Topic: environmental conservation

7 Cool Reasons To Use Eco-Friendly Mason Jars For Everything

Earlier today, The Kitchn featured a product called the Cuppow, which is a rubbery lid that goes over Mason and other glass jars to make sipping from them easier. And while the video and images from Cuppow’s website look like they were ripped straight from a popular website with a dirty word in its name, the fact is that this article reminded me that jars are really actually quite awesome, highly eco-friendly, and not, as you may believe, relegated to hipsters. You can even trick them out with a lot of free or inexpensive stuff. So c’mon. Give jars a chance. More »

Woman Who Eats Squirrels Takes Locavore Movement To A New (Surprisingly Healthy) Level

If you’ve resolved to eat better in the New Year, you may be considering reducing your meat consumption–or at least opting to eat animals that have been sustainably and humanely raised. Might you consider turning to your own back yard, like one woman in Seattle? The forager and ultra-localvore has recently received quite a bit of media attention for an unusual protein source that she’s been serving to her family and friends: squirrel meat. Yup. Squirrels. From her yard. Which are, apparently, a pretty nutritious protein source. More »

Healthy Holidays: Don’t Forget To Recycle Your Christmas Tree

While you’re rounding up yesterday’s unwanted gifts (like a scale or a Thighmaster, perhaps?) for Boxing Day and preparing to get back on track with your workouts, don’t forget to do a little Googling about where, in your town, you can recycle that eco-friendly, real Christmas tree you sprung for. Tree-recycling varies from city to city, but the outcome is the same no matter where you are: a healthier planet in 2012. More »

Simple Steps To Green Your Holiday Cards

If you’re dreaming of a white Christmas with every Christmas card you write, stop. Because while sending and receiving non-recycled paper cards in the mail is heart-warming and traditional, it also contributes to epic amounts of pollution and waste. Instead of sending your seasonal sentiments out on single-use paper, consider adding a little green to your greetings, by going digital or choosing recycled, and recyclable, cardstock. More »

Your Reusable Grocery Bags Are Probably Contaminated By Disease-Causing Bacteria

While you’re proudly toting your canvas “I’m Not A Plastic Bag” shopper up and down the aisles, you may want to pick up some laundry detergent, too–because that bag might be harboring more than just organic veggies. You may also be carrying around a major food safety concern. More »

Earth Day Action: 5 Things You Didn’t Know You Could Recycle

I know, I know. Enough with the Earth Day preachiness already. I fully understand that you may well be sick and tired of hearing people tell you about all the terrible things you’re doing to the planet just by living on it (too many kids, maybe?), and how you really should be ashamed of yourself. But I don’t like to think about Earth Day, Week, or Month in that way, and I encourage you to resist rejecting its core message simply because it’s not always delivered deftly and effectively. So don’t let Earth Day make you feel like a less-than-stellar steward of the planet; you needn’t pressure yourself into thinking that you have to change all of your lifestyle habits starting today – and forever. Instead, just think of today as a launching pad from which you can shift your thought process if need be (even ever-so-slightly) about how what you do and don’t do in your daily life affects the world that immediately surrounds you, and the planet at large. Because if we don’t change, how do we expect anything else to? To help you take action, I give you five things you didn’t know you could recycle, but actually can – and fairly easily, too. Now let’s just make sure we don’t underestimate the positive effects even small steps like these can make where Mother Earth is concerned. More »

Blisstree Beauty School: Clear Up Your Skin With Charcoal

As I started writing this post, I got a big ol’ zit: Red, inflamed, and obvious. Was it the change in the weather? My not-totally-wholesome diet? Whatever the cause, I had to get rid of it as quickly as possible. And, because I’m trying to be more conscious of keeping potentially nasty ingredients out of my beauty products (it is Earth Day, after all), I found a more natural (and perhaps strange-sounding) approach to help banish blemishes: Charcoal.

What It Is:

Think of the ashy-looking pieces left behind after burning logs over a fire – that’s charcoal. Most often, it’s the after-product of plant sources like trees, bamboo or coconut husks. And (quick chemistry lesson here) charcoal is a form of carbon, one of those “building blocks of life” that’s in every living thing. Hint: If you see “carbon” on an ingredient list, it’s code for charcoal. More »

Flashback Friday: The Muppets Save the Planet for Earth Day

Remember the decadent 80s, when capitalism was king, Wall Street reigned supreme, Guess jeans were glorified, and Dynasty and Dallas ruled the small screen? I sure do. (Though my mother was against designer jeans on principle.) But, unfortunately, what I don’t recall was ever being attuned to or involved in a single Earth Day celebration during that greedy decade. Luckily, Jim Henson and his beloved Muppets were on the case back when I was just a clueless kid wearing my Swatch Watch and purple eye shadow – making charming PSAs on behalf of Mother Earth that called out the irresponsible and insensitive actions of all those litterers, polluters, and energy-wasters out there (i.e. all of us). Take a look back, get nostalgic for vintage Kermit and Fozzie, and then get out today or this weekend and do something positive (and, dare I say, green?) – however small – for the precious environment in which we’re all lucky enough to live: More »

Urban Survivalist for Earth Day: How to Sew a Hem Video

It’s Earth Day, people. So what better day to run the fifth and final edition of Urban Survivalist, our DIY, self-improvement series that focuses on home-ec-related tasks that you may not ever have attempted in your life, but really should. I’m sure you know how hard and unforgiving the dry cleaning process is on our environment. But also consider just how much plastic, packaging, and wire hangers you end up leaving with every time you drop even a single garment off at the tailor for a simple repair (that you should be doing yourself anyway). And who needs that? (Did I mention today is Earth Day?) High time to distance ourselves from the tailor, and renew our friendship with Mother Nature. More »

What We're Reading:

Win a Copy of African Cats: The Story Behind the Film

Today’s new 40 Days of Giveaways is perfectly timed for Earth Day. If you’re late to this spring fling: Blisstree is using the season of Lent to reward you for giving up your vices in favor of healthier habits. Each weekday from now until May 3, we’ll give away a different prize to one reader just for becoming our Facebook fan. And today’s prize is all about preserving the earth and the wild animals living on it with us. We’re giving away one (1) copy of the new coffee table book African Cats: The Story Behind the Film (worth $35) to one reader who simply “Likes” Blisstree on Facebook. ME-oww. More »

It’s Earth Week. But Who Really Cares?

So, it’s Earth Week. But who really cares? Anybody? This year, Earth Week directly coincides with both Easter and Passover. So essentially, it’s a battle: Mother Nature vs. Jesus vs. the Ancient Israelites. Not to take anything away from dear Mother Earth, but for the record, my money is not on her to win this fight this week. Not with that kind of fiercely religious competition in the ring.

In case you weren’t aware, it’s actually been Earth Month for all of April. (And this Friday, April 22 is Earth Day.) But what does that really mean, other than that the requisite annual events, parades, activities, fairs, and open houses (that mostly serve to create more trash) are held around the world? Well, it means that for one day, one week, or one month, people talk more than they usually do about e-waste recycling, composting, buying jewelry made from reclaimed items, and trying to break themselves of those nasty bottled water and take-out food packaging. And sometimes they drink green cocktails. More »

Eco-Friendly Bamboo Isn’t Just for Cutting Boards – It Can Also Improve Skin and Hair

I knew that I could get a bamboo-fiber towel, bamboo serving utensils, and even order bamboo as part of my Chinese takeout, but I was really surprised to see it make an appearance at my neighborhood beauty product shop. But is it really all that versatile? With so many ways to use, eat, and consume bamboo, I had to find out how it fit into my beauty regimen.

What It Is:

You may think of bamboo as a strictly Asian plant, but it’s actually found on every continent except Europe and Antarctica. Most people are familiar with Bambusa vulgaris, or “common bamboo,” but there are more 1,400 species. And it’s actually classified as a grass.

What It’s Used For:

There are literally hundreds of uses for bamboo. You’ve likely come across it as a simple houseplant – it requires little water and sunlight, making it perfect for black thumbs. Because of the plant’s strength and quick growth cycle (it can grow up to 39 inches per day), bamboo has quickly become the darling of sustainable design. It’s used in construction because it’s as strong as steel and increasingly in environmentally-friendly projects like clothing, flooring, and kitchen accessories. More »

Beauty Product Review: bareMinerals Naturally Luminous Skin Renewing Trio

What it is: 30-Day bareMinerals Naturally Luminous Skin Renewing Trio (Purifying Facial Cleanser, Purely Nourishing Moisturizer for Combination Skin, and Firming Eye Treatment)

What’s in it: Lavender oil, apricot kernel oil, coffee seed extract, licorice root extract, olive fruit oil, sunflower seed oil, soybean oil, antioxidants, xanthan gum, and a alot of unpronounceable ingredients that I wouldn’t want to meet on an SAT exam without ample No. 2 pencils at the ready.

What’s not in it: Synthetic fragrances or artificial oils

What it feels like: The Purifying Facial Cleanser is a total winner; my face feels freshly cleaned after each use, which sounds obvious, but I’ve met a lot of cleansers in my experience that don’t end up making you feel cleaner at the end of the day. The Purely Nourishing Moisturizer feels light and grease-less, and I’m liking the amount of moisture it’s delivering. And after just a couple weeks of using the Firming Eye Treatment at bedtime, I’ve noticed reduced puffiness under my eyes. And that makes for a good night (and next day).
More »

6 Ways to Celebrate Earth Month That Aren’t a Scam and Don’t Create More Trash

Yesterday we gave you the negative, jaded, skeptical side of Earth Day, Week, and Month with our gallery of 6 Ways to Celebrate Earth Day That Are a Scam and Create More Trash, but today we’re all about looking on the bright side of this international hippie holiday, which technically falls on Friday, April 22 this year. So here’s our follow-up gallery of six ways to celebrate Earth Month that really aren’t a scam and don’t actually create more trash. Because, c’mon, who needs more junk cluttering up their lives? Not Mother Earth, and not us. More »

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