Meet the Makers Mini Interview: Creative Earth Co
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Creative Earth Co Mini Interview
Meet Katherine, the founder behind Salt Spring Island’s Creative Earth Co.! 🌿💛 Drawing inspiration from traditional wellness practices and the magic of spices, Katherine has created a line of organic, fairly traded spice blends. We sat down with her to hear how it all got started and how she’s bringing the comforting warmth of masala chai and golden milk to cups across B.C.!
Share your story with us in 150 words or less.
I backpacked India over a decade ago and fell in love with the bold kick of masala chai, which is the inspiration for Creative Earth Co. It took many years of playing in the kitchen to make my own punchy blend that brought me back to the streets of Delhi.
It was not until moving to Salt Spring in 2020 that the seed was planted about this being a consumer good. My health-centric friends loved the clean chai blend and the small community made for a supportive place to launch this artisanal product.
My studies were in agricultural engineering and my career was spent working with farmers in Latin America. It has always been top priority to have ethically sourced ingredients and an overall sustainable product. It was also the cause for adding cacao to our blends, shifting towards fusion flavors. We look forward to working more closely with our farmers in the future and sharing this with you all, too.
Getting from an idea to a small business is a lot of work! When did it first sink in for you that ‘this is really happening’?
It was really exciting to land our first few stores in 2021, but it all felt very real in 2023 when I quit my corporate job and took on the business full time!
Out of all your products, which is your personal favourite and why?
The Golden Milk Cacao is the one I reach for the most. I love the rich chocolate, and the spices give it this earthy almost floral taste. I like to add honey and use it as an after lunch pick-me-up.
What motivates you on a day-to-day basis?
My dream is to get back to working with farmers in Latin America through the business. We are starting a 1% fund next year to support others, and I'd also like to be able to donate my time towards income-generating projects that help others build sustainable livelihoods. It’s a journey towards creating systems and hiring to create space for these projects, but on the long days that is what keeps me going.
What’s your favourite thing about the town or city you live in?
I love that on Salt Spring I can find so many places that are pristine, peaceful and keep me healthy - trails without people or traffic noise, clean air, fresh food on farm stands, clean water for drinking and swimming. Especially when I come back from South America, I appreciate the tranquillity that is so readily available to us.
Describe your ideal Sunday morning, including your breakfast.
I’m not a morning person, so Sunday especially is a slow start. Water first, always. Then a cozy drink, one of my blends or a new concoction I am working on (really into herbal coffee these days!). I like to draw, stretch, sit in the sun, watch the ocean; mellow moments to let my brain wake up. Breakfast is usually decadent on Sundays, my favourite is super fluffy cottage cheese pancakes, with berries and an excessive amount of maple syrup!
Learn more about Creative Earth Co: On Instagram | On Facebook
You can find Creative Earth Co. products at all Pomme locations!