Samantha's Story

I grew up an athlete, first playing competitive soccer and then onto volleyball. I went to university, studying health and physical education, playing for the varsity volleyball team, and later the varsity cross-country team. During university, I learned how to become a professional party animal.

During my summertime during school, I went out west and was a tree planter. Busting my ass and living in a tent. I learned a bunch about the outdoors and explored lands, falling in love with the great outdoors and some pretty cool people! After university, I was somewhat out of balance and confused about my nonexistent life plan, so I went to nutrition school and joined a holistic community filled with yoga and smoothies, and everything trendy. 

Moving to Hamilton, this was my first time all on my own- but with responsibilities. I had to keep food in the fridge and manage a household, and figure out a career. Life as a laid-back hippy was over and it was time to figure out my role in this world! I worked in bars and sold beer to people in the stands at football games. Eventually I applied to Canada Post and became an on-call delivery agent. Once that picked up, I was able to quit my nightlife job and settle down! Today I have my own letter carrier route near my house in Hamilton. 
 
When Brian and I first met, I was in a bit of a self-revolution- to say the least! I had just begun a shift in my home. I made it a goal to eliminate unnecessary waste and to become more conscious of who got my dollar.

At first, I started monitoring my use of plastics, buying in bulk- but at the same time minimally? It astonished me how mass agriculture, like mono-cropping impacted the land. This was particularly troublesome considering I was eating mostly plant-based.

In order for me to consume less, I had to increase my protein intake. Since factory farming animals was what led me to veganism in the first place, I learned about biodynamic farming, sustainable living and pasture raised animals. This led us to get our hunting license. 

Ultimately I less want to support companies who sell me products with excess packaging, longggg ingredient labels, mysterious additives, unnecessary imported ingredients, synthetics, pesticides... you know when you just don't sense the love? So we started making things ourselves.  

I began to experiment with homemade beauty, homemade cleaning products, and practicing how to traditionally preserve and produce my foods. Much of this I had learned living in off-grid hippy communes in Bristish Columbia back in my tree planting days, so it was the practice of bringing it consistently into my own lifestyle. As well, Brian has previous knowledge from his culinary schooling and over 15 years working full-time in the biz. 

This journey became the onset of 'Sam's Wellness Blog'. From there Brian's skills as a chef and working at the local butcher shoppe got us making soap and other skincare products from upcycled animal fat to prevent waste. I had just come off a vegan lifestyle and felt great strength in my health.

We are passionate about sustainable living but from a traditional mindset. Living in tandem with both plants and animals. Nourishing ourselves and our land. This is how Nature IS Health was born. 

Thanks for reading!
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