OFF Certified Organic OFC Certified Organic  OFC Certified Organic AIAB Certified Organic  CUC Certified Organic Soil Association Certified Organic   Because all of these organic certification standards have developed at different times and in different countries the exact detail of what is and is not allowed in products tends to vary. But in general they all seek to ensure that the agricultural ingredients in the products are produced organically and place controls over the non organic functional ingredients that are permitted. The textile standards cover the processing and manufacture of natural fibres and assess the production methods for effects on human health, wildlife and biodegradability. read more on our information pages...

Staring out the window to a small green garden abundant with life in the middle of Santa Cruz I wonder what it must be like to live in this cute flat for one. Six small birds to each seed house, two six foot tall, orange flowering aloe vera plants, hydrangeas, a meandering possum, a skunk on a jolly jaunt, a weeping willow look-alike tree and an array of other Californian greens I’m unfamiliar with, it’s a small garden of Eden amongst many, I suspect, in this part of the world. But there’s a few things in this Santa Cruzian flat that are a little out of the ordinary.

Look a little closer and you’ll notice low door knobs on all the cupboards and a bicycle-like contraption. Foster Andersen has been a quadriplegic for over 30 years. He had a motorcycle accident at age 17, suffering spinal cord injury that has left him temporarily bound to a wheelchair since. I write temporarily because Foster is no average person. You name it he's done it, from skydiving, bungee jumping out of a hot air balloon, canoeing, scuba diving, kayaking, sailing, rock climbing... the list goes on.

What's so impressive is that he did it all after his accident, wheelchair bound... until he gets in that parachute of course. 15 years ago Foster started the not-for-profit organisation, Shared Adventures, which is dedicated to improving the quality of life of people living with disabilities. It's based on the belief that 'recreation, fun, challenge and access to the outdoors are an essential part of a healthy and fulfilling life'.  Foster trained as a computer graphic engineer however spends most of his time working on the events hosted by Shared Adventures. Day at the Beach and Day in the Sky are two of the annual highlights. In addition to the list of things Foster himself has done, the organisation offers a whole range of activities for people with disabilities including camping, horse riding, sailing, flying planes and plenty of social gatherings like the Halloween Dance Party, Frozen Yoghurt Sketch Circle and Bowling by the Boardwalk to get the local community involved. He's also the regular Santa Cruz'ian celebrity. Take one look at his office wall and you'll see articles that span the state, all featuring Foster's achievements from his early 20's until now. He is without a doubt one of the most inspirational people I've ever met and... if one can be so bold... one of those 'ideal' members of society that we would do well to follow his example by for living a full and giving life. For more information on Foster and Shared Adventures visit www.sharedadventures.org

At So Organic we have had a busy 9 months.  As I am sure you have noticed we have been building a new website with more customer focused features and giving you even more information on our ever growing range of products.  Our regular newsletters contain fantastic offers from our suppliers and tips and ideas to help you live a more holistic lifestyle, if you have not signed up yet we really recommend it.

Our little shop in the market in Greenwich has been transformed in to a glamorous new eco lifestyle store in a more central location, many of our most loyal customers have made a special trip to see us and have not been disappointed,

if you want to try a new shade of lipstick or get expert advice on your skincare routine we are always delighted to help.

The launch of our treatment rooms in our airy basement was a huge effort but has proved incredibly popular,  finally you can get natural and organic treatments in luxurious surroundings from a pedicure using natural nail varnishes to a facial using your favourite natural products. All this and our towels and cotton wool are all organic too.

Behind the scenes we have been trying hard to improve our Customer Services with a new computer system and strict targets to improve our service to you, let us know how we are doing.

Finally we have been reviewing our range of products, we have been researching the latest brands to give you the very best in the ever growing organic and natural market place. Some brands have been replaced with new and improved ranges using the latest ingredients and techniques but only after extensive testing by us, we only recommend and stock the products we truly believe in and so those who make it through our stringent criteria will really perform for you.

We have lots of exciting plans for the future so watch this space.

It’s a fairly accurate assumption these days to say that most corners of the world have been touched by the eco effect. Whether you agree, disagree or choose to ignore what´s happening to our planet you´ve at least heard about it in some shape or form. Mexico is no different. The latest in eco developments is underway in the hotel resort paradise of Cancun.

Phase one of this beautiful 5 star resort is already complete so bookings are being snapped up before you can say ‘may I have an organic margarita por favour?’  Why? Well to begin with it is the epitome of luxury and in the location to boot situated 30 minutes drive from Cancun on a clear tranquil beach amongst jungle and ancient Mayan ruins.

I was lucky enough to take a tour of the first complete part of the resort the Hacienda Tres Rios and it lived up to all expectations.

As you enter the resort you are greeted by a beautiful light reception, with stylish Mexican décor and white baby grand piano. Being a 5 star hotel you can dine or receive room service 24/7. With twelve restaurants in total in the Hacienda alone you will not be stuck for choice. There is also a business theatre, patisserie, theatre, spa, gym (including top rate yoga classes) and equestrian and polo centre. The resort covers 150 acres of land. It has 18 rivers (filled with fish) in total with three main ones that snake around the resort and lead into the ocean. You can take a kayak or canoe out for the day and paddle around these beautiful rivers and also get a unique view of the resort. The forest has a number of exotic wildlife like the toucan, cougar, peacock, parrots, flamingos, deer and monkeys. The long-term vision of Tres Ríos includes a marina and yacht club, a convention centre, an equestrian centre, and a fully developed nature park. But how is it eco friendly? The buildings are quite discreet and are only up to three stories high. The rest rooms use ocean water cleaned by one of the local native plants that is able to extract naturally the salt from the water to clean it for usage. Thought the soil is too sandy to grow their own produce on site (explains why the coconuts are only small) the resort does buy local and their meat, I´m told, is organic. The resort is one of the only in Cancun that does not use plastic straws or cups which are excessively used in the hotel filled region.

The ecology mission of Tres Ríos is “to be the leading model for sustainable luxury tourism in the Mexican Caribbean, to guarantee the enduring, intelligent and responsible use of the property’s jungle, mangrove, dune and marine ecosystems and to guarantee the long-term preservation of the ecosystems’ environmental functions, flora and fauna.” One of the wonderful things they´ve done for the region already is reforest 10,000m2 of mangrove, planting more than 50,000 mangrove trees of three varieties. The developers of this plush resort last year donated all of their profits for October to the second biggest killer in Mexico, Breast Cancer. I’m not sure if they advertised the slip slop slap sunscreen to their sunbathing guests but it’s a good start isn’t it? On arrival you can request at the concierge a tour of all the eco features of the resort so that you know exactly what your eco heart and green dollars are buying. For more information about the hotel visit www.haciendatresrios.com

The bergamot orange (botanical name: Citrus bergamia) is a cheery small fragrant fruit that grows in warmer climates of the world including Italy, Argentina and Brazil.

In foodstuff bergamot is used to flavour Earl Grey tea as well as confectionary and of course marmalade. Often used in perfumes (over half of all women's perfumes in fact) it has a wonderful ability to combine with other scents.

Roughly 100 bergamot oranges will produce 3 ounces of bergamot oil. With this mind, think of all those orange fields needed to create the world's perfumes? From a therapeutic perspective bergamot has been used by indigenous peoples as a herbal remedy for malaria. Today, aroma therapists may use it to treat depression, stress, acne, nervousness and digestion issues.

Fresh, light and uplifting bergamot essential oil is a handy oil to have around the house, especially during winter to bring a little cheer and warmth into the home through the nasal senses. Some great organic products that contain this cheery citrus oil are the Garden Mint & Bergamot Hand Lotion by Neal's Yard Remedies and the New Parent Instant Revitaliser by Natalia.

You can also buy your own wee bottle of bergamot essential oil to add to your bath, oil burner or hanky for a quick and easy pick me up.