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March 19, 2019

Road Tripping in an Electric Vehicle

March 19, 2019/ Kelly Pemberton

Road trips have been a great American tradition since cars were first made popular in the early 20th century. Though at first a privilege granted only to the wealthy, cars were soon made available for families, who were then able to explore all across the country.

Road tripping is still a popular family vacation today, but Americans have different concerns than they did 100 years ago. The harmful emissions caused by cars are polluting the air and harming our environment, which is why many families and car owners have opted to go the green route by investing in an electric vehicle.

March 17, 2019

How to take care of your indoor seedlings

March 17, 2019/ Kelly Pemberton

(updated 01/17/2025)

Although the weather may not have begun warming significantly where you live, there’s no reason you can’t start your growing season a little early. Whether you’ve got the itch to grow right now, or you’re interested in getting a jump start on your gardening, there are a few things you can do today to start growing something good and make sure that it thrives well into the warm season.

March 17, 2019

Turkish lentil soup

March 17, 2019/ Kelly Pemberton

This fast, easy, and healthy recipe for kırmızı mercimek çorba, or (Turkish) red lentil soup, is one of my family’s favorite. My 8-year old requests it every week. It’s one of several ways that this soup can be made: you can omit the carrots and Hungarian paprika if you prefer, or take more time and strain the soup through a sieve if you like, creating a thinner consistency (which is the way you will usually find it being made in Turkey). You can also add more water to make it less thick and hearty.

March 14, 2019

A Beginner’s Guide to Successful Indoor Gardening

March 14, 2019/ Kelly Pemberton

When the winter gets you feeling down and you find yourself dreaming of fresh herbs and veggies from the summer garden, consider creating your own garden indoors! Besides providing plenty of delicious food to eat, indoor plants clean the air in your home and add a pop of vibrant green space to the indoor space.

Indoor gardening is a great solution for those who do not have enough outdoor space, especially for those who live in cities where space is at a premium. Plants do not have to take up much space - if a sunny window, table, or shelf can work with the current configuration of your space, then a plant can thrive. For outdoor garden spots, indoor gardening may be a great way to get seedlings going before planting them outside the spring.

Here are some important things to consider when starting an indoor garden:

March 12, 2019

Make Green Living easier with these free zero-waste checklists

March 12, 2019/ Kelly Pemberton

Guest post by Jeff Smith

A huge part of reducing your carbon footprint is being mindful of the amount of waste you produce on a day-to-day basis. While businesses and corporations are hugely responsible for their impact on our planet, individual consumers make up a lot of the waste as well, so it’s on all of us to do our part to leave the earth in better shape than when we first entered it.

March 11, 2019

Why You Should Avoid Taking Antibiotics Whenever Possible

March 11, 2019/ Kelly Pemberton

Ok, at least here in the US, we’re nearing the end of cold and flu season (or so I thought!), yet there are still plenty of people around me getting sick. Several of my students had emailed in sick these past 2 weeks, and others came in to class anyway, even though they clearly should have stayed at home in bed!

So I thought it was time to write a post about not resorting to antibiotics to cure yourself from many of the sicknesses that will resolve on their own, or that can be cured by other means.

Let me say one thing from the start, though. This is NOT an anti-vac post or anything like that. Even though we do not take the flu vaccine in my household (and never get sick, even when we are exposed to the flu), we have all our required shots. Whether or not you take antibiotics is ultimately up to you, and there are definitely times when you absolutely should take them. The problem with antibiotics is that many people take them when they should not, and that is ultimately what this post is about: why you should avoid the unnecessary use of antibiotics.

Here are 4 reasons to avoid antibiotics when they are not absolutely necessary:

March 06, 2019

What makes hemp such a sustainable crop?

March 06, 2019/ Kelly Pemberton

Unique characteristics of hemp

Since the early 1700s, hemp has built a strong name for itself as a sustainable crop and textile resource. Yet a lot of people are confused about this industrial plant and its relationship to marijuana. Because of this confusion, negative stereotypes are commonly associated with the hemp plant, striking fear in the public.

But there's a clear distinction between the two. It's imperative to note the benefits the hemp plant brings. And it starts by taking a close look at the structure of the seed and the stalk of the plant.

March 05, 2019

8 Sustainable Innovations that are Shaping the Construction Sector

March 05, 2019/ Kelly Pemberton

With the UK construction, operation and maintenance industry accounting for 48% of the UK’s carbon emissions, the focus of many innovations in construction is now on reducing the construction sector's CO2 output.

February 22, 2019

What if we could see exhaust emissions?

February 22, 2019/ Kelly Pemberton

Have you ever been walking down a busy high-street and been overcome by the smell of exhaust fumes from cars passing by? The air in front of you seems to be clear, but the smell is overwhelming. This is because once the initial white smoke comes out of a car exhaust and dissipates, harmful chemicals remain in the air but appear invisible to the human eye.

Research by The Independent used an infra-red camera to look at a bus stopped at some traffic lights surrounded by cyclists and shoppers. The camera showed that harmful particles such as nitrogen oxides were swirling around the cyclists and being blown to the other side of the street, where they would balloon up into the shoppers’ faces without them knowing.

It makes you wonder how differently we would feel if the chemicals emitted from car exhausts were visible in the air around us.

February 17, 2019

Eco-Friendly Tips That Can Save Your Business Money

February 17, 2019/ Kelly Pemberton

Guest post by Robert S. Miller

There are many reasons your business may be trying to go green. First and foremost, you may be concerned about the lasting impact your company’s activities will have on the environment. You may be interested in recent technological advancements that make it easier to reduce your ecological footprint. You also may be looking to take advantage of the positive associations consumers have with eco-conscious brands.

February 17, 2019

creamy potato-sweet potato soup (recipe)

February 17, 2019/ Kelly Pemberton

(vegan option)

This is a thick, rich, and creamy soup that is perfect for the cold season. Even better, it is quick and easy to make – 45 minutes from start to finish! It has a number of different variations you can try to suit your particular tastes, variations that range from the sweetness to the thickness to spices used in this soup. You can even choose to make it vegan by skipping the last part, that adds a dollop of plain yogurt to the finished soup.

February 13, 2019

Sustainable Beauty: How You Can Transform Your Beauty Regime to Be More Sustainable

February 13, 2019/ Kelly Pemberton

Guest post by Poppy Jones

We all know how difficult it can be when it comes to switching up our beauty regime, particularly when we have set products that we know and love and refuse to change. If you’re interested in becoming more eco-conscious, then making small changes to your beauty regime is a great place to start.

February 11, 2019

Eco-Housing Design Types

February 11, 2019/ Kelly Pemberton

Private homes are estimated to be responsible for about one-fifth to one-fourth of global carbon dioxide emissions, and for that reason, eco-friendly construction or green building is becoming more and more of a necessity. If you’re looking to move home and want something more eco-friendly, Roof Stores have been investigating some alternative types of housing that will help you cut down your carbon footprint…

February 07, 2019

How to Safely Transport Your Plants

February 07, 2019/ Kelly Pemberton

guest post by Tess Halpren

(image by Brina Blum on Unsplash)

There has been a ton of research to establish why plants have such a positive impact on the environment, and on our well-being. They add more than just aesthetics to a room. Some of their many other benefits include

Improved air quality
Improved humidity levels
Reduced stress and improved well-being
The ability to evoke a calmer, happier effect
Reduced negativity in the workplace and home
Ability to absorb noise
Help in saving energy
Aid in speeding up recovery from illnesses
Help in reduction of carbon dioxide levels

Based on these impressive benefits, it’s no surprise people hold their plants so dearly. And if you’re planning on moving or relocating in 2019, the thought of how to best transport your plants might have already came to mind. The Zebra created this helpful guide on how to effectively and safely transport your plants. It includes best practices, safety precautions, and helpful tips for before, during, and after your move.

February 04, 2019

5 Ways You Can Have Lush Green Grass All Year Round

February 04, 2019/ Kelly Pemberton

guest post by Emma Metson

It is a thing of beauty to raise and maintain your own lawn. Lush green grass doesn’t only come in the form of artificial grass, no! For most of us, it is a chore to raise the real deal. But to many, it has become their art. I don’t think there is anyone on the planet who wouldn’t appreciate a clean, sleek, vibrant grassy garden or yard.

If the grass is well taken care of, it can bring a vibe of elegance to your home, thus making your yard, and you, look a hundred times more respectable.