Is meditation the future of detention? Well, it is a possibility.

"I watched a video about an inner-city school that tried meditation with their primary grade students instead of implementing the usual detention, and I was really interested in the concept," said Skylar Brinkman, intern at Feed Arts and Cultural Center in Kankakee.

Meditation is known to promote mindfulness, which leads to a host of other positive behaviors. The video inspired Brinkman to propose meditation workshops specifically targeted to children and adolescents. This past Sunday, she hosted two separate workshops, one for children through the age of 12, and the other for adolescents 13 through 18 at Feed.

The video that Brinkman saw was published on Upworthy.com. It also was mentioned in a recent article in Forbes by Alice G. Walton, who reported on the benefits of meditation for young people in a high-risk school district in California. After a period of half-hour meditation sessions, the students showed better attendance and grades, fewer suspensions and happier and less aggressive behavior.

"Meditation has many benefits for kids, and one of the benefits is that it teaches impulse control," said Lia Schillinger, of Kankakee, who brought her 5-year-old daughter, Madelyn Schillinger-Hogan, to the Feed workshop.

How did Brinkman get 5- to 11-year-old kids to focus on meditating? As a former dance student, she also incorporated dance into the workshop.

Her song of choice? Taylor Swift's "Shake it Up." This activity allowed the little attendees to exert themselves enough to feel their heartbeat. Finding and focusing on the heartbeat would be a recurring theme throughout the workshop. "If they can't find anything else to focus on, they can always find their heartbeat," Brinkman said.

Then Brinkman had each attendee blow through a straw and move a piece of cotton along a line of masking tape attached to the floor. She varied the activity a few times before moving into the next portion of the workshop.

Brinkman asked the attendees to do what she called a 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 exercise. She asked the group to look around the room and find five things they could see, four things they could hear, three things they could feel, two things they could smell and one thing they could taste. She added that this exercise could be used in school or anytime they found themselves losing concentration or focus.

Then she got to the guided meditation. Brinkman had the kids lie on their backs and imagine themselves as hard spaghetti noodles. She used the analogy of inserting the stiff spaghetti noodles into warm water. She then went through a sequence in which she asked them to relax each part of the body from the toes to the top of the head. Brinkman said they could use this activity any time they were feeling stressed or concerned about a school project or assignment or even when they got into bed at night to help them to fall asleep.

Then Brinkman had the attendees color a geometric design using crayons or pieces of multicolored tissue paper. She told them that they could use this picture as a focusing point from now on. "The act of coloring itself is also a calming and focusing activity," she said.

As for future classes, Brinkman is eager to try meditation classes again, although no definite dates have been set.

What did the attendees take from the workshop? Maya Machev, a fourth-grader from Watseka, said, "It was fun; I really liked how creative our instructor was."

Likewise, Lily Walker-Dionne, a third-grader from Aroma Park, said, "I liked it, and I had fun."

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Is meditation the future of detention for school kids? - Kankakee Daily Journal

Theres a lot of data out there showing Americans are overworked.

We work longer hours, take fewer vacations and retire later than workers in Europe. One study even concluded that Americans work 25 percent more than Europeans.

And thats not because Europeans are slackers. It has more to do with the very high value American society places on working hard, achievement and the accumulation of wealth.

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We spend as much time as we possibly can at work so we can have a better car, a bigger house and more stuff, and were told it will make us happy.

If this kind of vigorous workload is the norm in the US, its no wonder were all so stressed out.

Overall, stress levels for Americans have steadily increased, especially in light of the current political climate.

After the 2016 presidential election, Americans experienced their biggest stress spike in a decade. Even before the election, millennials in particular reported higher levels of stress than Gen-Xers or Boomers.

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Between higher stress and longer hours at work, many people are looking for new ways to de-stress.

Ive found it really helpful to step away from the office for 20 to 30 minutes each day to meditate.

As the weather begins to warm up, practicing walking meditation on your lunch break can be a fantastic way to de-stress while also being more active in the process.

Here are some basic steps to help you get started:

One of the benefits of working in Manhattan is, I can easily take a quick walk around the block without driving anywhere. Dont walk in any particular direction; just wander and see where it takes you.

Dont walk so slow that you draw attention to yourself, but certainly dont walk as fast as the normal, rushed New Yorker.

Go slow enough that you can be aware of each step youre taking.

Notice each breath in and each breath out.

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It may help to match your breathing with the steps you take. For example, count six steps as you breathe in and six steps as you breathe out.

Instead of focusing on the stream of thoughts, worries, plans and judgements that dance around in your head, notice the physical sensations around you.

During my walks, I listen to the birds chirping, the cars honking and the passersby speaking in a multitude of languages.

I feel the breeze. Once in a while, I catch some delicious aroma floating out of a restaurant.

Wherever my vision falls, I try to notice whatever it is Im looking at in that moment.

Each time you feel your mind wandering to the worries in your head, gently draw yourself back to the present moment.

Use your breath or the sounds around you as an anchor.

Dont be discouraged when thoughts creep back into your head. Instead, recognize them and let them drift away.

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This kind of mindful walking can be effective for letting go of your thoughts and dropping the to-do list for a few minutes.

In some ways, it can be easier than a formal sitting meditation. There are so many things to hold in awareness: the sights, the sounds, the movement of other people.

There isnt as much empty space for distractions and stress to creep back in.

If you find yourself overwhelmed by the cascade of emails, meetings and action items at the office, try taking one of these walks on your next lunch break.

You might find that you come back refreshed, focused and ready to conquer the afternoon.

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I am a 25-year-old woman living in New York City (the complete anti-zen) who realized I was constantly living in my head, distracted by the past and the future, but completely missing the present. I thought stress was an inevitable part of life ...

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5 Ways To Reset Your Entire Day After Having A Stressful Morning - Elite Daily

Nationwide there is an opioid epidemic. Urban communities are seeing a high increase in overdose deaths from opioids, but rural communities have seen a higher percentage of deaths in Colorado.

From 2002 - 2014 urban communities in Colorado have seen a 96% increase in overdoses, but rural communities have seen an increase of 140%.

Due to that concern, a wellness center in Montrose is going a different route to help people deal with pain.

The impact on rural communities is more significant because our resources tend to be thinner, said Nicolas Taylor, a Psychologist at the Solutions Wellness Center in Montrose.

One resource that the rural community of Montrose has is the Solutions Wellness Center which will soon be hosting classes to help people deal with pain without prescription medication.

There has been a big push to look for additional ways to treat it in addition to traditional medications and things like that, said Karen Dunn Pritchard, a Counselor at Solutions Wellness Center.

The class is called Living Well with Chronic Pain and Illness which Dunn Pritchard is hosting, and it is centered around Mindfulness therapy which uses things like meditation.

There is a huge body of research still being built that shows how effective it is at helping reduce peoples felt sense of pain, said Dunn Pritchard.

With using mindfulness and coping skills for pain management, Dunn Pritchard is optimistic.

Through those exercises people hopefully will experience and learn that they have greater amount of control over how their are experiencing their pain than they thought they did before, said Dunn Pritchard.

The classes start April 13th, and if youre interested in signing up, contact the Solutions Wellness Center at 970-249-4449.

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Using Meditation to Battle Opioid Use - WesternSlopeNow

Domestic equity markets are likely to open in green on Wednesday following Nifty futures on the Singapore Stock Exchange (SGX Nifty) and firm Asian cues.

SGX Nifty was trading 26.50 points, or 0.29 per cent, up at 9,140 around 8 am (IST), indicating a positive start for NSE Nifty index.

Foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) bought shares worth a net Rs 6415.38 crore on Tuesday, as per provisional data released by the stock exchanges. Domestic institutional investors (DIIs) bought shares worth a net Rs 356.23 crore.

Asian equity indices were mostly trading higher in morning trade on Wednesday while the dollar and commodities rallied as investors shook off disappointment about US President Donald Trump's failed healthcare bill and focussed on an improving outlook for global growth.

Hang Seng and Nikkei were up by 0.18 per cent and 0.09 per cent, respectively, in morning trade.

Here is a list of twelve stocks that are likely to be in focus today:

Deccan Chronicle Holdings Limited: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has attached assets worth Rs 263 crore, including land and bank accounts of the Hyderabad-based Deccan Chronicle group, in connection with a money laundering case related to a bank fraud.

HMT: NITI Aayog is preparing a fresh cabinet note recommending closure of 7 more sick CPSEs as part of an excercise to tackle mounting losses incurred by these entities. These include Hindustan Cable, Tyre Corporation, HMT Watches, Birds Jute and Export Limited (BJEL) and Central Inland Water Transport Corporation.

Idea Cellular: Telecom operator Idea Cellular on Tuesday launched its 4G services in Jammu and plans to expand the high-speed services to 20 towns in the Jammu & Kashmir circle by June.

ITC: The Competition Commission has approved the proposed acquisition of Johnson & Johnson's two brands, 'Savlon' and 'Shower to Shower', by FMCG major ITC.

SBI: State Bank of India (SBI), which would start merger process of five associates and Bharatiya Mahila Bank (BMB) from April 1, expects integration to be completed in three months. The lender also said it will increase its stake in SBI Card to 74 per cent by June end.

Tata group shares: Shares of Tata group companies will remain in focus on Tuesady after Tata Sons board approved a resolution to invest up to Rs 10,000 crore in various Tata group companies at the first board meeting chaired by N Chandrasekaran on February 21.

Bharti Airtel: Telecom major Bharti Airtel on Tuesday announced the sale of 10.3 per cent stake in subsidiary Bharti Infratel to a consortium of funds for over Rs 6,190 crore ($951 million).

PVR: Multiplex operator PVR is looking at around 90 per cent jump in revenue to around Rs 4,000 crore in four to five years driven by expansion across the country.

Hindustan Zinc: Shares of Hindustan Zinc turn ex-dividend on Wednesday for special dividend of Rs 27.50 per share for the year ending 31 March 2017.

Coffee Day Enterprises: The company said that step-down subsidiary of the company 'Way2Wealth Brokers Private Limited' has transferred entire 100 per cent shares in its subsidiary namely Way2Wealth Illuminati Pte. to Alphagrep Securities, a fellow subsidiary with effect from 28 March 2017. The announcement was made after market hours Tuesday.

Om Metals: The company on Tuesday informed bourses that it has secured Letter of Intent (LoI) from Indra Sagar Project for supply and laying of pipe line on right bank of Upperveda project on turnkey basis for amounting Rs 13.50 crore.

National Peroxide: Wadia Group, one of Indias oldest business conglomerates, has agreed to acquire a 25 per cent stake held by Belgiums Solvay Chemicals in National Peroxide in a deal that will mark the end of a 45-year-old partnership with the Brussels headquartered firm, multiple sources with direct knowledge of the transaction told ET.

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Twelve stocks in focus on Wednesday, 29 March 2017 - Economic Times

New York Times

A Dance Troupe Adds Fresh Faces. The Youngest Is 66. New York Times Yackez is a family project if you think of the originators, husband and wife and they're my dance family, she said over coffee with Mr. Velez-Jackson recently, referring to her aerobics students at the West Side Y.M.C.A., the 92nd Street Y and ...

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A Dance Troupe Adds Fresh Faces. The Youngest Is 66. - New York Times

Today, we are increasingly surrounded by devices and interfaces. We have smartphones, tablets, smart TVs, smart cars and smart home appliances. With every person expected to own up to 20 connected devices by the year 2020, the Internet of Things (IoT) provides every marketer with the opportunity to derive business insight from a networked fabric of devices, data, people, and processes.

The growth of the IoT has profound implications for customer identity. Previously, brands could market to a device with a degree of confidence that they were talking to the same consumer. As customers increasingly interact more with more Things that are used by many people, the link with the identity of the end user is eroded. To make the most of the Internet of Things opportunity, it is vital that marketers can understand the identity of this end user.

Take, for example, internet-connected TVs. IAB research suggests that 78% of US adults who watch TV use another device while watching TV and the smartphone is the predominant second screen. However, who exactly is watching the TV at any given time? Marketers do not really know because it is currently still difficult for brands to personalise advertising based on who is in front of the TV. While a single user often uses a website, and even more often a mobile app, a connected TV can be watched by one person or many.

Brands have tried to solve this problem before, through partnerships with mobile apps such as Shazam, but Customer ID mapping will allow for a more comprehensive solution. Mapping users devices with a household to a TV ID allows messaging to be personalised based on their activity on other devices. If you can bring profiles on the users devices, especially mobiles, then it is also easy to build a strong idea of the customer that is watching the TV.

Another breakthrough IoT device is the connected speaker and the virtual assistants that live on those devices, such as Amazons Echo speaker with Alexa baked in. Amazon has built an open API that allows brands to build Alexa skills. Skills are mini voice apps that allow the end user to use voice to user services, such as Alexa call me an Uber or Alexa play me some relaxing music on Spotify.

Customer identity matters here too. Of course, it is important that the Uber being ordered be paid for by the right person. Different household members may also have very different ideas of what constitutes relaxing music. For this reason, Amazon allows you to set up an Amazon Household and add users to it. This process still feels rather clumsy Alexa requires you to remember whose profile you are using at a given time, breaking the seamlessness of the user experience.

Connected cars are also showing significant promise. Google, Apple and tech providers like Cisco all provide platforms for car manufacturers to integrate with, allowing cars to get smart. In some ways, customer identity for cars is more straightforward, as identifying the driver will nearly always be done deterministically.

However, there is still the challenge of knowing who else is in the car, a potentially important factor in customising the experience. For example, imagine if it was possible to identify that a partner was in the market for a holiday, and replace radio ads with information about that destination? This level of retargeting is becoming a reality as identity technology is increasingly sophisticated and able to deliver with increased accuracy which customer is using a connected device.

Identity and IoT will also have a major role in the retail store of the future. A retailers interactions with its customer used to end at the point of sale. That is no longer the case. Today, by managing and analysing the real-time data that IoT devices provide (for example smart and interactive point of sale material), companies can gain new insight into how their products are performing, consumer trends and purchase behaviour, and how that ties back to individual users.

These are just some examples of how identity in a world of internet-connected devices is evolving, forcing marketers to keep up. Marketers that can stay ahead of the curve, however, should be able to leverage significant first-mover advantages and enjoy a wealth of new opportunities for creating the sophisticated and personalised experiences that customers demand.

The key, as ever when looking at new technology, is not to get too caught up in the technology and for the marketer to stay rooted in the customer experience.

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Why Brands Need to Get Smart About Customer Identity and the Internet of Things - Fourth Source

The Imperial Orchestra and the Lakeland Downtown Development Authority sponsor the weekly event from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. each Monday from October through March.

LAKELAND Today is the last opportunity this season to start out the work week with Music Munndays, a lunchtime concert in downtown Lakelands Munn Park.

The Imperial Orchestra and the Lakeland Downtown Development Authority sponsor the weekly event from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. each Monday from October through March.

Todays concert will be by Motett with Lemay Olano-James. Motett is a jazz trio featuring Davis Collister on bass, Jody Marsh on keys and Jean Bolduc on drums.Olano-James is a violinist.

Expect to hear some swing, foxtrot, rhumba and mambo.

The original ideain October 2015 was to provide a break for downtown office workers, said Julie Townsend, executive director of the Downtown Lakeland Development Authority.

Mondays kind of bum people out," she said. "This way they can start their work week out with a relaxing time in the park.

And it has been a way to promote the park, she said.

Instead of rushing by on their way to and from lunch, people can stop at the park with a blanket or sit on one of the benches and relax, listen to music and play board games or fill out one of the adult coloring pages available at a tent on the Kentucky Avenue side of the park, she said.

Over timethe office crowd morphed into more of a community crowd, Townsend said. Retirees and young parents with toddlers come from home for the free concert, bringing lawn chairs or blankets and lunch, Townsend said.

And sometimes school groups or community groups make a field trip out of it, she said.

The Imperial Orchestra arranges the musical entertainment, Townsend said.

As examples of the type of entertainment the Monday crowds hear, Imperial Orchestras Facebook page lists the entertainment for the month of March as an ISO Brass Quintet, Acoustic Dose (acoustic guitar and vocals), Jazzanovoa (Latin-influenced instrumentals) and todays entertainment by Motett with Lemay Olano-James (jazz with electric violin).

We try to mix it up, to expose people to different types of music, Townsend said. It is just a good time -- just a couple of hours over lunch to hang out, have a good time playing board games and relaxing with coloring while getting exposed to something you may not normally listen to.

Marilyn Meyer can be reached at marilyn.meyer@theledger.com or 863-802-7558. Follow her on Twitter @marilyn_ledger.

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Music Munndays is wrapping up the season with 1 last concert - The Ledger

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT) Parents listen up. With spring break underway, are you looking for some fun and safe places for your kids to hang out thisweek?

If you feel like you missed signing up for camps and everything is filled-up, Ashley shows us places that are open and have plenty of space for you and your littles ones.

From strolls at the zoo, toscience atMcWane Center, to tumbling with your tots or relaxing with your tweens, there are still a number of ways to spend the days even you havent enrolled your kids in everycamp across the state this week.

Topping my list is theBirminghamZoo.Freestylin isa new way to do Zoo Camp! Campers will have the freedom to choose their activities throughout the day. A few options might include zoo hikes, games,a ride on or see an animal show.Freestylin is designed for your camper by your camper.

Ifyou are looking for a more relaxing day, try the Villager Yoga in Mountain Brook. (http://www.villageryoga.com/)You can actually drop your older kids off and go run errands or have mom time.

AnnieDamsky of theVillager Yoga is offering two mini-camps on Tuesday and Wednesday. Were doing a day at the spa so kids will get to come. Well do yoga together. Were going to make fresh smoothies and well have some skin treatments.

If youre looking to share thefun, look for Mommy and Me classes too, from newborn on up.

Annie says You get to just come and bond and free yourself a little bit from distractions and start really teaching your kids about self-care from an early age.

For yourmusicians, head over to Mason Music. Itsgeared to students who have little or no experience with music.This campallows childrento learn how to sing and play instruments like the guitar, piano, drums and violin. The goal is to allow students to explore their musical interest.

There is alwaysMcWane Center and all that it has to offer. Check out the latest IMAX orlet thekiddosrunthrough the halls and explore the science of the world around them. Be sure to check in early if you are theparent of a little one, Itty Bitty Magic City is a huge hit for kids under 5.

Kids can roll into a good time doing gymnastics. Find your local gymnasium and see what hours and special classes they offer this week. Its a great way to let the youngster burn off some much-needed energy.

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Ashley's Mom Monday: Last-minute ideas for Spring Break fun - WIAT 42

Last updated13:56, March 28 2017

JIM CHIPP

Wellington High School Adult Community Education director Colin Wharton.

Colin Wharton, Director of the Community Education Centre at Wellington High School, will retire this week after eight years at the helm.

He was previously Director of the Newlands Community Learning Centre and has spent 40 years working ineducation inNew Zealand.

What are you passionate about?

Working with communities of learners who have real need brings great satisfaction. Whether working with children or adults, to see a student arrive with a need [and] then to see that need met and the student leave

better than they arrived, that really sparks my passion!

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*Night class lights undimmed by cuts

What isthe biggest changeyou have seen over your time at the CEC?

The biggest change in Community Education during my time has been the establishment of digital online enrolment and administration systems. This has transformed how community education is managed and run.

What is your best memory from your time at the CEC?

Meeting and working with people where a practical difference can be made and seen. It is exciting to see the language needs of immigrants, refugees and migrants being met and their language and social skills improve.

What do you see as the biggains New Zealand has made in education since you started, what areas need improvement?

The biggest gains New Zealand has made in providing quality education is in the move away from book-based and formal learning to online education and internet based learning. Every classroom at Wellington High now has a data-show projector. Wireless connections are

accessed across the school. Students arrive in year nine with their digital device and this device is central to their learning. Use of digital devices is now stretching right throughout our adult programme in the evenings and weekend as tutors source content and plan

activities using digital media for our community education students. Going forward, the biggest challenge to Community Education I see will be providing the necessary language and social skills for migrants as they are welcomed into New Zealand.

I believe there is a serious disconnect between the desire of government to provide workers for expanding employment opportunities, and the social and practical help those same people need to successfully settle into their new country and culture.

What is on the cards for 2017-2018?

Our next move is to Feilding and back to the rural [life]. There is a house to build, a garden to develop, some native bush needing attention and a few in-lamb ewes to care for.Ahhhhh retirement!

What was the last book you read?

The Bone Labyrinth by James Rollins. I love a novel with plenty of action and intrigue.

What are you listening to?

Selah. Selah is an Australian gospel folk group. I love harmony and so love their music! The word 'Selah' is a biblical one meaning 'pause and reflect'. There will no doubt be plenty of time for that in retirement!

What does a perfect day in Wellington look like?

Working in the garden or relaxing with music, an exciting book and a cup of frothy cappuccino. That will make the day a good one for me!

What is something people don't know about where you grew up?

I grew up in Stratford, milked a house cow, spent some years with shearing gangs and much time walking a lambing beat. For 30 years I have greatly enjoyed beekeeping. These days I really enjoy developing gardens and working with wood. Give me a chainsaw and I'mhappy!

-Stuff

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Look who's talking: Colin Wharton - The Press West Coast

By John EwoldtStar Tribune

MINNEAPOLIS Organic cotton textiles register no more than a footnote in the worlds cotton production, but Vishal Naithani wants to change that.

His company, Sustained Organic Living in suburban Minneapolis, selects certified organic cotton grown in India with non-GMO seeds. The products are made using only fair trade labor on the farms and in the factories.

The challenge for Naithani and his company, which is also known as Sol Organics, is to be able to create the level of interest among consumers for organic apparel that has been generated for organic food. For now, his chief weapon is price: He aims to price his products significantly lower than his online competitors and on par with high-quality bedding that is not fair trade organic.

Every family should have access to affordable organic cotton just like they have access to affordable organic food, he said. It shouldnt be only the wealthy who can afford premium products.

Sol Organics is one of a number of companies offering organic, fair trade textiles online or in stores. Companies such as Boll & Branch and Patagonia sell them. West Elm, Pottery Barn, and Target feature organic cotton that may or may not be fair trade. Naithani said Sol Organics is the only Minnesota-based company to do so.

Part of the reason Naithani acts as a maverick is that organic cotton hasnt grabbed the consumers attention like organic milk, produce and poultry.

Shoppers arent ingesting organic cotton as they do organic foods, so they may not see the benefit, said Mary Brett Whitfield, senior vice president at Kantar Retail, a retail consulting business. We havent trained shoppers to think about how cotton is grown or how it fits in the environmental food chain.

Conventionally grown cottons critics say the so-called fabric of our lives is a crop that requires lots of water and chemicals to grow. A pesticide-intensive crop, conventional cotton uses more than an average amount of pesticides, although the amount is in dispute.

Cotton covers 2.5 percent of the worlds cultivated land, yet growers use an estimated 10 to 25 percent of the worlds pesticides, according to Rodale Institute, a Pennsylvania organic farm and researcher. AMIS Global, an agriculture data firm, estimates the pesticide usage for cotton at closer to 5 percent, according to Cotton Inc., a U.S. trade organization.

In India, where more than 20 percent of the worlds cotton is grown, child labor is common. According to a Harris Poll conducted in 2016, three in five consumers would not purchase a cotton product if they knew it was picked by children or forced labor.

Naithani and others in the business believe that, in time, more consumers will search out organic sheets, towels and clothing. Only 5 percent of consumers purchase organic clothing, slightly higher among millennials, according to Kantar Retail.

The average price paid for a queen sheet set in the U.S. is $80, but organic cotton sets (300 thread count sateen) start at $240 at BollandBranch.com and $258 at Coyuchi.com.

At the wholesale level, organic, fair trade cotton costs only about 15 percent more than conventional cotton, Naithani said. He doubles the cost of the goods for his retail price while competitors triple the cost, he said.

The only way to get people to convert to buying organic cotton is to keep prices competitive. Costco and Wal-Mart have made organic food affordable, he said. We want to do the same for organic cotton.

At $119 for a queen set and $139 for a king set at solorganix.com (after a $40 instant savings), his prices are 30 to 50 percent less than comparable products online, but still nearly double what a conventional set costs at Kohls or J.C. Penney.

Naithani hopes to drop the price of his queen-sized set to $99 within two years, once the product reaches critical mass. Affordability is the tipping point, he said. It promotes access, which in turn creates demand and conversion to organic cotton.

Brett Whitfield sees organic cotton as early in its life cycle but poised for growth. Target and Pottery Barn recently expanded their organic textiles selection. Pottery Barns spring collections show fair trade, organic sheets and towels.

Target, which already had organic cotton sheets, clothes and baby items, added organic in its new Cat & Jack kids line. Its recent pledge to remove perfluorinated chemicals and flame retardants from textiles by 2022 shows a long-term commitment.

We know organic cotton is important to our guests, said Erika Winkels, a Target spokeswoman. It will continue to grow in the future, whether its home or apparel. Its not the be-all-end-all, but its important.

Naithani, who also sells his product on Amazon, hopes to break $1 million in annual sheet sales by next month. Thats still a fraction of the online retailer Boll & Branch, which sold about $40 million in organic fair trade sheets and towels in 2016.

Sols products are getting four- and five-star reviews online. His return rate is an enviably low 2.5 percent.

Increasing the demand for organic cotton creates this tremendous upside where everyone wins, the farmer, the consumer and the earth, he said.

Excerpt from:

Organic Cotton - The Ledger