|
| |
Cox Partners with Elayne’s Garden Organics
Editor's Note: Dorn Cox is a two-time NRCSConservation Innovation Grant awardee. Cox has completed his 2006 grant for Farm-based Biofuel: Production,
Storage, Co-generation and Education. His 2007 Self Contained Oilseed Processing
System and Educational Initiative grant is in progress. Cox recently spoke about
renewable energy on the farm at the 2007 New England Fruit and Vegetable
Conference in Manchester.
By:
Sabrina Matteson
New Hampshire Farm Bureau
Originally published in
The Communicator, Winter 2007.
E layne’s
Garden Organics of East Hampstead, NH has recently teamed up with local
sunflower farmer and 2007 New Hampshire Young Farmer Achievement Award
recipient, Dorn Cox, to test the use of sunflower oil in her bath and body
products.
 Last
year, Elayne read about Dorn in a cover story of The Communicator. “I had been
purchasing my sunflower oil from a distributor in the Midwest, and I was so
excited to learn that a local farmer was
producing organic
sunflower oil,” proudly exclaimed Elayne. After contacting Dorn and testing his
oil for several months, she incorporated the sunflower oil into her premier
line.
All of Elayne’s balms and facial moisturizers contain sunflower oil, which is
easily absorbed by the body, and supplies more vitamin E, a primary
anti-oxidant, than any other vegetable oil. “Sunflower oil is non-comedogenic,
which means it will not block pores, and is known to provide a protective
barrier that may resist infection,” said Elayne. “It is an excellent ingredient
for facial cleansers and moisturizers.”
Elayne’s products are all handmade by her in her “soaper’s kitchen” as she
refers to it. She painstakingly has created all of her own recipes, and even
bottles and labels every product herself. Making soaps is a process whereby she
must blend certain oils with a lye and water mixture at precisely the right
temperatures to achieve the correct balance of the ingredients.
Lye is incorporated in
order to convert the liquid oils into a hard bar of soap. The soaps then must
“cure” for 4-6 weeks so that the water and lye is no longer present in the final
product. “The end result is a perfect blend of oils to leave the skin
nourished,” explains Elayne. Lotion and balm making are virtually the same
process, only without lye as an ingredient, and therefore require no cure time.
 The
complete product line of Elayne’s Garden Organics is certified by the USDA
National Organic Program. “It was important to me to certify my entire line,”
explains Elayne. “I wanted my customers to understand my commitment to providing
them with superior quality products. Handmade organic soaps and lotions are the
equivalent of fresh food for the skin, which is the body’s largest organ. My
customers know that the ingredients found in Elayne’s Garden bath and body
products pass the same standards as consumable foods.”
Elayne’s Garden offers a diverse selection of certified organic body care
products to promote healthy skin. She incorporates only nutrient rich food grade
ingredients into her wholesome organic soaps, balms, and lotions and creams.
“Collaborating with local farmers is a primary goal of mine and buying locally
has contributed to the success of my business,” said Elayne. “Local products
guarantee freshness and superb quality control, and the economic benefits of
supporting local businesses, which in turn provide more jobs in the community,
just makes sense.”
Dorn admits that there are challenges to growing sunflowers, particularly
organically, in the Northeast. “Based on our 2006 results, we know that it is
possible to grow oilseed sunflowers in New England and obtain yields on par with
the national average, which is about 1,181 pounds per acre according to the USDA
Ag Statistics,” said Dorn of Tuckaway Farm in Lee.
 Specific
challenges for New England growers, particularly in organic production systems,
are likely to include location of appropriately sized harvesting equipment, weed
control, and the need for a long growing season to permit sufficient drying
prior to harvest in our humid climate.
Dorn’s goal is to reach production levels above 100 g/acre of oil, while
yielding at least the forage value of an equivalent field of alfalfa as an oil
pressing byproduct. “As an organic grower, I am also concerned about the health
and fertility of the soil over time. I want to provide a healthy habitat for
family, wildlife and my grazing livestock. Healthy soil will be able to
withstand extremes in temperature and precipitation that we have experienced in
the last few years,” explained Dorn.
Elayne’s Garden is a proud member of NH Made, a statewide organization whose
mission is to promote NH made products and services. Through this organization,
Elayne has met many members who share her passion for introducing organic and
local products to the marketplace. Last April, Elayne partnered with Gak’s
Snacks, A&E Coffee, and Abigail’s Bakery in a multi display booth at the Made In
NH Expo in Manchester.
“These three women-owned businesses are striving to make a difference,” said
Elayne. “We offer certified organic products and a wealth of information to
those interested in supporting products that we believe can improve the quality
of their lives as well as those that they love.”
Buying organic as well as buying local is important to Elayne’s business model,
which is why she is so pleased that Dorn is a local grower as well as an organic
grower. “Purchasing organic does not have to be an all-or-nothing lifestyle,”
Elayne states. “By choosing to purchase just one organic product, you are
helping to make a difference.”
Elayne recalls a short story she read many years ago, prior to starting her
business. A gentleman was walking along the beach and saw many, many star fish
washed ashore and dying in the hot sun. As he walked, he would throw some
starfish back into the ocean. When asked why he would bother at such a task, as
he surely could not possibly save them all, the man picked up yet another
starfish, threw it back into the ocean and said, “Ah, but I made a difference to
that one.”
Elayne’s
Garden Organics are for sale through her website at
www.elaynesgarden.com She can be
reached by phone at 642-9034 or by email at
info@elaynesgarden.com. She is
currently exploring the opportunity of offering her products to retail
establishments throughout the state.
By:
Sabrina Matteson
New Hampshire Farm Bureau
Originally published in
The Communicator, Winter 2007.
Related
Article:
Cox Wins Young Farmer Achievement Award, Heading to AFBF Competition
< Back to ...
| |
|
About Us
Back to Top