? Here are some riviting figures that we dug up. Consider the change if everyone got on board the Eco Train! Who new that being so Green could save your green too.

-Replace 3 frequently used light bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs. Save 300 lbs. of carbon dioxide and $60 per year.

-Check your car's air filter monthly. Save 800 lbs. of carbon dioxide and $130 per year.

-Keep your water heater thermostat no higher than 120 degrees Fahrenheit. Save 500 lbs. of carbon dioxide and $30 per year.

-Install a low-flow shower head to use less hot water. Save 300 lbs. of carbon dioxide and $150.

That's alot of money saved, just think of all the Salts Clothing you could buy with your savings! Check out www.StopGlobalWarming.org for more tips.

The Heart of a Soap Crafter. What really goes into natural healthy soaps?

I recently sat down for a visit with Divine Goddess Soap Artist Lisa. She has a talent for soap making like none I have ever tried. Beautiful Natural and hand crafted. Here's what she had to say about her soaps.

What are your top 5 favorite ingredients and why?

All the ingredient would be my favorite because after creating a natural product I began to understand what it was I liked. I love the rich lather and natural fragrances I get from hand made soap. I love interesting fragrance combinations and ingredients different from what I can find elsewhere. I love the confidence I get from knowing I am not washing with harsh chemicals, strange perfumes and dyes.

Where does the name Divine Goddess come from?

The small hobby of mine was getting out of hand, so I decided start a home based business and the name "Divine Goddess Naturals" represents my committment providing the best natural product possible using only essential oils, natural oils, rich butters, pure beeswax, clay, herbs and spices.

How long have you been making soap?

Over 10 years, Divine Goddess Naturals got its unofficial start in 1997 in Sooke B.C.

What do you wear when making soap (hehe)?

I prefer to wear comfortable all natural house clothes..... and of course safety goggles and gloves.

What are the benefits of your soaps?

Natural soap is so very different from commercial soap. I was impressed after trying the real thing, made by myself. Most commercial soaps left me feeling dry and kinda sticky, but my handmade soap was different. I felt skweaky clean, but not dry. My skin looked great and the handmade soap smelled great, not overpowering and chemical. I love Divine Goddess Naturals, and I know you will too. Be Natural, Be Beautiful, Be a Goddess!

Thanks for your time Lisa! You can get Lisa's Divine Goddess Soaps at the Salts Studio in Sooke, BC or shop in our online store at www.SaltsOrganic.com/shop.

Salts

Organic and Sustainable EcoFashion FAQ! Awnsers to your important Eco-Fashion Quesions.

We get a lot of questions about sustainable clothing and Eco Fashion through our website and I wanted to take a moment to answer a few of the most frequent Eco Clothing questions here.

#1. Whats so terrible about normal fabrics? Why switch to Eco Friendly Textiles?

Regular Cotton uses a lot of pesticides and herbicides which poison the ocean, near by streams and the land in general. When we use organic cotton we don't support the use of chemicals in crop production. Other textiles like polyester are made from petroleum which is not sustainable to produce or to manufacture into fabric. The resulting process if left unchecked can be extremely detrimental to the planet and produces an excess amount of greenhouse gases. Such fabrics also poison people, your skin is your biggest organ and takes in everything that you put on it. Making the switch to healthier, chemical free fabrics is great start in protecting you health as well. Regular crop production is also known to poison local streams and water supply for the people living near by, this is usually done in 3rd world countries where the locals can't just run down to the store for some bottled water and are left with little options but to drink up.

Salts Organic Clothing searches out the best fabrics available in order to protect the planet and others from the harm that these chemicals can cause.

#2. Where is Salts Organic Clothing made?

Salts is designed in a small Studio Boutique in lovely Sooke, BC. I design, chose the custom colors and make the first patterns. Once the design is to my liking I have the garments manufactured in a small Factory in Vancouver, BC. The Salts line is redesigned twice a year (once for Spring/ Summer and once for Fall/ Winter). I am adding a basics collection for Spring 09 which will complement our seasonal line.

We try our best to source fabrics and yarns from as close to our manufacturing in Vancouver as possible. We have many of our fabrics milled in Canada, use Canadian thread and are always seeking the best in sustainable sources for our clothing.

#3. Are you going to do More Men's clothing soon?

I have a new men's shirt coming out for Fall 08 and planning on adding 4 pcs to the men's line for Spring 09. I am open to suggestions on what the eco-Friendly men shoppers out there would like to see for them. I do get a lot of men approaching me at markets asking about the men's stuff. Its definitely a section of the line that will grow over time.

#4. Where can I buy Salts Organic Clothing and other Eco Friendly lines?

The best way is to come out to our shop on beautiful Vancouver Island, BCand enjoy our great selection of Men's, Women's and Children's eco-friendly clothing and eco-Friendly shoes. Another good way is to try out our secure online store. You can also check the list of stores that sell Salts and find a location near you. All of the great stores that we sell to also carry other terrific sustainable clothing lines.

#5. Where do you ship too? I live in Europe, Australia, Japan, etc...?

Our Eco Friendly Online store is set up to ship for free anywhere in Canada (there is a 6.50 charge for COD shipping, shipping for credit card made payments is free). Costs for shipping to the United States are minimal and range from $12 -$20 depending on how far away from Vancouver Island you are. Please email me for a direct quote before you order or ask for one in the comments section when you are placing your order. For International orders we can get you a quote at the time of ordering, the cost depends on your country and the size of your order. We recommend getting a few friends together to place a larger order to help with overseas shipping costs and also to cut down on the environmental footprint of shipping overseas.

#6. How do I get updates on Salts Organic Clothing and learn more about Sustainable Fashion?

The best way to get updates on Salts is to join the newsletter. You can find the sign up box on the first page of our website at www.SaltsOrganic.com
The news letter gives you the latest on Eco Fashion and Eco Products as well as informs you about the new happenings in the Sustainable Clothing world of Salts. Some great sites to learn about sustainability and the Eco Friendly life style in general are treehugger.com and The Eco Friendly Way of Life Blog.

#7. I want to learn more about eco fabrics and Eco Friendly Clothing? Do you have more info?

Take a gander at some of our older blog posts, I always write on new eco-friendly information as I find it. You can check the articles on the Eco Friendly Lifestyle posted on our website as well.

Dress Pure.
Do Good.

Salts.

Be Cheap and Green AND Save Money! 7 easy ways to EcoFriendly your Life!

Can you be super Green and Save money at the same time? Of course! Being Eco Friendly is about having more with less! Most eco-products are very high quality and last much longer. There are also simple ways to add more eco consciousness to you life with our sacrificing any cash at all. In fact some of these tips will even save you money! Right on...Read on....

Tip #1. Save $25 a year by washing you Eco Clothes in Cold Water in stead of warm water twice a week. It saves your clothing too, clothes will last much longer when washed in cold.

Tip#2. Turn off you video game console (or get you kids too, bribes work) when not in use. This will save you $14 a year in power...extra allowance anyone?

Tip#3. Recycle! Most Districts pick up recycling at no cost and you will save $30 to $100 dollars a year in garbage pick up costs.

Tip#4. Turn down you heat a few degrees at night and during the day while you are at work. This will save you at least $39 dollars a year.

Tip #5. Grow some food! Set up a garden box on your deck to grow salad greens and edible flowers for great tasty salads anytime. If you eat salads everyday (good for you, you healthy nut) then this can save you $3-10 a week. Those are big savings, growing food it fun and relaxing too.

Tip#6. Line dry you clothing on nice days. Dryers are the worst energy consumers! Lay off yours in the summer and enjoy your organic clothing for longer.

Tip #7. Find a local farmer and make friends with them! Shop at farmers markets for great deals on fresh local produce, buying direct from the farmer is the best way to get healthy food at less of a mark up.


Dress Pure.
Salts