In the organic industry we come across a lot of people who either don't yet know the benefits (health, ecological and social) of going organic or don't believe it (despite the scientific facts).

This is why certification bodies like the Soil Association in the UK, BDIH in Germany, ECOCert in France and Demeter in the US are so important. They are a disciplinary authority as well as organic advocate. They offer consumers security and peace of mind, proof with hard scientific evidence as well as promoting general investigative debate on issues closest to the cause.

So when a fraudulent organic certification organisation pops up it's time to get to know our stamps of approval from our stamps of drivel. The ‘Organic Standards' is one such drivelling company. The web-based organic certification agency claims it can certify organic textiles and has done so for a number of major brands like Timberlands, H&M, Nike and Escada - all of which have denied any association with the company. Ecotextile News also reported that the company are using an amended and possibly illegal version of the Organic Exchange logo (Organic Exchange are a well-respected organisation offering resources to the organic cotton and sustainable textile industry).

So the lesson here for us organic-ites is to get to know our stamps of certification.
For a brief description on the certification bodies we trust and know to be legitimate have a look at our ‘stamps of approval' blog and get clued up on your organic bodies!

Travelling is a part of life. Everyday we walk out the front door of our comfy homes and embark on a journey of some kind or another; be it to take the kids to school, commute to work or visit our sister and her family across the Atlantic. Whatever the destination it involves changing your immediate environment. Pollution, pollen, wind, temperature change, altitude change (if you're flying or hiking Everest), is going to affect the way you look and feel which is why it's good to have a few handy tricks and tips tucked in your hand bag.

For those long haul flights facial wipes are a godsend mid flight to freshen skin that's feeling the effect of the moisture sucking air of the plane air circulation systems. Followed by a few sprays of toner can make you feel cleaner and more awake. Flying is also the best excuse to slather on the moisturiser. An intense, ultra-nourishing product like Energy Sensation by Lavere or Frankincense Hydrating Cream by Neal's Yard Remedies will help combat the extreme dry air of the plane.

It's all about the water baby. Keeping up your inner moisture levels will keep your organs hydrated - including your skin.

On the supplement front, Vitamin B3 is reportedly very good for jet lag. It has been proven to reduce the fog and sleepiness the brain feels after flying. Taking a dose a half hour before landing, on an empty stomach can help your body clock re-regulate itself faster.

Natural eye pillows or masks with calming materials like Lavender will increase the likelihood of getting a little sleep on your travels - be it train, plane or automobile.

Bentley's Organic Hand Sanitizer is another neatly sized product to carry with you, especially if you have kids or, like on long car rides, you're in and out of service station rooms.

Many organic brands (including So Organic) have travel size products that are ideal for long haul or short trips. Looking after your body, by whatever organic means is possible, whilst travelling will make you feel better when you do get to the destination, allowing you to enjoy it all the more.

Nature Deficit Disorder (NDD) is concept created by Richard Louv to describe how children are experiencing a number of negative health and social problems because they are not spending enough time in the natural world.

Root causes include kid spending more time playing playing computer games and watching tv (the average American child spend 44 hours a week playing on electronic equipment) indoors, loss of neighbourhood parks and nature areas, and parental fears of keeping kids indoors because of the largely media fuelled ‘stranger danger' world out there.

The effect of NDD seems to correlate strongly with the mental and physical health of kids. Obesity has doubled in the last 10 years amongst 2-10 year olds - 28% of girls and 22% of boys in this age group are now classified as overweight or obese. Depression is also affecting more than 10% of 11-17 year olds.

What's more kids apparently know less than their parents about the natural world at their age. In a 2008 BBC Wildlife survey 38% of 9-11 year olds could not identify a frog. It's also believed that those kids not getting enough time exploring in the great outdoors is they lose respect for nature. If we're pouring in to our kids minds facts about climate change and the world's depleting raw materials we must correlate that will some hard evidence - educate through experience - natural, unbounded, exploration of the gardens, parks and forests if we are expect them to grow well-grounded not rounded.

And here are the good stats. There's a 300% reduction in ADHD symptoms in those kids who play in nature rather than indoors. Research has also shown there's a 50% reduction in vandalism and domestic violence in families that live in tower blocks which have views of greenery compared to those who don't.

If you fancy taking the kids to visit an organic farm visit the Soil Association website to see if there's one close to you.

Walk in the wilderness kids?

As some of the most sensitive bits of skin on our body the lips deserve a little tender care. Dry lips are one of the first signs of dehydration so if you wake with more white than pink on your kissers you need to do two things. First, drink a huge a glass of water; second, lather on the lip salve.

Plant based not petroleum based is what you're after in a good lip balm. Jojoba, shea butter, avocado, calendula and aloe vera are all natural ingredients to watch out for as these contain properties like essential fatty acids and vitamin E that give a pretty instant nourishing effect to your sensitive lips. An excellent lip treatment which was also one of the first certified organic lip balms is Neal's Yard's organic lip formula.

Nothing brightens a tired, dull face that a splash of bright colour. As the increased sales of red lipstick during the WW1 proved a little rouge on your kissers goes a long way to making you look and feel cheerier.

No matter how careful we are a little lip balm or lip stick is bound to find it's way into our mouth which is why we should take particular care when choosing one that contains truly natural (edible even) ingredients. The paraffins, saccharin, mineral oil and synthetic colours found in conventional lipsticks just won't do if you want to be as organic as possible. Some of the best organic lipsticks, lip glosses and lip liners are made by Lavera, NVEY ECO, Dr.Hauschka and Inika.