Five of the Best Places on the Web to Buy Organic, Natural Products and Herbs

My family went through a couple of years of sicknesses and ailments that we didn't understand. We had a hard time treating them, and a harder time understanding where they were coming from. In an effort to find healing, we switched to organic foods and began treating ourselves herbally. We no longer have health issues like before. We have an occasional cold, but that's about it. We dealt with stomach issues, odd allergies, skin conditions, and respiratory problems. For families that have chosen to go organic and natural, or who would like to, I have compiled a list of my favorite five places to purchase natural, safe products online.

Heirloom Seeds

If you are looking into growing your own organic fruits, vegetables or herbs, then this is the place to shop. Heirloom seeds are from plants that are non-hybrid, and untreated with any pesticides. Their seeds are exactly what they are supposed to be. Tomato seeds are tomato seeds, corn seeds are corn seeds. That means that they are not genetically engineered with any extra chemicals or contaminants. If you are going to start an organic garden, then the very beginning is the place to start, and we all know that the beginning is the seed.

Another great aspect of Heirloom Seeds is that they offer books, tools, and non toxic insect control products. They are organic minded through and through. That makes me feel good about buying from them. I have had two gardens with seeds that came from their company and I am delighted to say that my produce and herbs have been delicious and I feel good about consuming them. Not only am I 100% certain that they are 100% organic, but they taste just that much sweeter because I grew it myself.

Whole Foods Market

When it comes to grocery stores, Whole Foods is the way to go. Their foods are scrutinized closely to insure that anything that goes into their marketplace is natural and organic. They boast a very thorough evaluation of every product that comes into their store. One of my favorite things about Whole Foods is that their produce is provided by local farmers with high organically grown standards. What that means to me is that not only is my food healthier, but it helps make the economy healthier. I like knowing that my money is going back into the community.

Something else I like about Whole Foods is their commitment to whole trade. Whole trade means helping farmers and food providers give back to their community. It helps insure healthy and fair work conditions for laborers and a safer environment for those who live near the farms.

They offer a very wide range of products... anything you would find in a typical grocery store, only healthier. The only drawback is that not every food item is available to purchase online. They do have several stores throughout the United States and Canada, and have a store locater on their website to see if a store is near your home.

Organic Family

Organic Family offers organic meats, dairy products and produce. What I like about them is their dedication to healthy foods and getting the word out about it. They are a growing business, and have several locaters on their website for farmers that live near your home and stores that sell their products.

They also offer free organic recipes, newsletters from their naturalist, helpful information about their farms and organic farming/foods, and a newsletter from the kids about life on the farm.

Like Whole Foods, not all of their products are available to purchase online, but several are. They sell a lot of their foods in well known stores as well, so finding their items isn't hard. Like I mentioned earlier, you can use the locater to find a store near you that sells their items.

iHerb.com

This is the place that I buy all of my herbs, vitamins, minerals and most of my toiletries. They offer just about any herb, natural oil, vitamin, mineral and natural toiletries or remedies that you can think of. They also sell my favorite brand of scented oils (Now Foods) that offer the purest oils I have found available on the market. What's more is that their prices are below the average. They range between 10 and 20 percent lower than the prices I find in my local health food store. They are an independent company which means that they rely on and reward customer loyalty. They are always offering sales. For example, they offered a 10% discount on all of their items for the 2008 holiday season. They also offer discounts and rewards for those who spread the word about their company, and even offer a help guide to start your own business selling their products that works more like a rewards program than anything else. If ever you would want to start your own business, this would be something to look into. It is a wonderful feeling selling products that you can believe in.

Organic Consumer's Association

These guys are totally committed to the cause. They have compiled an extensive list of businesses that offer organic or "green" products of any and all categories from dog food to clothing. They are also one of the first places to look to find out any news on the matter. They keep up to date on any changes in laws, lawsuits, or changes in buying across the board concerning organic, natural, or environmental issues. Though they do seem to go a little over the top for my taste, I still find them informative and continue to use them as a guide to find products and businesses that support the kinds of things I believe in.

They have a certified organic food directory, farms, fair trade businesses, environmentally friendly businesses, and much more.