Love that Local!Mariana Friedman is New Leaf’s Nutrition and Body Care Coordinator and a Certified Nutritional Consultant
When I first came to Santa Cruz in 1995, I fell in love with this town: the
beautiful weather, the majestic beaches, the proud redwoods (... and
then I started paying rent... but that’s a different article!)
Santa Cruz is a Mecca for natural health. I often joke that you can’t walk
ten feet in this town without tripping over a practitioner of some kind,
and it’s true — we lead the nation with our devotion to our physical
health and the health of our planet, so it’s no wonder that there is so
much local talent in these hills coming out with their own lines of body
care products, supplements and earth friendly products.
The mad geniuses over at Herbal Products & development have
created some incredible liquid multivitamins, digestive and liver support
products and even some very innovative skin care products. World fa-
mous Nordic Naturals Fish Oil Supplements is owned and operated
right here in Watsonville! Dame Martha Benedict has fused her insur-
mountable wisdom into Benedictine Herbals, a line of extracts based
on Chinese medicine. Threshold Enterprises has been manufacturing
Source Naturals Vitamins and Acupuncturist Michael Tierra’s line
Planetary Formulas up in Scotts Valley since 1982. Ben Zappin, who
worked with the Tierra’s for quite some time has come out with his own
line of extracts and topical remedies called Five Flavor Herbs.
Garimo of Up N’ Atom Chai has taken his love for chai in a new direc-
tion with lovely and luscious bar soaps, not just available in chai flavors—
I like the Silk & Wheatgrass myself. You may have heard me on KPIG
with my friend Elizabeth, of Isvara Organics, and now you can find her
amazing skin, hair and baby care lines on our shelves. If you have little
ones, check out the fun dough! And speaking of little ones, Noli n Nali
Babycare out of Felton will soon to be coming to a New Leaf shelf near
you. Kevin Dunn, a longtime local surfer, created BurnOut, a line of fan-
tastic sunblocks and lip balms. Nadine Frush has been selling her incred-
ible pain relieving Elixer Rub at Farmer’s Markets and now you can find
it here at New Leaf.
Blue Lotus Blankets of Soquel makes a line of very handy reusable,
organic, cotton bulk and produce bags.
Innovation and practicality fuel Laptop Lunches, lead-free lunch and food on the go products. Photographer and artist Anastasia Keriotis turned her artistic passion into a line of greeting cards, hemp and tote bags called dharma Love. Based in Soquel, dreamTime keeps you comfy with eye pillows, neck rolls and foot cozies!
That is just a mere sampling of what’s available from your talented friends and neighbors. Be sure to check these out! | 
