Green Alchemy, Top Me Off Refill Shop and Turner Martial Arts

WHITEHOUSE – The Shops at Blue Creek in Whitehouse welcomed three new businesses this month, with an Anthony Wayne Regional Chamber of Commerce ribbon-cutting and grand opening celebration planned for Saturday, May 2, said plaza owner Sara Smith.

Green Alchemy, Top Me Off Refill Shop and Turner Martial Arts have taken over space once occupied by Spotlight Dance Studio, which moved to Holland. Read below for profiles of all three, plus information on more businesses set to open elsewhere in Whitehouse.

Green Alchemy

Walking into Green Alchemy on a dreary morning, Lenah Ali took a deep breath and took in the abundant plants, orange walls and flowing fountain.

“It’s such a great vibe in here,” she shared with Heather Perry, the owner of the newly-opened plant boutique.

The term “green alchemy” has a variety of interpretations. In alchemy, the color green holds strong symbolic significance, as it is linked to transformation and growth, Perry explained. It is often associated with the “green lion” – an emblematic figure representing a corrosive substance capable of devouring metals to reveal hidden gold. On a biological level, green alchemy is the literal process of plants turning sunlight (energy) into living matter.

“In essence, green alchemy is an untamed, raw energy of nature that provides the necessary force to break down, purify and nourish new life and higher awareness,” she said.

Plants have many benefits, including aesthetics, air purifying and promoting an improved mental state. During the pandemic, people discovered plants as a way to bring hope and joy, and provide a feeling of purpose in raising and caring and propagating plants, Perry said.

From air plants and cacti to succulents and fiddleleaf figs, Green Alchemy is filled with hundreds of varieties of plants, pots and the soil, fertilizer and other products needed to care for them. Plant-themed puzzles, books and artwork are sprinkled in, along with aromatic candles in the shape of plants. 

“People can come in and sit on the sofa and listen to the fountain and just enjoy the plants,” Perry said.

As a child, Perry looked forward to growing season as she assisted her grandfather in selecting seeds from a catalogue, and every step of the way from planting to harvesting. Later, while living in Colorado in 2000, Perry bought out the entire indoor house plant stock of a nearby nursery that was going out of business.

“It was a ridiculous amount of plants, but I knew they needed a home. I didn’t know what they were, so I had to branch out from my skill set and knowledge and research each one to know how to properly care for them,” she said. “That’s how I really started learning how to make them thrive. I was able to keep them alive and propagate them. And I had this huge, thriving community inside my house, providing air purifying benefits and aesthetics.”

The plants in the shop come from a variety of sources, including propagation from her home stock of more than 200 plants. Others come from local greenhouses. And the rare varieties are from reputable greenhouses in California and Florida.

With her experience, Perry is able to answer most customer questions, including:

•What plants do well in low-light areas?

•What are the best plants for air purifying?

•What plants are carnivorous – those that eat gnats and flies?

•Do air plants need to be watered? 

•Which plants are pet safe?

•How often should a plant be fertilized and watered?

•What type of soil and light should this plant get?

•What plants can be placed outdoors in the summer and returned indoors in the winter?

•What can be used to treat for pests such as spider mites, thrips, gnats and scale?

Green Alchemy stocks a line of organic soil, fertilizer and other products for plants. While researching information on plants, Perry suggests being cautious about advice from plant influencers who are pushing particular products.

“It’s important for people to know that what works for influencers doesn’t always work for your house, your environment and your means to take care of this plant. It’s important to not get overwhelmed by social media making it so much more complicated and costly than it needs to be,” she said.

Through classes and interactions with customers, Perry is happy to provide instruction on plant care. Some of her upcoming events include plant bingo on Friday, May 15 at 6:30 p.m. And she’s working on plans for a succulent potting class, Plant Survival 101 and other events. Groups from school and area clubs are welcome to use the space for events as well.

With the opening of Green Alchemy, the plaza is now filled with many businesses that attract all ages and promote sustainable living and transformation, Perry noted. The nearby Top Me Off Refill Shop and Dahlia Beauty Bar use all natural products. Goodwill promotes reusing and recycling goods. And Perry’s own Age of Aquarius crystal shop attracts a loyal following.

“We’re making this a destination for people to come to Whitehouse to shop,” Perry said.

For information, visit greenalchemyllc.com and Green Alchemy, LLC on Facebook, or call 419-877-8080.

Top Me Off Refill Shop

Judging by the packed April 13 opening event for Top Me Off Refill Shop, founders and friends Stacy Krawetzke and Tiffany Spalding are not alone in their desire to find natural, chemical free products.

The base of the business is just as it sounds: a simple way to refill clean, dry containers with eco-conscious household products. This includes shampoo and conditioner, body wash and hand soap, laundry detergent, dish soap, all-purpose cleaners and other home and personal care items for $1.10 an ounce. Glass, ceramic and plastic containers that are BPA and BPS free are preferred. Top Me Off uses 100 percent clean, plant-based products with no dyes or fragrances from Rustic Strength.

“Our own personal health journeys led us to this,” said Spalding, who took classes and became a health coach. “I realized that it’s not just what you’re eating and the supplements you’re taking, but it’s also the products you’re using on your skin.”

Krawetzke is a nutrition coach, but she began looking beyond the food, including at the chemicals used inside the home, from laundry soap to shampoos.

“For us, it’s about helping families navigate health journeys in the cleanest way possible,” she said.

With connections from running health and wellness events in the community, the two decided to also welcome in many of the vendors they’ve met over the years, to fill the shop with a variety of products and gifts that follow their same philosophy.

Beekeeper Terri Hart of Swanton stocked a shelf with honey, including hot honey flavors like espresso, strawberry and elderberry. K&B Elderberry Acres of Wauseon offers elderflowers, dried elderberries and elderberry tea – all great for adding antioxidants into the diet. Bubbles and Hugs is a Northwood-based mother-daughter team that makes bath bombs, shower steamers, body scrubs and lotion in a tin. Luminous Arrows has a full line of tallow-based natural skin care products.

“A lot of our girls in here are farmers and they do a lot of nose-to-tail farming. If they don’t eat it, they use it. The tallow, the milk, the whatever. No waste, ecofriendly in itself,” Krawetzke said.

Monarch Ranch LLC owner Brianna Vanlerberg has loofah products in the shop. Grown on a vine hung on an arch, it’s harvested in late fall when completely dried. Monarch Ranch also produces goat milk lotion, magnesium spray, beard and hair oil and clean perfume.

Pamsie Co. has plastic-free storage bags that keep food fresh without the microplastics, as well as small batch skincare and candles. Marcus Sanchez of Waterville has a display rack for his Kindlewood Apparel Co., with ultra-soft Supima cotton T-shirts, sweatshirts and pants that are certified organic and responsibly sourced. Ten-year-old Journee decided to make her own organic lip gloss when her mom decided to go on a chemical healing journey after being diagnosed with breast cancer.

Joe Keil, a retired police officer, turned to agriculture. He now raises goats for milk used in soaps created at Bad Creek Barns in Fulton County.

Herbalstead Ohio founder Christen Largent has developed a following since launching her Waterville Township-based farm business a decade ago. Largent learned how to plant, nurture and growth a garden, including herbal plants, while growing up on her family’s homestead in Pennsylvania. 

“We were the uncool, nerdy family,” she laughed.

Now, as an herbalist, she relies on those “old ways” – using natural produce and herbs – to not only keep her family healthy, but to empower the community. She offers herbal extracts and body care products, fresh and dried herbs and tea blends, plants and seeds, and gardening and herbal classes.

“Herbs have become very important in our world for sustained health, so we chose to eliminate the supply chain and grow our own local herb farm,” she said. “Herbs are definitely a better alternative to chemicals.” 

In addition to offering products that are frequency infused, Unscripted You founder Andrea Knapp provides emotional body coding sessions. She is one of several local guests who will offer classes in Top Me Off over the coming months. 

For more information on hours and products, visit tmo-refillshop.com or email [email protected].

Turner Martial Arts

As a mom, Shelley Szparka has seen how martial arts have helped her 10-year-old son and 8-year-old daughter grow in confidence. As a blackbelt in karate, she’s experienced that growth herself. And as an instructor with Turner Martial Arts, Szparka’s goal is help her students grow and succeed.

“We are all about creating inspired leaders through the martial arts. Our goal is to help kids, and adults, become more confident, strong, disciplined and focused,” she said. “As they develop those traits, they carry them throughout their lives. The whole black belt mentality allows them to be stellar students, in other sports and in other areas of their lives.”

After teaching in Dan Turner’s studio for the past three years, Szparka has recently launched a new Whitehouse location of Turner Martial Arts in the Shops at Blue Creek. Classes for children, teens and adults are already underway most evenings, and more classes will be added as enrollment grows, she said.

What sets Turner apart from other martial arts studios? The entire staff takes its craft seriously, said Szparka, who is a two-time national champion and a three-time world silver medalist.

“We bring that passion and love to help students to rise to be at elite levels too,” she said, noting that the Anthony Wayne High School‘s success in multiple sports sets a high standard for the community.

While Szparka taught college composition at the University of Toledo and Owens Community College, she was also teaching kickboxing in local studios. It wasn’t until her son, Jack, and daughter, Lily, were taking classes with Turner Martial Arts that she even took her first karate class.

“I was a mom in the stands until Mr. Turner said, ‘Are you ready yet?’ I started karate at 37. And I earned my black belt at 40,” she said.

After teaching for Turner, they both decided it was time to add a second location. While driving around the Toledo area, both agreed that Anthony Wayne area just felt like home, she said.

“Whitehouse and Waterville are like a Hallmark neighborhood,” she said. “There’s something calming, relaxing, friendly and down-to-earth about this area. Sylvania and Toledo are so busy. This area gives you a moment to take a breath, calm down and feel at peace.”

So when Shops at Blue Creek owner Sara Smith contacted Turner and Szparka about an available spot, the answer was an immediate ‘yes.’

Standing barefoot on a green mat, Szparka points to the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle mural on the back wall. Among the turtles are AW-area landmarks. Along another wall are chairs for spectators to watch practice. Children are taught American Style Karate style with self defense rooted in Krav Maga – the focus of teaching for teens and adults.

“Krav Maga is highly self-defense based. We teach simple principles and techniques that keep people safe,” she said. “Our creed is, ‘I’ll use my common sense before my self-defense.'”

That means explaining when a physical response is needed. Every October, Turner offers a bullying defense program to help students build confidence and skills to handle any situation.

For those interested in trying out a class, Szparka is offering free trial lessons. To find out more, visit tmaanthonywayne.com, email [email protected] or call 419-309-8574.