FTC Affiliate Disclosure
All opinions, or reviews posted on this blog are expressly my own, unbiased, and supported by my own testing and research, and belong solely to Stormy Peterson the author, and owner of The Longshoreman's Daughter. Below, you will find products and companies I'm passionate about, and thoroughly support.
Love. This. Store.
It seems anyone these days can get their hands on a re-seller permit, and import cheap wares and goods from overseas factories with questionable (at best) working conditions & pay for their employees, think up a name, call yourself a "store" and rake in dough hand over fist. What's different about Darn Good Yarn is that they're proving you don't have to cheat, or exploit people in other countries in order to make a profit in America. There's no need to sell your soul in order to pay your bills - something I can totally get behind! PLUS, Darn Good Yarn is committed to reducing textile and apparel industry waste - something else I am also passionate about in my own practices. Created by Nicole Snow in 2008 Darn Good Yarn brings us beautiful up-cycled silk yarn, knitting accoutrements, and silk Sari wrap skirts, but also the opportunity to help women support themselves in impoverished or struggling parts of the world, but it doesn't end there, the company also partners with Pine Ridge Industries in Schenectady, NY to lovingly package their outgoing orders giving those with developmental disabilities sustainable employment, and independence. So. With each order we reduce waste, support our global economy and women workers by helping them escape crippling poverty, and create jobs here at home for some of our most vulnerable, and often overlooked individuals? What's not to love? Read more about Darn Good Yarn here.
Side note: Please understand this is a very small business that promotes incredible sales every once in a while creating a buying rush that can bog down the shipping process. You WILL get your items, and the customer service team is nothing if not helpful and friendly! I made my first purchase over a holiday weekend during a buy-one-get-one sale combined with another offer and it took about 3 weeks to get my delivery. That being said, the Sari wrap skirts are gorgeous, and I'd much rather get my clothes this way, than overnight from a big box store that is part of a chain that oppresses factory workers.
I couldn't be more excited to share this company with you! Some may already be aware of my total mutant status of having, like, a billion food allergies - to the point where it's oftentimes easier to answer people with what I'm actually not allergic to, instead of hitting them rapid-fire with everything that I am. This, as you can imagine has presented many challenges in my life though out the years. Watching your list of "safe" foods dwindle to what can fit on a note card, I assure you, is not very much fun, and processed, or packaged foods that won't make you sick, or trigger a reaction? Forgeddaboudit. For a long, long time natural and alternative foods manufacturers patted themselves on the back for making foods, meal prep ingredients, and supplements without one or two certain prevalent allergens, the problem though, is that these companies would replace the allergen they removed with something else from the list of Top 9 allergens responsible for the most serious reactions. I guess the thinking behind that move was, how likely is it that a person could possibly be allergic to ALL nine??? Well, for some of us, extremely likely.
What's awesome about Naked Nutrition is how they're winding back decades of frustration with their simple, clean, and straight forward products. I can not even begin to describe the elation that comes with reading ONE ingredient on a product label, add to that the knowledge, and comfort it brings that the one ingredient isn't going to worsen your condition, or take a toll on your overall health. Granted, not every product available at Naked Nutrition is reduced to a single ingredient, but enough of their products are stripped down, or separated from other ingredients or flavors that it is absolutely worth checking out if you need to follow a strict food or supplementation program.
To date, I've used six of Naked Nutrition's products; from BCAAs, to fiber, to a couple of protein variations, and a few things in between, and I haven't been disappointed by a single item. The powders I've used can be seamlessly incorporated into the shakes, smoothies, and baked goods recipes you already know and love (when it comes to baking you'll likely want to add a dab more liquid when dealing with additions like fiber or protein powders, but as long as any batter you're working on beats up smooth you'll be just fine). I'm excited to explore more options from their catalog, myself, and report back in a post about what I've discovered. Until then, if you're feeling adventurous, and want to dive right in they're currently offering 15% off your first order if you sign up for their mailing list, and 20% off if you take their product selector quiz.
It's not everyday I find myself getting excited about a new company, but Rareform is ticking all the right boxes for me. Created a few years ago by two brothers, Rareform has come up with a clever way to keep a rather durable material out of our landfills. By re-purposing billboard vinyls that would otherwise end up in a trash heap somewhere after their intended single-use expires, they afford themselves the opportunity to make countless one-of-a-kind products without the manufacture of new fabrics (which, as we hopefully all know, can wreak havoc on our natural environment). So, if you're looking for a unique accessory or gift idea, click this link and receive $20 off your first purchase of $50 or more!
Seeds Now
If you're an organic gardener looking for pure, non-genetically modified, non-hybridized, heirloom, open-pollinated, raw & untreated seeds, Seeds Now is your spot. Committed to the Safe Seed Pledge the company's website is packed with great information for gardeners (especially beginners) to ensure a successful growing season. Sign up for their newsletter for the latest information on sales, promotions, and giveaways so you never miss out. You can also join their affiliate program, and earn 20% on purchases made through your unique link. Shop now, and at checkout enter code: SAVE10NOW to get 10% off your order.
Thrive Market
For everything you can't, or don't have time to grow at home, there's Thrive Market. This membership based, online marketplace is cutting out middlemen to deliver products from some of your favorite natural food brands right to your door. Because they're buying wholesale directly from brands themselves, Thrive Market is able offer products to their members for prices 25-50% lower than what's available in typical retail stores (including other online marketplaces), and ship all orders over $49 for free within the United States. The annual membership fee is currently $5/month, billed annually, or $12/month, billed monthly, and with every new membership purchased, one is gifted to an American family in need. However, if you're not ready for that level of commitment, give their 30-day free trial a whirl, and see what it's all about!I'm a girl whose family has been shopping in natural food stores since the beginning when everything tasted like stale garbage, and nearly cost a King's ransom. Now, to see an Eco-friendly, community-minded company like Thrive Market even attempt to make healthier (and tastier) food choices commonplace and affordable? This, to me, is worthy of support. It's also worth noting that in their commitment to bringing good food to everyone, Thrive Market now accepts SNAP/EBT on all eligible products.
