Taraluna Fair Trade, Organic and Green Gifts

Thank You for Your Support,

We have a saying here at Taraluna that we very much believe in - ”changing the world one purchase at a time.” We believe that you can change the world one purchase at a time by shopping wisely, buying fair trade, sweatshop free, American made, organic and natural.

Taraluna is a small, woman owned/family run business and although we cannot compete with mega-corporations, we can offer unique products that our customers will feel good about purchasing and giving as gifts. When you choose to buy from us, or other green and ethical businesses you are saying NO to sweatshop labor, cutting corners, corporate handouts and pollution. By choosing ethical businesses to buy from you are saying YES to fair wages in the local context, yes to sustainable farming, yes to sustainable business practices, yes to social enterprise, yes to organic, green, natural and good. Yes.

Sincerely,

Penny Schafer
Owner
Taraluna - Fair Trade, Organic & Green Gifts

Our Name:

Taraluna is a fusion of Tara (pronounced Tah' rah) and Luna. Tara is the Goddess of peace and protection, the Mother Creator and represents the eternal life force which fuels all life. Tara translates to "Star" and in virtually every culture a version of the Goddess Tara exists, the Latin word for earth; "Terra" indicates the connection between the Goddess Tara and Mother Earth. To some indigenous peoples of the Americas Tara was Star Woman and fell from the heavens, her body became the earth which provided sustenance to the People. Perhaps the most beautiful story of Tara comes from Tibet where it is believed that the Goddess Tara is the feminine counterpart of Avalokitesvara, the Buddha who is reincarnated as the Dalai Lama. According to legend Avalokitesvara shed a tear of compassion when he beheld the extent of suffering in the world. A single tear fell to the ground and formed a lake and out of its waters appeared a lotus. The goddess rose from the lotus blossom as peaceful and compassionate protector of all humans as they cross the sea of life.

Because Tara was born from the tear of another she represents compassion, but she also embodies wisdom, capability, creativity, prosperity, long life, peace and overcoming obstacles. Tara is an archetype of our inner wisdom and has many gifts to offer contemporary women. She protects and guides us as we embark on our own journeys to personal freedom, she reminds us to remain centered and of the importance of nurturing the spirit within. It is said that Tara is like a star that perpetually consumes its own energy, representing the never-ending desires that fuel all life. Luna, the moon goddess is also known as "The Radiance" because of her radiance which shines from the heavens and embraces the earth with its golden glow.

The name Taraluna represents our belief that we are connected to all living things. We believe as a business it is our responsibility to offer high quality products that are good for the earth, its people and all living creatures. "Taraluna" represents our being grounded in the earth and our ability to dream big - to look toward the stars and create a better world. Please read our overview and mission statement for further information about our company and beliefs.

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Today, more than ever people are looking for ways to make better choices in all areas of their lives. We have seen how making the wrong choices can affect our health, the planet and its people. There is a new term for people who value personal health and development and lead lifestyles of health and sustainability - "Cultural Creative." The cultural creatives are looking for ways to be more informed and to make decisions based on their values. One-third of the American population fits into this category and has tremendous power as consumers to affect change in business and society.

The cultural creative believes that the values of health and sustainability should guide the market. New and innovative businesses like Taraluna are looking beyond the "bottom line" and concentrating on a holistic approach that includes economy, environment and society. The influence of the conscious consumer inspires others to seek higher standards; the growth of this segment of society can help to transform the world. Products are purchased not only for quality but based on values such as human rights, conservation, economic welfare, disaster relief, animal welfare and peace.

Here at Taraluna we choose to provide information and products that support health, sustainability and equity. We want to support new and better choices by providing only products that are fairly traded, organic or otherwise green. We feel that when given a choice of products, people will choose natural, healthy products that are made in safe working conditions by people earning a fair wage. We believe that when enough people demand products based on these values, corporations and government will have to start paying attention to environmental and human needs.

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Taraluna offers alternative choices in products based on our values of fair compensation to artisans, promotion of healthy and safe working environments, social and environmental responsibility and safe, non-toxic products. We offer high quality, handcrafted products from nonprofits, cooperatives and NGO's that are approved by and members of the Fair Trade Federation, the Organic Trade Association, Demeter and The Fair Trade Resource Network. We carry products sourced in nature, organically grown or recycled wherever possible. We also believe in the principle of "Think Globally, Act Locally," and although most of our products are globally sourced, we offer products made in the USA and more importantly - we support artisans at the local level (city, county, state).

Our mission is to:

• Offer a fun shopping experience, proving once and for all that being a conscious consumer doesn't have to be dull or boring.
  

• Provide safe, non-toxic, no recall toys and products that are safe for our customers, the planet and the workers who make them.
  
  
• Serve our customers by providing unique, high-quality alternatives to mass production.
  
  
• Bring fairly traded artisan products to the international marketplace, providing choice and access to our customers.
  
  
• Help the artisans that create these exquisite products and their communities by:
  
  
• - Using only fair trade companies that are members of the Fair Trade Federation.
  - Paying a fair wage in the local context.
  - Providing healthy and safe working conditions within the local context.
  - Building long-term trade relationships.
  - Engaging in environmentally sustainable practices.
  - Providing equal employment opportunities for all people.
  - Demanding ethical labor practices.
  - Provide a market for products made in a traditional manner by artisans, preserving culture while advancing economic development.
  
  
• Educate our customers about the benefits of purchasing fair trade, organic, hemp and recycled products.
  
  
• Educate our customers about artisans and their communities with respect for cultural differences and our common humanity.
  
  
• Conduct all areas of business with the highest integrity.
  
  
• Foster an atmosphere of respect, trust, support and openness to our customers, coworkers, suppliers and community.

• Support local artisans by offering their goods and providing a venue to showcase their products.
  

• Offer fair and reasonable prices to our customers.
  
  
• Keep our work environment healthy while providing meaningful work, fostering creativity and personal growth.
  
  
• Offer environmentally friendly and recycled packaging wherever possible.
  
  
• Respect basic human rights and the rights of indigenous peoples.
  
  
• Never use or buy products that employ animal testing.
  
  
• Promote campaigns, causes and products that that mirror our values and beliefs.
  
  
• As a business, recycling and conserving water and energy wherever possible.
  
  
• Strive to set an example of how a responsible business can be run, by taking into account environmental and human needs in all of our business decisions.
  
  
• Prove that a company with heart that is run in a socially and environmentally responsible manner can be profitable and successful.

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Fair Trade

Trade in which fair prices are paid to producers in developing countries.

• Pays fair wages within the local context.
  
• Offers employees opportunities to advance.
  
• Provides equal employment opportunities for all people.
  
• Engages in environmentally sustainable practices.
  
• Builds long-term trade relationships.
  
• Provides healthy and safe working conditions within the local context.
  
• Provides financial and technical assistance to producers wherever possible.

Green
1. A supporter of a social and political movement that espouses global environmental protection, bioregionalism, social responsibility, and nonviolence.
2. Beneficial to the environment: green recycling policies.
3. Favoring or supporting environmentalism: green legislators who strengthened pollution controls.

Organic
1. Using or produced with fertilizers of animal or vegetable matter, using no synthetic fertilizers or pesticides.
2. Simple, healthful, and close to nature: an organic lifestyle.
3. Free from chemical injections or additives, such as antibiotics or hormones.

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"Changing the World One Purchase at a Time" How is this possible?

Because Taraluna offers only products that are earth friendly or fair trade you are supporting sustainable practices and socially responsible consumerism. We realize that a shopping experience won't change the world, but we know that every time we support a fair trade or eco-friendly business we contribute to the betterment of the world, one purchase at a time. When enough people choose to be conscious consumers, they combine their buying power to change the way business is done. We believe in "living consciously, buying wisely, and making a difference." If you have found your way to our little online boutique, you are probably already well educated about sweat shops, child labor and unsound environmental practices. Even so, we will offer information and education regarding these issues and hope that you will decide to
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We realize how busy people are these days and how is difficult it is to research each purchase we make, so Taraluna has made the promise to do the research for you. We are committed to offering products that are fairly traded, organic, natural or otherwise green. If a product is marked "fair trade" it comes from a co-op, NGO, non-profit or company that has met the rigorous standards of the Fair Trade Federation. Products that are labeled organic use no chemical pesticides or other harmful chemicals in their production. We also offer products made with natural ingredients. We choose to offer healthy alternatives and many of our goods meet the combined standards of fair trade, organic, natural, hand made and are altogether earth friendly and socially responsible.

How do we change the world? One step at a time, one bottle recycled, one orange peel composted, one load of laundry hung out to dry, one errand run on a bike, one pet spayed or neutered - or, one small purchase at a time!

Welcome to Taraluna, we appreciate your contribution to socially and environmentally sound consumerism. We hope you enjoy your shopping experience.

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Taraluna is Proud to be an Approved Member of Co-op America,
the Fair Trade Alliance and we have achieved GOLD Level GenGreen Certification