Buckwheat hulls are the outer casing of buckwheat kernels and are removed when the kernels are being made into groats.

Despite the common name and the grain-like use of the crop, buckwheat is not a cereal or grass. It is called a pseudocereal to emphasize that it is not related to wheat. The name 'buckwheat' or 'beech wheat' comes from its triangular seeds, which resemble the much larger seeds of the beech nut from the beech tree, and the fact that it is used like wheat.

Pillows and cushions stuffed with buckwheat hulls are very comfortable. They are generally smaller and heavier than their conventional counterparts. Buckwheat hull pillows and cushions adapt to the shape of the body and provide firm, even support. They help to alleviate neck stiffness, back pain, muscular tension, insomnia and headaches, enabling those who suffer from such problems to enjoy a restorative sleep. These pillows and cushions do not accumulate humidity or heat from the body and remain cool and dry. They are very durable and many people have had their pillows for up to 10 years. As a fill, buckwheat hulls make good sense ecologically, since they come from a renewable source and are compostable. Unlike animal down, buckwheat hulls are not allergenic, and only in extremely rare cases cause a reaction in certain sensitive individuals.

Pillow dimensions are approximate and there is no standard size, but in general:

Our large size is closest to a North American sized sleeping pillow. Our medium size is SMALLER (it's a Japanese-sized pillow). Both the medium and large pillows are the same height - the best way to describe the difference is in "real estate" - if you are a side-sleeper and don't mind adjusting the pillow when you turn over, the medium should be fine. If you don't want to adjust the pillow and want something that looks more like a regular North American sized pillow, buy a large. If you're not sure, we suggest a large pillow.

Our travel size is suitable for filling the gap between head and headrest in a car, or on a train or plane. It's small enough to take camping as well.

Buckwheat pillows are NOT recommended for infants, but older children up to 11 years of age could use one provided an adult shows them how to use the pillow. Our medium size is fine for most teens and adults, and the large size is perfect for anyone who prefers a full-size pillow. All pillows come with a zippered opening so you can adjust the filling, and the cover is washable (see care instructions below).

Our products are all made in our studios in Barrie, Ontario, Canada, and are made from 100% Canadian farmed buckwheat hulls. We do not employ pieceworkers nor use imported hulls in our products. This ensures that our craftspeople are fairly compensated and that we produce a quality product. Your pillow is an investment in a good night's sleep, so you should be sure to buy it from a local and reputable source.

The hulls are sieved and cleaned with forced air to remove fragments and dust. They are not fumigated or treated in any other way. In the USA, there is a requirement that hulls imported must be roasted, and these are usually an inferior product since this can dry out the natural oil of the hull itself. Our hulls are never roasted and 100% of our hulls come from a Canadian farm.

We provide complete care instructions with your pillow order. If you follow the guidelines provided, you should not have to wash the pillow itself.

We fill our pillows generously with buckwheat hulls. When you receive your pillow, you can adjust the height by removing hulls - simply unzip the washable cover and remove hulls (reserve them in a ziploc bag) until the pillow height is comfortable for you. The height is best adjusted when you are on your back as you can bunch up the hulls to add height when sleeping on your side.

Certified organic products have been grown and handled according to strict standards without toxic and persistent chemical inputs. However, organic crops are inadvertently exposed to agricultural chemicals that are now pervasive in rain and ground water due to their overuse during the past fifty years in North America, and due to drift via wind and rain (source: Organic Trade Association 2008)

According to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), "the term organic is not synonymous with pesticide-free." Several large U.S. studies have found traces of synthetic pesticides on as much as 25 percent of organic foods. (There have been no similar major studies done on organic foods in Canada, but the CFIA found that ten percent of all Canadian-grown produce - conventional and organic - had pesticide residues.)

Some of those residues found on organic food may be due to "uncontrolled contamination," says Andy Hammermeister of the Organic Agriculture Centre of Canada at Nova Scotia Agricultural College in Truro. That could be the result of the wind blowing synthetic pesticides onto organic crops, prior use of synthetic pesticides on the land, old or used spraying equipment, and so on. But it's not always by accident that pesticides end up on organic foods. "Most people don't realize that organic farmers are allowed to use a wide array of natural, non-synthetic chemicals as pest killers," says Alex Avery, director of research and education at the Centre for Global Food Issues, a United States-based Hudson Institute group that researches agricultural and environmental concerns. Many conventional farmers, meanwhile, are actually using less pesticide. In Ontario, for example, pesticide application has dropped by 50 to 60 percent overall since 1983, according to the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture.

The bottom line: If you're buying organic because you assume it's better for you, you might just be wasting your money.

Currently we don't offer an organic version of our products. However, since the buckwheat kernel itself is considered quite pest-resistent, pesticides are not normally used in their production. Our hulls come from a Canadian source where organic practices are used on the farm, however, they are not certified organic (a more expensive certification which also adds to the cost of the product.) An allergy to buckwheat is quite rare, so most people will not experience any problems with our pillows.

Pillows are considered personal products and are not returnable (all sales are final). However, if your product is damaged in shipping or clearly defective (we fully inspect before shipping), please contact us and we will advise you about a replacement or refund. We treat you in the same way we would want to be treated as a customer and will work with you to our mutual satisfaction. Our customers are satisfied customers and we are proud of our reputation! (read testimonials here)