Our Story
How did we become so RawSum? {Pun intended!}
Hi . . . I'm Stephanie Jo Rountree . . . . friends call me Jo.
It all started over 40 years ago in Nashville, Tennessee. Oh yeah, that's a long time ago, but it only seems like yesterday to me — I was expecting my first child. I became acutely aware of food choices and set about to only eat what was best for my baby's sake. It soon became the norm for me to seek out organics in all aspects of my life, whether it was food, gardening, skin care, clothing, wellness, and even cleaning products. I did it all — and still do!
You might say I was a bit of a flower child — in a good way. I realized that the status quo wasn't necessarily the best or only path. This lead me down the road of research and testing to make my own organic skin care and herbal remedies. Most importantly, I realized right from the get-go that organics were the right choice -- the only choice. I took it a step further and chose to use only food-grade (edible) organics in all my products. Why food grade? You are what you eat and, if you didn't already know, what you put ON your skin is absorbed into your bloodstream. Your skin is the largest organ of your body and since it's porous, it absorbs whatever you put on it. Pretty important, wouldn't you say?
Hi . . . I'm Stephanie Jo Rountree . . . . friends call me Jo.
It all started over 40 years ago in Nashville, Tennessee. Oh yeah, that's a long time ago, but it only seems like yesterday to me — I was expecting my first child. I became acutely aware of food choices and set about to only eat what was best for my baby's sake. It soon became the norm for me to seek out organics in all aspects of my life, whether it was food, gardening, skin care, clothing, wellness, and even cleaning products. I did it all — and still do!
You might say I was a bit of a flower child — in a good way. I realized that the status quo wasn't necessarily the best or only path. This lead me down the road of research and testing to make my own organic skin care and herbal remedies. Most importantly, I realized right from the get-go that organics were the right choice -- the only choice. I took it a step further and chose to use only food-grade (edible) organics in all my products. Why food grade? You are what you eat and, if you didn't already know, what you put ON your skin is absorbed into your bloodstream. Your skin is the largest organ of your body and since it's porous, it absorbs whatever you put on it. Pretty important, wouldn't you say?
Jo Rountree, Founder, Age 67
I became known as Dr. Mom (no, I'm not a doctor!) back in the day by my friends, who were constantly asking my advice about health issues. I never stopped learning and growing, all the while making products for friends and family. Finally, after much prodding from friends, I decided to dive in and created EdenSong Essentials, where you'll find a lovely selection of high-end products sold to clients around the world for the past several years.
My roots kept calling me though, so I went back to basics and that's how RawSum was born! Keeping it simple . . . using the bare minimum ingredients that absolutely work — and, of course, using only food-grade (edible) organics — to create this RawSum line of products.
. . . And that's how we became so RawSum!
My roots kept calling me though, so I went back to basics and that's how RawSum was born! Keeping it simple . . . using the bare minimum ingredients that absolutely work — and, of course, using only food-grade (edible) organics — to create this RawSum line of products.
. . . And that's how we became so RawSum!
