Santa Cruz is home to many an eco-entrepreneur, from vitamins to hemp, solar to biodiesel – this town has green living covered. Nubius Organics is a woman-owned, local, green business flying under the radar of many a Santa Cruzian because they don’t have an actual store front. They are an online business with customers all the way to the Atlantic and back, but us locals have the opportunity no East Coaster ever will – the option to pick up their wares at the Nubius office and never pay another shipping charge again.

The owner of Nubius Organics is Judy Sambrailo, born and raised here on the Central Coast. Judy has many talents aside from running a business and raising two teenage boys, she is also a champion Ironman triathlete as well as a championship rower. A few years ago, she was driven to make a change, and stumbled on the opportunity that is Nubius Organics. Her goal? For every product they offer to have immediate and positive impacts on the environment.

"Nubius is a playful shade of Green that's friendly to moms and growing families," says Judy. "Our reusable lunch systems are colorful so kids like them. We have lots of fun ways to eliminate everyday waste."

Judy says her love of the land, nature and adventure is in every Nubius Organics product, and that her company answers the question: "The land regenerates us, how can we regenerate the land?" 

The answer to this question that I find most apparent when browsing through the many goods offered by Nubius Organics is by reducing your carbon footprint by going reusable, reusable, reusable. Its selection of No Waste Lunch solutions is extensive, to say the least. The hundreds of colorful, reusable lunch bags, containers, utensils, sandwich wraps, snack bags, water bottles, food thermoses, insulated mugs and canteens, and napkins ensure that not one of us needs to throw away another Ziploc bag, plastic take-out fork, or brown paper bag ever again. 

You might be amazed to find this little gem of a green store hiding out under the radar off of Brommer Street, but all signs point to you being sold on some of the many innovate, responsibly crafted, environmentally responsible goods they have to offer. From hip handbags made out of reclaimed bike tires, to jewelry made out of 100% recycled silver, to hundreds of baby and kids products made from non-toxic, sustainable materials, Nubius Organics might just offer something for everyone.

The Local Green’s choice for absolute must have at Nubius Organics? Reusable produce bags, hands down. Because of these, I have not used a plastic bag in well over a year. 

I firmly believe that what seem like small actions for the greater good have the ability to feed the larger, collective actions that lead to real change. And change, as always, starts in your own home, your backyard, and your community. 

The mission at Nubius Organics is to “raise awareness of environmental issues while offering eco-friendly (and stylish!) solutions where possible.” In other words, they strive to walk the talk. They do so by publishing tips and articles on their Living Green page, e-newsletters and blog, and sharing action alerts, discussion topics, and information with the public through their popular facebook page.

Check out local, green business Nubius Organics at www.nubiusorganics.com, and don’t forget to chose to ‘pickup your shipment at the Nubius warehouse’ to save on shipping. Because every choice we make has an effect on the environment.