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We,
at CWC, are big believers in natural cleaners and an organic environment beyond the
natural spring fed
lake and fresh northwoods air. Although this resort is not 100% non-toxic, we
use only natural cleaning products to clean cabins:
anti-bacterial, anti-viral, anti-fungal
aromatherapy essential oils like peppermint;
plus vinegar, baking soda, grapefruit seed
extract, borax, Shaklee products and other
non-toxic ingredients.
*
(I am chemically sensitive,
myself --- so I get it! ---- Kim, Owner)
*
Occasionally the cleaning staff will leave conventional candles that other guests have
provided in the cabins (if you are sensitive, simply remove or toss in
garbage.)
 We provide coin-operated Maytag
Neptune Washers/Dryers for guest use (Compared to conventional
washers, the high efficiency TurboClean wash system in the
Neptune models use 65% less energy, 40% less water, while saving
time per load and getting clothes looking newer, longer. Bring
liquid soap and use only 1/4 amount per load of what you would
normally use. -- In-house non-toxic laundry soap available at $.25
load.)
 We wash our own
bed linens and pillows
in-house with
non-toxic, chemical free, non-phosphate
soaps (i.e. 7th Generation, Lifetree, Dr. Bronners Castile Soap, and Ecover).
 We do not use chemical fabric
softners; although we do use un-scented fabric sheets and soak them
in aromatherapeutic cedarwood essential oil and add to linen bags
for storage purposes.
We use only vinegar to steam carpets and baking soda as
a carpet freshner. We leave a bottle of natural all-purpose
cleaning solution and non-toxic glass/window cleaner in each cabin for
guests to use while they stay with us.
 We provide
7th Generation toilet
tissue (recycled paper) for guest use in each cabin.
 We provide recycle bins at each
cabin and encourage guests to recycle glass, aluminum, and plastic.
 We recycle office paper (and try to purchase post-consumer recycled
paper supplies), and except for one annual holiday mailing, we save paper by
e-mailing reservation confirmations and newsletters the rest of the year.
 We encourage guests to recycle
newspapers as campfire starters, or sauna fire starters.
 The bulk of light bulbs
throughout the resort have been replaced with compact fluorescent
bulbs
 New cabins have energy efficient
windows, extra deep insulation, Energy Star appliances, etc.
Through our local electric
company, we joined the Wellspring Wind Energy Program and are purchasing
23,520 kilowatt-hours of clean renewable energy per year to off-set our current
resort electric energy usage. (This program helps maintain and add wind
turbines spinning on Buffalo Ridge, Minnesota.)
 We do not spray or fertilize the
grounds with chemicals.*
Our sprinkler system recycles lake
water onto our lawns and we use natural corn gluten as a pre-emergent
herbicide. (Occasionally we will use a phosphate-free natural
fertilizer for new grass seed patches, and existing piles of leaf mulch and
sawdust as weed repellents.) So yah, expect a few dandelions, but hey!
they're safely edible: try the greens for salads, roast the roots as a detox tea or soak the buds for homemade wine! Pick all you want, hehe.
*(except for poison ivy, once a year precisely controlled).
 We are in the process of
creating a user friendly CWC compost pile for guests to eliminate
kitchen scraps
 We encourage guests to donate
unused food staples they do not wish to pack up and take home with
them to our local Hubbard County Food Shelf (bring cans or items to
resort lodge and drop off in box provided.)
 
NEW for 2008! In
the snack bar of the lodge, we switched to 100% biodegradable cups, spoons,
straws, bowls and plates. Made from U.S. grown corn (plus paper and
potato starch), they are guaranteed to break down within 100 days in any
commercial composting environment.
(Eco-Products, Inc.)
New for 2009:
This year we have switched our credit card bank to
Dharma Merchant Services. Why?
They gave us competitive rates on the percentage we pay each time a guest uses a
credit card here at CWC, but most importantly, they are a certified green
company AND they donate a full 10% of the gross profits to a charitable
foundation of our choice.* Way cool!
(*We chose
Doctors Without Borders:
an international medical humanitarian organization working in more than 60
countries to assist people whose survival is threatened by violence, neglect, or
catastrophe.)
 Local
Access to
ORGANIC & NATURAL FOODS:
-
Linda's Organic & Natural Foods in Walker (8
miles) has a cooler full of hormone free dairy products, brown eggs, bison meat, and many natural
staples (i.e. teas, juices, gluten-free breads/cereals, soaps, etc.) (218) 547-4010.
-
3rd Street Market in
Park Rapids (16 miles) makes their own gluten-free breads
(they specialize in homemade lunch sandwiches and soups). They sell lots
of health books and supplements. (218) 732-9063.
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Harmony
Natural Food Coop in Bemidji (35 miles) is a full service grocery and has fresh organic produce and bulk
spices, herbs, teas, cereals, etc. (218) 751-2009
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Several local grocery stores are now selling limited organic produce (lettuces,
juices) Coburn's in Park Rapids, SuperONE in Walker. Just FYI.
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Meyer's Meats in Nevis (5
miles) processes ALL LOCAL meats, many of them organic and hormone-free.
They have seasonal meats (rabbit, turkey, elk, buffalo, deer sausage) and supply our local
Akeley grocery store (Blue Ox Market) with beef, pork and chicken.
Excellent quality and highly recommended to go shopping at our local Akeley
store! (Yes, they take credit cards.) 218 652-4534
New York Times
article published November 2005 mentions our natural cleaning policies -
click to read
Natural Cleanin' Corner
article series written by owner Kim for a Resorter Group magazine --free
recipes 
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