May 10, 2008

Naturally maternal gifts found at Dandelion Mud PieBy Rita ZekasTheStar.com

If you’ve left it to the last minute to get your maternal parental unit something for tomorrow that doesn’t involve tulips or chocolate and that’s also a gift to Mother Earth, get on over to eco-friendly Dandelion Mud Pie at 6 Fairlawn Ave., five blocks north of Lawrence Ave. on the west side of Yonge St.

There is even a tiny plot of green grass out front that owner Helen Nestor is trying to cultivate, with organic seeds ($3.99 a pack), soil and fertilizer.

Nestor was formerly the public relations manager of the Hummingbird Centre, now the Sony Centre. She decided to reinvent herself after 20 years in the PR biz and has been open for six months.

As for the name: “My sister and I made mud pies as kids and we stuck in dandelions. I needed something personal and quirky that means something to me and dandelions are strong, resilient and also great healing plants. Making mud pies represented such a joyous time as kids and cost nothing. People really relate to it.”

Dandelion carries one-of-a-kind handcrafted goods from local Canadian artists, including jewellery, body care products, decor accessories and furniture. When you go through the door, you fear that it’s just another crunchy-granola shop. It’s overcrowded with stock – crammed with goodies but there’s nary a Birkenstock in sight. There are, however, those ubiquitous earth-toned T-shirts made of bamboo. With so much bamboo clothing around these days, Store Gazing is surprised the pandas haven’t instituted a protest. The shop also features organic cotton, hemp and soy clothes.

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