The Bulk Bar & Refill Station is still definitely a work in progress, but we’re getting there! Our goal is to make your journey towards zero waste as simple, convenient and accessible as possible.

We encourage you to bring your own jars (or whatever containers you’ve been avoiding throwing away) and come see what we have to offer.

Refilling bulk products will empower you, save you money and enable you to say goodbye for good to conventional, non-recyclable and enduring plastic packaging. Not to mention drastically reduce your exposure to petroleum based products, synthetic dyes and fragrances, manufacturers who test on animals, hormone disrupting chemicals – the list goes on and on.

As you get low on these in your house – consider making us a weekly or monthly stop!

*laundry detergent (liquid or powder)
*organic, expeller pressed coconut oil
*organic apple cider vinegar 
*vegetable glycerin
*mango/shea butter
*sulfate free liquid shampoo
*liquid conditioner
*castile soap (unscented or lemongrass)
*baking soda
*epsom salts
*glass cleaner
*stain and odor remover
*dish soap
*green tea
*dog treats
*orange juice
*and more!

Bottom line, bulk buying is a great opportunity to vote with your dollar by supporting businesses and brands who are willing to reduce their waste stream and who actually care. Not only about what their product is made of or what it’s packaged in, they also care about their customers – YOU!

Also, don’t let multi national corporations get away with polluting our earth AND blaming it on us!

Vive la révolution!!

 

Earth Hero! You’ve already kicked your neon shower puff habit for beautiful, biodegradable natural sponges for your body exfoliating, car cleaning, dishwashing needs.  But you may be wondering how to keep them clean.  You aren’t alone, we get this question all the time!

What’s worked best for us is to soak natural loofah or sea sponge every two weeks in a mixture of warm water and baking soda.

-(1) tablespoon baking soda per (1) cup of warm water. 

-Soak for 15 minutes

-Rinse

-Let the sponges air dry in a ventilated area.

For both loofahs and sea sponges – the more you use them, the more frequently they need to be swapped completely. Also, we recommend storing your natural sponges in a cool, dry place between uses. It will help elongate the life span of the sponge and prevent bacteria from growing.

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DON’T!

-Use a diluted bleach solution.

-Boil, microwave, or expose to high heat (it will harden).

-Twist or pull – only squeeze to dry.

-Store in humid areas.

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To discard your sponges, simply place them in your compost bin. If you don’t have a home compost, check out Gainesville’s Beaten Path Compost. Their drop off locations are the Union Street Farmers Market OR there’s a compost bin (large black rolling trash can labeled COMPOST) adjacent to their garden at the corner of SW 4th Ave. and SW 3rd St., it’s tucked away at the east end of the strip where Opus Coffee is located.

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For more information on Loofah and Natural Sea Sponges:

Are natural sea sponges greener than synthetic shower poufs?

Sponge FAQ

How to Clean Loofah or Natural Sponge Without Bleach