Farmers Market Season

I will be a biweekly vendor at the 2012 Lansdowne Farmers Market, which is held every Saturday at the Lansdowne Ave. Parking Lot from 9:00 - 1:00 May 26 through October 27, rain or shine!   I am so very excited to be a part of this very popular local market!  I will also be a part of a couple of special markets outside the usual May - October run. 

These are the dates I will be present at the market:

May 26 (Opening Day!)

June 9, 23

July 14, 28

August 11, 25

September 8, 22, 29

October 13, 27
                                            November 17

I look forward to meeting local customers and making lots of new friends that value local, small indie businesses and the quality product they have to offer their community.  Visit my Etsy shop (on the right sidebar) to view just some of the items I will be selling.

Zoning & Permit Woes

I'm having quite the time in my attempts to get my business permit through my township.  I was denied on the assumed basis that my manufacturing processes would create excess "noise, vibration, glare, fumes, odors, or electrical interference; added traffic or solid waste greater than the use for residential purposes".  Clearly, and without investigating BEFORE denying my application, my local L&I does not know the meaning of all-natural and hand-crafted.  After explaining to the L&I director that my manufacturing processes produce none of the above, he stated that it was not up to him to decided if my manufacturing produces said excess or not.  It would be up to the zoning board to decided, and for me to get to that point I would have to fill out an application for a zoning variance, which includes a $700 non-refundable application fee with no guarantee of approval.  After posting about my frustrations on Etsy the thread has become 13 pages long: VIEW IT HERE 

I was lucky to catch the eye of a fellow Etsian and writer for The Daily Dot internet newspaper.  She was kind enough to email me for more info on the situation, and even contact my local L&I department.  She then published THIS ARTICLE on April 13.

I have since written letters to my district's councilman, the mayor, the committee chairperson for zoning and business, and my state representative, who has her office 1 mile from my home.  I've met all of them at local town hall meetings, and at the bar/restaurant where I work part time.  I heard back from the mayor yesterday that he would look into this and call me.  I'm hoping with fingers crossed that I may continue to do business in my town, and not be punished by trying to do the right thing.  Wish me luck!

Welcome to the Akima Botanicals blog!

Welcome to the maiden voyage of the Akima Botanicals blog!!

What I sell:
~ Lip Balm
~ Perfume Oil
~ Room Spray & Body Spritz
~ Yoga Mat Spray
Stay Tuned for Hand Salve, Soap, Potpourri, and Body Butter 

What I believe:
Whenever possible Akima Botanicals uses eco-friendly, organic, fair trade, responsibly wild-harvested botanicals and/or other ingredients free from parabens, pthalates, artificals dyes and preservatives.  When fragrance oils are used, I carefully select only the most premium quality oils tested for purity and safety, also free from parabens, pthalates, and chemical preservatives.  Green manufacturing and operations are always practiced; I pledge to reuse, reduce, recycle, and sustain as much as possible.  No products or ingredients used are ever tested on animals!  Alcohol is also not used in any body products because it dries the skin.

What you can expect in my blog:
~New products
~Coupons and specials
~Where to buy
~Tidbits on my studies in holistic medicine
~Posts on all things natural, eco-friendly, and herbal
~Anecdotes on my adventures in self-starting, self-funding, & self-running my indie small business

You can also follow me on Facebook and visit my Etsy Shop.
Thanks for joining me on my journey!