Staff photo by Fritz Busch Jean Wenk of New Ulm shops at the New Ulm’s Own Fair Trade and Art store that re-opened Friday in a space twice as big as the former space, at 212 Minnesota St. North. Store volunteer Bernice Schmitz is pictured at right. Store items include many hand-crafted items including baskets, chocolates, jewelry, wall art, books, notecards, plant-based soap and more.

By Fritz Busch

Staff Writer

NEW ULM — Thanks to lots of volunteer help, New Ulm’s Own Fair Trade and Art store reopened in a new space in front of it’s former spot at 212 Minnesota Street North.

The store is now located where Nadelkunst, a knitting and yard shop, was located. The two stores traded places.

“We’ve got twice the space now,” said store volunteer Jeanie Hinsman. “Volunteers did it, installing shelves, tearing out old carpet and painting.”

Prokritee, a fair trade company including 1,500 artisans from rural areas of Bangladesh is the featured March business. Hand-crafted, plant-based, all-natural soaps are available for a 50-cent discount.

The Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) organized the self-managed, non-profit company Prokritee in 2001 with an endowment.

The company emphasizes using renewable resources like recycled sari, a colorful fiber, waste jute (a durable fabric), silk, handmade paper, natural fibers and leaves.

Store items also include many hand-crafted items including baskets, organic coffee, chocolates, pottery, jewelry, wall art, books, notecards, plant-based soap and more from countries around the world.

Door prizes will be drawn and in-store specials and refreshments are part of the grand re-opening March 9, 10, and 11.

The purpose of the store is to bring awareness of the fair trade industry that strives to improve marginalized craftspersons and farmers around the globe.

Store profits are donated to charities, including NUMAS Haus which provides emergency shelter and support services to homeless, single-mother families with school-age children in the New Ulm area.

The program at NUMAS Haus is designed to help these families find permanent housing within 90 days while addressing the root causes of homelessness for each family through counseling, educational programs, and case management. The goal is to allow children to remain enrolled in school while their family becomes established.

Local artisans whose work is available at the store include Lanis Curtis, Annie Earl, Carol Edwards, Helen Fischer, Joyce Fischer, Lori Fox, Ron Kahler, Sue Happel, Anne Klinkner, Sue Kral, Geri Leavens, Ruth Lindemann, John Olson, Elaine Paa, Pauline Hietala, Mike Mulder and more.

Store hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday through Saturday.