Botany Beauty: 10 Green & Gorgeous Gardens Around the Globe

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Botany Beauty: 10 Green & Gorgeous Gardens Around the Globe

Written by Rj Ross | April 20, 2021

Foundation Claude Monet, Giverny, France 📷 @yamnez — Foundation Claude Monet, Giverny, France 📷 *@yamnez*

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Fabulous foliage. Lavishing landscapes. Breathtaking birds and butterflies. These are a few elements that help cultivate a splendid outdoor layout to walk around, relax, or plan a gathering with a group of friends. If you haven’t figured out by now, this article is all about gardens. April is National Garden Month, and an excellent month to take up gardening. To celebrate, we at ecomadic have planted a list of gardens around the world to inspire horticultural activities, and your next travel plan!

New York Botanical Garden (United States)

New York Botanical Garden Source: Forbes — New York Botanical Garden *Source: Forbes*

A National Historic Landmark, this garden advocates for the plant kingdom and the preservation of its natural resources. With 250 acres, 50 specialty gardens, and over a million plants, the New York garden is the largest garden in America. With a garden this grand, there are many activities to make your visit worthwhile. Schedule to take a class or workshop on site such as botanical photography, floral design, beekeeping, and horticultural therapy. Visit the conservatory, library, and Ross Hall to learn the science behind the garden collections. Less learning and more leisure? Walk and view the four themes at the Perennial Garden, the spectral, blue atlas cedars at the Ornamental Conifers, or the springtime classic cherry trees at the Flowering Cherries. Enjoy a vast land of greenery the concrete jungle has to offer at the New York Botanical Garden!

Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden (South Africa)

Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden Source: Pinterest — Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden *Source: Pinterest*

In the legislative capital city of South Africa lives Cape Town’s contribution to the country’s regal biodiversity. Part of the South African National Botanical Institute (SANBI), Kirstenbosch is regarded as one of the most beautiful gardens in the world. Take a gander at the indigenous plants such as the heath-like Ericas, or the clover-like Oxalis. Hike up the Table Mountain via Skeleton Gorge or Nursery Ravine, and see a captivating view of the garden, and Cape Town. On the main lawn, there are various art sculptures, such as the bust of Nelson Mandela, which stands beside a pepper-bark tree. Lastly, what’s a garden without some wildlife? Be on the lookout for the native Sugarbird swooping throughout the garden, and the Cape River frog if you head towards the streams. Although April in Kirstenbosch is Autumn and rainfall season, a glorious garden still awaits your visit!

Pamplemousses Botanic Garden (Mauritius)

Also known as the Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam Botanical Garden (after the country’s first prime minister), this Mauritian garden is 33 hectares of horticultural heaven. Frolic through the flora and fauna of the garden, from Mauritius’ native flower, the boucle d’oreille, to the Mauritian flying fox. As you pass by the eyeful, endemic palms, there are various monuments that call for a camera moment. Snap a photo of an ancient sugar mill model, the 19th century national monument, Château de Mon Plaisir, and the Lienard Obelisk, with names of the contributors to Mauritius’ agriculture on the white marble columns. Make a mission to swing by this Mauritian landmark for an islandic adventure!

Cambridge University Botanic Garden (UK)

Cambridge University Botanic Garden Source: Horticulture Week — Cambridge University Botanic Garden *Source: Horticulture Week*

Managed by the university’s department of plant sciences, this botanical garden will give you all the vegetation, information, and relaxation you desire in a visit! Meander through the Meditarranean beds to see rock roses, lavender grow, and an assortment of foliage one would find at the Medittaranean Basin. Lounge by the u-shaped lake, consisting of aquatic plants like water lilies, and the damp but vibrant bog garden. Stay late at night to participate in events such as bat patrolling. Make it a three-day trip when the annual Cambridge Festival of Plants blossoms at the garden. An area where rose gardens, tropical glasshouses, and British wildflowers are within close proximity, Cambridge University Botanic Garden has a captivating collection you cannot miss seeing!

Singapore Botanical Gardens (Singapore)

Singapore Botanic Garden Source: Hotels — Singapore Botanic Garden *Source: Hotels*

Singapore’s first world heritage site (inscribed by UNESCO), these tropical gardens in Tanglin are a treat worth traveling to! Spectacular sites await you throughout this Singapore setting. Fly by the Swan Lake sector by the Tanglin Entrance, where you’ll see a gorgeous, bronze sculpture of swans soaring to the sky so gracefully, Princess Odette would be put to shame. Spice up your sojourn at the Ginger Garden in the Tysall Gallop Entrance, where you’ll see an assortment of gingers, while passing by a sublime waterfall. Arouse your smells at the Fragrant Garden by the Nassim Garden, specifically late at night with a partner, for the aromatic aura the flowers emit surely sets up an amorous mood. Like those three areas, anticipate endless encounters of allure during your garden visit in Singapore!

Miracle Garden (UAE)

The largest flower garden in the world, it’s a miracle that this terrain located in Dubai can maintain such fascinating foliage. But with the usage of rainwater and filtered wastewater (via irrigation drip), the Miracle Garden massive collection of flowers can be delightfully displayed in such artistic forms. Be amazed by the structures styled with a vivid array of flowers, such as the Teddy Bear, Heart Tunnel, and Floral Clock. There’s also a section with statues of legendary Disney characters like Mickey & Minnie Mouse. If you’re fortunate enough, you may see one of your favorite Disney characters, and take a photo with them. Stay until night for an extravagant flower parade, celebrating the precious plant life throughout the garden. The Miracle Garden may not be an amusement park, but your time there will definitely amuse you!

Rio de Janeiro Botanical Garden (Brazil)

Jardim Botânico, Brazil Source: Travel + Leisure — Jardim Botânico, Brazil *Source: Travel + Leisure*

Also known as Jardim Botânico, the garden showcases Brazil’s brilliant biodiversity in the heart of Rio de Janeiro’s south zone district. With over 6,500 species of plants, such as the native orchids and bromeliads, your stroll through the garden will consist of sites for satisfied eyes. Stop by the Sensory Garden, the garden’s hotspot, which sprouts numerous herbal and aromatic flowers near a riveting fountain. In addition, be on the lookout for native wildlife like the Channel-billed toucans and black marmosets. In a city with a lot of attractions, this Brazilian botanical garden provides a calming, natural experience warranting of a visit.

Queen Sirikit Botanic Garden (Thailand)

Named after the former Dowager Queen of Thailand, this botanic garden is home to regal and ethereal plants and other foliage in Thailand’s Mae Rim District. With a mountainous backdrop, merrily walk through ravishing rose gardens and banana tree trails, or use the canopy walkways to experience nature at an elevated height. When you’ve had enough doses of outdoor recreation, step inside one of the garden’s twelve greenhouses filled with native and exotic plants in their respective greenhouse. As Thailand’s largest glasshouse complex, the indoor gardens are just as adventurous as the outdoor ones, viewing things such as cacti and an indoor waterfall. Outdoors or indoors, your excursion in the Queen Sirikit Botanic Garden will be as royal as Queen Sirikit herself!

Brisbane Botanical Garden (Australia)

Located at the foot of Brisbane’s tallest mountain, Mount Coot-tha, Brisbane Botanical Gardens is a sub-tropical garden with attractions to enjoy all year round. Promenade through the arid region plants area where aloe and cacti roam. Pass by the lagoon where you’ll find native Australian plants conserved due to them being rare or endangered. For a hands-on approach, take up a workshop session at the kitchen garden. An outdoor cooking area, the kitchen garden will help you learn about sustainable gardening via workshops, while surrounded by gorgeous greenery filled with flowers, herbs, spices, and produce. With additional attractions such as the Japanese Garden, the Bonsai House, and the many rainforest trails, the quests throughout the Brisbane, Queensland garden will leave quite the memories for years to come!

Butchart Gardens (Canada)

In 1904, Ontario native Jennie Butchart manifested a luscious garden. Alongside her husband, she moved to Vancouver Island and made that vision a reality. Over a century later, 55 acres of land, 900 plant varieties, and 26 greenhouses are open year-round for people to visit in a garden chancel called Butchart Gardens.Stride through the Italian garden area, which once was the Butchart family’s tennis court, while enjoying gelato from the Gelateria Benvenuto. Spring forward to the Rose garden sector, with an extraordinary assemblage of floribundas, ramblers, climbers and Hybrid Tea Roses. There’s also the Rose carousel ride near the Rose and Sunken Gardens for your entertainment. Depending on the season (summer, winter holidays) there are light show events held at night that allow the garden to appear as illuminating as it is in the daytime. Like the many gardens presented above, you’ll learn and love a lot of things about the flowers and the garden’s remarkable history. Sail into this Vancouver Island destination, and see the Butchart legacy bloom!

meet the author

Rj Ross - Rj Ross is a writer at ecomadic. With his BA in communications and love for creative writing, he hopes to inspire and inform many generations about sustainable living and responsible traveling. — **Rj Ross**

Rj Ross is a writer at ecomadic. With his BA in communications and love for creative writing, he hopes to inspire and inform many generations about sustainable living and responsible traveling.

Marijuana Legalization in New York: An Overview of the MRTA

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Marijuana Legalization in New York: An Overview of the MRTA

Written by Jaclyn Yost | April 20, 2021

We sat down with Nancy Udell – Director of Empire State NORML – to breakdown the Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act (MRTA) that was passed in New York on March 30, 2021.

Find out more on their website here.

& follow Empire State NORML on social media here: FB/IG/Twitter

Edited by: Jaclyn Yost

Additional Resources:

The Monumental Potential of New York’s New Legal Cannabis Program – High Times

NEW YORK STATE OF EUPHORIA: Cannabis is legal in the Big Apple & beyond! – Project CBD

New York Legalizes Recreational Marijuana, Tying Move to Racial Equity – New York Times

Cops Can’t Arrest You For Smoking Marijuana On Sidewalks, NYPD Says In Post-Legalization Memo – Marijuana Moment

Legislation – NY Senate

meet the author

Jaclyn Yost - Jaclyn is the founder of ecomadic and editor of The Sustainable Seed. She is conscious creative passionate about shedding light on environmental and social sustainability issues through travel. — **Jaclyn Yost**

Jaclyn is the founder of ecomadic and editor of The Sustainable Seed. She is conscious creative passionate about shedding light on environmental and social sustainability issues through travel.

Meet Feed It Forward DC

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Meet Feed It Forward DC

Written by Jaclyn Yost | April 19, 2021

We sat down with co-directors Elyse Ho & Jimmy Lee of Feed It Forward DC – check out the interview below to learn more about how the non-profit operates to promote social responsibility within their local DC community!

Edited by: Jaclyn Yost

meet the author

The History of Marijuana in the United States

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The History of Marijuana in the United States

written by Josefina Artigas |April 16, 2021

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This past month, New York state has joined 15 other states and the District of Columbia in legalizing marijuana for recreational use. Now almost half of the country lives in a state that has legalized cannabis for personal enjoyment. As more people support the use of cannabis for medical, personal, and economic reasons, questions arise as to how marijuana became so heavily regulated in the first place. Looking at the history of marijuana in the United States, a convoluted past illustrates the changing perceptions cannabis has had in the United States and just which groups of people bore the burden of criminalization.

A Brief-ish History of Marijuana in the United States

Marijuana has had a long and tumultuous history within the United States. From the 17th century up until the early 1900s, the marijuana plant, known as hemp in the textile industry, had been popularly used to produce numerous products such as rope, fabrics, and clothes and openly sold in pharmacies for medicinal remedies. By the turn of the 20th century, public perception of the plant began to shift. The Mexican Revolution of 1910 led to an influx of Mexican immigrants into the U.S., searching for employment and stability. At first, this immigration was welcomed, especially as industries within the United States looked to fill labor demands caused by entry into World War I. Along with their labor, they introduced the culture of recreational marijuana use. Until this point, the U.S. had encouraged the growth and medical use of the cannabis plant but had stopped short at personal use. For these reasons, marijuana became associated with Mexican immigrants.

But as we know, the story doesn’t end there. As the Great Depression brought massive unemployment and economic downfall, fear and resentment towards Mexican immigrants began to escalate. Xenophobia and the increasing association of drugs with violent crimes began to be used as a narrative to denigrate immigrants from Mexico, as well as Chinese immigrants and Black folk. It’s important to note that arguments connecting cannabis and violence have been extensively researched and have been proven false, but these claims had already done the damage. The anxiety felt by lawmakers and the public majority led to a series of policies and legislation that heavily restricted access and personal use of marijuana. In 1930, we saw the creation of the Federal Bureau of Narcotics (FBN), and in the subsequent decades’ numerous bills being passed. Such as the Uniform State Narcotic Act, the Marijuana Tax Act, the Boggs Act, and the Narcotics Act. In short, these sets of laws both enforced and set stricter sentencing laws for marijuana possession.

During the 1960s, there was once again a shift in public perception of marijuana. Government officials recognized that the strict penalties for drug-related offenses had done little to curb drug use and abuse and that the minimum sentence of 2 to 10 years had been harsh at best. But by the ’70s, once again, the pendulum swung. President Nixon rejected recommendations to decriminalize marijuana for personal use by the Shafer Commission, which was a bipartisan group that has been appointed by Congress at the direction of the president to investigate the potential dangers of marijuana. In 1973, we saw the creation of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), which would help lead the 1980s War on Drugs alongside the National Institute on Drug Abuse. In 1986, President Regan signed the Anti-Drug Abuse Act, which instituted a mandatory sentence for drug crimes, increased federal punishments, and introduced a ‘three strike’ policy that required life sentences for repeat offenses.

The Criminal Justice System & Arrests Rates

Where we left off in the history of marijuana in the United States is where the criminal justice system comes into the picture. In every year from the 1980s to the 2000s, arrests for marijuana possession made up 40% of all drug arrests. Between 2001 and 2010, half of all drug arrests were for marijuana, with 88% of those arrests being just for possession. Jumping to a decade later, according to the most recent FBI: Uniform Crime Reporting data, marijuana led to nearly a third of all arrests related to drug possession, with only 3% coming from sale and manufacturing. Although there has been a decline in marijuana possession arrests over the years, they still outnumber all violent crimes combined – 495,871 were for violent crimes vs. 500,395 for marijuana possession. Any way you cut it, the high amount of marijuana possession arrest is staggering given that ⅔ of Americans support legalization.

Impacts on BIPOC and Lower-Income Communities

Drug possession arrests carry far-reaching consequences, especially if there are multiple offenses and even in small amounts. It can make getting a job and housing more difficult, get your driver’s license suspended, cause child custody loss, and trigger deportation. The ACLU reported in 2018 that Black folks were almost four times more likely than white people to be arrested for marijuana possession, even though consumption rates are pretty even across groups. People of color face disproportionate arrest rates in every state, even those that have legalized and decriminalized marijuana.

Additionally, there are numerous economic barriers and punishments that go along with an arrest. According to the Prison Policy Initiative, “a criminal record and time spent in prison destroys wealth, creates debt, and decimates job opportunities.” When it comes to marijuana possession, payments for bail, fines, lawyer fees, and court fees can quickly add up. There are also consequences outside of jail time, such as losing employment and housing. The uneven arrest rates perpetuate a cycle of poverty and exacerbate racial inequalities.

The Case for Legalization

The legalization of marijuana would benefit numerous areas of our communities, the environment, and the economy. The medical uses of marijuana have been reported to help varying diseases and conditions. From alleviating chronic pain to treating PTSD, it has even been shown to help trigger cancer cell death. Although medical uses of marijuana are promising, the research is limited due to its classification as a Schedule I drug. Numerous scientific groups have contested its classification and have tried to repeal this designation. Legalization would reduce research barriers placed on marijuana.

When it comes to safety and supporting our communities, legalization can provide a safer product to consume and a means to fund schools and public health services. Additionally, it can reduce the burden that children bear when their parents are arrested and incarcerated. An incredible 2.7 million children in the United States have one or more parents detained, with a majority of them in prison for drug offenses. Losing a parent’s income and support can have devastating effects on their children that further ripples throughout the community.

The legalization of marijuana could additionally have benefits for the environment. Before the legalization of marijuana in California, reports claimed that unregulated cultivation had destructive and polluting effects on its land and water. Legalization provided both regulations that can be enforced as well as funding to remediate damages. Federal marijuana legislation must ensure that it addresses ecological concerns and protects resources and the environment.

Lastly, legalizing cannabis can have positive outcomes on job growth and the economy. According to a study done by Leafly in collaboration with Whitney Economics, between 2017 and 2019, the total full-time jobs in the legal cannabis industry doubled to more than 211,000. At the time of this report, only ten states and the District of Columbia had legalized marijuana for adult use and excluded indirect employment from the cannabis industry, such as accountants and marketing firms (the number gets closer to 300,000 jobs).

Legalizing marijuana is just one of the many steps needed to end the long-lasting legacies of the war on drugs and cannabis prohibition in the United States. Change in federal law, although highly encouraged, would only prevent future arrests from occurring but not necessarily help those who are currently incarcerated or suffering from non-violent drug possession charges on their records. Marijuana legislation must specifically and directly help those most marginalized by decades of strict drug policy that has not decreased drug use or kept communities safer.

So what can you do to help the legalization process?

Get Educated

Understanding the history of marijuana prohibition in the United States is just one of the many ways to learn more about cannabis. Just like with any controlled substance, learning about the benefits of marijuana consumption and its potential risks can ensure that you’re aware of the conversation surrounding legalization. If your state has not legalized, read up on its current legislation, and look out for any current and future ballots revolving around legalization and decriminalization. Leafly has a great overview of legalization essentials, as well as a state-by-state breakdown of policies and laws.

Take Action

If you’re ready to be part of the movement, countless national and local organizations have worked tirelessly to make legalization happen for decades. The Marijuana Policy Project is one of the leading organizations with tons of resources to stay informed and connected online. NORML has local chapters all across the United States that can be a good starting point for advocacy. Drug Policy Alliance has a great guide on calling and talking to federal legislators regarding marijuana policy.

If you currently live in a state that has legalized weed recreationally, make sure you’re also supporting our most marginalized folk, as marijuana prohibition has had devastating effects on BIPOC communities. Check out The Floret Coalition and BIPOCANN, two organizations highlighting the importance of supporting BIPOC cannabis businesses. Lastly, we must address the harm caused by criminalization by supporting nonprofits like Last Prisoner Project and Code for America fighting to overturn federal cannabis convictions and expunge marijuana records.

meet the author

Josefina Artigas - Josefina is a content writer at ecomadic. They hold a BS in Biochemistry and a minor in sociology. Their interests include cooking, anime, and coding. They are passionate about the intersection of sustainability and social justice. — **Josefina Artigas**

Josefina is a content writer at ecomadic. They hold a BS in Biochemistry and a minor in sociology. Their interests include cooking, anime, and coding. They are passionate about the intersection of sustainability and social justice.

Small Businesses of the Pandemic: Washington D.C.

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Small Businesses of the Pandemic: Washington D.C.

Written by Jaclyn Yost | April 16, 2021

Small Businesses of the Pandemic Intro.png

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In this piece, we’ll be featuring small & local eateries around Washington, D.C. By telling their stories, we aim to shed light on how small businesses were impacted during the COVID-19 Pandemic, and to spread awareness on how important it is to support small & local during this time.

Immigrant Food

#SmallBusinessesOfThePandemic [DC Edition: 1/6] – Immigrant Food

Immigrant Food is a cause-casual establishment based in Washington D.C. that has social justice baked into their business model. Peter Schechter (Co-Founder) & Téa Ivanovic (Director of Communications & Outreach) work alongside a passionate team who are all on the mission to celebrate, advocate & educate on behalf of immigrants.

Chef Enrique Limardo crafted their menu of flavorful bowls, sandwiches, drinks & desserts by taking inspiration from migration patterns that represent the immigrant diversity in this country. For example, the Mumbai Mariachi Bowl combines flavors custom to Mexico, India & Greece. But the experience doesn’t just stop at food, Immigrant Food also offers a weekly ‘Engagement Menu’ which teaches customers how they can be proactive on immigration issues & how to support their 5 local partner NGOs – who provide immigrant services (i.e. housing advice) & fight deportation, family separation, detention centers & human trafficking. To further educate, Immigrant Food publishes monthly ‘Think Tables’ that highlight & deep dive into various immigration-related topics.

After just months of being open, staff saw the once bustling downtown streets slowly turn into a ghost town in February 2020 due to COVID-19. By being casual, brand new & falling outside of most food app delivery radius’, Immigrant Food faced a triple hurdle. Yet, the staff banded together to fight for survival. In the two weeks they were closed, they donated all food & perishable goods to their NGO partners & strategized how they could make revenue. By switching to commission-based, becoming their own delivery drivers & hosting creative, interactive virtual events, the staff of immigrants “made it work” & have grown closer than ever.

In a time where our nation is so polarized, it is important to support the changes we want to see in the world. Immigrant Food is now open on Saturdays, offering a new menu & brunch. They are also opening 2 new spaces this year – at The Planet Word Museum & Union Market. 🖤

Visit their website here.

Follow Immigrant Food on social media: IG/FB/Twitter

Mr. Braxton Bar & Kitchen

#SmallBusinessesOfThePandemic [DC Edition: 2/6] – Mr. Braxton

Located in the Parkview neighborhood of Washington D.C., Mr. Braxton Bar & Kitchen is a community dining room that attracts new friends, old friends, and neighbors. Enticed by knowing that local businesses add representation to their neighborhoods and provide a unique urban vibe, Booker (Owner) decided to leave his corporate life behind to open Mr. Braxton in July 2019.

Named after the youngest of his 3 sons, Mr. Braxton is a vibrant American bistro with an international flair. Each room has its own unique charm – from the 30-seat back patio, equipped with a floor to ceiling ‘Alice in Wonderland’ vibe mural, to the unconventional dining room, decorated thoughtfully with eclectic pieces – like a 400-year old Palladian window and a 1940s changer stove turned coffee station. Their bar is stocked full of local spirits and beers, aiming to support DMV brands which are both great in value and flavor profile.

February 2020 saw Mr. Braxton’s biggest month yet, however, after the pandemic hit, by March, the business came to a standstill. Booker had to make some hard, yet necessary decisions to save the business; since reopening in May last year, they are now doing better than ever. Although they’ve had to reduce the dining experience (i.e. limiting to 2 hours, reservation oriented instead of walk-ins), the bustling restaurant, high energy tunes, and smiling faces showcased just how happy the staff & DC residents were to just be back at this happening spot.

Looking ahead, Mr. Braxton is excited to announce that they are expanding their seating space by opening up street dining, bringing live music back, and adding some new things to the menu – such as expanding their cocktail menu. In the words of Booker himself, “local businesses embody the true value that local restaurants bring to communities”, which has proven to be true at Mr. Braxton. 🖤

Visit their website here.

Follow Mr. Braxton Bar & Kitchen on social media: IG/FB/Twitter

HoMade Sweets

#SmallBusinessesOfThePandemic [DC Edition: 3/6] – HoMade Sweets

Baked up during the pandemic, HoMade Sweets all started when Catherine was on furlough, home with her kids, and stuck in the house. With a culinary background & a passion for baking, she began to bake breads, muffins, and cookies during her spare time.

With all the excess treats from this new pastime hobby, Catherine decided that she wanted to help out in any way she could. After reaching out to her cousin, Elyse Ho, who owns the local non-profit Feed It Forward DC, she began to donate cookies to front line workers, Feed It Forward Volunteers, and events such as Juneteenth. Through pure word of mouth, people from all over the DMV area began to reach out, inquiring about where they could get their hands on more cookies!

As a strong believer in supporting small & local businesses, as they strengthen our neighbors, family & friends, Catherine has found that the pandemic has ironically made her feel closer to her community; it was even the push to start her own business. While she loved her 9-5, she is now able to spend full time with her kids and support her family; thanking her many customers, who are now friends, and her supportive family in encouraging this unexpected journey thus far.

Each week, HoMade Sweets offers a new menu of delicious cookie flavors – like Lemon Blueberry, Captain Crunch Berries, Chocolate Truffle, and Caramel Macchiato. While all small-batch and made to order for those who reside in the DMV area as of now, Catherine is currently working on her commercial license so that HoMade Sweets can ship, provide e-commerce services, and partner with restaurants. Spreading the love one cookie at a time. 🍪

Visit their website here.

Follow HoMade Sweets on social media: IG/FB

Bub and Pop’s

#SmallBusinessesOfThePandemic [DC Edition: 4/6] – Bub & Pop’s

Bub and Pop’s is a local sandwich shop located in Downtown DC that was named and inspired by Jonathan’s – pictured above – grandparent’s grocery store & hoagie shop in West Philadelphia. Almost 70 years later, Jonathan has reinvented some of their old school classics, such as the Italian Hoagie & Braised Beef Brisket Sandwich, which have even been approved by Guy Fieri himself.

The cozy hoagie shop has found the COVID-19 pandemic to be really hard and “a struggle” as a small and local business; and to make matters worse, during this down time, the City has decided to put in a bike lane out front of their shop, getting rid of parking, and consequently hurting their to-go business even more. Yet, even in the midst of a global pandemic, Bub and Pop’s still hosts a loyal customer base of DC locals, who claim that the establishment grills up the most delicious sandwiches in town.

Although a crowd favorite in DC, Jonathan is a firm believer in supporting whoever you want to support – “if you like our food, come support us, and if you don’t, go somewhere else”. But what the entire kitchen is looking forward to the most, moving into a post-pandemic world, “is just getting to take our masks off, it gets really hot back in the kitchen”. 🥖

Visit their website here.

Follow Bub and Pop’s on social media: IG/FB

Lucky Danger

📷 Anna Meyer Photography — 📷 *Anna Meyer Photography*

#SmallBusinessesOfThePandemic [DC Edition: 5/6] – Lucky Danger

Lucky Danger is a Chinese American takeout eatery located just a few blocks away from Chinatown in Washington D.C. Co-founded by Chef Tim Ma – pictured above – & Chef Andrew Chiou, the two were inspired by their upbringing as Chinese Americans to bring this authentic cuisine style to the Capitol city.

The planning process for Lucky Danger was already in the works before the COVID-19 pandemic hit. Fortunately, due to already being a takeout model, the spot was able to successfully launch in November 2020. In the beginning, the eatery wanted to use their position of being “made for this time” to pay-it-forward & teamed up to cook meals for those in need through local nonprofits, such as World Centric Kitchen & Real Food for Kids. Since then, the biggest learning curve has been putting together the entire restaurant experience in a takeaway bag – as the Chefs want customers to feel like they are eating in a restaurant, even from home. Their genuine & authentic approach on classic Chinese American dishes – like spring rolls, sweet & sour chicken, and veggie lo mein – has made Lucky Danger an immediate success amongst DC locals & travelers alike.

In light of recent attacks against the AAPI community in the United States, Chef Tim Ma expressed that he no longer wanted to use his platform just for profit, but for good as well. This motivated him & 45 other local-DC chefs to found the nonprofit ‘Chefs Stopping AAPI Hate’, whose mission is to raise awareness & funds to give to organizations that empower change & support the AAPI community. Since the launch, the nonprofit has gained national attention, spanning into various other cities & seeing many more Chefs come on board.

Small & local businesses are the fabric of a city, without them we would be a homogenous society. With an abundance of different cultures here in the US, there is no easier way to explore them than through food. From starting a non-profit to the upcoming expansion into a second location, the Chefs at Lucky Danger are continuing to share the food of their culture for us all to enjoy.

Visit their website here.

Follow Lucky Danger on social media: IG/FB

Roaming Rooster

#SmallBusinessesOfThePandemic [DC Edition: 6/6] – Roaming Rooster

Founded in 2015, Roaming Rooster is a family-owned business run in Washington D.C. For years, the founders had owned and operated a shawarma, falafel, and hummus food truck, before having an epiphany that there was not enough good fried chicken in the DMV area. After a year of experimenting in the kitchen, watching YouTube videos and The Food Network, and taste testing with family and friends, the family perfected a chicken sandwich recipe that sold out on their very first day – leading Roaming Rooster to be in the position that they are today.

By using free-range, grain-fed, antibiotic free, and halal chicken, the idea behind the food truck is to provide a fried-chicken option that people could feel good about eating. As word spread and demand grew high, their entire fleet of 4 food trucks switched over to the Roaming Rooster brand. Around the same time, the family invested in a restaurant with a large kitchen for more prep space; and after 1.5 years, this storefront was opened to the public.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Roaming Rooster was “one of the lucky ones”. Although they had to take their fleet of (now) 5 food trucks off the road due to the absence of lunch-time crowds in the city, the brick-and-mortar spaces flourished and received an abundance of online orders. This fast growth has inspired the family and the Roaming Rooster brand to evolve even more – expanding into 3+ locations, starting breakfast soon, and making in-house custard from scratch. With a passion for making cleaner options more accessible, and a strong family ethos, Roaming Rooster has triumphed through the pandemic.

Visit their website here.

Follow Roaming Rooster on social media: IG/FB/Twitter

meet the author

How to Recycle Your Used Batteries

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How to Recycle Your Used Batteries

written by Giuliana Gentile | April 15, 2021

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What happens to your batteries when you throw them out?

If you never thought about the consequences of throwing a couple of batteries out every once in a while, you’ll be surprised to know that each year Americans throw away more than three billion batteries, which is about a truckload every hour. When these batteries are thrown into landfills, they leak heavy metals (i.e. zinc, manganese, and copper) into the ground, contaminating the soil and the water flowing underneath the surface.

So how can we prevent this from happening?

Catalytic Innovations LLC is a cutting-edge recycling tech company, who came up with a solution: the discovery of a new technology to extract and purify zinc from secondary materials to produce high purity micronutrient fertilizers. They were able to apply this innovative solution to the recycling of used non-rechargeable batteries, and they’re now using it to reduce the environmental impact of the heavy metals contained in those batteries. This process allows the recycling of 95% of the materials from each battery, and the best part is that each of the polluting components later become fertilizing nutrients for the soil!

ecomadic’s Interview with Catalytic Innovations LLC

The founder of Catalytic Innovations LLC, Dr. Scott Volner, kindly agreed to an interview and told us more about his company:

1) What was the idea that led to the creation of Catalytic Innovations LLC?

As a metallurgical engineer I began my career mining large tonnages of very low grade minerals and discovered that so many of our society’s wastes contain higher concentrations of metals than we mine – such as alkaline batteries! Tackling problems like this is the new frontier in supplying society with the raw materials it needs.

The technologies for extracting metals from the ground have evolved over the last several thousand years – since the dawn of civilization. Recovering metals from industrial wastes is more complicated and will require new techniques to be developed. But we can’t wait hundreds of years to solve this looming crisis. I founded Catalytic Innovations in hopes of leading the way in this battle.

2) How would you explain the science behind your process to someone who’s not so fond of chemistry?

Before we came along the only way to recycle an alkaline battery was to find a use that needed a mixture of zinc and manganese. Unfortunately, there aren’t many of those. Since our process is able to separate the zinc and manganese they can be used in any application. In fact, our zinc and manganese is more pure than what is mined, smelted, and refined today and can be used in high purity applications such as pharmaceuticals.

3) Please tell us more about your micronutrient fertilizers.

Continuous row crop farming year after year will deplete the soil of micronutrients such as zinc, manganese and copper. To keep that from happening these metals are added back in the form of micronutrient fertilizers.

4) Where do you see Catalytic Innovations in 10 years? Do you have plans to expand worldwide?

I hope in 10 years we will by processing most of the alkaline batteries collected in the US and Canada as well as importing those collected in Europe! We are currently working on an extraction/recycling process for lithium ion and primary lithium batteries and should have a full scale production plant for those chemistries.

There are currently 150,000 tons of batteries reaching landfills in the USA annually, and we are working on expanding to meet that problem. We see potential for our technology in other parts of the world, but we hope to become the battery solution in the states as our first milestone in battery recycling.

5) If you had to imagine the future of the battery industry, what would it look like?

For the first time in history, our process generates recycled metals that are pure enough to go back into high performance batteries. We imagine a battery industry of the future that is a part of the circular economy and no longer dependent on consuming new resources!

6) In your opinion, why don’t the battery producers apply this solution directly to their production process?

To put it simply… it’s not their expertise. They’re going to be much better at making batteries than figuring out how to recycle them. That is where we come in!

7) Do you think there should be some kind of legislation when it comes to battery disposal?

With advances in technology it may not be necessary. Alkaline batteries are made of zinc and manganese which when separated into their individual constituents has value. However, current separation technology costs more than the metals are worth so someone has to pay to recycle them. Each incremental advancement in technology (such as ours!) gets it closer to breakeven and with time maybe one could get paid bringing batteries to the recycler. We are continuing to work towards this goal!

Source: thoughtfullysustainable.com — *Source:* *thoughtfullysustainable.com*

The GoRecycle project

Catalytic Innovations is located in the Missouri Ozarks, but don’t worry, they found a way for you to send them your used batteries directly from home. The GoRecycle recycling project allows anyone a convenient, low cost way to recycle their batteries and electronics. They offer an annual subscription to consumers anywhere in the US, that takes care of all household battery and electronic recycling for as low as $3 per month, which covers shipping to and from the customer!

Follow this link for a discounted page where you can get your own subscription.

Dr. Scott Volner, founder of the company, explained to us exactly how it works:

“Once the batteries are collected and shipped to us, we sort them and begin the recycling process. Our recycling plant is EPA permitted and is currently handling battery recycling for several municipal waste centers in Missouri. You can also find our profile on the Missouri Department of Natural Resources as a Battery Recycler! We have some of the best battery recycling technology in the nation, and we are able to recover over 95% of the materials from each battery! We then create a variety of micronutrient fertilizers with much of the materials, while sending the rest off to other companies to be further processed into new batteries or other products.”

Want to show your support? See below for Catalytic Innovations social media handles:

Instagram

Facebook

Website

Want to learn more?

Sustainable Brand Interview: GoRecycle USA – Ola Impact

How To Recycle Non-Rechargeable Batteries In The United States – Thoughtfully Sustainable

meet the author

Giuliana Gentile - Giuliana was born and raised in Sicily (an Italian island in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea), since then she’s been moving around the world to meet new cultures and discover new places. She has a degree in Political, Social and International Sciences. During her studies she became passionate about environmental protection, gender equality, and cultural identity. She loves traveling, petting dogs on the street, and swimming underwater. — **Giuliana Gentile**

Giuliana was born and raised in Sicily (an Italian island in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea), since then she’s been moving around the world to meet new cultures and discover new places. She has a degree in Political, Social and International Sciences. During her studies she became passionate about environmental protection, gender equality, and cultural identity. She loves traveling, petting dogs on the street, and swimming underwater.

Writing Into Resistance: Literary Journals’ Place in the Eco Verse

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Writing Into Resistance: Literary Journals’ Place in the Eco Verse

Written by Jennifer MacBain-Stephens | April 14, 2021

📷 Hannah Olinger @hannaholinger — 📷 *Hannah Olinger @hannaholinger*

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Hurricane seasons, power outages in Texas, and growing famine in developing countries: now more than ever we see Black & Brown communities suffer the effects of climate change. Five hurricanes per season was the status quo. The last hurricane season recorded over fifteen. In Louisiana, the more socio-economic poor areas, populated by mostly black families, had the most flood devastation from Hurricane Katrina. As stated in this article published in Slate, “they were there in a city, defined by decades of poverty.”

In Flint, Michigan, the mostly Black communities are still reeling from lead poisoning in water that officials did not treat with anti corrosive agents in 2014 (this treatment would have cost as little as $80 per day). These malignant actions were exposed in 2015 and 9,000 children under the age of 6 are at high risk for neurological damage. Furthermore, according to a breakdown of information in GreenAmerica.org, when a BP underwater oil well burst in the Gulf of Mexico in 2010, it leaked 94 to 184 million gallons of oil into the water. Private groups were hired to clean the sand from the 120 miles of coastal pollution. What is less known is that the waste was then driven to landfills into mostly Black communities throughout the South.

We can read about these atrocities in the news, but the last decade has brought a slew of environmental journals into the spotlight who publish diverse voices writing about justice, resilience, the beauty of nature, and the possibility of change. The editorial teams of these literary magazines showcase some of the most creative and powerful environmental writing there is today. Check out a few journals featured below.

Terrain.org

A beautiful intersection of writing and art about place, not only is Terrain.org devoted to issues of social justice, their tag line on their ‘About’ page states:

“Searching for the interface—the integration—among the built and natural environments that might be called the soul of place.”

Terrain.org publishes established writing giants and new talent, making the reader feel that poetry and science always belonged together. From two editors starting out together in 1997, Terrain.org now has more than fifteen editors and an international following. Publishing poetry, nonfiction, fiction, community case studies: a favorite section is “Unsprawl:” specific essays using urban planning to highlight certain cities or towns.

Stand out: “Soundscapes” – the podcast’s recent episodes discussed ideas surrounding democracy, conservation, and sustenance.

Split this Rock

The name “Split This Rock” is from a line in “Big Buddy,” by Langston Hughes.

Don’t you hear this hammer ring?

I’m gonna split this rock

And split it wide!

When I split this rock,

Stand by my side.

Split This Rock, based in the Washington DC area, is different from other literary journals in that it calls on the public and artists and writers alike to nurture a national network of socially engaged individuals. Sitting smack in the middle of the nation’s capital, STR celebrates diversity and imagination. It holds festivals, workshops, youth programs, internships, and lists countless ways to get involved and use your voice.

Stand out: The Quarry – A Social Justice Poetry Database, linking voices together.

Ecotone

Celebrating being alive for a decade and offering free online issues to read this last pandemic year (vs. the regular gorgeous issues in print), Ecotone was founded at the University of North Carolina Wilmington in 2005. Ecotone’s theme is to “reimagine place.” An ecotone is “a transition zone between two adjacent ecological communities, containing the characteristic species of each. It is therefore a place of danger or opportunity, a testing ground.” The magazine explores the subtleties between land, genres, science, art, and thought.

Stand out: The Guides – Teachers can download guides to teach the journal’s work in their classrooms

Orion

The first issue, then called the Orion Nature Quarterly, was published in 1982. The first Editor in Chief, George Russell, stated Orion’s value as thus:

“It is Orion’s fundamental conviction that humans are morally responsible for the world in which we live, and that the individual comes to sense this responsibility as he or she develops a personal bond with nature.”

Orion has since evolved as a bimonthly publication to focus on environmental and also cultural concerns. Orion publishes poetry, stories, essays, features, and book reviews. They also host live web events and environmental writers’ workshops.

Stand out: Orion features a section called ‘The Place Where you Live’ where writers can submit a photo of their community and write a short blurb about it. Orion also offers a free trial issue.

Flyway: Journal of Writing and Environment

Whether in the fields of Iowa or urban centers, Flyway explores people’s relationship to their surroundings. Based out of Iowa State University, Flyway not only publishes poetry, fiction, nonfiction, and art, but also scripts. Each year they sponsor the “Sweet Corn” prize for poetry and fiction as well as the Notes From the Field Nonfiction award. The Senior Editor Debra Marquart, is the current Iowa Poet Laureate. Flyway publishes work that surprises the reader and focuses on natural and not so natural environments.

The Hopper

Aiming to be a leader in culture recentering, The Hopper wants it’s readers to reframe paradise, not as a destination but as an embodiment of life that is within all of us. Facing an environmental crisis in the world today, the editors of The Hopper admit to all of us doing some cultural heavy lifting: to weave new paths and start new conversations that help us grow and elevate all of us. A newer journal, the art is breathtaking and the words saturated with longing.

Stand out: An in depth list of Black Environmental Literature under the About/Black Lives Matter tab

For additional journals, check out:

meet the author

Jennifer MacBain-Stephens - Jennifer MacBain-Stephens went to NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts and now lives in Iowa where she likes to rock climb, hike, and mountain bike. She is the author of four poetry collections and enjoys exploring how to blend creativity with nurturing the earth. She also hosts a free, monthly reading series sponsored by Iowa City Poetry called Today You Are Perfect. Find her at: http://jennifermacbainstephens.com/. — **Jennifer MacBain-Stephens**

Jennifer MacBain-Stephens went to NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts and now lives in Iowa where she likes to rock climb, hike, and mountain bike. She is the author of four poetry collections and enjoys exploring how to blend creativity with nurturing the earth. She also hosts a free, monthly reading series sponsored by Iowa City Poetry called *Today You Are Perfect.*

Find her at: http://jennifermacbainstephens.com/.

Planet Parade: How Nine Nations Celebrate Earth Day

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Planet Parade: How 9 Nations Celebrate Earth Day

Written by Rj Ross | April 14, 2021

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Holidays consisting of playing jokes and hunting colored eggs may have come to a halt, but April still showers us with more events and celebrations. One upcoming holiday in particular pays tribute to the blue and green sphere we live on, and spreads awareness on environmental issues and solutions. This day is known as Earth Day, which is celebrated annually on April 22nd. Though the holiday was solely celebrated in America since 1970, the holiday became a global observance in 1990. In honor of the impending, 31st year for the worldwide celebration, we at ecomadic would like to highlight the festivities nine nations partake in to celebrate and educate civilians on mother Earth!

Japan

Since 2001, Japan has been hosting its “Earth Day Tokyo” event in Yoyogi Park. A free admission event, visit various booths of eco-friendly businesses, charities, and NPOs that share sustainability ideas and sell nature-conscious products. There is also a concert where artists come out to perform for the great cause. When in the need for refreshments, there is an area in the park which supplies visitors with organic, vegan foods and beverages. So many workshops and organizations to learn from, no wonder this park event prolongs for two days!

India

Not just a holiday, but Earth Day’s a movement in India to advocate for the country’s environmental projects. Projects such as ending pollution, #trees4Earth, reducing endangered species, and climate literacy are the few programs that get promoted heavily in schools, rural villages, and major cities to better India’s ecosystem. Like many countries that participate in the holiday, India also plans projects surrounding the respective year’s theme. The theme for Earth Day 2021 is climate restoration. India contributes to the theme through activities such as planting trees, recycling, saying no to straws, climate literacy seminars, and art contests! As more people get involved in the different Earth-related programs, it is only a matter of time for green restoration to occur in the world’s second-most populous nation.

Nigeria

On the coast of West Africa, Nigeria celebrates Earth Day by taking a stance on sustainability in soil management. Since Earth Day falls on the week known in some nations as “Global Soil Week”, Nigerian environmentalists put in effort between the 19th and 23rd of April to host webinars and outdoor events to showcase the importance of soil for the country’s agriculture. On the 22nd, the country celebrates the afforestation programs in the many regions of Nigeria through planting trees and honoring environmentalists who protect plants and the ecosystem’s health. Due to popular cities such as Lagos being close to the Bight of Benin and the Atlantic Ocean, there are also many beach cleanup events set up during the holiday. A country of “unity, faith, peace, and progress”, Nigeria pushes forward to celebrate and preserve the planet!

Australia

No matter where you are in Australia, there’s something to do down under on Earth Day. In West Perth, there’s an Earth Matters Exhibit at the Scitech Science Centre. Through simulations and science shows in the exhibit’s five zones, visitors learn about the significance every human action has on the environment. Further south in Sydney, there’s a three-day event (April 20th – April 22nd) hosted by the University of Sydney Union known as EnvrioWeek. Between plant-based food trucks, tours of the campus’ biodiversity, and various workshops, such as waste-free cooking demos, this event is a sustainability sanctuary. No matter the event, Australia has something that’ll provide education and exploration on Earth Day!

France

Le Jour de la Terre, as it’s called in France, has different activities in celebration of the holiday. Though most are primarily cleanup events such as plogging in Paris, and events educating citizens on climate change, there’s an event that allows one’s artistic abilities to shine! The Paris Collage Collective calls upon artists to create pieces showcasing an environmental issue, which they post on their instagram page and on their website. Every Earth Day, there’s a color theme for these challenges, with this year’s color being yellow. For those who enjoy making statements through illustrations, this is a great opportunity for their visions to gain exposure, while also giving visual aid in promoting environmental causes. Vive la France!

United Kingdom

Earth Day in the UK is celebrated through means of education on the environment. When the events aren’t webinars, the majority take place in schools. In the many regions, such as Suffolk and Whitstable, students are requested to aid in cleanups in local parks or forests, or go see screenings of eco-friendly films and plays. In Manchester, the schools’ streets are closed off to set up workshops and activities to strengthen the students’ awareness on climate change, conservation, and anti-pollution. Although Earth Day is for all ages, instilling eco-friendly ideals into the younger generations will keep environmentalism moving forward for years to come!

Canada

In various provinces, artists and environmentalists will have ads placed on buses throughout the week Earth Day falls on for townsfolk to view. Head to Jasper National Park in Alberta, where they celebrate the holiday with clay. Workshops are set up for those who want to create items with said clay, like garden markers or spoon rests. Due to the ongoing pandemic,one of Canada’s biggest campaigns for the holiday is celebrating at home. There will be numerous online events where performers and environmentalists will entertain and encourage viewers to take action starting in their own yard. Although Earth Day only occurs once a year, Canada’s celebration of it yearns for its citizens to make Earth a priority not only on the holiday, but every day.

Spain

Cleanup events are an Earth Day pastime, but how about a cleanup event where one can pick up trash and become Picasso? At the El Portil beach in Huelva, Spain, volunteers pick up waste they find throughout the beach, and use what they find to make eclectic art pieces. The event’s goal will inspire others to recycle and make use of their own waste in creative manners that will bring less pollution to various habitats. In addition, let this the astounding, eco-friendly masterpieces emphasize how one person’s trash can truly be another person’s treasure!

United States

Brooklyn Bridge Park, New York 📷 @ruddymedia — Brooklyn Bridge Park, New York 📷 *@ruddymedia*

Concluding with the country where it all began, America has an array of means to celebrate Earth Day. Community cleanup events occur in many towns in the states, some involving an educational workshop for the youth. In major cities, that’s where even more Earth Day shenanigans rears its eco-friendly head! In Brooklyn, New York, Albee Square gets closed off from cars and other vehicles, for families to bike ride, roller skate, and enjoy a performance by Artichoke Dance Company. In Houston, Texas, environmental company EarthX hosts a film festival throughout the week, screening various, competing environmental films at different outdoor and virtual locations around the city. Of course, a holiday that’s been celebrated more than half a century will also have nationwide events! National Geographic is putting together a virtual concert on the eve of the holiday, which will end with a virtual afterparty on the social media app, TikTok. Whether a small community function, or a mainstream, broadcasted event, the US will always provide options to bring out one’s passion for ecology!

Although traveling abroad is still limited during COVID time, as mentioned in many of these countries, there are plenty of virtual workshops, seminars, screenings, and other happenings for learning and amusement. To find more information about the different global events on Earth Day or that week, be sure to visit the Earth Day event map , and see how other countries tackle the restoration of the Earth.

meet the author

Why It Is Important & How To Support Small, Local Businesses During COVID-19

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Why It Is Important & How To Support Small, Local Businesses During COVID-19

Written by Kristen McKenna | April 14, 2021

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Many people fantasize of being their own boss and creating a business, based on personal ideas and dreams. Whether the concept be clothing design, a restaurant venture, or product formulation, certain individuals present their merchandise or objective and hope the success rates beat the odds. According to stats from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, roughly 20% of small businesses fail within the first year. Despite the questionable future of a new, small company, they are the backbone of a healthy and sustainable economy.

In the United States alone, 31.7 million small businesses employ 47.1% of Americans. Privately owned enterprises play an exceptionally significant role for economic development and job creation. Now more than ever, small business owners have been hit especially hard by government mandates established to keep the public safe.

While some companies have adapted to the measures, many were forced to close their doors permanently. As active members of our communities and society as a whole, each one of us yields the power to boost the progress of our favorite mom-and-pop business. Refer to this post for justifications of promoting a small business, together with specifically how to go about this task.

WHY YOU SHOULD SUPPORT

Local Spending Keeps Money in the Local Economy & Increases Velocity

Shopping local ensures your dollars remain in the community and help local development. Money spent at independent businesses circulates in the local economy at a much greater rate than money spent at retail chains or multi-national corporations. For example, a family-owned restaurant may acquire ingredients from a nearby farm, and hire a local design firm – these collaborative relationships help the entire local business community prosper.

The velocity of money is the rate at which people spend money. When the velocity of money is high, it means each dollar rapidly moves to purchase services and goods. High velocity indicates high demand, which generates more production. Because money spent locally remains close to home, it often has greater velocity within the community as well.

Creates Jobs in the Community, Reduces Commutes & Transportation

Seemingly straightforward, yet vital for a healthy community. The emergence of a new, small business in town undoubtedly requires employees. With new positions available, local citizens have more opportunity for employment and community involvement.

When residents work in close proximity to their home, they save time, money, and energy commuting to jobs that may otherwise be farther away. Now having the option to take local transportation, bike, or even walk to work reduces pollution and one’s carbon footprint.

Support Community Development & Organizations

Local businesses prosper from tight-knit communities and active engagement of residents and other local organizations. Compared to owners and managers of large companies (who often don’t live in the area), small venture owners tend to be more engaged in the community. Thus, local businesses gravitate to aid with community improvement actions. By contributing to the prosperity of a locally-loved business, those investments eventually return to the customer.

“Main Street” becomes the heart of activity, where stores, entrepreneurs, and the local government mutually work together to create and preserve their town’s personality. New businesses appearing support the appeal of a shopping area and intrigues tourism dollars.

Fresh Produce from Local Farms & Reducing Food Miles

In most cases, food travels a far distance to reach the consumers table. An approximated 1,500 miles must be endured for meals in the United States to reach farm to plate. Large-scale transportation of food devours an extensive amount of fossil fuels. The international food trade market produces large quantities of carbon dioxide, while deceiving their customers to believe their purchases are healthy and natural. In preparation for long distance travel, the bulk of food is picked while unripe, sprayed with pesticides, and highly processed using preservatives amongst other means to remain stable for transportation and sale.

The happy solution to avoid the unsustainable harvesting of foreign produce is to purchase from local growers and suppliers. Oftentimes, customers can meet the farmer themselves and establish a relationship with the individual providing the food on their table. Investments toward local farmers guarantees fresh, minimally-treated, and more nutritious food. While the consumer physically benefits from healthier and less-processed food, the rancher maintains the growth of their environmentally beneficial business.

Strengthens Local Economic Resiliency

Stable local businesses influence a greater resilience of a market. Smaller companies can adjust to different and unexpected circumstances. Respectively, some small businesses struggle when markets are troublesome. However, an assortment of prosperous small businesses, helps to assure that one failure doesn’t jeopardize the only retailer in an area. When a community solely relies on one primary retailer for a particular market, the entire district falls subject to the decisions and welfare of that entity. Strong local businesses create greater resiliency for the community, even if a particular vendor can’t withstand a difficult circumstance.

Offers Exceptional Customer Service & Flexibility

A loyal customer base could result from many factors – effective products are the general cause, however, small businesses possess the quality to form strong relationships with their clientele and provide unique customer service. Business owners rely on individuals to support their career and livelihood, so to ensure repeat clients and referrals come about, owners often go out of their way to secure customer satisfaction. Lacking tiers of management and corporate policy, small business owners can make their own rules, meet personal requests, and remain modern on the ever changing market.

HOW TO SUPPORT

Buy Local

Change up your routine shopping habits, find a local or small business that specializes in the products you’re looking for.
Don’t forget about online shopping – many storefronts have an online presence that greatly aid in their revenue stream.
Buy gift cards!
Dine in & order take-out from a local restaurant instead of a chain eatery.
Tip generously.
Shop now for later – birthdays, gifts, or other purchases where you can buy now and give later.
Buy merch – wear a brands personal merch with their logo and name – spread the word!

Be Social

Write positive reviews – website and social media accounts.
Share products and services.
‘Like’ and share posts from business.
Tag the business.
Tag a friend.
Sign-up for newsletters.
Tell family and friends.

The Road Towards a Sustainable Economy

Until recently, many haven’t recognized the importance of backing a small business rather than a big-box store. When spending our dollars on locally grown or crafted items, we are quite literally helping a nearby resident put their children through college or set food on the table for the family. The foundation for the “American Dream”, small enterprises have undoubtedly played an essential role in the growth of a developing area. Beyond their size, these brands are defined by their spirit. Certain risks must be taken to achieve innovation that moves the world forward. In the long run, society needs small businesses just as much as they need us.

meet the author

Kristen McKenna - Kristen was born and raised on Long Island, New York. After spending her childhood and teenage years exploring New England, she is now ready to see what else the world has to offer. Through her blog Tip Toe the Globe, she hopes to share her intimate adventures while at the same time spread awareness of environmental sustainability and lower waste living. If you can’t find her on a hike, she’s probably looking for a bakery or ice cream shop. — **Kristen McKenna**

Kristen was born and raised on Long Island, New York. After spending her childhood and teenage years exploring New England, she is now ready to see what else the world has to offer. Through her blog Tip Toe the Globe, she hopes to share her intimate adventures while at the same time spread awareness of environmental sustainability and lower waste living. If you can’t find her on a hike, she’s probably looking for a bakery or ice cream shop.

18 Sustainable Stays, Eats, Shops, and Experiences in Arizona

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18 Sustainable Stays, Eats, Shops, and Experiences in Arizona

Written by Stephanie Stevens | April 11, 2021

Antelope Canyon, Arizona. 📷 @varun2411 — *Antelope Canyon, Arizona.* 📷 *@varun2411*

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Whether it’s a night under starry desert skies, a day traversing the mountains, or a moment taking in sweeping panoramic vistas, the many natural sites of Arizona are sure to take your breath away. This vibrant southwestern state, which borders five U.S. states and Mexico, is filled with numerous National Parks & monuments that allow for adventure, cultural immersion, and self exploration. The state is made up of a diverse population and is home to Navajo Nation, the largest of the Native American tribes in the United States. One of the state’s most sought after outdoor destinations is Grand Canyon National Park, which is a steep, red rock canyon that is carved by the Colorado River and extends for nearly 300 miles. Other of Arizona’s main outdoor attractions include Saguaro National Park, Monument Valley, and Antelope Canyon.

It’s not just Arizona’s natural wonders that attract visitors, however. The state’s many vibrant cities including Phoenix, Sedona, Tempe, and Flagstaff showcase the best of Southwestern culture with art galleries, historical landmarks, and an array of shops, eateries, stays, and experiences. With so much to explore, this guide will introduce you to places to play, stay, shop, and eat all across Arizona that are noted for their sustainable practices, support of local communities, and efforts to preserve cultural heritage. No matter whether you are looking for a tranquil night in the desert or a lively night out in the city, a visit to any of the destinations listed in this guide will show you the best of what this state in the wild, wild West has to offer.

Eco-Accommodations

Shash Dine EcoRetreat: A Glamping Hotel

Price Range – $$$

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Shash Dine EcoRetreat is an off-grid Glamping B&B on the Navajo nation that offers guests the chance to experience Navajo culture and the quiet magic of the great outdoors. Located just minutes from some of Arizona’s attractions, including Antelope Canyon, Lake Powell, and Horseshoe Bend, this unique stay is situated on a working sheep ranch. There is a rich history and story to be told of the property, which hosts Baya and Paul, enjoy telling to those who come to stay at Shash Dine. During their stay, guests are given the chance to stay in a Hogan, which is a traditional Navajo Dwelling with an earthen floor that paints a picture of how the Navajo lived not too long ago. In fact, there are Hogans on the property that was built by Baya’s ancestors. With this retreat’s rich cultural history and serene natural surroundings, Shash Dine truly offers an immersive cultural and natural experience like no other.

Hotel Congress

Price Range – $$

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Originally built in 1919, Hotel Congress is a landmark Tucson hotel steeped in history and designed with classic Southwestern charm. This hotel, located in downtown Tucson, once hosted legendary criminal John Diligener and members of his entourage. Today, the hotel grants guests access to many amenities including many lively bars, a cafe, a dance club, and a hair salon. With its many green initiatives, Hotel Congress strives to further sustainability efforts in downtown Tucson and the hotel partners with leaders in sustainability to implement sustainable practices into all aspects of operations. This includes using solar-heated water, sourcing local produce, and the use of compostable food cups and containers. The hotel has received many awards for its efforts in sustainability.

Lodge on the Desert

Price Range – $$$

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Situated on five acres amongst the Santa Catalina Mountains, Lodge on the Desert is a true Tucson oasis. Originally built in the 1930s, the lodge was once a private family residence and was frequented by many Old-Western movie stars such as John Wayne and Paul Newman. Today, the hotel has many wonderful amenities including a heated saltwater pool, whirlpool spa, and an outstanding restaurant, Cielos, which serves Southwestern cuisine with an emphasis on seasonal ingredients. When it comes to sustainability, Lodge on the Desert implements many environmentally friendly practices in all aspects of operations. In their restaurant, Lodge sources food from local growers, seafood from sustainable fisheries, and serves their wine on tap to eliminate the need for bottles, labels, and corks. In the guest rooms, the hotel offers water-saving options for linens and towels, utilizes eco-conscious cleaning products, and implements a recycling program for guest room magazines. Whether you are traveling to Tucson for business or for pleasure, Lodge on the Desert is where you’ll find relaxation while enjoying this Old Western city.

Elden Trails Bed & Breakfast

Price Range – $$

Book this place – Receive a 5% discount when you call to schedule your next vacation: (928) 266-0230

At the foot of Mount Elden, just outside of scenic Flagstaff, Elden Trails Bed and Breakfast provides a sustainable place to rest and recharge while enjoying the amazing outdoor activities Arizona has to offer. The B&B hosts, Marnie and Steve, provide guests with a delicious breakfast that is made with organic, locally grown ingredients, including produce from the B&B’s micro-farm! As a retired MD and homeopath and a retired radio announcer/former pilot respectively, Marnie and Steve are passionate about hosting guests and treating them to nourishing wholesome meals. The property includes a four-season greenhouse, spectacular vistas of Mt. Elden, and miles of high desert hiking trails for guests to enjoy during their visit to Flagstaff.

Socially Responsible Eateries

The Pomegranate Cafe

Price Range – $$

A cozy neighborhood spot in Phoenix, Pomegranate Cafe serves amazing vegan & vegetarian food made from organic and locally sourced ingredients. Started by mother-daughter duo Cassie and Marlene in 2010, the cafe was created as a space for the community to come together to enjoy delicious and nutritious meals that nourish the body and the planet. The menu features plenty of tasty options for brunch, lunch, dinner, drinks, and dessert, which are sure to satisfy any appetite. When it comes to coffee, Pomegranate Cafe uses locally roasted coffee from Peixoto Coffee Roasters and their handcrafted vegan milk made from cashews, oats, coconut & dates for lattes and mochas. The cafe also supports the local community through sourcing ingredients from small, local farmers with ecologically responsible practices and by donating a percentage of profits to local animal charities!

Green New American Restaurant

Price Range – $

With two locations in Phoenix and Tempe, Green New American Vegetarian, or “Green” for short, is a vegan restaurant serving delicious American comfort food. Using organic and non-GMO ingredients whenever possible, Green’s Chef Damon Brasch strives to create food that both vegans and meat-eaters alike will enjoy. The menu at Green was created as a celebration of vegetables and features small bites, burritos, sandwiches, and sweet treats. The restaurant has also been designated as a Phoenix Green Business Leader and an Arizona Green business for its sustainable practices.

Nami

Price Range – $

In North Phoenix, you’ll find Nami – a vegan cafe serving coffee, breakfast, sweet treats, and Sunday brunch. The cafe gets its name from its infamous vegan ice cream treat, the tSoynami, which is a soy soft serve with all sorts of yummy homemade mix-ins, like cake, cookies, marshmallows, and chocolate syrup. About 75% of the ingredients at Nami are organic and everything is 100% vegan. The Nami baristas also make stellar coffee drinks with locally roasted beans. The cafe also strives to reduce its footprint by using biodegradable cups, boxes, and flatware when possible.

The Little One

Price Range – $

The Little One is a locally owned restaurant in Tucson serving healthy and affordable authentic Mexican cuisine to the Tucson community. Owners Sandra & Marcela are beloved members of the community and are a part of a family that has been in the restaurant industry in Tucson since the mid-80s. The restaurant’s menu is filled with many delicious and homemade items including tamales, Rellenos, and many vegan and vegetarian options. The restaurant also strives to give back to the Tucson community through its many philanthropic initiatives.

ChoclaTree

Price Range – $$

ChocolaTree is an organic eatery and chocolate factory serving amazing fresh and healthy eats in Sedona. With a menu that is entirely organic and gluten-free, this restaurant is the perfect place to enjoy a meal that will nourish both your body and the planet. Most of the food served at ChocolaTree is locally sourced, including from the restaurant’s onsite garden, and 95% of the menu is seasonal, depending on what’s available locally. Delicious and decadent chocolate treats made at the onsite chocolate factory come from cacao sourced from the restaurant’s own small cacao farms and are naturally sweetened with maple syrup or honey. ChocolaTree has many sustainable practices, including 100% recycled packaging, a commitment to local sourcing, and the use of reusable shipping materials, which aid in the restaurant’s mission of taking care of ourselves, each other, and the planet.

Social Enterprise Shopping

Local Nomad

Price Range – $$

With an amazing selection of handcrafted clothing, gifts, home goods, and more, Local Nomad in Phoenix is the place to discover unique finds. Located in a cozy, earthy setting, this clothing and gift boutique carries handcrafted goods made by artists and creatives from around the world, including products from local artists in Arizona. When curating their collection of products, Local Nomad puts a focus on finding items that are sustainable and ethically produced. The team at Local Nomad is also passionate about the slow fashion movement and has created their store as a way to support the creative endeavors of entrepreneurs. As a way to give back, the store proudly donates 1% of sales in Q1 to The Rooted Doula Collective, which is a community of Black doulas offering comprehensive support to Black pregnant people and families.

Phoenix General Store

Price Range – $$

The Phoenix General Store is a trendy boutique featuring a curated collection of local and internationally made clothing, gifts, and home products that are inspired by life in a desert city. Using Phoenix’s desert surroundings as inspiration, the store’s co-owners, Kenny Barrett and Joshua Hahn handpick items that are ethically created and sustainably sourced. The store has two Phoenix locations, one in Uptown and one in Downtown, and has been on the receiving end of many awards and accolades, including Best Clothing Store in 2018 and 2019.

Cero.

Price – $$

Cero. is a unique social enterprise shop located in Tucson. The shop fixates on low waste and ethically made products. Not only do they carry package-free home and body products, but they also support local artisans too – selling handmade jewelry, clothing, and accessories. From bamboo toothbrushes to shampoo & conditioner bars, Cero. is the perfect shop to assist you on your zero waste journey.

Ethical Experiences

Lowell Observatory

Price Range – $$

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Located in Flagstaff, The Lowell Observatory is a non-profit research institution that is a pioneer in space exploration and research. The observatory was founded by Percival Lowell in 1894 and has been home to many discoveries through the years including the first detection of the expanding nature of the universe and the discovery of Pluto, among many others. Through their Native American Outreach Program, the center works with Native American communities to implement science and astronomy courses in school curriculums. This includes facilitating field trips and residential summer camps for Native American students and supplying classrooms with materials for activity and discussion. The center’s open deck observatory and several amazing guided tours give visitors the chance to experience solar observations and to marvel at the wonders of the night sky.

Arizona Raft Adventures

Price Range – $$$

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Arizona Raft Adventures is a family-owned tour company providing high-quality Colorado River rafting adventures in the Grand Canyon. Through facilitating rafting excursions, the company hopes to awaken a sense of wonder in all that participate in their trips. The company is owned and operated by longtime rafters Fred and Alexandra Thevenin who believe in both sharing and protecting the magic of the Grand Canyon. Arizona Raft Adventures also employs many sustainable practices during their trips including the use of reusable dishware, flatware, and cookware, the use of fuel-efficient propane stoves, minimizing food waste, and emphasizing the importance of environmentally friendly products. No matter your experience or expertise, a trip down the Colorado River with Arizona Raft Adventures is sure to be a trip like no other.

The Desert Botanical Garden

Price Range – $$

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Spanning over 140 acres, The Desert Botanical Garden is a haven for exploring and learning about the many species of plants that call the desert home. For over 70 years, the Garden has been working to protect and preserve desert plants, animals, and habitats through showcasing the beauty of the desert and educating visitors on how to be responsible stewards of the natural world. With its many conservation initiatives, the Garden collaborates with academic, research, and conservation groups, striving to save desert plants and habitats from the growing threat of climate change. The Desert Botanical Garden offers many outdoor activities, such as garden trails, a butterfly pavilion, galleries, and a garden shop, making it the perfect place to explore and enjoy the beauty of the Arizona desert.

Grand Canyon National Park

Price Range – $$

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In the desertous Arizona lies a mountainous park that’s many miles long to the point it’s split into two sections for visitors! This is the Grand Canyon National Park. As you head to the south rim of the park (north rim is only available between May 15th to October 15th annually), you’ll find many adventures awaiting you! Although there are current limitations due to COVID-19, don’t let that deter you from enjoying the grandeur of the Grand Canyon. Take a hike around the various canyon trails, including the famous Trail of Time between the Yavapai Geology Museum and Hermits Rest. Along the trail, you’ll learn about the geological background of the Grand Canyon through historical signs you’ll see on your walk, or just taking in the various views and landscapes. If you’re lucky enough, you may even see a Californian condor! You can also receive delightful views of the desertous destination through the Grand Canyon Railway, water rafting on the Colorado River, or even by mule! When you’re done hiking, take your reusable bottle and fill up with some fresh, clean water from the Arizona park! Water not on your mind, you may also fill up on tea, coffee, or other healthy beverages for a small discount if you’re using a reusable bottle! Be sure to get a pass in advance, and enjoy an Arizonan adventure!

Petrified Forest National Park

Price Range – $$

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Don’t let the name of this location perturb you, for there is nothing petrifying about the Petrified Forest National Park! Whether by foot, car, on bicycle, promenade through areas where fossils, erosion-formed mesas and buttes, and colorful, petrified wood reside. When you’re not exploring the park’s two geological formations, be on the lookout for the Painted Desert, the ancient remains of Pueblo Perco, and a preserved section of the iconic Route 66! Open every day except Christmas and Thanksgiving, hope the Petrified Forest National Park will be a pleasant experience!

Saguaro National Park

Price Range – $$

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When we think of desert areas, cactuses often come to mind. All Arizona parks consist of them, but the Saguaro National Park is a special space for them, specifically the tree-like cactuses known as saguaros! Trek through the wilderness of the saguaro safe space, and spot various settings such as the cactus gardens, and the Tucson and Rincon mountain districts. If you’re tired of walking, relax around the Gates Pass, and hopefully you’ll get an amazing view of the sunset. Though strolling at the Saguaro National Park is surely a moment you do not want to miss, you must be careful: there are many carnivorous animals you may encounter on your hike! But don’t let that prick your stride, for seeking the Saguaro National Park scenery in the end is well-worth it!

Botany Beauty: 10 Green & Gorgeous Gardens Around the Globe

New York Botanical Garden (United States)

Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden (South Africa)

Pamplemousses Botanic Garden (Mauritius)

Cambridge University Botanic Garden (UK)

Singapore Botanical Gardens (Singapore)

Miracle Garden (UAE)

Rio de Janeiro Botanical Garden (Brazil)

Queen Sirikit Botanic Garden (Thailand)

Brisbane Botanical Garden (Australia)

Butchart Gardens (Canada)

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