The team at Organic Living, including father and daughter Gerard and Nathalie Windstein, has helped Phoenix residents convert their homes into organic havens for more than 40 years (photo by Trudy Thompson Shumaker).
New parents, allergy sufferers, people with lung transplants and consumers looking for healthier products share one resource: Gerard and his daughter Nathalie Windstein at Organic Living in North Central Phoenix.
Their store, located at 8342 N. 7th St., is packed with organic products. They stock organic mattresses, pillows and bedding (offering a 20 percent discount on organic bedding when you buy a mattress from them*) as well as medical-grade air purifiers and vacuum cleaners, flooring, paint, clothing, essential oils and personal products. Organic hair dye? They have it. Organic carpet? Yep.
Gerard started what is now a family business in 1982.
“I came to the U.S. from Europe and took a job cleaning carpets, but realized the solutions we were using were making some people sick,” he remembers. “I started looking for healthier ways to clean, and one thing led to another and here we are, in 2025 with a busy online and walk-in business.”
Nathalie notes that she learned about organic products from her dad.
“He has a depth of knowledge that is so valuable to anyone who wants to live a healthier life. All of us benefit from organic products, but there are certain people whose very life depends on them.”
Her father goes a bit further to explain: “Think about the relationship you have with your mattress and pillow,” he said. “You spend a lot of hours sleeping, and the relationship of your bed with your body is an intimate one. You breathe in the air around your bedding, and any fumes go into your pulmonary system as well as the rest of your body. Even if you don’t change your food and other products to organic, it’s smart to buy an organic mattress, pillow and bedding.”
What about paint?
“Yes, you can buy all kinds of paint, including the healthier ones from the big box stores,” said Nathalie. “But do your research and then read labels. They don’t carry the truly healthiest paints. Same with flooring and other products.”
The team at Organic Living is committed to helping customers navigate the maze of information and products labeled “organic” – it is a maze of information as well as misinformation.
Take air purifiers, for example. Nathalie points out that there is a wide array of air purifiers on the market, and their performance varies as widely as their prices.
“We all feel very satisfied when we change a filter in an air purifier and see that it’s dusty and dirty. We think ‘it’s working!’ and, indeed, it is working, to some extent. But a truly effective air purifier, the type that meets medical standards, removes tiny particles that the eye cannot see,” she said. “Again, do your research and determine what you need in an air purifier then buy one that serves you well.”
Gerard added, “Back in the day, we only saw people who were already sick, and who knew they needed to make their home healthier because their lung or allergy doctors had told them so. But we are now seeing people who are looking ahead, trying to prevent problems by using more effective air purifiers and healthier products.”
Besides products of daily living familiar to consumers, the shop is home to some unusual finds, like the colorful radiation-blocking pouches for cell phones, and the combination of online shopping (www.organiclivingaz.com) and in-person browsing works for new and established customers, says Gerard.
“We have customers all over the Valley and beyond. We do phone consultations and we welcome appointments, so we can spend the time a customer needs to understand what products would be helpful to them and their families.”
The team at Organic Living knows that converting a home to an organic haven can be daunting and expensive, “But start with one thing that you can do. Some start with an organic mattress. Others start with organic cleaning products. Just do it a step at a time,” Nathalie advised.
“Unless you are faced with a health emergency,” added Gerard. “In that case, we can help determine the best plan to make your home and your vehicle healthier. We’ve been doing this more than 40 years, and we are happy to help.”
*Editor’s note: This article was corrected on Sept. 15 to reflect that Organic Living will offer a 20 percent discount on organic bedding with the purchase of a mattress. Our original article misstated the offer – we regret the error.
