A Bit More About David de Rothschild and The Lost Explorer

David founded The Lost Explorer in 2015. Not only does the brand use clean and well-sourced ingredients and materials, but it’s 100% owned by nature – which means all of the profits of their sales go back into different ecological efforts. Their ethos of loving nature, creating from nature, and reinvesting back into nature is a three-step process we should all get behind. The Lost Explorer products are free from parabens, phthalates, sulphates, synthetic fragrances and colours, making them not only safe for our bodies but safer for our planet.

What can we do to be an everyday activist?

To be an everyday activist, we must make sacrifices and focus less on our wants and more about the wellbeing of our neighbours, community, and planet. While of course, it isn’t solely up to the individual to change our culture, we can all make efforts to effect positive change. One thing we can all try and do is stop supporting brands that aid in the destruction of our ecosystems and start backing brands and people who support the regeneration of the earth. Whether that is buying second hand, from small companies, or conscious brands.

An Introduction to Composting by Cora

When food breaks down without oxygen (meaning in the trash or the landfill it eventually goes to), it produces greenhouse gases (primarily methane). These can escape the landfill and accumulate in the atmosphere, contributing to global warming. In fact, methane has been shown to be up to 21 times more harmful than CO2. It’s horrible to think that we are creating this greenhouse gas whenever we dump unwanted food in the bin! However, the amount of methane emitted through a well-managed compost heap at home? Zero.

When we moved to our farmhouse in Maine it was imperative to me that we would be living more in harmony with nature. Utilizing our food scraps into something that would one day regenerate our soil was hugely important. My husband Jamie built our first compost bin from old wooden pallets. So we even were able to up-cycle in that capacity. Literally a few nails and a bit of effort and you are done!

Why Is Composting So Good For The Planet?

Commercial methods of composting require the use of oil-reliant machinery. A fast method of oxidising organic matter at a high heat to get it to break down quickly. No fungal decomposition is involved in this process. Through the slower and more traditional method of composting at home, there is more assurance that everything has been well-broken down by the fungi and bacteria. Your end product will be something that is very useful to the soil. 

Around 60 percent of domestic waste is organic matter, so it’s also a great way to make sure you are working towards a zero waste home. At the same time you reduce the need to bring materials in from outside to enrich your garden. Cutting down on the carbon footprint of transport and also the plastic packaging that so much compost comes wrapped in. 

It also means you are creating your own fertilizer. Which takes away the need for any chemicals you might be tempted to add to your garden as compost is so good at feeding your plants. I am going to do a whole piece on chemical fertilizers when we start our garden in the Spring. For now please just trust me that we should absolutely NOT be using them. Compost also helps the soil to retain moisture. So as water becomes more and more of a commodity and a resource that we need to be careful with, your compost can help reduce the amount you need by laying it on top of your plants. 

Compost attracts critters and microorganisms that are good for soil and plants. Think of compost like probiotics for the human body. Good bacteria are needed to fight off diseases and keep us alive and functioning. Similarly, in order for soil to be healthy, it needs to foster a community of organisms that break down matter, improve soil structure, and create a fertile environment for plants. Compost comes with a myriad of organisms that do just that.

So How Do I Do It At My House?

If you live in a city, first of all check if you live in a place where the council offers composting services. If not, you can easily take your compost to your local farmer’s market. Or check to see if there is a compost service you can sign up to. Here in the States this is a great resource to find a local composter: https://compostnow.org/compost-services/

If you have a yard or a bit of outdoor space, you can invest in a compost bin. Or build your own like we did. Charles Dowding is a great resource on easy composting. There are loads of youtube videos to watch about this. Which is what my husband did to learn how to do ours! We built a wooden compost bin out of up-cycled pallets.

I am convinced more than ever that we need to take individual accountability for the climate crisis (politicians seem to keep letting us down). Given the amount of methane emitted from food waste and how valuable and regenerative a resource it can be when composted, this seems like something we should all be doing. It’s not that difficult and very easy to become committed to!

Here’s to making composting part of your routine. Cora xxx

Useful links…

If you want to know more about composting or gardening…

Follow along the day to day journey @corahilts on instagram!

Learn About No-till / No-dig gardening here

Best Seed Companies in America

Best Seed Companies in The UK

The Maine House – Learn More

About Landworkers' Alliance:

The Landworkers’ Alliance supports a model of change based in grassroots organising and social movements as drivers of social and political transformation. They believe in bringing people together to build collective power that can create practical and political solutions to the multiple crises we currently face.

They have a vision for a food and land-use system where everybody, regardless of income, status or background has access to local, healthy, affordable food, fuel and fibre from producers they can trust. Where farmers, growers, foresters and land-based workers earn a living wage and a fair livelihood working in a safe environment, free from all forms of exploitation and discrimination.

They work for a food and land-use system that operates within the finite limits of our earth, regenerates natural resources and cools our planet without compromising the ability of others around the world or future generations to provide for themselves.

They want to see power put back in the hands of producers and communities rather than supermarkets and industrial processors. They believe that producers organisations and communities must be at the heart of decision-making and have a strong voice in agricultural and forestry policy making.

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How Bario Neal Came To Life

Anna Bario and Page Neal started Bario Neal in 2008 with the shared idea that our most precious things come with a story. Together, they are honored to make objects that represent deeply felt experiences, loves, and losses — armor, glitter, vessels for meaning and value.

Jewelry allowed them to unite their creative, social, and environmental passions. It’s a gift to work with materials rarely treated as waste, materials from the earth with an infinite lifespan. Like gemstones, the cosmic-level pieces of planetary history formed into existence over centuries, long before we held them. These natural elements add a miraculous depth to what Bario Neal makes.

While Anna and Page were drawn to the imaginative possibilities of jewelry, they were disillusioned by industry standards that turned a blind eye to the harmful, widespread effects of mining. So, before they launched, they committed to doing things better — for the earth, the people and communities within the supply chain, their customers, and in turn, their business.

Today, Bario Neal is an industry leader in ethical sourcing and mindful production. Their jewelry reflects individualism, gender and marriage equality, and conscious values rooted in ethical origin from mine to market. Their hope is that you’ll find a piece of jewelry that represents your most authentic self.

About ZOE:

ZOE (Greek for ‘life’) is a health science company. Founded on the belief that novel digital technologies can enable human research at an unprecedented depth and scale. In order to tackle global health issues. Their approach combines artificial intelligence, digital technologies and collaboration with leading scientists around the world.

Combining large-scale biological data with machine learning and microbiome sequencing has enabled them to predict personal nutritional responses to foods and provide people with a better understanding of their unique metabolism and gut microbiome. These personalized insights can allow individuals to make impactful changes to improve their overall health.

ZOE run the world’s largest in-depth nutrition study, and they’ve turned their research into a personalized program that gives you insights into how your body responds to food.

Merci To Our Sponsor For This Episode!

About HERD:

HERD is a mindset. Their philosophy goes beyond sustainability to have a positive impact on the environment and those they work with. Rooted in profound respect for the land and soil, they have a place-based materials-first approach. It’s where elegant age-old tradition meets uncompromising planetary values, how they make modern heirlooms with heritage sensibilities.

They honour native locality, collaborating with craftspeople that have honed expertise in their trades over generations. Their unique approach strengthens existing ecosystems, creating positive and impactful structure, gently building webs of connection – and mutual support – that benefit stakeholders at every stage of the process. HERD is proof that wasteful transportation in the name of fashion can be eclipsed; a blueprint for the future.

By sourcing fibres directly from a collective of farmers and harvesters they maintain control of creating superior wool and fabric. Their signature yarn is made from 100% Bluefaced Leicester fleeces within just 150 miles of the farms in Yorkshire, North West England, where the climate provides perfect conditions and abundant rich green grass. The result rivals cashmere in quality.

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Discovering The Facts About Conventional Carpets -

I remember reading a book by Dr. Shanna Swann about hidden toxins in the home and carpets being quite a large culprit, though I hadn’t thought too much about it since. When we moved into the house and I was confronted with living with them every day it did make me think about it again. And as we started to strip away that carpeting, we were seeing so many particles emerge and layers of odd foamy materials that did not look healthy in any way.  

I decided to research what exactly is in the majority of carpets and the materials they sit upon. Looking into it, I found an article from the Journal of Nutritional & Environmental Medicine that confirmed what Dr. Swann has said about the toxins, and here are some highlighted points below:

The Facts -

“We have studied several hundred carpets in our laboratory. Under carefully controlled conditions, we had groups of laboratory mice breath air containing the mixtures of chemicals released by these carpets. Like the people, the mice became ill with irritation of the eyes, nose, and throat, difficulty breathing, and altered nervous system function.”

Furthermore, that ‘new carpet smell’ comes from 4-PC, associated with eye, nose and upper respiratory problems. 4-PC is used in the latex backing of 95% of US carpets.

Fire retardants in carpets often contain PBDEs which are known to cause damage to thyroid, immune system and brain development functions in humans.

Carpets are also likely to carry a heavy burden of dirt, pesticides and other toxins brought in. Carpets can hold eight times their weight in toxin-filled trapped dirt that is well hidden in the fibers and underneath the carpet. The EPA has stated that 80% of human exposure to pesticides occurs indoors.

Chemicals used in some new carpets, carpet pads and the adhesives used to install them can harm your health. Some of these chemicals and glues are made with volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which emit odors and pollutants. New carpet installation also has been associated with wheezing and coughing in babies in their first year of life (American Lung Association).

Then there is the environmental impact. Most flooring sold in the U.S. is carpet, with 11 billion square feet sold per year. Of that, only five percent is recycled. Billions of pounds of carpets are annually dumped in American landfills or burned in incinerators – releasing deadly pollutants into the air, soil and water (Healthy Building Network).

These facts were surprising but not shocking to me as we uncovered more and more foamy substances and the carpets gave off so many particles whilst being pulled up – there are more facts to learn about when it comes to what’s in them so I would highly suggest having a quick google (or even better use Ecosia!) to find out more.

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My Decision -

I have lived with carpets for years and am just now in a place where I can make decisions about having them or not, but for anyone thinking about putting them in possibly I wanted to share this as I had no idea about most of the above myself. As we move further into this renovation I am learning more and more that as natural as possible always seems to be the best option, and that there really are so many areas within the home where hidden toxins and environmental impacts are lurking (can’t wait to share what I’m finding about paint!) so if you’re thinking about them you may want to consider if there is a way to redo your wood floors instead!

Great alternatives are keeping your wood floors with vintage or natural rugs, or looking for an organic carpeting company that use fibres like hemp, wool and jute. We are getting a few rugs from Armadillo, who do amazing sustainable rugs using natural materials. I also found a beautiful vintage Persian rug pictured below that was my great grandmother’s that my parents had in storage that will now sit under our dining room table. 

If you do have carpets just trying to go easy on the chemicals in your home, try natural cleaning and home products, green guard certified paints and give them a hoover often to try and keep them as free from anything they may hold on to you wouldn’t want to be breathing in! Also a good steam and even something as simple as keeping the windows open can be a huge help. It can seem daunting, but with knowledge we can hopefully start in our very own homes making the world a healthier place.

Follow along the day to day journey @corahilts on instagram! 

During the pandemic, my husband and I, like so many others, started to question certain aspects of life that would lead us down quite an unexpected path. Could we work remotely for years to come? Would we be happier in the countryside? Does life when you’re young work outside of a big city like London? Will our businesses suffer with us on zoom rather than face to face?

With so many discussions and thought processes happening, of course it all came down to a split minute decision without much consideration at all in the end. An old farmhouse in my hometown in Maine came up for sale and all of a sudden our life savings were going towards something we couldn’t really have imagined even a year earlier – what would become a life in the country sustainably renovating a home and working with regenerative agriculture.

I left Maine when I was 18 and shortly afterwards found myself at university in Paris where I lived and loved for five years, then London for ten years after that. London was the home I created for myself, where I started Rêve En Vert, and where I met my husband and the majority of my dearest people. Only something truly exciting could have ever made me leave. 

But the only thing I could ever think would outweigh the excitement and thriving lifestyle of London was for me the call of nature – working so diligently towards sustainability in all aspects of my life and business made me want to be connected to the land and the sea again. To be able to try all the practices of regenerative farming that I’ve spoken to so many incredible people about myself, to be able to explore what the local community looks like here as I learn about entities like the Frenchman’s Bay Conservatory that work to buy local lands up to prevent development and keep nature intact here, and to see what restoring a house truly sustainably could look like.

Already I can see the beautiful parts, like picking our green certified paints or restoring vintage furniture we find throughout Maine, and the more mundane, yet arguably much more important, things like solar panels and geothermal heating systems. I wanted to create a section of Rêve En Vert that would document my personal journey with the land and the house for anyone else who might be embarking on a move to the country, picking up organic farming and gardening, or even thinking of re-doing a house or flat themselves and would love to know about the things we’ve found like where to get upcycled tiles or ethical furniture.

Follow along the day to day journey @corahilts on instagram!