Bedding
April 3, 2008
Organic Bedding
by Arleen Patterson
Coyuchi
Conventionally Grown Cotton
Despite early warning, today insecticides, herbicides, fungicides and chemical fertilizers are applied to the cotton plant throughout it’s growing cycle. This is what is meant by conventionally grown cotton.Cotton is the most heavily sprayed field crop on the planet. Here are the statistics:
Three percent of the world’s arable land produced more than 50 billion pounds of cotton
Twenty-five percent of all insecticides is applied to cotton
Two hundred chemicals might be applied to a single plant in one season in the United States. This translates to a third of a pound of chemicals per pound of cotton fiber.
One and a quarter pounds of agricultural chemicals are used in California to produce the conventionally grown cotton in a single set of Queen Sized sheets
An Unconventional Approach
If all cotton were grown organically, the use of insecticides worldwide would be reduced 25 percent. Coyuchi is working toward using only 100% certified organic cotton. Every fiber of cotton spun is produced in accordance with the standards set forth by the International Federation of Organic Agricultural Movements (IFOAM). To be certified as organic the cotton the cotton must meet the requirements outlined by IFOAM in its “Growing and Processing Standards”Seeds must be non genetically engineered.
Insects should be controlled by methods that stimulate what occurs in the natural environment where good bugs eat bad bugs.
Emphasis must be placed on keeping plants healthy- healthy plants are more resistant to infestation.
Chemical fertilizers or inputs, such as herbicides or other pesticides, cannot be used.
Fields are weeded by hand Advantages of Growing Cotton Organically
Growing cotton organically reduces costs and increases revenues for farmers. It improves soil fertility and porosity-so less water is required- and more healthful food crops can be grown. Organic cotton is grown rotationally and alongside maize, sesame, sorghum and chilies and intercropped with nitrogen-fixing plants such as lentils and chickpeas. Some of these plants serve as barriers that repeal pests, while others, such as maize and sorghum, attract beneficial insects. Soil fertility is managed with the application of manure, compost and earthworm castings, crop rotation supplementation with oil cakes and the use of biodynamic preparations.
Changing Lives with Fair Trade Cotton
When it comes to coffee many people chose to brew fair-trade coffee, but cotton is not yet a part of the consumer consciousness. Beginning in January 2008 the Coyuchi through the Chetna Project will be devoted to growing fairtrade, certified organic cotton.
Coyuchi manufactures for many companies selling organic products. You can also purchase Coyuchi products
through www.Organicstyle.com
Holy Lamb Organic
Holy Lamb Organics offers a unique line of natural bedding products. We feature all organic cotton fabric and pure wool fill instead of synthetics or down. In business since 2000, we are a women-owned operation located in Olympia, Washington.
“Our goal is to provide a high quality product using only the finest materials possible, to institute efficient and ecological practices, and to provide a high level of customer service to exceed your expectations.
Thank you for visiting our web site. Our products are available at both retail and wholesale price levels.
Feel free to contact me with questions or comments.”
-Willow Whitton, Owner
Holy Lamb Organics
Olympia, WA
Mission Statement:
To promote health and well being and to strengthen an economy based on ecology through a line of all-natural bedding products produced using sustainable and ecological practices. We exclusively use only organic cotton fabric and domestic wool local to the Pacific Northwest. We are proud to be a zero waste company and are committed to providing exceptional customer service.
Our Company Ethics:
All of our in-house products are custom made right in Olympia, WA using wool from our local bio-region as opposed to imported wool from overseas. This is a conscious business choice, helping to support the much depressed economy of the United States sheep farmers. We choose wool instead of down, because unlike the birds who are undermined during feather harvesting, sheep grow a coat of wool each year and are not harmed during the shearing process. We also exclusively use organic cotton fabric. We are proud to run a business that produces zero waste. All of our by-products are turned into resources through recycling or composting. For example, we make efficient use of all of our fabric and wool with only the tiniest of scraps being composted using vermiculture (worms)
Retail Locations
CALIFORNIA:
The Hemp Shak
1115 Broad Street
San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
805-543-0760
Green Festival
San Francisco
Annual Show in November
Concourse Exhibition Center, booth # TBA
Green Body
294 A Railroad Ave .
Danville,CA 94526
Solutions
1063 H Street
Arcata, CA 95521
707-822-6972
Conscious Home
1580 Nursery Way Suite A
McKinleyville, CA 95519
707-840-0776
The Little Seed
219 North Larchmont Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90004
The Natural Mattress Store
816 4th Street
San Rafael, CA 94901
415-459-2220
www.thenaturalmattressstore.com
No Feathers Please
At nofeathersplease.com you will find an extensive selection of high quality certified organic cotton and wool bed linens that are free of harmful chemicals, perfumes, resins and pesticides. They are USA made and we are 25-30% below the manufacturers suggested retail price. You can be assured of getting great value and high quality in our organic bedding line.
Our comforters, blankets, cotton sheet bedding line, dust mite barriers, pillows, mattress pads, mattress toppers and pet beds are a great choice if your looking for clean, organically grown bedding that is also a hypoallergenic feather and down alternative. This line is manufacturered to the highest organic standards and in many cases meets or exceeds them
If you were looking for fine organic cotton or wool bed linens made from safe and clean certified organic cotton or wool at a great price, you will find we have what you need and so much more! We invite you to take a look around our site to find out more about our beautiful organic bedding, featuring products manufactured by Pure Rest organics.
We will be happy to email you as new products are added. Join our customer list by sending us an email request with “add me to email list” in the subject line.
Please email us at support@nofeathersplease.com or if your prefer, use the auto form on the Contact and FAQ pages.
Organic Bedding
You will find this bedding line to be outstanding not only because of the healthy sleeping environment you will benefit from, but also because of the feel and comfort of sleeping on clean organic certified cotton and wool fabrics colored by nature. You will also love the long life of cotton and wool bedding and their easy care qualities. Sleeping on all natural and organic bedding free from chemicals, pesticides, perfumes and feathers can make a big difference in how you feel and rest!
Organic products mean no harsh and dangerous pesticides, resins, perfumes or chemical residue in the bedding you and your family spend hours on each night. We do not use goose and duck down, feathers or quills as an insulator in any of our products; none in our comforters, mattress toppers, mattress pads or pillows. Instead a hypoallergenic, down alternative, high quality organic cotton, wool or natural organic rubber insulator is used as our fill products.
A great choice for Vegan.
Also, environmental impact is greatly reduced by processing and manufacturing goods that follow organic and natural methods. Best of all, with the exception of our long staple, silky, soft organic cotton sheets, many of our bedding items from our very extensive product line are manufactured right here in the USA!
We use domestically grown organic cottons for our blanket line and domestic wools for batting in our comforters. The items we do import and that are certified organic are kapok fruit silk, tagua nut palm buttons, Merino wool from Australia and organic cotton damask fabric from Germany, used as the outer fabric on our comforters, mattress toppers, pads and pillows.
It’s easy to do good for you, your family and our environment. Each month we make a donation to our local Project Wildlife chapter. Your purchase at No Feathers Please helps us generate this contribution. Thank you for your support.
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