Scientists estimate that over 8 million plastic tons enter our oceans yearly. Many studies suggest that washing clothes is one major source.
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Permaculture on an Impermanent Planet
A soils instructor at OSU begins his talks by telling his students that we understand so little about soil (and many other things) because we humans are too big and don’t live long enough. He illustrates by holding a handful of garden soil and asks who can see the billion bacteria contained in the soil. No one raises their hand. He asks if anyone has been here for the hundred years it took to create just the top inch of topsoil. Ditto. Needless to say, he doesn’t have to inquire about anyone’s existence throughout the millions of years it took to break down mountains into the clay that is found…
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Enough
“Only when all contribute their firewood can they build up a strong fire.”Chinese proverb. It was a beautiful, sunny fall day today, and I was out for my walk, reveling in the colors of the leaves and the crispness of the air, this being my favorite season. As I passed the neighborhood elementary school, I noticed that some classes were sitting outside, having lunch under a shelter. The kids were sitting on mats, all spread out per COVID guidelines, and appeared to be enjoying themselves. Observing this made me think once again about how adaptable and flexible we need to be to cope with the multitude of challenges, large and…
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Going Out Green
Choosing an Eco-Friendly Green Burial #1 Forego Embalming Embalming is used to temporarily inhibit the decomposition process and involves the use of formaldehyde, a toxic chemical that has been shown to cause higher rates of certain types of cancer in workers who perform embalming (Beane, Blair, and Lubin 2009). Depending on the circumstances of death, a dead body poses no health risk when kept in a 65° room for up to three days, and decomposition is slowed by natural cooling. What you can do: • Ask for the use of a refrigeration unit • Ask for the use of dry ice or Techni-ice • Ask that they use a nontoxic…
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We Have Solutions to the Climate Crisis
The emotional weight of the findings in the IPCC’s latest report is real, and the conclusion is therefore unmistakable: we must double down and act without delay. We have known for many decades that at some point, this day would come when the climate crisis was not a distant future occurrence but happening now. The only remaining question is, how fast will we take action to reduce the consequences of this planetary emergency? Now that the climate crisis has become too obvious for all but the most determined denialist to ignore, there are two types of risky reactions. The first is despair. Some will skip straight from denial to doom,…
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Build an Herbal Community
In times past, herbalism was a communal practice, especially for women of any group. Traditionally, they were the keepers of the home, midwives, and family healers. Hence, community members came to them when it came to the health and vitality of their families and neighbors. Herbal knowledge was gathered, collected, and held together in circles, where there was support and encouragement to ensure the learning was maintained throughout generations. However, as those who practiced herbal healing were persecuted and separated from their herbal community, the knowledge became isolated. Those who held the knowledge were less apt to share it, so much was not passed on. In the past decade, there…
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8 Days, 2 Kids, 2700 Miles, 1 Tesla
Lessons Learned From A Cross Country EV Road Trip If there is one Achilles heel of the electric automobile (EV), it’s the road trip. Even if the road trip is something we only very occasionally ask of our personal vehicles, it’s still a crucial aspect of the American car owner experience I’ve been singing the praises of electric transport for four years, so it was only fitting that I put my money where my mouth is and attempt not just a local EV road trip, but the most sacred and grueling of American long drives — the Cross Country Road Trip. My family of four (with kids ages 5 and…
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Sustainability + Fashion = Slow Fashion
Image – Ireland’s Avoca Handweavers has been making fashionable clothing items with the care and attention to detail nowadays associated with “slow fashion” since 1723. In the U.S., millions of shoppers pack clothing stores, excited to key into the newest trends while paying low prices. On the other side of the world, low-wage workers— many of them young girls— are crushed under the hammer of “fast fashion” (the mass production of cheap, poor quality, disposable clothing), laboring without safety protections or adequate rights. Fast fashion’s impacts on both the environment and human rights are evident, and slow fashion may just be the only solution to a greener future. First off,…
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Local Legwork Zero-Emission Delivery
Portland is now home to a zero-emission delivery company. Legwork Local Delivery partners with local businesses to connect and strengthen the community, one zero-emission delivery at a time. The company is proud to be Portland’s first and only 100% zero-emission delivery service covering the entire Portland Metro area. Using a small fleet of electric cars and vans, they deliver as far North, South, East, and West as Vancouver, Wilsonville, Gresham, and Hillsboro. They also deliver 7 days a week. Because Legwork works with local businesses, their customers naturally live and work in the community, and, together, they promote thriving, hyper-local economies. Their clients are florists, coffee roasters, candlemakers, soapmakers, beverage…
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Mill Store Remodels and Expands Product and Class Offerings
Store Updates Aim to Encourage Creativity, Learning, and Community Connections Pendleton Woolen Mills, the lifestyle brand with roots as a Pacific Northwest woolen manufacturer since 1863, announces the completion of a renovation of their Mill Store located at 8500 SE McLoughlin Blvd, Portland, OR. Highlights of the renovation and expansion include: • New signage, deck, stairwell, and fresh exterior paint using Pendleton Blue with National Park Stripe trim, as seen from SE McLoughlin Boulevard. • An expanded selection of Made in the USA wool fabrics and mill materials. • Extensive and engaging educational displays focused on how wool is used in crafts and home décor. • Coming 2022: Classroom space…
