Contributed photo
ADDING INGREDIENTS — Samantha Berry Richardson is creating one of her Goodnyou? products. Goodnyou? products are homemade, all natural, made-to-order with a guarantee of quality and freshness. Products are for the body and the belly, including body butters, lotions, exfoliating cream, which Richardson noted was great for eczema, lip balms, salad dressings and pepper jelly.
By Gloria Austin
Staff Writer
PATTEN — Samantha Berry Richardson started her home business in Patten like many others do, especially those who are mothers. Richardson’s passion for her family’s well being has always been a central focal point, but was reaffirmed.
“I wanted to focus on providing simple, non-chemically generated products for them,” she explained.
The product line “Goodnyou?” launched in 2012 as a branch off Richardson’s blog started in 2010 called Goodnyou?
“After being diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma last year many asked if I felt my efforts geared toward ‘all natural were worth it’ and to everyone I answered the same, the ‘Big C’ diagnosis alone was validation in itself on exactly how important it is to make efforts to be my healthiest self,” said Richardson. “Life’s tricky, I feel as if we all owe it to ourselves to be at our own personal peak, so when life does push us down, it’s still a long way to go before we hit that ground.”
Goodnyou? products are homemade, all natural, made-to-order with a guarantee of quality and freshness. Products are for the body and the belly, including body butters, lotions, exfoliating cream, which Richardson noted was great for eczema, lip balms, salad dressings and pepper jelly.
“As well as any other random item I feel like making on a whim,” Richardson added.
Obviously there are benefits to any homemade organic product. Richardson said the results she has observed includes “healthy skin and cleaner eating.”
“I feel we unknowingly allow so many toxins to come in contact with our bodies, that by making a single conscious effort of simplicity, such as my products, we are kind of cutting ourselves some slack in the constant effort of fighting against the unnatural we often process,” she explained. “And with that, our bodies reward us by responding healthily and happily.”
Richardson, a 2001 Houlton High School graduate, lives in Patten with her husband, Nate, who runs Richardson’s Hardware Store, and their children.
“I am a stay-at-home mom raising kids and chickens,” she said.
Richardson has found not only a more wholesome lifestyle, but a meaning behind what she is producing for potential customers.
“This business is me and mine,” she said. “I feel it’s important to have a self investment and I sometimes get my head caught in the trenches of being a momma and wife. It’s nice to have a little nudge, every once in awhile, to pull myself out of that and focus on providing products I’m passionate about, outside of these walls. It all comes full circle for me because it all just so happens to coincide with those who I’m also passionate about.”
To visit Richardson’s blog go to www.facebook.com/goodnyoublog or to check out her products visit www.good-n-you.com. Goodnyou? products can also be found at Richardson’s Hardware Store in Patten, as well as at local craft fairs.
To reach Richardson, call 694-0859.