Is Your Own Tap Water Cleaner than Bottled Water?

It’s possible. The fact is, cities and states have regulations for water quality, unlike bottled water, which can have higher levels of arsenic, bacteria, and other contaminants*. Recent studies of bottled water commissioned by EWG* have found high levels of disinfection byproducts, fertilizer residue, and pain medication, including 38 chemical pollutants altogether. “FDA Safety and Consumer Protections [for bottled water] …

7 Eco-friendly uses for Hemp

Hemp (Cannabis sativa) has long been associated with the marijuana plant due to its relation and resemblance, however, hemp does not produce the same THC drug as its relative. Still illegal to grow throughout much of the US, this wonder plant suffers by association. Long despised by the cotton industry due to many advantages of hemp over cotton, some small …

Sustainable Sushi Resources

With an explosion in popularity over the last few decades, Sushi is quickly causing overfishing problems impacting several species to the brink of extinction. Bluefin Tuna (Kuromaguro or Toro) is the most dire of these, however, many others such as Yellowtail (Hamachi), eel (Unagi), and many other popular Sushi fish are experiencing major declines. With so many fisheries being impacted …

White Tuna, Butterfish, Escolar – Oh My!

This has recently hit my radar, being a sushi lover and all, because of the very surprising ‘leakage accidents’ which are associated with a certain fish. Escolar (Lepidocybium flavobrunneum), or as it is commonly (and mistakenly) referred to as butterfish, super white tuna, or sometimes walu/waloo, can have a nasty side effect if too much is consumed. Besides that, I …

Learning From Bamboo Village – Part 3

The factory is up and running, albeit very inefficiently laments a native Keralan turned fortune 500 CEO turned self-help writer (who happened to be touring around with us, viewing the facilities). He ran Phillips, the appliance/TV company and quit after working to outsource production of Phillips products – and seeing the negative effects his work was having locally and globally. …

Life at Bamboo Village – Part 2

The mission at Bamboo Village is to preserve a way of life (agriculture-based) in the face of a changing world where local village economies are subject to global economic changes. Much more than that – it is to create something for this area to live sustainably and healthily and to prevent brain drain; to keep young people there, rather than …

Finding Bamboo Village – Part 1

Not long ago, my sister embarked on an extended traveling adventure with the goal of experiencing science in a variety of cultures to develop new educational curriculum in sustainability. This 3 part article series is about her experiences in India. Enjoy! -Jean-Paul Discovering India I had been in India 3 weeks before I discovered Bamboo Village. Prior to leaving, I …

Farm To Table – Taking Food Local

You may be hearing a lot about an emerging trend in food sourcing at local restaurants called Farm to Table or Farm to Fork. This takes local and usually organic food to a whole new level with a menu prepared from the restaurants own local garden or a nearby partner farm. Rooted in the local food movement, farm to table …

Fair Trade Designs – Home

Fair Trade is a term you are beginning to see much more as the eco-friendly movement grows. Fair Trade Designs embodies this ideal with their great sustainable items, each with their own background story of the artisans who create them. Vetiver Root Place Mats – Hand woven from cotton and vetiver root and tied together with vetiver tassels. Vetiver is …

Fair Trade Designs – Jewelry

I am a big fan of Fair Trade products, and Stephanie over at Fair Trade Designs was kind enough to send me some of their products to review. One thing I really like is the stories about each of the artisans, so you really get to know the people behind the products you are purchasing. Fair Trade Designs jewelry is …