Before the Industrial Era, the common practices for farming were largely much more organic in nature. The Industrial Era that began at the end of the 19^th Century expanded into agriculture, and continued past the 1920s, which saw the  introduction of chemical fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides. In 1939, Paul Muller developed DDT - the chlorinated hydrocarbons used in pesticides. Farmers embraced DDT, resulting in a marked move away from the previous agriculture methods that had dominated agricultural life for centuries.

If you’re like most of the population, you don’t keep a journal. Despite journaling being a simple tool that can help sharpen your memory, boost your mood and ease anxiety, almost no one does it. It’s up there with walking and drinking enough water as one of the easiest ways to improve your health and well-being, and practice self-care.

Pretty much all of us have probably heard of greenhouses. One of their main uses is to shelter plants that require regulated climatic conditions, or if you’re like my neighbors, they can be utilized to keep goats warm in the winter.

Everything we are doing here today- every personal process of transformation each one of us is going through on an individual level, no matter how insignificant it might feel, is in reality much, much bigger than ourselves. Every battle being fought within one’s self, every step towards the healing and accepting of one’s own heart to muster up the courage to express to the world, to reveal to the collective as a brave and vulnerable expression of authentic humanity is of tremendous, vital importance to the bigger picture.

In the west, adhering to “western medicine” does not necessarily equate to health. Yearly trips to the doctor’s office and allopathic treatments rarely bring a person closer to wellness, nor do they contain the necessarily elements to inspire an individual to take powerful control over their personal well-being and bodily health.

We meandered through the bookstore aisles, my bright-eyed friend and I, the titles inspiring forks and bends in what was already a beautifully flowing stream of conversation. This was typical of times with Gabe, a soul on fire with whom there was never a shortage of awe-fueled adventure or enlivening discussion. He carried the kind of light that always stuck around for a while after he left, illuminating passageways of perception previously undetected.

Tiny houses are becoming a big deal. They offer the freedom from a mortgage (at least a big one) and are exponentially more sustainable than a traditional housing structure.

So, what is a tiny house? Technically, a tiny house is under 400 square feet. These can remain on wheels or be built on a foundation. The houses that remain on wheels are generally even smaller, constituting a micro house (stay tuned for an article on these little dwellings next week).

The Fourth of July is upon us, and there’s nothing I love more than a traditional barbecue. While there are tons of vegetarian and vegan items to grill up, the barbecue sides are equally as important. That’s why this potato salad is the ticket to a delicious summer meal.

Let's talk sea vegetables. There are many out there who are skeptical when it comes to eating weeds -- let alone weeds out of the ocean. And yet, any sushi lover plops the stuff in their mouth like popcorn, no questions asked. Seaweed may not look appealing to most in its natural form, but the benefits highly outweigh any reservations one may have about consumption.

Everything we consume has an effect on our body, whether it be mentally, physically or emotionally. There has been research done that proves stress is one of the causes of cancer and other illnesses.  What we eat, how we eat and even when we eat has an impact on our whole being. 

Total Body Consumption