It is the co-op’s vision to support and strengthen community connections with our local producers — so here are their stories! In this Meet Your Producer series, we will highlight our neighborhood farmers, ranchers and producers so you can see and hear what they’re all about.
Mindfully Made
Carol Bahr
Baldwin City, KS
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About the Producer & The Products
Before founding Mindfully Made, Carol Bahr earned a master's degree in physical education, worked in corporate wellness at St. Luke's and later became a full-time mom. But when she lost a friend to cancer, a mother whose life in some ways mirrored her own, her path changed course.
"Witnessing her loss was a turning point that lit a fire inside of me to search for answers,” Carol shares on her website. "Why is disease so prevalent in our society? Why is disease not age-discriminate? How can one best support the body preventatively?"
Those questions sparked a deep dive into understanding the impacts of products we use and consume every day. Carol began making essentials for her own family, from deodorant to laundry detergent.
In 2012, she connected with a group of women who formed Made by Mama. They gathered regularly to share recipes and create products in bulk for everyone to use. "It was the beginning of making things, getting into that world and knowing what we were putting in and on our bodies," Carol said. "And for several women, it also helped us find our own voice in the community."
What began as a personal pursuit grew into her business. Her first product, Natural Neo Salve, was initially created to soothe diaper rash, but can be used for a variety of skin conditions. Twelve years later, her line of small batch, herbal wellness products is distributed to retailers across the country.
“Every single product we make comes through our family — we try it first, we make every single thing. It’s very intentional. For me that’s really important.”
Carol uses the same care selecting ingredients. She chooses local Speckman Honey and regional elderberries. She frequently sources medicinal herbs from Mountain Rose Herbs, as she’s gradually growing her own herb garden. “I want to find the right source with the right constituents based on what I’m trying to do.”
This year, they are bringing all of the operation under one roof with a new space on their property for processing and storage. Carol is excited to grow more of her own ingredients, experiment with hydrosols and continue learning one intentional step at a time.
