Connecting with Community

Panoramic shot of the GF/AF Expo in Schaumburg, IL, April 22 & 23, 2017

I was just watching an episode from the first season of one of my favorite shows, "Switched At Birth".  It's fun to be able to go back on Netflix and re-watch episodes of shows I like that are no longer on the air.  This episode was the last one from season one.  If you have never watched it, it is a drama from the channel now called Free Form.  The first episode begins with two families learning that their 15 year old daughters, born the same day at the same hospital, had accidentally been switched at birth, hence the title.  The show follows these two very different families as they struggle to deal with the life changing news and figure out the new family dynamics that they are now presented with.  One of the two girls who was switched is deaf, the other hearing.  In one of the last episodes of season one, Daphne, the deaf half of the duo, is playing on the basketball team for the school for the deaf that she attends.  As she and her father are checking into the hotel, a young hearing impaired mother and her also deaf little girl meet Daphne and tell her that they drove from another state to cheer on the deaf girls team because they not only represent their school, but the entire hearing impaired community.  This thrills and scares Daphne at the same time because she just realized that she is a role model for the hearing impaired community.  As she explains this to her hearing father, she talks about how no matter where a deaf person travels, if they meet another deaf person, there is an instant connection.  She tells him that the deaf community is a small, but tight knit community and that what a deaf person in the spotlight does reflects and influences others in the community.

Watching this episode again made me think of the Celiac and gluten free community that I became a part of with my diagnosis 3 1/2 years ago.  The way Daphne spoke about the deaf community makes me think of how I feel about the community that I am a part of.  We're a small, but tight knit community.  When I meet someone else who has Celiac Disease or is gluten free for another health reason, I feel an instant connection with them.  So often, it ends up with each of us sharing our Celiac stories with each other, though we are complete strangers.  But you don't feel like you are strangers because you have this link with one another.  Something that people outside of this community can't identify with or understand.  You feel a deep kinship with that other person.  Thinking about the Celiac/Gluten Free community made me think of the connections and friendships I have been blessed to form in this past year more than any other time since my diagnosis.  

Mike & Brenda Orlando and their girls.

As I said before, it began in April, 2016 when I met Mike and Brenda Orlando who were in the process of starting the first gluten free/allergen friendly restaurant in Sioux City and their lovely family.  I've had the privilege of being able to get to know them and some of their staff along the way as I quickly became a huge supporter of their business.  And, yes, by huge supporter, I mean that I eat there - A LOT!  I can't help it!  The food is awesome and I know I can safely eat there without fear of cross-contamination.  Through writing a review of their restaurant, Gud n Free, I then met Tina Messeck who had started a gluten free bakery in Jefferson, Iowa in 2015 called Better For You Bakery.  Tina sent me her four mixes to try and review (loved them, as you can read for yourself on my blog)  Tina, herself, is not gluten free, but she has a 100% dedicated facility and provides wonderful gluten free mixes and baked goods that are out of this world!  I've become a part of the Siouxland Celiac Support Group, sponsored by the Sioux City Hamilton Blvd Hy Vee dietitian, Corrinna Lenort.  I have met some wonderful people through this group, including Corrinna, the facilitator of the group, members of the group and Sara Gotch, the creative mind behind Gnarly Pepper seasoning mixes, which I also love and use (they are gluten free and vegan).  I've met and have been getting to know Alafia and Marije Wright, the people behind the wonderful skin and hair care line called, God's Green Earth.  I also finally got to meet Angela Tague, the voice behind the blog Cupcakes and Yoga Pants.  There are so many people I've had the privilege to connect with through this journey that none of us asked to be on, yet, we are on it nonetheless - together.  Yes, I regularly use the products provided by these entrepreneurial people, however, they have become a part of my world, not just their products or the services they provide, but the people behind these products and services.  We're a community.  We're in this together!

Me, Tina Messeck of Better For You Bakery and Tina Stoen of Mama Stoen's

Sara Gotch from Gnarly Pepper

God's Green Earth products I am currently using.

 Brenda from Gud n Free, Tina from Better For You Bakery and Me - Siouxland Celiac at the Siouxland Health Expo in early April, 2017

Susie from Gud n Free and Me - Siouxland Celiac representing for Gud n Free at the GF/AF Expo in Schaumburg, IL late April, 2017

God's Green Earth

Photo Credit: God's Green Earth Facebook page (used with permission)

In 2016 I had the privilege to meet Alafia and Marije Wright at their booth at the Sioux City Farmer's Market (which opened for the 2017 Summer Season today, by the way).  The Wright's produce a skin care line, which includes soaps, lotions, lip balm and much, much more, under the company name of God's Green Earth.  It was the name of their company that first caught my eye.  I tried their soap and hand lotion and quickly became a regular customer!  

    Tea Tree soap                                    Facial Scrub

     Facial Lotion             Lavender Hand & Body Cream

These are just a few of the products I've purchased and used from God's Green Earth.  The Tea Tree Soap is my favorite.  I love that the fragrance helps wake me up in my morning shower - especially since I am NOT a morning person at all.  The soap is gentle and leaves my skin soft and without a filmy residue that some store bought soaps leave behind - yuck! The Facial Scrub was a different experience for me.  I haven't used one like it before.  The texture is what you'd expect for a facial scrub, gritty.  It doesn't take very much product to work gently into your damp face and then wash off with warm water.  It exfoliates really well and leaves me feeling fresh and clean.  I've gone through a couple of bottles of the Facial Lotion.  Again, it doesn't take a lot to cover my entire face.  I use it in the morning under my make up and at night after I've washed the make up off.  The lotion doesn't leave my skin feeling greasy, but smooth and silky soft.  I've had dry skin most of my life, but since using the products from God's Green Earth, my skin feels hydrated and soft, not rough and scaly!  Probably my very favorite products are the Lavender Hand & Body Cream and the Lip Balm (not pictured).  I use the hand & body cream on my hands, my rough (not anymore) elbows and calloused feet.  I'm amazed at how smooth using this cream has made the roughest, most dry areas of my skin.  The lavender scent is very relaxing and calming.  I like to use the cream especially at night before going to bed because of its soothing qualities.  The lip balm really surprised me the most.  I can't stand to have dry, chapped lips.  It drives me crazy.  I always carry lip balm and put it on a lot through out the day.  The lip balm from God's Green Earth I can apply once at the start of the day and my lips stay moist and hydrated all day long.

I asked Marije to give me a little information about their business and the inspiration behind it.

"God's Green Earth was established in 2014 by husband and wife team Alafia & Marije.  After their children had been diagnosed with eczema, asthma and food sensitivities to Gluten, Soy and Lactose they were on a quest to find natural remedies.  The prescribed medications for eczema are full of steroids and were causing undesirable side effects.  Alafia & Marije tested many recipes for soaps, lotions, toiletries and household cleaners before being confident in bringing them to market for sale.  Alafia & Marije have a commitment to produce their product lines toxic-free with as many natural, organic, GMO-free, dairy free, soy free and gluten free ingredients as possible.  They only use a small amount of preservative for their lotions because they grow bacteria and get rancid quickly, which would make them unsafe.  They source their ingredients from reputable companies and try to buy as many ingredients locally as possible.  At God's Green Earth nothing gets made that Alafia & Marije wouldn't use themselves for their family of 7.  They are committed to providing toxic free products that you can be confident are safe and enjoyable to use in your household.  Alafia & Marije offer products that are allergen friendly, meaning that they create their products in a manner where they are safe to use for people with sensitivities and allergies to gluten, soy and dairy.  At God's Green Earth we know our skin is our largest organ and we want to help our customers take care of their skin in a healthy and safe way.  We strive to produce all our products without gluten so that anyone can use them.  The only soy that is used by God's Green Earth is in the candles and wax melts; soy is a common allergen because it's one of the highest GMO crops in the nation and it is used in a lot of beauty products, we leave it out of our products that are applied and used on the skin.  God's Green Earth does not use dairy in their general product line.  If you have a bovine protein allergy, Alafia & Marije recommend you stay away from their ...And It Was GOAT line of products because Goat milk may contain some of the same proteins as cow milk.  Sometimes a specialty soap is created which contains some dairy and it gets labeled very clearly.  All the beeswax Alafia & Marije use comes from local (within 200 miles of Vermillion, SD) sources, and is in its rawest form when it gets to them.  This means the only processing that has been done to the beeswax is a filtering to get out large particulates and the heating to produce our particular product.  Alafia & Marije believe in transparency with labeling so even on their handcrafted soaps you will find an ingredient list.  All the products created for God's Green Earth are made in small batches which ensures quality control and it reduces the risk of contamination with ingredients that are not desirable.  Alafia & Marije are committed to providing products you love to use, they are willing and able to create custom formulas for individuals with specific needs or to make available wholesale.  They are available to answer questions about their products if you have specific needs or allergies and can match you with a product or make a special one for you."

Contact information:

Alafia & Marije

God's Green Earth

Vermillion, SD 57069

605-202-9126

GodsGreenEarth57069@gmail.com

www.mkt.com/GodsGreenEarth

www.facebook.com/GodGreenEarth