Shopping local has always been important, but in today's challenging economic climate, it holds even greater significance. The current state of the economy has presented numerous hurdles for small businesses, and we have witnessed the struggles faced by our fellow entrepreneurs firsthand. However, thanks to customers like you, we have been able to weather the storm and continue serving our community.
In the grand tapestry of existence, small businesses hold a special place—a vibrant thread that adds warmth, character, and diversity to the fabric of our communities. They are the humble guardians of our traditions, crafting unique products and offering services that bear the imprint of human hands and the spirit of generations past.
When you choose to shop local, you become an essential protagonist in this enchanting tale, where each chapter unfolds with purpose. A seemingly modest purchase morphs into a resounding crescendo, echoing far beyond the boundaries of a simple transaction. Your support breathes life into our dreams, ignites the fires of creativity, and fuels the flames of resilience in the face of adversity.
In a world that often glorifies the sprawling aisles of impersonal giants, shopping local holds an alchemical power—a power that transcends mere commerce. It is a sacred ritual of connection, a dance of souls entwined, as you enter our doors not merely as a customer, but as a cherished member of our extended family.
Through your support, you become a guardian of our community's prosperity—a catalyst for growth, change, and empowerment. With each dollar exchanged, you lay the foundation for a thriving local economy, where dreams are nurtured, aspirations take flight, and opportunities abound. You empower individuals to pursue their passions, to paint their own strokes on the canvas of entrepreneurship.
By shopping local, you walk hand in hand with nature, treading lightly upon our fragile planet. You honor the earth by reducing the carbon footprint that looms heavy in the realm of mass-produced goods. In this harmonious dance with the environment, you inspire others to embrace sustainable practices and ensure the preservation of the wonders that surround us.
Your support holds within it the seeds of transformation. It is a testament to the extraordinary power we possess as individuals to mold the world in which we wish to live. As we express our deepest gratitude, we also extend an invitation—an invitation to continue this enchanting journey together. Walk with us, explore the treasures of our humble abode, and allow us to shower you with tokens of appreciation for your unwavering loyalty.
Remember that your choice to shop local is a proclamation—a testament to your belief in the enduring magic of community, craftsmanship, and connection. By supporting the small, you create a symphony of change, ensuring that the delicate threads of our local businesses remain unbroken.
With boundless gratitude,
Alexe, The founder
]]>Though change has been a poignant theme in recent times, it is always anchored in stability. I am anchored by my family and the love they give to me. I am anchored by work and the healing power of the natural world. Most of all, I am anchored by you and the community of people that have and continue to support Apprenti Ôr’ganik. It’s because of you and your belief in us that we are here today.
So thank you, for everything.
Une infusion toute simple fait avec l’abondance d’épinettes que nous offrent nos terres sauvage, la tisane d'épinette regorge de vitamine C et constitue une excellente boisson à déguster chaud ou froid pour booster notre système immunitaire.
Être capable d'utiliser les ressources que la terre nous fournit fait partie des valeurs d’Apprenti Ôr’ganik. (D’où notre mantra, de la Terre à Votre Peau). Quel plaisir de savoir que tout ce dont nous avons besoin pour survivre et prospérer peut nous être naturellement fourni.
Par chance, l’épinette blanche pousse en abondance dans notre climat et il a tellement à nous offrir. Comme mentionné plus haut, les aiguilles d'épinette sont exceptionnellement riches en Vitamine C, mais ils contiennent également des caroténoïdes et les bourgeons d'épinette sont riches en minéraux tels que potassium et magnésium.
En fait, les aiguilles d’épinettes sont utilisées depuis longtemps par les communautés autochtones pour soulager la toux et les maux de gorge. Ils contiennent également beaucoup de chlorophylle, qui aide à la croissance et à la cicatrisation des tissus, ainsi qu’aux transports de l'oxygène vers les cellules. Il neutralise également les radicaux libres et aide à maintenir un taux de glycémie équilibré.
C’est bien beau savoir tout ça, mais avant d’en cueillir quelques branches, il est important de bien savoir l’identifier lors de nos marches en sentier ou en forêt. Il existe maintenant plusieurs applications gratuites qui peuvent nous aider à identifier les espèces de plantes, j’aime bien utiliser l’application "PictureThis". L’épinette blanche reste tout de même très facile à identifier à l’œil et n’ayez crainte car presque toutes les branches de conifères sont comestibles et ont des propriétés médicinales, la seule exception concerne les ifs (qui ressemblent plus à un arbre ou un buisson donc dure de se tromper). On peut identifier les épinettes blanches par leur écorce blanche écailleuse, leur cime cylindrique étroite et leurs longues feuilles en forme d'aiguilles.
Avant d’effectuer ta cueillette sauvage il y a quelques règles à respecter
1. Ne prends pas plus que ce dont tu as besoin. Pour que des générations de futurs cueilleurs puissent profiter de ces cadeaux de la nature également.
2. Ne récolte pas dans des zones douteuses.
Surtout si tu vis dans une ville, les zones toxiques peuvent être abondantes et il vaut mieux les éviter. Les zones toxiques comprennent tout endroit qui aurait pu être pulvérisé avec des pesticides, à proximité ou autour des parcs à chiens ou le long des routes très fréquentées. Ces zones peuvent rendre les plantes comestibles non comestibles.
3. Ne récolte pas les plantes qui semblent malades. Ça semble être évident, mais les plantes qui ne ressemblent pas à leur état normal et sain ne sont pas sûres à manger. Un look "santé" va dépendre d'une plante à l'autre, alors soit toujours familier avec l'apparence saine de la plante que tu cueilles.
4. Consomme toujours de petites quantités pour t’assurer que tu n'es pas allergique à quoi que ce soit en premier. Lorsque des ingrédients se trouvent dans la nature, on ne sait jamais à quoi on peut être allergique.
5. Soit toujours reconnaissant et remercie la plante pour sa générosité. Elle te le remettra au quadruple :)
La partie le fun maintenant, la potion herbale et l’infusion de notre récolte. Une fois qu’on a récolté nos aiguilles d’épinettes il faut les rincer à l'eau claire. Ça supprime tous les insectes qui pourraient se cacher entre les aiguilles. Coupe les branches à une taille adaptée à ta théière et met-les de côté.
Tu peux aussi retirer les épines une par une (si tu as du temps en réserve) car la branche boisée et remplie de sève peut ajouter une saveur amère. Le choix t'appartient, mais moi j’adore tout infuser.
Porte une casserole d'eau à ébullition dans une bouilloire ou sur le feu et une fois bouillante éteigne le feu et met le fruit de ta récolte à l’eau. Tu sentiras immédiatement le léger arôme boisé provenant de l’infusion. Il est important d'éviter de faire bouillir l’épinette car la chaleur extrême créée par l'ébullition détruira la vitamine C. Laisse infuser le thé pendant un minimum de 15 minutes pouvant aller jusqu’à 1h et plus, puis ajuste la saveur avec un peu de miel cru et de citron.
Voila!
]]>It trendy, everybody use it, but do we really understand it?
By definition, a holistic philosophy is ''characterized by comprehension of the parts of something as intimately interconnected and explicable only by reference to the whole." ok great definition you'll tell me, but than again what?
Hahaha I know, it's a sophisticated word that resume something so simple and that should be a given really. Having a holistic approach to life is understanding that everything is connected, it is taking in counts someone as a whole, rather than treating an organ, symptom or disease separately. It is understanding that the medicine you are taking to relieve your headache will also affect your liver. It is knowing that the cream you put on to treat your eczema will have a systemic influence.
Organs in the body are functioning together in harmony, our blood goes everywhere to nourish our organs with oxygen and is than filtered by our poor kidneys which have a tremendous job. The best we can do
to help our overall health is to do our homework and learn about the contents of
products we use.
To apply a more holistic life at home, it is simply to understand that we are what we consume and not just what we eat. Our consumption encompasses, our social media networks, our readings, our food, our relationships, our skincare, the products we use to clean our houses and everything our life touches.
Apprenti Ôr'ganik product is part of a holistic skincare routine, because they where formulated taking in consideration not only the health of your skin, but the health of your entire body, nourishing you from outside in and the health of our mother Earth.
We are the most important person in our life because without us in it, there is no life to be lived. We truly only deserve the best.
]]>So if we’re not using harmful chemicals traditionally used in cosmetics, what are we using?
One of our favourite ingredients to work with is hemp seed oil, or what we call liquid gold. In fact it's the commun ingredient in all of our products. Hemp oil has been called the most perfectly balanced oil because it contains all 21 known amino acids and offers 3:1 ratio of Omega 6 (linoleic) to Omega 3 (alpha-linoleic) fatty acids. This might sound a bit technical, but according to dermatologists, that’s the ideal ratio for producing and maintaining healthy skin. But that’s not all, hemp oil is also chock-full of antioxidants (Vitamin E), and carotene and a number of important minerals such as calcium and magnesium.
Hemp oil has been proven to dramatically reduce the itching and dryness associated with dermatitis and inflammation of the skin. It’s also been proven to help protect the skin against signs of aging by improving the natural functions of the epidural lipids (the fats on the outermost layer of the skin). Best of all, it’s great for every skin type. This miracle oil is highly emollient and non-comedogenic, meaning it’s easy for the skin to absorb, but it won’t block your pores.
Still not convinced? Hemp is also a sustainable power house crop in Canada.
Hemp plants are great for the environment for a number of reasons. One of the best reasons is that the plant is naturally resistant to pests, meaning the crops don’t need to be treated with pesticides. Because hemp is so pest-resistant it can easily proliferate, which is good because hemp naturally absorbs and filters C02, while simultaneously rejuvenating the soil in which it’s planted through a process called phytoremediation in which toxins in the earth are absorbed through the roots of the plants and ultimately metabolized and destroyed.
This is also great for farmers, partly because hemp is such an easy and profitable crop to grow, meaning that more farmers are growing organic hemp to support their small farms. Also, since hemp leaves the soil better than how it found it, farmers are able to harvest crops and grow food directly in the soil without the need of a fallow period. Talk about a win-win.
Wait, aren’t hemp and marijuana the same plant?
Technically, sort of. Although hemp and marijuana are both plants of cannabis genus, marijuana is all about THC, which is the psychoactive component, hemp however, doesn’t produce THC (or if it does, it’s an amount so small it’s negligible) but is plentiful in medically-rich CBD.
Hemp is one of the most versatile and generous plants in existence, it’s been used as medicine, food, made into clothing, and woven into baskets, it helps clean the earth and the cold-pressed oil from its seeds nourish our skin. It’s no wonder that this incredible plant has been cultivated
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