The Essence of Things
A small, home-based business, first conceived in 1986, for the express purpose of collecting unusually high quality, natural, pure, personal care, health, and even pet food products and distributing them to persons interested in having independent access to this level of product quality.
Statement of Intention
We support independence in self-care and in life-style. We support searching for products and lifestyle habits that support your own health and a constant sense of well-being. We support the concept of balance, of filling in equal measure all of the major areas of our lives: physical, mental, emotional and spiritual. We believe in a sense of community, of sharing with our neighbors the good ideas and decisions of our lives. We ask that you explore our product lists and select for review any products toward which you are drawn and which would fill a lack in your health-care or self-care program. When you have decided, continue to use the products that work for you. We will assist you in developing autonomy in ordering, which will present possible price or financial advantages.
Jonna Wormald manages Essie's psychology practice, and does some work, primarily involving numbers, with Essence. Jonna enjoys being a mother, sent her youngest off to kindergarten last week (Sept., 2011) and, we are enormously happy to say, is back working with us. The office is significantly more orderly with her around. We all have different talents in life; Jonna has exceptional organizational skills. She has a keen ability to master new tasks and we have just given her several important ones to take charge of, mostly involving enhanced technology. Best to you, Jonna! It's wonderful to have you back!
The Three of Us Work Well Together
Backyard Helpers
Colin has worked part-time for Essence for seven years! He joined us at 14, and now, almost 21, he is entering his third year of college. Colin has a gift with animals; he is kind and a solidly good person. He also trains the young people who are newly hired, and he does a great job at that. It’s wonderful to still have him working here when he’s home from school. When young people come into your life for several years, you come to really care about them and their life choices. It’s always such a bittersweet time when the leave – so wonderful that they are moving on to their next adventure, but also sad to see them go.
Intermittently, Bailey joins us for wood stacking and snow shoveling. This year he will be a senior in high school, is an avid fife and drum participant, is a thoroughly successful student, and ‘way busier than one person ought to be!
Kate is in her second year with us. A high school Junior, she is accomplished and energetic. She doesn’t have a lot of time for us as her many school activities are quite rightly her priority. When she is here, however, the quality of her work is excellent. She pays a lot of attention to detail, and we appreciate that. She also specializes in shoveling snow off roofs in winter, and is like a mountain goat on the roof.
Jesse lives nearby and comes regularly to tend the chickens and to weed the gardens. Like Colin, Jesse has a way with animals. He just joined us in July of 2011 and we are enjoying his contributions.
Malia is an energetic and good worker. She just joined us (several older helpers have gone off to college and we had to hire several new young people this summer) and so far is cheerfully making a great contribution.
Andrew also just joined us. His dad raises perennials, and so Andrew knows quite a bit about gardening and is a solid part of our team.
There is a long list of young people who have come as youngsters and who have left, college-bound. We used to list them individually here, but the list has grown ‘way too long to include. Our practice has been to hire youngsters, part-time, at around 14, and actually put them on the payroll. For all of them, it has been first “real job.” We take out Social Security and in general give them a taste of formal employment.
We also create an environment that parents appreciate: safe and well supervised. It’s turning out to be our contribution to young people, and it’s been surprisingly gratifying and effective. One dear young woman (now going into her 2nd year of college and on the Dean’s List) has repeatedly told me that her job with us, and Essie’s support of her talent, gave her the courage and determination not only to go to college, but to go out of state to the school that she really wanted to attend. Now, that is deeply affirming.
Also, join with us by doing at least one positive thing for the earth, every day. And, while you are doing it, be in full consciousness of the living nature of the world and hold the intention to support that life. I see all the time how one or two people can transform a blighted area into a paradise, a barren area into a vital, vibrant food basket. It’s neither difficult nor complicated. We just all need to do it. Yes we can!
We believe in organic foods and natural nutritional supplements. Our state organic farming association, staffed by truly wonderful, nutritious people, can be found at: http://www.nofanh.org. Find and support yours!
