Mustard Seed volunteer Amber manages the stall at the Earth Day Festival

Several vendors, volunteers and residents braved gray skies on Earth Day to celebrate Columbia’s 2012 Earth Day Festival. Mustard Seed set up a stall on Elm Street with items such as jewelry, t-shirts and recycled sari journals. Despite a few showers, the crowds remained full throughout the festival.

The Earth Day Festival is an annual event, focused on celebrating and promoting sustainability in Columbia. Mustard Seed has been involved in the Earth Day Festival for several years now. The crowd tends to be one that is seeking to “vote with their dollars” for products that will support the environment.

Mustard Seed encourages its customers to purchase with a purpose.

As a fair trade store, part of Mustard Seed’s goal is to cultivate environmental stewardship both in Columbia and around the world. Many of our products are the result of innovative ways to reuse old material. There are cups made of recycled glass, jewelry made of rolled strips of paper, frames made of old bike chains, even a doll made of orange peels. We help to support artisans who can make something beautiful out of the materials others might call trash.

Many of our food items, such as chocolate and tea, are grown in a way that strives for an organic and sustainable product.

The women were busy working when I arrived but I managed to talk to a few about their long term goals and how working for Sseko has effected their lives. I met future doctors, lawyers, teachers and business women. Make sure you stop by Mustard Seed to check out more pics of some of the women you help support through your Sseko purchases.

FYI: Be on the look out for Sseko’s line of clutches; pictured below are a few of their samples!!

Patric chocolate, which had a total of 6 employees, has been making significant waves in the craft choclate world. Crystal, my resource from Patric, who is often referred to as the “Chocolate Lady”, was kind enough to share her insight on the company she works for. Crystal talked to me a little bit about what it’s like to work at Patric, noting that the comradery she shares with her co workers is the thing she enjoys most about working at Patric. She says employees often play poker over lunch breaks, spend time together outside of work and share a sincere passion for cooking, especially chocolate. With all of that positive energy floating around their shop, it’s easy to imagine why their chocolate is turning out so well.

However, not only is Patric chocolate turning out well, it’s winning awards, too. While their awards are too numerous to list here, Crystal shared the one she was most proud of was the 2011 Good Food Award. Crystal said, “Whereas we’ve been recognized by many different national publications over the past 5 years, the Good Food Award was given to us by our peers who recognized us as changing the face of craft food in the US. It is really humbling to be sent such a positive message by one’s own peers.” Here at Mustard Seed we can add our voice to the chorus of praise they’ve been receiving, and this blogger can say from personal experience that their chocolate is unique and delicious. If you’re looking for a small gift or a stocking stuffer for someone special, you should stop by and try a bar. We now have the iNibitable, PB and J OMG, Madagascar 75%, Cappuccino OMG, and Mint OMG in store.

To conclude this blog post, I want to share a final thought from Crystal that I think wraps things up better than I could: “My most fulfilling moments at Patric Chocolate are when I have the opportunity to introduce people to Patric Chocolate. Folks are always so surprised by the quality of our chocolate. I’m continually excited to come to work each and every day, as I know I’ll have another opportunity to introduce a new person to Patric Chocolate. Very often people refer to me as the “Chocolate Lady” and when they do, I know I’ve done my job. By word of mouth and our continued support from die-hard Patric Chocolate fans, our company continues to grow! I’m so excited to see where we’ll be in 5 or 10 years!”

Handmade Expressions states that their mission is: “To improve the economic and social standing of underprivileged people in the world by reinforcing local economies and creating self-sustainable employment through just and responsible practices.” If you’re familiar with this company, you know that they treat their artisans fairly, and support the communities their artisans live in. No matter what holidays you do or do not celebrate, wrapping a gift with paper that has helped support a talented artisan and their community, makes it all the more meaningful, creating Happy holidays and best wishes from Mustard Seed to you and your family.

Artisan sewing detail on handmade paper

Global Mamas has a motto of: “Love your product; Know your producer; Change her life.” They live this motto by supporting artisans and helping to develop their skill set to keep them employable. Aggie Cole Arthur, from the Cape Coast of Ghana, is one of these people. Aggie has studied fashion and has been making batik textiles for almost ten years, but now that she has access to the global audience that Global Mamas offers, she can support her family without an income from her husband.

Come check out these and other items at the Mustard Seed as we recover from Thanksgiving and get ready for the holidays. Why not share your gratitude and joy this season not only with your family, but with other families around the world by supporting Fair Trade organizations.

Global Mama's Children's Clothing

a great new way to
purchase} with a purpose… online!

Mustard Seed is thrilled to announce the launch of our new online store!  Now you can shop with the Seed anywhere, anytime!  The new shop carries a variety of fabulous fair trade scarves, jewelry, children’s items, and ssekos!  Like our brick-and-mortar home, we will do our best to bring you the latest fair trade finds on a regular basis.

All the information you need about shipping and other logistics can be found on the site to make your shopping experience a cinch!

What are you waiting for? Go purchase} with a purpose online with the Seed!  
(and while you are at it, don’t forget to tell your local and out-of-town friends, family, cousins, aunts, brother’s girlfriend, coffee shop buddies…. everyone!… about the new best way to shop fair trade online!)

Many thanks to all who planted the seeds that grew into this wonderful new adventure!

Love, Mustard Seed
shop.mustardseedfairtrade.org

These block print napkins come to us from artisans in the Barmer Region in India. This region has a heritage of creating beautiful block print textiles, and our vendor, Handmade Expressions, is working to ensure that that heritage is preserved for many years to come. Not only are their artisans paid a living wage, but Handmade Expressions also supports their community, helping to improve access to basic necessities (as defined by the developed world) of water, electricity, housing, health, and education.

Additionally, these would make a great gift, they’re compact (for storage), useful and beautiful. And didn’t you say you were going to buy your holiday gifts early next year? Stop by and check out these and our many other fabulous items. Celebrate the season by supporting artisans and promoting a living wage and fair working conditions for all. Cheers!

Block Print Napkins from Handmade Expressions

These cotton, wood block print tablecloths are hand made in India by individual artisans for Asha Handicrafts Association. Asha seeks to perpetuate traditional crafts by operating as a not-for-profit middle man to help maintain the profitability of artisanal crafts. Additionally, Asha provides many employee benefits for their worker, for example: savings programs and a health center, programs that would no be present if these workers were dealing directly with stores internationally. Asha, which means “hope” in Sanskrit, represents 6,500 artisans in India.

Kalamkari Tablecloths

Mustard Seed sells many products that are from Uganda, including SUUBI and the Sseko sandals you all love. In my free time, I plan to travel around Uganda (and some neighboring countries if my funds permit) and blog about interesting things I come across. You’ll see firsthand how purchases similar to the ones you make at Mustard Seed effect the lives of many.  Dong Maber! (Bye for now)