Keeping it holistic

COEUR d'ALENE - Standing by a small construction site on March 10, Tom Orjala pointed out the energy efficient design: Bigger windows to let in more sun, high density insulation, foam around the windows.

No detail of the construction goes overlooked, he added, including purchasing local products to minimize the carbon footprint.

"Green is not so much a product as a way of thinking," said Orjala, president of NorthIda Homes, Inc. in Coeur d'Alene. "The Earth's resources are limited. It used to be we acted like we could just use it all up as much as we wanted, but now we have to conserve what we have."

His method is, in a word: Holistic.

And he's not alone.

Kootenai County is seeing a growth in businesses that incorporate certain philosophies into their practices - like ensuring every step of production is eco-friendly, for example.

It's a mindset growing so popular, said professional networker Laurie Phillips, she decided to give these businesses a home with the Coeur d'Alene Holistic Chamber of Commerce.

"We're taking businesses that are just a little more non-conventional," said Phillips, who helped found the chamber a year ago. "We're teaching them to protect each other. If you're in a given mindset, it will always come back to you."

The roughly 20 members are all local, and include organic food sellers, alternative medicine practitioners, as well as traditional businesses that simply support the holistic philosophy of looking at the whole instead of separate parts.

The organization focuses on taking that philosophy and applying it on a grander scale, said member Steve Romanchuk, by encouraging local professionals to nurture one another to benefit the overall community.

"We're all interconnected," said Romanchuk of Northwest Carpet Repair who is also married to Phillips. "Many people might think, 'Who cares about the milkman?' But if the milkman doesn't have a job, he doesn't get gas, he doesn't get his carpets cleaned. If anybody loses, we all lose."

It all starts with education, Phillips said.

The chamber holds training sessions at every meeting, with a focus on marketing in a holistic way.

For instance, if any members gain a new customer, they should look for an opportunity to refer the client to another chamber member, too.

"If businesses get on board with that, we'll see the whole community grow," Phillips said.

Meetings also include simple meet and greets, where members describe their interests and get to know each other. If folks aren't comfortable with networking, Phillips said, she gives them pointers.

"Our hope is to let people know what's a good referral," she said.

Although Orjala has only joined the chamber recently, he said the group pow wows are helpful.

"About 95 percent of my work comes from people I know," he said. "We also educate each other. We learn about other people's businesses so we can utilize what they do and adopt their methods."

Joe Hamilton, CEO of Pilgrim's Market, said he wanted to join the group in part because it encourages people to shop locally.

"We've had several events where more people showed up because of the chamber," Hamilton said.

He also appreciates how the chamber parallels the holistic approach his business takes toward food production - judging products by where they're grown, how they're processed.

"Everything we stand for, we're holistic in nature," he said. "It's a community chamber of commerce. I thought it was a good fit."

Membership costs $50 a year.

The group meets at 6 p.m. the third Tuesday of every month at the Pilgrim's Market meeting room.

"My vision for this chamber is to be a really huge community outreach," Phillips said. "As more and more people join, we have a force of people who can go out and do good."

Information: www.cdaholisticchamber.org.