Directory

If you've ever thought about living the nomad life in a van, check out this video to make sure you know what you're getting yourself into before taking the plunge.

I love weird facts, and I also love historical facts. This site puts the two together for quite an interesting read.

I love weird facts, and I also love historical facts. This site puts the two together for quite an interesting read.

Lots of information in this video, not only on food, but also on physiology and mental health too.

I love perennial vegetables since you only have to plant once and get food every year. Here’s a video that features five excellent options.

Loofahs that are used for sponges actually come from a plant called the luffa plant. The luffa plant is an annual vine that grows gourds. The gourds are edible when young but will eventually dry out and turn into the sponges we call loofahs. Here’s a site that gives some information on growing them.

"The EPA says it’s safe to return to East Palestine after a train derailment sparked a toxic chemical fire, but locals are worried about ongoing health impacts." Click the link to read more.  This article was published February 10, 2023.

"The Oxford University-led study’s measurements of ice around Svalbard, Norway, detected 26 types of PFAS compounds, and found when ice melts, the chemicals can move from glaciers into downstream ecosystems like Arctic fjords and tundra." Click the link to read more.  This article was published February 11, 2023.

The American Hiking Society is dedicated to preserving hiking trails and making hiking accessible to all. On their website you can you can find hiking information, hikes near you or your destination, and how to get involved including volunteer vacations.

Amkha Seed is a website to order plants, seeds, and bulbs.

Ever wonder where you would end up if you dug a hole straight through the earth to the other side?  Well this interactive map will show you!  It even has a little guy poking his head into the hole and coming out the other side.  Most places will land you in the middle of an ocean on the other side, but the site also gives you some of the main locations that go from land to land. 

This site sells beneficial bugs along with other pest and disease control supplies for your garden. 

Have you ever heard of the Arctic Azolla Event? It turns out that a little fern called azolla changed our planet’s climate 50 million years ago to what we now live in today. It did this by sequestering so much CO2 in order to grow that it cooled the planet and caused an ice age. Many now think that this little plant could be the key to saving life as we know it on earth since the cause of our current global warming is excess CO2. Find out more about the Arctic Azolla Event with this link.  Additionally, azolla can provide livestock feed, food, biofertilizer, and biofuel. The Azolla Foundation is a nonprofit working to make it all happen. Find out more about the Azolla Foundation with the link below.

"The seven states that rely on the river for water are not expected to reach a deal on cuts. It appears the Biden administration will have to impose reductions."  Published January 27, 2023.

Ask Extension is a website that answers tons of questions about plants and growing them, from plant identification to how to’s to what should you plant for specific purposes.  The site’s about page describes the site as offering, “one-to-one expert answers from Cooperative Extension/University staff and volunteers within participating Land-Grant institutions from across the United States.”  It also has a search feature so you can see if your question has already been answered.

This just for fun link is from NASA. It’s the Astronomy Picture of the Day. Every day it gives you a new picture or video and explains what you are looking at. Today’s video is “In Motion: Uranus and Moons.” Tomorrow it says we’ll see “the blood moon band.”

The Audubon Society works to protect all birds and preserve their habitats. They can also help you identify and track all those birds you see both on their website and in their app.

Have you ever heard of the Arctic Azolla Event? It turns out that a little fern called azolla changed our planet’s climate 50 million years ago to what we now live in today. It did this by sequestering so much CO2 in order to grow that it cooled the planet and caused an ice age. Many now think that this little plant could be the key to saving life as we know it on earth since the cause of our current global warming is excess CO2. Find out more in the Arctic Azolla Event link above.  Additionally, azolla can provide livestock feed, food, biofertilizer, and biofuel. The Azolla Foundation is a nonprofit working to make it all happen.

With the price of eggs at an all time high, you may be thinking about raising some backyard chickens. Here's a video with some information and a tour of the setup to help you decide and get set up.

Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds sells all kinds of seeds including many lesser known or hard to find seeds. 

"Need to swap out whole milk? Here’s the best whole milk substitute to use in recipes and baking, including dairy and non dairy options."

I stumbled on this video of a lady making a black bean soup.  I thought it looked good so I decided to share it with you.

Hardneck varieties of garlic grow long stems with flower buds at the ends called scapes.  These scapes are actually edible and here’s a website with ideas and recipes using the scapes.

"The Brazilian Navy said on Friday evening it had begun an operation to sink the decommissioned aircraft carrier São Paulo, packed with an undetermined amount of asbestos and other toxic materials, about 220 miles off the country’s northeastern coast."  Click the link to read more.  This article was published February 3, 2023.

Brecks specializes in bulbs direct from Holland.  They also carry other plants and seeds, garden supplies, birding supplies, and garden decor. 

Buglogical Control Systems sells beneficial bugs and provides information on all kinds of bugs. 

Burpee is a website to order plants, seeds, and bulbs.

"California’s largest and most expensive environmental cleanup has failed to properly remove lead pollution from some homes and neighborhoods near a notorious battery recycler in southeast Los Angeles County, leaving residents at continued risk, a Times investigation shows." Click the link to read more.  This article was published February 10, 2023.

National Geographic and WYSS Campaign for Nature partnered to launch the 30X30 initiative (protecting at least 30% of the planet by 2030). Find out why 30%, how they plan to do it, and how you can help by going to their website.

Cannabis Tech is a website that includes information and news on hemp and cannabis.

We were recently discussing the high cost of building a new construction house and got curious about wood alternatives since the price of wood right now is outrageous.  The amount of things that can be made with hemp is truly amazing.  Want to keep the amount of wood used in your new home construction to a minimum?  Try hempcrete.  It’s similar to concrete but has additional benefits such as not needing expansion joints, it’s easier to work with, and unlike wood, it’s fire and pest resistant.  This is a great article if you would like to learn more.

Caribbean Garden Seed is a website to order plants, seeds, and bulbs.

Daddy Long Legs are everyone’s childhood favorite and are beneficial in many of the same ways as other beneficial bugs - by eating the pests.  This page has more information if you’re interested.  

The Climate Foundation is a nonprofit that focuses on carbon balance, food security, and ecosystem survival. Find out what they’re doing and how you can help.

The Climate Foundation is working on carbon balance and has information on azolla, a fern that could fix the world's carbon problem. Click the link to find out more about azolla and how it could fix the carbon problem.

Home and garden information brought to you by the College of Agriculture, Forestry, and Life Sciences at Clemson University. 

2021's COP conference (the world's climate change conference) has its own dedicated website if you would like to find out more about the agreements that were made and the progress since those agreements were made.

CORE is a non-profit organization founded by Sean Penn that began by helping Haiti with the 2010 earthquake disaster relief.  It grew from there and has helped with Hurricane Ida, COVID-19, disaster preparedness, and more. 

"This vegan soup is creamy and satisfying without one bit of dairy. Garnishing it with a bright, fresh Italian herb condiment makes it extra special."  Find the recipe on Simply Recipes by clicking the link.

I was gifted dragon’s tongue bean seeds. I’ve never heard of them so of course I looked up some information. They’re interesting looking beans that are quite nutritious. Click the link to read more about them.

Here's an easy and healthy egg recipe that you won't have to dirty any pans to make.

"Here is the perfect way to cook breakfast for a crowd: sheet pan eggs and vegetables! A one-pan meal with colorful bell peppers, onions, and sunny-side-up baked eggs, all covered in bold Mediterranean flavors."  Click the link to find this delicious recipe.

American Grassfed, Certified Humane, Certified Vegan, USDA Organic. What do all those labels on our food and other products mean and who’s doing the certifying? Find out on the Ecolabel Index. This site has 455 labels so far with pictures, what it means, and who certifies it. The database is searchable too. Click the link to browse or search for a specific label.

Ecosia is a search engine that will plant a tree for every search. I’ve planted over 1000 trees so far! Go to https://www.ecosia.org/ to do some searching and plant some trees. I have also discovered that Ecosia has a blog.  That site is: https://blog.ecosia.org/.

As part of writing the Hippie Dabble Digest and because I’m endlessly curious, I do a lot of internet searching. I’ve just discovered a search engine that will one plant tree for every search you make. So far the nonprofit has planted over 136 million trees as of this writing. That by itself is wonderful news, but I’ve also found that some of the search results it comes up with are much more useful than the ones I’m getting in Google.

What is an Egyptian walking onion?  This is a great site with a ton of information on what they are, how to plant them, and how to eat them.  You can even order some on this site.

This site has lots of information on what Egyptian walking onions are and how to plant them.  You can even order some from the main website. 

"A coalition of environmental organizations on Thursday called on Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg to act on a rail safety rule scrapped by the Trump administration, arguing failure to enforce it increases the likelihood of environmental rail disasters."  Click the link to read more.  This article was published February 17, 2023.

"Last month’s killing of a nonbinary activist known as “Tortuguita,” who was shot during an occupation protest in Atlanta’s South River Forest, marked the first police killing of a demonstrator in the history of the U.S. environmental movement." Read more by clicking on the link.  This article was published February 5, 2023.

"Federal environmental authorities have ordered a temporary halt in the shipment of contaminated waste from the site of a fiery train derailment earlier this month in eastern Ohio near the Pennsylvania state line." Click the link to read more.  This article was published February 25, 2023.

"Federal environmental authorities have ordered a temporary halt in the shipment of contaminated waste from the site of a fiery train derailment earlier this month in eastern Ohio near the Pennsylvania state line." Read more by clicking on the link.  This article was published February 25, 2023.

"Last week, officials said they believed that the Ohio train derailment had killed 3,500 aquatic animals. On Thursday, they provided a new estimate, pushing the total to more than 43,700 animals within a 5-mile area." Click the link to read more.  This article was published February 23, 2023.

"Last week, officials said they believed that the Ohio train derailment had killed 3,500 aquatic animals. On Thursday, they provided a new estimate, pushing the total to more than 43,700 animals within a 5-mile area." Read more by clicking the link.  This article was published February 23, 2023.

I heard an ad on one of the podcasts that I regularly listen to for The Ezra Klein Show podcast.  I decided to check it out and as I scrolled through the podcast titles, they all seemed fairly predictable.  Then I got to “How Octopuses Upend What We Know About Ourselves.”  With a title like that, I couldn’t pass it up, and not only was I not disappointed, I was pleasantly surprised.  

This podcast episode is an interview of Sy Montgomery, author of The Soul of an Octopus (https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-Soul-of-an-Octopus/Sy-Montgomery/9781451697711). Sy discusses her extraordinary friendships with octopuses while also going into octopus facts and discoveries as well as covering humans vs. animals and ethical concerns.  It was absolutely fascinating learning about octopuses’ personalities and capabilities. I am definitely adding her book to my reading list.

You can find the podcast with this link or anywhere you get your podcasts.

Fedco Seeds is a website to order plants, seeds, and bulbs.

If instructional or guided videos is what you are interested in, I highly suggest the FitOn App (available both as an app and online). It includes hundreds of free instructional and guided videos of exercise, yoga, and meditation. The website also includes lots of informational articles.

Ever wonder how many planes are in the sky at this very moment? Ever want to see where they’re headed? Flightradar24 will show you every plane traveling through the air in real time. You can also track specific flights as you watch the little airplane icon move to its destination. Find all the airplanes at Flightradar24.

Hardneck varieties of garlic grow long stems with flower buds at the ends called scapes.  These scapes are actually edible and here’s a website with ideas and recipes using the scapes.

This site sells all kinds of gardening supplies.

Gardens Alive sells all sorts of garden supplies including a few beneficial bugs and plants and bulbs. 

This is almost 12 hours of soothing music and nature scenes that's sure to reduce your anxiety.

This article is all about the power of eggs, not as food, but to help clean up our microplastic mess and also filter salt out of water. Published September 11, 2022.

Groundnuts are another tuberous plant I will be planting in my perennial garden. I was looking up information on them, trying to figure out whether to plant in the fall or the spring, and it seems opinions are mixed so I’m going to try in the spring. I came across this site though that has tons of information about groundnuts from the history of it to planting and eating and even nutrition.

Grow Organic sells all kinds of garden supplies from plants to fertilizers to beneficial bugs. 

I have tried growing blueberries and have not had much luck so this video caught my attention. I might give it a try when spring finally arrives in Wyoming. This video has tons of useful information so if you are interested in growing blueberries, keep watching to the end.

I have tried growing blueberries and have not had much luck so this video caught my attention. I might give it a try when spring finally arrives in Wyoming. This video has tons of useful information so if you are interested in growing blueberries, keep watching to the end.

Gurneys is a website to order plants, seeds, and bulbs.

The Happiness Lab podcast delves into happiness but on a scientific level.  So is it true that dogs bring us happiness and joy?  The Happiness Lab gives us some scientific reasons why that would be true but really it’s not necessarily the dog itself bring happiness according to this podcast episode - it’s more that the dog is motivating us to do the things that scientifically bring happiness such as walking, socializing, and being present in the moment.  It’s a good listen with some fun stories and great information that you can find here with this link or wherever you get your podcasts.

This blog is published by Harvard Medical School and has tons of interesting and helpful information relating to a wide variety of health topics.

Throughout the summer I noticed a lot of bugs and I just knew that some of them have to be good for the garden.  I also thought maybe I can get more for next year.  I was right about both.  This article from HGTV describes some of the more common beneficial bugs and even has links to eight places where you can get your garden bugs.

Histography is a huge interactive timeline of history. You can scroll to different time periods and categories, move to different points in history, click to pull up an event’s wiki page, and some events even have videos.

"We are losing wetlands three times faster than forests, according to the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands. When it comes to restoring them to their natural state there is one hero with remarkable powers - the beaver."  Click the link to read more.  This article was published February 5, 2023.

The podcast How I Built This features business owners and the story of how their companies began. In this episode, two college kids began Back to the Roots (now a home gardening company) by growing mushrooms on coffee grounds in their dorm room closet and then eventually selling coffee ground grown mushrooms to Whole Foods! 

How to Calm Racing Thoughts at Bedtime - "Sometimes counting sheep doesn’t quite cut it. Michelle Maldonado shares a practice to ease into sleep when our thoughts keep us awake."  Click the link to read more.

"Sometimes counting sheep doesn’t quite cut it. Michelle Maldonado shares a practice to ease into sleep when our thoughts keep us awake."

It’s getting close to that time of year where you might be thinking about saving seeds to plant in next year’s garden. Here is an informative video on what seeds to save and how to do it.

Hudson Valley Seed Company is a site I came across while looking for bean information because that’s the company that distributed the specific seeds I was given. Their packaging features unique art related to the specific seed, and they not only sell lots of different types of seeds, but also gardening supplies, fine art, and gifts.

Humane Tech is working to make technology more human and humane. When technology contributes to things ranging from low self esteem and suicide all the way to genocide, there’s a problem, and Humane Tech is working to fix it. Their site is loaded with information and tools along with a podcast and film. Both the documentary and the podcast are excellent.

"Over a third of species and ecosystems in the United States are at risk of disappearing, including hundreds of plants and animals in Washington.

In a newly released report, conservation research group NatureServe analyzed data from its network of more than 1,000 scientists across the United States and Canada. The group said the report is its most comprehensive yet, synthesizing more than 50 years of biodiversity information and highlighting the urgency of biodiversity conservation."  Click the link to read more.  This article was published February 26, 2023.

"Over a third of species and ecosystems in the United States are at risk of disappearing, including hundreds of plants and animals in Washington.

In a newly released report, conservation research group NatureServe analyzed data from its network of more than 1,000 scientists across the United States and Canada. The group said the report is its most comprehensive yet, synthesizing more than 50 years of biodiversity information and highlighting the urgency of biodiversity conservation."  Click the link to read more.  This article was published February 26, 2023.

"Car buyers still like hybrids because they can save on gas and cut their carbon footprint without having to deal with range anxiety or the need to charge at home. But even as hybrids go mainstream, they are losing traction among their original enthusiasts: environmentalists." Click the link to read more.  This article was published February 24, 2023.

"Car buyers still like hybrids because they can save on gas and cut their carbon footprint without having to deal with range anxiety or the need to charge at home. But even as hybrids go mainstream, they are losing traction among their original enthusiasts: environmentalists." Click the link to read more.  This article was published February 24, 2023.

Hydro-Gardens sells gardening supplies such as plants, fertilizer, and beneficial bugs.

Tons of other instructions for all kinds of projects from circuits to cooking to teacher's projects, and so much more.

Interwoven Permaculture is a website to order plants, seeds, and bulbs.

Jung Seed is a website to order plants, seeds, and bulbs.

I came across a picture of a hanging houseplant with a moss ball where the pot would normally be.  I had never seen a plant like it so I searched the comments to find out what it is.  It’s called kokedama, also known as Japanese moss balls. Learn how to make one on this site.  See Kokedama with Better Homes & Gardens for information on how to keep your kokedama alive.

I came across a picture of a hanging houseplant with a moss ball where the pot would normally be.  I had never seen a plant like it so I searched the comments to find out what it is.  It’s called kokedama, also known as Japanese moss balls. Learn how to keep it alive on this site.  See Kokedama with Missouri Botanical Gardens to learn how to make one.

This is a short (3 minutes) video on TED done by children of Palau. The children explain that the people of Palau live in harmony with nature but an influx of tourists along with global climate change have threatened that way of life. To do something about it, all visitors must sign an environmental pledge to “tread lightly, act kindly and explore mindfully.” Watch the video to find out more.

I remember my daughter being addicted to this simple game when she was younger. It’s called line rider. If you’re not familiar with line rider, the basic concept is to draw various lines that a little person rides on. Depending on how you draw your lines, the little person can fall, jump, crash, get stuck, etc. The goal is to see if you can get the little person all the way to the end of your lines or to see how long/far you can keep the little person riding. You can pause, redraw, add, play, etc. (Hint: your person needs to build up momentum to go up hill.)

Loofah/luffa seeds for your garden from Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds.

Loofah/luffa seeds for your garden from Gurneys.

Loofah/luffa seeds for your garden from Native Seeds.

Loofah/luffa seeds for your garden from Park Seed.

Mind Works is a nonprofit focused on meditation.  They provide courses, trainers, and a great informational blog.

Ever want to give meditation a try but have a really hard time just sitting quietly, doing nothing? Well that just happens to be only one type of meditation. According to Mind Works, there are six main types of meditation including movement meditation and chanting meditation. Find the one that’s right for you.

There is so much wonderful stuff on this site to explore, all about living your best life. There are articles on a various topics about mental health and mindfulness. There are also guides to meditating, guided meditations, podcasts, courses, a magazine, and more. Most of the website is free but you do have to pay for the courses and magazine. Mindful's about page describes themselves in part as being "dedicated to sharing the gifts of mindfulness through content, training, courses, and directories—helping people enjoy better health, foster more caring relationships, and cultivate a more compassionate society."

There is so much wonderful stuff on this site to explore, all about living your best life. There are articles on a various topics about mental health and mindfulness. There are also guides to meditating, guided meditations, podcasts, courses, a magazine, and more. Most of the website is free but you do have to pay for the courses and magazine. Mindful's about page describes themselves in part as being "dedicated to sharing the gifts of mindfulness through content, training, courses, and directories—helping people enjoy better health, foster more caring relationships, and cultivate a more compassionate society."

Sadly, 22 animals and one plant have just been taken off the endangered list and added to the extinct list instead.  Among those is the ivory-billed woodpecker. This is an interesting read about the search for the ivory-billed woodpecker, the controversy around reported sightings of it, and its eventual move to the extinct list.  The author has first hand knowledge, being one of the searchers and investigators, and makes an excellent point towards the end about conservation. The author says that focusing on one endangered species at a time is inefficient and potentially environmentally disruptive.  We need to start protecting the larger ecosystems where these species thrive.  In doing so, we will not only save the endangered species but also the habitats of many other species.  National Geographic allows 3 free articles per month without a subscription.

Native Seeds is an organization whose mission is to “find, protect and preserve the seeds of the people of the Greater Southwest so that these arid adapted crops may benefit all peoples and nourish a changing world.” They have programs involving the preservation and distribution of seeds, but you can buy seeds, gifts, and various types of food on the website too.

"Nearly 25 years ago, oil major Shell predicted in an internal 1998 report that a class-action lawsuit would be brought against fossil fuel companies following 'a series of violent storms.' That prediction is finally coming true". Read more by clicking the link.  Published December 5, 2022.

"Under the new definition of "waters of the United States," more wetlands, lakes and rivers will qualify as federally protected." Read more by clicking on the link.  Published December 30, 2022.

"A new rule would, for the first time in a decade, reduce emissions of soot that disproportionately harm communities of color."  Read more by clicking the link.  Published January 6, 2023.

This website has information and courses on aromatics, especially incense, and how to make and use them. 

I’m super excited about this one.  I really like incense but the kind you buy in stores and from most vendors irritate my sinuses and give me headaches.  I’ve often thought about making my own but couldn’t find instructions that didn’t include the things that cause my pain.  Here is a free three part series that includes a video and a PDF download with instructions in each part.  I will now be able to make my incense the way I would like it and so can you.  If you do make some of your own, please share some pictures with us!  

"Federal and state officials and the Norfolk Southern Railroad have sought to counter public criticism about their efforts to mitigate public health and environmental damage from the Feb. 3 train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio." Click the link to read more.  This article was published in February, 2023.

"Oil refineries release billions of pounds of pollution annually into waterways, and that pollution disproportionately affects people of color, according to a new analysis of Environmental Protection Agency regulatory data."  Published January 26, 2023.

The Old Farmer’s Almanac is full of tons of information on so many topics - weather, gardening, food, home and health, etc. 

Information on planting, harvesting, and storing garlic.

Information on harvesting, curing, and storing garlic.

I came across this little drumset that you can either play by clicking on each drum or you can play multiple drums at a time by using the corresponding keys. If you don't see which key goes to which drum at first, push your space bar. This has turned out to be so much fun and so addicting!

This is a throw back for all 80’s and 90’s kids. Even if you didn’t grow up in the 80’s or 90’s this is still a fun activity and let’s you experience one of the very first computer games ever. Your objective is to travel the Oregon Trail without dying, just like the pioneers. Click the start button in the top image to get the game started.

I’ve recently been thinking about getting a beat up old van or even a shell of a van and doing a van remodel. I came across this really useful website not only on van remodeling but also camping and road traveling in general, including articles about various places to travel to.

"The Department of Environmental Protection first claimed it immediately visited the site but then acknowledged the delay after protests from activists, who called the delay a dereliction of duty." Click the link to read more.  This article was published February 11, 2023.

These historical photos are incredibly interesting and fun to look at and include things like the interior of a 1936 airplane (nothing like today's airplanes), the Statue of Liberty's face when it was first delivered, men repainting the Eiffel Tower in 1932 (they had to actually climb it!), and lots more.

This site was shared with me on our old Substack page. It has all kinds of helpful articles on keeping your body healthy with a range of topics from dealing with specific ailments and injuries to how to avoid ailments and injuries.

I have been picking out all the plants I want to add to the backyard and ordering my perennials to plant in the fall.  I was afraid I have more plants picked out than space so I needed to decide where everything would go to make sure there is enough space.  My yard also has some spots that stay wetter than others and some spots that are shadier than others.  This website was very handy because I could put the plant I am thinking about adding into the website’s search feature and find a whole bunch of information on it including if it fits my USDA growing zone, if it prefers to be in the shade or the sun, and if it likes wet or dry conditions.  It has so much more information than that though and if you don’t know what plant you want to pick yet, you can search by uses, conditions, type, size, etc.  There’s lots of information on over 8,000 plants.  

Plants for a Future is a nonprofit whose goals, according to its about page, “are researching and providing information on ecologically sustainable horticulture, as an integral part of designs involving high species diversity and permaculture principles. Approaches such as woodland/forest gardening use a minimal input of resources and energy, create a harmonious eco-system and cause the least possible damage to the environment, while still having the potential to achieve high productivity.” It provides a database focusing on edible and useful plants and more recently adding information on carbon sequestration, carbon farming, and food forests.  I’m only scratching the surface on how much information this website has. 

If you’re interested in perennial gardening in general, permaculture, self-reliance, etc., visit the Practical Self Reliance website.

If you are interested in growing garlic as a perennial, this link has great information.

Prairie Moon Nursery is a place to buy plants and seeds online.

This just for fun link is like a one person win lose or draw game. It gives you an object to draw, you draw it and see if the artificial intelligence can guess what you’re trying to draw within the time limit.

Do you like listening to the radio? Maybe there’s a station in another state that you love but can’t find where you are at. Or maybe you’re curious what people in other countries listen to. Radio Garden lets you listen to different radio stations around the world.  You can click explore and let it suggest a station for you or you can search a specific location.

The Rainforest Alliance strives to both protect forests and biodiversity and also improve the lives of farmers and forest communities. This nonprofit organization understands that these seemingly adverse objectives must go hand in hand. Find out what they’re doing to help and how you can get involved.

Pamela J Hagen-French, who posted this recipe, says, "I made this for Christmas, and one of my guests said the carrots were 'off the chain!' The flavor was amazing! The cheese was nicely crusted combined with the carrot and a little garlic! YUM! A nice change from the ordinary green veggie and still healthy!"  Find it on Allrecipes by clicking the link.

I don’t normally listen to Michael Moore’s podcast but I was intrigued by all of the humanitarian work Sean Penn has done.  This episode mostly covers that humanitarian work with a little bit of Hollywood and politics thrown in (listener beware).  Even if you don’t agree with the politics, Sean Penn has done some amazing humanitarian work and it’s worth a listen.  He founded an organization called CORE (Community Organized Relief Effort) that began by helping Haiti with the 2010 earthquake disaster relief.  It grew from there and has helped with Hurricane Ida, COVID-19, disaster preparedness, and more.  It was an interesting interview with Sean Penn that you can find at this link or wherever you get your podcasts.  See also CORE (Community Organized Relief Effort).

This TED Lesson is a short animation about one of the ways trees communicate with each other underground.  The Secret Language of Trees is only about 4 1/2 minutes long and super fascinating.

This is a nonprofit whose mission is to “educate and connect people through collecting, regenerating, and sharing heirloom seeds, plants, and stories.” They have various resources such as a blog and recipes, programs, exhibits, and even a seed exchange.

Have you ever looked out at the night sky and wondered what stars and planets you're actually looking at? Sellarium shows you which constellations and planets are out at the time you're looking at it. It has several fun features like drawing the constellations for you or showing where the skyline is to see if certain things are in view. There's also an app you can put on your mobile device.

Loofahs that are used for sponges actually come from a plant called the luffa plant. The luffa plant is an annual vine that grows gourds. The gourds are edible when young but will eventually dry out and turn into the sponges we call loofahs. My problem, though, is always that I live in a cold environment with a short growing season that limits what I can grow. The writer at Shifting Roots has the same problem and figured out how to grow the luffa plant in an even colder environment. Check out how you can too with this link.

In this a old-school style game, you use your keyboard arrows to move your slime blob and hit the ball over the net to the other slime. But beware! That other slime is really fast! Give it a try and let me know if you are able to beat your slime opponent.  While you're there, check out the other slime games in the top menu.

200 hundred years ago the New Zealand sea lions were hunted and driven off the main island of New Zealand.  Today they are making an incredible comeback with numbers around 12,000.  Sharing habitat between humans and sea lions isn’t easy though.  Read about the efforts to protect the New Zealand sea lions on the Smithsonian Magazine's website.

The tentacled butterfly ray was thought to be extinct until it started turning up in fishing nets near Iran in 2019.  Since then the numbers found in fishing nets has continued to increase which is both good news and bad news.  Obviously the good news is that the tentacled butterfly ray isn’t extinct as previously thought.  The bad news is that the fishing now threatens the rays’ survival once again since they can’t survive the length of the hauls in the nets.  There may be hope though with certain devices to keep the rays out of the nets.  Read more on the Smithsonian Magazine's website.

Sow True Seed is website that provides plant information and also a place to order your seeds, plants, and bulbs.

Looking for dragon’s tongue bean information led me to a couple of different interesting websites. The Specialty Produce website has lots of information on hundreds of different types of produce. It not only includes the basic information like taste, nutrition, how to eat it, etc., but it also includes recipes, growers links, what restaurants are buying and using that specific produce, and a map of reported farmer’s market sales.

Stark Bro's sells all sorts of trees, berry plants, garden plants, and gardening tools and supplies.

There are a lot of reasons why any one of us may be struggling in every day life, struggling to care for ourselves, our homes, or others.  It could be physical, mental health related, the circumstances we are in, other situations around us, or any combination of those.  This site is a great resource for when you are struggling.  There’s information, tips, books, products, and more. 

When we talk about climate change, there’s a lot of terms thrown around that many of us are not familiar with.  Explanations to the most common terms can be found here.

We know that humans and human activities create excess carbon dioxide. And we know that trees capture and store carbon dioxide. So would planting a trillion trees save the world from climate change. This short (only 11 minutes) but informative podcast delves into this question.  The short answer - well - it’s complicated.  This episode of the TED Climate podcast will explain and also tell you how trees are beneficial aside from carbon capture, especially in urban areas. 

TED podcasts don’t have websites for specific podcast episodes, so this link will take you to the main TED Climate podcast website for more information. You can also find this episode wherever you get your podcasts.

Johann Hari did a TED talk on addiction with similar arguments as the TED Talk Daily Podcast episode he did on depression.  In this TED Talk he focuses on connection (or lack of).  It’s a fantastic talk.

In this short presentation (about 9 minutes), Marine ecologist Enric Sala discusses the shrinking biodiversity he has witnessed while diving in the ocean the last several decades and presents the 30x30 initiative - a plan to protect 30% of the earth’s surface and ocean floor by 2030. It’s an interesting talk and plan

Ever feel blah or just eh?  You’re not really depressed and you don’t have anxiety necessarily, but you just don’t feel quite right.  Adam Grant calls this languishing and he says the cure is to find your flow - being in the zone or totally absorb in an activity.  He describes three necessary parts to flow - mastering, mindfulness, and matter - all described in detail in the podcast.  While some people find their flow in gardening, crafting, cooking, or running, Adam found his in Mario Kart.  This is an entertaining and informative listen especially if you’re feeling kind of blah.  

There is no website for any specific episode of TED Talks Daily, so this link will take you to the TED Talks Daily main websit.  You can also find this specific episode wherever you get your podcasts.  It was released on September 7, 2021.

After researching depression, Johann Hari has found that there are nine causes of depression but only two are biological.  The rest, he says, are due to environment and lifestyle - most people with depression have unmet needs and imbalances in the way they live.  In this TED Talk he focuses on two of those causes and solutions - loneliness or a lack of a tribe and what he calls junk values or in other words thinking our problems will be fixed by external solutions (i.e. trying to buy and display your way out of sadness).  Johann shares stories from his own life and stories of people he came across who understood the deeper causes of anxiety and depression and were succeeding in fixing them.

TED Talks Daily podcast doesn’t have specific episodes online but this one came out on August 24, 2021, and you can find it wherever you get your podcasts.  This link will take you to the TED Talks Daily main website.

"Toxic smoke, contaminated rivers, poisoned soil, trees reduced to charred stumps, nature reserves pocked with craters: the environmental toll from Russia’s war with Ukraine, which has been detailed in a new map, might once have been considered incalculable.

But extensive investigations by Ukrainian scientists, conservationists, bureaucrats and lawyers are now under way to ensure this is the first conflict in which a full reckoning is made of environmental crimes, so the aggressor can be held to account for a compensation claim that currently stands at more than $50bn (£42bn)."  Click the link to read more.  This article was published February 20, 2023.

The American Heart Association's website has tons of interesting and helpful information all about the heart and heart health.

I'm super excited about this Just for Fun link because I love crafts, but especially origami. Here are over 100 origami projects with instructions.

This is a great website that brings you the what, why, and how of minimalism through a blog, podcast, films, books, and more.

The Science of Wonder - "Experiencing everyday wonder can help us see that we’re part of something bigger. Science shows that this exquisite emotion can quiet our inner critic, reduce stress, loneliness, and physical distress, and bring a sense of expanded time, perspective, and connection."  Click the link to read more.

"Experiencing everyday wonder can help us see that we’re part of something bigger. Science shows that this exquisite emotion can quiet our inner critic, reduce stress, loneliness, and physical distress, and bring a sense of expanded time, perspective, and connection."

Week 41's just for fun link lets you build the perfect cat. Choose from body shape, head, ears, eyes, color, markings, etc. Once you have your perfect cat, you can download your kitty, share your kitty, or buy goods with your kitty’s image and name. Creating is free, buying goods is optional. 

This is a nice list of perennial plants that provide salad leaves.  The only down side to this list is it doesn’t give the growing zones so you’ll have to look those up separately.  I’ve picked a couple off the list to add to my own garden. 

"This blueberry clafouti is somewhere between a fruit-filled pancake and a fruity egg custard. Wrong season for fresh berries? Use frozen berries thawed in a colander and discard the juice. —Ken Hulme, Venice, Florida"  Click the link for the recipe.

"This blueberry clafouti is somewhere between a fruit-filled pancake and a fruity egg custard. Wrong season for fresh berries? Use frozen berries thawed in a colander and discard the juice."

"Agriculture is one of the biggest drivers of deforestation. But agroforestry proves that agriculture and trees can not only coexist, but also thrive together. Currently, Ecosia is supporting 37 agroforestry projects across five continents. 26,722,974 trees – and counting – have been planted in agroforestry systems. But what exactly is agroforestry? And why are farmers choosing to plant more trees?"  Click the link to read more.

In case you need to substitute the whole milk for whatever reason, here is a great list of both dairy and non-dairy substitutes.

This website provides articles on specific edible plants and fungi.

Foraging seems to be the new craze and there’s no shortage of websites and books to get you started.  Here’s one you might check out with some basic information plus links to additional sites and books to read.

Ever wonder what other people from around the world see out their window? Or maybe you’d like to imagine yourself living in another country, looking out your kitchen window to the city or landscape below. Maybe you’re itching to travel but you’re stuck at home like the rest of us. Go to Window Swap (click link above) to check out the view (and sounds) from another country. At the top left is whose window you are looking out, at the top right is the location, and down at the bottom you can move on to the next window. Each video is about 10 minutes long and will change on its own if you don’t click the next window button. I’ve already been to the Netherlands, Australia, Argentina, the Czech Republic, and New Zealand. Go to the main website to find out more about the project or submit your own window view: https://www.window-swap.com/.

Ready to give yoga a try? Go to Yoga Basics for lessons, pictures, videos, information, and inspiration.

Loofahs that are used for sponges actually come from a plant called the luffa plant. The luffa plant is an annual vine that grows gourds. The gourds are edible when young but will eventually dry out and turn into the sponges we call loofahs. Here’s a site that gives some information on growing them.

Have you ever heard of the Arctic Azolla Event? It turns out that a little fern called azolla changed our planet’s climate 50 million years ago to what we now live in today. It did this by sequestering so much CO2 in order to grow that it cooled the planet and caused an ice age. Many now think that this little plant could be the key to saving life as we know it on earth since the cause of our current global warming is excess CO2. Find out more in the Arctic Azolla Event link above.  Additionally, azolla can provide livestock feed, food, biofertilizer, and biofuel. The Azolla Foundation is a nonprofit working to make it all happen.

Cannabis Tech is a website that includes information and news on hemp and cannabis.

We were recently discussing the high cost of building a new construction house and got curious about wood alternatives since the price of wood right now is outrageous.  The amount of things that can be made with hemp is truly amazing.  Want to keep the amount of wood used in your new home construction to a minimum?  Try hempcrete.  It’s similar to concrete but has additional benefits such as not needing expansion joints, it’s easier to work with, and unlike wood, it’s fire and pest resistant.  This is a great article if you would like to learn more.

The Climate Foundation is working on carbon balance and has information on azolla, a fern that could fix the world's carbon problem. Click the link to find out more about azolla and how it could fix the carbon problem.

This article is all about the power of eggs, not as food, but to help clean up our microplastic mess and also filter salt out of water. Published September 11, 2022.

"Car buyers still like hybrids because they can save on gas and cut their carbon footprint without having to deal with range anxiety or the need to charge at home. But even as hybrids go mainstream, they are losing traction among their original enthusiasts: environmentalists." Click the link to read more.  This article was published February 24, 2023.

"Car buyers still like hybrids because they can save on gas and cut their carbon footprint without having to deal with range anxiety or the need to charge at home. But even as hybrids go mainstream, they are losing traction among their original enthusiasts: environmentalists." Click the link to read more.  This article was published February 24, 2023.

Loofah/luffa seeds for your garden from Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds.

Loofah/luffa seeds for your garden from Gurneys.

Loofah/luffa seeds for your garden from Native Seeds.

Loofah/luffa seeds for your garden from Park Seed.

Loofahs that are used for sponges actually come from a plant called the luffa plant. The luffa plant is an annual vine that grows gourds. The gourds are edible when young but will eventually dry out and turn into the sponges we call loofahs. My problem, though, is always that I live in a cold environment with a short growing season that limits what I can grow. The writer at Shifting Roots has the same problem and figured out how to grow the luffa plant in an even colder environment. Check out how you can too with this link.

"The Oxford University-led study’s measurements of ice around Svalbard, Norway, detected 26 types of PFAS compounds, and found when ice melts, the chemicals can move from glaciers into downstream ecosystems like Arctic fjords and tundra." Click the link to read more.  This article was published February 11, 2023.

The Audubon Society works to protect all birds and preserve their habitats. They can also help you identify and track all those birds you see both on their website and in their app.

With the price of eggs at an all time high, you may be thinking about raising some backyard chickens. Here's a video with some information and a tour of the setup to help you decide and get set up.

"Last week, officials said they believed that the Ohio train derailment had killed 3,500 aquatic animals. On Thursday, they provided a new estimate, pushing the total to more than 43,700 animals within a 5-mile area." Click the link to read more.  This article was published February 23, 2023.

I heard an ad on one of the podcasts that I regularly listen to for The Ezra Klein Show podcast.  I decided to check it out and as I scrolled through the podcast titles, they all seemed fairly predictable.  Then I got to “How Octopuses Upend What We Know About Ourselves.”  With a title like that, I couldn’t pass it up, and not only was I not disappointed, I was pleasantly surprised.  

This podcast episode is an interview of Sy Montgomery, author of The Soul of an Octopus (https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-Soul-of-an-Octopus/Sy-Montgomery/9781451697711). Sy discusses her extraordinary friendships with octopuses while also going into octopus facts and discoveries as well as covering humans vs. animals and ethical concerns.  It was absolutely fascinating learning about octopuses’ personalities and capabilities. I am definitely adding her book to my reading list.

You can find the podcast with this link or anywhere you get your podcasts.

The Happiness Lab podcast delves into happiness but on a scientific level.  So is it true that dogs bring us happiness and joy?  The Happiness Lab gives us some scientific reasons why that would be true but really it’s not necessarily the dog itself bring happiness according to this podcast episode - it’s more that the dog is motivating us to do the things that scientifically bring happiness such as walking, socializing, and being present in the moment.  It’s a good listen with some fun stories and great information that you can find here with this link or wherever you get your podcasts.

"We are losing wetlands three times faster than forests, according to the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands. When it comes to restoring them to their natural state there is one hero with remarkable powers - the beaver."  Click the link to read more.  This article was published February 5, 2023.

"Over a third of species and ecosystems in the United States are at risk of disappearing, including hundreds of plants and animals in Washington.

In a newly released report, conservation research group NatureServe analyzed data from its network of more than 1,000 scientists across the United States and Canada. The group said the report is its most comprehensive yet, synthesizing more than 50 years of biodiversity information and highlighting the urgency of biodiversity conservation."  Click the link to read more.  This article was published February 26, 2023.

"Over a third of species and ecosystems in the United States are at risk of disappearing, including hundreds of plants and animals in Washington.

In a newly released report, conservation research group NatureServe analyzed data from its network of more than 1,000 scientists across the United States and Canada. The group said the report is its most comprehensive yet, synthesizing more than 50 years of biodiversity information and highlighting the urgency of biodiversity conservation."  Click the link to read more.  This article was published February 26, 2023.

Sadly, 22 animals and one plant have just been taken off the endangered list and added to the extinct list instead.  Among those is the ivory-billed woodpecker. This is an interesting read about the search for the ivory-billed woodpecker, the controversy around reported sightings of it, and its eventual move to the extinct list.  The author has first hand knowledge, being one of the searchers and investigators, and makes an excellent point towards the end about conservation. The author says that focusing on one endangered species at a time is inefficient and potentially environmentally disruptive.  We need to start protecting the larger ecosystems where these species thrive.  In doing so, we will not only save the endangered species but also the habitats of many other species.  National Geographic allows 3 free articles per month without a subscription.

200 hundred years ago the New Zealand sea lions were hunted and driven off the main island of New Zealand.  Today they are making an incredible comeback with numbers around 12,000.  Sharing habitat between humans and sea lions isn’t easy though.  Read about the efforts to protect the New Zealand sea lions on the Smithsonian Magazine's website.

The tentacled butterfly ray was thought to be extinct until it started turning up in fishing nets near Iran in 2019.  Since then the numbers found in fishing nets has continued to increase which is both good news and bad news.  Obviously the good news is that the tentacled butterfly ray isn’t extinct as previously thought.  The bad news is that the fishing now threatens the rays’ survival once again since they can’t survive the length of the hauls in the nets.  There may be hope though with certain devices to keep the rays out of the nets.  Read more on the Smithsonian Magazine's website.

Week 41's just for fun link lets you build the perfect cat. Choose from body shape, head, ears, eyes, color, markings, etc. Once you have your perfect cat, you can download your kitty, share your kitty, or buy goods with your kitty’s image and name. Creating is free, buying goods is optional. 

The Audubon Society works to protect all birds and preserve their habitats. They can also help you identify and track all those birds you see both on their website and in their app.

With the price of eggs at an all time high, you may be thinking about raising some backyard chickens. Here's a video with some information and a tour of the setup to help you decide and get set up.

"We are losing wetlands three times faster than forests, according to the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands. When it comes to restoring them to their natural state there is one hero with remarkable powers - the beaver."  Click the link to read more.  This article was published February 5, 2023.

Sadly, 22 animals and one plant have just been taken off the endangered list and added to the extinct list instead.  Among those is the ivory-billed woodpecker. This is an interesting read about the search for the ivory-billed woodpecker, the controversy around reported sightings of it, and its eventual move to the extinct list.  The author has first hand knowledge, being one of the searchers and investigators, and makes an excellent point towards the end about conservation. The author says that focusing on one endangered species at a time is inefficient and potentially environmentally disruptive.  We need to start protecting the larger ecosystems where these species thrive.  In doing so, we will not only save the endangered species but also the habitats of many other species.  National Geographic allows 3 free articles per month without a subscription.

200 hundred years ago the New Zealand sea lions were hunted and driven off the main island of New Zealand.  Today they are making an incredible comeback with numbers around 12,000.  Sharing habitat between humans and sea lions isn’t easy though.  Read about the efforts to protect the New Zealand sea lions on the Smithsonian Magazine's website.

The tentacled butterfly ray was thought to be extinct until it started turning up in fishing nets near Iran in 2019.  Since then the numbers found in fishing nets has continued to increase which is both good news and bad news.  Obviously the good news is that the tentacled butterfly ray isn’t extinct as previously thought.  The bad news is that the fishing now threatens the rays’ survival once again since they can’t survive the length of the hauls in the nets.  There may be hope though with certain devices to keep the rays out of the nets.  Read more on the Smithsonian Magazine's website.

I heard an ad on one of the podcasts that I regularly listen to for The Ezra Klein Show podcast.  I decided to check it out and as I scrolled through the podcast titles, they all seemed fairly predictable.  Then I got to “How Octopuses Upend What We Know About Ourselves.”  With a title like that, I couldn’t pass it up, and not only was I not disappointed, I was pleasantly surprised.  

This podcast episode is an interview of Sy Montgomery, author of The Soul of an Octopus (https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-Soul-of-an-Octopus/Sy-Montgomery/9781451697711). Sy discusses her extraordinary friendships with octopuses while also going into octopus facts and discoveries as well as covering humans vs. animals and ethical concerns.  It was absolutely fascinating learning about octopuses’ personalities and capabilities. I am definitely adding her book to my reading list.

You can find the podcast with this link or anywhere you get your podcasts.

The Happiness Lab podcast delves into happiness but on a scientific level.  So is it true that dogs bring us happiness and joy?  The Happiness Lab gives us some scientific reasons why that would be true but really it’s not necessarily the dog itself bring happiness according to this podcast episode - it’s more that the dog is motivating us to do the things that scientifically bring happiness such as walking, socializing, and being present in the moment.  It’s a good listen with some fun stories and great information that you can find here with this link or wherever you get your podcasts.

This site sells beneficial bugs along with other pest and disease control supplies for your garden. 

Buglogical Control Systems sells beneficial bugs and provides information on all kinds of bugs. 

Daddy Long Legs are everyone’s childhood favorite and are beneficial in many of the same ways as other beneficial bugs - by eating the pests.  This page has more information if you’re interested.  

Gardens Alive sells all sorts of garden supplies including a few beneficial bugs and plants and bulbs. 

Grow Organic sells all kinds of garden supplies from plants to fertilizers to beneficial bugs. 

Throughout the summer I noticed a lot of bugs and I just knew that some of them have to be good for the garden.  I also thought maybe I can get more for next year.  I was right about both.  This article from HGTV describes some of the more common beneficial bugs and even has links to eight places where you can get your garden bugs.

Hydro-Gardens sells gardening supplies such as plants, fertilizer, and beneficial bugs.

Buglogical Control Systems sells beneficial bugs and provides information on all kinds of bugs. 

Daddy Long Legs are everyone’s childhood favorite and are beneficial in many of the same ways as other beneficial bugs - by eating the pests.  This page has more information if you’re interested.  

Throughout the summer I noticed a lot of bugs and I just knew that some of them have to be good for the garden.  I also thought maybe I can get more for next year.  I was right about both.  This article from HGTV describes some of the more common beneficial bugs and even has links to eight places where you can get your garden bugs.

This site sells beneficial bugs along with other pest and disease control supplies for your garden. 

Buglogical Control Systems sells beneficial bugs and provides information on all kinds of bugs. 

Gardens Alive sells all sorts of garden supplies including a few beneficial bugs and plants and bulbs. 

Grow Organic sells all kinds of garden supplies from plants to fertilizers to beneficial bugs. 

Hydro-Gardens sells gardening supplies such as plants, fertilizer, and beneficial bugs.

If you've ever thought about living the nomad life in a van, check out this video to make sure you know what you're getting yourself into before taking the plunge.

The American Hiking Society is dedicated to preserving hiking trails and making hiking accessible to all. On their website you can you can find hiking information, hikes near you or your destination, and how to get involved including volunteer vacations.

I’ve recently been thinking about getting a beat up old van or even a shell of a van and doing a van remodel. I came across this really useful website not only on van remodeling but also camping and road traveling in general, including articles about various places to travel to.

The American Hiking Society is dedicated to preserving hiking trails and making hiking accessible to all. On their website you can you can find hiking information, hikes near you or your destination, and how to get involved including volunteer vacations.

I’ve recently been thinking about getting a beat up old van or even a shell of a van and doing a van remodel. I came across this really useful website not only on van remodeling but also camping and road traveling in general, including articles about various places to travel to.

If you've ever thought about living the nomad life in a van, check out this video to make sure you know what you're getting yourself into before taking the plunge.

Cannabis Tech is a website that includes information and news on hemp and cannabis.

We were recently discussing the high cost of building a new construction house and got curious about wood alternatives since the price of wood right now is outrageous.  The amount of things that can be made with hemp is truly amazing.  Want to keep the amount of wood used in your new home construction to a minimum?  Try hempcrete.  It’s similar to concrete but has additional benefits such as not needing expansion joints, it’s easier to work with, and unlike wood, it’s fire and pest resistant.  This is a great article if you would like to learn more.

Have you ever heard of the Arctic Azolla Event? It turns out that a little fern called azolla changed our planet’s climate 50 million years ago to what we now live in today. It did this by sequestering so much CO2 in order to grow that it cooled the planet and caused an ice age. Many now think that this little plant could be the key to saving life as we know it on earth since the cause of our current global warming is excess CO2. Find out more about the Arctic Azolla Event with this link.  Additionally, azolla can provide livestock feed, food, biofertilizer, and biofuel. The Azolla Foundation is a nonprofit working to make it all happen. Find out more about the Azolla Foundation with the link below.

"The seven states that rely on the river for water are not expected to reach a deal on cuts. It appears the Biden administration will have to impose reductions."  Published January 27, 2023.

Have you ever heard of the Arctic Azolla Event? It turns out that a little fern called azolla changed our planet’s climate 50 million years ago to what we now live in today. It did this by sequestering so much CO2 in order to grow that it cooled the planet and caused an ice age. Many now think that this little plant could be the key to saving life as we know it on earth since the cause of our current global warming is excess CO2. Find out more in the Arctic Azolla Event link above.  Additionally, azolla can provide livestock feed, food, biofertilizer, and biofuel. The Azolla Foundation is a nonprofit working to make it all happen.

National Geographic and WYSS Campaign for Nature partnered to launch the 30X30 initiative (protecting at least 30% of the planet by 2030). Find out why 30%, how they plan to do it, and how you can help by going to their website.

The Climate Foundation is a nonprofit that focuses on carbon balance, food security, and ecosystem survival. Find out what they’re doing and how you can help.

The Climate Foundation is working on carbon balance and has information on azolla, a fern that could fix the world's carbon problem. Click the link to find out more about azolla and how it could fix the carbon problem.

2021's COP conference (the world's climate change conference) has its own dedicated website if you would like to find out more about the agreements that were made and the progress since those agreements were made.

"Over a third of species and ecosystems in the United States are at risk of disappearing, including hundreds of plants and animals in Washington.

In a newly released report, conservation research group NatureServe analyzed data from its network of more than 1,000 scientists across the United States and Canada. The group said the report is its most comprehensive yet, synthesizing more than 50 years of biodiversity information and highlighting the urgency of biodiversity conservation."  Click the link to read more.  This article was published February 26, 2023.

"Over a third of species and ecosystems in the United States are at risk of disappearing, including hundreds of plants and animals in Washington.

In a newly released report, conservation research group NatureServe analyzed data from its network of more than 1,000 scientists across the United States and Canada. The group said the report is its most comprehensive yet, synthesizing more than 50 years of biodiversity information and highlighting the urgency of biodiversity conservation."  Click the link to read more.  This article was published February 26, 2023.

"Car buyers still like hybrids because they can save on gas and cut their carbon footprint without having to deal with range anxiety or the need to charge at home. But even as hybrids go mainstream, they are losing traction among their original enthusiasts: environmentalists." Click the link to read more.  This article was published February 24, 2023.

"Car buyers still like hybrids because they can save on gas and cut their carbon footprint without having to deal with range anxiety or the need to charge at home. But even as hybrids go mainstream, they are losing traction among their original enthusiasts: environmentalists." Click the link to read more.  This article was published February 24, 2023.

"Nearly 25 years ago, oil major Shell predicted in an internal 1998 report that a class-action lawsuit would be brought against fossil fuel companies following 'a series of violent storms.' That prediction is finally coming true". Read more by clicking the link.  Published December 5, 2022.

"A new rule would, for the first time in a decade, reduce emissions of soot that disproportionately harm communities of color."  Read more by clicking the link.  Published January 6, 2023.

When we talk about climate change, there’s a lot of terms thrown around that many of us are not familiar with.  Explanations to the most common terms can be found here.

We know that humans and human activities create excess carbon dioxide. And we know that trees capture and store carbon dioxide. So would planting a trillion trees save the world from climate change. This short (only 11 minutes) but informative podcast delves into this question.  The short answer - well - it’s complicated.  This episode of the TED Climate podcast will explain and also tell you how trees are beneficial aside from carbon capture, especially in urban areas. 

TED podcasts don’t have websites for specific podcast episodes, so this link will take you to the main TED Climate podcast website for more information. You can also find this episode wherever you get your podcasts.

In this short presentation (about 9 minutes), Marine ecologist Enric Sala discusses the shrinking biodiversity he has witnessed while diving in the ocean the last several decades and presents the 30x30 initiative - a plan to protect 30% of the earth’s surface and ocean floor by 2030. It’s an interesting talk and plan

Have you ever heard of the Arctic Azolla Event? It turns out that a little fern called azolla changed our planet’s climate 50 million years ago to what we now live in today. It did this by sequestering so much CO2 in order to grow that it cooled the planet and caused an ice age. Many now think that this little plant could be the key to saving life as we know it on earth since the cause of our current global warming is excess CO2. Find out more about the Arctic Azolla Event with this link.  Additionally, azolla can provide livestock feed, food, biofertilizer, and biofuel. The Azolla Foundation is a nonprofit working to make it all happen. Find out more about the Azolla Foundation with the link below.

Have you ever heard of the Arctic Azolla Event? It turns out that a little fern called azolla changed our planet’s climate 50 million years ago to what we now live in today. It did this by sequestering so much CO2 in order to grow that it cooled the planet and caused an ice age. Many now think that this little plant could be the key to saving life as we know it on earth since the cause of our current global warming is excess CO2. Find out more in the Arctic Azolla Event link above.  Additionally, azolla can provide livestock feed, food, biofertilizer, and biofuel. The Azolla Foundation is a nonprofit working to make it all happen.

National Geographic and WYSS Campaign for Nature partnered to launch the 30X30 initiative (protecting at least 30% of the planet by 2030). Find out why 30%, how they plan to do it, and how you can help by going to their website.

The Climate Foundation is a nonprofit that focuses on carbon balance, food security, and ecosystem survival. Find out what they’re doing and how you can help.

The Climate Foundation is working on carbon balance and has information on azolla, a fern that could fix the world's carbon problem. Click the link to find out more about azolla and how it could fix the carbon problem.

2021's COP conference (the world's climate change conference) has its own dedicated website if you would like to find out more about the agreements that were made and the progress since those agreements were made.

When we talk about climate change, there’s a lot of terms thrown around that many of us are not familiar with.  Explanations to the most common terms can be found here.

We know that humans and human activities create excess carbon dioxide. And we know that trees capture and store carbon dioxide. So would planting a trillion trees save the world from climate change. This short (only 11 minutes) but informative podcast delves into this question.  The short answer - well - it’s complicated.  This episode of the TED Climate podcast will explain and also tell you how trees are beneficial aside from carbon capture, especially in urban areas. 

TED podcasts don’t have websites for specific podcast episodes, so this link will take you to the main TED Climate podcast website for more information. You can also find this episode wherever you get your podcasts.

"The seven states that rely on the river for water are not expected to reach a deal on cuts. It appears the Biden administration will have to impose reductions."  Published January 27, 2023.

National Geographic and WYSS Campaign for Nature partnered to launch the 30X30 initiative (protecting at least 30% of the planet by 2030). Find out why 30%, how they plan to do it, and how you can help by going to their website.

This article is all about the power of eggs, not as food, but to help clean up our microplastic mess and also filter salt out of water. Published September 11, 2022.

"We are losing wetlands three times faster than forests, according to the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands. When it comes to restoring them to their natural state there is one hero with remarkable powers - the beaver."  Click the link to read more.  This article was published February 5, 2023.

"Over a third of species and ecosystems in the United States are at risk of disappearing, including hundreds of plants and animals in Washington.

In a newly released report, conservation research group NatureServe analyzed data from its network of more than 1,000 scientists across the United States and Canada. The group said the report is its most comprehensive yet, synthesizing more than 50 years of biodiversity information and highlighting the urgency of biodiversity conservation."  Click the link to read more.  This article was published February 26, 2023.

This is a short (3 minutes) video on TED done by children of Palau. The children explain that the people of Palau live in harmony with nature but an influx of tourists along with global climate change have threatened that way of life. To do something about it, all visitors must sign an environmental pledge to “tread lightly, act kindly and explore mindfully.” Watch the video to find out more.

"Under the new definition of "waters of the United States," more wetlands, lakes and rivers will qualify as federally protected." Read more by clicking on the link.  Published December 30, 2022.

"A new rule would, for the first time in a decade, reduce emissions of soot that disproportionately harm communities of color."  Read more by clicking the link.  Published January 6, 2023.

In this short presentation (about 9 minutes), Marine ecologist Enric Sala discusses the shrinking biodiversity he has witnessed while diving in the ocean the last several decades and presents the 30x30 initiative - a plan to protect 30% of the earth’s surface and ocean floor by 2030. It’s an interesting talk and plan

"Agriculture is one of the biggest drivers of deforestation. But agroforestry proves that agriculture and trees can not only coexist, but also thrive together. Currently, Ecosia is supporting 37 agroforestry projects across five continents. 26,722,974 trees – and counting – have been planted in agroforestry systems. But what exactly is agroforestry? And why are farmers choosing to plant more trees?"  Click the link to read more.

Tons of other instructions for all kinds of projects from circuits to cooking to teacher's projects, and so much more.

I came across a picture of a hanging houseplant with a moss ball where the pot would normally be.  I had never seen a plant like it so I searched the comments to find out what it is.  It’s called kokedama, also known as Japanese moss balls. Learn how to make one on this site.  See Kokedama with Better Homes & Gardens for information on how to keep your kokedama alive.

This website has information and courses on aromatics, especially incense, and how to make and use them. 

I’m super excited about this one.  I really like incense but the kind you buy in stores and from most vendors irritate my sinuses and give me headaches.  I’ve often thought about making my own but couldn’t find instructions that didn’t include the things that cause my pain.  Here is a free three part series that includes a video and a PDF download with instructions in each part.  I will now be able to make my incense the way I would like it and so can you.  If you do make some of your own, please share some pictures with us!  

I'm super excited about this Just for Fun link because I love crafts, but especially origami. Here are over 100 origami projects with instructions.

Tons of other instructions for all kinds of projects from circuits to cooking to teacher's projects, and so much more.

I came across a picture of a hanging houseplant with a moss ball where the pot would normally be.  I had never seen a plant like it so I searched the comments to find out what it is.  It’s called kokedama, also known as Japanese moss balls. Learn how to make one on this site.  See Kokedama with Better Homes & Gardens for information on how to keep your kokedama alive.

This website has information and courses on aromatics, especially incense, and how to make and use them. 

I’m super excited about this one.  I really like incense but the kind you buy in stores and from most vendors irritate my sinuses and give me headaches.  I’ve often thought about making my own but couldn’t find instructions that didn’t include the things that cause my pain.  Here is a free three part series that includes a video and a PDF download with instructions in each part.  I will now be able to make my incense the way I would like it and so can you.  If you do make some of your own, please share some pictures with us!  

I'm super excited about this Just for Fun link because I love crafts, but especially origami. Here are over 100 origami projects with instructions.

This website provides articles on specific edible plants and fungi.

Foraging seems to be the new craze and there’s no shortage of websites and books to get you started.  Here’s one you might check out with some basic information plus links to additional sites and books to read.

Ecosia is a search engine that will plant a tree for every search. I’ve planted over 1000 trees so far! Go to https://www.ecosia.org/ to do some searching and plant some trees. I have also discovered that Ecosia has a blog.  That site is: https://blog.ecosia.org/.

As part of writing the Hippie Dabble Digest and because I’m endlessly curious, I do a lot of internet searching. I’ve just discovered a search engine that will one plant tree for every search you make. So far the nonprofit has planted over 136 million trees as of this writing. That by itself is wonderful news, but I’ve also found that some of the search results it comes up with are much more useful than the ones I’m getting in Google.

"Over a third of species and ecosystems in the United States are at risk of disappearing, including hundreds of plants and animals in Washington.

In a newly released report, conservation research group NatureServe analyzed data from its network of more than 1,000 scientists across the United States and Canada. The group said the report is its most comprehensive yet, synthesizing more than 50 years of biodiversity information and highlighting the urgency of biodiversity conservation."  Click the link to read more.  This article was published February 26, 2023.

The Rainforest Alliance strives to both protect forests and biodiversity and also improve the lives of farmers and forest communities. This nonprofit organization understands that these seemingly adverse objectives must go hand in hand. Find out what they’re doing to help and how you can get involved.

This TED Lesson is a short animation about one of the ways trees communicate with each other underground.  The Secret Language of Trees is only about 4 1/2 minutes long and super fascinating.

We know that humans and human activities create excess carbon dioxide. And we know that trees capture and store carbon dioxide. So would planting a trillion trees save the world from climate change. This short (only 11 minutes) but informative podcast delves into this question.  The short answer - well - it’s complicated.  This episode of the TED Climate podcast will explain and also tell you how trees are beneficial aside from carbon capture, especially in urban areas. 

TED podcasts don’t have websites for specific podcast episodes, so this link will take you to the main TED Climate podcast website for more information. You can also find this episode wherever you get your podcasts.

"Agriculture is one of the biggest drivers of deforestation. But agroforestry proves that agriculture and trees can not only coexist, but also thrive together. Currently, Ecosia is supporting 37 agroforestry projects across five continents. 26,722,974 trees – and counting – have been planted in agroforestry systems. But what exactly is agroforestry? And why are farmers choosing to plant more trees?"  Click the link to read more.

I love perennial vegetables since you only have to plant once and get food every year. Here’s a video that features five excellent options.

Loofahs that are used for sponges actually come from a plant called the luffa plant. The luffa plant is an annual vine that grows gourds. The gourds are edible when young but will eventually dry out and turn into the sponges we call loofahs. Here’s a site that gives some information on growing them.

Amkha Seed is a website to order plants, seeds, and bulbs.

This site sells beneficial bugs along with other pest and disease control supplies for your garden. 

Ask Extension is a website that answers tons of questions about plants and growing them, from plant identification to how to’s to what should you plant for specific purposes.  The site’s about page describes the site as offering, “one-to-one expert answers from Cooperative Extension/University staff and volunteers within participating Land-Grant institutions from across the United States.”  It also has a search feature so you can see if your question has already been answered.

Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds sells all kinds of seeds including many lesser known or hard to find seeds. 

Brecks specializes in bulbs direct from Holland.  They also carry other plants and seeds, garden supplies, birding supplies, and garden decor. 

Buglogical Control Systems sells beneficial bugs and provides information on all kinds of bugs. 

Burpee is a website to order plants, seeds, and bulbs.

Caribbean Garden Seed is a website to order plants, seeds, and bulbs.

Home and garden information brought to you by the College of Agriculture, Forestry, and Life Sciences at Clemson University. 

I was gifted dragon’s tongue bean seeds. I’ve never heard of them so of course I looked up some information. They’re interesting looking beans that are quite nutritious. Click the link to read more about them.

What is an Egyptian walking onion?  This is a great site with a ton of information on what they are, how to plant them, and how to eat them.  You can even order some on this site.

This site has lots of information on what Egyptian walking onions are and how to plant them.  You can even order some from the main website. 

Fedco Seeds is a website to order plants, seeds, and bulbs.

This site sells all kinds of gardening supplies.

Gardens Alive sells all sorts of garden supplies including a few beneficial bugs and plants and bulbs. 

Groundnuts are another tuberous plant I will be planting in my perennial garden. I was looking up information on them, trying to figure out whether to plant in the fall or the spring, and it seems opinions are mixed so I’m going to try in the spring. I came across this site though that has tons of information about groundnuts from the history of it to planting and eating and even nutrition.

Grow Organic sells all kinds of garden supplies from plants to fertilizers to beneficial bugs. 

I have tried growing blueberries and have not had much luck so this video caught my attention. I might give it a try when spring finally arrives in Wyoming. This video has tons of useful information so if you are interested in growing blueberries, keep watching to the end.

I have tried growing blueberries and have not had much luck so this video caught my attention. I might give it a try when spring finally arrives in Wyoming. This video has tons of useful information so if you are interested in growing blueberries, keep watching to the end.

Gurneys is a website to order plants, seeds, and bulbs.

Throughout the summer I noticed a lot of bugs and I just knew that some of them have to be good for the garden.  I also thought maybe I can get more for next year.  I was right about both.  This article from HGTV describes some of the more common beneficial bugs and even has links to eight places where you can get your garden bugs.

The podcast How I Built This features business owners and the story of how their companies began. In this episode, two college kids began Back to the Roots (now a home gardening company) by growing mushrooms on coffee grounds in their dorm room closet and then eventually selling coffee ground grown mushrooms to Whole Foods! 

It’s getting close to that time of year where you might be thinking about saving seeds to plant in next year’s garden. Here is an informative video on what seeds to save and how to do it.

Hudson Valley Seed Company is a site I came across while looking for bean information because that’s the company that distributed the specific seeds I was given. Their packaging features unique art related to the specific seed, and they not only sell lots of different types of seeds, but also gardening supplies, fine art, and gifts.

Hydro-Gardens sells gardening supplies such as plants, fertilizer, and beneficial bugs.

Interwoven Permaculture is a website to order plants, seeds, and bulbs.

Jung Seed is a website to order plants, seeds, and bulbs.

Loofah/luffa seeds for your garden from Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds.

Loofah/luffa seeds for your garden from Gurneys.

Loofah/luffa seeds for your garden from Native Seeds.

Loofah/luffa seeds for your garden from Park Seed.

Native Seeds is an organization whose mission is to “find, protect and preserve the seeds of the people of the Greater Southwest so that these arid adapted crops may benefit all peoples and nourish a changing world.” They have programs involving the preservation and distribution of seeds, but you can buy seeds, gifts, and various types of food on the website too.

The Old Farmer’s Almanac is full of tons of information on so many topics - weather, gardening, food, home and health, etc. 

Information on planting, harvesting, and storing garlic.

Information on harvesting, curing, and storing garlic.

I have been picking out all the plants I want to add to the backyard and ordering my perennials to plant in the fall.  I was afraid I have more plants picked out than space so I needed to decide where everything would go to make sure there is enough space.  My yard also has some spots that stay wetter than others and some spots that are shadier than others.  This website was very handy because I could put the plant I am thinking about adding into the website’s search feature and find a whole bunch of information on it including if it fits my USDA growing zone, if it prefers to be in the shade or the sun, and if it likes wet or dry conditions.  It has so much more information than that though and if you don’t know what plant you want to pick yet, you can search by uses, conditions, type, size, etc.  There’s lots of information on over 8,000 plants.  

Plants for a Future is a nonprofit whose goals, according to its about page, “are researching and providing information on ecologically sustainable horticulture, as an integral part of designs involving high species diversity and permaculture principles. Approaches such as woodland/forest gardening use a minimal input of resources and energy, create a harmonious eco-system and cause the least possible damage to the environment, while still having the potential to achieve high productivity.” It provides a database focusing on edible and useful plants and more recently adding information on carbon sequestration, carbon farming, and food forests.  I’m only scratching the surface on how much information this website has. 

If you’re interested in perennial gardening in general, permaculture, self-reliance, etc., visit the Practical Self Reliance website.

If you are interested in growing garlic as a perennial, this link has great information.

Prairie Moon Nursery is a place to buy plants and seeds online.

This is a nonprofit whose mission is to “educate and connect people through collecting, regenerating, and sharing heirloom seeds, plants, and stories.” They have various resources such as a blog and recipes, programs, exhibits, and even a seed exchange.

Loofahs that are used for sponges actually come from a plant called the luffa plant. The luffa plant is an annual vine that grows gourds. The gourds are edible when young but will eventually dry out and turn into the sponges we call loofahs. My problem, though, is always that I live in a cold environment with a short growing season that limits what I can grow. The writer at Shifting Roots has the same problem and figured out how to grow the luffa plant in an even colder environment. Check out how you can too with this link.

Sow True Seed is website that provides plant information and also a place to order your seeds, plants, and bulbs.

Looking for dragon’s tongue bean information led me to a couple of different interesting websites. The Specialty Produce website has lots of information on hundreds of different types of produce. It not only includes the basic information like taste, nutrition, how to eat it, etc., but it also includes recipes, growers links, what restaurants are buying and using that specific produce, and a map of reported farmer’s market sales.

Stark Bro's sells all sorts of trees, berry plants, garden plants, and gardening tools and supplies.

This is a nice list of perennial plants that provide salad leaves.  The only down side to this list is it doesn’t give the growing zones so you’ll have to look those up separately.  I’ve picked a couple off the list to add to my own garden. 

"Agriculture is one of the biggest drivers of deforestation. But agroforestry proves that agriculture and trees can not only coexist, but also thrive together. Currently, Ecosia is supporting 37 agroforestry projects across five continents. 26,722,974 trees – and counting – have been planted in agroforestry systems. But what exactly is agroforestry? And why are farmers choosing to plant more trees?"  Click the link to read more.

Loofahs that are used for sponges actually come from a plant called the luffa plant. The luffa plant is an annual vine that grows gourds. The gourds are edible when young but will eventually dry out and turn into the sponges we call loofahs. Here’s a site that gives some information on growing them.

Ask Extension is a website that answers tons of questions about plants and growing them, from plant identification to how to’s to what should you plant for specific purposes.  The site’s about page describes the site as offering, “one-to-one expert answers from Cooperative Extension/University staff and volunteers within participating Land-Grant institutions from across the United States.”  It also has a search feature so you can see if your question has already been answered.

Buglogical Control Systems sells beneficial bugs and provides information on all kinds of bugs. 

Home and garden information brought to you by the College of Agriculture, Forestry, and Life Sciences at Clemson University. 

I was gifted dragon’s tongue bean seeds. I’ve never heard of them so of course I looked up some information. They’re interesting looking beans that are quite nutritious. Click the link to read more about them.

What is an Egyptian walking onion?  This is a great site with a ton of information on what they are, how to plant them, and how to eat them.  You can even order some on this site.

This site has lots of information on what Egyptian walking onions are and how to plant them.  You can even order some from the main website. 

Groundnuts are another tuberous plant I will be planting in my perennial garden. I was looking up information on them, trying to figure out whether to plant in the fall or the spring, and it seems opinions are mixed so I’m going to try in the spring. I came across this site though that has tons of information about groundnuts from the history of it to planting and eating and even nutrition.

Throughout the summer I noticed a lot of bugs and I just knew that some of them have to be good for the garden.  I also thought maybe I can get more for next year.  I was right about both.  This article from HGTV describes some of the more common beneficial bugs and even has links to eight places where you can get your garden bugs.

Native Seeds is an organization whose mission is to “find, protect and preserve the seeds of the people of the Greater Southwest so that these arid adapted crops may benefit all peoples and nourish a changing world.” They have programs involving the preservation and distribution of seeds, but you can buy seeds, gifts, and various types of food on the website too.

The Old Farmer’s Almanac is full of tons of information on so many topics - weather, gardening, food, home and health, etc. 

Information on planting, harvesting, and storing garlic.

Information on harvesting, curing, and storing garlic.

I have been picking out all the plants I want to add to the backyard and ordering my perennials to plant in the fall.  I was afraid I have more plants picked out than space so I needed to decide where everything would go to make sure there is enough space.  My yard also has some spots that stay wetter than others and some spots that are shadier than others.  This website was very handy because I could put the plant I am thinking about adding into the website’s search feature and find a whole bunch of information on it including if it fits my USDA growing zone, if it prefers to be in the shade or the sun, and if it likes wet or dry conditions.  It has so much more information than that though and if you don’t know what plant you want to pick yet, you can search by uses, conditions, type, size, etc.  There’s lots of information on over 8,000 plants.  

Plants for a Future is a nonprofit whose goals, according to its about page, “are researching and providing information on ecologically sustainable horticulture, as an integral part of designs involving high species diversity and permaculture principles. Approaches such as woodland/forest gardening use a minimal input of resources and energy, create a harmonious eco-system and cause the least possible damage to the environment, while still having the potential to achieve high productivity.” It provides a database focusing on edible and useful plants and more recently adding information on carbon sequestration, carbon farming, and food forests.  I’m only scratching the surface on how much information this website has. 

If you’re interested in perennial gardening in general, permaculture, self-reliance, etc., visit the Practical Self Reliance website.

If you are interested in growing garlic as a perennial, this link has great information.

This is a nonprofit whose mission is to “educate and connect people through collecting, regenerating, and sharing heirloom seeds, plants, and stories.” They have various resources such as a blog and recipes, programs, exhibits, and even a seed exchange.

Loofahs that are used for sponges actually come from a plant called the luffa plant. The luffa plant is an annual vine that grows gourds. The gourds are edible when young but will eventually dry out and turn into the sponges we call loofahs. My problem, though, is always that I live in a cold environment with a short growing season that limits what I can grow. The writer at Shifting Roots has the same problem and figured out how to grow the luffa plant in an even colder environment. Check out how you can too with this link.

Sow True Seed is website that provides plant information and also a place to order your seeds, plants, and bulbs.

Looking for dragon’s tongue bean information led me to a couple of different interesting websites. The Specialty Produce website has lots of information on hundreds of different types of produce. It not only includes the basic information like taste, nutrition, how to eat it, etc., but it also includes recipes, growers links, what restaurants are buying and using that specific produce, and a map of reported farmer’s market sales.

This is a nice list of perennial plants that provide salad leaves.  The only down side to this list is it doesn’t give the growing zones so you’ll have to look those up separately.  I’ve picked a couple off the list to add to my own garden. 

"Agriculture is one of the biggest drivers of deforestation. But agroforestry proves that agriculture and trees can not only coexist, but also thrive together. Currently, Ecosia is supporting 37 agroforestry projects across five continents. 26,722,974 trees – and counting – have been planted in agroforestry systems. But what exactly is agroforestry? And why are farmers choosing to plant more trees?"  Click the link to read more.

I love perennial vegetables since you only have to plant once and get food every year. Here’s a video that features five excellent options.

I have tried growing blueberries and have not had much luck so this video caught my attention. I might give it a try when spring finally arrives in Wyoming. This video has tons of useful information so if you are interested in growing blueberries, keep watching to the end.

I have tried growing blueberries and have not had much luck so this video caught my attention. I might give it a try when spring finally arrives in Wyoming. This video has tons of useful information so if you are interested in growing blueberries, keep watching to the end.

It’s getting close to that time of year where you might be thinking about saving seeds to plant in next year’s garden. Here is an informative video on what seeds to save and how to do it.

Amkha Seed is a website to order plants, seeds, and bulbs.

This site sells beneficial bugs along with other pest and disease control supplies for your garden. 

Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds sells all kinds of seeds including many lesser known or hard to find seeds. 

Brecks specializes in bulbs direct from Holland.  They also carry other plants and seeds, garden supplies, birding supplies, and garden decor. 

Buglogical Control Systems sells beneficial bugs and provides information on all kinds of bugs. 

Burpee is a website to order plants, seeds, and bulbs.

Caribbean Garden Seed is a website to order plants, seeds, and bulbs.

What is an Egyptian walking onion?  This is a great site with a ton of information on what they are, how to plant them, and how to eat them.  You can even order some on this site.

This site has lots of information on what Egyptian walking onions are and how to plant them.  You can even order some from the main website. 

Fedco Seeds is a website to order plants, seeds, and bulbs.

This site sells all kinds of gardening supplies.

Gardens Alive sells all sorts of garden supplies including a few beneficial bugs and plants and bulbs. 

Grow Organic sells all kinds of garden supplies from plants to fertilizers to beneficial bugs. 

Gurneys is a website to order plants, seeds, and bulbs.

Hudson Valley Seed Company is a site I came across while looking for bean information because that’s the company that distributed the specific seeds I was given. Their packaging features unique art related to the specific seed, and they not only sell lots of different types of seeds, but also gardening supplies, fine art, and gifts.

Hydro-Gardens sells gardening supplies such as plants, fertilizer, and beneficial bugs.

Interwoven Permaculture is a website to order plants, seeds, and bulbs.

Jung Seed is a website to order plants, seeds, and bulbs.

Loofah/luffa seeds for your garden from Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds.

Loofah/luffa seeds for your garden from Gurneys.

Loofah/luffa seeds for your garden from Native Seeds.

Loofah/luffa seeds for your garden from Park Seed.

Native Seeds is an organization whose mission is to “find, protect and preserve the seeds of the people of the Greater Southwest so that these arid adapted crops may benefit all peoples and nourish a changing world.” They have programs involving the preservation and distribution of seeds, but you can buy seeds, gifts, and various types of food on the website too.

Prairie Moon Nursery is a place to buy plants and seeds online.

This is a nonprofit whose mission is to “educate and connect people through collecting, regenerating, and sharing heirloom seeds, plants, and stories.” They have various resources such as a blog and recipes, programs, exhibits, and even a seed exchange.

Sow True Seed is website that provides plant information and also a place to order your seeds, plants, and bulbs.

Stark Bro's sells all sorts of trees, berry plants, garden plants, and gardening tools and supplies.

With the price of eggs at an all time high, you may be thinking about raising some backyard chickens. Here's a video with some information and a tour of the setup to help you decide and get set up.

The Old Farmer’s Almanac is full of tons of information on so many topics - weather, gardening, food, home and health, etc. 

If you’re interested in perennial gardening in general, permaculture, self-reliance, etc., visit the Practical Self Reliance website.

I came across a picture of a hanging houseplant with a moss ball where the pot would normally be.  I had never seen a plant like it so I searched the comments to find out what it is.  It’s called kokedama, also known as Japanese moss balls. Learn how to make one on this site.  See Kokedama with Better Homes & Gardens for information on how to keep your kokedama alive.

I came across a picture of a hanging houseplant with a moss ball where the pot would normally be.  I had never seen a plant like it so I searched the comments to find out what it is.  It’s called kokedama, also known as Japanese moss balls. Learn how to keep it alive on this site.  See Kokedama with Missouri Botanical Gardens to learn how to make one.

With the price of eggs at an all time high, you may be thinking about raising some backyard chickens. Here's a video with some information and a tour of the setup to help you decide and get set up.

If instructional or guided videos is what you are interested in, I highly suggest the FitOn App (available both as an app and online). It includes hundreds of free instructional and guided videos of exercise, yoga, and meditation. The website also includes lots of informational articles.

I have tried growing blueberries and have not had much luck so this video caught my attention. I might give it a try when spring finally arrives in Wyoming. This video has tons of useful information so if you are interested in growing blueberries, keep watching to the end.

It’s getting close to that time of year where you might be thinking about saving seeds to plant in next year’s garden. Here is an informative video on what seeds to save and how to do it.

Tons of other instructions for all kinds of projects from circuits to cooking to teacher's projects, and so much more.

I came across a picture of a hanging houseplant with a moss ball where the pot would normally be.  I had never seen a plant like it so I searched the comments to find out what it is.  It’s called kokedama, also known as Japanese moss balls. Learn how to make one on this site.  See Kokedama with Better Homes & Gardens for information on how to keep your kokedama alive.

I came across a picture of a hanging houseplant with a moss ball where the pot would normally be.  I had never seen a plant like it so I searched the comments to find out what it is.  It’s called kokedama, also known as Japanese moss balls. Learn how to keep it alive on this site.  See Kokedama with Missouri Botanical Gardens to learn how to make one.

This website has information and courses on aromatics, especially incense, and how to make and use them. 

I’m super excited about this one.  I really like incense but the kind you buy in stores and from most vendors irritate my sinuses and give me headaches.  I’ve often thought about making my own but couldn’t find instructions that didn’t include the things that cause my pain.  Here is a free three part series that includes a video and a PDF download with instructions in each part.  I will now be able to make my incense the way I would like it and so can you.  If you do make some of your own, please share some pictures with us!  

Loofahs that are used for sponges actually come from a plant called the luffa plant. The luffa plant is an annual vine that grows gourds. The gourds are edible when young but will eventually dry out and turn into the sponges we call loofahs. My problem, though, is always that I live in a cold environment with a short growing season that limits what I can grow. The writer at Shifting Roots has the same problem and figured out how to grow the luffa plant in an even colder environment. Check out how you can too with this link.

I'm super excited about this Just for Fun link because I love crafts, but especially origami. Here are over 100 origami projects with instructions.

Ready to give yoga a try? Go to Yoga Basics for lessons, pictures, videos, information, and inspiration.

"Need to swap out whole milk? Here’s the best whole milk substitute to use in recipes and baking, including dairy and non dairy options."

I stumbled on this video of a lady making a black bean soup.  I thought it looked good so I decided to share it with you.

Hardneck varieties of garlic grow long stems with flower buds at the ends called scapes.  These scapes are actually edible and here’s a website with ideas and recipes using the scapes.

"This vegan soup is creamy and satisfying without one bit of dairy. Garnishing it with a bright, fresh Italian herb condiment makes it extra special."  Find the recipe on Simply Recipes by clicking the link.

Here's an easy and healthy egg recipe that you won't have to dirty any pans to make.

"Here is the perfect way to cook breakfast for a crowd: sheet pan eggs and vegetables! A one-pan meal with colorful bell peppers, onions, and sunny-side-up baked eggs, all covered in bold Mediterranean flavors."  Click the link to find this delicious recipe.

Hardneck varieties of garlic grow long stems with flower buds at the ends called scapes.  These scapes are actually edible and here’s a website with ideas and recipes using the scapes.

Pamela J Hagen-French, who posted this recipe, says, "I made this for Christmas, and one of my guests said the carrots were 'off the chain!' The flavor was amazing! The cheese was nicely crusted combined with the carrot and a little garlic! YUM! A nice change from the ordinary green veggie and still healthy!"  Find it on Allrecipes by clicking the link.

"This blueberry clafouti is somewhere between a fruit-filled pancake and a fruity egg custard. Wrong season for fresh berries? Use frozen berries thawed in a colander and discard the juice. —Ken Hulme, Venice, Florida"  Click the link for the recipe.

"This blueberry clafouti is somewhere between a fruit-filled pancake and a fruity egg custard. Wrong season for fresh berries? Use frozen berries thawed in a colander and discard the juice."

In case you need to substitute the whole milk for whatever reason, here is a great list of both dairy and non-dairy substitutes.

This website provides articles on specific edible plants and fungi.

Loofahs that are used for sponges actually come from a plant called the luffa plant. The luffa plant is an annual vine that grows gourds. The gourds are edible when young but will eventually dry out and turn into the sponges we call loofahs. Here’s a site that gives some information on growing them.

The American Hiking Society is dedicated to preserving hiking trails and making hiking accessible to all. On their website you can you can find hiking information, hikes near you or your destination, and how to get involved including volunteer vacations.

Have you ever heard of the Arctic Azolla Event? It turns out that a little fern called azolla changed our planet’s climate 50 million years ago to what we now live in today. It did this by sequestering so much CO2 in order to grow that it cooled the planet and caused an ice age. Many now think that this little plant could be the key to saving life as we know it on earth since the cause of our current global warming is excess CO2. Find out more about the Arctic Azolla Event with this link.  Additionally, azolla can provide livestock feed, food, biofertilizer, and biofuel. The Azolla Foundation is a nonprofit working to make it all happen. Find out more about the Azolla Foundation with the link below.

Ask Extension is a website that answers tons of questions about plants and growing them, from plant identification to how to’s to what should you plant for specific purposes.  The site’s about page describes the site as offering, “one-to-one expert answers from Cooperative Extension/University staff and volunteers within participating Land-Grant institutions from across the United States.”  It also has a search feature so you can see if your question has already been answered.

The Audubon Society works to protect all birds and preserve their habitats. They can also help you identify and track all those birds you see both on their website and in their app.

Have you ever heard of the Arctic Azolla Event? It turns out that a little fern called azolla changed our planet’s climate 50 million years ago to what we now live in today. It did this by sequestering so much CO2 in order to grow that it cooled the planet and caused an ice age. Many now think that this little plant could be the key to saving life as we know it on earth since the cause of our current global warming is excess CO2. Find out more in the Arctic Azolla Event link above.  Additionally, azolla can provide livestock feed, food, biofertilizer, and biofuel. The Azolla Foundation is a nonprofit working to make it all happen.

Buglogical Control Systems sells beneficial bugs and provides information on all kinds of bugs. 

Cannabis Tech is a website that includes information and news on hemp and cannabis.

We were recently discussing the high cost of building a new construction house and got curious about wood alternatives since the price of wood right now is outrageous.  The amount of things that can be made with hemp is truly amazing.  Want to keep the amount of wood used in your new home construction to a minimum?  Try hempcrete.  It’s similar to concrete but has additional benefits such as not needing expansion joints, it’s easier to work with, and unlike wood, it’s fire and pest resistant.  This is a great article if you would like to learn more.

Daddy Long Legs are everyone’s childhood favorite and are beneficial in many of the same ways as other beneficial bugs - by eating the pests.  This page has more information if you’re interested.  

The Climate Foundation is a nonprofit that focuses on carbon balance, food security, and ecosystem survival. Find out what they’re doing and how you can help.

The Climate Foundation is working on carbon balance and has information on azolla, a fern that could fix the world's carbon problem. Click the link to find out more about azolla and how it could fix the carbon problem.

Home and garden information brought to you by the College of Agriculture, Forestry, and Life Sciences at Clemson University. 

2021's COP conference (the world's climate change conference) has its own dedicated website if you would like to find out more about the agreements that were made and the progress since those agreements were made.

I was gifted dragon’s tongue bean seeds. I’ve never heard of them so of course I looked up some information. They’re interesting looking beans that are quite nutritious. Click the link to read more about them.

American Grassfed, Certified Humane, Certified Vegan, USDA Organic. What do all those labels on our food and other products mean and who’s doing the certifying? Find out on the Ecolabel Index. This site has 455 labels so far with pictures, what it means, and who certifies it. The database is searchable too. Click the link to browse or search for a specific label.

Ecosia is a search engine that will plant a tree for every search. I’ve planted over 1000 trees so far! Go to https://www.ecosia.org/ to do some searching and plant some trees. I have also discovered that Ecosia has a blog.  That site is: https://blog.ecosia.org/.

What is an Egyptian walking onion?  This is a great site with a ton of information on what they are, how to plant them, and how to eat them.  You can even order some on this site.

This site has lots of information on what Egyptian walking onions are and how to plant them.  You can even order some from the main website. 

"Last month’s killing of a nonbinary activist known as “Tortuguita,” who was shot during an occupation protest in Atlanta’s South River Forest, marked the first police killing of a demonstrator in the history of the U.S. environmental movement." Read more by clicking on the link.  This article was published February 5, 2023.

Groundnuts are another tuberous plant I will be planting in my perennial garden. I was looking up information on them, trying to figure out whether to plant in the fall or the spring, and it seems opinions are mixed so I’m going to try in the spring. I came across this site though that has tons of information about groundnuts from the history of it to planting and eating and even nutrition.

This blog is published by Harvard Medical School and has tons of interesting and helpful information relating to a wide variety of health topics.

Throughout the summer I noticed a lot of bugs and I just knew that some of them have to be good for the garden.  I also thought maybe I can get more for next year.  I was right about both.  This article from HGTV describes some of the more common beneficial bugs and even has links to eight places where you can get your garden bugs.

How to Calm Racing Thoughts at Bedtime - "Sometimes counting sheep doesn’t quite cut it. Michelle Maldonado shares a practice to ease into sleep when our thoughts keep us awake."  Click the link to read more.

Humane Tech is working to make technology more human and humane. When technology contributes to things ranging from low self esteem and suicide all the way to genocide, there’s a problem, and Humane Tech is working to fix it. Their site is loaded with information and tools along with a podcast and film. Both the documentary and the podcast are excellent.

I came across a picture of a hanging houseplant with a moss ball where the pot would normally be.  I had never seen a plant like it so I searched the comments to find out what it is.  It’s called kokedama, also known as Japanese moss balls. Learn how to make one on this site.  See Kokedama with Better Homes & Gardens for information on how to keep your kokedama alive.

I came across a picture of a hanging houseplant with a moss ball where the pot would normally be.  I had never seen a plant like it so I searched the comments to find out what it is.  It’s called kokedama, also known as Japanese moss balls. Learn how to keep it alive on this site.  See Kokedama with Missouri Botanical Gardens to learn how to make one.

Mind Works is a nonprofit focused on meditation.  They provide courses, trainers, and a great informational blog.

Ever want to give meditation a try but have a really hard time just sitting quietly, doing nothing? Well that just happens to be only one type of meditation. According to Mind Works, there are six main types of meditation including movement meditation and chanting meditation. Find the one that’s right for you.

There is so much wonderful stuff on this site to explore, all about living your best life. There are articles on a various topics about mental health and mindfulness. There are also guides to meditating, guided meditations, podcasts, courses, a magazine, and more. Most of the website is free but you do have to pay for the courses and magazine. Mindful's about page describes themselves in part as being "dedicated to sharing the gifts of mindfulness through content, training, courses, and directories—helping people enjoy better health, foster more caring relationships, and cultivate a more compassionate society."

Sadly, 22 animals and one plant have just been taken off the endangered list and added to the extinct list instead.  Among those is the ivory-billed woodpecker. This is an interesting read about the search for the ivory-billed woodpecker, the controversy around reported sightings of it, and its eventual move to the extinct list.  The author has first hand knowledge, being one of the searchers and investigators, and makes an excellent point towards the end about conservation. The author says that focusing on one endangered species at a time is inefficient and potentially environmentally disruptive.  We need to start protecting the larger ecosystems where these species thrive.  In doing so, we will not only save the endangered species but also the habitats of many other species.  National Geographic allows 3 free articles per month without a subscription.

Native Seeds is an organization whose mission is to “find, protect and preserve the seeds of the people of the Greater Southwest so that these arid adapted crops may benefit all peoples and nourish a changing world.” They have programs involving the preservation and distribution of seeds, but you can buy seeds, gifts, and various types of food on the website too.

This website has information and courses on aromatics, especially incense, and how to make and use them. 

I’m super excited about this one.  I really like incense but the kind you buy in stores and from most vendors irritate my sinuses and give me headaches.  I’ve often thought about making my own but couldn’t find instructions that didn’t include the things that cause my pain.  Here is a free three part series that includes a video and a PDF download with instructions in each part.  I will now be able to make my incense the way I would like it and so can you.  If you do make some of your own, please share some pictures with us!  

The Old Farmer’s Almanac is full of tons of information on so many topics - weather, gardening, food, home and health, etc. 

Information on planting, harvesting, and storing garlic.

Information on harvesting, curing, and storing garlic.

I’ve recently been thinking about getting a beat up old van or even a shell of a van and doing a van remodel. I came across this really useful website not only on van remodeling but also camping and road traveling in general, including articles about various places to travel to.

This site was shared with me on our old Substack page. It has all kinds of helpful articles on keeping your body healthy with a range of topics from dealing with specific ailments and injuries to how to avoid ailments and injuries.

I have been picking out all the plants I want to add to the backyard and ordering my perennials to plant in the fall.  I was afraid I have more plants picked out than space so I needed to decide where everything would go to make sure there is enough space.  My yard also has some spots that stay wetter than others and some spots that are shadier than others.  This website was very handy because I could put the plant I am thinking about adding into the website’s search feature and find a whole bunch of information on it including if it fits my USDA growing zone, if it prefers to be in the shade or the sun, and if it likes wet or dry conditions.  It has so much more information than that though and if you don’t know what plant you want to pick yet, you can search by uses, conditions, type, size, etc.  There’s lots of information on over 8,000 plants.  

Plants for a Future is a nonprofit whose goals, according to its about page, “are researching and providing information on ecologically sustainable horticulture, as an integral part of designs involving high species diversity and permaculture principles. Approaches such as woodland/forest gardening use a minimal input of resources and energy, create a harmonious eco-system and cause the least possible damage to the environment, while still having the potential to achieve high productivity.” It provides a database focusing on edible and useful plants and more recently adding information on carbon sequestration, carbon farming, and food forests.  I’m only scratching the surface on how much information this website has. 

If you’re interested in perennial gardening in general, permaculture, self-reliance, etc., visit the Practical Self Reliance website.

If you are interested in growing garlic as a perennial, this link has great information.

The Rainforest Alliance strives to both protect forests and biodiversity and also improve the lives of farmers and forest communities. This nonprofit organization understands that these seemingly adverse objectives must go hand in hand. Find out what they’re doing to help and how you can get involved.

This TED Lesson is a short animation about one of the ways trees communicate with each other underground.  The Secret Language of Trees is only about 4 1/2 minutes long and super fascinating.

This is a nonprofit whose mission is to “educate and connect people through collecting, regenerating, and sharing heirloom seeds, plants, and stories.” They have various resources such as a blog and recipes, programs, exhibits, and even a seed exchange.

Loofahs that are used for sponges actually come from a plant called the luffa plant. The luffa plant is an annual vine that grows gourds. The gourds are edible when young but will eventually dry out and turn into the sponges we call loofahs. My problem, though, is always that I live in a cold environment with a short growing season that limits what I can grow. The writer at Shifting Roots has the same problem and figured out how to grow the luffa plant in an even colder environment. Check out how you can too with this link.

200 hundred years ago the New Zealand sea lions were hunted and driven off the main island of New Zealand.  Today they are making an incredible comeback with numbers around 12,000.  Sharing habitat between humans and sea lions isn’t easy though.  Read about the efforts to protect the New Zealand sea lions on the Smithsonian Magazine's website.

The tentacled butterfly ray was thought to be extinct until it started turning up in fishing nets near Iran in 2019.  Since then the numbers found in fishing nets has continued to increase which is both good news and bad news.  Obviously the good news is that the tentacled butterfly ray isn’t extinct as previously thought.  The bad news is that the fishing now threatens the rays’ survival once again since they can’t survive the length of the hauls in the nets.  There may be hope though with certain devices to keep the rays out of the nets.  Read more on the Smithsonian Magazine's website.

Sow True Seed is website that provides plant information and also a place to order your seeds, plants, and bulbs.

Looking for dragon’s tongue bean information led me to a couple of different interesting websites. The Specialty Produce website has lots of information on hundreds of different types of produce. It not only includes the basic information like taste, nutrition, how to eat it, etc., but it also includes recipes, growers links, what restaurants are buying and using that specific produce, and a map of reported farmer’s market sales.

There are a lot of reasons why any one of us may be struggling in every day life, struggling to care for ourselves, our homes, or others.  It could be physical, mental health related, the circumstances we are in, other situations around us, or any combination of those.  This site is a great resource for when you are struggling.  There’s information, tips, books, products, and more. 

When we talk about climate change, there’s a lot of terms thrown around that many of us are not familiar with.  Explanations to the most common terms can be found here.

The American Heart Association's website has tons of interesting and helpful information all about the heart and heart health.

The Science of Wonder - "Experiencing everyday wonder can help us see that we’re part of something bigger. Science shows that this exquisite emotion can quiet our inner critic, reduce stress, loneliness, and physical distress, and bring a sense of expanded time, perspective, and connection."  Click the link to read more.

This is a nice list of perennial plants that provide salad leaves.  The only down side to this list is it doesn’t give the growing zones so you’ll have to look those up separately.  I’ve picked a couple off the list to add to my own garden. 

"Agriculture is one of the biggest drivers of deforestation. But agroforestry proves that agriculture and trees can not only coexist, but also thrive together. Currently, Ecosia is supporting 37 agroforestry projects across five continents. 26,722,974 trees – and counting – have been planted in agroforestry systems. But what exactly is agroforestry? And why are farmers choosing to plant more trees?"  Click the link to read more.

This website provides articles on specific edible plants and fungi.

Foraging seems to be the new craze and there’s no shortage of websites and books to get you started.  Here’s one you might check out with some basic information plus links to additional sites and books to read.

Ready to give yoga a try? Go to Yoga Basics for lessons, pictures, videos, information, and inspiration.

I love weird facts, and I also love historical facts. This site puts the two together for quite an interesting read.

I love weird facts, and I also love historical facts. This site puts the two together for quite an interesting read.

Ever wonder where you would end up if you dug a hole straight through the earth to the other side?  Well this interactive map will show you!  It even has a little guy poking his head into the hole and coming out the other side.  Most places will land you in the middle of an ocean on the other side, but the site also gives you some of the main locations that go from land to land. 

This just for fun link is from NASA. It’s the Astronomy Picture of the Day. Every day it gives you a new picture or video and explains what you are looking at. Today’s video is “In Motion: Uranus and Moons.” Tomorrow it says we’ll see “the blood moon band.”

Ever wonder how many planes are in the sky at this very moment? Ever want to see where they’re headed? Flightradar24 will show you every plane traveling through the air in real time. You can also track specific flights as you watch the little airplane icon move to its destination. Find all the airplanes at Flightradar24.

Histography is a huge interactive timeline of history. You can scroll to different time periods and categories, move to different points in history, click to pull up an event’s wiki page, and some events even have videos.

Tons of other instructions for all kinds of projects from circuits to cooking to teacher's projects, and so much more.

I remember my daughter being addicted to this simple game when she was younger. It’s called line rider. If you’re not familiar with line rider, the basic concept is to draw various lines that a little person rides on. Depending on how you draw your lines, the little person can fall, jump, crash, get stuck, etc. The goal is to see if you can get the little person all the way to the end of your lines or to see how long/far you can keep the little person riding. You can pause, redraw, add, play, etc. (Hint: your person needs to build up momentum to go up hill.)

I came across this little drumset that you can either play by clicking on each drum or you can play multiple drums at a time by using the corresponding keys. If you don't see which key goes to which drum at first, push your space bar. This has turned out to be so much fun and so addicting!

This is a throw back for all 80’s and 90’s kids. Even if you didn’t grow up in the 80’s or 90’s this is still a fun activity and let’s you experience one of the very first computer games ever. Your objective is to travel the Oregon Trail without dying, just like the pioneers. Click the start button in the top image to get the game started.

These historical photos are incredibly interesting and fun to look at and include things like the interior of a 1936 airplane (nothing like today's airplanes), the Statue of Liberty's face when it was first delivered, men repainting the Eiffel Tower in 1932 (they had to actually climb it!), and lots more.

This just for fun link is like a one person win lose or draw game. It gives you an object to draw, you draw it and see if the artificial intelligence can guess what you’re trying to draw within the time limit.

Do you like listening to the radio? Maybe there’s a station in another state that you love but can’t find where you are at. Or maybe you’re curious what people in other countries listen to. Radio Garden lets you listen to different radio stations around the world.  You can click explore and let it suggest a station for you or you can search a specific location.

Have you ever looked out at the night sky and wondered what stars and planets you're actually looking at? Sellarium shows you which constellations and planets are out at the time you're looking at it. It has several fun features like drawing the constellations for you or showing where the skyline is to see if certain things are in view. There's also an app you can put on your mobile device.

In this a old-school style game, you use your keyboard arrows to move your slime blob and hit the ball over the net to the other slime. But beware! That other slime is really fast! Give it a try and let me know if you are able to beat your slime opponent.  While you're there, check out the other slime games in the top menu.

I'm super excited about this Just for Fun link because I love crafts, but especially origami. Here are over 100 origami projects with instructions.

Week 41's just for fun link lets you build the perfect cat. Choose from body shape, head, ears, eyes, color, markings, etc. Once you have your perfect cat, you can download your kitty, share your kitty, or buy goods with your kitty’s image and name. Creating is free, buying goods is optional. 

Ever wonder what other people from around the world see out their window? Or maybe you’d like to imagine yourself living in another country, looking out your kitchen window to the city or landscape below. Maybe you’re itching to travel but you’re stuck at home like the rest of us. Go to Window Swap (click link above) to check out the view (and sounds) from another country. At the top left is whose window you are looking out, at the top right is the location, and down at the bottom you can move on to the next window. Each video is about 10 minutes long and will change on its own if you don’t click the next window button. I’ve already been to the Netherlands, Australia, Argentina, the Czech Republic, and New Zealand. Go to the main website to find out more about the project or submit your own window view: https://www.window-swap.com/.

Lots of information in this video, not only on food, but also on physiology and mental health too.

If instructional or guided videos is what you are interested in, I highly suggest the FitOn App (available both as an app and online). It includes hundreds of free instructional and guided videos of exercise, yoga, and meditation. The website also includes lots of informational articles.

This is almost 12 hours of soothing music and nature scenes that's sure to reduce your anxiety.

The Happiness Lab podcast delves into happiness but on a scientific level.  So is it true that dogs bring us happiness and joy?  The Happiness Lab gives us some scientific reasons why that would be true but really it’s not necessarily the dog itself bring happiness according to this podcast episode - it’s more that the dog is motivating us to do the things that scientifically bring happiness such as walking, socializing, and being present in the moment.  It’s a good listen with some fun stories and great information that you can find here with this link or wherever you get your podcasts.

This blog is published by Harvard Medical School and has tons of interesting and helpful information relating to a wide variety of health topics.

How to Calm Racing Thoughts at Bedtime - "Sometimes counting sheep doesn’t quite cut it. Michelle Maldonado shares a practice to ease into sleep when our thoughts keep us awake."  Click the link to read more.

"Sometimes counting sheep doesn’t quite cut it. Michelle Maldonado shares a practice to ease into sleep when our thoughts keep us awake."

Humane Tech is working to make technology more human and humane. When technology contributes to things ranging from low self esteem and suicide all the way to genocide, there’s a problem, and Humane Tech is working to fix it. Their site is loaded with information and tools along with a podcast and film. Both the documentary and the podcast are excellent.

Mind Works is a nonprofit focused on meditation.  They provide courses, trainers, and a great informational blog.

Ever want to give meditation a try but have a really hard time just sitting quietly, doing nothing? Well that just happens to be only one type of meditation. According to Mind Works, there are six main types of meditation including movement meditation and chanting meditation. Find the one that’s right for you.

There is so much wonderful stuff on this site to explore, all about living your best life. There are articles on a various topics about mental health and mindfulness. There are also guides to meditating, guided meditations, podcasts, courses, a magazine, and more. Most of the website is free but you do have to pay for the courses and magazine. Mindful's about page describes themselves in part as being "dedicated to sharing the gifts of mindfulness through content, training, courses, and directories—helping people enjoy better health, foster more caring relationships, and cultivate a more compassionate society."

There is so much wonderful stuff on this site to explore, all about living your best life. There are articles on a various topics about mental health and mindfulness. There are also guides to meditating, guided meditations, podcasts, courses, a magazine, and more. Most of the website is free but you do have to pay for the courses and magazine. Mindful's about page describes themselves in part as being "dedicated to sharing the gifts of mindfulness through content, training, courses, and directories—helping people enjoy better health, foster more caring relationships, and cultivate a more compassionate society."

This website has information and courses on aromatics, especially incense, and how to make and use them. 

There are a lot of reasons why any one of us may be struggling in every day life, struggling to care for ourselves, our homes, or others.  It could be physical, mental health related, the circumstances we are in, other situations around us, or any combination of those.  This site is a great resource for when you are struggling.  There’s information, tips, books, products, and more. 

Johann Hari did a TED talk on addiction with similar arguments as the TED Talk Daily Podcast episode he did on depression.  In this TED Talk he focuses on connection (or lack of).  It’s a fantastic talk.

Ever feel blah or just eh?  You’re not really depressed and you don’t have anxiety necessarily, but you just don’t feel quite right.  Adam Grant calls this languishing and he says the cure is to find your flow - being in the zone or totally absorb in an activity.  He describes three necessary parts to flow - mastering, mindfulness, and matter - all described in detail in the podcast.  While some people find their flow in gardening, crafting, cooking, or running, Adam found his in Mario Kart.  This is an entertaining and informative listen especially if you’re feeling kind of blah.  

There is no website for any specific episode of TED Talks Daily, so this link will take you to the TED Talks Daily main websit.  You can also find this specific episode wherever you get your podcasts.  It was released on September 7, 2021.

After researching depression, Johann Hari has found that there are nine causes of depression but only two are biological.  The rest, he says, are due to environment and lifestyle - most people with depression have unmet needs and imbalances in the way they live.  In this TED Talk he focuses on two of those causes and solutions - loneliness or a lack of a tribe and what he calls junk values or in other words thinking our problems will be fixed by external solutions (i.e. trying to buy and display your way out of sadness).  Johann shares stories from his own life and stories of people he came across who understood the deeper causes of anxiety and depression and were succeeding in fixing them.

TED Talks Daily podcast doesn’t have specific episodes online but this one came out on August 24, 2021, and you can find it wherever you get your podcasts.  This link will take you to the TED Talks Daily main website.

The Science of Wonder - "Experiencing everyday wonder can help us see that we’re part of something bigger. Science shows that this exquisite emotion can quiet our inner critic, reduce stress, loneliness, and physical distress, and bring a sense of expanded time, perspective, and connection."  Click the link to read more.

"Experiencing everyday wonder can help us see that we’re part of something bigger. Science shows that this exquisite emotion can quiet our inner critic, reduce stress, loneliness, and physical distress, and bring a sense of expanded time, perspective, and connection."

Ready to give yoga a try? Go to Yoga Basics for lessons, pictures, videos, information, and inspiration.

This blog is published by Harvard Medical School and has tons of interesting and helpful information relating to a wide variety of health topics.

How to Calm Racing Thoughts at Bedtime - "Sometimes counting sheep doesn’t quite cut it. Michelle Maldonado shares a practice to ease into sleep when our thoughts keep us awake."  Click the link to read more.

"Sometimes counting sheep doesn’t quite cut it. Michelle Maldonado shares a practice to ease into sleep when our thoughts keep us awake."

Humane Tech is working to make technology more human and humane. When technology contributes to things ranging from low self esteem and suicide all the way to genocide, there’s a problem, and Humane Tech is working to fix it. Their site is loaded with information and tools along with a podcast and film. Both the documentary and the podcast are excellent.

Mind Works is a nonprofit focused on meditation.  They provide courses, trainers, and a great informational blog.

Ever want to give meditation a try but have a really hard time just sitting quietly, doing nothing? Well that just happens to be only one type of meditation. According to Mind Works, there are six main types of meditation including movement meditation and chanting meditation. Find the one that’s right for you.

There is so much wonderful stuff on this site to explore, all about living your best life. There are articles on a various topics about mental health and mindfulness. There are also guides to meditating, guided meditations, podcasts, courses, a magazine, and more. Most of the website is free but you do have to pay for the courses and magazine. Mindful's about page describes themselves in part as being "dedicated to sharing the gifts of mindfulness through content, training, courses, and directories—helping people enjoy better health, foster more caring relationships, and cultivate a more compassionate society."

There is so much wonderful stuff on this site to explore, all about living your best life. There are articles on a various topics about mental health and mindfulness. There are also guides to meditating, guided meditations, podcasts, courses, a magazine, and more. Most of the website is free but you do have to pay for the courses and magazine. Mindful's about page describes themselves in part as being "dedicated to sharing the gifts of mindfulness through content, training, courses, and directories—helping people enjoy better health, foster more caring relationships, and cultivate a more compassionate society."

This website has information and courses on aromatics, especially incense, and how to make and use them. 

There are a lot of reasons why any one of us may be struggling in every day life, struggling to care for ourselves, our homes, or others.  It could be physical, mental health related, the circumstances we are in, other situations around us, or any combination of those.  This site is a great resource for when you are struggling.  There’s information, tips, books, products, and more. 

The Science of Wonder - "Experiencing everyday wonder can help us see that we’re part of something bigger. Science shows that this exquisite emotion can quiet our inner critic, reduce stress, loneliness, and physical distress, and bring a sense of expanded time, perspective, and connection."  Click the link to read more.

"Experiencing everyday wonder can help us see that we’re part of something bigger. Science shows that this exquisite emotion can quiet our inner critic, reduce stress, loneliness, and physical distress, and bring a sense of expanded time, perspective, and connection."

Ready to give yoga a try? Go to Yoga Basics for lessons, pictures, videos, information, and inspiration.

The Happiness Lab podcast delves into happiness but on a scientific level.  So is it true that dogs bring us happiness and joy?  The Happiness Lab gives us some scientific reasons why that would be true but really it’s not necessarily the dog itself bring happiness according to this podcast episode - it’s more that the dog is motivating us to do the things that scientifically bring happiness such as walking, socializing, and being present in the moment.  It’s a good listen with some fun stories and great information that you can find here with this link or wherever you get your podcasts.

There is so much wonderful stuff on this site to explore, all about living your best life. There are articles on a various topics about mental health and mindfulness. There are also guides to meditating, guided meditations, podcasts, courses, a magazine, and more. Most of the website is free but you do have to pay for the courses and magazine. Mindful's about page describes themselves in part as being "dedicated to sharing the gifts of mindfulness through content, training, courses, and directories—helping people enjoy better health, foster more caring relationships, and cultivate a more compassionate society."

Ever feel blah or just eh?  You’re not really depressed and you don’t have anxiety necessarily, but you just don’t feel quite right.  Adam Grant calls this languishing and he says the cure is to find your flow - being in the zone or totally absorb in an activity.  He describes three necessary parts to flow - mastering, mindfulness, and matter - all described in detail in the podcast.  While some people find their flow in gardening, crafting, cooking, or running, Adam found his in Mario Kart.  This is an entertaining and informative listen especially if you’re feeling kind of blah.  

There is no website for any specific episode of TED Talks Daily, so this link will take you to the TED Talks Daily main websit.  You can also find this specific episode wherever you get your podcasts.  It was released on September 7, 2021.

After researching depression, Johann Hari has found that there are nine causes of depression but only two are biological.  The rest, he says, are due to environment and lifestyle - most people with depression have unmet needs and imbalances in the way they live.  In this TED Talk he focuses on two of those causes and solutions - loneliness or a lack of a tribe and what he calls junk values or in other words thinking our problems will be fixed by external solutions (i.e. trying to buy and display your way out of sadness).  Johann shares stories from his own life and stories of people he came across who understood the deeper causes of anxiety and depression and were succeeding in fixing them.

TED Talks Daily podcast doesn’t have specific episodes online but this one came out on August 24, 2021, and you can find it wherever you get your podcasts.  This link will take you to the TED Talks Daily main website.

Lots of information in this video, not only on food, but also on physiology and mental health too.

If instructional or guided videos is what you are interested in, I highly suggest the FitOn App (available both as an app and online). It includes hundreds of free instructional and guided videos of exercise, yoga, and meditation. The website also includes lots of informational articles.

This is almost 12 hours of soothing music and nature scenes that's sure to reduce your anxiety.

Johann Hari did a TED talk on addiction with similar arguments as the TED Talk Daily Podcast episode he did on depression.  In this TED Talk he focuses on connection (or lack of).  It’s a fantastic talk.

Ready to give yoga a try? Go to Yoga Basics for lessons, pictures, videos, information, and inspiration.

This is a great website that brings you the what, why, and how of minimalism through a blog, podcast, films, books, and more.

"The EPA says it’s safe to return to East Palestine after a train derailment sparked a toxic chemical fire, but locals are worried about ongoing health impacts." Click the link to read more.  This article was published February 10, 2023.

"The Oxford University-led study’s measurements of ice around Svalbard, Norway, detected 26 types of PFAS compounds, and found when ice melts, the chemicals can move from glaciers into downstream ecosystems like Arctic fjords and tundra." Click the link to read more.  This article was published February 11, 2023.

"The seven states that rely on the river for water are not expected to reach a deal on cuts. It appears the Biden administration will have to impose reductions."  Published January 27, 2023.

"The Brazilian Navy said on Friday evening it had begun an operation to sink the decommissioned aircraft carrier São Paulo, packed with an undetermined amount of asbestos and other toxic materials, about 220 miles off the country’s northeastern coast."  Click the link to read more.  This article was published February 3, 2023.

"California’s largest and most expensive environmental cleanup has failed to properly remove lead pollution from some homes and neighborhoods near a notorious battery recycler in southeast Los Angeles County, leaving residents at continued risk, a Times investigation shows." Click the link to read more.  This article was published February 10, 2023.

"A coalition of environmental organizations on Thursday called on Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg to act on a rail safety rule scrapped by the Trump administration, arguing failure to enforce it increases the likelihood of environmental rail disasters."  Click the link to read more.  This article was published February 17, 2023.

"Last month’s killing of a nonbinary activist known as “Tortuguita,” who was shot during an occupation protest in Atlanta’s South River Forest, marked the first police killing of a demonstrator in the history of the U.S. environmental movement." Read more by clicking on the link.  This article was published February 5, 2023.

"Federal environmental authorities have ordered a temporary halt in the shipment of contaminated waste from the site of a fiery train derailment earlier this month in eastern Ohio near the Pennsylvania state line." Click the link to read more.  This article was published February 25, 2023.

"Federal environmental authorities have ordered a temporary halt in the shipment of contaminated waste from the site of a fiery train derailment earlier this month in eastern Ohio near the Pennsylvania state line." Read more by clicking on the link.  This article was published February 25, 2023.

"Last week, officials said they believed that the Ohio train derailment had killed 3,500 aquatic animals. On Thursday, they provided a new estimate, pushing the total to more than 43,700 animals within a 5-mile area." Click the link to read more.  This article was published February 23, 2023.

"Last week, officials said they believed that the Ohio train derailment had killed 3,500 aquatic animals. On Thursday, they provided a new estimate, pushing the total to more than 43,700 animals within a 5-mile area." Read more by clicking the link.  This article was published February 23, 2023.

This article is all about the power of eggs, not as food, but to help clean up our microplastic mess and also filter salt out of water. Published September 11, 2022.

"We are losing wetlands three times faster than forests, according to the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands. When it comes to restoring them to their natural state there is one hero with remarkable powers - the beaver."  Click the link to read more.  This article was published February 5, 2023.

"Over a third of species and ecosystems in the United States are at risk of disappearing, including hundreds of plants and animals in Washington.

In a newly released report, conservation research group NatureServe analyzed data from its network of more than 1,000 scientists across the United States and Canada. The group said the report is its most comprehensive yet, synthesizing more than 50 years of biodiversity information and highlighting the urgency of biodiversity conservation."  Click the link to read more.  This article was published February 26, 2023.

"Over a third of species and ecosystems in the United States are at risk of disappearing, including hundreds of plants and animals in Washington.

In a newly released report, conservation research group NatureServe analyzed data from its network of more than 1,000 scientists across the United States and Canada. The group said the report is its most comprehensive yet, synthesizing more than 50 years of biodiversity information and highlighting the urgency of biodiversity conservation."  Click the link to read more.  This article was published February 26, 2023.

"Car buyers still like hybrids because they can save on gas and cut their carbon footprint without having to deal with range anxiety or the need to charge at home. But even as hybrids go mainstream, they are losing traction among their original enthusiasts: environmentalists." Click the link to read more.  This article was published February 24, 2023.

"Car buyers still like hybrids because they can save on gas and cut their carbon footprint without having to deal with range anxiety or the need to charge at home. But even as hybrids go mainstream, they are losing traction among their original enthusiasts: environmentalists." Click the link to read more.  This article was published February 24, 2023.

Sadly, 22 animals and one plant have just been taken off the endangered list and added to the extinct list instead.  Among those is the ivory-billed woodpecker. This is an interesting read about the search for the ivory-billed woodpecker, the controversy around reported sightings of it, and its eventual move to the extinct list.  The author has first hand knowledge, being one of the searchers and investigators, and makes an excellent point towards the end about conservation. The author says that focusing on one endangered species at a time is inefficient and potentially environmentally disruptive.  We need to start protecting the larger ecosystems where these species thrive.  In doing so, we will not only save the endangered species but also the habitats of many other species.  National Geographic allows 3 free articles per month without a subscription.

"Nearly 25 years ago, oil major Shell predicted in an internal 1998 report that a class-action lawsuit would be brought against fossil fuel companies following 'a series of violent storms.' That prediction is finally coming true". Read more by clicking the link.  Published December 5, 2022.

"Under the new definition of "waters of the United States," more wetlands, lakes and rivers will qualify as federally protected." Read more by clicking on the link.  Published December 30, 2022.

"A new rule would, for the first time in a decade, reduce emissions of soot that disproportionately harm communities of color."  Read more by clicking the link.  Published January 6, 2023.

"Federal and state officials and the Norfolk Southern Railroad have sought to counter public criticism about their efforts to mitigate public health and environmental damage from the Feb. 3 train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio." Click the link to read more.  This article was published in February, 2023.

"Oil refineries release billions of pounds of pollution annually into waterways, and that pollution disproportionately affects people of color, according to a new analysis of Environmental Protection Agency regulatory data."  Published January 26, 2023.

"The Department of Environmental Protection first claimed it immediately visited the site but then acknowledged the delay after protests from activists, who called the delay a dereliction of duty." Click the link to read more.  This article was published February 11, 2023.

The tentacled butterfly ray was thought to be extinct until it started turning up in fishing nets near Iran in 2019.  Since then the numbers found in fishing nets has continued to increase which is both good news and bad news.  Obviously the good news is that the tentacled butterfly ray isn’t extinct as previously thought.  The bad news is that the fishing now threatens the rays’ survival once again since they can’t survive the length of the hauls in the nets.  There may be hope though with certain devices to keep the rays out of the nets.  Read more on the Smithsonian Magazine's website.

"Toxic smoke, contaminated rivers, poisoned soil, trees reduced to charred stumps, nature reserves pocked with craters: the environmental toll from Russia’s war with Ukraine, which has been detailed in a new map, might once have been considered incalculable.

But extensive investigations by Ukrainian scientists, conservationists, bureaucrats and lawyers are now under way to ensure this is the first conflict in which a full reckoning is made of environmental crimes, so the aggressor can be held to account for a compensation claim that currently stands at more than $50bn (£42bn)."  Click the link to read more.  This article was published February 20, 2023.

The American Hiking Society is dedicated to preserving hiking trails and making hiking accessible to all. On their website you can you can find hiking information, hikes near you or your destination, and how to get involved including volunteer vacations.

The Audubon Society works to protect all birds and preserve their habitats. They can also help you identify and track all those birds you see both on their website and in their app.

Have you ever heard of the Arctic Azolla Event? It turns out that a little fern called azolla changed our planet’s climate 50 million years ago to what we now live in today. It did this by sequestering so much CO2 in order to grow that it cooled the planet and caused an ice age. Many now think that this little plant could be the key to saving life as we know it on earth since the cause of our current global warming is excess CO2. Find out more in the Arctic Azolla Event link above.  Additionally, azolla can provide livestock feed, food, biofertilizer, and biofuel. The Azolla Foundation is a nonprofit working to make it all happen.

National Geographic and WYSS Campaign for Nature partnered to launch the 30X30 initiative (protecting at least 30% of the planet by 2030). Find out why 30%, how they plan to do it, and how you can help by going to their website.

The Climate Foundation is a nonprofit that focuses on carbon balance, food security, and ecosystem survival. Find out what they’re doing and how you can help.

CORE is a non-profit organization founded by Sean Penn that began by helping Haiti with the 2010 earthquake disaster relief.  It grew from there and has helped with Hurricane Ida, COVID-19, disaster preparedness, and more. 

Ecosia is a search engine that will plant a tree for every search. I’ve planted over 1000 trees so far! Go to https://www.ecosia.org/ to do some searching and plant some trees. I have also discovered that Ecosia has a blog.  That site is: https://blog.ecosia.org/.

As part of writing the Hippie Dabble Digest and because I’m endlessly curious, I do a lot of internet searching. I’ve just discovered a search engine that will one plant tree for every search you make. So far the nonprofit has planted over 136 million trees as of this writing. That by itself is wonderful news, but I’ve also found that some of the search results it comes up with are much more useful than the ones I’m getting in Google.

Humane Tech is working to make technology more human and humane. When technology contributes to things ranging from low self esteem and suicide all the way to genocide, there’s a problem, and Humane Tech is working to fix it. Their site is loaded with information and tools along with a podcast and film. Both the documentary and the podcast are excellent.

Mind Works is a nonprofit focused on meditation.  They provide courses, trainers, and a great informational blog.

There is so much wonderful stuff on this site to explore, all about living your best life. There are articles on a various topics about mental health and mindfulness. There are also guides to meditating, guided meditations, podcasts, courses, a magazine, and more. Most of the website is free but you do have to pay for the courses and magazine. Mindful's about page describes themselves in part as being "dedicated to sharing the gifts of mindfulness through content, training, courses, and directories—helping people enjoy better health, foster more caring relationships, and cultivate a more compassionate society."

Native Seeds is an organization whose mission is to “find, protect and preserve the seeds of the people of the Greater Southwest so that these arid adapted crops may benefit all peoples and nourish a changing world.” They have programs involving the preservation and distribution of seeds, but you can buy seeds, gifts, and various types of food on the website too.

I have been picking out all the plants I want to add to the backyard and ordering my perennials to plant in the fall.  I was afraid I have more plants picked out than space so I needed to decide where everything would go to make sure there is enough space.  My yard also has some spots that stay wetter than others and some spots that are shadier than others.  This website was very handy because I could put the plant I am thinking about adding into the website’s search feature and find a whole bunch of information on it including if it fits my USDA growing zone, if it prefers to be in the shade or the sun, and if it likes wet or dry conditions.  It has so much more information than that though and if you don’t know what plant you want to pick yet, you can search by uses, conditions, type, size, etc.  There’s lots of information on over 8,000 plants.  

Plants for a Future is a nonprofit whose goals, according to its about page, “are researching and providing information on ecologically sustainable horticulture, as an integral part of designs involving high species diversity and permaculture principles. Approaches such as woodland/forest gardening use a minimal input of resources and energy, create a harmonious eco-system and cause the least possible damage to the environment, while still having the potential to achieve high productivity.” It provides a database focusing on edible and useful plants and more recently adding information on carbon sequestration, carbon farming, and food forests.  I’m only scratching the surface on how much information this website has. 

The Rainforest Alliance strives to both protect forests and biodiversity and also improve the lives of farmers and forest communities. This nonprofit organization understands that these seemingly adverse objectives must go hand in hand. Find out what they’re doing to help and how you can get involved.

I don’t normally listen to Michael Moore’s podcast but I was intrigued by all of the humanitarian work Sean Penn has done.  This episode mostly covers that humanitarian work with a little bit of Hollywood and politics thrown in (listener beware).  Even if you don’t agree with the politics, Sean Penn has done some amazing humanitarian work and it’s worth a listen.  He founded an organization called CORE (Community Organized Relief Effort) that began by helping Haiti with the 2010 earthquake disaster relief.  It grew from there and has helped with Hurricane Ida, COVID-19, disaster preparedness, and more.  It was an interesting interview with Sean Penn that you can find at this link or wherever you get your podcasts.  See also CORE (Community Organized Relief Effort).

This is a nonprofit whose mission is to “educate and connect people through collecting, regenerating, and sharing heirloom seeds, plants, and stories.” They have various resources such as a blog and recipes, programs, exhibits, and even a seed exchange.

The American Heart Association's website has tons of interesting and helpful information all about the heart and heart health.

Lots of information in this video, not only on food, but also on physiology and mental health too.

If instructional or guided videos is what you are interested in, I highly suggest the FitOn App (available both as an app and online). It includes hundreds of free instructional and guided videos of exercise, yoga, and meditation. The website also includes lots of informational articles.

This blog is published by Harvard Medical School and has tons of interesting and helpful information relating to a wide variety of health topics.

This website has information and courses on aromatics, especially incense, and how to make and use them. 

This site was shared with me on our old Substack page. It has all kinds of helpful articles on keeping your body healthy with a range of topics from dealing with specific ailments and injuries to how to avoid ailments and injuries.

The American Heart Association's website has tons of interesting and helpful information all about the heart and heart health.

Ready to give yoga a try? Go to Yoga Basics for lessons, pictures, videos, information, and inspiration.

This blog is published by Harvard Medical School and has tons of interesting and helpful information relating to a wide variety of health topics.

This website has information and courses on aromatics, especially incense, and how to make and use them. 

This site was shared with me on our old Substack page. It has all kinds of helpful articles on keeping your body healthy with a range of topics from dealing with specific ailments and injuries to how to avoid ailments and injuries.

The American Heart Association's website has tons of interesting and helpful information all about the heart and heart health.

Ready to give yoga a try? Go to Yoga Basics for lessons, pictures, videos, information, and inspiration.

Lots of information in this video, not only on food, but also on physiology and mental health too.

If instructional or guided videos is what you are interested in, I highly suggest the FitOn App (available both as an app and online). It includes hundreds of free instructional and guided videos of exercise, yoga, and meditation. The website also includes lots of informational articles.

Ready to give yoga a try? Go to Yoga Basics for lessons, pictures, videos, information, and inspiration.

I heard an ad on one of the podcasts that I regularly listen to for The Ezra Klein Show podcast.  I decided to check it out and as I scrolled through the podcast titles, they all seemed fairly predictable.  Then I got to “How Octopuses Upend What We Know About Ourselves.”  With a title like that, I couldn’t pass it up, and not only was I not disappointed, I was pleasantly surprised.  

This podcast episode is an interview of Sy Montgomery, author of The Soul of an Octopus (https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-Soul-of-an-Octopus/Sy-Montgomery/9781451697711). Sy discusses her extraordinary friendships with octopuses while also going into octopus facts and discoveries as well as covering humans vs. animals and ethical concerns.  It was absolutely fascinating learning about octopuses’ personalities and capabilities. I am definitely adding her book to my reading list.

You can find the podcast with this link or anywhere you get your podcasts.

The Happiness Lab podcast delves into happiness but on a scientific level.  So is it true that dogs bring us happiness and joy?  The Happiness Lab gives us some scientific reasons why that would be true but really it’s not necessarily the dog itself bring happiness according to this podcast episode - it’s more that the dog is motivating us to do the things that scientifically bring happiness such as walking, socializing, and being present in the moment.  It’s a good listen with some fun stories and great information that you can find here with this link or wherever you get your podcasts.

The podcast How I Built This features business owners and the story of how their companies began. In this episode, two college kids began Back to the Roots (now a home gardening company) by growing mushrooms on coffee grounds in their dorm room closet and then eventually selling coffee ground grown mushrooms to Whole Foods! 

There is so much wonderful stuff on this site to explore, all about living your best life. There are articles on a various topics about mental health and mindfulness. There are also guides to meditating, guided meditations, podcasts, courses, a magazine, and more. Most of the website is free but you do have to pay for the courses and magazine. Mindful's about page describes themselves in part as being "dedicated to sharing the gifts of mindfulness through content, training, courses, and directories—helping people enjoy better health, foster more caring relationships, and cultivate a more compassionate society."

I don’t normally listen to Michael Moore’s podcast but I was intrigued by all of the humanitarian work Sean Penn has done.  This episode mostly covers that humanitarian work with a little bit of Hollywood and politics thrown in (listener beware).  Even if you don’t agree with the politics, Sean Penn has done some amazing humanitarian work and it’s worth a listen.  He founded an organization called CORE (Community Organized Relief Effort) that began by helping Haiti with the 2010 earthquake disaster relief.  It grew from there and has helped with Hurricane Ida, COVID-19, disaster preparedness, and more.  It was an interesting interview with Sean Penn that you can find at this link or wherever you get your podcasts.  See also CORE (Community Organized Relief Effort).

We know that humans and human activities create excess carbon dioxide. And we know that trees capture and store carbon dioxide. So would planting a trillion trees save the world from climate change. This short (only 11 minutes) but informative podcast delves into this question.  The short answer - well - it’s complicated.  This episode of the TED Climate podcast will explain and also tell you how trees are beneficial aside from carbon capture, especially in urban areas. 

TED podcasts don’t have websites for specific podcast episodes, so this link will take you to the main TED Climate podcast website for more information. You can also find this episode wherever you get your podcasts.

Ever feel blah or just eh?  You’re not really depressed and you don’t have anxiety necessarily, but you just don’t feel quite right.  Adam Grant calls this languishing and he says the cure is to find your flow - being in the zone or totally absorb in an activity.  He describes three necessary parts to flow - mastering, mindfulness, and matter - all described in detail in the podcast.  While some people find their flow in gardening, crafting, cooking, or running, Adam found his in Mario Kart.  This is an entertaining and informative listen especially if you’re feeling kind of blah.  

There is no website for any specific episode of TED Talks Daily, so this link will take you to the TED Talks Daily main websit.  You can also find this specific episode wherever you get your podcasts.  It was released on September 7, 2021.

After researching depression, Johann Hari has found that there are nine causes of depression but only two are biological.  The rest, he says, are due to environment and lifestyle - most people with depression have unmet needs and imbalances in the way they live.  In this TED Talk he focuses on two of those causes and solutions - loneliness or a lack of a tribe and what he calls junk values or in other words thinking our problems will be fixed by external solutions (i.e. trying to buy and display your way out of sadness).  Johann shares stories from his own life and stories of people he came across who understood the deeper causes of anxiety and depression and were succeeding in fixing them.

TED Talks Daily podcast doesn’t have specific episodes online but this one came out on August 24, 2021, and you can find it wherever you get your podcasts.  This link will take you to the TED Talks Daily main website.

"The EPA says it’s safe to return to East Palestine after a train derailment sparked a toxic chemical fire, but locals are worried about ongoing health impacts." Click the link to read more.  This article was published February 10, 2023.

"The Oxford University-led study’s measurements of ice around Svalbard, Norway, detected 26 types of PFAS compounds, and found when ice melts, the chemicals can move from glaciers into downstream ecosystems like Arctic fjords and tundra." Click the link to read more.  This article was published February 11, 2023.

"The Brazilian Navy said on Friday evening it had begun an operation to sink the decommissioned aircraft carrier São Paulo, packed with an undetermined amount of asbestos and other toxic materials, about 220 miles off the country’s northeastern coast."  Click the link to read more.  This article was published February 3, 2023.

"California’s largest and most expensive environmental cleanup has failed to properly remove lead pollution from some homes and neighborhoods near a notorious battery recycler in southeast Los Angeles County, leaving residents at continued risk, a Times investigation shows." Click the link to read more.  This article was published February 10, 2023.

"A coalition of environmental organizations on Thursday called on Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg to act on a rail safety rule scrapped by the Trump administration, arguing failure to enforce it increases the likelihood of environmental rail disasters."  Click the link to read more.  This article was published February 17, 2023.

"Federal environmental authorities have ordered a temporary halt in the shipment of contaminated waste from the site of a fiery train derailment earlier this month in eastern Ohio near the Pennsylvania state line." Click the link to read more.  This article was published February 25, 2023.

"Federal environmental authorities have ordered a temporary halt in the shipment of contaminated waste from the site of a fiery train derailment earlier this month in eastern Ohio near the Pennsylvania state line." Read more by clicking on the link.  This article was published February 25, 2023.

"Last week, officials said they believed that the Ohio train derailment had killed 3,500 aquatic animals. On Thursday, they provided a new estimate, pushing the total to more than 43,700 animals within a 5-mile area." Click the link to read more.  This article was published February 23, 2023.

"Last week, officials said they believed that the Ohio train derailment had killed 3,500 aquatic animals. On Thursday, they provided a new estimate, pushing the total to more than 43,700 animals within a 5-mile area." Read more by clicking the link.  This article was published February 23, 2023.

This article is all about the power of eggs, not as food, but to help clean up our microplastic mess and also filter salt out of water. Published September 11, 2022.

"Federal and state officials and the Norfolk Southern Railroad have sought to counter public criticism about their efforts to mitigate public health and environmental damage from the Feb. 3 train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio." Click the link to read more.  This article was published in February, 2023.

"Oil refineries release billions of pounds of pollution annually into waterways, and that pollution disproportionately affects people of color, according to a new analysis of Environmental Protection Agency regulatory data."  Published January 26, 2023.

"The Department of Environmental Protection first claimed it immediately visited the site but then acknowledged the delay after protests from activists, who called the delay a dereliction of duty." Click the link to read more.  This article was published February 11, 2023.

"Toxic smoke, contaminated rivers, poisoned soil, trees reduced to charred stumps, nature reserves pocked with craters: the environmental toll from Russia’s war with Ukraine, which has been detailed in a new map, might once have been considered incalculable.

But extensive investigations by Ukrainian scientists, conservationists, bureaucrats and lawyers are now under way to ensure this is the first conflict in which a full reckoning is made of environmental crimes, so the aggressor can be held to account for a compensation claim that currently stands at more than $50bn (£42bn)."  Click the link to read more.  This article was published February 20, 2023.

Humane Tech is working to make technology more human and humane. When technology contributes to things ranging from low self esteem and suicide all the way to genocide, there’s a problem, and Humane Tech is working to fix it. Their site is loaded with information and tools along with a podcast and film. Both the documentary and the podcast are excellent.

"Oil refineries release billions of pounds of pollution annually into waterways, and that pollution disproportionately affects people of color, according to a new analysis of Environmental Protection Agency regulatory data."  Published January 26, 2023.

If you've ever thought about living the nomad life in a van, check out this video to make sure you know what you're getting yourself into before taking the plunge.

Lots of information in this video, not only on food, but also on physiology and mental health too.

I love perennial vegetables since you only have to plant once and get food every year. Here’s a video that features five excellent options.

With the price of eggs at an all time high, you may be thinking about raising some backyard chickens. Here's a video with some information and a tour of the setup to help you decide and get set up.

I stumbled on this video of a lady making a black bean soup.  I thought it looked good so I decided to share it with you.

If instructional or guided videos is what you are interested in, I highly suggest the FitOn App (available both as an app and online). It includes hundreds of free instructional and guided videos of exercise, yoga, and meditation. The website also includes lots of informational articles.

This is almost 12 hours of soothing music and nature scenes that's sure to reduce your anxiety.

I have tried growing blueberries and have not had much luck so this video caught my attention. I might give it a try when spring finally arrives in Wyoming. This video has tons of useful information so if you are interested in growing blueberries, keep watching to the end.

I have tried growing blueberries and have not had much luck so this video caught my attention. I might give it a try when spring finally arrives in Wyoming. This video has tons of useful information so if you are interested in growing blueberries, keep watching to the end.

It’s getting close to that time of year where you might be thinking about saving seeds to plant in next year’s garden. Here is an informative video on what seeds to save and how to do it.

This is a short (3 minutes) video on TED done by children of Palau. The children explain that the people of Palau live in harmony with nature but an influx of tourists along with global climate change have threatened that way of life. To do something about it, all visitors must sign an environmental pledge to “tread lightly, act kindly and explore mindfully.” Watch the video to find out more.

This TED Lesson is a short animation about one of the ways trees communicate with each other underground.  The Secret Language of Trees is only about 4 1/2 minutes long and super fascinating.

Johann Hari did a TED talk on addiction with similar arguments as the TED Talk Daily Podcast episode he did on depression.  In this TED Talk he focuses on connection (or lack of).  It’s a fantastic talk.

In this short presentation (about 9 minutes), Marine ecologist Enric Sala discusses the shrinking biodiversity he has witnessed while diving in the ocean the last several decades and presents the 30x30 initiative - a plan to protect 30% of the earth’s surface and ocean floor by 2030. It’s an interesting talk and plan

Ready to give yoga a try? Go to Yoga Basics for lessons, pictures, videos, information, and inspiration.

Amkha Seed is a website to order plants, seeds, and bulbs.

This site sells beneficial bugs along with other pest and disease control supplies for your garden. 

Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds sells all kinds of seeds including many lesser known or hard to find seeds. 

Brecks specializes in bulbs direct from Holland.  They also carry other plants and seeds, garden supplies, birding supplies, and garden decor. 

Buglogical Control Systems sells beneficial bugs and provides information on all kinds of bugs. 

Burpee is a website to order plants, seeds, and bulbs.

Caribbean Garden Seed is a website to order plants, seeds, and bulbs.

What is an Egyptian walking onion?  This is a great site with a ton of information on what they are, how to plant them, and how to eat them.  You can even order some on this site.

This site has lots of information on what Egyptian walking onions are and how to plant them.  You can even order some from the main website. 

Fedco Seeds is a website to order plants, seeds, and bulbs.

This site sells all kinds of gardening supplies.

Gardens Alive sells all sorts of garden supplies including a few beneficial bugs and plants and bulbs. 

Grow Organic sells all kinds of garden supplies from plants to fertilizers to beneficial bugs. 

Gurneys is a website to order plants, seeds, and bulbs.

Hudson Valley Seed Company is a site I came across while looking for bean information because that’s the company that distributed the specific seeds I was given. Their packaging features unique art related to the specific seed, and they not only sell lots of different types of seeds, but also gardening supplies, fine art, and gifts.

Hydro-Gardens sells gardening supplies such as plants, fertilizer, and beneficial bugs.

Interwoven Permaculture is a website to order plants, seeds, and bulbs.

Jung Seed is a website to order plants, seeds, and bulbs.

Loofah/luffa seeds for your garden from Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds.

Loofah/luffa seeds for your garden from Gurneys.

Loofah/luffa seeds for your garden from Native Seeds.

Loofah/luffa seeds for your garden from Park Seed.

Native Seeds is an organization whose mission is to “find, protect and preserve the seeds of the people of the Greater Southwest so that these arid adapted crops may benefit all peoples and nourish a changing world.” They have programs involving the preservation and distribution of seeds, but you can buy seeds, gifts, and various types of food on the website too.

Prairie Moon Nursery is a place to buy plants and seeds online.

This is a nonprofit whose mission is to “educate and connect people through collecting, regenerating, and sharing heirloom seeds, plants, and stories.” They have various resources such as a blog and recipes, programs, exhibits, and even a seed exchange.

Sow True Seed is website that provides plant information and also a place to order your seeds, plants, and bulbs.

Stark Bro's sells all sorts of trees, berry plants, garden plants, and gardening tools and supplies.