Category Archives: organic

How Much Do You Actually Have to Water Your Plants?

by ArlenEusebio23 Posted on June 29, 2016

Efficient watering practices can save you a lot of time and money, as well as preserving our planets resources. A bit of planning and a good understanding of your soil will help your plants thrive on less water.

What kind of soil do you have?

The main components of soil are sand, clay and organic matter. A good balance will give you a crumbly, easy-to-dig soil that takes up water easily.

Dig a few small holes around your yard to see your soils structure. A soil with too much sand is grainy and drains very quickly. Sandy soils benefit from adding lots of organic matter to hold in the water.

Clay soils can feel like concrete when theyre dry and will absorb water very slowly. Once clay soil is wet, it can become dense and oversaturated with very little oxygen or space for plant roots. Adding gypsum (calcium sulphate), sand or organic matter will help break up clay soils.

For containers, its best to use commercial potting mixes based on peat moss or coconut fiber. Both of these are organic materials that hold water well and are still light enough for pots and hanging baskets. Soil straight from your garden is usually too heavy.

How to Judge When Your Plants Need Water

1. Container Plants

Lift up your containers or hanging baskets when possible to gauge their water content. If theyre too large to lift, use your finger or a soil probe to check how far down the pot has dried out. Its time to water when the container is dry about half way down.

Add water until it comes out the bottom of the pot. Check back in 5 to 10 minutes to see if the water absorbed. If the container still feels dry, keep adding water in small doses until the soil is saturated.

2. Outdoor Areas

The roots of perennial plants, shrubs and trees generally grow in the top 12 inches (30 centimeters) of soil. The roots of lawns and annual plants, including most vegetables, are typically in the top 6 inches (15 centimeters) of soil.

These are the depths youll need to water to for each type of plant. The actual amount of water you need to apply will vary depending on your soil structure.

When you water an area for the first time, use your finger or a shovel to check the soil every few minutes and see how far down the water has penetrated. Take note of how long it took to reach the needed depth.

Continue to monitor your soil and keep track of how long it takes to dry out again. Drought-tolerant plants will be able to handle drying out to the bottom of their root zone. Whereas, plants with higher water needs should only dry out to around half the depth of their root zone.

This will give you a basic idea of how long you should water each area of your garden and how often.

The last step is to make sure your watering system is as efficient as possible. Try the following tips to get started.

How to Reduce the Amount You Water

Water at cooler times of day. You can lose a lot of water to evaporation when its hot. Morning is often the best time to water because its the coolest time of day. You can also set your automatic irrigation system to run during the night.

Dont panic. Its normal for some of your plants to wilt in the mid-afternoon sun to conserve water. Wait until the sun goes down to check whether or not the wilt is permanent. If your plants dont perk up again by morning, its time to water.

Choose drought-tolerant plants when possible. Many varieties of ornamental annual and perennial plants do well with limited water. You can also get lawn seed mixes designed for dryer conditions.

Group plants by water needs. This can make watering much easier. For instance, you can group drought-tolerant plants together in a difficult-to-access corner of your yard, or plant your most water-demanding veggies at the front of your beds near a hose.

Have a flexible watering schedule. Take advantage of cooler weather periods to reduce how often you water. Also keep in mind that young seedlings or new plantings will have smaller root systems than when mature. These will need shallower, more frequent irrigation until they get established.

Water slowly. Too much water at one time will simply run out of a container or off the soil surface in garden beds. When watering by hand, go over a container or outdoor area a few times rather than trying to do it all at once. Or look for an automatic irrigation system that can deliver smaller amounts of water over longer periods of time.

Make use of technology. Many automatic irrigation systems can make watering more efficient, such as drip irrigation, soaker hoses or overhead sprinklers. Automatic timers are also very useful. You can get simple timers that are battery powered or more complicated systems that are wired into your house.

Track your water. A general recommendation is to apply 1 to 2 inches (2.5 to 5 centimeters) of water to your garden per week. This is easiest to track with automatic irrigation systems that deliver set amounts of water. You can also check hand watering by attaching a flow meter to the hose spigot. About 60 gallons (227 liters) will provide 1 inch (2.5 centimeters) of water over 100 square feet (9 square meters).

Keep your ground covered. A layer of mulch, ground cloth or rocks will help stop evaporation from the soil and keep it moist. Planting a living ground cover is another great option.

Focus on the roots. Water should be applied as close to the root zone as possible. Water left on the leaves is often lost through evaporation. It can also cause sun damage on a hot day or promote leaf diseases. Try to get underneath the plants when youre hand watering, or choose drip irrigation systems instead of overhead sprayers.

Related:
12 Ways to Get Rid of Aggressive Weeds Without Resorting to Roundup
5 Surprising Animals You Didnt Realize Were Pollinators
How to Use Food Scraps to Control Pests and Help Your Garden Thrive

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

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How Much Do You Actually Have to Water Your Plants?

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Will California start drilling deep for water?

by Myrna Posted on June 29, 2016

Stanford scientists find a ‘water windfall’ deep underground; its viability as a resource is problematic, its protection is essential. Source article:  Will California start drilling deep for water? ; ; ;

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Will California start drilling deep for water?

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Growing Greens in the Spare Room as ‘Vertical Farm’ Start-Ups Flourish

by Myrna Posted on June 29, 2016

LED lighting and short growing periods have helped the rise of indoor farming, but scaling up is tougher. Link:   Growing Greens in the Spare Room as ‘Vertical Farm’ Start-Ups Flourish ; ; ;

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Growing Greens in the Spare Room as ‘Vertical Farm’ Start-Ups Flourish

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Want Pollinators to Visit Your Yard? Here’s How to Attract Them.

by ElviaWootton Posted on June 24, 2016

One way to protect the birds, bees, bats and beetles that help pollinate plants is by growing a garden that will help feed and nurture them. National Pollinator Week is a perfect time to plant a garden these creatures will love. Here’s how to get it off the ground.

Choose Your Plants – Start by identifying the “eco region” you live in. The Pollinator Partnership offers plant guides to attract pollinators for 32 different regions of the U.S., plus Canada. Some examples of eco regions are: the Sierran Steppe, the Southeastern mixed forest, prairie parkland (subtropical), Ouachita mixed forest, outer coastal and Lower Mississippi riverine. You can find the guide that’s right for your ecoregion here.

Learn About Your Eco Region – The guide to your ecoregion will describe your microclimate, general topography and the flora (plants) and fauna (animals) commonly found in your region. It’ll provide an estimate of the amount of rain that falls in your ecoregion annually, let you know when the first frost usually strikes, and when the last frost usually occurs, which normally signals when it’s time to plant.

Get Familiar With the Plant Traits the Pollinators Like – For example, bats prefer dull white, green or purple flowers with a strong musty odor emitted at night. On the other hand, bees prefer bright white, yellow or blue flowers that emit a fresh, mild scent and that have a sort of landing platform they can sit on, since they don’t extract pollen when they’re flying. Birdsneed strong perch supports and are attracted to scarlet, orange, red or white flowers. Pollinators are different animals, so the greater variety of plants you grow, the greater variety of pollinators you’ll attract.

Plant for Food – Flowers provide nectar and pollen, but fermenting fallen fruits also provide food for bees, beetles and butterflies.

Plant in Groups, and Plant a Lot – Planting in groups increases the efficiency by which the pollinator can feed on your plants. That makes it easier both to gather the pollen and to transfer the pollen to the same species, rather than depositing it on a plant that can’t use it.

Plant Many Different Plants – This “biodiversity” will attract and support a bevy of different pollinators while also making your garden more interesting and beautiful to behold.

Don’t Necessarily Weed – What may be a weed to you may be another great source of nectar and pollen to a pollinator. Before you pull a weed, make sure it’s not breakfast, lunch or dinner for the insects and birds you’ve started attracting to your yard.

Grow Different Sizes of Plants, but Also Leave Bare Soil – Different birds and insects inhabit plants at different heights, so make a variety available. Dead tree snags make good shelter, as does bare soil for ground nesting insects.

Provide Water – A pond with gently moving water so mosquitoes don’t proliferate provides drinking and bathing water for pollinators, as does a small container, like the bottom dish of a planter. Make sure the sides slope so the animals can approach the water without drowning.

Grow Organically – Skip the toxic pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers. Pollinators are small to tiny animals and even extremely smalldoses of potent chemicals can kill or harm them.

Plant for Beauty as Well as For Bounty – Make sure you enjoy your garden as much as the pollinators do. Plan your garden so you have something blooming spring, summer, fall and even winter. You may not drink the nectar of the plants you cultivate, but there’s no reason why you can’t relish their gorgeous blooms and rich fragrances.

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Use Your Summer Gardening to Attract Butterflies and Bees

Beautiful Wildflower Gardens

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

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Want Pollinators to Visit Your Yard? Here’s How to Attract Them.

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What Everyone Can Learn from Tiny House Dwellers

by JoleenStaples Posted on June 23, 2016

For some homeowners, bigger is better. Even as household size shrinks, square footage hasn’t followed suit. The median size of a new single-family home in 2015 was 2,467 square feet up by almost 1,000 square feet compared to homes built just 10 years ago.

But, not everyone has dreams of decorating a second dining room. Plenty of tiny house dwellers are finding that they can live large with less, downsizing to homes that are anywhere from 100-500 square feet. Sure, the financial perks are sizable (69 percent of tiny house people have no mortgage, compared to 29.3 percent of all U.S. homeowners), but there’s plenty more to love about about a smaller space. You don’t need to ditch your home and shack up in a 200-square-foot studio to incorporate some of the lessons of living lightly.

A place for everything.

Think there’s room for a junk draweror a junk closetwhen you’re living in 100 square feet? Keep clutter from piling up by designating a spot for everything in your home. Not only will it make it easier to find things, tidying up will get easier (and faster) when you’re not just moving piles of things next to other piles of things.

Think before you buy.

Once you have a designated spot for everything in your home, bringing in something new becomes a more deliberate decision. Do you like that cookie jar shaped like a dancing rooster enough to make room for it?

One in, one out.

Still undecided about that rooster cookie jar? Or about adding another plain black t-shirt to your overstuffed closet? Try implementing a “one in, one out” rule to help you decide about a purchase. One rooster cookie jar in, an old cookie jar set aside to donate.

Be picky about freebies.

One man’s trash is sometimes another man’s treasure. But sometimes one man’s trash should stay just that. Yes, it’s hard to say no to your aunt’s offer to pass down her wicker basket collection, even if you’ve never had any desire to own a collection of wicker baskets. But tiny house dwellers are great at saying “thank you, but I don’t have room for that” and there’s no reason you can’t say it, either. Tiny home or not, you’re not obligated to take in everyone else’s castoffs.

Master multitasking.

Whether you live in a studio apartment or have a little more space to spread out, you can minimize clutter and maximize space by choosing furniture that multitasks. Swap your dining table chairs for a bench that offers both storage and seating, mount shelving or a small desk to walls to clear floor space or choose a large ottoman that doubles as a coffee table.

Make a list.

Whether you’re stocking your fridge or shopping for furniture or home decor, avoid impulse purchases by writing down just what you need. Fall in love with something on the way to the checkout line? Snap a photo and sleep on it before you buy.

Choose quality over quantity.

In the words of Marie Kondo, tidying expert and author of The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up, hold onto the items that spark joy, and donate or throw away the rest. How you interpret the advice is up to you, but if your shelves and closets are packed with items that spark guilt, dread, and dust bunnies, start there.

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

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What Everyone Can Learn from Tiny House Dwellers

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Here’s What’s Killing 4 Important Pollinators (And How You Can Stop It)

by MaybellTichenor Posted on June 17, 2016

Why are so many animals that pollinate our flowers, trees and food crops under siege? Generally speaking, it’s because we humans don’t value these creatures enough to band together to protect them.

So much food is available in grocery stores and farmers markets, it’s probably hard to believe that our food system might actually be threatened due to lack of pollination.

Regardless of the reason for our nonchalance, it’s a mistake. That’s because the creatures that pollinate the plants that produce our food also pollinate the plants that support the very web of life, what scientists call biodiversity. So even if you don’t care whether bees will be around to pollinate your almonds or apples, you should probably worrythat pollinatingbees, butterflies, bats and birdsmay not be around to helpthousands of plants survive in the wild.Because without all those wild plants, entire ecosystems could collapse.

To drive the point home, here’s a description of what’s killing four pollinators we depend on for both food and beauty and what you can do to stop it.

Honey Bees and Bumble Bees– Honey bees live in colonies of tens of thousands, buzzing around in a hive or a colony. The colonies have become infected with a bacteria called Paenibacillus larvae. The bees themselves have been attacked by mites. Both the mites and the bacteria, plus pesticide exposure, and the disruptive way the bees are trucked around the country to pollinate crops like almonds, have led to what scientists call colony collapse disorder.

Climate change is also a large factor, because warming global temperatures has accelerated flowering seasons and the bees haven’t quite caught up yet. In other words, flowers that bees normally depend on for food have bloomed and faded before the bees arrive to feed on them. Bees are also particularly susceptible to a kind of pesticide called a neonicotinoid. “Fully half of the 46 or 47 species of bumble bees in the U.S. seem to be in some level of decline,” reports Bioscience.

What you can do: You can help make a difference by not only gardening organically yourself, but by shifting your spending to purchasing organically grown food. Consumer demand creates the financial incentives farmers need to stop using insecticides. Show them there’s a market for food grown with pollinators in mind. On the energy front, do your part to help put the breaks on climate change by driving less, switching to solar and wind, and saving energy at home and at work. Here are some great energy saving tips you can adopt today.

Monarch Butterflies – Any animal that migrates is particularly at risk, because opportunities for them to be exposed to threats occur all along their migratory path and at virtually every stage of their life cycle. One such case is that of monarch butterflies.

These elegant creatures have a complex life cycle that takes them, in some cases all the way from the eastern seaboard of the U.S. to Mexico, a trip of 2,000 miles. As they travel,they need flowers on which to lay their eggs and nectar to eat. But lack of their primary food source, milkweed, along with rampant pesticide spraying, habitat loss and climate change, is killing monarchs in alarming numbers. Scientists say that the number of monarchs that overwintered in Mexico in 2012-2013 was only 59 percent of those that overwintered the year before, reports Bioscience. Monarchs cannot survive cold winters so they have no choice but to migrate.

What you can do:Grow a butterfly garden that will provide both food for the adults and host plants on which adults can lay eggs to support new populations. Practice organic gardening, planting milkweed and other plants that monarchs specifically love. Consider becoming a Certified Monarch Waystationand convince your neighbors and community to do the same.

Bats – In addition to loss and degradation of habitat, bats may be killed indiscriminately simply because people aresuperstitious about them or fear bats carry disease. Bats are also hunted for food and folk medicine. Non-native, invasive species like snakes, ants and feral pigs can also take their toll. Bat Conservation International saysas many as 25 of the 47 U.S. and Canadian bat species may be vulnerable to the introduced fungusPseudogymnoascus destructans, the cause of White-nose Syndrome. By some estimates, WNS has killed more than 6 million bats since 2006 in central and eastern North America.

What you can do: Support global bat conservation by “adopting” a baby bat. Urge your elected officials to support national and global policies that will protect endangered bat “hot spots,” reduce habitat destruction and fund research into strategies to protect bats. At home, build bat houses to make it easy for bats to reproduce, raise their young and shelter in a safe place. You can find instructions here.

Hummingbirds – Hummingbirds are important in the U.S. for the role they play in pollinating wildflowers. Because hummingbirds have good eyes, they’re particularly attracted to bright colors like red, yellow or orange. They love flowers that produce abundant nectar, so they manage to collect pollen on their heads and back when they stick their long beaks into the flower blossom to take a nectary slurp.

But hummingbirds face a lot of threats. Like other animals, they’re losing habitat as suburbs expand, industrial agriculture spreads and clearcutting knocks down forests. Hummingbirds are much smaller than may other birds which makes them more vulnerable to pesticides, insecticides, fertilizers and pollution. They could be attacked by cats, fly into windows or get diseases from dirty hummingbird feeders. Plus, invasive plants might crowd out the native nectar producers that hummingbirds need to survive.

What you can do: If you have a cat, keep it inside, particularly during the day, when hummingbirds are out and feeding. Put up a hummingbird feeder, but clean it regularly so that the food it provides is clean and healthy to eat. Of course, garden organically and use no toxic chemicals in and around your yard. Urge your neighbors to do the same, and work with local officials to create non-toxic, safe habitats for all of the pollinators that visit your ecoregion. And plantcardinal flowers and other plants specifically to attract and nourish hummingbirds.

Related
An Easy Guide to Saving Energy at Home
 How to Create a Pollinator Oasis Right at Home

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

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Here’s What’s Killing 4 Important Pollinators (And How You Can Stop It)

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Plants have an immune system, too. It’s called soil.

by HayleyBuilder Posted on June 17, 2016

good dirt

Plants have an immune system, too. It’s called soil.

By on Jun 17, 2016 3:54 pmShare

Organic agriculture has long focused on fortifying soils to provide a sort of immune system for crops. Rather than fighting diseases after they arrive, the thinking goes, make crops sturdy enough so they don’t get sick in the first place.

And it works: There’s evidence that the right soil makes for healthier plants — but we’ve never understood exactly how it works. Without some rudimentary understanding of the process, it’s impossible to separate useful techniques from mysticism and snake oil.

Science writer Carl Zimmer recently summed up in the New York Times what scientists have learned about soils that act like immune systems. It turns out that healthy plants love company. Soils swarming with microbes protect against disease because there’s just no room for pathogens to get a foothold. It’s called competitive inhibition.

Plants can also summon helpful soil microbes to launch counterattacks against specific pathogens. “Recent experiments have shown that when pathogens attack a plant, it responds by releasing chemicals into the soil that attract a number of microbial species,” Zimmer writes. “As those microbes gather around the plant, they release compounds that can kill the pathogen.”

These new insights are far from complete. What happens underground is fantastically complex. But scientists have already used their findings to test some practical means of encouraging good microbes on farms. The more researchers are able to show how this soil immune system works, the more farmers will embrace the idea.

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Plants have an immune system, too. It’s called soil.

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This Company Turns Recycled Plastic Bags into Something Pretty

by WallyFair135676 Posted on June 17, 2016

Plastic shopping bags, as useful as they are for the 12 minutes when they’re in use, are a curse on our planet. While it can be simple enough to avoid them by bringing our own reusable shopping bags with us, the fact that millions of them are made each day, to be used only briefly and to then spend years afterward contaminating our shared resources, is enough to make even the staunchest treehugger throw their hands up in defeat.

Of course, we’re not all so easily swayed into giving up on finding alternatives and solutions for this plastic menace, and some innovative designers are coming up with ways to upcycle plastic bags into products that not only make us feel good about them, but that also look good as well.

One such initiative comes from Reform Studio, which has developed a rather ingenious solution to our plastic bag epidemic, in which the bags become the feedstock for a traditional, yet disappearing, industry in Egypt – handweaving.

Reform Studio is the brainchild of two designers, Mariam Hazem and Hend Riad, who came up with the original concept as their project for the Faculty of Applied Arts at the German University in Cairo two years ago, in which they followed their belief that “design can solve stubborn problems.”

“It all started with a plastic bag. We believe that design can solve stubborn problems and thus we started from a major issue in Egypt: waste. One experiment after another, and after many design proposals, we came up with our first product Plastex. Plastex is a new eco-friendly material made by weaving discarded plastic bags.” – Reform Studio

Plastexstarts with used plastic bags collected by friends, family, and the public, as well as with flawed bags that can’t be sold or used as-is, which are then converted into long plastic strips. These strips, or ‘threads’ are strung on a handloom and manually woven into a fabric that retains the original colors of the threads, which adds to the unique look of the upcycled material. The company claims that the material has proven to be “durable, strong, washable and tolerant to sand and dust.”

By turning what was once waste into a valuable resource, this process can help reduce the negative impacts of single-use plastic bags, as the material is not only a colorful and useful material, but one that can also spur further conversations about waste and plastic and reuse.

Reform Studio

“Plastex is designed to raise awareness about how we define waste and the possibilities behind reusing what was once destined to become trash.”

Currently, Reform Studio offers two types of chairs, theAhwa(coffee) collection, and the Grammys collection(named after grandma, not the music award), both upholstered with Plastex, along with a variety of other goods made with the material, at six stores in Cairo and one in London.

According toFuturePerfect, Reform Studio employs mostly women (70%) in its upcycling workshop, and the company offers job opportunities for untrained workers, either at the facility or working from home, through referrals from charitable organizations.

Find out more atReform Studio’s website.

Written by Derek Markham. Reposted with permission from TreeHugger.

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

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This Company Turns Recycled Plastic Bags into Something Pretty

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The Best Luxury Eco Travel Destinations

by MadelineSchlenke Posted on June 17, 2016

Welcome to the sparkling green gem called eco tourism. A booming industry, eco travel now boasts a whopping 8 billion ecotourist visits a year worldwide. Spoiler alert: You’ll need a (nontoxic) keyboard cleaner prior to reading further because if you’re like me, you’ll be drooling in utter awe at the beauty, thoughtfulness and earthly stewardship that went into creating these slices of nirvana on earth. My bucket list has officially grown larger (and yours will, too) after discovering these Om-inspiring spots.

Eco travel explored

Whether you’re looking for restorative or reenergizing vacation away from daily stress, you’ll be hitting the BOOK IT button and packing your bags for an eco travel adventure to reclaim your inner peace and restore your health.

UNITED STATES

1) The Stanford Inn by the Sea – Mendocino, CA

A historic farm and eco resort perched along the Mendocino Coast, The Stanford Inn by the Sea boasts lush, USDA certified organic farms and gardens. This four star, sustainable eco-resort is home to an award-winning vegan restaurant. Nestled across the bay from Mendocino Village, earth friendly, conscious cuisine can be enjoyed at Ravens restaurant (even the wines are organic). The lodge inspired rooms boast eco-friendly amenities by Gilchrist & Soames®. Included with your room are: free mountain bike rentals, a chef-prepared vegan breakfast, plush bathrobes, a wood burning fireplace, organic coffee, and a private deck with ocean and garden views. They compost all food and organic wastes which are then recycled into the gardens, virtually eliminating the use of outside fertilizers. The resort uses no herbicides or pesticides and uses Vaska non-toxic environmentally safe cleaning and laundry supplies, and provides sulfate-free Naturally Kind™ Forest Essentials.

Image Credit: The Stanford Inn by the Sea

Head over to the onsite Catch a Canoe and paddle along the eight-mile Big River estuary. Or, rent a bike or visit the wellness center – the Mendocino Center for Living Well – offering yoga, ayurvedic treatments, cooking classes and wellness retreats including the Falling Love with Life Special. They also offer a sauna, hot tub and indoor swimming pool located in the heated solarium as well as weddings and corporate events. With afternoon tastings and evening happy hours, the passionate owners, Jeff & Joan Stanford, have truly though of everything – even electric car charging stations – at this premier sustainable destination. Watch below to learn more:

2) Bardessono – Yountville, CA

Bardessono is one of only three LEED platinum-certified hotels in the United States (and the only one in California). Situated in California’s Napa Valley, rooms feature organic cotton bed linens and hand-crafted bath products. The onsite restaurant, Lucy, offers a garden-inspired menu with field-to-fork cuisine and artisan cocktails. A rooftop pool offers lounging and dining. Carbon fiber bicycles, on-site producing gardens, and the inspired taste of artisan-crafted coffee are all included in your wine country stay. Cheers to that!

Image Credit: Bardessono

3) Amangiri – Canyon Point, Utah

Raw. Aesthetic. Discover a remote hideaway tucked within the luminous canyons of the American Southwest. Utah’s Canyon Point is home to deep canyons, towering plateaus, world-class hiking, and of course – Amangiri.

How does candlelit restorative yoga with views of the mesa or full moon yoga beneath the rising moon sound? Then there’s the exquisite 25,000 square foot spa where treatments focus on restoring hózhó, which means beauty, harmony, balance and health in Navajo.

The onsite restaurant serves local seasonal produce. This dramatic resort is tucked into a valley near the Grand Staircase – Escalante National Monument; to say that it blends into the landscape is an understatement. While visiting, you can enjoy guided hikes, rock climbing, canyoneering, and biking.

Image Credit: Amangiri

4) Lumeria Maui – Maui, Hawaii

A retreat for the body, mind and spirit, Lumeria helps you transform your best self through yoga, meditation, sustainable food offerings, healing spa treatments and more. This all-inclusive Hawaii wellness retreat overlooks the North Shore of Maui and is set on large, lush gardens and just 10 minutes from the quaint town of Paia. Guests can feast on indigenous, organic produce and products at Lumeria’s Wooden Crate restaurant.  Thesaline pool and soaking tub overlook the island with breathtaking ocean views. An onsite meditation labyrinth is ideal for quieting the mind and seeking a new perspective.

Image Credit: Lumeria

COSTA RICA

5) The Retreat Alto Del Monte

A boutique wellness experience tucked in the heart of the lush, tropical beauty of Costa Rica, The Retreat, is a five star boutique hotel created by health and wellness visionary, Diana Stobo.  Recently voted one of the 5 Top Spas in the world the property is all about eating clean, raw and/or organic whole foods, enjoying nature, relaxing with yoga and meditation while still lapping in luxury. Diana’s mission is to provide everything you need and desire for the perfect wellness vacation: physical activity, stress reduction, spiritual connectedness, cultural involvement and an experience that will transform you life. Take a plunge in the salt water pool, enjoy the world class spa or Yoga House and and savor a menu designed to fit all lifestyle choices by offering farm to fork cuisine on a daily basis, with vegan options at every meal, as well as all raw choices. Seeing is believing:

6) Lapa Rios Ecolodge

Set amidst the last remaining tropical rainforest reserves of Central America, Minnesota natives John and Karen Lewis liquidated their assets to purchase the land for Lapa Rios Ecolodge; a pristine resort of bungalows lining three rainforest ridges. A three-story hardwood circular stairway in the main lodge constructed of locally harvested materials and a lookout onto the rainforest canopy are highlights. Slumber in organic bed linens and enjoy locally made, biodegradable, organic soaps, lotions and shampoos. Activities focus on the forest and the nearby ocean with hiking, birding, kayaking, horseback riding and surfing while honoring conservation. Their sustainability bragging rights are well earned and can be found here.

Image Credit: Lapa Rios Ecolodge

7) Anamaya

Experience one of the world’s Blue Zone© areas by staying at Anamaya for a yoga or surf retreat. Located in the southern Nicoya Peninsula on the Pacific Ocean, yoga and surf retreat Anamaya compliments a Blue Zone© designated area — an area of the world where people are known to live the longest and healthiest. There are only five Blue Zones in the world.  Daily yoga, spa services, a salt water infinity pool, infrared sauna, organic food with vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options, and free range organic chicken and fresh fish are available to guests.

While there, take a day trip to nearby Tabacon, a five star hotel ranked a World’s Top Ten eco-Spa by National Geographic Magazine.

Tabacon sits at the foot of the majestic Arenal Volcano in the heart of the tropical rainforest. Take a plunge in the thermal springs that emerge from the volcanic earth, cascading to form waterfalls, streams, tranquil pools and ponds.

Image Credit: Anamya

BELIZE

8) Blackadore Caye

A resort that heals. This luxury eco resort plans to pamper you while simultaneously healing the island of Belize. Save the date because this Leonardo di Caprio inspired (and partly owned) oasis is coming in 2018 with majestic views (of the ocean and maybe even Leo?), sprawling villas and infinity pools. It wouldn’t involve Leo without environment stewardship. Plans are in place to protect the coral reefs, biodiverse marine life and even involve manatee conservation. Now that’s what I call leaving something better than you found it. Here. Now. Wherever you are. I don’t know ‘bout you, but my heart will definitely go on after a trip to Blackadore Caye!

Image Credit: Blackadore Caye

PHILIPPINES

9) The Farm at San Benito – Lipa City

For a truly rejuvenating spa experience, head for the Philippines. More specifically, set your sights on The Farm at San Benito. The Farm at San Benito offers a wholly holistic approach to healing one’s body and spirit. Enjoy ease, simplicity, and of course, eco-friendly wellness. Dine on predominantly raw, vegan fare made from ingredients grown on the property’s garden. Or, practice yoga. A variety of wellness programs are available to achieve and sustain optimal physical health, emotional well-being and spiritual growth. Oh, and you’ll be surrounded by lush, tranquil land.

Image Credit: The Farm at San Benito Terrace

10) Boracay Resort & Spa

Shangri-La’s Boracay Resort & Spa is set on a lush hillside set in an eco-reserve. Enjoy sleeping in a treehouse villa, snorkeling, scuba diving, kayaking, parasailing or a day of relaxation at the CHI spa. Stunning beaches and ocean views. Its, as they call it, a sanctuary within a sanctuary.

Image Credit: Boracay Resort & Spa

BRAZIL

11) Tivoli Ecoresort Praia do Forte

Paradise sculpted by nature. Sounds good to me. The Tivoli Ecoresort Praia do Forte is an ecologically responsible a place that blends with its natural white sands and warm water. Conservation is key to assure the natural surroundings are not harmed and the resort honors the biodiversity of the surrounding beauty of Brazil.

Image Credit: Tivoli Ecoresort

MALDIVES

12) Dusit Thani Maldives – Mudhdhoo Island, Baa Atoll

A visit to the Maldives shouldn’t be limited to Brad and Angelina’s brood. Visit this all-villa Thai retreat that sits next to a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve, a feeding ground for manta rays and whale sharks. The Thai inspired rooms at Dusit Thani Maldives are encircled by white sandy beaches, a stunning 360 degree living house reef and a turquoise lagoon. Yes, please.

Image Credit: Dusit Thani Maldives

CANADA

13) Clayoquot Wilderness Resort – Tofino, British Columbia

Remote. Refined. Rustic. Sounds like a great combo to me. Inspired by late 19th-century camps, the all-inclusive Clayoquot Wilderness Resort in B.C., Canada combines an eco-chic experience with luxurious comfort.

Imagine 20 white canvas massage, treatment, dining, lounge, and guest tents in the dense bush of one of the world’s few remaining temperate rainforests. Get ready to channel your inner Grizzly Adams and indulge horseback riding, kayaking, whale watching, hiking, and fishing.

Uniquely and appropriately described as a delicious blend of childhood wishes and grown up dreams.

Image Credit: Clayoquot Wilderness Resort

MALAYSIA

14) Gayana Eco Resort – Kota Kinabalu, Borneo

Ecology meets luxury at Gayana Eco Resort. On the edge of a tropical jungle paradise and peering above the agean waters of a rare coral reef , your inner flower child will delight at the overall eco-focus of the resort. A tropical jungle, vibrant coral reefs and effervescent waters of the South China Sea create a a true paradise. The thatched huts are filled with modern conveniences, including air conditioning, WiFi and luxury bathroom amenities. There’s even an on-site Marine Ecology Research Center restoring the nearby coral reef.

Image Credit: Gayana Eco Resort

THAILAND

15) The Naka Island, A Luxury Collection Resort & Spa, Phuket

Located on Phuket’s Naka Yai Island, this wellness resort preaches holistic wellness in its food, activities, and landscaping. Cleanse your body and soul at The Naka Island, A Luxury Collection Resort & Spa. Indonesian, Thai, Chinese, and Indian, therapies range from body rubs and holistic fitness to stress-reducing practices and disease prevention. Eco features such as green housekeeping, composting, water conservation, recycling, integrated pest management practices, low-VOC materials (paints, flooring and furniture) make giving it a double green thumbs up easy.

Image Credit: The Naka Island

AFRICA

16) Lake Manyara Tree Lodge

Sleep in a romantic treehouse at the all-inclusive Lake Manyara Tree Lodge located in the Lake Manyara National Park. Enjoy the diversity of the Great Rift Valley and the plethora of habitats and wildlife surrounding rich, mahogany forests. Each of the 10 stilted suites boasts a private game viewing deck, dream-inducing beds, and an overhead fan for a true jungle vibe. Enjoy a safari or soak in the natural hot springs during your stay. You may even see a lion climbing a tree (really!).

Image Credit: Lake Manyara Tree Lodge

INDONESIA

17) Mandapa

How about unwinding with the Ayung River behind you, surrounded by Verdant rice paddies, meandering pathways, and gently rolling hills? Nearby, you’ll discover hidden temples and an active volcano. Find your Zen while you rejuvenate and unwind at the luxurious Ritz-Carlton Reserve Mandapa resort in Bali with your own private butler on hand to meet your every whim.

Image Credit: Mandapa

AUSTRALIA

18) Daintree EcoLodge & Spa – Queensland

Since my husband stayed here, I can personally share the relaxation he experienced while slumbering in an ancient rainforest canopy with the echo of birds in the background at Daintree EcoLodge and Spa. For every guest that stays, they plant a tree with Rainforest Rescue. Key measures to reduce energy use, greenhouse and carbon emissions include a long list which you can view here. They offer natural spa treatments, fresh seasonal cuisine, and tranquil exploration. View brochure here.

Image Credit: Daintree EcoLodge and Spa

Would you consider staying at one of these destinations?  Have you already? What was your experience? Leave a comment below.

Feature image credit: Lake Manyara Tree Lodge

About
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Lisa Beres

Lisa Beres is a healthy home expert, Baubiologist, published author, professional speaker and Telly award winning media personality who teaches busy people how to eliminate toxins from their home with simple, step-by-step solutions to improve their health. With her husband, Ron, she is the co-founder of

The Healthy Home Dream Team®

and the 30 day online program,

Change Your Home. Change Your Health

. She is the author of the children’s book

My Body My House

and co-author of

Just Green It!: Simple Swaps to Save Your Health and the Planet

,

Learn to Create a Healthy Home! Green Nest Creating Healthy Homes

and

The 9 to 5 Greened: 10 Steps to a Healthy Office

. Lisa’s TV appearances include “The Rachael Ray Show,” “Nightly News with Brian Williams,” “TODAY,” “The Doctors” and “Fox & Friends,” “Chelsea Lately on E!” and “The Suzanne Somers Show.”

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Latest posts by Lisa Beres (see all)

The Best Luxury Eco Travel Destinations – June 17, 2016
8 Father’s Day Gift Ideas That Truly Pay It Forward – June 7, 2016
15 Green Living Home Delivery Services – May 24, 2016

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The Best Luxury Eco Travel Destinations

Posted in alo, Bragg, eco-friendly, FF, GE, LAI, LG, Naka, ONA, organic, Paradise, Pines, PUR, solar, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on The Best Luxury Eco Travel Destinations

5 Vegan Handbag Brands That Do More than Save Animals

by AmeliaParenteau Posted on June 16, 2016

Although adopting a vegan lifestyle is good for the environment, the alternatives for leather goods may combat some of the positive effects. For example, polyvinyl chloride, more commonly known as PVC, is a material often used to simulate leather. However, it is hotly contested whether or not PVC is safe for the environment. This makes searching for vegan accessories something of a nightmare, especially when other ethical standards such as labor practices and the longevity of the styleare taken into account.

The best thing for the environment is ultimately shopping secondhand, but sometimes it is difficult to find a particular or specific style or perhaps you are shopping for a gift for someone else. Fortunately, there are several brands on the market that do more than just produce goods without animal products. Here are five vegan handbag and accessory brands that tick off several ethical checkpoints, from labor laws to recycled materials.

Spuren Handbags

According to their website, “spuren” comes from the German word that means “leaving a track” because purchasing a Spuren bag leaves a “positive footprint” on the planet. Not only are all of Spuren’s products PETA-certified vegan, they also utilize textileshandmade by artisans as well as upcycled materialsto craft sturdy, long-lasting bags. They also have a no child labor policy and ask that all of their partners, suppliers and sub-contractors have the same. Their product line features goods for all genders and for all occasions. Prices range from 39 dollars for a small crossbody bag to 180 dollars for a large duffle bag.

Matt & Nat

The name of this company comes from two of their principles: materials and nature. This vegan accessory company also uses 100 percent recycled plastic to line their products. The company also vets each of their production facilities as well as making it an ongoing effort to source more sustainable materials as vegan leathers improve over time. The designs of the bags offer something for everyone, especially those looking for a professional looking tote or bag, while also being extraordinarily high quality. Although the designs tend to be a bit pricier, the increase is due to the undeniable quality of the materials and craftsmanship. Matt & Nat offers unisex styles.

Fashion Conscious

Although this online retailer has several different certifications for what consists of an “ethical” purchase, they have a large range of vegan handbags for sale. This is a great resource for finding purses of different styles and price points. Each product from Fashion Conscious has its own “My Ethics” tab that tells the customer a bit more about why the product is an ethical find. They do have their own in house line, FC Vegan Bags, as well as sourcing products from other brands. Their overall mission is to “onlystock designs which have an ethical and eco dimensionbe it recycled, organic cotton, non-toxic, fair trade, sustainable, vegan, hand-made, UK-made or non-exploitative.”

Gunas New York

Established in 2009, Gunas was the first American all vegan handbag brand, according to their website.These high fashion bags don’t use any animal products and also promise sweatshop free labor and recycled materials. Each bag boasts a very unique design, so these bags are perfect for those with a little bit of flair. One real standout is the Paris duffel, a vegan leather duffel bag that is as chic as it is functional.

Freedom of Animals

This is another brand that will make even the most diehard fashionistas question using leather. Found in 2013, Freedom of Animals uses the highest quality vegan materials to create fashion forward and minimal bags. Their seasonal lines range in materials from canvas to eco-friendly faux leather options. They are also made in the United States and follow EPA guidelines for all facets of production. It’s clear to see that “affordable luxury” is a part of their mission given how beautiful their handbags are. They also have a partnership with the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust in Kenya and encourage customers to donate to the cause directly while also naming several of their bag styles after elephants at the trust.

Photo credit: Freedom of Animals

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Continued:  

5 Vegan Handbag Brands That Do More than Save Animals

Posted in alo, Casio, eco-friendly, Everyone, FF, GE, LAI, LG, ONA, organic, PUR, Radius, Ultima, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on 5 Vegan Handbag Brands That Do More than Save Animals