Welcome to the Fall Issue of the Almanac! Since I started writing, editing and curating the Almanac Newsletter eight years ago, I’m constantly trying to think of new ways to raise awareness about issues that need our attention, or about the resources that will help to reduce our exposure to toxins in our daily lives, or how to reduce waste or about the healthier choices we can make. I feel that collectively, we have the power to make wonderful things happen but we can’t make it happen if we don’t know about the choices we have. For every positive change you make in your life or for every positive action, something else also changes for the better, it creates a chain reaction. Let’s keep on making that chain reaction happen!
Coming up soon, on September 16th, is International Coastal Clean Up Day. We all know that ocean trash is a serious pollution problem but did you know that you could help solve the problem? Find out how.
Figuring how best to reduce food waste just got a little easier thanks to these phone apps that allow suppliers to buy and sell excess produce. Around the world, dozens of apps are diverting perfectly good food away from bins and into rumbling stomachs. Great news!
One of the reasons I would buy a product from one brand over another: with my buying power, I want to support the ones that are doing their part to fight climate change. There are several staple food items that take some of the bite out of global warming. They are role models for positive change.
Did you hear the great news from the EWG? The world’s biggest maker of both household cleaning and personal care products, announced the most sweeping fragrance ingredient transparency initiative to date. I’d like to see all harmful chemicals removed all together but this is a step in the right direction.
Next time you are in London, you should stop by the fascinating and beautiful Chelsea Physic Garden. It was founded in 1673, as the Apothecaries’ Garden, with the purpose of training apprentices in the identification and use of medicinal plants. And next time you are in New Orleans, stop in at the Audubon Butterfly Garden and Insectarium, an entomology museum. It’s a very cool place. Read about my visit there.
October is a big Bird Migration month! The autumn sky becomes a highway for North American birds of prey migrating south. Do you know why birds of prey, aka raptors, are so important to the environment? Learn here. And while we are on the topic of birds, do you know that just two pigments account for the remarkable spectrum of bird eggshell hue and patterns? That is just unbelievable! Read about cracking the egg color code here.
What if figuring out if the air you’re breathing is clean was as simple as taking a stroll in your garden? Scientists have created what they call the ‘Ozone Garden‘. It’s composed of plants that react visibly when ozone pollution gets high, warning you that the air you’re breathing might be making you sick. They also listed the best indoor air-filtering plants. I hope that you already have one or two of them in your home.
Lost in the daily political drama are the bills on important issues that could impact millions of Americans like you. When Congress returns to Washington next week, lawmakers will kick off a busy session. Before they get back to work, we’ve compiled several petitions that may have flown under your radar, which your support could help secure legislative victory in the near future. They involve clean water, food waste and wolves. Join me in supporting these petitions and start a chain reaction!
Seed lovers (such as myself), if you don’t already know about the wonderful Baker Creek Heirloom Seed Company, read on. They offer nearly 2,000 varieties of vegetables, flowers and herbs—the largest selection of heirloom varieties in the USA and have also created a beautiful catalog. They are a great resource for non-GMO seeds.
Please check out all the other sections of this Fall Issue from the latest products that have been added to my Eco Store, to what oddness is happening in the Cabinet of Green Curiosities and deliciousness in the Plant Based Recipes. The Garden Calendars used to be just for the West Coasters, but I’m now including all the chores that need to be done in gardens on the East Coast (a lot less at this time of year!). Welcome East Coast Gardeners! Learn how to garden according to the phases of the moon, and follow the natural rhythms of nature.
I regularly post tips and resources on social media via Instagram and Facebook. Hope to see you there and say hi!
Wishing you and your loved ones a happy and healthy autumn.
See you back in December for the Winter Issue 2017/2018!
All the best,
Priscilla
