On-The-Move People

Owner of Oswego’s hip family boutique Mother Earth Baby Lisa Emmons shines as an active leader in the community, in her business, and within her family. 

As a wife and mother of four, Emmons developed a passion for helping families find unique, alternative options to everyday mommy and baby gear. Through her service in several community groups and through the natural products her store offers, Emmons never stops helping others and their families, as well as her own. 

Prior to becoming a business owner in the community, Emmons worked with children and families for approximately 14 years in several management positions. The North Syracuse native studied psychology, as well as dance, at the State University of New York at Potsdam and later entered a master’s program for social work at Syracuse University. 

Emmons began her career at the Cayuga Home for Children as the Director of Multidimensional Treatment in Foster Care, and later took a position as the Program Manager at the Hillside Children’s Center in Syracuse. 

However growing up, Emmons was always surrounded by the idea of business. In 1969, her grandmother and mother opened their own business, Mother Earth Health Foods, a local natural health food store in North Syracuse. 

With the help of her husband, Nathan Emmons, the couple filed for the business and began selling cloth diaper products in Mother Earth Health Foods. They took an interest in the products when they began having children and decided to sell them online as well.  As the hype picked up on the products, the Emmons family knew it was time to take it further.  

“Wouldn’t it be nice if they were found local,” Emmons said. “We’ve always been entrepreneurs, always had ideas, and this was one of those ideas.” 

This is when the family decided to open a location in Oswego selling eco-friendly baby products, such as reusable cloth diapers, handcrafted toys, baby carriers, and nursing equipment for mothers. 

Mother Earth Baby, 70 W. Bridge St., is truly a one-of-a-kind store with an amazing selection for families to explore. Many of the products seen hanging on the store’s shelves are from other local creators or hand crafters. 

Customers enjoy the shop’s “personalized customer service” in which visitors can experience hands-on assistance for what product they may be looking for. Emmons helps families find the appropriate products they need, while simultaneously promoting hers and other small business alike. 

Additionally, Mother Earth Baby is a great, alternative toy store in town, besides major corporations. There are handcrafted and locally-made toys for girls and boys of all ages. In preparation for the holiday seasons, the Emmons family has expanded their toy inventory in the store and both the uniqueness and quality of the products.

 “I think of this as a small store but people come in here and say this is huge!” Emmons said about the store’s great selection.  

Breezy Kleen is also another business the Emmons family owns. This pick-up and drop-off laundry service deep cleans any cloth products and spans over four counties. Breezy Kleen has been a special help to SUNY Oswego students, residents, users of the cloth diapers, and the Dave & Buster’s eatery located in Destiny USA in Syracuse. No job is too big for the Emmons Family as they are looking to expand the business to more local organizations, like salons and carwash services. 

Emmons has a strong knack for business, but her hard work does not end just there. Emmons is also a highly respectable figure in the community, taking membership and leadership roles in many local organizations. 

“The thing I’m most passionate about right now is the Oswego Breastfeeding Coalition,” she said. “Our mission is to provide support, education, and resources to the local breastfeeding community.”

In its mission to normalize breastfeeding, the organization hosts an annual event called the Big Latch On in Oswego during breastfeeding awareness week. 

Emmons is also actively involved in the Chamber of Commerce, the Downtown Oswego Energetic Retailers, Oswego Network of Entrepreneurs, Zonta Club of Oswego, and the Rotary Club. She also has been a past board member for the Children’s Museum of Oswego, and continues to search for opportunities where she can lend a helping hand. 

“I think what inspires us to be a part of the community and building up the community is making this a great place to live,” Emmons said. “The overall goal of the business community and all the groups we sit on is really to bring families back to Oswego and that Oswego is a great place to live, to be, and a great place to open a business.”

Though it is hard for Emmons to find free time between her family, her business, and her active community involvement, she enjoys creating new everyday products that are free of chemicals that her family can use. 

The family enjoys outdoor activities together and hopes to go on a vacation soon. 

“We’re always doing something,” Emmons said. “I love to do things that help benefit our family, just like I love to do things in the community to help the community. Those are really things that I enjoy doing, anything that helps.”

Though she may not be a Hollywood actress in an award-winning film, Lisa Emmons truly is a shining star in the Oswego community, lending a helping hand at any opportunity.