Meet Fernando and Susan Cardoza, owners of The Green Bough in Irwin, PA, near Pittsburgh. Over twenty years ago, Fernando and Susan asked the question, “Who are we authentically?” Though the answer is still in the process of becoming, they are sure it has something to do with being organic. For Susan and Fernando, being organic includes more than a practice of eating or buying organic, it embraces a way of living, an attitude, a whole awareness. You can hear it in the clarity of their voices, their passionate commitment to organic living, and in the measured space between one partner speaking and the other.

“Why are we here?” They wondered. To connect to ourselves and each other and the earth. Susan explains, “When we disconnect we create problems and this becomes reflected in our bodies. Living organically, conversely, enables us to reach our full human potential, not just as individuals but globally.” They say eating organic helps them feel better, more energized, less stressed. If we are indeed what we eat, then eating organic foods reduces the toxicity in our bodies in a noticeable way. To the unconverted, Susan says, “Once you feel it in your body, you know. You don’t need explanations or justifications.”

Susan and Fernando have evolved as organic people throughout the last twenty years. Coming to organic choices from health concerns for their children, they sought a higher quality of life as a family. Over the years, they have seen the shift in the public awareness. What was once the cordoned off corner of hippie-dom now emerges as the normal thing to do. Susan and Fernando stumbled onto new things over the years, finding individuals and resources to help along the way. While simultaneously getting into organic foods, home care, and organic health care, the process of discovering what worked took many years and open, warm dialogue with their physician. Along their journey Susan and Fernando connected with a community of shared interest ad overpowering support.

Most people have some issues within our culture that drives them to look for safe spaces for de-stressing. Fernando says, “Many people seek an energy or frequency that resonates with being organic. People evolve through a gradual process of incorporating more and more aspects that make sense to them.”

Wanting to share the graceful reach of community around mind, body, and spirit, Susan and Fernando created The Green Bough—a replicable holistic community building enterprise. The Green Bough commits to environmental practices too. Just one more way to holistically approach the organic lifestyle. Additionally, they created Holistic Pittsburgh, a Full-Service Web Portal for the Holistic Community in the Southwestern PA Region.

Together, Fernando and Susan want to promote an affirming message about the organic lifestyle. Activism as a positive affirmation with authenticity and integrity. Susan explains, “When we are authentically ourselves, we are organic. We are fully integrated.”

***The Cardozas are this month’s featured I’m Organic Story. 5% of sales from Sept. 27th- Oct. 24th, 2006 will be donated to The Organic Consumers Association.