Boy, have I got a treat for you today. First, I’m going to introduce you to salt and clay (the real stuff), and then we’re going to have a giveaway!
First, Real Salt
Last spring, I spoke with someone who had a passing interest in my book on fermentation. She said, “Can I ferment without salt? Because my doctor says I can’t have salt.” Her question stunned me and I didn’t know what to say.
You see, I’ve been enjoying — and craving and indulging — real salt for so long that I’ve developed a sort of tunnel vision. I completely forget there’s another world out there where salt is evil.
About that lady: I think I mumbled something to the effect of unrefined salt is completely different than grocery store table salt. One is a health food, the other is poison. I wasn’t eloquent or strong in my statement, but I guess I got the basics right!
Real Salt — fine and kosher
If I could have a do-over, this is what I’d say.
Grocery store salt — think Morton’s — is:
- recrystallized and chemically cleaned at excessively high temperatures into something the body doesn’t recognize as food
- refined and stripped of its God-given balance of minerals
- combined with chemicals such as anti-caking ingredients and fluoride
- just tastes “salty” — a chemical salty to me!
Unrefined salt, on the other hand…
- has color — flecks or hues of pink, brown, black, or grey
- contains 60+ beneficial minerals and trace minerals
- tastes amazing — earthy or sweet or a mixture of flavors, depending on the source
Here’s a video from Redmond Real Salt explaining how salt — and its minerals — are essential in our bodies. This is a great video for kids to watch; it is a science experiment. 
Three Kinds of “Real Salt”
In the world, you’ll find three major types of “real salt” — one of them is the Redmond Real Salt, out of Utah.
Check out this infographic. Isn’t it great? You can see the differences between conventional and unrefined salts. Plus, you can see what makes each of the three types of unrefined sea salts unique. (click to enlarge)
I have used all these types of unrefined salt. In fact, I have each kind in my house right now.
The Celtic sea salt I don’t prefer. Mostly I don’t like that it is “wet” and therefore less convenient to use. Also, the coarser grains makes it less of an all-purpose. It takes longer to dissolve in soups, and is just plain too large to sprinkle on anything. It is also pretty pricey. With regard to the wet issue, I have a friend who dries her Celtic sea salt in the dehydrator — I think that is a great idea!
For several years, I have primarily used Himalayan/pink sea salt. I like it very much. It is a dry — a huge benefit for me! I used/use it for pickling, fermenting, cheesemaking, and in all my day to day cooking. However, it is pricey. About $7/pound from my best source.
Then earlier this year year, Darryl Bosshard from Redmond Real Salt sent me samples of his unrefined salt. He sent both fine and kosher grains (here’s a video about grain sizes in salt) and I have to tell you, I got hooked! The salt is just as versatile as the Himalayan. It is dry and tastes delicious. I love that it is mined nearer to home (Utah as opposed to Pakistan)… but the real kicker is I can get it for about $2 per pound!
To get that price, I special ordered 25# bags of Redmond Real Salt through the health food department of the grocery store. They gave me 10% off the retail/bulk price, and now we have a good supply of salt in our long-term food storage. They carry it in the bulk bins, too, and even at regular price, it is by far the cheapest real salt option out there. You’ll probably find the same when you shop around.
If you can’t find it locally, you can order online. Use coupon code “gnowfglins” to get 15% off — and orders over $35 get FREE SHIPPING.
Oh, I forgot! We also use the Redmond Animal Salt for our farm animals, too! (That comes through Azure Standard.)
Here’s a really, really good video about how Redmond Salt was discovered, and how it is mined and produced. This is a video that just makes you feel good about real food. Another good video for kids!
So, like I said — hooked. I am.
Redmond Clay
Darryl sent me some Redmond Clay, too — various skin care and internal clay products made from weathered volcanic ash, a bentonite type of clay. Here’s a video about “Redmond Clay.”
And this video shows how great clay is when you have kids around! (And not as a play-doh substitute.)
Lots more videos about Redmond Clay are here. I would have embedded them all if I didn’t think it was overkill. 
What does my family think of Redmond Clay? We’ve given it a good shot — and found it is very useful. The clay tablets cleared up an extended bout of diarrhea for a family member within a matter of hours. One of my daughters uses the clay as a nightly mask and it is doing wonders for her skin. And me, I love, love, love the clay toothpaste — Earthpaste!
Save 15%!
If you’re interested in trying out any of Redmond’s products — Real Salt, Redmond Clay, or Earthpaste — you can save 15% at redmondtrading.com when you use the coupon code “gnowfglins”. Orders over $35 get free shipping; even more savings!
Redmond Giveaway: $73 Value!
Ready for the giveaway? Redmond is giving two GNOWFGLINS readers a $73+ prize package that includes Real Salt, Redmond Clay, and Earthpaste products! This is a very similar collection to what I received earlier in the year. So believe me when I tell you it is awesome and you are going to love it…
What’s included?
- 1 Real Salt Seasoning Gift Set ($19.99)
- 1 Real Salt 9 oz. Shaker ($4.75)
- 1 Redmond Clay 10 oz. jar ($10.87)
- 1 Redmond Clay Facial Mud ($9.99)
- 1 Peppermint Earthpaste ($7.99)
- 10 Real Salt Pocket Shakers to share with Family and Friends ($1.99 x 10 = $19.99)
See — I told you. Awesome.
How to Enter
This giveaway is open to residents of the U.S. only. (I’m really sorry, international friends! 
)
Use the widget below to enter. The giveaway starts today and ends at midnight on Sunday, September 30, 2012.
I’ll select two winners from among the entries, and announce the winners on Monday, October 1, 2012.
Just so you know, I will verify the entries of anyone who is selected, and if I find anything is not true, I will move on and select someone else.
Best wishes, everyone!
Don’t forget — tell us in the comments below which product(s) interest you and why!
Disclaimer: Redmond gave me a generous box of sample products and is compensating me for hosting this review and giveaway. The samples were given without any obligation for a favorable review, so it is with pleasure I wholeheartedly recommend any or all of Redmond’s fine products to you.
About Wardee Harmon
New: 
Two hard 'g's and stress the middle syllable. 
We have a hard time finding low salt entry’s for my husband. I’m thinking if we used Real Salt maybe it wouldn’t be as much of an issue and we would all be better off for it. After all its the salt of the earth that god intended us to use, right! I have been wanting to try the EarthPaste for the longest. I’m just having a hard time getting samples for some reason. I sure would love to win this for the health of my family. Thanks!
i would love to win the giveaway! we have used the clay and salt and we love it!
We are a large military family that would love to try the Redman products in this giveaway
Gotta love auto correct! *RedMOND*
I would love to try ALL of the products! I already am a huge fan of Redmond’s Real Salt! Yay!
the first aid paste. I’ve heard so much about it! Thanks for hosting this giveaway!
I would love to try out clay! And I’ve been looking for a good, more affordable salt!
Thank you so much for making helathy products so accessable. I think the price of Celtic sea salt is outrageous and I don’t want my dollars going to Pakistan. Real Salt makes me happy! Mined here, affordable, delicious and I know I’m a better mom when I use it. I REALLY thank you and want the chance to try all of the products in this giveaway!
I want to try the earthpaste!
I’ve been looking for a natural toothpaste that doesn’t contain glycerin. And I’ve heard clay is wonderful for skin, so I’m hoping to try these.
I like Himalayan salt so I would like to try Redmond’s…and their other products.
I raise grass fed cattle, goats, pigs etc. I love my farm.
I’m curious about the clay and the earthpaste. I’m looking forward to trying them.
How cute are those pocket shakers! Love the concept and can’t wait to take real salt with me wherever I go!!
i did the taste test between real salt and table salt. wow! table salt was gross! i would love to see what the other Redmond products are like and what surprises they might bring.
We only use Real Salt! It’s so natural, tastes sooo good! It fits right in with our natural kitchen and traditional diet! Easy choice!
I would like to try the clay. I have heard many good things about it!
I use Redmond salt and just ran out! I make my own tooth powder but would love to try the Earthpaste. I’ve also been wanting to try the clay for various things. Winning this giveaway would be perfect.
We’re already RealSalt lovers in this house. I am interested as well in the clay and Earthpaste. I keep hearing about benefits of clay. Very interesting.
Tara recently posted… What we ate: August
I’d love to try their clay!
I am very interested in the Earthpaste!
I have been using real sea salt for about a year now, and could never go back to regular yucky table salt. Sea salt has a much better flavor.
Kristie recently posted… Homemade Beef Tallow: Rendering Suet
I am fascinated to hear about all of these products! I am a firm believer in eating natural foods and using natural products whenever possible. I hate giving myself or my kids medicine, and usually try to ride out whatever ailment we have without medicating. I hate the amount of fluoride in all the toothpastes, and have looked for a long time for a healthier alternative. I would love to try any and all of these products!
I just discovered it and I love Redmond Real Salt. The flavor is far superior to the grocery store brand I was using. I mix it with a bit of pepper and a bit of garlic to make an all purpose seasoning which my family loves.
I would love to win this because it sounds like a great selection of products to try. I particularly would like to try the Salt Seasoning because I am not supposed to have salt. I don’t use a lot of salt but it would be nice to use something less detrimental to my health.
I would love to win this because it sounds like a great selection of products to try. I particularly would like to try the Salt Seasoning because I am not supposed to have salt. I don’t use a lot of salt but it would be nice to use something less detrimental to my health.
I have been a Real Salt fan for a long time and love, love, love it. I remember being pregnant and my midwife “prescribed” me Real Salt to reduce water retention (counter to all I had previously heard about AVOIDING sodium to reduce water retention). Worked like a charm.
I’ve always been curious about their clay products, but have yet to try them. The Earthpaste sounds pretty intriguing and I’d love to try that, in particular.
This is a great giveaway! I would love to try all of these products. I currently use the Celtic sea salt, both fine and large grain, and really like it. I have purchased the Real Salt product a couple of times and really like it, too. I do like that it is made in USA and the price is so reasonable. If I win and try all these great products I’m sure it would make a believer out of me, too!
I’m looking for a natural toothpaste that doesn’t contain glycerin or other toxins .
I’d love to try the first aid paste!
I have been using Earthpaste for a few weeks now and absolutely LOVE it! My children, ages 8 down to 19 months, all enjoy the wintergreen flavor. Real Salt is the only salt used in our home, too.
I would like to try the earthpaste.
Would love try it all!
I recently tried Real Salt and loved it! I also got a sample of Earthpaste and would love to switch our toothpaste. I love that it’s so natural and has no glycerin or flouride in it. It’s wonderful!
There are so many fancy salts these days but the only real salt comes from only three places? I had no idea What about the designer salts – are they also poison? Or are some of them natural but just so expensive not worth mentioning?
Sherri ~ daintytime recently posted… a bomb went off in my studio cave
There are three major kinds of sea salt. There are others, too. You would have to find out from them if they process the salt with heat or chemicals, etc. Usually, salt that still has flecks of color is fairy real. I hope this helps!
I am really interested in both the salt and the clay products. I have Redmonds real salt at home and love it but I didn’t know they had an animal salt. I am going to have to look into that for our animals.
I’m not sure if I did the tweet correctly, but I think I did all the rest of them =) I’ve been using a bulk salt that looks like Redmond at my grocery store and really like it! Never tried the clay, but am very interested in that as well as the toothpaste!
I would love to win this giveaway! I am interested especially in the salt, as I still use the unhealthy cheap stuff.
i am interested in all of these products. i’ve never tried any of them, but would love to. thanks!
I recently began using RealSalt and LOVE it! It’s all I use now. I would love to try the Earthpaste.
I am looking forward to trying Redmond Salt and Earthpaste!
I have now tried EarthPaste and it is fantastic! It leaves your mouth feeling fresh and clean. Would love to win this Real Salt package so that our whole body will feel as fresh as our teeth
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I use Real Salt daily and love it.
I like the Real Salt Seasoning Gift Set, because I love their salt, and would like to try the variations.
I wanted to thank you for a great review. I watched all the videos, and learned a lot. =)
I’ve used Redmonds real salt for years. I really love it. I am excited to try the clay. I’ve used other clays for multiple skin. Haven’t taken it internally yet. Looking forward to trying it…
I’d love to give this a try – RealSalt sounds like a REAL winner for my family!
Angela recently posted… September’s Last Menu
I’m the most interested in the Earthpaste as I’m trying to find a good toothpaste!
GREAT giveaway!! Thanks Wardeh and Real Salt!
Okay, now I’m seeing that I needed to actually talk about what interests me in the giveaway- really, all of the products look amazing, but its the SALT that stands out to me. So much of what’s out there is just regular old white salt that’s called “sea salt” and I’d like to try something that is real to get the benefits of salt. So, thanks again to Wardeh and Real Salt for hosting this giveaway.
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