“Transitional Ethics” is not a term most of us use in our everyday lives, but when it comes to going green it’s a concept we should all become familiar with. Just think about the last time you tried a green product and immediately realized one glaring flaw that triggered your discernment. Did you toss up…
What if we told you that a single ingredient contained in many of your favorite foods– palm oil– is wiping out rainforests all around the world, from Palawan, Philippines to the Brazilian Amazon? What if we told you that palm oil products are killing endangered species (orangutans being the most famous example) and destroying the livelihood of indigenous tribes? Would…
As many of us begin to look into producing food at home, it’s easy to become enamored with small vegetable plots and food forests. So much so that we may overlook mushrooms as a wonderful addition to the self-sufficient person’s pantry. But we can easily grow mushrooms at home for about the same amount of…
[Updated 12/16/2019]Conventional gardening tends to use a one-size-fits-all method for growing food. Its central concepts are based on what gardeners want to grow rather than on what plants best suit a particular piece of land. Permaculture gardening, on the other hand, is based on the concept of using the perfect plants for the climate, and utilizing only what works best for…
As a Slow Travel practitioner for more than a decade now, I’m clearly partial to the many benefits it provides. But I also believe that my experiences make me an astute observer of why this approach to travel works so well. At the risk of provoking controversy, I’ll just come right out and say it: I…
Tips For A Green Christmas Over the years, Christmas has transformed from the “Season of Giving” to a season devoted to conspicuous consumption. We’re sick of the manipulative toy ads, the Black Friday sales, the mall madness, so years ago we simply decided to opt out. We still love Christmas and giving, but we want…
As the world nears the climate change tipping point, learning how to reduce carbon footprint is becoming increasingly important on both a personal and collective level. While politicians wrestle with the question “What is climate change?” and debate the causes of climate change, most people can clearly see the harmful impact these changes are already…
[Updated 3/30/20] Earth Day was originally conceived by environmental activist John McConnell back in 1969. But it was U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson who founded it as an environmental teach-in held on April 22, 1970. Many people consider this event the birth of the “Going Green” movement. Observed every year on April 22, this day of…
As rising numbers of diagnosed cases create growing concerns over the coronavirus (a.k.a. COVID-19), throngs of people have been swarming stores to stockpile medical, cleaning, and household supplies. Just a few weeks into America’s experience with this global pandemic, panic-stricken people have been hoarding more toilet paper, bleach, N95 medical masks, and hand sanitizer than…
As the sustainability movement continues to gain mainstream steam, more and more people are looking for simple ways to live greener. The problem is that most people don’t know how to start going green. But a great first step is to convert from conventional household products to more eco-friendly products for the home. Despite what…
