We coined the term soil to skin in the early 2000’s as we saw how connected our health is to the condition of our soils.
We believe that the bodies ecology is closely linked to natures ecology. If nature is out of balance, then so too is our own health and wellbeing. It therefore makes sense to us to nourish our land and our soils in order to nourish our bodies.
At The Still Room we grow our herbs to permaculture design principles. Permaculture is the practice of observing energy flows, diversity, soil health, community and ecology. By observing and growing in the right relationship with nature, we are able to collaboratively grow highly nutrient-dense medicinal herbs for our skincare and wellbeing products.
After years of studying the skin and underlying health problems linked to skin issues, Tina has spent years cultivating and learning the practice of soil health growing to these design principles, to potentise the healing benefits of herbs.
What is better yet, is that the herbs are grown under the majesty of Mt Karangahake. A mountain that stands with the energy of quartz crystal, amethyst, silver and gold. ” I truly believe that the herbs grown in this area are very special herbs having the best start in life with highly nutrient-dense soils, balanced ecology and the vibrant energetics of crystals.” Tina Dion – Founder of The Still Room
So what is a Still Room?
The Still Room is a distillery room found in most great houses, castles or large establishments throughout Europe dating back, at least, to medieval times. Herbs from the kitchen garden and surrounding countryside were picked and taken back to the Still Room for drying, hanging and storing. Here, they were processed by hand into what today we call essential oils, and infused or distilled, or brewed as required to make rose water, lavender water, peppermint based ointments, soaps and a wide variety of medicines. It was a working room: part science lab, part infirmary and part kitchen. In later years, as doctors & apothecaries became more widely spread and the products of the still room became commercially available, the still room became less common.
We love the name The Still Room as it fits perfectly with our own passions for old-world recipes and studying their benefits and uses for today. It is our vision that our distillery is not only an abundant source of fresh, nutrient-dense ingredients for our products, but also a place for us to practice principles and teach others more about the soil’s effect on our health.
The Still Room is currently working towards organic certification for both our growing practices as well as our product and packaging processes.
