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EcoTeas has its roots in friendship and hope.
We began with the intention to work together to help
improve the world. Initially, Stefan Schachter
(pictured left in the center) had the idea to start
an organic yerba mate company. He learned about
the tea in high school when he went on a work-relief
project to Paraguay.
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He started the business in partnership with his
childhood friend, Brendan Girard (in the red shirt
at right). They ran the business out of their living
room in a small house in Ashland's railroad district.
They blended herbs in their kitchen and created labels
for their packages on a dusty inkjet printer.
They served tea at farmer's markets, festivals,
and local grocery stores. Friends stopped by to
drink mate and play a game of chess.
EcoTeas earned a reputation for providing
consciously-grown, great-tasting tea at excellent prices.
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As the company grew, they invited college friend
Joe Chermesino to join the team. He left his job
teaching high school English in Washington State.
He slept in the backyard garden that first summer
with his camping mattress and sleeping bag.
There wasn't much money to go around, but the
three friends had a lot of fun in the nearby mountains.
They had community, purpose, great food, and plenty of
time to follow their creative pursuits.
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The next leap forward came when Stefan flew down to
Argentina and met up with the Kraus family of organic
yerba mate farmers. It was the best yerba mate he'd
ever tasted. He got along well with the hospitable
family. The connection grew solid when Milton Kraus
proposed a partnership with EcoTeas to help supply
North America with
his one-of-a-kind yerba.
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Pretty soon we found ourselves with more business than
we could handle. It was a blessing and a challenge in
one. We decided to take the opportunity to diversify
our employee base. Our first priority was to hire a
capable woman who could contribute her unique energy
to our many daily tasks and decisions. Kelly has been
a great addition.
To learn more about our personal views and intentions,
keep reading...
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Stefan Schachter - Founder

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My vision for EcoTeas is a small, prosperous tea company
that aligns with the planetary effort to build a peaceful and
sustainable future. I believe that conscious business
has a very important role in this effort. Our challenge
is to design systems of agriculture, trade, industry,
and investments that protect and restore our planetary
resources. To do this, I feel we must empower
ourselves by organizing with other green businesses,
environmental and political groups, activists,
educators, and healers. I see EcoTeas emerging as a
business leader in the movement back to the land.
Together may we sip our teas in excellent health as we
dream up a better world.
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Brendan Girard - Co-Founder

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My intention is to exist on the Earth as a low-impact
citizen. Being simple resonates with me. Each morning
I walk to work down 5th street with my thermos,
gourd and bombilla, over the train tracks to our
warehouse. Working with my two best friends creates
many opportunities to grow in our relationships,
synergize our minds and spirits, and empower each
other to develop personally and professionally.
We aspire to model a better way to conduct business.
We cultivate fair relationships, study natural systems,
and innovate ecological solutions. EcoTeas makes us
feel alive, and what the world needs is people who
feel alive.
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Joe Chermesino - Partner

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I grew up in the suburbs of New England. For me, nature
was the mossy place beyond the old farm wall at the edge
of my yard. I remember sitting back there in the woods
and looking at living things up close. I would imagine
that I'd grown small enough to walk into the moss,
where the little beetles were bigger than buses.
Nowadays, although I've grown older, I still like to
go back there sometimes. We humans tend to forget
that we live in a beautiful web of life. We need to
take a break every day and remember this. I like
working with healthy organic teas. They inspire
healing while they're grown in a way that's good
for the earth.
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