The Cool Hunter has a great little feature on “Getting Back to Nature” that showcases some really beautiful autumn imagery but also touches on the latest movement that has cities around the world transforming under-used urban spaces into “green” escapes. (One great example is The High Line project in NYC.) I’m excited to see more and hope Seattle has some similar projects in store.
I wish I knew where each of these images were taken; they’re all breathtaking and remind me why this is my favorite time of year. Visit the article to see even more.
[Images via The Cool Hunter.]
It just so happened that yesterday I had the chance to join a friend for a fundraiser to benefit the Pollinator Pathway at The Corson Building. Now when I say join-a-friend I mean we stopped in briefly before I had to head to work, so…we missed the auction, the music, the food, and the booze. (Sigh.) But still, I had a lovely time taking everything in, and my first visit to The Corson Building was wonderful! The grounds, the restored building, the amazing kitchen, and all of the original vintage touches just made me really happy. I promise, I really did try to take some pictures, but if you could only see the state of my phone you’d understand there really is no way I could take anything that resembles much of a photo. I don’t have any proof of the awesomeness that the picnic was, but nevertheless, the cause is one that I think about often.
Here’s a little note about the Pollinator Pathway:
Pollinating insects are in crisis, with populations plummeting across the U.S. The work that these tiny animals do to sustain plants and food crops– usually working out-of-sight and out-of-mind– is critical to not just their survival but our own.
The Pollinator Pathway is a plan to provide an urban model of support to the foundation of the food web. With a mile-long series of gardens in planting strips along Seattle’s Columbia Street, the project establishes a corridor between the two green spaces bookending the project-Seattle University’s campus at 12th, and Nora’s Woods at 29th.
Awesome, right! I really miss the time I would spend at the SF Food Bank, so lately I’ve been looking for the right volunteer opportunity. I was really excited to see this sweet little project yesterday, even if for just a short while. If you’re interested in donating your time or some funds click here for more info.
[Image via]
While helping a dear friend plan for her upcoming trip to Thailand I happened upon this beautiful resort, hidden away from the popular destination of Krabi, and suddenly my need for a beachfront getaway was boosted to new levels. Tucked away, and only accessible by a one-hour boat ride, Pimalai encompasses 100 acres of rainforest and a 900 meter (~.5 miles) stretch of pristine beachfront access. The resort is also host to one of Thailand’s best restaurants, world-renowned spa services and accommodations, and is also considered a green resort.
A new item for my travel to-do’s.
[via adelto]
Uncontacted Amazon Tribe: First ever aerial footage from Survival International on Vimeo.
I have been consumed by this video since I saw it last week, and it only becomes more haunting and sinking when you realize that it’s not a movie trailer, but an attempt to save some of the last uncontacted tribes in the world. This new footage was shot in an attempt to convince the Peruvian government that uncontacted tribes do, in fact, exist and are in danger of losing everything because of illegal logging and mining. Captured by a high-powered lens from 1 km away, Jose Carlos Meirelles hopes to use this footage to show Peru’s president that these tribes are not made up and are in need of preservation.
“They should be free to choose whether to make contact or not.”
Amazing work by Mr. Meirelles of FUNAI, a government agency that works to protect indigenous people of Brazil.
Visit http://www.uncontactedtribes.org
Looking for some interesting and meaningful accessories for around the house I came across these sweet little gems from VivaTerra.
The first is a self-sustaining ecosystem enclosed in a small blown glass globe. Living inside you’ll find algae, shrimp, plants, and micro-organisms. With indirect sunlight and moderate temperatures you can expect the life within to last anywhere from two to three years. Next day shipping is included in the price as the life inside needs sunlight to live. Buy here for $89.
The second is a fossil set with tillandsia plants. No two are alike, and maintenance is low. VivaTerra suggests using as a paper weight or general decor, but I must say the thought of one of these little guys on my desk would make me endlessly happy. Set of two, $35.
The last is a terrarium that comes with a recycled glass vase, sand, and four plants for you to arrange. Totally diggin’ the thought of playing with these. Buy here for $79.
So fun, so stylish…I love them all! Just looking at the pictures makes me happy.
[Images via Viva Terra]
Oh, how I wish I had found these wonderful jars when I had canned my tomatoes last autumn! I know they’re only storage jars but they are just so sleek and sexy. Of course, they’re also completely functional with a reusable glass lid if you’re going the canning route. (Better than tossing the lids of conventional jars.)
I happened upon these Weck canning and storage jars (from Germany) just a few weeks ago and used them for the pickled chanterelle recipe; I really am not sure if I was more giddy over the mushrooms or the jars. Since tomato canning season isn’t for quite a while, I’m most excited to use these in place of plastic storage containers for leftovers. But then again there’s also their juice line that has so many potential uses, I’ll have to add a few of these to the list too. A great carafe shape with an air tight lid: score!
Available here in sets of six.
I get a lot of questions about natural alternatives for skincare, and while I’m not a product junkie I have spent a lot of time researching natural remedies (with a lot of help from mom, too).
It doesn’t come in fancy packaging (although I do wish it was glass), and it doesn’t have a pretty French-sounding name, but Witch Hazel is one of my favorite products! It’s a cheap and easy way to add a natural alternative in place of conventional astringents and toners.
After cleansing, the purpose of a toner is to remove excess oil and dirt, but also to close the pores and restore pH balance. Witch Hazel is a natural antiseptic, so if you make sure the product you’re getting is alcohol free, it can perform all the functions of a conventional toner, but without the added preservatives and chemicals. To apply it I don’t even use a cotton ball (it’s just one other organic item to add to the list, and really it’s just not worth it), so I just pour a tiny bit into my cupped palm and splash it on my face. After that you’re free and clear to lotion it up.
Bottom line: it’s natural, it works, it’s cheap, and it will last you quite a long time.
Many different varieties here for about $6.
Dr. Bronner’s family of soaps
I adore my Dr. Bronner’s soaps, they make me happy. Yes, washing my hands with his soaps actually makes me happy. And reading the label is always interesting. All of the soaps are vegetable-based, completely biodegradable, made from organic and fair trade oils, and have no synthetics or preservatives. You can actually recognize all nine of the ingredients on the label, and checking in at the Cosmetics Database shows it’s ranking as a wonderful 1-2 (which is not always easy to find). The scents come only from the essential oils, so no fragrance has been added. I’ve admitted it before: I am a perfume/fragrance brat. I’ll have none of it, thankyouverymuch. I use almond in both the liquid and bar soaps and it smells heavenly; nothing artificial or overpowering, just a soft natural almond scent that reminds me of cookies for some strange reason.
Aside from the lovely smell and all the benefits of organic and natural ingredients, converting to a natural soap is an easy way to make the transition toward a cleaner house, and here’s why: last April the FDA announced that there may suddenly be a concern with the commonly used antibacterial chemical triclosan. Found in everything from toothpaste to deodorant and liquid soaps and hand sanitizers, the chemical is so prevalent that it is found in 75% of the population’s urine. Recent studies have found that triclosan disrupts normal endocrine functions (by mimicking hormones produced by the thyroid), while other studies have shown it to affect sea life, even preventing photosynthesis in diatom algae. In short: a chemical employed since the early seventies, presumed to be completely safe (by the FDA in spite of mounting evidence) until last spring, is currently being investigated, but still exists in nearly every health and cleaning product available.
Triclosan
Switching soaps is an easy and fairly inexpensive way to remove a few more chemicals from your home. Compared to many conventional soaps it may be more expensive, but seeing as how some countries and politicians domestically are asking that triclosan be banned from children’s products, it is definitely worth making the switch.
Very easy to find, and liquid soaps are often available in bulk-size. Check your local natural food store or buy online here.
I can’t help it, I’m a sucker for anything recycled. I just love the thought of trash being reincarnated into something new and useful, which is why I was taken by these simple (and stylish) little sticky notes. Great as page markers I wish they were bigger so I could replace Post-Its.
Designed by Naruse-Inokuma Architects
While we’re on the subject of stickies and Post-It’s, have you heard about the health issues one town in Minnesota is experiencing because of polluted water from 3M? The water quality for Lake Elmo had extremely high levels of PFC’s, but 3M is claiming the chemical is not harmful. According to the Wall Street Journal,
3M was accused of disposing perfluorochemicals, or PFCs, by burying them in the ground and piping them into surface water, which then flowed into the Mississippi River.
Very sad, but sadly not surprising. Check out Change.org to sign a petition in support of the lawsuit.
At the end of this year there will meet and then exceed 7 billion people living on our planet. This three-minute, no nonsense typography video from National Geographic kick starts a seven part, year-long series on global population.
In this time of resolutions and crash diet beginnings it seems we often forget to think about the world outside of ourselves. If you take a second to think about it, I mean really think about it, the New Year is a very selfish time. Just on the heels of time when we’re all guilty of overindulging, it seems the meaning of resolutions has gone right out the window with the true holiday spirit. As much of a humbug as that makes me sound I really hope to use this time to think about my place in this world as 1 out of 7 billion and think about the message of balance.
