Nature Report #4

I recently posted:
"I love my clothing line, Sanctuary Innerwear. That's why I'm always trying to improve it. I want it to be the best clothing ever made and worn."
As I begin the making and dyeing process for another year, I celebrate that my garden is improving in its richness, as is the biodiversity on our property. I think I'm learning that nature takes care of itself, and my job is to see where I can join in for my life and for my business. Inspired by a plentiful grape harvest, I've been learning about and incorporating fermentation into my life and work. 

And yet, much remains the same as the years move on:
-my 11 styles, colours, infusions, soaps and intentions. These have never changed, nor do I see a need for them or predict a time when they will change.
-my opening words, as I greet you, my potential customer, and the wish I leave you with as you go (which is still on my business cards).
-my guarantee and return policy (I've never declined a return, nor have I not learned something from one).

I'm perceiving other kinds of change in society that are not cause for celebration in my view, and one is with Textile Exchange and the corporate environment. My ranking in the Materials Benchmarking system has not improved, although I still rank the highest possible score for Man-made cellulosics using PFC certified sustainable fibres (Lenzing Tencel). It's disappointing to me that the focus, or what is deemed "preferred", has moved from sustainably sourced wood fibres to recycled polyester. No matter what the world's problems are, I do not wish to sew polyester, dye polyester or wear polyester, no matter how many lives it's had. My hopes of gaining FSC certification and sourcing my fabric from South America have also hit dead ends because my orders are not large enough, and so I do the best I can with the information and raw materials I have and can make.

And yet I find ways to improve in my quest to be the best garment ever made and worn. Where last year's learning was about plants and their potentialities, this year's has been about how what we think can change our outlook, and our lives. The Hero's Journey has been a jumping off point, with Jordan Peterson's "We Who Wrestle with God" a source of contemplation. I've nominated a female from folklore, history or fiction to act as an inspiration for each of the intentions of my garments, and have developed an "Aim Game" (cards) as a morning exercise to prepare oneself for the challenges of the day, and to live the intention that one is wearing. I love it, and what it has helped me work through, and am offering it for free to the right customers. I've also been successful in developing a seed starting tray from my 100% Tencel fabric scraps, and all of my seeds started indoors this spring have germinated in one of these trays. I'm planning on unveiling it at the next Guelph Organic Conference, and seeing if I can get some collaborators. I also have plans to create a compostable feminine pad this coming year.  I'm very excited by these developments and am daily grateful for how nature provides and inspires.