Family Tour of Moon Valley Organics Farm

How fun would it be to visit a local farm that makes amazing herbal skincare products and supports sustainability within the community? We had the chance to do just that and visit the Moon Valley Organics farm on our way through Deming, Washington. We lived in the Seattle area for 5 years so in a way, this Pacific Northwest trip felt like going home, even if it was just for a few days. I’m excited to share some highlights from our visit to the family-owned Moon Valley Organics farm!

Local Washington Family Farm

The Moon Valley Organics farm is situated on 10 acres in Deming, Washington. We enjoyed a tour of the grounds, gardens and buildings where they make their natural skincare products. Moon Valley Organics skincare was created by Aaron and Kim Otto out of a personal need for clean, organic and effective products that cleanse and moisturize sensitive skin.

How would you like to go to work in this picturesque building? This converted barn and storage rooms provide space for the Moon Valley Organics office, production kitchens, soap making room, and herb drying loft. This family-owned company has been around for 19 years and produces soaps, balms, and lotion bars formulated with herbs and essential oils. They sell their products directly online, through retail outlets, and they have their own Moon Valley Organics store in downtown Seattle’s Pike Place Market.

Handmade Herbal Products

When we arrived at the Moon Valley Organics farm, Kim was swapping out some of the trays in their beehives and harvesting the Organic honey and honeycomb. She even offered us a delicious sample!

The folks at Moon Valley Organics grow and dry many of their own herbs. Kim says they developed product formulas through her own research as an herbalist and the help of local alchemists.

“We grow about 15 to 20 different herbs ourselves but we use about 40 different herbs and 10 to 15 different oils. We buy the bulk oils and infuse the herbs into them,” says Kim.

The herb drying loft is a spacious and cool place to dry fresh herbs in large quantities. The blend of all the herbs together creates a soothing fragrance in the barn.

Pollinator Gardens

The Moon Valley Organics farm has many gorgeous views and places to relax. It’s situated in a valley between two hills with lots of room to grow herbs and produce and plant flower gardens for pollinators.

“We like to give back to the community,” says Kim. “The Help Save the Bees effort has really invigorated us; being able to take money, knowledge, and networking and put it to good use and save pollinators. We are donating our fields to the bees by planting them a pollinator habitat.”

The farm also participates in the worldwide effort Worldwide Opportunities on Organic Farms which connects people with organic farmers so they can experience life on a farm and learn new skills. ‘WWOOFers’, spend about half a day helping out on a host farm, learn about the organic movement and sustainable agriculture, and receive room and board during their visit. WWOOF promotes an educational exchange that builds a global community of ecological farming practices.

Natural Skincare

Moon Valley Organics produces soaps, salves and muscle rubs, their popular Eczacalm Ointment, and Organic beeswax lip balms among other products. Each product is developed with the intention to nourish and heal the body, mind, and spirit, as well as to care for the earth. These rejuvenating products contain 100% USDA certified organic ingredients and sustainably farmed herbs using permaculture practices. Herbs grown at the farm are carefully dried, processed and packaged on site. Other herbs are sourced from local organic farms and suppliers who support fair trade and (RAN) Rainforest Action Network.

The company is currently formulating new products which will include shampoo, conditioner, and a liquid lotion — an alternative to the lotion bars. Moon Valley Organics is also developing a facial line which includes a cleanser, facial serum, toner, and a mask.

Beeswax Lip Balms

My daughter’s favorite Moon Valley Organics products are the beeswax lip balms that come in flavors such as Cool Mint Vanilla, Juicy Blackberry, Velvety Vanilla, and Tropical Coconut Lime. This silky and rich beeswax lip balm uses Organic cold pressed oils and Organic beeswax to naturally seal in moisture. 10% net profits from herbal lip balm sales are donated to protect pollinators!

Overall we really enjoyed our visit to Moon Valley Organics farm and it was fun to learn more about the inspiration behind this luxurious and natural product line! Which would be your favorite product from Moon Valley Organics?