Juniperseed Mercantile began as somewhat of an entrepreneurial accident: as a chemistry nerd, science teacher, and young mother, Tiffany was frustrated by the high premium environmentally conscious consumers like herself were often paying for everyday essentials branded as “natural”. With her science background and love of crafting, she started making her own lotions, soaps, and other body care products to keep things affordable and earth-friendly. Tiffany teamed up with her mom, Joan, and together they created an impressive catalog after Tiffany had been selling her wares from a literal picnic basket of handmade gifts kept under her desk.

From decadent skin treats to simple and effective cleaning solutions to reusable alternatives to everyday disposables, they continued the tradition of thrift and gentle, earth-friendly living passed down from Tiffany’s Oma (Joan’s own mother).

As a child in World War II Germany, Oma learned how to survive by being thrifty, tidy, and a tirelessly hard worker. She came to the US as an adult and managed to make a modest and comfortable life for herself and her family. She lived the saying “use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without”— inspiring a sustainable and resource-smart perspective in Joan and Tiffany before “going green” was even a thing.

From an early age, they learned to look for what was already available to work with before buying something new – whether it was cleaning products, first aid remedies, clothing, or bath and beauty items. They remember how Oma started each day’s cleaning routine by making a fresh bucket of homemade cleaning solution and gathering a stack of neatly folded cleaning rags cut from old clothing, and they grew up knowing that very good cleaning products can be made from ingredients probably on hand in the kitchen. Oma also passed on her gifts of herbal wisdom and folk medicine, and many of Juniperseed Mercantile’s herbal remedies are versions of the family’s old traditions.

At the beginning of 2018, Tiffany decided it was time to expand her business and hired on the essential staff to build the next phase of Juniperseed Mercantile: a brick and mortar store with a visible workshop and kitchen where all our products are still made by hand and community forms around shared commitments to DIY making, education, and earth-friendly living. In 2021, a second brick-and-mortar location was opened in Historic Downtown Littleton.  Though Oma and Joan are no longer with us, their legacy touches every part of Juniperseed Mercantile and inspires a new crew of neighbors, makers, crafters, and would-be entrepreneurs. We’ve all come to the same place of valuing thrift, wisdom traditions, and simplicity for the sake of the planet and of reviving an older, sometimes slower, and more connected way of doing things.

As of the summer of 2023, our two locations have been consolidated into one, and all of our operations are carried out at our Downtown Littleton shop and, as it has affectionately been named, the Formulary.  We’ve trimmed our operations a bit – we call it “right-sizing”, and find that returning to our roots has helped us get back to the level of simplicity that feels truly sustainable.  We have shifted our focus away from growing the brand to serving our community.  And while we do still offer wholesale accounts, we have been prioritizing small local brick-and-mortar businesses like our own, who are helping their friends and neighbors live more sustainably.