Moscow Food Co-op Business Partner Profile

by Jill Maxwell, from the August 2005 newsletter

New Co-op business partners, David and Nancy Wilder of the Natural Abode, are new to Moscow as well. Their Main Street business, which sells green materials, organic cotton clothing, and natural flooring, opened June 1.

David and Nancy got the idea for starting a business that specialized in green materials after their daughter was born. David couldn’t find any paints that were free of hazardous materials. “It just seemed too difficult and too costly,” he said. “We thought there had to be a better way.” Once they started looking into it, they discovered that there were a lot of other alternative products. They also thought that if they made it easier for people to purchase environmentally friendly, sustainably produced products, more people would use such products.

So, they began planning “The Natural Abode” and 2 ½ years later they opened the store. Originally, they planned to open in Davis, California. However, after coming to Moscow to visit Nancy’s brother, they decided that this was where they want to be. “We realized it was laid back and pretty easy going,” recalled David. “There was a lot going on for our kids, and the Co-op was definitely a factor.” They made their decision and moved up here a year ago.

Some of the products they are most proud of selling are SafeCoat paints which were developed for chemically sensitive people. The paints contain no hazardous materials. Unlike conventional paints, they don’t require a hazardous materials warning on the label. Another important product is clothing made with organic cotton or hemp. David said that organic cotton is important to support because conventionally produced cotton is one of the most pesticide-intensive products in the country. He pointed out that approximately one-third pound of pesticides is required to grow the amount of cotton needed to make one non-organic T-shirt. Other products include tree-free and recycled office papers, journals, and note cards, organic cotton diapers and supplies, bamboo and cork flooring, natural wooden toys, sustainably produced furniture, natural fiber rugs, and natural fertilizers such as bat guano, seabird guano, and a vegan mix that contains no animal products.

“Trying to get these things is always challenging,” David said. “Our goal is to keep prices lower than people are expecting, to make them accessible to people.”

The Natural Abode also carries energy and water conservation products such as dual-flush toilets that give people option of flushing either half a tank or a full tank. They use about 30 percent less water than regular toilets. “It’s these kinds of things our country should have mandated years ago,” said David. “Australia’s had them for 20 years.”

The City of Moscow is considering offering incentives to residents and builders to use conservation products. David suggested that people could contact the city council and urge them to provide such incentives. “It’s something people need to voice their support about,” he said. “All these little things add up.”

David thinks that Americans are starting to become more environmentally aware. He says the green building industry nationally has seen a lot of growth in the last three to four years, as more people are looking for practices and products which are sustainable and which don’t do damage to the environment or human health.

However, he cautions consumers to look into what they are buying because a lot of products get termed green even though they’re not. For example, he points to recycled rubber products which outgas chemicals which are not healthy to people.

Everything at The Natural Abode has been looked into carefully, he says; especially in respect to the product’s impact on indoor air quality. They used many of the products they carry in the remodeling of the store.

The Natural Abode is located at 517 S. Main St. in Moscow. Store hours are 10am-6pm M-F and 9am-3pm Saturday. Their Web site is at http://www.thenaturalabode.com/. Co-op business partners receive 10 percent off natural fertilizers.

Jill Maxwell was wowed by the beautiful organic cotton T-shirts at the Natural Abode.

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