Canadian Darren Moore and his Chinese wife, Zhang Ping, live in eastern Beijing'sTongzhou District. In a big courtyard, the couple have cultivated their "green dream",producing and selling organic body care products.
Moore, who has lived in China for more than 17 years, has an interesting Chinese name —Er Shan.
"When I first came to China, there was one day when I was taking a taxi. The taxi driverasked where I came from. 'Canada,' I answered. Then the driver said he knew Da Shan, afamous Canadian living in China, and he asked me 'Aren't you Da Shan's younger brother?'I knew it was a joke, but I thought it was interesting to call myself 'Er Shan' (the namesounds like Da Shan's younger brother in Chinese)," Moore recalls.
In September 1996, Moore, then employed by Bell Canada, was sent to eastern China'sShandong Province on a one-month business trip. He met Zhang Ping, a Chinese womanfrom Yantai, Shandong province the day after he arrived in China. She was the chiefinterpreter for Bell's branch company in Shandong.
They soon fell in love, and got married in 1998. Attracted by the friendly people, thedelicious food, and China's long history and rapid development, Moore decided to stay inChina.
In 1998, Moore and Zhang moved to Beijing. Moore was hired as a senior manager in anelectronic commerce company. Zhang, meanwhile, was employed by a British company.The couple earned almost 90,000 yuan (US $14536) a month and they lived a comfortablelife.
In 1999, Moore began having problems with his skin. He tried several brands of expensivebody care products, but they didn't work. To treat his skin, Moore began surfing theInternet to find remedies, and he discovered various cold-processing methods tomanufacture soap. Given his educational background in science, including chemistry,physics and biochemistry, Moore quickly learned how to make his own soap.
He used olive oil and baking soda to make his first soap, which soon cured his skinproblems. Moore eventually decided to quit his job to manufacture and sell organic bodycare products.
From creating products in his home for family, friends and himself, Darren has moved onto now manufacturing and selling a comprehensive range of 100% natural and organicskincare solutions including therapeutic soaps, face and body moisturizers, baby andmaternity care, holistic home remedies, bathing preparations, healing essential oils andmuch more.
