About Sanbera

Created by Tina Erni, Sanebra was founded in Switzerland on the principles of ethical business and modern science. Something I really resonate with, is the brand’s passion for rituals as I try and weave self-care rituals into my everyday life. Sanbera designed their range to fuse science and wellbeing to improve your daily habits and create healthy practices that deliver tangible results for the entire body, without costing the environment. Everything was designed by leading Swiss nutritional experts who wanted to simplify wellness for the busy, on the go, modern individual. This is what led them to create their essential day to day supplements – one for men and one for women.

Taylor’s Experience

I’ve been taking the Essential Day-to-Day for almost my entire pregnancy – as I’m near the end, that is almost a full nine months of testing the product. This is truly a supplement that everyone would benefit from as it is created to work on energy, clarity, mood, athletic ability, immunity, and complexion – I think that ticks everything off the list! It is packed full of incredible, clean, and powerful ingredients to seamlessly meet the body’s nutritional requirements during the day. I used to take a plethora of different vitamins – a different tablet for each vitamin or herb that I wanted to take. I’m sure we’ve all been there, staring down at multiple horse size pills of vitamin D, C, B12, etc.

Sanbera’s essential supplement is only three small circular tablets that are so incredibly easy to swallow. They were very easy for me to take in my first trimester – a time when everything made me nauseous! Something I love about Sanbera is how transparent they are as a brand – something that became even more important to me when taking supplements during my pregnancy. They have an incredible list of all the ingredients on their website that they use and the reasons why they use them. Each tablet is dense with nutrition and intentionally crafted in small batches, so you know each bottle you order is the freshest it can be!

Sustainability

Not only are Sanbera’s products 100% vegan and plant based, but the brand is incredibly committed to sustainability in their entire supply chain. Their ingredients come from the best organic plants and fruits – better for us and better for the environment. As a Swiss brand they are committed to ensuring their local manufacturing protects their local environment. Sanbera’s manufacturer, Dixa, is one of the most proficient companies that is truly dedicated to sustainability with over one hundred years of experience. For me, what makes a truly sustainable brand is transparency. Sanbera actually encourages questions about their brand and supply chain, and even lists an email address on their website for the purpose of true transparency!

Sanbera supplements are 100% vegan and totally free from animal testing, something that is sadly still very rare in today’s supplement market.  Their products are also completely free of added sugar, nutritional substitutes and GMOs (genetically modified organisms). With all of this, they have been awarded the “Vegan Flower” and meet the high requirements of the Vegan Society for all ingredients and production processes.

Shop the line which we are so thrilled to welcome to REV below, knowing that each item is great for you and easy on the planet!

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Words from Taylor Blair-Dubuis @taylorblair1

Flowers from Petalon

What could be better than some beautiful, locally sourced and sustainable flowers? I am ordering from Florence after our lovely interview! “A flower blooming in its proper season is the best version of that flower, it’s strong, healthy and indicative of the seasons. Locality is great for reducing the carbon footprint of transport.” – Florence of Petalon Flowers. 

Discount Code: ‘REVEENVERT10’

Vintner’s Daughter Set

Having just chatted to the founder, April, on the REV podcast I can say this is the perfect Mother’s Day set! At Vintner’s Daughter, they move at what they call the Speed of Quality. Every bottle of Vintner’s Daughter uniquely begins with the world’s most nutrient-dense whole plants and what follows is a 21-day temperature controlled infusion process that extracts every ounce of their powerful nutrients and plant actives in the most optimal ratios. Skin is able to recognize and utilize their formulas immediately because they mirror the natural, nutritive building blocks in all skin – perfect for mature skin! 

Pippa Small Jewelry

This is a jewelry line that has a wonderful give back ethos in it and I think makes a perfect gift for a mother as so many of the artisans Pippa works with are mothers themselves and women who are working in countries ravaged by way. Your purchase goes to supporting their work and I can’t think of a better piece of statement jewelry in that it has a deeper purpose behind each piece.

A Farm Box from Spring To Go

I think giving the gift of regenerative food might be the greatest gift possible at the moment and when I lived in London this was my go to for beautiful boxes of organic food items! Launched by sustainable restaurant, Spring London, Spring To Go is the home delivery service bringing you fresh and delicious local produce grown at Fern Verrow’s biodynamic farm in Wales. 

Marai Leather Goods

This leather line made from discarded goat hides is made in Switzerland and are accessories that she can really use and made to last a lifetime….possibly to hand down from a mother to a child! The idea for MARAI was born after the founders learned that Switzerland burns tens of thousands of goat and sheepskins from the food industry every year. If no buyers are found for the hides in the near future, they too will have to be burned. MARAI wants to counteract this wasteful practice through purposeful design. MARAI processes the hides locally using natural tanning agents to create beautiful leather that will last for decades. In small manufactories, this leather is used to produce timeless, high-quality products that will faithfully accompany you in your daily life for years to come.

Namsu Zero Waste Starter Sets

I am trying hard to get my mother into more zero waste living, and these beautiful refillable body and hand wash sets from Namsu are perfect gifts to encourage less waste! They use plant-derived ingredients that cleanse and rejuvenate both body and mind. Namsû products are packaged using their unique refill and recycle system. Unlike a refill pouch, their bottles are 100% kerbside recyclable. Whenever you use a refill, you use up to 60% less plastic than if you would have purchased a traditional bottle and pump. Refill more to save more.

Donation to Earth Justice

What could be better than honoring Mother Earth on Mother’s Day? This is one of my favorite charities as these lawyers work tirelessly to defend our planet and the people and animals that live here that so unfairly suffer from a lot of our actions.

Name:

Sara Harowitz

Occupation:

Director of content and editorial at vitruvi

Location:

Vancouver, British Columbia

Please let us know if there is anything specific you would like us to add in your introduction?

I would love it if you can mention that part of my job is being the editor-in-chief of vitruvi’s magazine, Natural Habitat. And that we launched our debut print issue last year, with actor and entrepreneur Shay Mitchell on the cover. The magazine was printed on FSC-certified, post-consumer-recycled paper using eco-friendly ink; it’s designed to be a keepsake, which is why we only create one issue a year.

What’s the first thing you do when you wake up?

Once my alarm goes off, I usually stay in bed for a few minutes in the dark—it’s my quiet way of welcoming the day. Then I hop right into the shower; I try not to check my phone until after I’m dressed.

What are you having for breakfast?

I usually have Terra Breads granola (Vancouverites: if you know, you know) with coconut milk or yogurt, and a sprinkle of cinnamon and local bee pollen on top. Plus fresh berries in the summer. Also, a black Americano.

What’s your daily beauty routine?

It’s pretty minimal these days. In the morning I just splash my face with cold water and then apply some toner; right now I’m loving Mifa’s Vitamin Sea Essence. At night I take off any makeup with micellar water, wash my face with a gel cleanser (currently East 29th’s Valia Cleanser), and then apply Honest’s Beauty Sleep Resurfacing Serum.

How would you describe your day to day style? (Feel free to elaborate on favorite pieces, designers, etc.)

My style is quite basic: lots of denim (I especially love my Decades and my vintage Calvin Kleins) and plain shirts (Kotn is a go-to for sustainable classics). I also love Rachel Comey and often wear her stuff when I have an upscale work event. Oh, and my Mate sweatsuit is a dream for lounging around the house

How do you inform yourself throughout the day? What are you listening to, watching, reading?

I subscribe to a lot of daily newsletters, including The Globe and Mail, Literary Hub, The Skimm, Morning Brew, The Cut, Refinery29, and The New York Times. I also get weeklies from Canadaland and The Tyee, as well as Hung Up and Friday Things. I try to make sure I’ve got some baseline knowledge on everything from current events and industry news to pop culture.

Do you have any personal life hacks for getting through the day in the most sustainable way possible?

My closet is probably the way I’m the most sustainable. I try to shop vintage or consignment first and foremost, and if I do buy something new off the rack, it’s always made ethically. I’m that weirdo who searches for the inner tags on a garment to see where it’s made, and will often stand in an aisle and Google a brand if I need more information on its production.

How do you wind down at the end of the day?

Exercise is crucial for my mental health, and it’s a big part of my after-work routine (shoutout to Lagree West). Other than that, I like to read in the evenings—or watch some easy television (currently it’s reruns of Parks and Recreation).

What’s dinner time look like for you? What are you eating? Where are you eating? With who?

Because I work from home now, I prioritize getting out of the house and seeing my people in the evenings—which often means having dinner at a local restaurant or bringing takeout to one of our houses. If I’m cooking at home for myself, it’s usually something pretty simple like pasta primavera or a rice bowl.

What does sustainability mean to you?

Sustainability for me is about future-proofing. Previous generations have been largely focused on the present, but we need to start thinking about preservation.

What drives you to live a sustainable life?

We know that big corporations and environmental policy are what will really move the needle in terms of the health of our planet. So for me, adopting sustainable practices is a way for me to feel like I’m making a difference—even if it’s just in my own little life.

What are your three favourite pieces on Rêve En Vert?

It’s very hard to pick just three! But I love the look of this gray cashmere v-neck dress by Leap Concept; Bare Knitwear’s ribbed jacket in beige; and these gorgeous reclaimed gold hoops from Carolina de Barros.

Words from Sara Harowitz @sara.harowitz

Can you begin by telling us a bit about your personal connection to flowers – how did your creative spirit with the natural world evolve?

Part of me wishes that there was a romantic answer to this, but in truth it was a slow burn that eventually saturated my whole life in the most wonderful, all consuming way. Fuelled by a desire to have my own business I was constantly looking for sparks of inspiration for clever little business ideas. When my partner, James, sent a disappointing bouquet I began to think how flower delivery could be done differently, which set me on the path to creating Petalon – a flower delivery business that delivered small bouquets by bicycle across London. Not knowing much (anything) about flowers, i poured over books and youtube videos to learn how to make a bouquet. It was from designing these early bouquets that I became hooked. The varieties, the colours, the endless possibilities of how a bouquet could look. I wanted to make bouquets that customers would love, with flowers they may never have seen before. The business has changed dramatically from the early days of me and my bicycle delivering flowers across the capital but it’s roots are still the building blocks of who we are and what we stand for today.

Before we get into all the wonderful ways you are growing flowers sustainably, can you first tell us a bit about some of the unsustainable issues with conventional flower growing?

We started our flower growing journey last year, so only have 1 season of experience under our belt and are very much learning as we go. Being in Cornwall means we are blessed with a milder climate than a lot of the UK but as we do not use heated greenhouses we can realistically only have flowers from April – November. We are trialing different methods to shoulder our seasons a bit better but we still import the majority of our flowers, especially from November – April. The majority of these flowers come from Western Europe (coming through the flower auction in Holland) where they are grown in huge greenhouses with artificial lights and heat, there can also be a lot of harmful pesticides and fertilisers used and so much plastic used to wrap the flowers as well as the journey the flowers take from grower to auction then on to retailers. There is obviously a carbon burden with imported flowers and we are careful to offset that and are now pleased to say that we are certified Carbon neutral. We make additional efforts to sequester as much carbon as we can on our land, it’s the start of a long journey of growth and learning.

Can you tell us why seasonality and keeping things local is so important when it comes to flowers?

When we moved to Cornwall and were able to start growing our own flowers it was a dream come true. What excited me the most was being able to grow all the flowers that I couldn’t find on the auction. Growing our own has cemented a strong notion of a particular flower’s place in a year. Anemones and Poppies are the first flowers to bloom for us this year, with a trickle of Narcissi at the end of february and a few headily scented stocks as we go into March, with Ranunculus buds showing promise for a few weeks time. A flower blooming in its proper season is the best version of that flower, it’s strong, healthy and indicative of the seasons. Locality is great for reducing the carbon footprint of transport. As we deliver nationwide we are careful to use a carbon neutral courier. Buying local flowers is easy if you live close to a grower, but flowers also need to make their way to people living in cities who maybe don’t have access to a local grower so we hope to be able to provide British blooms to these people in the months that allow.

You also showcase the most beautiful floral arrangements, how do you translate the sustainable ethos of your work into the bouquets you create?

We have a choice of two bouquets that change every week. This was to keep things simple and seasonal. A lot of flowers are available year-round from Holland, but to be able to add in seasonal blooms is what really brings the bouquet to life. A lot of the seasonal flowers are expensive but I try and add one stem of each variety in so that the customer gets to experience what something like a snake-head fritillary looks like, when unusual flowers like this aren’t stocked at supermarkets and a lot of high street florists. Delphiniums are another example of an expensive flower if you have to buy a whole bunch of them, but by using just one in our bouquets they still get to be enjoyed by our customers in their homes rather than maybe only seeing them at weddings or in hotel displays. Now that we have started growing our own flowers we can supplement these bouquets with some of our more unusual stems. Scented geranium leaf provides a wonderful smell, as well as mint and oregano from the farm. The majority of our field flowers are sold as a separate product but if we harvest a large quantity of a particular crop then we will design the bouquets around that flower. This lowers the carbon footprint of our bouquets but also means our customers get to enjoy some of our more unusual flowers.

What does it mean to grow flowers sustainably?

I think this will be different for every grower – depending on what they’re growing, what product they are creating, what industry they’re serving and what their own location is.

How have you gone about running your flower farm in Cornwall as sustainably as possible?

We don’t need too much power to grow our flowers. We don’t have any heated greenhouses or anything that needs a lot of power but the power we do use comes from our solar panels. This is for heating germination mats and grow lights for germination, and in the summer it powers the cooler. We use no-dig practices to keep soil structure intact and to add nutrients to the soil. We do this by laying cardboard as a weed suppressant and adding green waste ontop to create flower beds. We fertilise with seaweed and manure and we don’t use any pesticides or synthetic fertilisers. We use peat free compost when sowing seeds and foster organic practices (although we are not an organic farm as we don’t limit our seed to organic varieties). We are also taking a more holistic approach to the land surrounding us in general in an experiment into growing flowers differently.

You have a small mixed herd of livestock now – why have you brought animals on to your land?

We rent the surrounding fields that have been intensively farmed for decades. With one 11 acre field we have sown a herbal lay (a seed mix of 26 different varieties of herbs, grasses and legumes) to improve soil structure and sequest as much carbon as possible. We are building a mixed herd to mob-graze this land, largely from animals that would otherwise have been disposed off; our sheep had mastitis so trouble feeding their young – as it’s not a desirable trait when building a flock, we took them off the farmer’s hands rather than letting them be culled. Our male ducks were going to be food for a bird of prey centre but we bought them home to help combat the slugs. The animals graze the land, adding their poo and managing the land in their own way. The chickens and ducks will go in after the larger animals and scratch up the ground, adding their own unique contributions. We will then build no-dig beds on this, creating a fantastic growing environment for our flowers whilst improving soil structure for the land and consequently sequestering more carbon. This is an experiment into growing flowers differently, in a way that benefits the land, the atmosphere and some animals that would otherwise have been disposed of.

Working so closely to nature have you started to see the effects of climate change on the ground?

It’s hard to say as we’ve only been working on the land for the last year. It was incredibly challenging to have such a long, cold and unseasonally dry spring last year. We have a very clay soil here and it turned to concrete in these conditions, making it impossible to plant into. The mild winter we’ve had means a lot of our autumn planted hardy annuals started flowering way too early and has thrown off a few of our crop plans but I think there will always be something.

How do you think climate change might affect the flower industry?

The demand for British flowers from florists is growing and there is already a huge rise in lots of smaller growing enterprises across the country which is great. It is a very complex subject and not importing flowers is not the only answer. British flowers are expensive compared to a lot of imported stock, and many growers don’t deliver so it would be hard for the average high street florist to always be able to use British the whole time. There can be a lot of shaming in the industry which is incredibly damaging to small businesses who rely on imports for their livelihood. Lots of people making a small change has much more impact than a select few making a big change so if everyone made the effort to incorporate british flowers into their businesses in some aspect then there would be less of a carbon burden coming from imports.

When you can’t grow some things yourself, how do you source outside florals that have the same sustainable ethos as yours?

It’s incredibly difficult to find flowers from sustainable sources at the scale we need. As we do the same 2 bouquets throughout the week and replenish our stock regularly throughout the week we need a high volume of the same stems. This is part of the reason we have chosen to offset the carbon that is created in our imported flower journey. There are huge employment problems in Cornwall, with lots of seasonal jobs but a severe lack of actual careers. We have the opportunity to create good, honest and exciting careers for local people and if we didn’t import flowers then we would have no work for employees from nov – march. We would just be adding to the seasonal job market, with good employees slipping through our fingers as we wouldn’t be able to offer them year round employment.

Do you think the way you grow is scaleable to a larger way of doing things in the floral industry?

In all honesty, we don’t know. And I guess that is partly what we are trying to work out.

How do you find living in the beautiful British countryside affects your connection to nature and slow living?

I love waking up in the middle of nowhere, our house looks over protected grassland and is surrounded by farmed fields. I lived in London for over a decade and never saw a sunrise or sunset from any home as the areas we lived in were so built up or we were in basement flats etc. watching the sunrise from the breakfast table is such a primal joy. Add in our resident Barn Owl swooping through the dawn break and the whole thing is pinch-me perfect. But I’m not sure that because we are in a rural setting and work with flowers and animals that we are somehow living slowly, but maybe I haven’t grasped the meaning of slow living. We work where we live and Petalon operates 7 days a week so there isn’t really any switching off from it. We rely on it for our livelihoods, as well as our staff’s livelihoods – it is a huge responsibility and has to be taken seriously. But in all honesty I don’t think the inability to switch off bothers me. I love what we are trying to do with the business and with our lives, I love learning how to farm in our own way and I love living in the middle of nowhere but it takes a lot of work and effort to achieve these things, especially whilst raising a family. My partner James moves at a million miles an hour, the rate at which he has transformed the farm over such a short period of time is gobsmacking. His fervour and optimistic energy is what makes so much of this life possible for us, it can be exhausting at times but it’s truly a gift. I’ve loved watching our family transition from busy city life to a rural one by the coast. The pandemic forced a lot of these changes for us but now instead of going to the cinema to switch off, we can get in the sea or take a coastal walk. I don’t feel like our pace of living is any different to when we were in London, but being able to spend so much of our time working outdoors is so special.

Finally, and we know this will be a hard question, do you have a favourite flower to grow?

Ah this is hard to answer after 1 year of growing! There are so many new varieties we are trialing each season so even if there’s a flower we adore, if it doesn’t travel well we can’t sell it. So there are plenty of crops that we aren’t continuing from last year, even though they were completely gorgeous (agrostemma and verbascum were a heartbreaking flower to discontinue). I think ranunculus have been a really interesting flower to grow. They can be pretty fussy plants and we’ve by no means cracked it with how to grow them without any problems but the jewels of flowers that appear are unlike anything else. Swirls of petals that vary with every flower – stripes, ombre petals, colours from almost black through brown, red, perfect peach tones and everything in between. They travel well and have a killer vase life. Even though they are a lot of work to grow, I cannot imagine a year of growing flowers without them.

Words from Florence Kennedy @petalon_flowers

First of all, can you tell us about your goals for 2022 when it comes to living a slower lifestyle?

I feel like I am still gently unfurling this winter and I have tried to shift my focus and energy towards being rather than doing. It’s so easy to become a slave to our to-do lists and have unrealistic expectations of productivity, but this year I hope to be able to spend more time day dreaming, wandering and relaxing – trusting that these things are just as important to fuel and nourish us.

Can you tell us a bit about what inspired you to create Toro Studio?

I am generally a very curious person and want to explore different parts of my creativity. I have never followed one career path in life and so a studio for me is a safe space that allows me to be creative in any way I want. It feels like an ever evolving platform that is both deeply individual and part of a greater creative community.

How does the name of the company reflect your own values when it comes to items of the home?

Toro is the Italian for Taurus which is my sun sign. I am also called Tor and so the name of my studio is about me as an individual but also about something more sublime and universal. In gently referencing the constellation and zodiac I am reminded of the greater natural cycles that we are all part of and a slower, more elemental pace.

What does the idea of “slow made” ceramics mean to you?

All of my pieces are created using hand building techniques such as pinch and coiling, they are not thrown on a pottery wheel. This inevitably means that the process of shaping and building is much slower. For me, this pace allows me to find a meditative flow state and a rhythm that calms my nervous system and allows my mind to wander. I hope that this slow rhythm also resonates within the finished piece.

What are the traditional techniques you use in your sculptures and how do you look to more artisanal and time honoured methods to do things consciously?

I mostly use pinch and coiling techniques to slowly build up shapes. There is something very primal about working with clay, especially with very limited equipment, just your hands and this incredible substance from the earth. There is a kind of limitless future potential and a deep connection to the past.

How does the process of making things by hand help you to create a more sustainable business model?

I am interested in the idea of how to grow a business holistically. I can physically only make a certain number of pieces a year, and I want to prioritise other values beyond profit. Thinking about growth in a meaningful way for me involves thinking about interconnectivity, outreach, mutual support and community. Working in Cornwall helps me think about these things in a direct way as there are some inherent challenges of living in a remote, rural place. I am also grateful to be surrounded by some incredibly conscious, compassionate business owners here and it feels like together we can challenge each other and hold ourselves to higher standards.

How did you make the decision to produce only a limited number of pieces per year?

It was quite a simple decision dictated by the fact that I only have one pair of hands! Between collections I find it’s essential to take time away from the studio to reflect on the work I’ve just produced or sit with it for a while and just absorb it. I also try to take the space to get re-inspired before starting to make anything else, this could be anything from changing my headspace by reading, walking or having creative conversations. It takes a fairly considerable amount of time to handbuild even a small collection of pieces. The vessels themselves take days to shape, they often need weeks to dry out and everything has two firings in the kiln. Each process cannot be rushed and it’s a constant reminder for me to practice patience and slow down.

You say on your site that “objects hold spiritual weight” – can you speak a bit to this?

I’ve always been drawn to material things, objects that I have in my spaces that make me feel good. The most special of these things are the first to be unpacked when I move house and have over the years become imbued with qualities that are beyond the aesthetic. Objects can make us feel home, safe, inspired, connected to others, connected to something bigger. Humans give meaning to things and this fascinates me, especially with those objects made so directly by another human being.

What is your most used home item?

It’s probably a hand carved wooden spoon given to me by someone special, so worn over the years with use it has only enhanced its character.

And you also do beautiful photography – how do you like to represent your idea of ethical living in that part of your work?

I shoot on 35mm film which has a similar slow methodology and effect on me as working with clay. Every element of the process requires time, nothing is immediate and I love this aspect in an age where we can have everything we want at the touch of a button. For me each frame becomes a little more considered and sacred.

How do you find living in beautiful Cornwall affects your connection to nature and slow living?

I feel incredibly grateful to have grown up in this humbling landscape and to now choose it as a place to live and work. Though not without its challenges the salt and granite are in my bones. I love the elemental proximity to the edges of a land mass and those liminal spaces created by moving tides and eroding material. You can tap into different energies as you move around the coast, from ancient moorland with granite sculptures to pine fringed green rivers. I feel more in tune with my own natural cycles here and part of a greater system of continual flux and flow. It’s hard to not feel the effects of big energetic full moons and heavy spring tides and I do try to honour these cycles within the ebb and flow of my own life and creativity.

Do you have any rituals you perform for natural stress relief?

When I start the day by entering the sea and feel the weightlessness of being in water there is an indescribable sense of calm and connection that underpins the day. Even on the coldest January days, there is a feeling of being nourished.

As we enter 2022 with a hope that people will begin to embrace slower ways of living, can you give us all one tip for how to embrace a slower style of life?

I think the way we start our days can have a profound effect on how we feel for the rest of the day and how we react or respond to the people around us. Not everyone can swim in the sea but to start each day with something intentional and beneficial to your soul can be incredibly grounding; whether it’s journaling, breathwork or just simply taking time to make a beautiful cup of coffee.

Words from Tor Harrison @toro_studio @tor_harrison

First of all, can you tell us about your goals for the New Year when it comes to a slow living lifestyle?   

I’m not one for goals. Rather, I like to set intentions.  

1.Planting a seed (pun intended) to let my garden grow this year. 2021 was my first year of gardening. This year, I’m more confident to try new vegetables and to expand the herbal and flower patch. Everything we harvested last year was either eaten or used as herbal remedies, and this year I hope to become more self-sufficient with the herbs and flowers I use.   

2.My personal life has been easier to manage since the outbreak of Covid, with fewer choices and more living. However, it seems ad hoc has become the new norm at work. I am all for an innovative binge once in a while. That can be stimulating. But to have it on the schedule every day strains the nervous system and hinders creativity. Meeting free days to focus on what needs to be done, following through without interruption. Entrepreneur and founder of My Cermonia Babba Canales shared a story on IG about her practising of not being available 24/7. We can’t control some situations, but you can always say no.  

3.Writing and reading more. I have been working on the next issue of Sauvage, the magazine I released 6 years ago. I want to get it out of my system and my headspace and onto paper. This will take some planning and time.

4. I’m also focusing more on my work with Alexander Franzen at Carbon Calories. We’ve just opened our waitlist for  SMEs  to get early bird access when we launch. (Connect SMEs/startups (“Early Birds”) with Carbon Calories to join our Waitlist.)

Do you think moving more slowly and copiously can help in our collective efforts to combat the climate crisis?  

Part of our lives needs to slow down, like our addiction to consumption and production of non-vital products. We can also take a break when it comes to social media and media.  

It’s about re-directing our energy to where it’s needed. We still need to act on many levels and can’t grow passive. That’s not what slow-living suggests, it is about channeling awareness.

We know you were a yoga teacher for many years – how have you found this helpful in managing stress? 

In the first 15 years, my yoga practice and teaching were very goal and profession-driven. 

Wellness became an industry. Remember when I started my spiritual journey 23 years ago, smartphones didn’t exist.  Nowadays, social media pushes us to believe that we need multiple products to embark on our practice and awakening. Self-care can quickly become ego care.  

The moments I have had my most profound spiritual connections or moments of stillness have been when I was sitting in nature, or as a contrast, at home in the mornings with my husband hurrying about in the kitchen. The juicer making noise with the BBC playing somewhere in the background. All that noise could make me irritated, but instead, I use it to watch the comings and goings of sound. The sound that sprouts from a more spacious silence around us.  I’ve scaled down. At this moment in my life, with all that is happening in the world, I need fewer mantras, card decks and crystals. I want to rediscover nature in the modern world. Making my spiritual practice part of my sustainability research has given me a new purpose.

Sowing our garden with herbs and plants, harvesting and then weaving them into my crafts. Binding smudges, food creating, or making herbal remedies bring my head and mind-stuff into the heart region. From there, I channel it out into my hands, and it relieves me from stress, trauma and anxiety.  It restores what is already there.

Can yoga also help you feel more empowered and energetic in the actions you do want to take?  

Yes, as you can see in my answer before, haha. It is empowering to reclaim our lost instincts during this era of humanity. We have been focusing on the “modern” urban lifestyles and lost our ability to care for ourselves and the environment.   Yoga doesn’t have to be the physical practice we associate with today – it is so much more.

What are some of your favourite yoga poses for every day?  

 For the past 10 years, I have practised Bikram and Ashtanga yoga for heat. I focus on the lymphatic system with fascia flossing for my everyday sequences. Movements that create friction and stimulate the flow of lymph fluid. It is incredible what a difference it makes. It is like connecting to the inner tide of my body. Ebb, flows and the sticky, stagnant parts. The form of the pose isn’t as important, as in regular yoga. It’s about opening up the mind’s eye in tissue, your organs and using resistance and not momentum when moving. I pair this with weight lifting vinyasa and pilates.

And what about meditation? How do you use that to help with your work and lifestyle?  

I enjoy the simplicity of zen meditation and scent rituals using essential oils, sometimes fire and smoke. Like I wrote above, after working in the beauty and fashion industry for many years, I’ve learnt how hard it is to source crystals and tokens like palo santo responsibly. Child labour is common when mining for crystals and minerals. I jokingly call crystals the blood diamonds for yogis. Instead I make my own ritual elements, which has made it more sustainable. 

Do you have any tips on how to start a meditation practice for those beginning?  

If you have a hard time concentrating, I recommend using an app when you start, just to get the hang of it. I use Insight Timer or The Mindfulness app when I need extra guidance. I like Seiso Paul Cooper, an Ordained Soto priest, teacher and leader.  Or, Pema Chödröns courses that combine traditional and personal insight that resonates with the slow down culture we are trying to uncover. 

That and a little practice every day or every other day keeps on giving all the way instead of a lot once in a while or every other month.  Remember that the brain manages everything in our body, movement, functions, and sensations. So releasing stress through physical activity and breathing exercises calms the nervous system. A calmer mind for overall wellbeing.

We know that spirituality can be a huge help in figuring out our purpose in the world – how do you approach your spiritual self?  

I read, listen to music, cook, study and try to be creative without feeling the need to be productive. This is the fun part, but. 

I also need to sit with my shadow sides in meditation and let them be who they are.  

You can ́t escape your demons by diving into something without trying to locate where you feel discomfort. I believe many of us are experiencing anxiety of some sort these days. 

The results will be the same both for you and your surroundings, fragmentation and loss of connection. When we ́are born into this world, we are unbroken puzzles. As humans, we need to understand how to survive, and in doing so, we break the puzzle. We learn to taste, smell, see, crawl, walk, love and hate. We separate nature, individuality and society.  

Flash forward a quarter of a lifetime, and we ́ve learnt plenty but also lost the bond of being born complete.  

We ́ve become fragmented, and it ́s now time to put the pieces back together to experience that wholeness again.  Some things might be lost forever, and you are a different version of yourself. To find a method to help you figure out the “puzzle” is just as important as all that learning we do. I did my uncovering with yoga, I had to do multiple wrongs before I arrived at where I am today. And I will continue to do so for the rest of my life.  

Can you tell us a bit about your morning routine as part of a slow living lifestyle? 

My husband and I wake at 5 am, have coffee and read in bed until 7. I have a shower and do my face ritual. I am lucky to have access to great products, so I try to enjoy this part of the day and not hurry through it. Dry brushing body and face, maybe some face lifting massage.  

Then I do 40-60 minutes of meditation combined with physical movement of some sort. Depending on the time, the practice can be longer or shorter.  Then I have a juice or smoothie and start my working day.

And a bit about your evening routine as part of a slow living lifestyle?  

We make time to cook each meal, especially dinner. Talk about the daily happenings, connect, check each other’s state of mind. Depending on my mood, the evening face ritual can be face steam with herbs or washing off the day and applying products of choice. In bed by 8 pm, we read or watch a movie until the lights go out.

How do you keep your practices going when you get busy? 

Honestly, like I said, Covid has helped me be consistent with my practice. It is pretty much the same when busy. I have activated focus time on my phone, turning off notifications when I need to focus. It is probably the best service my phone has 🙂

With a hope that people will begin to embrace slow living lifestyles, can you give us all one tip for how to embrace a slower style of life?

A classic quote but here goes, less is definitely more.

Words from Johanna Ljunggren @detoxlife

Want to read more about slow living?

Check out our conversation with Alyson Morgan of Our Kindred Home. Famous for her aesthetically curated instagram and latest book release ‘Our Kindred Home’, Alyson hopes to bring slow folk living inspiration to all through nature based recipes, rituals and practices. We love Alyson’s approach to slow living – highlighting the beauty of nature and how we can live in harmony with it everyday.

First of all, could you please introduce yourself and tell us a bit about what you do?

I’m Bianca Foley, sustainability content creator, podcaster and consultant.  I co-host the podcast Sustainably Influenced and we are about to launch Season 6 in the autumn!

You are a FORMER fast fashion addict – what do you think the pull is for so many of us to shop this way? 

I don’t shop fast fashion anymore and haven’t for quite some time now! But I can definitely see why people shop fast fashion and ultra fast fashion, when every magazine and publication is telling you that you need to buy this NOW. It’s hard to not get distracted because fashion in its purest form, is truly beautiful.  It is just the mass over-consumption that has caused problems.

And where did your desire to do things more sustainably begin? 

About 8 years ago, I started looking into capsule wardrobes.  What it means and why they can be a revolutionary way to remove the confusion out of getting dressed in the morning.  I started my own business 7 years ago called GLDN which was focussed on selling a minimal amount of pieces, classic styles that would be available all year round.  From there, my interest in sustainability grew.

How difficult has the journey been for you to learn to shop in a totally different way? 

I can’t lie, there are times where I’ll see something in a shop window and fall in love, but I have to remember that I don’t want to partake in mindless impulse buying anymore.  Anything I do buy now is considered, I try not to buy things I know I won’t love in 5 or more years time.  That’s always my biggest tip, try to think, do you really need an item before you buy it!

How have you gone about curating a capsule wardrobe for yourself and what are your top tips for anyone to do the same? 

I wouldn’t say I have a capsule wardrobe at the moment but I do have is an everyday wardrobe of classic, easy to wear items that I can wear day after day.  My top tip for creating a capsule wardrobe is to completely empty your wardrobe and only put back the pieces you wear all the time.  Whatever is left behind, try it on and whatever you don’t like or doesn’t fit, give away or sell.  More seasonal items, can be stored away in vacuum sealed bags or a suitcase; and make sure to get things mended when they are broken, that way you will get the most use out of your clothes!

What do you think we need to see more of in the sustainable fashion space in order to make it a more inclusive and dynamic place? 

Size inclusivity would be amazing as well as true education on what it means to a conscious brand.  I find that there is a lot of mixed messaging or greenwashing, especially on the high street.  I will always champion a brand that may not be perfect, but is actively working towards change, however when a brand is quite obviously greenwashing, it confuses consumers.  

How do you consider after care of garments in terms of sustainability? 

The concept of sustainability is all about reusing, reducing and recycling to lower our impact on the environment.  The traditional model for the fashion industry is based on “take, make, dispose”, something that brands are slowly trying to move away from! Garment care is a huge factor in this – if you are properly washing your clothes, you are helping to extending the lifecycle of the garment.  The same goes for repair, by mending your clothes where needed, you can prolong the life of your garments meaning you keep them for a much longer time.  

What are you most excited about within the space and where it’s going at the moment? 

I think changes in textile production are the most exciting innovations are the most incredible things going on in the space at the moment.  It’s fantastic that things like mushroom leather (mycelium) as well as fibres made from everyday household products like coffee and banana are going to mean big changes in the way our garments are made and help us to reduce waste! 

Finally, what does sustainability mean to you? 

It means a lot of things but generally speaking, I think sustainability as it is nowadays is so far removed from the traditional sense of the word, so for me I think sustainability is all about being mindful and more conscious about every decision you make. Every time you choose to buy a product, you make a choice, so where and how you spend matters.

Words from Bianca Foley  @biancaffoley

First of all, can you tell us about your goals for 2022 when it comes to living a slower lifestyle?

​Sometimes we have to say “no”. It feels counterintuitive to how I’ve lived, but slowing down means creating spaciousness. Throughout my life I’ve found it difficult to slow down, possibly driven by the fear of missing out on an experience or adventure. However, there is no shortage of stimulation to constantly fill our consciousness and I’m choosing to create more space in my life. This can provide more of an opportunity for magic. The magic we felt as children wandering around the woods worry free and truly tuned into the moments. I struggle like many of us to create boundaries with the constant technological connections, work responsibilities and distractions that flood our realities.

You grew up very much connected to nature – how has this continued to play a role in your life?

It has been at the core of just about every major life decision and many of my most meaningful relationships. You really get to know someone when you are in a remote part of the world and depend on one another to get out of the backcountry safely, for example. Or sharing those magical moments when the light is just right after a summer rain. I have always asked myself how I can be outside more, with less between me and the natural world.

Most of my jobs have revolved around recreation or agriculture, both allowing for that connection to nature to flourish and be foundational. I chose to buy bare land instead of a home so that I could experience the path of starting from scratch. I prefer space and view over stability and ease. I wanted to learn about the necessary systems, food, water, shelter, power etc. I wanted to know what we actually need to survive and thrive, not just what we are told we need. It feels completely insane at times, but what can be learned and felt through this process is irreplicable.

Have you found a connection to nature to be an active part of living a meaningful life?

​I realized early at an early age (during a mushroom journey) that the truest reality I could feel was in nature. All that man has constructed was just a veneer to the living, breathing Earth we are a part of. When the stresses of this life test me I can always find myself again in the woods or waves.

How has your interest in biodynamic farming evolved as something so hugely important to you and to the foundations of Onda?

The principles of Biodynamic / Regenerative farming are parallel to the systems that are foundational in our business practice and model. Biodynamic farming treats the farm as a living creature, an ecosystem capable of self-sufficient regeneration and production. We see the body, farm and Earth in the same way. Onda is a mechanism to support the regeneration, harmony and vitality of each of these interconnected entities.

Biodynamic farming takes a lot more time and care than conventional farming – how do you find the patience to wait for the results?

I cannot speak for our farmers but being closely connected to them and having worked on Biodynamic / Regenerative farms I found it to be more in sync with the rhythms of nature. This conventional, industrial farming model is highly incongruous with these natural systems and is setting us up for environmental, social and economic catastrophe. Just like lots of conventional business models relies on heavy inputs to rapidly grow at the expense of substance or true nutrient density. This model doesn’t consider the impact on the land. Nature takes time and accepting how long it takes to build soil health or grow a truly conscious business also takes time. It is about adjusting our perception of time to be more aligned with the reality of nature, not the construction of industrial models.

Do you find the results, when they do happen, to be more powerful?

Yes! More flavor, more nutrients, more expressive characteristics and ultimately a healthier surrounding ecosystem.

Why did you want to work specifically within the world of hemp oils?

My biology has always aligned with the cannabis plant. My fire and intensity found a soothing mate with the benefits of the plant. I grew cannabis in the woods as a teenager and wrote my highschool senior thesis paper on the expansive historical context and varied benefits of the hemp plant in 1999. I was shocked to realize that this very generous plant was not being used in our modern world since the propaganda and subsequent prohibition in the early 20th century. I was shocked and pissed! 17 years later I had an “ah ha” moment while traveling home for the holidays after blending some homemade hemp CBD oil with herbs and tea. I knew it was time to dive in and explore the potential of this ancient medicine.

How can Onda oils help with relaxation and slowing our quite hectic lifestyle paces?

Onda oil is made using a slow infusion process with verified regenerative and certified biodynamic hemp. A very different process than any other products on the market. These differentiators allow us to offer a more nutrient dense product that is ultimately more effective. Our bodies produce endocannabinoids that are a mirror molecule to the phytocannabinoids in Onda oil. These cannabinoids help our bodies get back to centerline or homeostasis. What results is less anxiety, better sleep, less inflammation and general well being.

We read that you want to make hemp a plant that is used in many different outlets – why is it such a versatile and good thing to grow?

It is a weed. 🙂 Unlike other “superfoods” or limited natural resources, this crop grows in many parts of the world under varying conditions with little infrastructure. It sequesters more carbon than just about any crop and the different strains can be used for everything from insulation to clothing to bioplastics to food to medicine. We are using hemp on our partner farm to help as an ecological and financial diversification crop. It helps their bottom line while also helping to draw down carbon and add nutrient diversity. They grow food first and foremost and integrate hemp as a rotation crop.

It is a miracle crop that was suppressed by the paper industry and the government. But we have coevolved with it and it is time to integrate it back into the agricultural ecosystem and consumer markets.

How do you pace yourself when it comes to your goals of creating something so large within the industry of hemp and it’s amazing properties?

What does that word “pace” mean? Haha. I’m just learning how to pace myself honestly. I have historically charged ahead until I reached burnout then moved on to the next project but with this revolutionary opportunity I’m learning more self care. I see the long game finally. It feels like my life’s work. We have no plans of creating something “large” necessarily however I do realize that if we maintain this model we can have a larger more significant impact in people’s health as well as converting conventional land to organic / regenerative / biodynamic. We don’t want to be too exclusive or unapproachable. I think we can continue to be the highest quality hemp plant medicine on the planet while growing the mission to help more people and land. The beautiful thing about being a part of a pioneering industry is that we are not restricted to the BS models that have put small organic family farms out of business, cut corners, marginalized people and communities etc for a bigger profit. So far, our model seems to be doing all the things we want it to do; we just need endurance.

What are the simple pleasures that give you the greatest joy?

Surfing, dappled light, good food, romance, sunrise, my dog Butch.

What does an ideal slow morning routine look like for you?

Getting out of bed whenever I want, maybe some dog cuddles, some yoga then maybe a long meditation. Make some mushroom coffee and a big breakfast. Read, lay in the hammock, catch up with loved ones.

What does an ideal slow evening routine look like for you?

Maybe a nice meal with good wine and candles.

As we enter 2022 with a hope that people will begin to embrace slower ways of living, can you give us all one tip for how to embrace a slower style of life?

Consider being inspired by the rhythms of nature. They don’t rush.

Words from Stephen Smith, CEO & Founder @onda.wellness

My Favorite Trimester

As I write this I am 30 weeks pregnant, already in my third trimester. Reflecting back I can absolutely confirm that my second trimester was my favorite trimester. Probably because it was the easiest. The first trimester for me brought a whole lot of nausea and fatigue. You can read about it here. When I entered into my second trimester, so much of what I struggled with in my first trimester instantly went away. I started to absolutely love being pregnant. Below you’ll find some of the rituals and products I loved in my second trimester! This would be my second trimester checklist of must haves.

A Pregnancy Pillow

My bump really started to appear. I found getting comfortable at night more and more difficult as the weeks progressed. It is recommended that as your bump gets bigger, that you transition to only sleeping on your side. Specifically the left side. Sleeping all night in one position is just never comfortable, especially when you have added weight and pressure! There are a lot of amazing eco friendly pregnancy pillows out there, but I love my bbhughttps://us.bbhugme.comme pillow. It was not only created by chiropractors and mothers, but it was created with the earth in mind. It was also created to last long after pregnancy, and be used for nursing and for baby activities! Definitely a must have on my second trimester checklist.

Second Trimester Pregnancy Skin

Regardless of pregnancy, my skincare and body care routines play a major part in my self care rituals. They are parts of my day I so look forward to! With pregnancy, I expected to have glowing and perfectly clear skin. However, instead I was greeted by facial eczema and melasma. Even though it is very obvious on my skin, I was able to get past the aesthetics of the rash and discoloration.

For me the hard part was really the itch and pain that came with the eczema. I had to strip back my skincare routine and stick to the most soothing basics possible. First I stopped using a foaming facial cleanser. Even the most gentle ones were too intense for my incredibly sensitive and dry skin. I switched to only using an oil cleanser. So that my skin was being fed hydration even though the cleanse part of my routine.

The Biodynamic Restorative Cleansing Oil from Maison Made is a great choice. It effortlessly melted makeup and dirt away without ever irritating my skin. I use an organic rose water to wipe away any excess on my skin with a reusable cotton round. I then go in with the Hydrating Serum from Oio Labs. It incredibly soothes and calms redness while deeply hydrating the skin. Lastly, I’ve loved the Youth Oil by Shelby Naturals as my moisturizer. One of the only options I have discovered that doesn’t burn my skin. If I’m having an especially bad flare up, I find this oil always calms my rashes!

Second Trimester Moments of Rest

Daily life can be exhausting for every individual, however, when you’re pregnant the fatigue can be even more intense. Plus, it is essential to keep one’s stress levels down for a healthy pregnancy! I had to discover rituals and routines to keep myself grounded and relaxed. Even when life was testing me.

While I avoided baths in my first trimester, I began having baths under 102 degrees in my second trimester. Which turned into such treats. A few sprinkles of the Detox Soak from Wild Source Apothecary and a few natural candles and my bathroom was transformed into a super calming oasis, that smelled of rosemary, juniper berry, lemon and eucalyptus – thanks to Wild Source. I take this time to just breathe and disconnect from all my devices. I never realize how much I need these moments until I’m sat away from my phone, just breathing! Creating moments like this are essential, and a perfect addition to your second trimester checklist.

Immediately after the bath, while my skin is still a bit damp, I massage my entire body with a luxurious body oil. The body grows and stretches constantly during pregnancy. It is key to keep it hydrated so that it can stretch comfortably. The Golden Hour Body Oil by Wild Source is such a treat for the body and the senses, and has supported my skin so well during pregnancy. The oil leaves behind a lovely delicate scent of jasmine & mandarin, which prepares me perfectly for bed.

I also use moments of rest to read through some of the pregnancy, baby, and parenting books I’ve been recommended. Check out my top five favourite books here. Reading through books has been a wonderful way to get my husband involved in the whole pregnancy process. The whole pregnancy journey can feel very isolating. Most people around you cannot understand what you are going through. Which is why it is great to get your partner involved as much as possible!

Can you first of all tell us a bit about your connection to Maine? How did you end up in a farmhouse here?

​I grew up bouncing around New England and the east coast. But after graduating from school on the New Hampshire Coast, I settled in Portsmouth New Hampshire. A rather touristy area, and moved across the river to Maine, in all honesty, in search of cheaper housing.

My husband and I had a dream of a simpler life. So we moved to Vermont to seek out a slower way of living. We only stayed one short year, though the lessons we learned about the way we wanted to live were invaluable. Learning to get our hands dirty in the soil. To watch the sunset. And we learned new passions, like farming and homesteading.

However, Vermont felt father away than we wanted to be from our family and friends. So we returned to Maine to try again. I got a job working early mornings at a local dairy farm down the road before going to work. Luckily, or call it fate if you will, the farmhouse on the dairy farm went up for sale a few years later, and I knew there was no other place I’d rather be.

What was your path to farming? Was it something instinctive or have you honed the way you engage with your farm through different life experiences?

I had no interest in farming in my younger years. I’d say I first was introduced to farming through food. I was a waitress, my (not yet) husband the Chef. He introduced me to every local farm he could— local cheeses, local meats, the best farm to buy tomatoes, arugula, or garlic, his favorite fisherman. Part of our pursuit to live in Vermont came from our desire to live closer to our favorite farms.

While our time in Vermont was short lived, I took a job as a farmhand the summer before we returned to Maine. The pay was low, the days were hot and long, but I was eager to get my hands dirty. From that moment on— there was a switch, from curiosity to instinct. I was doing what I was meant to do. My hands were meant to be in the soil. I ended each day biting into the juiciest tomato, visiting the pigs, often crouching in their pen, watching them give birth, pretending like my presence mattered in the experience.

When we moved back to Maine, I found a job working as a Production Manager on a Flower Farm— growing landscape annuals and perennials, as well as cut flowers for bouquets at the local market- something I had never done. I leaned into all of it, and was fascinated that creativity and farming could blend together so beautifully. Before the work day started, as I mentioned, I milked cows at the dairy farm down the street. Instead of ending the day checking on the pigs, I started my day singing to the cows. It was the dreamiest life I could ever imagine for myself, but an immense amount of physical labor, and long, long, hours.

The flower farm closed its doors, and my career shifted, so I fulfilled my dream to farm on our own property, making bouquets from our front flower gardens and selling them at a stand at the end of the driveway. It’s a different type of farming now, but with more freedom to express my creativity than I ever imagined— it’s my true pursuit of happiness.

What does your farm look like now? We hear there are some lovely chickens and cows there with you…

The dairy farmer who ran the dairy farm retired at 79 and sold his herd, but we still live in our beautiful farmhouse with a few of his “pet” cows in the back pasture. I miss milking deeply. We do have a wonderful flock of birds. I never knew I could/would love birds so much.

We have about 30 chickens give or take, I haven’t counted in a while, maybe 12 ducks, and 2 beautiful geese. They roam freely around the farm, living their best life. Looking out the window and watching them waddle around the yard feels like a fairytale. They add so much life to the property. We’ve expanded our flower operation just slightly, building a small greenhouse to start seedlings, and dedicated a small plot of our field to flowers. There’s no intention of expanding beyond this, at least for now, as the workload feels perfectly balanced at the moment.

Do you feel that engaging so much with the land and your animals helps you lead a more conscious and slow living lifestyle?

Definitely. The dairy farm was unlike any dairy farm you’d see today. It was an old farm- time stood still in that barn. I can’t say it any other way. It was/is my favorite place to be. Being with the cows, and with our own animals, has always had this effect on me. Time stands still. The life of scooping manure is a simple life- one I’ve sought after, and nothing gives me a greater reward. I think this translates into my aesthetic, how I find comfort in my surroundings. To love the things you surround yourself with— to admire them deeply, slowly, to take care of them, to keep things simple. I strive to have my house reflect the same feeling I get when I walk into that barn. I want my home to be a place where time stands still.

What have you learned from the animals you live with?

Our three cats teach me to be present, and how to love fully. How to be in the moment. But farm animals, the pigs, chickens, ducks, and cows have been my greatest teachers. Working on a farm, life and death is a weekly occurrence. There’s repetition to the way Mother Nature works. It’s taught me more about what it means to be alive, to feel pain, to suffer, to celebrate, than any human ever has. Watching animals survive and thrive through these experiences, so routinely, has taught me about strength, resilience, and instinct, and has unleashed a truth about life that I wasn’t aware existed.

You also showcase the most beautiful floral arrangements. What about your personal connection flowers? How did your creative spirit with these evolve?

I’ve always loved art – drawing, painting, playing with color. Flower farming is one of the most tender, sacred relationships I have. The amount of love put into the preparation of the soil, into the planting of the seed, into the watering and weeding, to then be rewarded with a beautiful gift. I find flowers on their own exquisite, but this combination of hard work and beauty transport me to all sorts of places when it comes to floral arrangements. I like to think of flowers as my painters palette— the opportunities to create art are endless.

Where do you get your flowers from and if you forage them yourself, how do you use that process to connect to nature?

I grow them all or forage for them- I’ve never been to a flower market, though I would like to some day. I find it hard to put a price tag on flowers— as for me they are a labor of love- a reward for our hard work and passionate pursuit. Would I buy a wholesale tulip for a few dollars to add into an arrangement? Maybe— but that’s really not the point. My arrangements are forms of celebration of the present moment. I’m less concerned with supplementing, which is mostly why I find “organized” floral jobs like weddings or CSA’s rather difficult for a farm of my size. I’d rather live spontaneously through the flowers, showcasing them only when they are ready.

Can you tell us why seasonality and keeping things local is so important when it comes to flowers?

For all the reasons mentioned above— but on top of that, the international flower market is…. depressing and a major cause of climate change. If you only knew the life of a rose at the grocery store. I prefer to celebrate what’s blooming in the moment. It helps you appreciate what you have, when you have it. Would I love tulips as much as I do if they bloomed year round? No. Would a lilac still smell so heavenly if it bloomed all season? No, probably not. One of the best parts of flower farming locally is the wave of colors, scents, shapes that blooms from April until October, with almost every week having something new to offer, a new flower to relish. That’s my favorite part.

You have such a beautiful home – how have you spent your time with it’s evolution?

It’s been a long journey, although we’ve only been here three years, so in that lens, no time at all. When we first bought the house it had amazing bones, and we luckily only needed to partake in cosmetic updates. The home was painted in period colors, wallpaper in several rooms, and felt very adorned. Our vision was to strip it back to the basics, to how it would have looked as if it was freshly built in 1740. This has been a lot of work, striping wallpaper, scraping floors, sanding mantles, plastering walls, but it’s been so refreshing to breath new life back into this space, and to honor it exactly how it is, at each phase of the process, peeling paint and all.

How do you source most of the items you include in your home?

I can confidently say I think 95% of our belongings are second hand, or antique. Antiquing is a passion for my husband and I… we’re always on the hunt for something that catches our eye. Rarely do we say “We need a side table” and buy one. We wait until we see a piece that strikes our fancy. In the meantime, we’ll use a stool or do without.

We moved into the house from a 300 sq foot apt, so we had the opportunity to truly curate what we brought into our new home. We live pretty minimally. Our goal has never been to furnish the home, but to just surround ourselves with things that we love first and foremost.

I’m drawn specifically to things that have seen a lot of wear and tear— utilitarian things, not decorations. Tables—knives— spatulas— light fixtures. I love patina. Scratch marks. Dents. I get a lot of joy out of continuing to love these items.

You have done a few posts on natural dyeing. How have you found this process of working with plant based colors and creating things yourself?

Just trial and error— I can’t recollect when I was first introduced to this, but for me its just another way to express my creativity— something new to try. There’s never a goal, or expected end result— there really can’t be with natural dyes. I mostly enjoy just dying scraps and old rags, giving an old dish cloth new life for a few more washes. It’s just all for fun.I’d love to dye larger scrapes, enough to sew something out of someday, but for now I’ve just stuck to my small kitchen pots and pans to make the magic happen. It’s much easier to manage for a beginner like me.

As we enter 2022 with a hope that people will begin to embrace slower ways of living, can you give us all one tip for how to embrace a slower style of life?

Surround yourself with things you love. Yes, people and animals are great, but also tangible things. Flowers. Hand Knit Socks. Berries. A vintage coffee mug. Challenge yourself to learn what you love. Pursue it – whether it’s big or small. Is it easier to buy a new can opener off Amazon? Yes. But for the same price, if not cheaper, you can find one that you actually love, maybe at your local antique shop, or on Etsy.

Every time I use my can opener I smile. It takes patience, letting go of instant gratification, and a sense of curiosity, but it makes my every day much more interesting. At least for me. For Now. Maybe this patience will run out as we welcome a new child in this new year, but I hope not.

I hope this is a lesson I can pass down to her. To surround herself with the things that make her happy. Apple pie. A bath with flower petals. A woven blanket. A hug. The lick of a cow’s tongue. Whatever it may be— to indulge in those small moments.

A Slow Living Lifestyle. Words from Bess Piergrossi @besspier

Don’t Look Up (2021)

I recently watched this film with my husband and we both finished it truly affected. A dark satire with a bevy of celebrities. This is a call to action and a reflection of our current culture that makes you take a step back and assess everything. It’s funny, dark, disturbing and ultimately one of the best films I’ve ever seen about our environmental crisis. And why we cannot count on politicians and corporations to do the right thing. This is a call to arms everyone should watch with their friends and families to start conversations.

Honeyland (2019)

This film is complex, beautiful and ultimately a wonderful look at human nature and individual impact. I am going to share the Guardian’s introduction as I think it so perfectly encapsulates it:

“his astonishing, immersive environmental documentary began life as a nature conservation video about one of Europe’s last wild-beekeepers. The scene is an abandoned village in North Macedonia where Hatidze, a woman in her mid-50s, harvests honey sustainably the traditional way from wild hives. “Half for them, half for me,” she chants, leaving enough for the bees.Serendipitously for directors Tamara Kotevska and Ljubomir Stefanov (though not for Hatidze), the family from hell moves in next door mid-shoot, and this small-scale film takes on epic proportions, transforming into a parable about exploiting natural resources, or perhaps a microcosm of humans’ suicidal destruction of the environment.” – Cath Clarke.

An absolute must see for many reasons!

Dark Waters (2019)

This film has stayed with me since I watched it over a year ago. Mark Ruffalo does an astounding performance as the lawyer who fought the chemical company DuPont for causing thousands of illnesses. And many, many deaths and deformities from making it’s non-stick formulations. Please watch this and go out and replace any non-stick pans you may have immediately. You can also learn more about this HERE.

The Biggest Little Farm (2018)

This is one of the most emotional and uplifting environmental films I’ve seen. It tells the story of a young couple who move out of San Francisco to the California countryside to restore a farm to a thriving eco-system. Their triumphs, failures and difficulties are all documented over the years. It shows what regeneration can truly look like and how people and animals can live in harmony with Mother Nature. If we truly commit ourselves to it. A must see for farmers and non-farmers alike.

Gather (2020)

I was lucky enough to interview the Director of this film, Sanjay Rawal, on the REV podcast. His work on this incredible film should be seen by everyone. Sanjay gives a voice to the tragedies that befell Native American tribes. How their bison were slaughtered and their ways of life destroyed by a culture so out of touch with the Earth that there is now hardly anything left. This film talks of the Native Americans who are now trying to restore their heritages through traditional means of hunting and gathering, and pass this wisdom on to a new generation who can take it further and wider. A must see for anyone wanting to understand our need to listen to indigenous communities. Particularly when it comes to solving a climate and humanitarian crisis.

To Which We Belong (2021)

This film is about to come out but I have watched the trailer several times and followed their instagram for a while so I wanted to include them. This is a film about individuals who are taking regenerative farming into their own hands to fix our broken soils, heal our overfished and depleted seas, and treat animals with the respect they deserve. It is high on my list of things to engage with in 2022 and I think it should be on yours too!

Kiss the Ground (2020)

I wanted to end with this film as it’s so focused on solutions….so much of the carbon we emit comes from our agricultural and farming practices which have become so unsustainable that the way most of us eat now is constantly feeding into the climate crisis. This film delves into how the process of regenerative farming can be a HUGE solution to this. By supporting farmers who are growing organically, biodynamically and ultimately regeneratively, we can start to actually capture this carbon back into the soils and have a healthier way of life with the food we eat and the way we use land. A hopeful and truly actionable watch!

1. Slow Down

It might seem silly or even impossible to be a climate optimist today. How could you believe in a climate positive future when all you see on the news are signs of the opposite? How can you afford to stay optimistic when Greta is asking us to panic and the UN is declaring Code Red on climate?

Because without optimism, without the belief that things could be better, we’re lost! Without courageous people who dare to believe in new ways and who choose to show up for that work, no change will ever be made.

When we think about “climate action”, we tend to think that we have to do, do, do! But a big part of that “doing” can actually be doing less for you. When we slow down and quiet our minds, we begin to recognize that many of the answers we’re looking for are right here, already nested in our hearts. We start to appreciate the small moments and move away from things that put stress on both humans and the Earth — consumerism, aimless traveling, and this constant need to have more. 

By slowing down, you’re also anchoring that new energy in the collective consciousness and (unknowingly) inviting others to slow down as well. We don’t need a world filled with panicked chickens, we need graceful, wise owls taking in the entire field and making decisions based on what seems to be best. 

Be the owl, not the chicken, and find ways to slow down in 2022!

2. Activate Healing

As climate activists and sustainability advocates, we tend to think of our “mission” as so grand that our own health and wellbeing don’t matter, but if you want to heal the world, you must begin with healing yourself first. Jack Adam Weber, the author of Climate Cure, says: “Climate cure means we not only heal ourselves, but also help the rest of the planet flourish as much as possible. In this sense, climate chaos is a catalyst, an opportunity for regeneration, similar to other heartbreaks!’

So if you care for the world, if you care for animals and other people, choose an active journey of personal healing. The more grounded and resilient you are, the more powerful you will be in changing the world around you. We’ve been told this story where humans are the evil on Earth and that we must separate ourselves from nature to do less harm. But the truth is that we are nature, and by understanding that, we will see how important it is that we heal ourselves so that we can begin to add light and love to the wellbeing of everyone (including trees!)

Here’s a resource for healing journaling if you want to begin that journey today.

3. Start Conversations

Climate scientist Katherine Hayhoe says, “The most powerful thing we can do for climate is talk about it.” Considering only one in four Americans hear someone they know talk about climate change on a monthly basis, I believe she’s right! A big reason we’re not acting more on climate change is that to most of us, it feels too distant in time and space. Climate change is perceived as something that will happen in the future or in other parts of the world, not here and now. It also feels socially distant and an issue the individual can’t do anything about. 

By normalizing conversations about our changing climate and talking about how it’s already affecting your local area and community, you invite people to participate in the conversation. Here are five tips for having climate successful conversations with family and friends!

4. Dare “Retruthing"

To change the world, we must find the courage to challenge our existing knowledge. We don’t often recognize how trapped we are in our mental webs of “truths” and the belief we hold that things should be a certain way – but our fear of being wrong can create a lot of trouble. Unknowingly, it sparks conflict, stirs confusion, and allows for polarization to grow. 

We’ve created a society where “knowing” is celebrated and “questioning” is not, yet what we need to do now is be bold enough to question everything. Because what if the future could be better than anything we’ve ever seen before, and we just have to wake up and see it? The renowned American architect William McDonough famously said, “The Stone Age did not end because humans ran out of stones. It ended because it was time for a re-think about how we live.”

We’re there right now, at the bridge of a new era, and you get to help write the script of what’s next to come. We must let go of old patterns and beliefs and dare to believe in something new. We have to wake up every morning and know that we don’t have all the answers, but tell ourselves that it’s our daily task to keep asking questions and figure it out. Retruthing was a word I made up myself and one of the most empowering exercises I know! You find the full definition and tips for how to practice it here!

5. Skip Titles

You don’t have to be a “Vegan”, “Activist”, or “Zero Waste Queen” to make a difference in the world. In fact, I believe you hold more power if you skip titles altogether. Titles can be good, but they also box us into different categories and in many ways limit who we are and can become. 

I’m a 99% plant-based eater, but that doesn’t mean that on occasion, I’ll have an egg from a happy country chicken or when on vacation, a little bit of cheese will slip onto my plate. Does this mean I suddenly don’t care for animals anymore? Of course not, and by shedding titles, I allow myself to actually care more.

What I’ve learned is that nothing is black and white and that things are always more complex than they might look on the surface. Without titles, you empower yourself, and every choice becomes a conscious one. It’s not so much about who you are, but what you do, which allows you to address each situation with intention and thought. 

Besides, if you skip titles, you’re much less likely to exclude people who don’t identify the same way and allow for those inclusive conversations to be had — “Oh, I wouldn’t call myself a vegan, but I looove plant-based foods! Besides, it’s so much better for the environment.”

Build bridges, not walls — skip titles and social boxing!

6. Add Your Voice

One of the easiest ways to be a climate activist is noticing the work of others and adding your voice to show support. If you don’t think your voice matters — think again! When I once asked Melissa Sun, the Director of Entertainment Partnership at Sierra Club, what we as individuals can do to help, she said without doubt — “Sign our petitions!” 

And it works — from saving compost programs to get cut due to budget restraints to single-use plastics being banned, I’ve seen it all. When we use our voices in open letters and on social media, our requests are being heard! Right now you can help stop fashion-related deforestation in the Amazon by supporting the #SupplyChange campaign started by Slow Factory, Model Activist, and Stand Earth. Sign the petition here!

7. Rethink Growth

Perhaps you’ve heard the concept of “degrowth”, which is ultimately the concept of ditching capitalism and slowing down our world. Although there’s a lot of truth to that, I think we should focus less on shutting down growth, and more on transitioning it into a circular kind and aim for regrowth.

Growth in itself is not a bad thing, it’s our relationship to it that’s become a bit skewed over the years. Per-Espen Stoknes believes we should mirror nature in how we think about growth. When you look at a forest, for example, it’s constantly growing, but that doesn’t mean the trees are continuously getting taller! For nature, growth comes in circles and gives as much as it takes. Since we are nature, we can do the same. By rethinking our economy and our relationship to “stuff”, as well as incorporating circularity in industries across the board, we can create a world of ultimate abundance. 

Sounds… complicated? Allow yourself to slow down and chew on that one for a little. Is there any Retruthing here to be made? How can you unlearn what you know and rethink the meaning of growth?

8. Practice Imagination

Did you know that every day, four million new blogs are written, eighty million new Instagram photos are uploaded, and 616 million new tweets are released into cyberspace (Tali Sharot, The Influential Mind.) That’s 7,130 tweets per second! There truly is no lack of information (our opinions) in our world, but what this information is, more than anything else, is a mirror of our current reality. Millions if not billions of mirrors, reflecting back to us what is true and what we ought to think is true right now. 

But if we’re so busy with always talking about what the world looks like right now, how will we find time to envision a new one? And if we can’t envision a new one — if we can’t find it in us to believe that things could get better — how will we ever find the courage to choose change?

Imagination has fueled change throughout history — from airplanes, cell phones, and refrigeration,  sparked by people who had the courage to dream of something new. People who were brave enough to think of realities that lingered outside their comfort zones; who dared to believe in the unbelievable and imagine the unimaginable, and who found the courage to go explore those new worlds. When it comes to climate change, the only hope we truly have is to be found in that courage. We must expand our hearts and minds, begin to question everything and dare to dream. So ask yourself: What could be possible if we only kept some room in our hearts for the unimaginable?

9. Choose Change

In almost every climate conversation, we forget the most important and obvious thing of all — the fact that we have to choose change! We talk about all the changes that we’re trying to avoid by fearing climate change, but miss the fact that in order to do so, we also need to actively choose change to bring a different kind of world closer.

Embracing change isn’t easy, especially when you’re faced with a threat. Back in the day, if a storm was coming, you wouldn’t go exploring neighboring lands — you’d crawl deep into your cave and hope that you could stay safely tucked away until it was over. As species, we’re programmed to retreat and hold on tight to what we know to be safe when things get scary.

However, this storm isn’t going anywhere, and if we hide away for too long, chances are the world around us has changed so much that when we crawl back out, it’ll be hard to live there at all. Like Greta Thunberg says — “Change is coming whether we like it or not!” But what if change is the best thing that could ever happen to us, we just have to wake up and see it? To actively work for what we want to happen instead of trying to avoid what we don’t want. Maybe what it all comes down to is that we have to choose change before change chooses us?

Practice asking yourself “How could we do this differently? If we dared to let go, how could we rethink everything and build something new?” You are the change, activate it, and start making history in 2022!

10. Choose to Be Light

Sometimes you might feel like it’s not socially OK to be OK, almost like it’s morally wrong to be too happy. You catch yourself feeling good about the world and instantly remember there’s a pandemic and this thing called climate change and that so many people and animals are suffering, so maybe things aren’t so good after all? And how can we choose to be light when this is what we know? How do we find hope in a world that is so… hopeless?

At the end of the day, the only thing we have is the light we choose to activate in our hearts. For by lighting your own light, you allow for others to also light theirs, with a ripple effect you can’t even imagine. One of my favorite quotes is by James Keller  —  “A candle loses nothing by lighting another candle.”

You carry this light inside you and you can choose to turn the switch at any time. Sometimes that’s hard and in some particularly gloomy places, finding the switch takes a lot of fumbling in the dark. But find it. Keep looking and make it your mission to make sure that no matter what, there will be light again, and you won’t stop until you find it!