I had a conversation with my mom the other day, and she was telling me about a documentary she watched that slammed renewable energy like wind and solar.
I’ve written before about all of the issues with renewables. They are definitely not perfect. Yet, neither is conventional coal or natural gas by ANY means.
Energy works like magic. It gives the ability to do the once unimaginable. All magic has its price, and all energy has its price, too.
I don’t know if we will ever find an energy source or system that does not cause negative ramifications in some way.
Water energy impacts aquatic life immensely, natural gas hydraulic fracturing impacts our water table, solar electric requires lots of land and extraction resources, and coal and oil pollute the air and waterways with all sorts of toxins. I really can’t think of a 100% no mess energy system that exists. Even biofuels impact our soil quality.
Anyways, just thought I’d share this experience and thought process.
If you could design the energy system, what would it look like?
Today I wanted to talk a little bit about renewables. As energy producers like solar panels and wind turbines slowly become welcomed to the market, the debate over whether or not renewables will be sufficient continues.
While I support a grid that is diverse, versatile, and decentralized, I can also recognize the limitations to renewable energy resources. It is vital to understand and accept limitations so that we can better adjust and implement solutions.
There are a variety of renewables.
Hydropower (water wheels, dams, pumped storage) can be considered the OG of renewables. The problem with hydropower is that there is a limited number of locations that are viable for this type of energy production. Most hydropower locations are either already in use or protected from such infestation (and rightfully so). Additionally, hydropower is dependent on the amount of water and flow power. As you can probably guess, climate change and overuse of water both negatively affect hydropower’s consistency and ability – decreasing its reliability. Also, hydropower like dams have a detrimental effect on wildlife. For example, fish spawning (reproduction) is totally diminished when a dam is in effect because the fish cannot easily travel up and down stream. Very sad! Finally, as water pools up in dams, the salinity or saltiness builds, making the water unusable for human use like agriculture. That’s a major issue as our water supply is already stretched thin in many parts of the world.
Wind is also very well-known in the renewable world. Wind occurs due to change of temperature, as the hot air is constantly trying to move to places that are not hot. There are not many places where wind blows all the time. Shorelines are the best places for wind turbines because of the difference in air temperature in the land and water. However, the best spots near and offshore are often far from the grid – so transporting the energy is expensive. They don’t last very long, either, only about 20-25 years. So, investing in them might not always pay off. Wind turbines make the most energy when they are very high up, so making them tall might help with the cost. However, he efficiency also makes the turbines more hazardous. Which brings me to my next point: wind turbines are extremely difficult and costly to maintain because of their location and physicality. Finally, some people would argue wind turbines are just downright ugly.
Solar seems to currently be the shining star *pun intended* of the renewables. There are many ways to approach solar, like water heating, solar cooking, and photovoltaics (PV aka solar panels). In any case, solar is still comparable to land-use size as both coal and natural gas, as solar requires a lot of land to produce sufficient energy. This also depends on the location, and it does not make sense to put the panels just anywhere. Solar PV does not last very long, just like wind turbines, and they need to be replaced every twenty years or so. Electronic waste is a major concern around the world, and solar PV definitely contributes to the waste. This is true not just for the upkeep, but also for the materials used. Most solar cells are made of silicon tetrachloride. Many producers of the solar cells have been found to dump their waste from producing these materials into the surrounding land to save money on recycling. This definitely detriments the environmental health because these are hazardous materials. Solar energy is also intermittent, in that it only produces energy when sun is available, and humans do not wait for the sun to come out to turn on their tv or start their dishwasher. Storage is not yet widely available either, and there are even some concerns with sourcing the battery storage materials.
These are obviously not all of the renewables that exist, but probably the major three.
Renewables totally have their role in our energy system, but perhaps this post may have opened your perspective as to why these energy producers have not yet taken hold in our society. There are clear limitations, yet absolutely solvable.
Hope you enjoyed! Let me know what you think about renewables and how they compare to nonrenewables.
In Soil We Trust,
Tiffany
Thank you to Jonathon H.C. Kelman Basic Energy Science – A Citizen’s Guide to Energy Choices for this graphic report and the informational content of this post. Basic Energy Science was one of the greatest courses I took in college.
Today I wanted to talk about what food is. Food is the stuff we eat, right? But just because we CAN physically eat something, does that make it food? We don’t chomp on tree trunks, even though we probably could.
Some people eat tree bark, bugs, whale fat, pigs’ feet. This might seem a bit odd to some, but these are foods that are staples in some cultures (not to mention – full of nutrients!)
Others eat hard candy, twinkies, soda, and ultra-processed meats. These are pretty common in Standard American culture, but totally unheard of in some parts of the world. But what exactly is it about these products that make us accept them as edible?
Do you recognize any of these Korean dishes?
To me, food is digestible earth or earth product, like plants and animals. I’d argue that 99% of the food humans eat comes from the earth, while the other 1% comes from a lab (but yes, even the lab was produced because the earth made it possible).
The specific food one person eats is determined by their connection to the outside world, other people and history. Shared commonalities impact the choices people make about what they swallow. Therefore, genetically modified corn, those twinkies and candy, and pink-sludge meat can all be considered food. It may not be a “quality” food in some corners of the world, but it is ingested by communities, often joyously.
What is food to you? Do you eat anything that might seem weird to others?
What are your thoughts about how food has evolved in our modern world?
Okay. This is one of my favorite topics. Not because it is positive, but because not many people know about eutrophication.
In simplest terms, eutrophication is when bodies of water fill up with excess nutrients and minerals. This might sound great at first- what’s wrong with more nutrients, right?
However, plant life (algae) overgrows to extremes. This algae buildup is referred to as an “algal bloom” and is a seriously thick layer of algae. The algae not only blocks vital sunlight from entering to the underside of the water, but it also sucks up all of the oxygen in the water. Without oxygen, a “hypoxic” environment is created, and life cannot survive. Furthermore, drinking water quality is at risk. Yikes.
This picture is a modest example of algal blooms due to nutrient input via the conventional agriculture and fertilizer industries.
How do all these nutrients end up in the water? Well, mainly from fertilizers and heavy tillage which causes erosion.
When soil is tilled (and in conventional ag it is tilled extensively) the soil becomes weak and subject to the elements. Add fertilizer to the soil, and when wind or rain occurs, that soil and fertilizer flows right into bodies of water with ease. Conventional farmers often account for this erosion and add even MORE fertilizer to their land so that the extra that does not erode into water bodies will stay on their land.
Not only is this an issue for our soil reserves, but this is exactly what causes eutrophication aka dead zones in the water!
So, what can we do? For one, stop using chemical fertilizers on your own land. Opt instead for building your own nutrient dense compost, or heck, buy some cows, chickens, pigs, sheep, goats or whatever else and use the dung for nutrients! This in turn will also help build the soil and anchor it in its place.
Speaking of which, to stop erosion, you can plant native species that are adept to the conditions of your environment. Consider plants with exceptional root systems that work as an anchor on the soil. And, as always, contact your state and local representative and urge them to support policy against heavy fertilizer usage.
Clearly, I could talk about this forever! But to keep this short and sweet, I’ll end this here and leave some resources for you to check out down below.
Before we go, what are your thoughts on this? Have you experienced eutrophication in your area? Let us know in the comments!
These is something fulfilling about waking through a field of grasses and flowers, all a slightly different shade of green and brown with pops of color, while a butterfly floats past into the abyss. This scene is all too familiar in the Corn Belt of America. Although, this melodious image is too quickly transforming into barren fields of nothing but corn rows.
Before the corn takeover, this region in Central America was (and in some places still is) composed of a compilation of ecosystems like wetlands, prairies and forests. The lush natural landscapes are home to an abundance of species, all working together to provide humanity and the world with services like sustaining, provisioning, regulating, and cultural services. However, hundreds of acres of one crop (monocrop) fail horrendously to produce such accomplishments.
The Corn Belt supports a wide range of species. The most iconic, arguably, is the Monarch Butterfly. Elementary children of the Midwest likely recall watching these little critters bloom from caterpillars to beautiful flying creatures as they released them from their classroom. But, most kids – and adults – likely do not totally grasp the importance of monarchs.
Outside of their beauty, monarch’s are most well known for being pollinators. We all know pollinators are important. They provide us with our plump juicy tomatoes to chop up and put in our salads or blend with garlic to spread on fresh bread (1).
Plants rely on pollinators to fertilize their female organs from their male organs. Unfortunately, monarchs and other pollinators are losing their resources for reproduction, like milkweed and other plants. Corn is taking over pollinators resources, making it harder (and more expensive!!!) to grow fruits and veggies that give us pizza, BLTs, and pasta sauce.
In the last 160 years or so, Illinois has lost over 90% of its wetlands, 99% of prairies and 80% of forests (5).
What’s the problem with corn replacing these lands? Well, maize fields lack regulating services (atmospheric carbon sequestration, stabilization against soil erosion), is unstable (it is readily ravaged by pests and invaded by exotics), steadily loses nutrients (in the absence of legumes), lacks many cultural services prairies provide (aesthetic and inspirational value), and comes up short on most other ecosystem functions and services even though it gets high marks for food production (4).
So, the previous wetlands, forests and prairies that once serviced us in wastewater treatment, stormwater management, recreation, aesthetics, and habitat are practically gone (2).
Fields of one species may appear profitable and serviceable, but this is unnatural and has deep ramifications for ecosystem function.
The United States produces approximately 40%–45% of the world’s corn supply and is responsible for 70% of the total global exports (3). Corn is a major resource to our modern world. Everyone who uses batteries, consumes packaged foods, and eats conventional meat is supporting the saturation of the ecosystem.
Ecological fate has three choices. We can either attain a life-sustaining equilibrium, oscillate between harsh and equitable conditions, or collapse to sterility.
A wise man would likely strive for the first option. But, at least for now, maize trumps monarchs, and that is the merciless truth.
What are your thoughts on this subject?
Thanks for reading.
In Soil We Trust,
Tiffany
Resources
(1) Andrés, José. (2014, Sept. 23). Why We Need to Protect Monarch Butterflies. National Geographic. Retrieved from: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/culture/article/jose- andres-why-we-need-to-protect-monarch-butterflies (2) Childers, D., Cadenasso, M., Morgan Grove, J., Marshall, V., McGrath, B., & Pickett, S. (2015). An ecology for cities: A transformational nexus of design and ecology to advance climate change resilience and urban sustainability. Sustainability (Basel, Switzerland), 7(4), 3774–3791. https://doi.org/10.3390/su7043774 (3) Kucharik, C., & Ramankutty, N. (2005). Trends and variability in U.S. Corn yields over the twentieth century. Earth Interactions, 9(1), 1–29. https://doi.org/10.1175/EI098.1 (4) Levin, S. A., & Carpenter, S. R. (2012). The Princeton guide to ecology. Princeton University Press. (5) University of Illinois. (2021). Ecosystems and Habitats in Illinois. Illinois Natural History Survey, Ecosystems and Habitat https://www.inhs.illinois.edu/outreach/habitats/.
Let’s face it. There are deniers. Many people I love deny climate change. I bet there are many people you know who also deny it.
Maybe they are scared. Maybe they truly just don’t think anything is wrong with our climate because they live in their own little bubble. Maybe they don’t understand climate change.
Climate change is simple. The climate…… changes.
And yes, this happens naturally. And YES, humans can effect it because we are an e-x-p-o-n-e-n-t-i-a-l-l-y growing population who do a lot of stupid stuff.
IT DOESN’T MATTER WHAT CAUSES IT. Well, sort of.
What really matters is what we do now.
Because even if humans aren’t causing climate change. The climate is still changing! You see?
Okay so what do we have to do. We have to ADAPT! That’s how this world works. Adapt, or get left behind.
We have to make our living conditions RESILIENT. Like, when a flood happens, how do we structure our cities to not be impacted? Do we put some sort of barrier underneath building? Do we make our building floatable?
How about droughts? How are we going to make it so that when droughts DO happen, we can carry on no problem without any massive financial blows? Drought is a factor we can look to our ancestors for, they dealt with it.
How about heat? People die from heat. It makes us sluggish and less productive, too. Our energy sources (our bodies and power plants) get suckedddddd up from trying to cool us down. How can we make our environment more suitable for us when it gets super hot? Ever hear of shade under a tree? Yeah, we could plant more trees to help cool us down.
My point is. Even if someone doesn’t think humanity has anything to do with climate change, the climate is still changing!!! No one wants to be at the brunt end of a flood, drought, or deadly heat wave. The way we adapt to these conditions by the physical structure of society will aid us when these changes in climate inevitably occur.
Most small farmers live very humbly – they don’t make a lot of money. But they’ve got a big job. On the other hand, big farms are SUBSIDIZED by the government. The government uses consumers’ tax dollars to fund their operation. Furthermore, big ag’s job really isn’t as back breaking as small farm work. Everything is mechanized in big agriculture, whereas most everything is done by hand and very personally in small farming.
So, what’s the problem with this?
Well, for one, big ag food systems are gross. Like the way our food animals are raised and taken care of is just plain on unsanitary, and we are paying for it to be that way!
Big Ag gets away with selling mass quantities of food for super duper lower prices BECAUSE they are not paying for the business themselves – we are!
Small farms struggle to get by, not only because they have to brunt the costs, but they also have to try to entice people to pay more for their product. When a consumer can get an already cooked rotisserie chicken from Costco for $5, but has to pay $20 for a raw chicken from a small farmer, unfortunately most consumers will choose the later.
Now, what’s wrong with that??? Well, Big Ag food is just plain out not as nutritious. I don’t even need to list out resources supporting this straight out fact. But, I will.
Shapiro, S. A. (2017) OVERUSE OF ANTIBIOTICS IN CONCENTRATED ANIMAL FEEDING OPERATIONS: REGULATION AND TORT LAW. Environmental law (Portland, Ore.). 47 (3), 557–581.
Hauter, W. (2012) Foodopoly the battle over the future of food and farming in America. New York: New Press.
Dolan, R. (2017) Farm To Factory To Table. Health Affairs. [Online] 36 (2), 378–378.
It’s pretty common sense. If you were to live in a damp, musty room your entire life, you’d be unhealthy. If you were hanging in your own poop, being force fed with no exercise, you’d be unhealthy.
When you EAT unhealthy thing, you’d be unhealthy. When the things you eat ARE unhealthy, you’d be unhealthy!
Okay so then what’s the problem with that?
Well, now we circle back to everyone’s angel and demon alike: MONEY.
When you’re unhealthy, it costs a lot of money. Not only do you have less energy to contribute and build wealth to society, but you probably have a lot of medical bills. Heart disease, diabetes, CANCER! The big ones – all heavily attributed to diet.
Moral of the story – you might be buying a $5 chicken, but be prepared to spend $5000 later on to your doctor. Support your local small farmer.
As a recent ish graduate, I spend a decent amount of time on job boards. Sometimes just to browse, other times for serious job searching.
It took me a while to find job posting that were current, in my experience level, and relevant to sustainability.
Here are my top three favorite job boards:
Good ole’ LinkedIn
LinkedIn is awesome. Companies post jobs there everyday. They have an excellent search filter tool, you can dive deep into employer’s profiles, and network all in one place. If you’re looking for a job, you need LinkedIn. While this platform is not totally geared towards sustainable jobs, there is a decent selection. You can also set up notifications for when a green job does post. My favorite feature is seeing how many applicants have already applied to get a feel for competition. If you have the cash, getting Premium may also be worth your while. Especially if you needed a new job like yesterday. You would be able to see how well you match up with a job, who has showed interest in your profile, and your profile is highlighters for employers. Also, I really like that you can explore companies, ideas, and posting. I’ve gained so much insight on the state of sustainability in the world from my connection’s posting.
Next up, Terra.do
Terra. do is specifically for climate job seekers. I cannot speak more highly of this job board. They host virtual job fairs, post new listings everyday, provide opportunities for climate specific education, and offer a wide range of jobs. You won’t regret using this site! I highly recommend downloading the app, as it is much more user friendly than the website, and it’s free. There are four main tabs or sections of the app: Work (Jobs/Hiring Companies), Community, Events, and Learn. I highly recommend utilizing not only the “Work” tab when job searching, but especially Community. People post all sorts of events not hosted by Terra.do that can gain you a lot of leverage and connections. If you’re in the Climate world & looking for work, Terra.do is your bestie.
& Finally, Good Food Jobs
Okay I’m a bit biased towards sustainable food, which is why this one is making the list. This board does not have a ton of listing like the other two, but they are all quality posting and a lot of them work for entry level or associate positions. If you’re willing to relocate for work and have a passion for food, you will love this one. The focus is on sustainable food and creating healthy food systems, so you won’t find many jobs on energy, city planning, or other sustainable-focused jobs really. But, awesome platform, easy to search, & they offer many educational resources.
If you’re looking for a green job, you might be feeling a bit defeated. There really aren’t many entry level jobs for these types of roles… YET! I have total faith this industry will continue to bloom and flourish. Happy job searching!
I don’t often wear makeup. Maybe I don’t have the patience, or maybe I just don’t like to spend the money on it. Since the invention of Sephora makeup prices are wild! $60 for mascara, no thank you.
But, occasionally I do try to pretty myself up and draw on my face.
Now, you might be thinking “Makeup?? What does this have to do with soil???”
Well, everything has to do with soil. Most makeup products come from MINERALS which is found in soil. Soil makes all of the plants and natural ingredients in makeup. The end product of makeup ends up in landfills and seeps into soil.
Everything has to do with soil. Everything comes from soil. Soil is makeup.
Here is a list of my favorite make up products & why.
This Zuzu Luxe Mineral Blush is sooooo silky and applies easily. I like a more dewy look to makeup, and this blush gives me the perfect hydration my skin loves. Plus, it’s not overly priced. I can pick it up from my local health food store for about $17. ZuZu uses naturally sourced ingredients so you don’t have to worry about any harmful toxins on your face.
2. MILK Makeup is just a fabulous company!!! They focus on creating refillable makeup products. Who knows how many mascaras cartridges have been thrown into landfills. MILK is definitely a leader in the refillable makeup industry. I love this mascara because it NEVER clumps! Nothing worse than having a glob of goo sitting on top of your eyeball while you’re on a first date or interviewing. LOVE THIS & do you see the price? Only $15!
3. I’ve recently discovered the power of a lip TINT and its changed my world. No longer does my fiance have to worry about my plumper making his lips burn or leaving kissy marks on his cheek. This Lip AND Cheek stain from 100% Pure is glorious for everyday wear. Although honestly, I’ve never used it on my cheeks because it doesn’t blend the best. However, it is made from REAL fruit like pomegranates, beets, blueberries & more. No more guilt for licking my lips after applying.
4. For this final one, I honestly have no idea how to say the name. But it is truly amazing for fancy nights when I have to cover up my t-zone redness. Like MILK, this is a refillable makeup but from ZAO essence of nature. This foundation is easily buildable if you want more coverage, but also perfect for quick touchups. I love ZAO because of their commitment to organic and natural ingredients and their focus in social affairs. As a side – I also like their brushes!
Alrighty! Those are my main essentials. Blush, mascara, lip gloss & foundation. Hope you enjoyed & try some of these out!
Like many, I have a car. If I ever want to leave my house to go to the grocery store, see my relatives, renew my ID, or anything that requires me being located outside my neighborhood, I pretty much have to get into a car. There is no bus (besides the school one) that would pick me up down the block. The nearest train is at least 10 minutes away by car. If I were to walk, I’d be pretty strapped for time and I’d be too afraid anyways because there aren’t that many sidewalks on the main roads. I could bike, sure, but again – no bike or walking paths to get me anywhere.
I am a civilian in the suburbs who essentially needs some sort of passenger vehicle to get around in society.
Why did we do this???
Sometimes, Sustainability to me means going backward.
Our ancestors lived immmmmmensly sustainable lives. They were around for thousands of years, without the internet, cars, or any home appliances.
Nowadays, the luxuries of technology are actually making us UNsustainable. I’m not saying we need to do away with modern tech. But I am suggesting we rethink the way we do everyday life as a society.
What if when you walked out your front door, the sidewalks moved. You know, like the walkways at the airport?
Or what if we brought light rails back?
Or what if we just designed cities in a way that only allowed for walking, no vehicles? Take away all the roads, all the parking lots, and just condense all the homes and businesses.
Yes, this is a total overhaul to society and the way we function. But travel is essential in today’s world and making it accessible is important.
We need to make public transport cool. When I think about public transport, the first thought is a smelly bus. How do we make buses and trains something all the young kids want to use?
I’m thinking modern. Making the inside of the bus feel like hanging out at the airport. Food available, chargers, roomy, and smell like vanilla.
People should not NEED or RELY on their own private vehicle – especially since driving is a privilege and not a right. Plus, Uber’s are getting pretty dang expensive!
What do you think the future of public transportation is?
Efficiency is a biiiiiig value in society. We are always on the run, got a never ending to-do list, & just want ample time to enjoy life.
We try to be efficient with our time to accomplish everything. We make short cuts. But when is efficiency NOT a good thing?
You’re probably thinking: Never. Lol. That was at least my initial thought when posed this question. But, efficiency can totally cause major damage to systems.
Even though a system might be slower, having layers of processes backing up a system can provide security, strength, stability, & sustainability. Less efficient… can still be a really good thing because of these four S’s.
Let’s check out a few examples…
Cell phones. It is miraculous that we were able to develop a technology that allows us to speak to each other thousands of miles apart. We have insane access to information in a matter of microseconds. However, as cell phones have become more and more equip, it seems human connection– the entire purpose of cell phones – has been lost in many ways. “The art of conversation is dying” as many would say, arguably due to the literal barrier cell phones are between us.
Dog training. My fiancé and I have a dog. His name is Coach & he is my little love bugger. Coach is a great puppy and is learning well. We want to train him early and often in order to prevent any futures problem behaviors when he gets bigger. At first, we wanted to get him to an optimal state of being, if you will. To do this, we increased our optimization by always having treats on hand, keeping a very consistent schedule, and stimulating him often – AKA we created a super efficient system to ensure he was on the fast track to perfect pup . At first, all was going great with Coach. But then our schedule had to be changed due to life circumstances, and Coach was really thrown off and in a bad mood for a few days. He didn’t respond well. He also “expected” treats often and would throw a fit or bark if he did not get one immediately after each command. Following this “efficient” system made so that when a problem arose, the subject of the system did not respond well.
*Check out this picture. Which one seems to be the most efficient? Why might the strengths in efficiency be poor for overall system performance & capability?
Finally, Soil. Agricultural management. When we try to optimize the food system to give us the absolute max amount of food quantity, we make it more efficient by… Spraying pesticide to rid the area of plant predators. Stuffing pigs, chickens & cows into filthy stalls so they are easier to manage. Tilling soil to allow for TEMPORARY, SHORT TERM abundance – enough to make a lot right now, not caring for the future. It’s like that toddler marshmallow contest. The toddler can either have one marshmallow now and none later, or wait and get three. Usually, they chose to eat the one. We can do better with our big kid, non-toddler brains!!! Spraying pesticide kills the bad AND THE GOOD. It gets into our waterways, then we drink it (In case ya didn’t know, pesticides are toxic. How would you feel about being trapped inside a dark, damp, poopy, ammonia-smelling box all day? If you think animals don’t have feelings… spend more time with animals! Digging up soil causes erosion. The gold in the ground (soil) gets brought to the surface, blown away by wind and washed away by water into larger bodies or water… then gets drowned by the water. Lost. FOREVER! Well, now forever. But might as well be, since it’s down their for hundreds to thousands of years.
What I am trying to say in all this. Is being the fastest, most rigid, and most mass producing is not really ideal. Sometimes, maybe. But if you look closely at any system you will very likely find that efficiency is eroding. This is especially apparent in society’s most wicked problems. Homelessness. Water Safety. Health. Energy. When we try to mainstream these systems, creating only ONE WAY & optimizing that process, we restrain ourselves. We make it more difficult to withstand shock.
HOWEVER – Efficiency is not all bad news bears. Efficiency will be the key to a more abundant world. Think of fuel efficient cars and lightbulbs. Details on how efficiency works in this regard coming at you soon in the next post!
That’s all for now.
In Soil We Trust,
Tiffany
*Potential problems with the ball - Harder to stop the ball vs the square.
Potential problems with the square - Only one person pushing - no back up.
Potential problems with the three squares - Three squares may be overload.
There are many more examples that what's listed.
These are the elements our ancestors believed made up our world.
While, yes, hydrogen, berium, and astatine do exist and makeup our world, these four basic elements are the foundation.
Fire, water, earth & air make us up as humans. When we connect with these forces, we are in fact connecting with ourselves and our environment.
Here are some ways to check in with each part.
FIRE
Fire is all about your Will. You can practice using the fire within yourself by moving – dancing, stretching, singing. You can also make a list and NO MATTER WHAT complete that list by a designated time. Fire requires action, an “umph” if you will.
WATER
Water is your emotions and magnetism. Take a few moments to feel your body, what is going on inside – how the energy moves, where is goes, how it flows. Your dreams will also give you insight into your feelings. Journal your dreams as soon as you wake up in the morning. Don’t analyze them, just write down what happened. Also, drink a lot of water to help your body move more freely.
AIR
Air has to do with your thoughts and the way that you think. Take a few moments to sit and observe the way your thoughts come in and out of your mind. Are they fast, or do the connections between your thoughts flow? Don’t judge, just notice. Try mindless journaling, too, just write whatever comes to mind for five minutes or so. Breathe deep.
EARTH
Earth is grounding. It’s still. Try simply being still. Walk through the dirt bare foot. Garden. Be near nature. Earth is who you truly are.
The elements align us with the world around us. This is critical to be at peace, make the best decisions, and to help others.
All you need for a little garden is… Scraps! The seeds, bulbs and roots of fruits and veg that you’ve already used are all you need to replant for cheap. (Oranges, lemons, limes, sweet potatoes, avocados, carrots, beets, onions, and ginger work well!)
You’ll also need containers (I like to use used plastic fruit containers, milk jugs, sour cream containers). Potting soil is also good, or just grab some soil from outside! & of course, water.
Here’s how you’ll wanna do it for…
Big Seeds
For big seeds, like an avocado, you’ll want to let it dry out for about two days. Then, plant the seed in a pot with pretty moist soil – but make sure to leave the tops of seed/pit exposed to the air, out of the soil. Or, you can use toothpicks to boist the pit up over some water in glass – with the water just high enough to touch the bottom of the pit. Just be sure to change the water once a week. The roots will sprout in about 1-2 months!
Little Seeds
The easiest little seeds to grow are from citrus like oranges, lemons, grapefruit, and limes. Just plant three to four of seed one inch deep in the pot of moistened soil. In 2-4 weeks the seeds will sprout! After six weeks (be sure to keep the soil moist!) you can transfer into a bigger pot as the seedlings turn to trees. It’ll be a few years before citrus actually bears fruit BUT the leaves of the plants are fragrant.
Roots
Root crops like beets, parsnips and carrots can be “beheaded” to sprout new top growth. Just slice off the head end along with one to two inches of the root and place it in a saucer filled with pebbles for support and water. New greens will appear on top in about a week. In a week or so new greens should appear from the top. Once you’ve got that, put the root into a soil!
Greens
Garlic and onions are good example of this. Just put the cloves or blubs in soil, just enough to cover the whole clove/bulb. That’s pretty much it, just keep the soil moist!
Alrighty! Enjoy. Also… here’s the resource I used for this post 🙂
Bring Back Soil 