This text is part of the special Pleasures notebook
On August 24, Oneka invites the public to discover its gardens and facilities as part of its annual open house. The Eastern Townships company, which specializes in plant-based personal care, will offer free chi gong sessions, as well as lectures on hair, herbalism and aromatherapy.
“At the open house, we offer an experience. We welcome people into our home,” explains Philippe Choinière, co-founder of Oneka with his partner, Stacey Lecuyer. When he says “in our home,” he means it. The Frelighsburg store is located in a house that also serves as an office for the eco-responsible company and a home for the couple and their two daughters. A few kilometres away is the farm, closed to the public except for this annual open house. And they bought this farm from Philippe Choinière’s parents, who were in the apple growing business. “We are a family business with family values,” he says.
His brother, who owns the neighboring land and is behind the Cidre Choinière company, will also be selling his products on site. Lemonade and a caterer will also be at the open house. But free admission remains at the heart of the concept, and people are invited to bring their own picnic if they wish.
Between lavender and goldenrod
Oneka’s gardens are unique in that they are bordered by wild fields. The different growing areas the company creates—in full sun for lavender; in more shade for lemon balm and sage—are certified organic.
And it’s the diversity of the fields, which are full of goldenrod at this time of year, that helps the entrepreneurial couple keep their plants healthy. Indeed, even if they have ambitions to expand the gardens in the years to come, there’s no question of getting rid of these wild fields, which are a “huge” advantage for their crops because of the diversity of insects that create a balanced ecosystem.
“The worst recipe for plant diseases is monoculture,” Philippe Choinière points out as he admires the view. Apparently, on the best days, he can see all the way to Montreal from his raised plot of land.
Plants, whether wild or cultivated, are used in the production of the company’s body care products. Once harvested, they are dried. Extracting the water in this way not only allows them to be preserved until processing, but also to obtain a better quality of extraction when they are left to macerate.
Alcohol, oil or cider vinegar are used to extract the properties of the plants. It is then this filtered liquid that is used to make shampoos, conditioners, body lotions, face creams and other soaps.
Added to this are essential oils, which give the products their enveloping aromas. The company’s best-known is probably cedar and sage, but the other fragrances – angelica and lavender, goldenseal and citrus, as well as white pine and petitgrain – are just as good.
For people and the environment
Stacey Lecuyer and Philippe Choinière’s path to body care came about somewhat by accident. Both grew up on a farm and had an entrepreneurial spirit. They wanted to start a business and get back to the land when the idea became obvious. They eventually launched Oneka in 2007.
“We wanted to use entrepreneurship to create good,” Philippe Choinière recalls. “We often have the image of a big company that makes profits at the expense of people or the environment. My motivation is to be a model business that takes care of the environment and its team.”
So, in addition to its Ecocert certification, which guarantees that the agriculture is organic, the couple went for the B Corp certification, which ensures that the entire company meets social and environmental requirements. In addition, by offering filling at bulk stations at retailers, Oneka has avoided putting into circulation one million 500 milliliter plastic bottles since 2017, estimates Philippe Choinière.
At the open house, the public will be able to relax. On the program, there are outdoor shampoos with scalp massages. Those present will also be able to take advantage of the opportunity to visit the sauna and the ice bath, cobbled together from a freezer. Philippe Choinière and Stacey Lecuyer definitely intend to welcome people into the comfort of their home.
This content was produced by the Special Publications Team of Dutyrelevant to marketing. The writing of the Duty did not take part in it.