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Worms. These slimy wigglers are freaking awesome & we could learn a thing or three from them.

What do worms do? Make soil. They eat stuff, then poop, and that stuff is soil. What do we know about soil??? Oh, yeah = it is everything around us. Everything comes from soil.

Now think. How often do we hear/think in a day : “Oh. I shouldn’t waste this.”

It’s majority of what environmental advocates fight for – plastic, air pollution, capitalism, e-waste.

All this ‘garbage’ is just making our environment T-O-X-I-C to live in, seriously.

Okay, let’s take it back to the worms.

We need to be able to waste, and have it be awesome!

It Is Uninspiring & No Changes Will Come If We Keep Saying “Stop Wasting”.

We need water bottles and takeout bags that we can toss out our windows & have it bring about glorious nutrients for our lands.

We need our energy sources to be manufactured in a way that emits back more energy, like using “waste” from one source (CO2) and have it be power to another.

We need a clothing system that INITIALLY creates clothes in a way that makes those clothes EASY TO REUSE – even easier than producing the clothing material in the way we do currently… plastic, intensive farming like monocropping.

We need the very same stores that send stuff out to be the ones to bring back in. Like, returning makeup compact containers, to allow companies to not even see “waste” as an acceptable, existing concepts.

People, do you see what I’m explaining? We need to create worm systems!

Nothing is garbage or poo poo.

It can be recycled, reused, reduced then grown out again to be recycled, reused & reduced.

In Soil We Trust,

Tiffany

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.

In Soil We Trust,

Tiffany

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.

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It took me not even to find just these few.

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.

In Soil We Trust,

Tiffany

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!

In Soil We Trust,

Tiffany

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?

In Soil We Trust,

Tiffany

Sometimes I feel stressed out about money.

Paying the bills. Getting the things I WANT. The cutest rugs, another TV, a nice pair of shoes.

With the AVAILABILITY of everything nowadays, it can be easy to get caught up in the mindset or consuming.

Whenever I find my self wanting. I think back to our ancestors.

Those who were stoked to have found fresh water. Those that served up a lovely smelling lizard over a fire. Finding edible vegetables was a delicacy.

A few days without living in the heart of nature’s wretches (because raw nature is nooo walk in the park to live in) was probably absolutely glorious.

I live in a lovely home with access to more food than our ancestors could have dreamed of.

I’m pretty much always comfortable homeostasis wise, or at least walking distance from a the comfort of an environmentally regulated building.

While there ARE TOTALLY modern problems and hardships… I’d say for the most part our lives are pretty cushy.

Anyways, thinking about life this way helps me to cut down on my capitalistic & ultimately wasteful perspective.

Hope it might help you, too!

In Soil We Trust,

Tiffany

Fire, Water, Air, Earth

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.

In Soil We Trust,

Tiffany

Just like one small flame lights up total darkness, you too can be a flame of light in a background of darkness.

This applies to everything.

To being a link in the chain of local food.

To advocate.

To speak up against environmental dangers.

To CHOOSE sustainable products.

To CREATE choices of sustainable products.

It just takes one flame to light up darkness and set forth energy to its surroundings.

In Soil We Trust,

Tiffany

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 🙂

https://kidsgardening.org/resources/garden-activities-kitchen-scrap-gardening/

In Soil We Trust,

Tiffany

Alrighty so I came across this awesome image and needed to share.

You can see here all the types of soil, excluding peat!

Can you tell what’s in your own backyard?

In Soil We Trust,

Tiffany