Now chances are, unless you have something against Halloween, you like to dress up, decorate and/or entertain for October 31^st. And whether you’re planning on trick-or-treating, decorating for trick-or-treaters, or hosting a costume party, you know how overwhelming it can be to prepare. It’s a lot of moving parts for one night of the year. Which is why it’s understandable that most people buy expendable goodies for the holiday and then toss them November 1^st.

But we’re in our sustainable girl eras, and we know we can do better. So I’ve compiled a list of different Halloween elements you can replace this year with eco-friendly alternatives!

Eco Friendly Candy Swaps

Unreal

You can find Unreal snacks at most major grocery stores nowadays. They sell candy with simple ingredients, significantly less sugar, and sustainably sourced palm oil. And while they do still package in plastic, you can take the extra step to recycle through TerraCycle or a disposal service like Ridwell!

Alter Eco

Alter Eco is a certified B-Corp that has worked to create a carbon-neutral product and close the loop on their manufacturing process. They sell fair-trade, organic chocolates packaged in recyclable or compostable wrappers. If you love Lindt, you can grab a box of 60 truffles in 9 flavors for passing out (or stashing away).

Seattle Chocolate

Seattle Chocolate’s truffles come in nearly endless flavors, from classic milk chocolate to espresso and even a pop-in-your-mouth pink bubbly. These individually packed chocolates come in a rainbow of colors, making them fun to hand out to trick-or-treaters or just display in your Halloween party candy bowl. Their chocolate is ethically and sustainably sourced (Rainforest Alliance certified), their wrapping is home compostable, and the whole company is carbon neutral! They ship nationwide and can be found in stores across the US.

Glee Gum 

I would never want to deprive any child of the rite of passage that is Dubble Bubble gum. But if you want to switch it up for an alternative that’s all-natural and sustainably packaged, Glee gum sells 12-packs of regular and sugar free gums in 10 flavors!

Palm Free Chocolate

If you’re looking to go the extra mile this Halloween, opt for palm-free chocolate in your candy bowl. See why you may want to skip the traditional palm-oil laden candy brands here, and find a whole list of our favorite palm-free chocolate companies in this guide too!

Halloween Décor Swaps

Pumpkins

What’s really spooky is how much plastic goes into achieving those fall vibes this time of year. Where are my Trader Joe’s girlies at?? This is your Bat Signal—TJ’s mini gourds are the perfect, eco-friendly and affordable way to decorate your home and porch this season. They, along with the traditional pumpkin, can be disposed of sustainably in a number of ways.

Bonus points if you make it to a local pumpkin patch or farmers market for your “living” decor. Just remember… if it was outside on Halloween, it’s NOT good to eat.

Lights

I know that we love creating an immaculate ambiénce, and lights are an integral part of setting the mood! LED and solar-powered lights are an easy swap for the traditional plug-in this Halloween. You can get smart solar string-lights and change the color to match different holidays (i.e. Halloween and Christmas), or opt for rechargeable or recyclable batteries for LED lights.

Candy Pails

Ditch the plastic candy pail this year! Besides the obvious at-home alternatives like a pillowcase or reusable tote, there are adorable felt buckets you can use instead (or make if you’re feeling crafty).

Eco Friendly Halloween Costumes

Face Paint

Lions, tigers, and bears, oh my! If you’d rather spend time perfecting your face than wearing a costume this Halloween, Natural Earth Paint sells jars of face paint that are free of heavy metals, parabens, phthalates, formaldehyde, and petroleum-based dyes. All paints come in recycled packaging, home compostable paint pouches, or glass you can reuse after emptying the jar.

Face Glitter

With Barbie likely being a Halloween favorite this year, it’s a good time to remind everyone that regular craft glitter is NOT meant to be used on your face. It can contain toxic chemicals and be made from harmful plastic or metal particles. Always look for glitter that is marked as “cosmetic-grade” and ideally biodegradable like BioGlitter®. While you can find BioGlitter® at a number of retailers, Moon Shatter makes a point of packaging their products in reusable glass jars. 

Costume Tips

There’s a reason Spirit Halloween makes over a billion dollars annually. People love dressing up, and popular costumes change year to year. But you can opt for a low-waste holiday this season by thrifting, reusing an old costume, or swapping with friends and family. Most of us have at least one old costume collecting dust in our closets anyway… why not organize a swap among friends? Get creative! There’s no reason anyone should have to justify spending $50+ on an outfit they wear for less than 12 hours.

Which eco friendly Halloween tips would you add to this list? Let us know below!

The post From Candy to Costumes, These Are The Easiest Eco Friendly Halloween Swaps appeared first on Eco Club.

Now, I’m not trying to be an alarmist—this isn’t about scaring you with the pollution BoogeyMan. Rather, talking about microplastics is about arming you with the right kind of knowledge so that you can grow as a consumer and make smarter choices for yourself. Because oftentimes many of us can only afford the cheap option; buying sustainable and green can feel like a luxury reserved for the rich.

But while not every green or eco-friendly good may be universally accessible, being able to work within the confines of your socio-economic bubble is still a step in the right direction. So let’s start by approaching the most unavoidable and crucial element of your daily life… food.

How do microplastics get in our food?

I previously touched on microplastics in this post, but while that was a macro approach to the issue, this is more of a micro approach. The journey our food takes from the farm, or the ocean, to our tables is long and full of human manufacturing. Taking away the plastic waste created to package our food, the truth is that microplastics are so miniscule that they can penetrate the cells of fruits and vegetables. (So if you run into any smug vegetarians or vegans, remind them that we’re all in the same boat here.) When it comes to our meat—fish, beef, poultry—these animals often consume microplastics mistaking them for food. And you know what they say—you are what you eat.

Obviously, this wasn’t always an issue. Plastic was invented in the late 19^th century, and only really began to be mass produced in the 1960’s. Yet, because it can take centuries for even one water bottle to fully biodegrade, we’re consuming plastics from decades ago in today’s food chain. That’s why using BPA-free bottles is kind of moot. The microplastics you’re consuming probably came from an age before that kind of production regulation. And while trying to live a microplastic-free existence is basically impossible, there are definitive sources of the pollutant that outweigh others.

Can we avoid it? Some tips…

This first tip may seem like a no-brainer, but even I’m a slave of convenience sometimes; avoid drinking bottled water. Turns out that it’s the largest source of dietary microplastic! This is a fantastic time to invest in a glass or metal bottle, and maybe gift one to a loved one for the holidays.

Speaking of water, don’t drink tap. While I can’t vouch for other countries, if you live in the US you should definitely be filtering your water. While pollutants range from state to state, I think it’s safe to say that taking the extra step to purify your water can’t hurt.

Also try to avoid single use plastics in general, but especially in food packaging like the wrappers on meat and pasta. Don’t microwave in plastic when possible and try to transition to glass or metal containers when possible. While grocery items like cheese and milk do often have non-plastic options, it’s important to note these are usually more expensive alternatives to their plastic-packaged counterparts.

Avoid highly processed foods when possible as well. Besides the fact that all those artificial fillers are bad for you in general, the theory is that low-nutrition food can pair with the effects of microplastics to increase the likelihood of developing chronic health problems.

Overall, there’s simultaneously a million things and not a one that you can do to tackle your microplastic consumption. Real change comes from legislation, and with so much of the planet peppered with microplastics it’s doubtful a meaningful solution is just beyond the horizon. But you can advocate for that legislation, and when it does come up, make sure to vote.

Despite this grim assessment, you can still make changes to your own life and how you live it so that you’re doing your best to create a wholesome and healthy experience for yourself. Like everything in life, some things we can control, and others… Not so much.

The post Okay So There Are Microplastics in Our Food… What Should We Do? appeared first on Eco Club.

That’s why I love the “scrappy cooking” series created by Carleigh AKA @plantyou on Tiktok. 

Carleigh’s created a whole movement unconventionally repurposing the odds and ends we don’t quite want to waste in our kitchen, but also don’t want to necessarily eat either. 

And while I’m all for a Tiktok binge, I’ve decided to save everyone some time and make a list of a few common groceries that I’m sure most, if not all, of us would love to repurpose the food scraps from!

how to repurpose food scraps 

Potato, Po-tah-do

While the pronunciation of this spud may be the subject of heated debate, its versatility in the kitchen is not. If you happen to peel your potato—and want to cut down your food waste—you can either season and crisp them up into potato skins or freeze them in a bag of scrapes that you can boil into veggie broth later on.

If, however, your potatoes have grown too many eyes for safe consumption, you can cut them up and propagate them in a small container of water or soil to grow your own plant (space permitting)!

Onion 

Cutting an onion may make you tear up, but the thought of wasting them doesn’t have to! Like potatoes, onion scraps can be saved and frozen to make a veggie broth, or you can propagate the ends in a small jar to grow your own plant.  

For a fun DIY at home, you can also boil down the skins into a natural dye for fabric! Depending on the kind of onion and fiber you’re using, you’ll get anything from a pale yellow to bright orange or even pink.

Green Onion

Green onions are one of those great plants you can grow in the smallest of spaces. If you save the bulb end, instead of throwing them away, you can stick them in a jar and they’ll keep growing so you can snip a little to cook or garnish with here and there.  

To reduce food waste, if you find yourself with too much green onion, you can freeze them to be used fresh later, or dehydrate them in your oven to use as a seasoning like oregano or thyme. 

Lemon

It always feels like such a waste to have to throw lemon rinds away. Never again. Depending on what you’re looking for, you can make pickled lemons to top your salads, cocktails and more. For a sweeter twist, you can mix with an equal amount of sugar to create lemon cheong for a fantastic tea to fight off the winter chill. You can also dry your rinds and grind them up to make a lemon powder for cooking!

Or, for a non-edible zero-waste solution, you can mix lemon and vinegar to create an all-purpose household cleaning spray. The possibilities are endless.

Carrots

Did you know you can eat carrot tops? Carrot tops and parsley are actually in the same veggie family, and you can use them much in the same way. Blend them into sauces or mix into a salad and reap the same nutritional benefits! 

You can also freeze any carrot scrapes to add to a veggie broth, or propagate the tops to begin growing your own carrots. And if you have just the skins, you can crisp them up in the oven for a vegan alternative to bacon (yum).

What do you do with your food scraps?

The post 5 Ingredients to Start Your Own Scrappy Kitchen appeared first on Eco Club.

Truth be told I was never particularly interested in vegetarian alternatives growing up. I liked burgers, and steaks, and fish sticks; but a few years ago I got the Big Ick, and meat became unpalatable. I started exploring brands that I’d always seen but never tried, and in the process fell in love with companies like Boca and Quorn. (Which in turn made me try vegan cheeses and ice creams, but god I love dairy.)

And while the convenience and accessibility of these brands makes them appealing, constantly striving for a more sustainable lifestyle means critically assessing the invisible impact they may be having on the environment. You have to ask about production, and ask, what kind of packaging do these vegetarian food brands use? Are they recyclable, compostable, or made in some way to combat plastic-waste? What other sustainability efforts are they making?

Because, while going vegan may be better for the environment in comparison to the eating cows and chickens, if everyone is greenwashing their packaging, are we really making a difference?

eco friendly vegetarian food brands

That’s why I wanted to highlight companies I found to be going above and beyond simple performative gestures. So here’s a list of brands doing their part to build a business model that factors in sustainability and eco-friendly manufacturing! 

No Evil Foods

While brands like Impossible and Beyond are dominating the plant-based meat alternative market, grassroots companies like No Evil Foods are pioneering the way to eliminating plastic and packaging waste in their products. No Evil Foods uses compostable materials, and is the first company to achieve a plastic-negative plant meat.

Tache

I think one of the most horrifying millennial revelations was finding out how bad almond milk actually is for the environment. And while I have a particular soft spot for oat milks in particular, I may have to try Tache to support a female-founded company that emphasizes sustainability with its less-impactful pistachio milk and recyclable packaging.

Urban Remedy

A Certified B Corp food company, Urban Remedy offers meals, snacks, and juices made in partnership with local farmers. They package in BPA-free bottles and containers that are recyclable, and upcycled 300 lbs. of organic pulp into Urban Remedy products in 2021.

Follow Your Heart

The creators of Vegenaise, Follow Your Heart has been striving for sustainability since its creation in 1970. They’re the first plant-based manufacturing facility in the US to achieve Platinum Level Zero Waste Certification by TRUE certification, and divert over 98% of their waste from landfills through recycling, composting, etc. Their dedication to sustainability has led them to continually prioritize solar power at their manufacturing plants, and they have over 2,000 panels creating over 300,000 kWH of green energy per year.

So Delicious

If you’re unlucky enough to be lactose-intolerant, chances are you’ve enjoyed one of So Delicious’ many dairy-free products. And while they’re already doing a stellar job expanding their products to include different alternative sources like oat, cashew and coconut milk, So Delicious has also dedicated itself to being a fully recyclable, reusable or compostable company by 2025. They currently use recycled paperboard and fiber in their packaging, and are also eco-conscious with where they source their ingredients from.

What other vegan or vegetarian food brands would you add to this list?

photos by Charity

The post 5 Vegetarian Food Brands That Focus on Sustainability appeared first on Eco Club.

Pink Princess Philodendron

photo by @plantsbybing

Yes, you read that right, the one true pink plant queen! Everyone is trying to get their hands on one right now. They grow super quick, are easy to propagate, and they have pink variegation! I just got my hands on a cutting from my local plant group, and I can’t wait to pot it up and let it grow up a pole. The Pink Princess Philodendron (PPP) grows best in bright, indirect, filtered light and medium to high humidity. So if you too are an Ikea greenhouse plant parent, the PPP will love you. She likes well-draining, moist soil, but be sure to only water when the top 1-2 inches is dry to avoid overwatering and root rot. Once your PPP starts growing, give her a moss pole to climb!

Tradescantia Nanouk aka Fantasy Venice

photo by @plnt.co

The Tradescantia Nanouk also known as the fantasy Venice is a great starter plant. This pink, purple, and green plant grows really well in bright light! They don’t need much humidity because of their thick leaves. BUT, she will thrive in a humid environment. Bring her into your bathroom while you shower, and she will live her best life. She likes to be in moist soil, so watering once a week is perfect. Place her into a hanging basket and watch her grow!

Calathea Roseopicta Rosy aka Rose Painted Calathea

photo by @lolaflora.roslinna

Okay greenhouse parents, here is a high humidity plant that you will love. Don’t worry if you don’t have a greenhouse, spritzing the leaves throughout the day will work. Most calatheas are very vocal when they need help. Their edges will get crispy, and they will curl up. As for light, they thrive in bright indirect light. Too bright and the leaves will burn. Too dark and they will droop. They really love moist soil, so watering often is necessary. To avoid fungus gnats from wet soil, try mosquito bits and cinnamon. Once you perfect your calathea care routine, you will want every kind you can find.

Pink Rubber Plant aka Ficus Elastica Ruby

photo by @roomwithry

Dear new plant parents, the Pink Rubber Plant is for you! Coming from experience, this plant likes to be neglected. I was over watering and it was struggling. I let the soil dry out, and put her closer to the window, and now she won’t stop growing. So learn from me, and water only when dry. During the winter, wait even longer between waterings. In the summer, add some fertilizer to their watering schedule, and watch her grow!

Polka Dot Plant aka Hypoestes Phyllostachya

photo by @plant.the.town.pink

And last but not least the most famous of all pink houseplants, the beloved Polka Dot Plant! This plant is pink with green (polka) dots, and can grow both indoors and outdoors. For indoors, put her near the window, to catch some bright filtered rays between your blinds. Once the leaves start fading, be sure to move her away from the window. Well-draining soil that is slightly moist will work best. Avoid soggy soil so that the roots don’t rot. Spritz the leaves throughout the day to simulate a humid environment.

Remember that as it gets cool outside, plant care is especially important. Water less, and put your plants closer together to keep them warm. And be sure to check out my last plant post to find some eco-friendly plant supplies!

What pink houseplants do you have your eye on?

The post 5 Beautiful Pink Houseplants And How To Care For Them appeared first on Eco Club.

Am I the only one who just can’t stop buying plants? It has gotten to the point that I come home multiple times a week with a new plant child… And all of these new babies need homes, so my next outing is usually the thrift shop to find unique planters. Then, it’s looking online for sustainable houseplant supplies to keep everything fresh and thriving. Here are a few of my top reccs!

From top to bottom, left to right: Blush Ceramic Watering Can from Eco Vibe, Grow with Noot, Den Sustainable Plant Food, Pot of Gold Hanging Planter from Holistic Habitat, Den Sustainable Cactus Soil Mix, Bloomscape Eco Pot Round Pots, Bloom Plant Nutrient, Eucalyptus Hydroponic Planter from Earth Hero, Paper Bag Planter from Uashmama, Plantopedia: The Definitive Guide to Houseplants, Shell on Earth, TECTLE Plant Based Pot, Propagation Gift Set, Whitewash Planters from Bloomist, Peat Free People Tote Bag

Some of my other interests are roller skating, decorating, and thrifting. Like I said, my favorite things to thrift are planters… On any given day, you can find the most unique, and coolest planters, at your local thrift store. There are also tons of eco-friendly accessories that you will love, and your plants will love even more out there. From fertilizer to totes to the cutest plant stands the picks above are sure to make your at-home jungle even more impressive.

Lastly, I know that it’s important to look into the sustainability of your houseplants themselves! Check out this post to learn more about the most eco friendly plants.

What is your must-have plant accessory? Have you tried sustainable houseplant supplies?

The post Sustainable Houseplant Supplies to Green Your Indoor Jungle appeared first on Eco Club.

For many vegans, there is now a major dilemma. Animal welfare and eco-friendly can’t always align. That’s not to say don’t become vegan—I haven’t touched meat since 1997—but because human needs are intersectional and varied, and not every vegan product is a sustainable choice. If your choice to remove animal products is first and foremost as a natural climate solution, it’s good to do some research into which alternatives best suit your lifestyle and beliefs. With that knowledge, you can also inform your meat-eating loved ones of the best options for them rather than demanding veganism (because we all know how that goes).

photo by Dima DallAcqua

This may mean getting your whole family involved in the cooking process—learning to cook at home can make children more mindful of where food comes from, reduces waste, and increases mindfulness around diet and meat consumption. You can also consider carbon emissions and water use in production, your attitude toward secondhand clothing made of animal-based fabrics such as wool, leather or silk, (because secondhand is always better than new), and whether ‘cruelty-free’ or ‘vegan’ labeling is more important to your overall actions.

Of course, food is the biggest change in lifestyle for any and every vegan. It is an essential part of everyday life. Luckily, vegan food is delicious. But it’s ok to acknowledge that meat-free isn’t the only eco choice.

veganism is noble – but it takes research

The most important thing to know about becoming a vegan or supporting loved ones in their plant-based journey is that it is a positive action with a positive impact. If you are concerned that your choices may still carry too much impact in contrast to your intentions, there are two effortless steps to cleaning up your diet, wardrobe, and cosmetics and reducing your carbon footprint that anyone can do.

The first is to be mindful of your purchases and curb the habit of impulse shopping. Instead, buy less and buy better.

Secondly, research products before purchase to see how they align with your reasons for choosing veganism. The simplest way to do this is to have a list of ingredients you commit to avoiding. There’s no doubt that palm oil should be at the top of that list, not just for vegans but for everyone. Responsible for the destruction of vast areas of Indonesia’s forests, oil palm plantations are in such high demand that in Borneo, there is now less than half the population of Orangutans that existed 100 years ago. This disrupts ecosystems, destroys biodiversity, ultimately contributing to the climate crisis. Reducing demand is a powerful tool—use it!

food produces nearly 40% of global greenhouse gas emissions

It’s time for us to stand up and use our individual power for good.

When the IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) published ‘Climate Change and Land’ in 2019, the report outlined the stark choice in front of us—we need positive action. One of the key points in the report was that with a global livestock industry producing 37% of all greenhouse gas emissions—more than the combined emissions of transportation—we need to rethink our diets, not only for environmental reasons but because we risk food insecurity, especially in impoverished nations.

You have the right to know where your food comes from, and thankfully today, it’s easier than ever to make healthy and informed choices. Researching the provenance and origin of your food takes seconds. Free mobile apps like Giki provide the actual environmental cost of your food choices, providing information on how ethical, sustainable, and responsibly-sourced products are, right down to their packaging.

It’s easy to think that individual choices won’t make a difference until global corporations begin to change. While our contributions may be small in comparison, they are still infinitely better than not making any lifestyle changes at all. Individuals are precisely where change begins.

there are livestock farms getting it right

We’ve so much reason to hope; small-scale, ecologically aware farms are on the rise to combat industrial mass-farming. They’re offering a more ethical approach to meat consumption, with improving biodiversity at the heart of their work.

And they’re desperately needed as intensive farming in areas of high deforestation is wreaking havoc on the environment. It’s estimated that cattle ranching is the cause of 80% of Amazonian deforestation. In turn, cattle ranches are responsible for 62% of all agricultural emissions. Those figures can’t be ignored.

However, small-scale, low-density farming methods, such as those used at Knepp Castle Estate in the UK, provide a picture of successful low-impact farming for free-roaming herbivores that has all-important rewilding at its heart. By allowing herds to exist naturally to the point of near-wildness, within a landscape where there is no chemical, medicinal or grain-feed interference, the wild comes back. For instance, restoring agricultural landscapes damaged by over-farming, wild flora rich in fumaric acid returns, which scientists have discovered can inhibit livestock methane production by 70%—a major natural win for a stable future.

As an individual, you’re making a huge difference when you use your informed decisions for good. You don’t have to eat the meat, but it’s essential to acknowledge that there are alternative sustainable livestock farming methods that should be celebrated and that the ecosystem-wide benefits they create are a major win for the environment, providing low carbon, local meat to those who don’t wish to become plant-based.

If a complete vegan commitment is not for you, or perhaps your family, including organic, pasture-fed meat occasionally in your diet increases the demand for responsible and ethical farming. Many companies deliver organic meat box subscriptions right to your door, so you can easily make the switch to higher-quality, ethically sourced meat.

veganism doesn’t work for everyone – really

Veganism doesn’t work on a worldwide scale. Many communities rely on animal products for survival as both food and income. One of the major criticisms of ‘Seaspiracy’ was the lack of BIPOC voices, especially from indigenous communities whose fishing methods have protected the future of the oceans for years through balanced knowledge of the land and sea. Those methods are much more environmentally sound than the increased demand for almond milk and avocados, which in large-scale farming are hugely detrimental to local regions and species, including bees. In 2018, the almond industry was responsible for the deaths of 50 million bees, which the almond industry needs for pollination.

That figure doesn’t sound particularly vegan, does it?

final thoughts

Eating seasonally and choosing local are the greenest options, with greengrocers and farmer’s markets being the best place to find optimal produce. Planning your menu in line with the seasons means that you’ll enjoy fresh produce grown locally, minimizing your carbon footprint and maximizing the variety of crops in your diet. You’ll also have the opportunity to cultivate relationships with those who grow and rear your food, learning more about the process from field to fork.

It’s important to accept that part of a sustainable future is understanding that not everyone can make the same lifestyle changes. Those of us with the privilege to make the vegan decision deserve the very best knowledge to understand it, and be able to have conversations about it. Because ultimately, becoming vegan is the greenest choice, and when you bolster that with further eco-credentials, you’re doing good.

What is your take on the vegan dilemma? What has helped you on your journey to a more sustainable lifestyle?

The post What To Consider Before Going Vegan appeared first on Eco Club.

But no more! Here’s a list of some basic herbs to help you get your own par-tea started today. (I’ll see myself out.) Here you’ll find herbs to create a DIY tea blend for everything from increasing focus to catching more Zzzs and more. Happy mixing!

best teas for a mood boost

If you’ve been struggling to maintain your mood at work, herbs like saffron have been shown to raise dopamine levels and combat depression, as well as lessening PMS symptoms.

Rhodiola, also known as golden root, is believed to alleviate some symptoms of depression by balancing the brain’s neurotransmitters.

St John’s wort has been tested numerous times and shown promising results in lessening the symptoms of depression and mood disorders. HOWEVER, it has several documented interactions to certain medications, so definitely be mindful before incorporating it into your diet!

Gotu Kola has been used for centuries in ayurvedic medicine to relieve multiple conditions. In this instance, you can use the herb to help alleviate anxiety and improve mental clarity.

best teas for focus

It’s a tale as old as time—you make yourself a coffee, pop open your laptop, and settle down to work… only to realize you’d like to be doing anything but.

Although I’ll never admit to just how heavily my college-aged-self depended on it, guarana is a key ingredient in most energy drinks for a reason. The caffeine not only makes your brain go choo-choo like Tomas the Tank Engine, it also helps you maintain focus. Double whammy all around.

Maca is a popular enough supplement that even Trader Joe’s stocked it for a hot minute. Research shows that the maca root may improve learning, memory performance, and endurance (mental AND physical).

Ginko Bilboa is a stalwart proponent of Eastern medicine. Its touted benefits include increased brain functions resulting in better memory, focus, and attention span.

Probably the most unassuming herb on this list, rosemary has surprising benefits beyond making a pizza slap. Studies have shown that with regular ingestion, it can improve memory and sleep quality, and possibly combat burnout.

best teas for stress relief

I think we can all agree—whether you have your own business, or just clock in to your 9-5, everyone deals with stress in their day-to-day life.

There’s a reason lavender is such a dominating proponent of stress-relieving products. Although no concrete reason is given for its effect, it seems that the act of smelling the herb helps to bypass other signals (i.e. anxiety, stress) in the brain.

Ashwagandha is a part of a sub classification of herbs known as adaptogens; basically, they help your body adapt more efficiently to dealing with stress. It’s said to help normalize cortisol levels (the stress hormone), and in turn help ease related symptoms.

Tulsi, also known as Holy Basil, is another adaptogenic herb. Chock full of antioxidants, Tulsi can be utilized to address a number of health concerns like boosting immunity, which tends to suffer when under prolonged bouts of stress.

Passionflower is a common additive in stress-targeted teas. Passionflower is believed to relieve anxiety and stress, as well as improve sleep by boosting your level of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) which calms brain activity.

best teas for sleep

NOTHING makes me saltier than settling in for the night… only to realize my brain is running faster than I did in high school P.E. Cue chamomile—the reigning go-to for those of us afflicted with insomnia and racing thoughts. Its properties are widely believed to help reduce anxiety and induce sleep so fluff your pillow, and say hello to the Sandman.

Next up is California poppy—just knowing poppies were used to make opiates should be enough of a testament to their abilities to put you out like a light. Although the California poppy is a different variety from the potent Opium poppy, it has a shared effect of improving anxiety and inducing sleep.

Valerian root has a long history as a sedative in herbal medicine. Like Passionflower it has been proven to increase GABA levels in the brain. Time to PTFO!

A cousin to mint, Lemon balm has known properties for reducing stress and anxiety, and as a result, is also known for helping ease the symptoms of sleeping disorders.

Have you ever made your own DIY tea blend? Let us know what herbs you’re most excited to start mixing in your own kitchen!

photo by Charity Hestead Kubena

The post 16 Powerful Herbs To Try In Your Next DIY Tea Blend appeared first on Eco Club.

But are there pitfalls to this plant revolution? With many species imported from other countries and an increasing desire to be sustainable at home, more and more of us are asking how to ensure our blossoming collections can be as good for the environment as they are for us.

Here are five of the best ways to nurture sustainable houseplants:

Less is more

With so many shops and online subscriptions for houseplants cropping up, and apartment living on the rise (no green space included) it’s no wonder that people want to fill their homes with a little bit of the great outdoors. Just like with any hobby, it’s easy to get carried away as you become more knowledgeable and start to covet more exotic species to plant parent.

Like all consumerism, the best approach is to not buy on impulse and look into the implications of rarer species before making a purchase. We don’t all need a Fiddle Leaf Fig or Variegated Monstera, however beautiful they are. After all, using plants minimally doesn’t alter their impact or mood-lifting qualities. And having less means more time to take care of the ones you do have, instead of becoming overwhelmed when a passionate hobby becomes an obsession.

Plant swap

With so many people now enjoying living plants, why not learn to propagate and start, or join, a plant swapping community? Nothing is quite as sustainable as growing your own, and in doing so you aren’t contributing to the same level of import carbon emissions or uprooting plants from their native home.

Become a plant nurse

With so many stores now boasting houseplants for sale, it’s unsurprising that many end up neglected and on sale. While these plants might not be in great shape, they can almost always be nursed back to health and flourish. The right light and watering schedule can make all the difference alongside careful pruning of any shoots, stems and leaves that are too far gone. A leafless seedling Yucca I purchased for $1.00 now sits in pride of place in my home and is getting ready to move on to the next pot size.

Reuse plastic pots

If you’re lucky, you can find houseplants in biodegradable pots but the majority still come in the mass-produced terracotta or black plastic pots that aren’t suitable for recycling. If you’re into propagation, they’re perfect for growing and nurturing your cuttings once they reach the soil stage. Otherwise, to ensure they avoid landfill, you can ask your local garden centre if they’d like them, or offer them up on freecycle to another avid grower!

Get native

Native plants are vital to gardens as they promote healthy ecosystems. Unfortunately, there aren’t many native North American plants suitable for indoors, except for two and luckily they’re great plant genus: cacti and succulents. Some ferns can also be kept indoors, such as American Maidenhair Fern, but they often require a little more work. 

Overall, successfully caring for any plant, whether in the ground or hanging from a macrame shelf, is infinitely easier if it is native. Much of the hard work has been done for you when caring for plants already evolved to the climate you’re in. They may not have quite the same eco-prowess that a garden native would have, but with a combination of lower carbon footprints and a warm feeling of familiarity, they’re a pretty special thing to have in your home.

Which houseplants do you have? Do you have a favorite local spot for buying sustainable houseplants?

The post 5 Ways To Make Your Houseplant Collection As Green As Their Leaves appeared first on Eco Club.

Easy Ziploc Swap

I know we all really love the convenience of those small plastic baggies, but Ziploc has some serious competition nowadays. With reusable alternatives like the woman-owned (re)zip, which is leak-proof and BPA free, the benefits of a single-use bag starts to lose its shine.

Likewise, Stasher bags are dishwasher-safe, with a cult following on Instagram, and Bumpkins sandwich bags are made from a waterproof and stain-resistant fabric that comes in a multitude of patterns—perfect for visually-picky kiddos. 

Wash, Rinse, Repeat

I know most of us don’t really think of something as basic as dish soap when we think of easy eco-friendly swaps. After all, you wash the soap away, right? But all those plastic containers, wrappers, boxes… they add up. Which is where zero-waste alternatives like No Tox Life’s Vegan Dish Block come in. The packaging is biodegradable, and consumers located in Los Angeles can actually get no-waste refills from their flagship store.

Alternatively, Bestowed Essentials Zero Waste Dish Soap Bar is produced by an all-female team in Rapid City, South Dakota that actively promotes other female-run businesses in their zero-waste shop.

And for those looking to support small businesses, Sea Witch Botanicals on Etsy produces a plant-based, chemical-free “Canary Clean” Zero Waste Dish Soap Bar.

How To Keep Your Produce Fresh

Nothing, nothing, makes me sadder than a box of berries that starts to mold the day after I buy them. So imagine how ecstatic I was to discover that produce-extenders were a thing!

The FRESHGROW Co. Freshpaper food saver sheets are 100% organic and chemical-free. You just slip a sheet in with your produce, and voila! Produce that lasts two to four times longer than you’re used to.

Debbi Meyer’s GreenBags operate on the same concept, but come as bags you place your produce in. Unlike Freshpaper, the GreenBags are good for up to 10 uses and can be used on flowers too.

Last, but not least, Farberware Food Huggers work by creating a seal on cut produce. Top off that half-avocado with a snug new hat, and forget you ever worried about browning or mushiness.

Saran Wrap Swaps

Much like the Ziploc, where would most of us be without plastic wrap in our lives? If you’ve ever felt that creeping guilt as you tear off sheet after sheet, here are a few eco-friendly swaps that are just one online cart away:

Bee’s Wrap creates beeswax-coated sheets that are reusable, washable, multi-functional, and compostable.

Operating off of a similar concept as Faberware, Modfamily Silicone Stretch Lids create a vacuum seal with silicone covers that fit snuggly over bowls of varying sizes.

And for those that are actively looking to patron small businesses, Marley’s Monsters makes fabric bowl covers that are corded to create a custom fit!

K-Cup Alternatives

Raise your hand if you’re guilty of feeding into the K-cup craze from the early 2000s. Thankfully, since their popularization, Keurig has come out with the My K-cup as a re-usable alternative for their original single-use pods. If you’re trying to step away from Keurig however, and are too lazy to wash the cup after each use (c’est moi), try alternatives like the Maxware reusable 4-pack.

And for those who want an even more eco-friendly swap, San Francisco Bay Gourmet Coffee’s OneCUP is a compostable, biodegradable pod that comes in packs of 12 to 120.

Still Sucked In

Ah, at last, my favorite category—reusable straws! The FinalStraw first launched in 2018 and created a market for a portable, long-lasting alternative to single-use plastic. Since then, a whole market of alternatives has bloomed, but FinalStraw’s tacky-ad mermaid will always hold a special place in my heart.

For those who prefer bendy straws, the silicone Koffie Straw comes pre-bent and can be trimmed to fit shorter cups.

You can also find plenty of clever alternatives like reusable glass straws and straws made of bamboo, by shopping some of the zero waste shops mentioned here.

Have another easy eco-friendly swap we didn’t talk about? Let us know in the comments! 

*photo by @charityvictoria

The post 6 Easy Eco-Friendly Kitchen Swaps You Didn’t Know You Needed appeared first on Eco Club.