Strew the herbs; Stir the stew. Family to the hearth; Home is safe and sound. Keep your home safe and clean with these inexpensive and easy-to-make alternatives to store-bought cleaning solutions. The season for staying indoors is coming and that means stale air, insect pests coming inside, and germs flying about. Long ago, herbs were spread, strewn about the castle to sweeten the air, freshen living spaces, and ward off pests. An added bonus was that many herbs also protected family members and guests from bacteria and viruses. Herbs, such as sweet woodruff, catnip, spearmint, and conifer needles were strewn on the floors, hung as swags in rooms, or placed…
-
-
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,…
-
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…
-
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…
-
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,…
-
Creative Ways to Cut Your Holiday Waste
Between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day, American household waste increases by more than 25 percent. Trash cans full of holiday food waste, shopping bags, bows and ribbons, packaging, and wrapping paper contribute an additional 1 million tons a week to our landfills. As we celebrate the holidays, it pays to be mindful of sustainable consumption and materials management practices. They may help you focus even more on caring and celebration during this holiday season, and could even reduce the strain on our fiscal budgets and the natural environment. Giving • Less is more. Choose items of value, purpose, and meaning – not destined for a yard sale. • Give treasure. Pass on…
-
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…
-
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…
-
Recycle Or Not
This Portland-area campaign wants to reduce waste and make a big difference for the environment. Many of us are getting more packages in the mail these days. More packages mean more packing materials—and more confusion about what belongs in your trash can and what can go in your recycling bin. You can’t recycle plastic-padded envelopes at home or at work, but there are steps you can take to reduce your waste. When online shopping, consider bundling your orders, so items come in just one package. Or reuse them for shipping — be sure to remove old mailing addresses or barcodes and reseal them with packaging tape. You can also use…
-
Let’s Protect Our Riparian Areas
The Pacific Northwest is known for its water—whether falling from the sky, melting from high peaks, or flowing towards the ocean—we have such a seeming abundance that it’s easy to take for granted. But, when was the last time you gave a second thought to the wonders of the hydrologic cycle or reflected on the unique role of the riparian plants that are specially adapted to live close to water? If you aren’t familiar with the term, “riparian” refers to the area of vegetation surrounding waterways (ponds, lakes, streams, rivers, etc.). The plant communities occurring at this land-water interface are incredibly biodiverse when healthy, and they provide many benefits to…
