Hempcrete, or hemp-line as it is referred to in Europe, is a promising sustainable building material. It is a green alternative to composites such as concrete, mortar and plaster. Today, we take an excerpt from Essential Hempcrete Construction: The Complete Step-by-Step Guide, where Chris Magwood outlines some of the benefits of using hempcrete in construction.
Many places across North America are experiencing significant drought. For those who are not connected to city water, paying attention to water levels is critical. As efforts to conserve water ramp up, the foreword written by Peter J. Coombes from Essential Rainwater Harvesting reminds us of the importance of harvesting rainwater.
The East Vancouver Island Basin has been in a Level 4 drought since early July. The question of how to conserve water and protect the water tables, especially on the Gulf Islands is on many minds. Today, we take an excerpt from Climate-Wise Landscaping: Practical Actions for a Sustainable Future by Susan Reed and Ginny Stibolt on making landscapes more drought-tolerant.
In the summer months, you can often find yarrow and it’s pretty white flowers blooming all around you. Yarrow has a very long history of being used as a medicinal treatment for a range of ailments. Today, we take an excerpt from The Artisan Herbalist where Bevin Cohen explains the background of Yarrow and how you can use it as medicine.
Today on the blog, we share a recipe from DIY Sourdough: The Beginner's Guide to Crafting Starters, Bread, Snacks, and More by John and Jessica Moody for sourdough scones! With berry season in full swing and fresh fruit stands popping up this scone recipe is sure to be a favourite all summer long.
If you are a seasoned gardener, or frequent farmers market shopper, chances are you’ve come across shoulder season greens. These greens can be planted very early in spring and again in late summer for a winter crop. Today, we take an excerpt on hardy greens from The Food Lover’s Garden by Jenni Blackmore on some of the greens that you might want to consider adding to your garden.
Today’s blog features an interview with Jeremy Lent, author of The Web of Meaning: Integrating Science and Traditional Wisdom to Find Our Place in the Universe. It includes the winning question from last week’s giveaway!
Today on the blog, we’re sharing a recipe for coconut kefir from The Art of Plant-based Cheesemaking: How to Craft Real, Cultured, Non-Dairy Cheese, Revised and Expanded Second Edition by Karen McAthy. This recipe is one of Karen’s favorite things to make just for its own sake. With a bright, tangy flavour with light effervescence, you can add coconut kefir to smoothies, salad dressings, vegan cheesecake or even use it for leavening biscuits!
Across many cultures, language attempts to describe the difference between being an individual and an entity intrinsically interconnected with everything else. To do so, we often see the words "I" and "self" used to distinguish these different states. Today, we take an excerpt from The Web of Meaning where Jeremy Lent explains the divergence between I and self.
Today’s blog features an interview with Eric and Callene Rapp, authors of the just-released book Homestead Cows: The Complete Guide To Raising Healthy, Happy, Cattle. It includes the winning question from last week’s giveaway!
Last weekend, we welcomed the first official days of summer with the summer solstice. As temperatures rise, have you ever wondered how cattle handle long days in the heat? Today on the blog, we explore this with an excerpt from Homesteading Cows: The Complete Guide To Raising Healthy, Happy, Cattle on how cattle handle the heat.
On the anniversary of George Floyd’s murder, the term “racial reckoning” appeared
again—in news reports, in commentary, from faith leaders, from some elected officials—but not
because the pace of change has accelerated. In fact, just the opposite has happened: change has
slowed and hope diminished.
Have you eaten pawpaw before? Often referred to as Indiana bananas or hipster bananas, they were nearly a forgotten fruit, native to North America. However, they are making a massive comeback with foodies, chefs, craft brewers, and discerning fruit-lovers. Today, we take an excerpt from Pawpaws: The Complete Growing and Marketing Guide, where Blake Cothron explains dispels five common myths about Pawpaws.
Today’s blog is an Interview with Karen McAthy, author of The Art of Plant-based Cheesemaking: How to Craft Real, Cultured, Non-Dairy Cheese, featuring our winning giveaway question.
The Fairy Creek Blockade is a non-violent act of civil disobedience that has stopped Teal-Jones from building roads and logging old-growth trees in the last unlogged old-growth valley on southern Vancouver Island. This organized protest protects the pristine headwaters of this ancient ecosystem from destruction and aims to create a movement that holds BC accountable for protecting its forests.