It's Easy To Be Green

Buy Local Month

2010-06-01T05:10:00.001-07:00

10% Of All “Locally Grown” tee sales in the month of June
will be donated to the Monadnock Localvores Project

What does “buy local” mean and what are the benefits?

Locally-owned businesses and conscious consumers are working to create an alternative
to corporate globalization by building sustainable local economies. Communities produce
and exchange locally as many products as possible. This supports family owned
businesses and farms, fair wages, and stewardship of the natural environment. The “buy
local” movement redevelops relationships between the food producers and the food
consumers.

What can you do to help?

Learn about the Monadnock Localvores project:
www.hannahgrimes.com/Projects/Localvore

Support your local farmers markets: www.farmersmarket.com

Find the locavores in your area: www.locavores.com

Read about the Monadnock Buy Local project:
www.monadnockbuylocal.wordpress.com

Learn about the 20,000+ entrepreneurs who are building the new economy: www.livingeconomies.org

Easy Recycling For The Whole Family!

2010-05-19T06:22:00.000-07:00

In our fast paced world, it is easy to ignore that every day we are adding to our mounting waste. For many, the fact that the landfill is nowhere near us, it’s easy not to think about how full it is getting. Teaching your family to recycle helps to combat this problem, even if you don’t realize how bad it might be. Just because you don’t see the problem on a daily basis doesn’t mean it does not exist.

Many of the products we use are not environmentally friendly at all. A soda can left on the street or in a gutter will stay there indefinitely. It is not biodegradable so once it is created, it will forever be. Companies have long ago found ways to reuse these products so that they are not polluting our beautiful Earth. The problem happens when people don’t take the items to be recycled and instead just toss them about or throw them in the garbage to sit in the landfill forever and ever.

Recycling is a major contributor to the solution of global garbage. It works, but only if you participate. You can lead a horse to water and so forth. The responsibility belongs to all of us, as citizens of the world, but it begins with you and your family.

The number of items in the store made from recycled materials is growing. Our shelves could be filled with more of these things if everyone does their part to help. Most towns and cities provide recycling containers for residents to use. It could be a small bin or a large trash can.

If you don’t have such as service in your area, buy your own trash can or other supplies to gather your recyclables together. You can schedule a pickup or take them to the appropriate recycling plant for processing once a week or month; whatever time frame fits your schedule. The point is to do it! You can even make a little money collecting aluminum cans or returning glass soda bottles for deposits.

Begin with city sanitation. Whoever picks up your recycled products should have literature on how to package your recyclables. Cardboard is typically broken down and tied together. Old newspapers are tied together in bundles much like they are delivered to newsstands. Bottles are grouped together based on the number on the bottom or the label.

Have separate bins for your recyclables in the house.

Mark them clearly so no one gets confused.

If kids want to make money, let them collect cans from neighbors.

Get in the habit of breaking down boxes after you use them. This includes cereal boxes, tooth paste boxes, gift boxes, and the like, not just heavy duty cardboard. All of these paper products can be used for recycling.

Envelopes and old bills can be recycled, too. To protect your information, shred them first and then bag the shreds for recycling pickup. Most of us just toss out these envelopes in the regular trash but they can be put to better use.

Recycling saves on pollution and landfill space. If we can continue to reuse some items, why not do it? I personally can’t think of a reason not to. Can you?

(Reposted from http://www.pureinfusion.com/)

May is Help The Honey Bees Month!

2010-05-03T10:27:00.000-07:00

10% Of All “Bee Kind Tee” sales in the month of May will be donated to the Foundation for the Preservation of Honey Bees.

Bee Kind - Organic Cotton Tee - $28

The Honey Bee Crisis:
Over the last three years more than one in three honey bee colonies has died nationwide, posing a serious risk to our natural food supply. One cause of these losses is an alarming phenomenon called Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD). Forces like habitat destruction, improper use of pesticides, invasive species and global warming are placing our pollinator world at risk.

Why Are Honey Bees Important?

One out of every three bites of food an average American eats is directly attributed to honey bee pollination. Honey bees are responsible for the pollination of more than 100 crops (fruits, vegetable, nuts and seeds) and $15 billion in US agricultural crops each year.

What Can You Do To Help?
Create a pollinator friendly habitat in your yard- www.pollinator.org

Consider beekeeping as a worthwhile hobby- www.gobeekeeping.com or www.beeculture.com

Educate yourself on the dangers and risks of using homeowner pesticides and chemicals- www.nationalhoneybeeday.com

Join the American Beekeeping Federation at www.abfnet.org

Purchase locally produced honey and other beehive products- www.honeylocator.com

Join an online honeybee community with beekeeping forums and resources- www.beesource.com

Be Active all year AND on National Honey Bee Awareness Day: August 21st - www.nationalhoneybeeday.com

Subscribe to the American Bee Journal (magazine version and digital version) www.amercianbeejournal.com

Environmental Tips by the EPA

2010-04-19T11:17:00.000-07:00

Tips about saving energy For example, reduce your carbon footprint! Use public transportation, carpool, walk, or bike whenever possible to avoid using your car.

Tips about using water efficiently For example, buy water-efficient fixtures and products. The WaterSense label helps shoppers identify water efficient products and programs.

Tips to Reduce / Reuse / Recycle For example, allow grass clippings to stay on the lawn, instead of bagging them. The cut grass will decompose and return to the soil naturally.

Tips for making environmentally protective choices For example, during hot weather, don't top off your gas tank. Even a small gas spill adds to air pollution and wastes fuel.

(Information from www.epa.gov)

April is Help Earth Conservation Month!

2010-04-01T05:34:00.000-07:00

10% Of All “Organic Globe Tee” sales in the month of April will be donated to a CSA Scholarship for Tracie’s Community Farm of Fitzwilliam, NH

Help Us Do Good In The World One Tee At A Time! Buy This Organic Cotton Tee Today!

Available in Men's & Women's Short Sleeve Tees

What does “organic” mean?
“Simply stated, organic produce and other ingredients (i.e. cotton) are grown without the use of pesticides, synthetic fertilizers, sewage sludge, genetically modified organisms, or ionizing radiation. Animals that produce meat, poultry, eggs, and dairy products do not take antibiotics or growth hormones.”(www.organic.com)

What Can You Do To Help?

Calculate your ecological footprint: www.earthday.net

Participate in earth day events (April 22nd) and actions or create your own
earth day event www.earthday.net

Learn more about why organic at www.organicconsumers.org

Support your local organic farmers; find a farmer, CSA or farmers market
near you: www.localharvest.org

Link individuals to green and Fair Trade businesses working to grow
a green economy: www.greenamericantoday.org

5 Creative Uses for Soda Bottles

2010-03-08T10:01:00.000-08:00

By Kiera Butler

At this point soda really shouldn't even be appetizing. As we all know, it's full of empty calories from high-fructose corn syrup, rots your teeth, causes childhood obesity, blah blah blah. So why do I still find myself circling back to the nutritional wasteland that is Safeway's soda aisle? I'll tell you why: cherry coke. It's been a favorite treat since I was a teenager, and despite my best intentions, I don't think I'm going to give it up any time soon. I figure since I can't do anything about how bad soda is for me, I'll at least try to make it a little better for the planet. Our friends at AltUse have a bunch of good ideas for reusing empty plastic soda bottles:

1. Keep your yarn tangle-free: With a box cutter, carefully cut a large door in the side of the bottle. Insert your yarn into the bottle through the door. (You can tape it shut if you wish.) Reach into the spout, grab the end of the yarn, and pull it through. You can put the top back on the bottle when you want to store your yarn.

2. Make a funnel: Create a make-shift funnel by cutting the top off of a plastic bottle.

3. Water your plants automatically while you're away: Make a small pin hole on the bottom side of the bottle. Fill it up with water. Leave the water bottle inside a plant pot, hole side down. Water will slowly leak out. Lasts for about three days.

4. Keep your picnic cold: Make ice cubes that don't drip: Fill empty plastic water bottles and then put 'em in the freezer. Be sure to leave some room for the water to expand as it freezes.

5. Trap wasps. Cut the top off a bottle. Put something sweet into the bottom, then insert the cut-off portion back into the bottle, but upside down. Tape it in place. Wasps come in, but they can't get out.

(borrowed from motherjones.com)

March Is Health & Wellness Month

2010-03-02T06:49:00.000-08:00

10% Of All “Stillness Yoga Tee” sales in the month of March will be donated to the Laughing Spirit Yoga Scholarship Fund

What is Laughing Spirit Yoga?

Laughing Spirit Yoga of Keene, NH has a mission to promote health and wellness through yoga. The Laughing Spirit Yoga Scholarship Fund was created to provide an opportunity for yoga students with limited means.

Why is Yoga important for health & wellness?

Yoga helps people develop a deeper connection to their bodies while simultaneously creating wellness, health, and peace in the community. Those who practice yoga have more energy, stronger muscles, decreased stress and increased flexibility. Yoga practice also builds bone density and increases circulation.

What Can You Do To Promote Health & Wellness?

-Be active & breathe
-Support your local Yoga & Wellness Studio
-Participate in Yoga Day USA (www.yogadayusa.org)
-The Global Mala Project (www.globalmala.org)
-Organize & Participate in Yoga-By-Donation events

2010-02-12T06:47:00.000-08:00

February Is Loving Kindness Month

10% Of All “Love Is A Verb Tee” Sales in the month of February will be donated to th e Community Kitchen of Keene, NH.

What Is The Community Kitchen?
Th e Community Kitchen started out as a soup kitchen in 1983 with a few dozen volunteers. Twenty six years later, the Community Kitchen has become a helpful hand to more than 12,000 hungry people in the Monadnock Region. Of the 952,700 meals provided last year, over 60% went to children under the age of 19. “We anticipate serving 1.2 million meals this year.” the Community Kitchen is simply about people helping people.

“We, as human beings, are all on this journey together and we must look out for each other, lend a hand when someone needs one and work collectively toward common goals that bind us together as one.”

What Can You Do To Help?

Buy a Love Is A Verb tee so Zehn Naturals can donate 10%!

Volunteer at your local food bank.

Donate non-perishable and household items to your local food bank or community kitchen.

Spread the word - educate people on how important it is to support this cause!

Support organizations that help the cause. Here are a few links we love:
www.thecommunitykitchen.org
www.feedingamerica.org
www.breadoflifeinc.org

The Community Kitchen is a United Way Agency.

Cotton is the world's most popular fabric.

2010-02-11T06:38:00.000-08:00

Here is some great information about Cotton we found through Earth Easy!

Soft and comfortable, it's used for almost every type of clothing. Socks, shirts, sweaters, dresses, jackets, sleepwear, sportswear and more - all begin in lush green fields of cotton. Traditional cotton farming, however, is hard on the environment.

Popular demand for cotton textiles, and competition among producers, has seen a big change in the last two generations - the increased use of pesticide. Cotton is the most pesticide-dependent crop in the world, accounting for 25% of all pesticide use.

These chemicals are taking a toll on our environment and human health as a whole. Every T-shirt made of conventional cotton requires 1/4 pound of harmful chemicals.

According to the USDA, in one year alone over 50 million pounds of pesticides were used on U.S. cotton fields. Pesticide and fertilizer use on cotton has been linked to ground and surface water contamination, and the pollution of drinking water. In California, cotton ranks third in the state for total number of pesticide-related illness. Fish and wildlife and also impacted, with pesticides causing migration die-offs and diminished reproductive capacity.

Organically raised cotton is gradually winning over new ground both on the farm and in the marketplace. No toxins or synthetic fertilizers are used. Organic cotton is produced without the use of harsh chemical bleaches or dyes, and is allergy free. Natural fertilizers, compost and soil amendments are used, and advances in natural pest control, such as ladybugs which destroy harmful insects, have helped make raising organic cotton a viable enterprise. Organic cotton clothing, unheard of a few years ago, is now available in many stores and online businesses.

A wide variety of products made from organically grown cotton is now available: shirts and pants, socks, underwear, skirts and blouses, sheets and pillowcases, towels and bathrobes. The range of styles can be somewhat limited, but new styles are being developed to keep pace with the growing demand for organic cotton clothing.

Recycled Cotton is another more earth-friendly choice in cotton clothing. Recycled cotton is cotton fabric which has been made from recovered cotton that would otherwise be cast off during the spinning, weaving or cutting process. A trade name for recycled cotton is Eco Fibre; there are no harsh chemicals used in the processing of this fabric.

The clothing business is big business, and there is big resistance to change from chemically-dependent processes to organic processes of clothing manufacture. The bottom line is demand. Manufacturers will do what the consumer dictates, and so the change to environmentally responsible, organic cotton clothing begins with you the consumer.

(information gathered from www.eartheasy.com)

10 Ways To A Greener Community

2010-02-02T05:13:00.000-08:00

Check out these ten easy ways to be part of a greener community!

1. Set a goal – turn that goal into a vision for the future that your community wants to achieve. Start at home first and set and example.

2. Recycle – You do it at home, so why shouldn’t it be just as easy when you’re out and about? Truly green communities help make it easier to recycle in public places such as parks, schools, and businesses. Ask your township, school board, and managers of other public areas to provide recycle bins for glass, plastic, aluminum, and paper next to existing trash receptacles.

3. Pass it on – You just finished a great book that you bought last week. Now what? Create a neighborhood exchange group and swap clothes, books, and toys with others…what’s better than getting a new outfit or toy for your child and helping to save the environment at the same time?!

4. Landscape Green – A single tree will absorb one ton of carbon dioxide over its lifetime. By planting native trees, hearty bushes, and perennial flowers in your community, you not only provide great benefits for the environment, but give a natural habitat for wildlife and help beautify public spaces.

5. Park the car – One pound of carbon dioxide is produced with every mile driven, try walking, car pooling, or riding your bike one day a week!

6. Be a role model – Speak at your child’s school, and help teach kids at a young age how to become responsible stewards of the earth.

7. Pick up the trash – Did you know that Styrofoam can’t be recycled and is dangerous to animals if they eat it? So why let it litter our communities? Organize a “get out and clean” day. Any day can be Earth Day…it will bring together people of all ages and help make your neighborhood cleaner and safer for all its inhabitants.

8. Knock the lights out (well, not literally) – Change all your light bulbs to long lasting energy efficient ones, and turn them off when you leave the room.

9. Get the word out – Use reusable bags everywhere you go not just the grocery store. You will be surprised the positive effect it will have.

10. Give a gift – Donate a Green-kit to non-profit organizations like a local homeless shelter or community center (and you may be able to take a tax deduction while helping others create a green environment).

(Borrowed from our friends at Discover Earth)

Bat Conservation Month

2010-01-08T07:21:00.000-08:00

We are so excited to announce our 12 Month Giving Campaign! We are kicking the year off with Bat Conservation Month!

10% of all “Adopt A Bat Tee” sales in the month of January will be donated to the Organization For Bat Conservation

Why Are Bats Important?
As the primary predators of nocturnal insects, bats play a vital role in maintaining the balance of nature. And, as consumers of vast numbers of pests, they rank among humanity’s most valuable allies. A single little brown bat can catch hundreds of mosquito-sized insects an hour, and a typical colony of big brown bats can protect local farmers from the costly attacks of 18 million root-worms each summer.

What Can You Do To Help?
Click here to learn more!

Have An Eco-Friendly Holiday Season

2009-12-15T09:05:00.000-08:00

Here are a few tips on how to have an Eco-Friendly Holiday Season!

Support local business with local products

Serve local & organic snacks from your local farm or co-op.

LED Christmas Lights - These will save 90% electricity & last for 50,000 hours. Check out this website to shop for some lights! The lights they sell are energy star approved and have a life time guarantee!

Buy canvas, hemp, or cotton bags to put presents in - your loved ones can use them as shopping bags after the holidays.

Use recycled gift bags from the previous year or simple brown paper bags that can be decorated. Don't be afraid to ask your family members for their holiday left overs!

Get creative in your gift wrapping- try using fabric, scarfs, recycled tissue paper, or newspaper (We highly recommend the comic section)

Make your gift tags! You can use old Christmas cards, scrap paper to make your own using hemp, or cotton string to tie on. We also recommend these super cool seed paper tags by Cast Paper Art.

Use a live potted tree for your Christmas tree or buy a tree from a local tree farm. 32 Million christmas trees are purchased each year in America. Check out this cool company we found online!

Update On Our Family In India

2009-12-15T08:08:00.000-08:00

Zehn Naturals has been supporting a family in India through Speed Trust since early 2008. Through out the year, we get periodic updates on how the family is doing and how our donations are helping. Here are some of the updates.

Lakshmi is a mother of two, and wife to her husband, Nor Kanagaraj, who works in a tea shop. Lakshmi was working as a helper in SPEED Trust but she left the job to properly take care of her family. Her current activity is to make baskets at home for SPEED TRUST.

Tamilarasan, the oldest child, is 6 years old. He had been admitted in U.K.G in Eve Matriculation and received 34th rank in his Quarterly exams, which is average in his studies. He is coming daily to SPEED Trust center. SPEED Trust has paid school for Tamilarasan.

Tamilselvan is the youngest child and is 1 1/2 years old. He is a healthy baby but often affected by a common fever.

The family currently rents the home they live in, but was able to put a downpayment on a house.

Speed Trust is a wonderful organization, and we are honored to work with them. Find out how you can help!

Zehn Naturals Adopts A Bat!

2009-12-03T08:24:00.000-08:00

We are so excited to announce that we just adopted a bat from the Organization For Bat Conservation!! We just adopted an Exciting Egyptian Fruit Bat! Here is a picture:
Bats are extremely important. Yet due to years of unwarranted human fear and persecution, bats are in alarming decline. As the primary predators of night-flying insects, bats play a vital role in maintaining the balance of nature. And, as consumers of vast numbers of pests, they rank among humanity’s most valuable allies. A single little brown bat can catch hundreds of mosquito-sized insects an hour, and a typical colony of big brown bats can protect local farmers from the costly attacks of 18 million root-worms each summer. To learn more, click here.

One of artists, Wendie Salmi, designed the Adopt A Bat tee shirt last year and it has continued to gain popularity. As a Zehn artist & devoted Bat Lover, Wendie actually donates all of her royalties back to the Organization For Bat Conservation which has allowed her to adopt several bats along with us. Here is a picture of Wendie at the conservation in 2007, with a bat named Gandolf on her shirt!

Adopt A Bat tees can be found on our website, and can be purchased at the Organization For Bat Conservation gift shop.

Don't forget, Zehn Naturals plants a tree for every tee sold -- which benefits all of the bats out there!

Importance of Bats Facts were provided by Organization For Bat Conservation.

The Social Media Buzz!!

2009-12-03T07:46:00.001-08:00

Have you joined us on Facebook?

Or Myspace?

Are you following us on Twitter?

New Zehn Designs!!

2009-07-30T05:02:00.000-07:00

We hope everyone is having a delightful summer!! Things are going great at Zehn Naturals headquarters in Keene, NH and we are as busy as ever! We recently launched some new designs we would like to share with you! All of the designs below are printed on our spectacular super soft certified organic cotton tees and are available online!
(psssttt! Free Shipping on ALL online orders!!)

"Locally Grown""Love Peace Freedom" - $28

Yin Yang - $28

Tao - $28

Click here to view our complete t-shirt line!

We also have some new children's designs by our new artist, Amy Dietrich! We are so pleased to have her on board and her designs are literally flying off the shelves!
"Zero Emissions" - $24

"It's Cool To Be Green" - $ 24

Check out the rest of our organic t-shirt line for children!

Carbon Neutral Clothing: A step beyond organics

2009-01-27T07:21:00.000-08:00

Carbon Neutral Clothing: A step beyond organics

By Alyson Pisani

If you are someone new to “going green” or “being organic” then you may not know that using organic methods to manufacture clothing, or using energy sources that are organically acceptable, are only one facet of protecting the earth through natural means. Where and how these items are produced and manufactured can have a lingering affect on the earth, that slowly but steadily alters the integrity of our global environment.

You may have heard about the carbon foot print we as individuals leave behind, but what about industries, manufacturing companies and large corporations and the footprint they leave, and what is the difference between carbon neutral cotton and organic cotton anyway?

Organic cotton and carbon neutral

Certain standards and methods are required when growing cotton organically. These methods have a much lower impact on the environment than traditional cotton farming, as their focus is to replenish and maintain the soils fertility. Organic processes avoid using most synthetic chemicals, such as pesticides and fertilizers to name a few. These are very important steps to take in protecting our environment, so aren’t they enough, and just how far do we have to go, in order to, “go green”?

Growing cotton organically is only one component when it comes to protecting our environment. Simply put, from the moment the cotton seed is planted to the moment you wear an article of clothing made from it, there are outputs of carbon emissions that can negatively impact our environment. The following negative impacts are beginning to affect many areas of living and our surroundings:

· Weather Patterns- Wild fires caused by dry weather are up 125% above the decade’s average

· Health -Deaths caused by heat waves are on the rise

· Wildlife – Warmer temperatures are causing some polar bears to drown, because they have to swim greater distances to reach ice floes. They are now being considered for the endangered species act.

· Sea Levels and Glaciers -It is currently estimated that at the rate of annually increasing temperatures, all glaciers in glacier national park will be gone by the year 2070.

Once the cotton is grown organically, these carbon outputs can further be reduced by using cleaner manufacturing methods, taking organics to the next level by producing carbon neutral clothing and products.

How do I know if the cotton is carbon neutral?

More and more companies are using alternative energy methods and tracking the amount of carbon invested in their garments. This is called a carbon value, and this value is assigned to each article of clothing. This number is comprised of multiple factors which include the textiles origin and ingredients, as well as the shipping methods used for materials for manufacturing the garment to the end product shipped to the consumer. If you’re not sure, call the company and ask. Most are more than happy to share this information with you.

Eco Fashion is on the rise, and Zehn Naturals are leaders in carbon conscious clothing. Their clothing manufacturer is dedicated to using renewable energy sources and continually strives to achieve carbon neutrality with every single garment produced. Being Organic is just a step; a footprint in the right direction, being carbon neutral is a leap toward a cleaner, brighter and eco-fashionable, friendly future.

The Spirit of Zehn Giving

2009-01-27T07:20:00.001-08:00

The Spirit of Zehn Giving

By Alyson Pisani

I never give it much thought when I walk into a store and purchase an article of clothing, about what charitable contributions if any, the company I’m buying from, makes. It’s rare that you come across a company, whose true spirit is that of giving, but once in a while you do, and it makes you feel good to know that a part of your purchase is going to benefit a greater good.

A few months ago, I found Zehn Naturals, a company that sells organic cotton clothing and apparel, whose designs are created and inspired by artists who share a strong commitment to protecting the environment. This really impressed me, but what grabbed me even more, was their spirit of giving. One look at this company and you know exactly where their heart is.

Buy a Tee, Plant a Tree?

Buying a tee shirt doesn’t seem like it would make much of an impact on preserving and protecting our environment, but you would be surprised just how much one little tee shirt and one company with an enormous vision could do. For every tee shirt that gets purchased, this globally conscious company plants a tree, through “Trees for the Future”, a nonprofit organization dedicated to restoring tree cover to rehabilitate the environments of developing communities around the globe. Additionally, 10% of pre-tax profit is donated to a variety of worthy causes. The following organizations are just a few that benefit from the generosity of this company:

· Speed Trust of India – Donations to this organization contributed to the care of an Indian family. A prosthesis for the father, enabled him to return to work and care for his family.

· Multicultural Village Inc.- Teaches villagers, old and young, new ways to resolve conflicts, address violence and be socially responsible by promoting peace building among culturally, geographically, and ethnically diverse groups.

· Antrim Girls Shelter of Antrim NH – An organization dedicated to rehabilitating girls between the ages of 11 – 17 through compassion and education, providing them with all the opportunities to triumph over adversity.

If you’re an art lover, you will appreciate proceeds going to the Colonial Theater of Keene New Hampshire, named in 2004, to the New Hampshire register of historic places. This landmark, not only entertains, but educates as well through workshops for students by broadening their understanding of history, world cultures and literature through performing arts.

A Little “Peace” of Cotton Goes A Long Way!

One little tee. I don’t know too many places where I can dress in unique style, donate to a worthy cause and protect the environment all at the same time. While there are many other organizations that benefit from the generous donations of this company, most impressive is how respectful of the environment Zehn Naturals is when manufacturing their products. Using certified organic cotton and alternative energy sources, they have managed to produce incredibly soft, comfortable products using as little carbon as possible, doing their part to protect and preserve the environment. Producing quality products with integrity and responsibility is a rarity in business today, which is why Zehn Naturals is a leader in organic fashion. Now that’s quite a Tee!

Earth Friendly Artists Get Exposure With Zehn

2009-01-27T07:09:00.000-08:00

"A few months ago, I attended the Natural Products Expo East trade show in Boston and I was introduced to some of the most earth friendly, eco tasty, all natural products on the market today.

With over 6000 retailers in attendance, and over 1400 booths, one company for me, really stood out above all the rest, a company that truly defines what natural products are all about. Zehn Naturals is more than just an earth friendly company selling organic apparel and all natural products, but they support the art community by offering environmentally and socially responsible aspiring artists, an opportunity for exposure and recognition.

Eco Artists Wanted

There are so many unique facets to this company, but one that impressed me greatly is that emerging artists are offered an opportunity to gain exposure, by submitting a piece of their artwork for review by the staff. If their piece is selected, their artwork will be printed on tee shirts and apparel made from 100% certified organic cotton, and they will get paid a nominal fee plus royalties for every item that gets sold with their art work on it.

Because being green and earth friendly is a priority for this company, the artists must be environmentally responsible and use eco friendly products for their artwork. The artist who gets selected gets a write up on the website, and each tee shirt gets a tag with the artist’s bio. It’s a perfect scenario for like-minded earth friendly people to join forces, gain exposure and share their gifts and talents.

Going green is becoming increasingly more popular these days, but being earth friendly is not something new for co-owners Tiea Zehnbauer, Hannah E. Carpenter and Len Weldon, who’s appreciation for living simply and organically stems back to early childhood.

Currently, the art of Hannah E. Carpenter is featured in the eco art section of their website, but both women are anxious to support and showcase the works of other earth friendly emerging artists who share the same vision and message.

Art only Mother Nature could love

Not everyone has a talent for art, but if you have a favorite design, message or logo, you can have it put on any one of their many 100% organic cotton tee shirts, canvas or cotton bags. Use Custom Zehn to print your child’s favorite drawing, hand or footprint on your tee, or use it to share a message for someone special. Zehn naturals, appreciates creativity and is the perfect outlet for you to be original and wear your design on your tee. You don’t have to be Picasso; you just need to be imaginative. Zehn Naturals uses water based ink for their printing and will help you in any way they can with your custom printing needs.

So many organic clothing companies are popping up today because going green has almost become fashionable and chic. Zehn Naturals stands out above them ALL, not only because of their integrity, but because their basic philosophy has always been about appreciating the environment and treating it with the utmost respect. Living green is a passion, a way of life not a passing craze. They stand out because they understand the importance of giving back not only to the planet but to people as well and because of that, they will always be a tremendous success."

By Alyson Pisani

Holiday Updates!

2008-12-16T08:58:00.000-08:00

Zehn Naturals headquarters has been crazy busy this month and we have definitely neglected this blog! We just wanted to bring you a new updates so we can keep you all posted. We have a few new stores we would like to announce:

Nature's Green Grocer

374 Union St. ~ Peterborough, NH 03458

(603) 924-2233

Now carrying a variety of our organic cotton t-shirts.

Brewbakers

97 Main St. ~ Keene, NH 03431

(603) 355-4844

Now carrying our Java Junkie t-shirt.

The Dump

22 South Street ~ Marcellus, NY 13108

(315) 673-3867

Now carrying a variety of our t-shirts.

Organization for Bat Conservation

39221 Woodward Ave. ~ Bloomfield, MI 48303
Now carrying Wendie Salmi's design, Adopt A Bat.

We have been getting a ton of attention from other blog writers that are interested in reviewing our product and doing giveaways! We are pretty excited that so many people out there just LOVE our t-shirts.

One blog is currently hosting a give away RIGHT NOW! You must hurry though - the contest ends tomorrow!

Here are a few lines from her review:
"I recieved my "Save The Sea" tee and I could not get over how soft it was. I love it! They have so many fun tees to choose from. They also have totes / gift sets / and much more fun stuff."

Check it out here!

In the upcoming month, we will be launching a few new designs by Jennifer Wiechers. Jen is an amazingly talented artisan currently residing in Vermont. We are SO happy to be working with her! Keep an eye out for "Stillness" and "Flower Power" coming to you soon!

Hannah has also been busy creating new and exciting items during her free time for her Etsy shop! Hannah's etsy shop is the only place that you can find our Organic Cotton T-Shirts that are individually signed with her logo. She also started making these really cool Bamboo tile pendants.

(view this item here!)

(view this item here!)

Well, that is all for now folks! Tiea and Hannah sincerely wish you a wonderful, safe and prosperous holiday season!

Thanks for reading!

A link between Pesticides and Western Disease

2008-11-23T13:13:00.001-08:00

Hundreds of people genuinely ask us, “Why Organic? Why Organic Cotton? ” We used to think that 100% cotton was a good thing and we didn’t know how polluting (and therefore damaging) conventional cotton is. We now know why Organic is important – not only organic food but all things organic. We will start with definitions by Wikipedia Encyclopedia; http://en.wikipedia.org

Organic products are made according to certain production standards, meaning they are grown without the use of conventional pesticides and artificial fertilizers, free from contamination by human or industrial waste, and processed without ionizing radiation or food additives.^[1] If livestock are involved, they must be reared without the routine use of antibiotics and without the use of growth hormones, and generally fed a healthy diet. In most countries, organic produce may not be genetically modified.

“A pesticide is a substance or mixture of substances used to kill a pest.^[1] A pesticide may be a chemical substance, biological agent (such as a virus or bacteria), antimicrobial, disinfectant or device used against any pest. Pests include insects, plant pathogens, weeds, molluscs, birds, mammals, fish, nematodes (roundworms) and microbes that compete with humans for food, destroy property, spread or are a vector for disease or cause a nuisance. Although there are some benefits to the use of pesticides, there are also drawbacks, such as potential toxicity to humans and other animals.”

Pesticides Impacting Public Health:

Many of the most common cotton pesticides are scientifically linked to serious health problems and toxicity in water, air and soil. The most toxic pesticide chemicals used on conventional cotton: Acephate, Aldicarb, Chlorpyrifos, Dicofol, Endosulfan, Metam Sodium, Oxamyl, Pearquat Dichloride, Phorate, Prometryn, Propargite http://www.sustainablecotton.org/html/resources/marketing.html

Environmental factors are key drivers in Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases, according to the authors of a new report, Environmental Threats to Healthy Aging, released October 23^rd 2008.

The full report, Environmental Threats to Healthy Aging, was published jointly by Greater Boston Physicians for Social Responsibility and the Science and Environmental Health Network and is available online at: www.agehealthy.org

“Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases, as well as other chronic illnesses referred to in the report as the 'Western disease cluster'– diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular disease and metabolic syndrome (each of these diseases in turn increases the risk of Alzheimer’s disease) is being driven by dramatic alterations over the past 50 to 100 years in the U.S. food supply, an increasingly sedentary lifestyle, and exposure to toxic chemicals.”

“A large body of data links exposure to a variety of pesticides with increased risks for Parkinson’s disease. Evidence also links chronic low dose exposure to a number of pesticides – primarily in the work setting – with subsequent cognitive decline, such as impaired memory and attention. A study in France found that a history of occupational exposure to pesticides more than doubled the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease. Exposure to some pesticides has also been linked to dramatically increased risks for diabetes, pre-diabetes, and metabolic syndrome.”

As reported by the Institute of Science in Society conventional and GM cotton accounts for 16 percent of global chemical pesticide use, more than any other single crop, and reaps US$2 billion for the chemical industry every year. Of that, US$112 million is spent on Aldicarb, an acutely toxic pesticide classified by the World Health Organization as “WHO1a”, or “extremely hazardous.” One drop is sufficient to kill an adult male. Yet one million kilos of Aldicarb was applied to cotton crops in the USA in 2003. And, at least 1 million agricultural workers around the world are hospitalized because of acute pesticide poisoning each year.” http://www.i-sis.org.uk/Picking_Cotton_Carefully.php

Conventional cotton farming spreads over 1/3 of a pound of pesticides on just enough cotton for ONE pair of jeans. 5,849,172 pounds of chemicals were used on California conventional cotton in 2005 based on the Pesticide Action Network.

The chemicals are sprayed on the cotton and they blow away in the wind and get carried away by the rain polluting our air, water, soil, our food supply and harming the field workers.

What is Organic Cotton?

Organic cotton is grown using methods and materials that have a low impact on the environment. Organic production systems replenish and maintain soil fertility, reduce the use of toxic and persistent pesticides and fertilizers, and build biologically diverse agriculture. Third-party certification organizations verify that organic producers use only methods and materials allowed in organic production. http://www.ota.com/organic/mt/organic_cotton.html

Composted manures and cover crops replace synthetic fertilizers; innovative weeding strategies are used instead of herbicides; beneficial insects and trap crops control insect pests; and alternatives to toxic defoliants prepare plants for harvest. The primary goal of organic agriculture is to optimize the health and productivity of interdependent communities of soil life, plants, animals and people.

What can you do? Each of us, together, can make a difference.

1. Tell your friends about Organic and why it is important

2. Purchase Organic whenever possible. This supports the farmers and manufacturers that are trying to bring about a change in the marketplace

3. Learn more – visit the links in this article

4. Join organizations that are working to educate and assist in the transition from conventional products to organic products.

5. Be Safe, Be Happy, Think Good Thoughts and Feel the Goodness in Chemical Free!!

Information is compiled from all the sources listed above by Tiea Zehnbauer of Zehn Naturals

www.zehnnaturals.com

It’s Easy to be Green with Zehn

And The Winners Are!!!

2008-11-20T05:04:00.000-08:00

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:

Timestamp: 2008-11-20 12:59:26 UTC

antakaranah said...

This is a great idea! You are a myspace buddy of mine www.myspace.com/eastwindtrading, and knowing the strength and dedication it takes to run a green business it is very inspiring to see you still offering give aways in todays economy. Always strive for balance with nature, never lose your focus and keep on growing! All the best- Alvaro

dyanuh84 said...

Does this better my odds ? :) I want one !

November 19, 2008 7:34 AM

Jodi said...

I love my Zehn Natural T-shirt, but it gets quite sweaty and smelly by the end of the week...I just wish I had another one so I could alternate :)

Kathleen Wamser said...

Han!I meant to come ready this as soon as I saw ur email but forgot haha! Anyways I love what your doing with these shirts! You guys should definitly get some stuff up in Burlington, they would love u here!
Keep up the good work, I've added the blog to my rss feed so I'm getting all the updates! Ur designs are amazing love!

Zehn Naturals Give Away!

2008-11-13T09:44:00.000-08:00

This is going to be the beginning of a new tradition, and I am quite excited! After noticing how successful other blog give-a-ways are, I have decided that it would be a great idea to do the same and help spread the word.

We will be giving away FOUR tees to FOUR lucky winners!

And get this - all you have to do to be entered into the give-a-way is to leave a comment on this blog entry! Feel free to say whatever you would like! Tell us how the weather is, what you are doing for dinner tonight, your favorite eco-friendly cleaning product or if you are feeling lucky just go on and pick out the tee you would like to win!

We will then randomly pick four lucky winners. The winners will be contacted will get to pick out their favorite tee & size.

Spread the word! Here are a few of my current favorite tees:

And remember, it's easy to be green with zehn!

www.zehnnaturals.com

Holiday Savings!

2008-11-10T04:59:00.000-08:00

It is time to gear up for the holidays!!!

Zehn Naturals offers 100% certified organic cotton t shirts that are printed with earth friendly inks. All of the imagery on the tees are 100% original and created by innovative artists. We also offer 100% natural body care, organic cotton tote bags, sweatshirts, long sleeves, and eco-art ( a collection of original paintings Hannah E Carpenter).

Here is your special holiday coupon good for 20% off all online orders!
20_off_08

Simply put that coupon code into the shopping cart to watch your total drop!!

Also, remember! We are doing FREE SHIPPING on ALL ORDERS now through the holiday season!!!

www. zehnnaturals. com

Be sure to check out our discounted sale section:
www. zehnnaturals. com/sale. html

Find Your Zehn!

2008-10-27T07:08:00.000-07:00

Here is our current list of Retailers!

New Hampshire:

Hannah Grimes Marketplace

46 Main St. ~ Keene, NH 03431

(603) 352-6862

www.hannahgrimes.com

VitaSource

599 Main St. ~ Keene, NH 03431

(603) 357-3639

Real Green Goods

35 S. Main St. ~ Keene, NH 03431

(603) 224-9700

www.realgreengoods.com

Woodbury's Garden Center

At 3 Country Corners

833 S. Stark Highway ~ Weare, NH 03281

(603) 539-7539

www.woodburysgardencenter.com

1 World Trading

111 Main St. ~ Nashua, NH 03060

(603) 881- 9111

www.1worldtradingco.com

Mother & Child

Greystone Plaza - 650 Amherst St. ~ Nashua, NH 03064

(603) 886-6727

Ruggles & Hunt

8 Westminister St. ~ Walpole, NH 03608

(603) 756 – 9608

Earthward

42 State Route 101A ~ Amherst, NH 03031

(603) 673-4322

Coll’s Farm

16 Coll’s Farm Rd. ~ Jaffery, NH 03452

603-532-7540

The Yoga Space

82 Washington St. ~ Keene, NH 03431

(603) 352-2686

Terra Perma

676 Main St. ~ Laconia, NH 03246

(603) 524-3400

Maine:

Maine Foothills

10 Mechanic St. ~ Camden, ME 04843

(207) 633-5508

Massachusetts:

Mill No. 3 Farmstand

85 Westminister St. Fitchburg, MA

(978) 345-1100

www.millno3.com

Evans On The Common

Rt. 13, 18 Highland St. Townsend, MA

(978) 597-5117

www.evansonthecommon.com

Bowl & Board Of The Vineyard

35 Main St. ~ Vineyard Haven, MA 02568

(508) 693-9441

www.bowlandboard.com

Vetu

1 Johnny Cake Hill ~ New Bedford, MA 02740

(508) 990-VETU

www.vetugifts.com

Perfectly Natural

523 Boston Post Rd. ~ Sudbury, MA 01776

(978) 440-7500

Tiny Boxes Boutique

31 Main St. ~ Plymouth, MA 02360

(508) 746-4404

New Jersey:

Organic Style Shop

621 Cookman Ave. ~ Asbury Park, NJ 07712

(732) 775-1051

New York:

JETS Dream

212 Main St. ~ Grunport, NY 11944

(631) 477-0039

Vermont:

Ndakinna Cultural Center & Museum

4423 US Rt. 2 ~ East Montpelier, VT 05651

(802) 224-1055

VT Trading Co.

50 State St. ~ Montpelier, VT 05602

802-223-2142

Rhode Island:

Abigail & Magnolias

3851 Main Rd. ~ Tiverton, RI 02878

401-624-2636

Brown & Hopkins Country Store

1179 Putnam Pike ~ Chepachet, RI 02814

401-568-4830

California:

Osmosis Day Spa Sanctuary

209 Bohemian Hwy ~ Freestone, CA 95472

(707) 823-8231

If you know of a fantastic store near you that should carry our products please let us know!

write to us at: info@zehnnaturals.com

www.zehnnaturals.com
www.zehnnaturals.com/findyourzehn.html

Zehn Naturals Goes Carbon Neutral

2008-10-27T06:28:00.000-07:00

In the upcoming months, all of our certified organic cotton tees will be CARBON NEUTRAL! This is a big environmental change in our line - and we are pretty excited about it! Along with this change comes better sizing, and our tag-free label! Here is some information on what it means to be carbon neutral, but be sure to read more online.

What Is CARBON NEUTRAL?

The Carbon Neutral Clothing™ (CNC) certification gives consumers confidence in companies that are aware of the emissions created from clothing production and are actively working to mitigate the effects.

BEYOND ORGANIC CERTIFIED = CARBON NEUTRAL

How does CARBON NEUTRAL work?

Each item of clothing is assigned a carbon value or 'CV'. This number is calculated by combining various factors, including the textile's origin and ingredients, the country of manufacture and the final destination. Aside from the resources it takes to manufacture the textiles and garments alone, it often involves shipping of materials to the manufacturer, and of the finished product to the consumer. All of this leads to the release of greenhouse gases. How can you find out what impact your clothing has had on the environment? The CV indicates the approximate amount of CO2 invested in garment. Carbon neutrality is achieved through investments in alternative energy projects based on the environmental impact calculation, such as wind farms.

Our clothing manufacturer has entered into an agreement to continue to purchase renewable energy sources such as wind, hydroelectric power as they have in the past. This manufacturer holds a significant advantage to achieving carbon neutral status for our products since they already employ the use of wind and water power in the production of our products.

CNC is certification devoted to raising awareness of the carbon footprint of clothing production.

How does CNC certification work?

CNC calculates the carbon footprint for each certified garment from its origin. Employing more sustainable production methods and acquiring carbon offsets based on these calculations renders the garment carbon-neutral.

What are carbon offsets?

Carbon offsets were established and given credibility by the Kyoto Protocol as a Clean Development Mechanism (CDM). Reduction projects are validated to ensure that the benefits (offsets) are genuinely "additional" activities that would not be otherwise undertaken. Carbon-offset projects include reforestation, alternative energy, carbon sequestration and other conservation measures.

It is Easy to be Green with Zehn!

Craft Producers 2008 - This Weekend!

2008-10-02T05:54:00.000-07:00

I just want to get a jump start on this blog, and figured I would start with a post about this upcoming weekend. Zehn Naturals will be exhibiting at this years annual Fall Craft Producers Fair in Manchester, VT.

The first time we did this event was in August and I can remember being blown away by the Vermont scenery that surrounds the fair. I am really excited about the event this weekend because I am sure that the fall foliage will be amazing. The event takes place in the Hildene Meadow of Manchester, which is surrounded by hills and valleys. Just a short drive away from downtown Manchester, it is located on River Road which is off of Rte 7A. (Go here for directions)
Here are a few images from the fair in August:

We will be bringing along our certified organic cotton tees for women, men and children along with some of my EcoArt, and True Nut Almonds. All of our tees are printed with earth friendly inks and will be on sale. We will also have a special price on our Spring 08 designs.

We are pretty excited about our new tee designs too - here are a few images:

We will also be introducing our new Obama Tee which is printed on tees for women and men. It is our only double sided tee - with the word VOTE printed on the left chest, and Peace, Love, Obama printed on the back. (oh, and these tees aren't going to last long -- so to get your very own join us at the fair, or order online here)

That's all for now, time to finish packing up! We hope to see you there!