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A chance meeting at a Farmers’ Market brought the owner of Inland Fog, maker of handmade soaps, the answer to what to do after retirement to. Steven Leif Erickson talked with a soap maker he met at a Farmers’ Market and decided that soap making would be a good project for him to take up. He started a small business, which he refers to as his hobby, and learned to make soap. He uses all vegan products, local Modesto olive oil, and essential oils from Utah. He believes in getting the ingredients from the best suppliers; even though it costs more to do it this way he says it makes a better soap, which is what he wants.
NTDTV interviews the Census Bureau representative. (Ma You Zhi/Epoch Times)
There were also universities and technical schools to tell people about a career in the health field. Five Branches University, a leader in the field of training practitioners in traditional Chinese medicine for 25 years, offered attendees information on their courses in Traditional Chinese Medicine. Their programs include a massage certification program, a Masters Degree in Traditional Chinese Medicine, and a Doctor of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine. They have a campus in San Jose and one in Santa Cruz. The Five Branches University Medical Centers treat over 40 patients a day, so students receive instruction in actual treatment of patients and patients receive excellent medical care from the teaching doctors.
And Nurse Builders Academy, whose Program Director is a registered nurse and whose teachers are licensed vocational nurses, talked about their training which takes 2½ months for the nursing certificate. Their president, Adriano Naderi, said the school has a success rate of 98 percent of their graduates passing the state licensing exam.
Also working in the health field, there were two businesses who give therapeutic massages, New Hope Chiropractic and QZN.
Once-a-decade sponsor
If someone was looking for healthful beauty products they could find several body care and cosmetic companies in the event. Cosme Proud has beauty products with a remarkable ingredient: 24k gold. The gold flecks in the rejuvenating cream sparkle when they are rubbed on the skin but disappear as the exfoliation takes place and the old skin cells are removed, leaving the skin softer and brighter. Nobuko Isomata, the beauty instructor, said that the cosmetics are made in Japan and based on the use of negative ions, like a baby’s skin. As we age, she said, the positive ions age the skin. They also have an anti-oxidant product using amber and a wrinkle-erasing cream using platinum.
A well-known English company, Crabtree and Evelyn, also exhibited at the Fair. With their 30-second hand recovery demonstrations they gave the attendees a chance to experience the luxurious feel of the hand treatment, which exfoliates and moisturizes. The manager of the Valley Fair Mall location, Kirsten, said, “Crabtree and Evelyn draws from nature around us to create personal care products that are both effective and beautiful.” The company specializes in hand therapy cream, body lotions, fragrant soaps, and perfumes, all in packaging that makes the purchase a ready-to-give gift.
One more well-known cosmetics company was at the Fair, too: Mary Kay. This company is the 1 skin care company in the country, beauty consultant Sylvia M. Bridges told us. The first product she recommends is their 15-spf moisture lotion for face and décolleté, reminding people that when they are driving the sun comes in and shines on their neck and chest as well as on their face. Mary Kay’s biggest market is in home cosmetic parties but they also meet with customers one-on-one, she said. And if a person is interested in finding out about the products but can’t go to a home party, Sylvia said they can come to a meeting every Monday evening at a local conference room where they can try the products and ask questions.
There was another soap company which uses Chinese herbs, Ethan's Earth Handmade Soap, a Korean ginseng company Jungkwangang, food from Sugar Bowl, EON and GreeNoodle, massage tools from Jin International, ways to get in shape with Dr. Fan, and cosmetics from Noevir. A new outfit for spring could come with pearls from the Pearl Jewelry Company and light cotton clothing from Isabella.
This event also had a once-a-decade sponsor, the U.S. Census Bureau. As a sponsor it provided shopping bags for all the participants. A representative spoke to attendees, encouraging everyone to fill out and return their Census form immediately so the Bureau doesn’t have to send a person out to visit their home to gather the information.
