Distillery Progress

Construction Plans





Location



Breaking ground

 

Foundation



Walls



Roof

Almost complete

Gjithe te mirat

"All the best"

MI

Organic in Albania

Recently one of our new blog readers asked for an update on a post about economic growth and trade in Albania dated February 2010.  Research continues to find an official report of updated statistics but until then here are a few websites to share about Albanian organics.

Economic Growth and Trade February 2010 - Blog post requesting an update.

Organic World - Albania Country Report 2007 - Great website to find statistics and information about organic production all through the world.  This particular link is for Albania only.

Organic Agriculture Organization (AOO) - A group of specialists, farmers, researchers, teachers, etc. that promote sustainable agriculture. 

Albinspekt - An organic inspection company that offers biocertification services in Albania.

Gjithe te mirat
"All the best"

MI

May in Albania

Emiland (in the black shirt and khakis) sitting with the construction workers at the distillery

Looking at the roof from the inside of the building



Emiland looking inside the equipment



Part of the distillery equipment- where the condesation takes place

Brian sitting outside looking at one of the almost complete walls

The distillery just before the roof was completed

Roof is complete and now just a little more paint and outdoor finishes

The steamer



Two distillery units

Me Vjen SHUME Keq

"I feel VERY bad" or "I am VERY sorry"


Please forgive me as the blog has not been updated recently.  There are many developments and pictures to show you for MI operations. 


Emiland and Brian were in Albania in May- Brian for a couple weeks and Emiland for five.  Sadly, during that time, the company car was hit by a reckless driver causing the car to be totalled and the back passengers to sustain a broken arm each.  The two passengers were Emiland's dad Petrit and a business friend of his named Mediu.  Recovery has gone well for both of them and a new business car was purchased soon after the accident.  In June, after Emiland and Brain returned from Albania, Emiland met Shea in Dallas for new client meetings all over the state- Austin, Dallas, and Houston.  The end of June, Shea and Brian went to Florida to meet with clients in the Fort Lauderdale area.  Not too long after that trip, Shea met with clients around Branson, Missouri.  Last week, Emiland and Brian were in Pasadena for business.  Needless to say, MI has been traveling a lot this summer.  The meetings went well and the company is well received. 


Back in Albania, the distillery is completed (pictures soon to follow), production began and is going smoothly, and the collection of herbs continues. 


Will promise to post more later.


Gjithe te mirat
"All the best"


MI

Plans and Planes

Emiland and Brian are back in Albania for a short week business trip to see the progress of all the MI projects.  More information and pictures to come!
Gjithe te mirat
"All the best"

MI

Promised Pictures from Shea's Camera

Landi by the walls before cinder blocks are added

First glimpse of walls

Shea stacking bricks

Brian and some new co-workers

Building the walls

One of the construction workers doing a great job

Check out the view behind the jobsite

Brian and Emiland arrived yesterday evening in San Francisco.  The next trip planned will be for the ribbon cutting and celebrationg the opening of the distillery since its operational date in April. 

Gjithe te mirat

"All the best"

MI



Walls

Brian posted this picture on facebook- the first glimpse of the distillery building with walls!

Super exciting and more pictures to come.

Gjithe te mirat
"All the best"

MI

The Traveling Continues

Shea made it to Oklahoma City safely and Brian and Emiland head out from Tirana to San Francisco at noon tomorrow (Albania time).  Pictures of the building and adventures should be posted in the next few days.

Gjithe te mirat
"All the best"

MI

Home Again Home Again

Earlier this evening, or late evening in Albania, Shea began his journey back to Oklahoma from Tirana.  Wishing him safe travels and hope to make a post about his first experience in "The Land of the Eagles."

More to come on the purchase of their distillers as well as meetings throughout the trip.

Gjithe te mirat
"All the best"

MI

Putting Up Walls

More pictures are on the way, but per Emiland walls are going up on the building and the guys helped move cinder blocks at the jobsite.  As soon as pictures are emailed they will be posted here.

Gjithe te mirat
"All the best"

MI

Seeing With Their Own Eyes

Brian, Emiland, and Shea arrived in Tirana, Albania safely and immediately began work.  One of their first stops was construction site for their distillery.  They spoke with the construction company about the process and timeline for completion. 

Brian and Emiland walking the jobsite

Starting to look like a building!

Shea and Brian observing

Emiland taking a look

They met with the mayor of the city where the building is located to have a coffee and will soon go back to have dinner with him.  When the distillery is finished the mayor and many other local and country officials will be present for a ribbon cutting ceremony.  It is wonderful to feel welcomed by the community! 

Also, they are going to meet with a company in a town called Lushnje, which is about an hour or two south of Tirana, to see if they can purchase distiller equipment from a company there.  Originally the plan was to travel to Bulgaria, about two hours east of Sophia, to purchase the equipment but it looks like the possibility of buying the products closer to home is becoming a reality.

The next few days will be spent meeting with the distiller and his family, updating the USAID office on the progress of the company, and meeting with the local farmers of the herbs and plants for the next season's production. 

Jet lag is gradually fading away and the guys are enjoying the beginnings of spring in Albania.  This is Shea's first time to visit, Brian's second, and another visit home for Emiland. 

Beautiful flowers on the construction property

Gjithe te mirat
"All the best"

MI

Leaving On a Jet Plane

Source: http://www.orpheusnyc.com/buchbinder.html
Found through Google Images

Brian, Emiland, and Shea begin their trip to Albania today.  Although technology and airlines make the world seem smaller, it seemed right to explain exactly how long the flight time is to travel from San Francisco, CA to Tirana, Albania.

San Francisco, CA to Toronto, Canada
Travel time: 5 hours
Layover: 1 and a half hours

Toronto, Canada to Vienna, Austria
Travel time: 9 hours
Layover: 4 hours

Vienna, Austria to Tirana, Albania
Travel time: 1 and half hours

Estimated Total Travel Time (including layovers): 21 hours

Not bad at all in comparison to itineraries Emiland has had before.  Let me just say 6 hours in Detroit and 8 hours in Budapest, Hungary going and coming back 22 hours in Amsterdam and another 6 hours in Detroit.  Through that itinerary, an hour or two delay seems like nothing! 

Wishing the guys great airline food and comfortable seats with lots of leg room!

Gjithe te mirat
"All the best"

MI

Construction Progress

Below are recent pictures from the distillery job site.  Thanks, Petrit, for taking the photos!  More pictures to come as Brian, Emiland, and Shea are going to Albania this Wednesday, March 9th through March 20th. 

Rruge te mbare!  "Safe travels!"

Beautiful view of the Albanian countryside.



The supplies ready to mix the concrete and pour.  The rocks on the left will be used to level the ground.



Lots of rocks ready to level the foundation



Gjithe te mirat

"All the best"

MI

The Power of Essential Oils

Sweet Della at her1st Birthday Party

So, our VP's daughter (1 1/2 year old) has been really struggling this past week with a chest cold, and a runny nose, so much so that sleep has been a real problem.  Last night, Brian decided to use some of our oils in order to try to clear her up and provide a better nights sleep for the whole family.  He had Bay Laurel and Myrtle at his house.  So he put a couple drops of each in the inhalant portion of her humidifier and the results were astonishing.  Della slept like a baby should sleep and her chest was free from all the croupy junk by morning.  It is always great to have reminders of just how medicinal and therapeutic are the oils we distill. 


By the way, Brian would like to remind everyone that we have current supply on Bay Laurel and Myrtle.


Also, please see the links about Bay Laurel and Myrtle Uses:

Myrtle and Its Uses

Bay Laurel and Its Uses

Gjithe te mirat

"All the best"

MI

The Bible

"Medical and Aromatic Essential Oils from the Lands of Albania" by Prof. Uran Asllani

The book above has been respectfully called "The Bible" among Brian, Landi, and Shea.  It was written by Petrit's professor in horticultural school Professor Uran Asllani.  Now, it is the go-to book about the distillation process, types of plants that are natural to Albania, and the uses of essential oils in the medical and aromatherapy industry.  Professor Asllani has been helping Petrit with research and input on how the distillery should be built.  This information is also in conjunction with the distiller. 

Gjithe te mirat

"All the best"

MI

Progress Pictures

The gravel will be used to level the ground before pouring concrete.

The road that runs from the main highway to the back of the property.  Again, this will be paved in the future. 

The distillery construction is following the timeline quite well.  Assuming it does not rain too much in the short term, the building should be completed as scheduled.

Gjithe te mirat

"All the best"

MI

American Travel Tours

Nina Isaku has been working with the Skora family for years and now with MI with their Albania travel needs.  She is a great help and a pleasure to work with.  Nina works with American Travel Tours based in Sterling Heights, MI.  Their website is under construction now but the link is listed below:

http://americantraveltours.us

If you are in need of a travel agent or are planning to visit Albania, MI highly recommends this agencies services.

Gjithe te mirat
"All the best"

MI

Construction Begins

The distillery plans are becoming a reality.  These pictures were taken by Petrit on the job site a few days ago. 



View from the hill where the distillery will be constructed

The road going up the hill to the jobsite.  This road will eventually be paved.

The jobsite in Tirana County, Albania.

One of the construction company workers diligently overseeing the process.

In other news, Landi, Shea, and Brian are going to Albania March 9th through the 20th to purchase equipment, meet with the distiller and his family again, see the jobsite, and look at the Melissa fields.

Gezuar Shen Valentinin!  Happy Valentine's Day! 

Gjithe te mirat
"All the best"

MI

Distillery Plans

Aerial View



Front view

You are looking at the architectural plans of MI's new distillery in Albania.  Construction has begun and will be complete in April 2011. 

On the far right back corner, I believe the southeast side, is the well that will be used in the distillation process.  The water from this well is pure and directly from the Albanian mountainside which means pure processes and, ultimately, the most pure essential oils.

The building will include one office, a conference room, and 4 doors for distribution vehicles.  Petrit, the general director of Albanian operations, has been there every step of the way and will continue to diligently oversee the building.  All the builders are local to the area and will be using local products.

Very excited about this next step!

Gjithe te mirat
"All the best"

MI

Back In Petaluma

The forecast for Petaluma today is 60 degrees F.  Sadly, Oklahoma and Denver were not as sunny and clear.  Brian and Landi were delayed out of Oklahoma City due to snow and ice.  This caused them to miss their plane in Denver so they stayed the night and just arrived in Petaluma from Sacramento 30 minutes ago.  I am sure they are happy to be back in warm sunny California weather.  Welcome back, boys!

Gjithe te mirat

"All the best"

MI

More Snow?

Brian, Landi, and Shea have been very productive on their trip with meetings with the Secretary of State, accountants, brokers, and investors.  Today, Brian and Landi head back to Petaluma but from the looks of things there may be delays as more snow is headed towards the metro area.  Hope that Will Rogers Airport doesn't give them troubles!

Gjithe te mirat

"All the best"

MI

Characteristics of All Essential Oils

When doing posts about specific oils and their usages, all of the oils have common properties.  So instead of listing the same properties for each one, it would be better to focus on the oil's unique characteristics in the post.  In an effort to streamline, this post is information about the properties that all essential oils share.

All essential oils are volatile which means they evaporate at or above room temperature.  Heat helps to release the aromas used in methods like aromatherapy and vapor therapy.  Depending on growing conditions, each oil will be different. 

Below is quoted information from an article link found at the end of this post. 

The chemical make-up of each individual essential oil is complex but they are nearly all comprised of some combination of alcohols, phenols, aldehydes, ketones, acids, esters, oxides, lactones, coumarins and furocoumarins. The result of this means that most essential oils are anti-inflammatory; anti-viral; anti-fungal; detoxifying; circulatory; anti-spasmodic; analgesic and decongestant.

Common physical properties of essential oils include:

• all essential oils are able to be absorbed by the human body; they are all non-greasy; they are only partially water soluble; they are all inflammable; they are all volatile; they are all soluble in both alcohol and carrier oil (which are used to blend essential oils and be absorbed by the skin.

Common therapeutic properties of essential oils include:

• all essential oils are capable of being antiseptic; all essential oils are balancing to the mind, emotions and various systems of the body; all essential oils are pro biotic, that is, they help the body fight infection and disease and build up the body's natural defenses to further attack.

In addition, all essential oils:

• are prophylactic – they are all intended to prevent disease.
• are stress relieving – they balance emotions and certain essential oils have a pronounced sedative and calming effect on the nervous system, for example, Lavender (lavandula angustifolia).
• are synergistic – the different chemical components complement each other within an essential oil and when blended together their effectiveness is greater than when used singly.

Link to the original article

Hope that you find this post helpful.  There is so much art and science in this field that this is always a new item to explore.  Enjoy your day and Happy Chinese New Year!

Gjithe te mirat
"All the best"

MI

Trip to Oklahoma

Snow in the Oklahoma City Metro February 1, 2011

Currently, Brian and Landi are en route to Oklahoma on a business trip.  This trip will be spent meeting with investors and having company meetings about goals for the short and long term. 

MI has created some great contacts with potential customers across the country and are really excited to see what 2011 offers.  The distillery in Albania should begin construction in the next few months so please look for pictures of the building plans to be posted here soon.  Brian, Landi, and Shea have been working diligently to build MI and are learning more each day.  More and more companies are responding positively to the samples they receive and companies are contacting them directly from word of mouth and perusing their website.  The information section of the website is nearly complete and the order now section should be ready to go. 

Now the picture above is to show you the state of Oklahoma as of yesterday.  Call it Snowpacolypse, Snowmania, Blizzard 2011, etc. but there was a moment where Brian and Landi thought the trip would be cancelled.  As of now, the storm has subsided but getting around in the metro area may prove tricky as packed ice in the neighborhoods could keep them at home.  Not to mention, the National Weather Service is suggesting that Oklahomans not leave their homes as the wind chill can make it feel like up to negative 25 degrees.  No joke, that was on NPR this morning. 

Stay warm, boys!

Gjithe te mirat
"All the best"

MI

Sage and Its Uses

Salvia Officinalis

In a most recent sending of samples to some dear friends in Illinois, MI received some great feedback about our sage oil.  While she loved the fragrance, the uses were something she needed to explore.  Please read on to see some ways that sage essential oil can be used in your routine.

Historically, sage is a sacred and prized plant.  There is a Chinese proverb that states, "How can a man grown old who has sage in his garden?"  This means that this herb is thought to aid in longevity.  It was a sacred plant to the Romans and was harvested only by people wearing white tunics and washed feet.  Also, throughout history, it was used to keep away disease and evil spirits.  Today, smudge sticks of sage are still used in meditation and cermonies to cleanse spiritually.

Like almost all essential oils, sage oil contains antibacterial and antiseptic properties.  In addition to these characteristics, it also is used to stimulate digestion and appetite as well as aid with menstrual pain, hormone regulation, sterility, and nervous disorders. 

This oil can be applied to the skin with blends or carrier oils, used in aromatherapy or vapor therapy, and in creams, lotions.  This oil blends well with other essential oils found in the Mediterranean such as lemon, hyssop, or rosemary.  Using this oil in soaps can add not only a great aroma but also for hair care.  Applying this oil as a treatment to your scalp has been shown to encourage hair growth.

When using sage oil in cooking, like any other essential oil, a little goes a long way to add this herby flavor to any dish.  Maybe it could be used in your holiday dishes like turkey or stuffings? 

As with all essential oils, be sure to use this in small doses because it has very potent effects.  Please take a look at some of the recommendations from the websites listed below.

Link to original article
Link to original article

Hope that you find this helpful, Rachel!  Good luck in your sage essential oil applications!

Gjithe te mirat
"All the best"

MI

Myrtle and Its Uses

Myrtus Communis

Myrtle essential oil is a fantastic addition to your health routine.  Historically the plant has been associated with the Greek goddess Aphrodite and the leaves were used to honor soliders, similar to use of bay leaves (see Bay Laurel Post).  The plant's flowers, leaves, and stems are used to create essential oil through steam distillation.  The properties of myrtle essential oil are as an antiseptic, astringent, deoderant, sedative, and even an aphrodisiac.  The oil can be blended with others to create a wonderful vapor treatment for colds and respiratory issues.

MI regularly stocks this oil and is excited to share this oil with you.  The herbs are grown and distilled in the Tirana county in central Albania.  We hope that this information encourages you to try this oil and experiment with its uses.

Link to original article

Gjithe te mirat
"All the best"

MI

The Gifts of the Magi

"...they presented unto him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh."  Matthew 2:11.


The three wise men presented gifts to Jesus in the story of his birth in the Bible.  To get into the holiday spirit, MI decided to focus on the two lesser known gifts of the three- frankincense and myrrh.


Frankincense is a dried resin used in perfumes, aromatherapy, and religious celebrations.  The essential oil is created from steam distillation of the resin.  It is harvested from the boswellia sacra tree that is predominantly found in Yemen and Somalia.  The tree's bark is slashed and the sap that bleeds from the cut bark is dried to create frankincense.  Quality is determined by size, color, harvest location, age, and shape.  Traditionally it was used to mask the smell of corpses at funerals.  The Egyptians used it to create eyeliner from the charred resin called kohl.  Today, it is used medicinally to treat ailments like leprosy, inflammatory diseases, and depression.  There is even research that shows frankincense may be effective in cancer treatments.


Myrrh is created in the same manner as frankincense.  The dired resin from the cammiphora myrrha tree found in Yemen, Somalia, and Ethiopia.  It is used in religious rituals, specifically in Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox liturgical ceremonies.  The essential oil is created from steam distillation and is also used medicinally for stomach, gum, and respiratory issues. 

This post is to serve as a little historical lesson in how essential oils are used throughout the years.  Also, since Epiphany just passed last week, which is the celebration of the visit of the three wise men, it seems appropriate to show how essential oils have been of value throughout the ages.

Gjithe te Mirat,
"All the best"
MI