Saugeen Country Dairy

Are you ready for another local producer showcase?!

We are!  Today our blog takes a field trip to the country.
 
The first thing you need to know about Saugeen Country Dairy is that it was organic even before it was cool.  Their products have been organic since 1994, and even before that they were certified with the Biodynamic Society of Ontario in 1988.  Nowadays, they hold certifications from both Eco-Cert (for organic practices) and Demeter (for biodynamics).  Biodynamic farming takes their organic practices to an even higher level, incorporating holistic philosophies to farm management

Going Local with Seedy Steve Pancake Mixes - Made in Guelph!

Here at the Stone Store, we love supporting innovative local enterprises, and the latest has been Seedy Steve with his hearty Pancake mixes.

Steve Snoek created his signature pancake mix to offer a healthier alternative to bread for his family.  To do so, he went back to his Mom's classic pancake recipe, and started by reducing the wheat flour.  To make up the difference, he started experimenting with bulking up the rest of the recipe with healthy seeds.  He ended up adding buckwheat flour, poppy seeds, shredded coconut, ground flax, black chia seeds, and pumpkin seeds.  

Green since the beginning.

For some businesses, environmental issues are an afterthought, but here at the Stone Store we strive to be green through and through - whether in the products we decide to stock, the packing options we offer, or the causes we support.  Here are some of the highlights!

A Little Sun for the Yorklands Greenhub

 Coolest product ever: Now at our store we are selling rechargeable solar lamps.  Better yet, when when you buy one, you make a global (and local) impact!

Little Sun is a social enterprise focused on getting clean, reliable, affordable light to the 1.1 billion people worldwide without access to electricity.

Winter Night Market

Our store loves to celebrate local products, and that's why we jumped at the opportunity to support a new local artisan market - The Guelph Night Market!  After a very successful market in Autumn 2015, Theresa Mullin and Emily Colley-Divjak, co-founders of the Night Market decided to do it all again!

The next market will be WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2016 from 7PM-Midnight @The Ebar, Guelph. 

Breast-feeding Support

Attention new mothers in Guelph - did you know there is a free peer-support program for breast-feeding mothers in Guelph?  It is called the WE (Women Everywhere) Breastfeed Support program.

We are lucky enough to have one of their trained peer support people on our staff here at the store!  Holly has two children of her own and decided to become a part of the program in October 2014.
Holly is at the store Fridays 10-5 and Sundays 9-3.  She would be happy to chat with you if you have any quick questions for her, or you can contact the WE Breastfeed Support Program at 519-821-6638 ext. 250 or online at: http://www.guelphchc.ca/healthy-living/outreach/we--women-everywhere--breastfeed

Going Local with Best Baa Dairy

At the Stone Store we pride ourselves on having the most interesting and best quality local suppliers, so we decided to use this blog as a way to share the stories of a few small businesses who have products we think you'll LOVE!

LOCAL PRODUCER OF THE DAY: 
Ewenity Dairy: Best Baa Sheep Milk 

 Nicole Bzikot, the Plant Manager at Best Baa in Fergus ON, told us that Best Baa began in 2001 as a "retirement" project for Elisabeth and Eric Bzikot (her parents-in-law) who recognized there was a niche market for sheep milk products.  Sheep milk is often easier to digest because it is very close in constitution to human milk.  Plus, it's loaded in calcium, protein, CLA, and vitamins A,D and E in formats your body can absorb.

DIY

Our staff are always experimenting with new concoctions in the realms of natural food and body care, and we wanted to share our latest "Do It Yourself" discovery with you.

Aura Cacia makes custom skin-care easy with their new DIY line of organic oils.  It's fun, it's often less expensive than pre-made products, and you know EXACTLY what goes into them, so you can customize scent, richness and quality.