About Us: So what is an Apothecary? How did we get here?
Urb & Clay Apothecary (formerly Urban Urbs Apothecary) welcomes you to explore a slowly reviving concept nearly forgotten in a fast paced world of the next big fad after fad in consumer cosmetics and home care products: What about the simple, reliable daily ancient knowledge of plants, bee products and minerals used for beauty, health and radiant inner balance used by cultures from around the world, for thousands of years? What about the skin and hair protective and healing mixtures of unadulterated wild herbs with various botanical oils to produce aromatic luxury and medicinal therapy? There was a time in western culture when high quality botanical based products for health and beauty were sold in a shop called an Apothecary, much like the modern pharmacy, the city folk flocked to renowned herbalists who formulated products specifically for them, based on their needs. While this practice died out in the wake commercialized medicine, their knowledge and experience did not. It was preserved in literature in cities and orally by rural indigenous people who were still in touch with the land and able to collect and utilize nature’s own medicines directly. I have studied both in the forest and through countless books, websites and research journals on how people use plants until I eventually decided to switch my entire household to effective, wholesome products I taught myself to make. In doing so I created the highest quality line of body care products made of organic, ethically wild-crafted and ethically grown and harvested botanicals, +15 different organic, raw/virgin, cold-pressed food-grade skin nourishing oils, over 40 unadulterated precious essential oils (from around the globe and some local-sourced ), raw local beeswax, wildflower honey and drawing- detoxing clays, minerals and virgin salts and forgoing synthetic chemical preservatives, fillers, artificial fragrances, over-processed oils, unethical palm oil, harsh detergents, petroleum based anythings and non-biodegradable ingredients , in favor of producing a brand which really does what it promises. An affordable high quality seriously natural option focused on sustainability that's made with ingredients which will nourish, moisturize and condition your skin, hair, whole body and spirit through formulas based on scientifically safe and effective- traditionally used healing and beautifying ingredients. My packaging is made of recyclable and reusable materials such as recycled paper labels, unbleached cardboard, unbleached hemp infusers, hemp cord, glass, tin and durable recyclable PET plastic containers. My Story and UUA History At age 3 and 4 I was saving small hotel shampoo bottles and lip balm tubes and mixing up new brews of mixed lotions, hair gel and shampoos in the bathroom. Then drawing labels and gave them to my mom as potpourri/air fresheners. My father used to say that I was going to love working in chemistry one day, luckily I’ve averted that one. Mixing and creating new scents has felt like a life-long Natural Sense to me, intuitive. I grew up in an incredibly diverse and well traveled family. My father, a serious jack of all trades, Mindfulness Meditation teacher, Environmentalist and the director of Wisdom Garden Institute, was the former publisher of Wisdom Garden Books. Leaving me with an unbelievable array of knowledge on integrative health, an entire of library of books on meditation, healthy eating, herbalism, homeopathy, acupuncture and more at my disposal to consume as a young bookworm during long winters in North Idaho. At age 7, with my family's recent move to begin the dream of a rural homestead, I began my self-instigated education on learning the forest, herbs, wild-crafting, organic gardening and home preserving… the last two with my father’s guidance of course. My mother is a beautiful, strong Costa Rican woman who taught me how to reuse and recycle like none other, create art from flowers, be savings savvy and how to experience life with immense love and passion. During times of illness, like her ancestors before her, she would rely on traditional folk remedies to help us get better quickly, like oregano and milk tea, extra garlic cilantro chicken soup, or even using using flax seed gel and mashed avocado on our hair for dryness. Starting Out at Farmer's Markets By the age of 12 our homestead was producing so much fruit, we began making, packaging and selling organic jams and preserves at the local farmer’s market. By 14, I was old enough that my parents allowed me to begin putting my years of herbal knowledge to use . I started small, creating lip balms and skin salve from local beeswax and herbs from our garden and near by forest. It sold well at the market. Thus so, by the end of high school I’d expanded into making soaps and simple lotions for friends and family for gifts at holidays. I received “most likely to have my own DIY network show one day.” With graduation money I made my first purchase of essential oils and began my journey into the complex but amazing realm of researching and studying the science behind aromatherapy and herbalism while maintaining my university studies. Concocting perfumes, working on a reliable and infallible deodorant recipe (while living in Florida and going on daily outdoor runs), a brilliantly whitening toothpaste and a moisturizing pH balanced shampoo bar and conditioner routine came as my next DIY challenges during my first two years of university. I’m sure I developed some type of reputation as a wild plant lady; in my freshman dorm, girls would come ask me for a tea for their colds, and in the Biology Club planning meetings, I’d show up smelling like “hippies,” after experimenting with new scent combinations. Yet, I always felt victorious when I made a product that finally met my high standards of purity, toxin-free, non-carcinogenic, non-comedogenic options, vegan options, ethically harvested and organic content that pleased those around me. A Life-Changing Moment in India A backpacking trip to India with my father and sister in 2013 changed my life in a deeply moving way which directed my attention inward toward the process of self-awareness. I began to see myself and fully embrace the shift from planning a generic future to a rich and empowered one. I changed majors to Environmental Anthropology so I could study Ethnobotany because I realized that there’s so much precious and vital knowledge on plant based remedies and studying the relationships between ethnic traditional uses of plants to be preserved. It is so important because the process of globalization has thrust ethnic minorities and their Earth based wisdom to the edges of a technology praising society. It felt like a sweet, sweet calling to realize that I could be a voice for people who loved and depended on the intrinsic connection of man and nature for survival. I felt blessed coming from humble beginnings with farmers and gardeners on both sides of my family tree, being bright enough to excel in school and gain many scholarships. I realized that it was very much my natural calling to do my part in bridging the gap between rural country and mountain peoples with urban peoples to renew the conscious connection of man and nature, a connection which we all greatly depend on. Urban Urbs Apothecary was slowly being born. Educational Background I took several courses which helped form my strong conviction to creating an ethical, green-minded business. (Environmental Science, Environmental Ethics, Environmental Issues, Intro to Business for Entrepreneurs and Principles of Business Ethics with a focus on forming Business Ethics surrounding the issue of sustainability.) Now in my fourth year of University, I’m working on developing a non-profit environmental education outreach program in India with my father. And… finally, successfully transitioned and transferred to Portland, OR. I came here with the dream to build a unique business taking up the torch in the new challenge of creating a new form of compassionate capitalism. While a life-time of studying herbs has taught me very much on healing naturally, I'm saving up money to earn a certification in Entrepreneurial Herbalism to add an educated and professional touch to my small Apothecary over the next year. My Mission I’m embarking on a mission to create a business built on a foundation of Love, Compassion, Respect for the Earth and all it’s organisms and surfaces and an organic synthesis of sustainable cultural plant and healing traditions from around the world.... In the form of Luxury Body and Home Care Products. Made of a deep desire to share the incredible integral magic of nature with people everywhere, especially all those who forgot about, or never knew about, making harmony choices with nature and man both in mind and love in the heart. Fair-Trade Program and Outreach In the near future I dream of tying my non-profit work with Wisdom Garden Institute, with Urb & Clay Apothecary and creating a specific outreach program which educates rural Himalayan women in how to turn local agricultural resources into a viable and sustainable economic good. As well as offering them the fair-trade ensured option of being a co-op source for my Indian herbal ingredients which come the beauty and healing traditions of India such a Turmeric, Patchouli and Himalayan Pink Salt, thus preserving and sharing their cultural knowledge as well. With a successful system in place I’d hope to later replicate this type of effort in my mother’s native Costa Rica and in various disadvantaged agricultural communities in the US and elsewhere. Thank you for taking the time to read the history of Urb & Clay Apothecary!!! |