My company was born when I suddenly found myself moving to rural Michigan with my husband, Alex, to start a hobby farm, after 30 years of living in Chicago. Moving to Michigan has been an adventure beyond our wildest dreams.  I had never actually had a garden in the city, and suddenly I found myself planting every vegetable and herb I could think of in our 3000 sq. ft. organic garden. We battled many pests and diseases (organically of course!) our first summer, and have learned (and continue to learn) only what sound experience can teach us.  I'm beginning to understand the deep connection to the earth that is inherently present in the country.  Every season brings its own surprises. I can actually point to the farm where much of my food is grown, if it's not from my own back yard. Neighbors kindly contributed countless pieces of wisdom that only country folk know, and we slowly began to feel the pulse of the land.  But I noticed one thing missing:  most of my neighbors do not garden nor eat organically, and still use harsh chemicals in their everyday products, even though those products often filter back into their own land through a septic system and well.

I had been teaching elementary and middle school for 4 years, but needed to spend such a huge amount of time taking care of our 22 acres that I started dreaming of a business I could run from home, from the land I feel so connected to. I decided to combine my passion for healthy living with my newly acquired entrepreneurship dreams, and The Greater Green was created.  I hoped to help the people around me understand the impact of their choices on not only the land they lived on, but on themselves directly, and to inspire them to make consumer choices that they can feel good about. Knowing that I am devoted to a handful of truly wonderful natural products, which had taken me years to discover, I decided to feature only those products- the ones I actually use and love- on my website. I hope to educate and inform, too, by providing an explanation and review of every product to share what I have discovered with those who are seeking to learn more about natural and green living.

We have so much to learn, too, and so I hope that this website can serve as a forum for discussion and sharing of ideas. Life is a learning process, and when we are lucky, the learning never ends.

So this is the beginning of my journey, which I hope you will share with me!