Gretchen Kruesi

hemp

Let’s Talk About Hemp

By Gretchen Kruesi / August 20, 2020 / Comments Off on Let’s Talk About Hemp

The hemp industry is booming, and with roots stretching throughout human history, it’s not going away any time soon. Here are some of our favorite articles and videos about this booming business. Hemp Can Do That: The Forgotten History of Hemp Cultivation The stat sheet on hemp sounds almost too good to be true: its…

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Growing Year-Round: Profitability & Tips

By Gretchen Kruesi / August 18, 2020 / Comments Off on Growing Year-Round: Profitability & Tips

The growing season can feel much too short this time of year; it seems like spring just got here, but we’re already preparing to harvest the fruits of our labor. Growing year-round is a challenge, but it’s not impossible. Follow these growing tips, and you’ll be well on your way to growing year-round! The following…

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money - 1%

The Money Machine of the 1% — How to Break Free

By Gretchen Kruesi / August 17, 2020 / Comments Off on The Money Machine of the 1% — How to Break Free

“Breaking free of the 1% and their constructs is not just possible, it has become necessary. It is a human necessity because participating in a world of limitless greed, profit, violence and power robs us of our humanity.” —VANDANA SHIVA We can seed another future when we deepen our democracies, reclaim our commons and regenerate…

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Apples on apple trees

Honoring the Cider Making Process

By Gretchen Kruesi / August 14, 2020 / Comments Off on Honoring the Cider Making Process

Cider making seems like a lot of work (and it is) but it makes itself more than you may know. With the addition of yeast, the apple juice ferments into cider after a few days. Andy Brennan, cider-enthusiast, advises to trust this process and not to interfere. Leaving nature to do its work yields a…

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small country

Lessons From a Small Country

By Gretchen Kruesi / August 12, 2020 / Comments Off on Lessons From a Small Country

People say good things sometimes come in small packages, and the little country of Whales is an example of just that. As Minister for Environment, Sustainability and Housing in Wales, Jane Davidson proposed the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015—the first piece of legislation on Earth to place regenerative and sustainable practice at the…

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chickens

Owning Livestock: 7 Reads To Get You Started

By Gretchen Kruesi / August 10, 2020 / Comments Off on Owning Livestock: 7 Reads To Get You Started

Owning livestock is no small task, but the work certainly pays off. To help you out, we’ve rounded up 7 books that are sure to help you become a livestock guru in no time! The Small-Scale Dairy The Small-Scale Dairy includes everything you need to know in order to successfully produce nourishing, healthy, farm-fresh milk. Whether…

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eco friendly

Making Change, Big and Small

By Gretchen Kruesi / August 7, 2020 / Comments Off on Making Change, Big and Small

In a time when change is necessary and inevitable, leading by example is invaluable. Not only has Jane Davidson spent a significant portion of her professional life working on legislation to build a greener, brighter future, but she has also integrated green changes into her personal life. It’s easy to talk the talk, but walking…

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motivation

The Motivation Behind Change

By Gretchen Kruesi / July 28, 2020 / Comments Off on The Motivation Behind Change

In #futuregen, Jane Davidson explains how, as Minister for Environment, Sustainability and Housing in Wales, she proposed the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015—the first piece of legislation on Earth to place regenerative and sustainable practice at the heart of government. Unparalleled in its scope and vision, the Act connects environmental and social health…

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windmills in a field

A Conversation with Paul Hawken

By Gretchen Kruesi / July 24, 2020 / Comments Off on A Conversation with Paul Hawken

Paul Hawken is an environmentalist, entrepreneur, author, and activist who has dedicated his life to environmental sustainability and changing the relationship between business and the environment. He is a member of Ray Anderson’s original EcoDreamTeam. The following is an excerpt from Mid-Course Correction Revisited by Ray C. Anderson and John A. Lanier. It has been…

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ferment

Become a Fermentation Sensation with these 8 Recipes!

By Gretchen Kruesi / July 16, 2020 / Comments Off on Become a Fermentation Sensation with these 8 Recipes!

Fermentation can take any ordinary ingredient and turn it into something amazing and delicious! To prove it to you, we’ve compiled some of our best fermentation recipes that you can try at home. Kvass: A Nourishing, Fermented Beverage Looking to add another recipe to your fermenting repertoire? Try your hand at kvass. This nourishing beverage…

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Election Year: Inspirational Reading Before Voting

By Gretchen Kruesi / July 15, 2020 / Comments Off on Election Year: Inspirational Reading Before Voting

The following is from the Chelsea Green 2020 Spring Journal. It has been adapted for the web. Rules for Revolutionaries Becky Bond and Zack Exley A riveting behind-the-scenes look at how a small “distributed organizing” team operating on the fringes of the Bernie Sanders campaign was able to identify, recruit, train, and activate hundreds of…

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dentist

Changing Oral Medicine

By Gretchen Kruesi / July 14, 2020 / Comments Off on Changing Oral Medicine

Did you know that many common chronic conditions—including obesity, inflammation, stroke, diabetes, Alzheimer’s, heart disease, and cancer, among others—often have their origins in the mouth? Dr. Dominik Nischwitz is an expert on the mouth’s vital role in the body’s microbiome. His groundbreaking book, It’s All in Your Mouth, presents a necessary new approach to natural…

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The Lean Farm Guide: CSA Boxes

By Gretchen Kruesi / July 13, 2020 / Comments Off on The Lean Farm Guide: CSA Boxes

CSA boxes are becoming popular as the idea of buying local continues to become more appealing. As a farmer, offering a CSA box to your community is a great way to ensure that you have a market! Author Ben Hartman talks about this concept, and the overall idea of lean farming to reduce waste, in…

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Artisan Foods: Inspiration from Masters of the Craft

By Gretchen Kruesi / July 10, 2020 / Comments Off on Artisan Foods: Inspiration from Masters of the Craft

Artisan food-makers spend years studying their craft and perfecting their culinary techniques in order to give us the most delicious food possible. Our authors are sharing their knowledge with the world, whether it be brewing beer or making cheese. Pick up any one of the books this list to learn from the best! If these…

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books

6 Books That Bring Hope to Life

By Gretchen Kruesi / July 8, 2020 / Comments Off on 6 Books That Bring Hope to Life

Books can bring comfort, happiness, and most important: hope. Let these books fill you with inspirational stories of perseverance, hope, and innovation. Following the collapse of Ireland’s Celtic Tiger economy, social activist Ruairí McKiernan questions whether he should join the mounting number of emigrants searching for greater opportunity elsewhere. McKiernan embarks on a hitchhiking odyssey…

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koji

Welcome to the Wonderful World of Koji

By Gretchen Kruesi / July 6, 2020 / Comments Off on Welcome to the Wonderful World of Koji

What if we told you there’s a world of flavor that you’ve never tasted before? There is, and it all starts with a little mold called koji! In the right hands, koji makes anything taste better, from bread to cheese to ice cream. Check out our post on growing your own koji to get started.…

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Sleep, Performance, and the 21st-Century Athlete

By Gretchen Kruesi / June 28, 2020 / Comments Off on Sleep, Performance, and the 21st-Century Athlete

Sleep seems to be the thing that escapes most of us. In a society that praises long hours, we aren’t getting the rest needed for optimal physical and mental performance. Continuously practicing to be the best is an unhealthy myth that drives many athletes. Studies recently conducted are reporting that the best way improve athletic…

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hemp

Hemp Can Do That: The Forgotten History of Hemp Cultivation

By Gretchen Kruesi / June 23, 2020 / Comments Off on Hemp Can Do That: The Forgotten History of Hemp Cultivation

The stat sheet on hemp sounds almost too good to be true: its fibers are among the planet’s strongest, its seed oil the most nutritious, and its potential as an energy source vast and untapped. Our extensive use of hemp may seem like a hot new trend, but hemp is actually inextricably intertwined with human…

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powelines

A History of Electricity and Its Impact on Planetary and Human Health

By Gretchen Kruesi / June 15, 2020 / Comments Off on A History of Electricity and Its Impact on Planetary and Human Health

The story of the invention and use of electricity has been told before, but never from an environmental point of view. An assumption of safety, and the conviction that electricity has no negative impact on life, are by now so entrenched in the human psyche that new research and testimony by those who’ve been injured…

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American Hemp Farmer: An Interview with Doug Fine

By Gretchen Kruesi / June 11, 2020 / Comments Off on American Hemp Farmer: An Interview with Doug Fine

Investigative journalist, farmer, and goat herder Doug Fine has been writing about hemp for 26 years. Author of Hemp Bound and Too High to Fail, he believes that hemp can lead the way toward a new, regenerative economy. In this interview with Chelsea Green, Fine gives us the straight dope on one of the world’s…

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Bacteria: The Unsung Heroes of Oral Hygiene

By Gretchen Kruesi / June 11, 2020 / Comments Off on Bacteria: The Unsung Heroes of Oral Hygiene

Good oral hygiene equals a squeaky clean mouth, free of all bacteria, right? Wrong! Our mouths are actually at their healthiest when we have a thriving population of good bacteria. So ease up on those microbes, they get a bad rap! The following is an excerpt from It’s All in Your Mouth by Dominik Nischwitz.…

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produce

Autoimmune Diets: Six Principles to Follow When Starting

By Gretchen Kruesi / June 8, 2020 / Comments Off on Autoimmune Diets: Six Principles to Follow When Starting

Inspired by a combination of his work treating patients with autoimmune disease and working in his garden, Dr. Cowan has developed six principles to help patients create healthy, natural autoimmune diets. He emphasizes the importance of sourcing quality food from your immediate environment and consuming the correct macronutrients. The following excerpt is from Vaccines, Autoimmunity,…

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lisa fithian talking to a crowd

Change Ourselves, Change the World

By Gretchen Kruesi / June 2, 2020 / Comments Off on Change Ourselves, Change the World

Lisa Fithian has shut down the CIA. She has disrupted the World Trade Organization and camped in a ditch with Gold Star mom and protester of the Iraq War, Cindy Sheehan. She has stood her ground in Tahrir Square, occupied Wall Street, marched in the streets of Ferguson, and walked in solidarity with tribal leaders…

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Malt Your Own Grain at Home: Brewing from Scratch

By Gretchen Kruesi / June 1, 2020 / Comments Off on Malt Your Own Grain at Home: Brewing from Scratch

Do you think making a 100%-from-scratch beer is near-to-impossible? We’re here to tell you, it’s not! With just a few ingredients and a little patience, you can malt your own grain at home and get started on a brewing a batch of beer completely from scratch! The following excerpt is from Brew Beer Like a…

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The Spirit of Hitching

By Gretchen Kruesi / May 29, 2020 / Comments Off on The Spirit of Hitching

Gone are the days where you can stick out your thumb to catch a carefree ride. For a long time though, hitchhiking was considered normal and even reasonably safe. Even more, it gave people a chance to connect with strangers, share stories, and spend a bit of time in someone else’s shoes. While the days…

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