I’m Audra, the Founder and “OG” of Girl Meets Dirt – we are proudly many now. I’m a NW girl at heart having been born and raised here. An accidental career in finance led to 10 years working on Wall Street, and a reinvigorated commitment to making a life for myself, led by MY values, out west. I grew up boating in the San Juan Islands with my family – a seed planted long, long ago, now grows daily as I raise my two children (Neve, 6, and Life, 8) in this beautiful community.

Girl Meets Dirt was born of the land. Grew limbs through storms, gained strength with rain, knowledge with history, rootedness with dirt under her fingernails. Seedlings rose, and bore fruit. And she watched, curious & hungry, and learned the art of stretching bounty into winter. This is where the story ends (it always ends) but begins anew – with worn muddy boots and kitchen clogs – a journey in steps, stems, pear seeds, plum pits, and apple flesh. A journey to the fruit of the matter & back, on one island farmette.

Just shy of 10 years in Manhattan, I walked away from a career and convenient city life with a new husband and two dogs to head West, and start our own (island) Western story. Life in a farmhouse down a one lane Orcas Island road hasn't been all primroses. With spring comes rain – and in some seasons, lots of it. At some point, the rains yield, and the glorious rainshadow sun feeds fields full of poppies. Bright red, the seeds a blessing from my grandmother's meticulous seed saving hands, now sown haphazardly by mine, earth polished, with the wind doing the rest; they sing of the bounty yet to come.

I’ve watched a lot of things grow – and subsequently die back. It’s made the pain of growing up and older and the challenges of life more palatable. But the fruit keeps coming back, year after year. The sweetness has brought untold joy. After the poppies, the buds, and blooms, comes Fall, and with it an abundance of stone-fruit and pomes. Gravenstein apples, Bartlett pears, Italian plums, and several varieties of quinces – many from trees harvested for over one hundred years-- fill our hands, our baskets, and soon, our bellies. And I smile, deeply, as I begin to peel, core, and chop.

The rhythm of the seasons --and life -- I’ll gladly ride for a hot copper pot jammed with island fruit and sugar.

Everything we make is single-varietal- to exalt the fruit, which we know is special (the ‘girl’ in our logo holds the native Orcas Pear- discovered in the islands growing wild in the 1970s). Most of the varietals we work with cannot be found in a commercial context, having long been outpaced by shelf stable, more easily transportable, grocery store ready picks. But their roots grow deep- deeper than anything commercially available. Aside from stewardship arrangements, there is a very long network of relationships with simple homesteaders and small family farms, looking for a little extra cash or jam in trade, with a tree of this and a tree of that that we count on year after year (running out of stock in an off year, knowing the trees needed their rest). We often find grocery bags of bounty waiting for us on our stoop on Monday mornings in September. Other times we cut out early on a Tuesday to harvest Orcas Pears that otherwise would have fallen to the ground. We use every bit of this very special fruit. We don’t peel anything, preferring the tannins and nuances of the whole fruit. We make shrubs from the juice byproduct from our cutting preserves. We macerate the pits with barks and orchard grasses in locally distilled apple brandy to make bitters.

Most people are unaware that Orcas Island and the San Juan Islands were a major fruit producing region in the early 20th century - the early settlers took a whiff of the salty air and unusually sunny ‘rain shadow’ climate and planted acres upon acres of fruit trees: Bartlett pears, Italian prune plums, King apples, and so many others. Harvests were packed onto boats at the likes of Westsound and boated off to city goers in Seattle, San Francisco & beyond. Before Eastern Washington damned the Columbia River and was able to irrigate - it was the islands that were the fruit basket of the county. The legacy remains, but we have little commercial orchard industry to speak of any longer - though the fruit continues to thrive. Tracts of old orchards dot the landscape, most in private hands. Whether it’s smart or foolish to craft a business on such disparate, disorganized sources, it’s the heart and soul of our business.

Can I possibly have a favorite? A bottle of our Lemon Lavender shrub is always in my fridge – to get me through those moments where some lemon acid is needed but there aren’t any fresh lemons in the house – and it makes a killer Girlie French 75. Our Tomato Jam is mygo-to for all cheese pairings and charcuterie- you literally can’t go wrong. And it low brows well too- mixed with some mayo it makes a fine sandwich/burger/fry spread. Our Orcas Pear with Bay, has the most delicious subtle herbal notes that make you want to eat it straight from the spoon. And hurray for texture and actual pieces of pear -nearly impossible to find in commercial preserves.

Save and build a nest egg so you feel confident taking risks (you will need to take risks). Take care of yourself and make space for the rest of your life – if you’re not operating at full capacity, your business won’t either.

The Hibiscus Tea Glow Mist is dewy, glowy skin’s best friend, reminiscent of a fresh glass of hibiscus tea. The lightweight mist is powered by 365-hour-aged Hibiscus Flowers that go through a low-temperature ultrasonic extraction process to preserve its skin benefits. These floral beauties come with natural AHAs and vitamin C that help to improve skin clarity while brightening and evening skin tone.

To further boost rejuvenation, the mist includes plant-based Calendula Retinol. This natural retinol alternative contains pro-vitamin A derived from cold-pressed calendula flowers, making it a more stabilized and less irritating form of retinol. The addition visibly boosts collagen production, improves skin elasticity, and diminishes lines and wrinkles.

Next up, we have Raspberry Seed Oil. This ingredient works alongside Probiotics to help fight acne and breakouts while soothing redness in just one minute.* They work in tandem to deeply hydrate, fortify and maintain the skin barrier while strengthening it against environmental stressors that can leave it prone to sensitivity. The best part? They help lock in long-lasting moisture leaving skin with a healthy dewy glow. It’s the perfect companion to revitalize makeup and enhance skin luminosity throughout the day.

*Based on a clinical study, 20 subjects

Indulge in 24-hour hydration* with the English Breakfast Tea Treatment Essence. With notes of smooth, bold Black tea, this powerful essence is optimized to boost skin function, lock in moisture, and restore firmness and elasticity to dull, lackluster skin. Our star ingredient, Black Tea, contains tannins and polyphenols —potent antioxidants— that protect skin from environmental damage. It's also naturally rich in caffeine that helps to visibly de-puff and firm while improving fine lines for skin that never looks tired.

Kombucha adds a dose of clarifying hydration that increases the absorption of the rest of your routine. The fermentation process produces probiotics, vitamin C, and B vitamins that help restore and regenerate skin. It’s a natural detoxifier that moisturizes, smooths skin tone, and improves texture while guarding against free radical damage. It’s one of those ingredients you can count on for inner and outer health. Sign us up!

The milky formula also contains a power couple of Pro-Vitamin B5 and Squalane. Pro-Vitamin B5 (aka Panthenol) shields the skin from irritation, helping it retain moisture and improving skin softness and elasticity, working overtime to create healthier, more resilient skin.

Squalane works synergistically alongside Pro-Vitamin B5 as a skin-identical lipid that moisturizes and protects the skin. It can also visibly reduce scars and combat skin pigmentation, leaving skin looking and feeling more youthful. Add the English Breakfast Tea Treatment Essence to your routine if you’re looking for a multi-tasking essence that will visibly smooth, plump, firm, and clear skin in just one step.

*Based on a clinical study, 20 subjects

The Rose Tea Eye Cream is like Immersing yourself in the fruity, floral notes of a freshly brewed rose tea. The detoxifying eye cream contains Damask Rose Flower Water, HydraRose, and Vegan Collagen to visibly plump and tighten, reduce puffiness, and restore brightness to aging eyes.

Our main ingredient, Damask Rose Flower Water, is loaded with antioxidants and vitamin C to deeply hydrate and balance while visibly reducing redness and inflammation — including eye puffiness and irritation. We didn’t stop there. We added HydraRose, a proprietary blend of 3 different roses that helps protect the delicate eye area from stress-induced damage that can cause visible aging. As a result, this hardworking eye cream visibly brightens and illuminates under the eyes, improving dark circles and fatigue immediately after application.* This is aided by the unique sherbet texture that creates a double barrier of hydration that minimizes moisture loss and under-eye darkness while visibly diminishing lines and wrinkles.

The added Vegan Collagen is a plant-based alternative to animal collagen with a lower molecular weight, helping it deeply penetrate and hydrate the skin. It has excellent wound healing and cell regeneration properties that increase skin elasticity and firmness and improve eye wrinkles and fine lines.

Finally, we added Rosehip Oil as another derivative of rose sourced from the fruit of roses. The high levels of Vitamin A and C promote skin regeneration and contain high levels of essential fatty acids that help feed the under-eye area the moisture it craves. The intense, lightweight hydration improves and diminishes the look of lines and wrinkles while visibly plumping and tightening the delicate eye area.

*Based on a clinical study, 20 subjects

The Hibiscus Tea Glow Mist is dewy, glowy skin’s best friend, reminiscent of a fresh glass of hibiscus tea. The lightweight mist is powered by 365-hour-aged Hibiscus Flowers that go through a low-temperature ultrasonic extraction process to preserve its skin benefits. These floral beauties come with natural AHAs and vitamin C that help to improve skin clarity while brightening and evening skin tone.

To further boost rejuvenation, the mist includes plant-based Calendula Retinol. This natural retinol alternative contains pro-vitamin A derived from cold-pressed calendula flowers, making it a more stabilized and less irritating form of retinol. The addition visibly boosts collagen production, improves skin elasticity, and diminishes lines and wrinkles.

Next up, we have Raspberry Seed Oil. This ingredient works alongside Probiotics to help fight acne and breakouts while soothing redness in just one minute.* They work in tandem to deeply hydrate, fortify and maintain the skin barrier while strengthening it against environmental stressors that can leave it prone to sensitivity. The best part? They help lock in long-lasting moisture leaving skin with a healthy dewy glow. It’s the perfect companion to revitalize makeup and enhance skin luminosity throughout the day.

*Based on a clinical study, 20 subjects

Indulge in 24-hour hydration* with the English Breakfast Tea Treatment Essence. With notes of smooth, bold Black tea, this powerful essence is optimized to boost skin function, lock in moisture, and restore firmness and elasticity to dull, lackluster skin. Our star ingredient, Black Tea, contains tannins and polyphenols —potent antioxidants— that protect skin from environmental damage. It's also naturally rich in caffeine that helps to visibly de-puff and firm while improving fine lines for skin that never looks tired.

Kombucha adds a dose of clarifying hydration that increases the absorption of the rest of your routine. The fermentation process produces probiotics, vitamin C, and B vitamins that help restore and regenerate skin. It’s a natural detoxifier that moisturizes, smooths skin tone, and improves texture while guarding against free radical damage. It’s one of those ingredients you can count on for inner and outer health. Sign us up!

The milky formula also contains a power couple of Pro-Vitamin B5 and Squalane. Pro-Vitamin B5 (aka Panthenol) shields the skin from irritation, helping it retain moisture and improving skin softness and elasticity, working overtime to create healthier, more resilient skin.

Squalane works synergistically alongside Pro-Vitamin B5 as a skin-identical lipid that moisturizes and protects the skin. It can also visibly reduce scars and combat skin pigmentation, leaving skin looking and feeling more youthful. Add the English Breakfast Tea Treatment Essence to your routine if you’re looking for a multi-tasking essence that will visibly smooth, plump, firm, and clear skin in just one step.

*Based on a clinical study, 20 subjects

The Rose Tea Eye Cream is like Immersing yourself in the fruity, floral notes of a freshly brewed rose tea. The detoxifying eye cream contains Damask Rose Flower Water, HydraRose, and Vegan Collagen to visibly plump and tighten, reduce puffiness, and restore brightness to aging eyes.

Our main ingredient, Damask Rose Flower Water, is loaded with antioxidants and vitamin C to deeply hydrate and balance while visibly reducing redness and inflammation — including eye puffiness and irritation. We didn’t stop there. We added HydraRose, a proprietary blend of 3 different roses that helps protect the delicate eye area from stress-induced damage that can cause visible aging. As a result, this hardworking eye cream visibly brightens and illuminates under the eyes, improving dark circles and fatigue immediately after application.* This is aided by the unique sherbet texture that creates a double barrier of hydration that minimizes moisture loss and under-eye darkness while visibly diminishing lines and wrinkles.

The added Vegan Collagen is a plant-based alternative to animal collagen with a lower molecular weight, helping it deeply penetrate and hydrate the skin. It has excellent wound healing and cell regeneration properties that increase skin elasticity and firmness and improve eye wrinkles and fine lines.

Finally, we added Rosehip Oil as another derivative of rose sourced from the fruit of roses. The high levels of Vitamin A and C promote skin regeneration and contain high levels of essential fatty acids that help feed the under-eye area the moisture it craves. The intense, lightweight hydration improves and diminishes the look of lines and wrinkles while visibly plumping and tightening the delicate eye area.

*Based on a clinical study, 20 subjects