They started by going door-to-door in Golden, Colorado, selling whole-grain bread and lending nutrition education books to the people they met. Pioneers in the health food industry, the Iselys knew that after reading the books, those same people would be open to ordering vitamins and bulk foods. So a week later they would return to take additional orders for those items, which they sold on consignment from a local health food distributor.

Over the years, Natural Grocers has grown from a literal “mom and pop” business to a successful and respected health food grocer with locations in Colorado, New Mexico, Texas, Utah and Wyoming, with more than 1,100 employees. Today, the business is run by Margaret and Philip’s children and grandchildren, and it continues the original mission of offering the highest quality supplements, body care and grocery items with outstanding customer service.

When you walk into a Natural Grocers store, you’ll first notice the comfortable, quiet and quaint surroundings. You can count on a greeting and a smile … and if you’re a “regular,” you’ll most likely be greeted by name.

The stores provide extensive nutrition education classes and lectures along with personal nutritional health coaching sessions – all of this at no cost to the customer. Education and Customer Service are truly at the heart of the way they do business.

Just as important as its epic customer service, Natural Grocers focuses on providing customers with safe, top-quality food and supplements. Every product goes through a strict review process to ensure it meets their quality standards before it can be sold through the stores. Their customers enjoy knowing that they don’t have to read the labels because Natural Grocers has done it for them. The Natural Grocers criteria list of “What We Won’t Sell and Why” can be found on their website at www.NaturalGrocers.com.

Shopping is easy at Natural Grocers stores because customers know that they are only buying tested products, naturally raised, hormone-free meat and 100-percent USDA organic produce from stores that are USDA organic certified. Customers can also count on finding products from local companies in each of the communities that Natural Grocers does business, reducing their overall carbon footprint.

Natural Grocers is also taking healthy steps in each of its communities by providing donations to local food banks, humanitarian outreach programs and fundraising efforts for those less fortunate and needing a hand up to regain their place in society.

The Natural Grocers family has long been a leader in the community for environmental efforts. They became “green” before “green” was popular. Not only do they recycle all packing, shipping and office supplies whenever possible, they were one of the first grocery retailers in the country to remove all plastic and paper shopping bags from their stores, saving 1.3 million pounds of waste from our landfills each year.

The green building efforts of Natural Grocers reflect their continuing commitment to lessen environmental impact through their use of eco-friendly construction methods and energy-saving heating, cooling and lighting. Their current new store construction includes a breakthrough method of heating the building and the water by recapturing heat that is typically given off from a cooler as it works to create the cool air. They’ve also eliminated costs and created energy efficiencies by using ductless in-ceiling fans, geothermal heating and cooling efforts, long-lasting flooring and LED bulbs, natural lighting, and occupancy sensors that regulate air quality and maintain lighting levels.
Following Margaret’s lead, the company continues to promote the health of their customers, the planet, and the communities surrounding each store. Shop with Natural Grocers and be a part of making your community healthier.

To find the nearest store, go to www.NaturalGrocers.com.

This locally owned and operated company offers custom cabinetry built in Colorado as well as standard cabinet designs from top national manufacturers.

Wedgewood cabinets have been designed for and installed in kitchens, bathrooms, home theaters, home offices and living rooms throughout our region. That’s because every project is carefully designed to add beauty and value to homes through the use of specialized woods, finishes and hardware, as well as the unique style of each cabinet. Wedgewood cabinets are also second to none in providing ample storage space.

But homeowners aren’t the only end users Wedgewood has in mind. Kitchens by Wedgewood was the first manufacturer in the state of Colorado to receive the prestigious Environmental Stewardship Program Certification from the Kitchen Cabinet Manufacturers Association. The company is fully committed to using environmentally responsible products in the construction of its cabinets.

If you’re looking for ways to green up your new construction or remodeling project, calling Kitchens by Wedgewood is a great place to start.

Short commute
Kitchens by Wedgewood builds its custom cabinetry right here at its Louisville facility. So when you choose Wedgewood, you simultaneously support your community and reduce the amount of energy it takes to transport your cabinets to installation.

Conscious choices
Kitchens by Wedgewood’s green cabinets feature Encore particleboard, a post-consumer recycled wood fiberboard with no added urea formaldehyde. All Wedgewood drawer boxes are made from European Forestry Council Certified European Beech with a water-based topcoat. Customers have the option of selecting sustainably grown products, such as rapidly renewable woods (bamboo and Lyptus), domestic hardwoods (cherry, maple, birch, alder and oak) and hardwoods that have been Forestry Council Certified. Ecologically minded options like natural finishes and recycled countertops are also available. So when you choose Wedgewood, your cabinets are crafted to your exact green specifications.

Lasting impression
The experienced artisans of Kitchens by Wedgewood combine precision machinery and human artistry to create the finest custom wood cabinets. These cabinets are built to thrill, and they’re also built to last.

In keeping with its dedication to excellent service, Wedgewood stands behind what it sells. So when you choose Kitchens by Wedgewood, you can be confident that your new cabinetry will be wowing you for many years to come, reducing the desire and need for replacement.

Kitchens by Wedgewood has three conveniently located showrooms so you can easily compare brand, style, color, texture, finish, price and customization options. Visit one of the locations in Louisville, Denver or Englewood to learn more about the company’s environmental credentials and to see Wedgewood cabinet quality for yourself.

For more information on Kitchens by Wedgewood, call 303.664.1400 or visit www.kitchensbywedgewood.com.

The “greening” of our homes can seem a bit complicated at times, with talk of “high R’s” and “low e’s” and such.

But mostly, it’s about making simple changes in how we live in our homes. Want an example? It’s right under your feet. It’s your floor.

“Wood flooring brings an aesthetic plus to your home,” says Clarence Harrison, owner of WoodWise Hardwood Floors in Boulder, who has been installing and refinishing Front Range floors for more than 20 years. “A wood floor is easy to maintain and has a long life.” But choosing the wood, installation methods and finishes each has an impact, he explains, and an opportunity to do the Right Thing.

Actually, several right things, it turns out. “Most wood flooring is derived from hardwood trees. When we use hardwood purchased domestically, this helps stimulate the economy where it is locally harvested and it is milled,” Harrison explains. “Oak is the most plentifully farmed hardwood in the nation, and we use it in over half of all our installations. It has the integrity and beauty that makes it a favorite.

“We also install reclaimed wood flooring, which helps conservation by returning re-milled, salvaged timbers to use and keeps materials out of the waste stream. Plus, it has zero impact on living trees.”

We know we want sustainably harvested wood, right? But what does that mean, and how can we be sure? “Look for the FSC stamp on wood products,” Harrison advises. “The Forest Stewardship Council is a professional organization that uses stringent chain of custody rules on wood products to ensure they are properly sourced. Wood producers must meet 57 different criteria, including protection of wildlife and minimal use of pesticides. Of all the green flooring certifications, FSC is the gold standard.”

But there’s more, Harrison cautions. “Even sustainable products like bamboo and cork have to be shipped long distances, from Asia, Central and South America. That creates a huge carbon footprint. We feel that choosing domestically harvested, FSC-certified wood flooring is the most environmentally responsible approach. It’s the one we take at WoodWise.”

Bamboo flooring has become very popular, and because it is a fast-growing wood source, it is considered by many to be “sustainable.” But, in addition to its transportation footprint, some of the sources for bamboo do not pass FSC scrutiny, Harrison cautions.

OK, we’ve chosen properly sourced wood, and we’re ready to bring it all home. Let’s look at how the installation and care of your floor impact your personal space.

As you might expect, installing a wood floor can create a lot of dust and sawdust. Most installers leave a “brown cloud” behind – suspended particulates that can take days to settle, and never get completely cleaned from your home.
WoodWise uses a unique dustless process that captures the dust right away at ground level, keeping it out of your home’s nooks and crannies. “This is an important advantage we offer,” Harrison says. “We keep 99 percent of the dust from reaching your home’s surface areas. You don’t want all the dust in your air, or in the duct work. I’m a runner, and I don’t want that stuff in my lungs – or yours!”

Finishing your floor is another area where WoodWise reduces the environmental impact. Few wood finishes are truly environmentally friendly, and the solvents used in most products can give off toxic fumes for months after application. “Natural oils look great, but they don’t hold up,” Harrison explains. “For most applications, water-based finishes are the best way to go. They have really improved in terms of ease of application and durability, and there aren’t any toxic ingredients. I think oil-based finishes may be phased out as more viable ecological alternatives come to market.”

Harrison also pays attention to what happens with leftover materials from a WoodWise installation. Smaller pieces of desirable hardwoods are snapped up by a craftsman who turns them into even more desirable artisan boxes. “We have a guy that comes in once a month and picks up dust and scraps. He mixes this with ground-up pallets to make pellet fuel for wood stoves.”

Step up to a green floor! Contact WoodWise Hardwood Floors at 303.442.7777 or visit www.WoodWiseBoulder.com.

Northfield Commons

Colorado’s natural beauty – blue sky, sunshine, mountain vistas – is the backdrop for Northfield Commons. Distinctive features of this new, successful and growing community are sublime views, trail connections, a neighborhood park, and a pleasing variety of home styles, from traditional and Colorado craftsman to contemporary newwest style.

This appealing mix includes single-family houses, duplexes, row homes, in a range of prices – all built by four top-notch Boulder builders known for quality and efficiency.

Northfield Commons occupies a 22-acre site between Kalmia Avenue and Palo Parkway in northeast Boulder. The semi-rural charm of quiet, tree-lined streets is balanced by the convenience of nearby restaurants, banks, shopping and public transportation.

Every home meets Energy Star® standards for green, eco-friendly and energy-efficient living, which means lower energy costs, healthier indoor air quality, less water usage and improved overall comfort, while reducing pollution and conserving natural resources.

“We have had so much success with Northfield Commons,” says sales manager Kate Lyons. “In these three years, 75 to 80 percent of our homes are now sold and occupied, and more homes are coming. We’re designing new homes and floor plans. We’ve got competitive prices, and being built green and Energy-Star rated, our homes shine over older, resale homes. Our homeowners get lower energy bills and high-quality construction.”

Prices for row homes start in the high $300,000s, duplexes in the high $500,000s, and single-family homes in the mid-$600,000s.

Contact Information for Northfield Commons

Northfield Commons is marketed by Markel Homes and Accent Properties. The sales office is located in the southwest corner of the neighborhood at Kalmia Avenue and Silverton Street. It is open daily, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Call Kate Lyons at 303.442.0309, or e-mail her at Kate@NorthfieldCommonsBoulder.com, and visit www.NorthfieldCommonsBoulder.com.

Northfield Village

With Northfield Commons thriving, the pace is picking up at Northfield Village. “This is our up-and-coming community a few miles north of Northfield Commons, in the residential area at Jay Road and North 47th Street in North Boulder,” says Lyons. “We are doing the same good things here that have made Northfield Commons such a success. We dug ground in December and are off to a great start with our first closing and a dozen contracts – we’ll have another seven closings in June. We’re featuring the same four builders.”

This charming community will have only 130 units – with condos, town homes, row homes, duplexes and single-family homes. More floor plans and new home designs are in the works. Northfield Village has the best of both worlds: It’s located across from open space, yet close to major roads for easy commuting and convenient shopping.

Prices for condos start in the $150,000s and town homes in the $200,000s as part of the City of Boulder Homeownership Program; all condominiums and select town homes at Northfield Village meet the Program’s guidelines. Prices for town homes and row homes start in the $300,000s, duplexes and single-family homes in the $600,000s. Visit www.NorthfieldVillageBoulder.com for more information.

Contact Information for Northfield Village

The Northfield Village sales office is open 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily. Stop by to pick up more information and walk the site – you’ll see a number of homes in various stages of construction. Contact sales associate Roz Giannasi at 303.974.5529. To learn more, check out www.NorthfieldVillageBoulder.com and view the finished site plan and great-looking architecture.
As Lyons points out: “Northfield Commons and Northfield Village are two excellent locations. Homeowners love their convenience, easy access to trails, neighborhood parks, green and Energy Star features, a variety of floor plans and choice of architectural styles. And residents with children are thrilled about the fine schools: Crestview, Centennial and Boulder High.”

“It’s so rare to come across a parcel of land in the City of Boulder that’s directly adjacent to open space, with such stunning views,” he says. “As a local developer in business for almost 40 years, I felt I had a unique opportunity to build a distinctive community that would preserve the natural beauty of the site and reflect Coloradans’ tastes and connection to the outdoors.”

Dakota Ridge Village is located in North Boulder, west of Broadway and U.S. 36. Spread out over 57 acres, the community is surrounded on two sides by City of Boulder open space. The popular Foothills Trailway runs along the neighborhood’s south and west sides. Many homes have panoramic views, and everywhere is an open, expansive perspective. Residents enjoy easy access to trails and bike paths as well as city amenities, parks and a congenial neighborhood atmosphere.

Saved the best for last

The last phase of building is currently under way, with lots situated directly across from protected open space and featuring spectacular Foothills and Flatiron views. Included in the final phase are custom solar homes priced from the $800,000s to $1.5 million, from three local builders: Markel Homes, MayerMartini Homes and Murphy Homes.

At Dakota Ridge Village, Markel Homes has built a series of unique single-family homes from Markel’s newwest collection. Inspired by the heritage of the West, newwest living combines favorite traditional elements with the spacious feel of contemporary design and an attitude of urban sophistication.

• 5229 Pierre Street is part of the newwest collection and available now. Priced at $879,900, this home features multiple outdoor spaces, including two large patios and a third-floor skyloft, high-end finishes throughout and large distinctive windows for abundant natural light and expansive views.

• 5334 2nd Street, $1,525,000 from MayerMartini Homes, sits directly across from open space to the west and offers unobstructed views of the Flatirons and the Foothills. Built in a New England style, this home features a Nana-style wall of windows, large screened-in side porch to the southwest, luxurious master suite and gourmet kitchen.

• Murphy Homes is offering 343 Dakota Boulevard, a south-facing home priced at $1,349,000, with an open and airy floor plan, awesome views from the large covered front porch and third floor skyloft, and an inviting stone entry. This beautiful home won Best in Show in the 2009 Tour of Homes.

A vibrant community

Wes Hobson, a Realtor with RE/MAX of Boulder, has lived at Dakota Ridge Village for three years. He’s pleased with how the community has evolved.

“I’m surprised how many families there are,” he says. “Seventy percent of the homeowners have kids in K through 12.  At our stop, 18 to 22 kids get on the school bus every morning.”

As the father of an 8-month-old and an 8-year-old, Hobson is delighted with the big new community park that recently opened, with plenty of activities for kids of all ages. As an athlete and outdoorsman, Hobson values the easy access to open space and trails.

“Very thoughtful planning went into this place,” he says. “The alleyway is a great design. You see people come and go, and the kids play there instead of on the street – it’s safer. There are spontaneous ‘happy hours’ in the alleys; it’s a very friendly community.”

When Hobson and his wife were looking for a home, they wanted to live west of Broadway and enjoy great views. They looked at a lot of older housing. “We picked Dakota Ridge Village because it’s new construction. The floor plans are open and modern. It’s a good value compared to the older properties we saw.”

Businesswoman Roberta Gantz is another contented Dakota Ridge Village homeowner; she moved into her new home in 2006. “I am more than happy I bought it. I haven’t regretted one day. I work hard and come home and I’m ecstatic about the house they [Markel Homes] built for me.”

The neighborhood is also important to her. “This is a community for people like me – over 50, retired and not retired – and families with one or more children. It’s a real community. People are happy with their homes, their surroundings, and their community. We have nice homeowners’ associations. I love my investment.”

Markel Homes

Markel Homes, one of Colorado’s premier homebuilders, plans, develops and builds Colorado neighborhoods that integrate the natural landscape and comfortable lifestyle of the West. Innovative design and distinctive architecture characterize a Markel community, along with quality construction and green practices. Markel is a homegrown Boulder company that has built homes in various locations in Boulder County and in Fort Collins.

For information about available homes at Dakota Ridge Village, visit MarkelHomes.com or call sales manager Nancy Haney at 303.200.0488.