Green Living Magazine February 2021

your conscious life

GREEN LIVING February 2021

greenlivingmag.com

Actress Zooey Deschanel is on an environmental mission Fun Date Ideas A New Plant-based Restaurant Travel That Makes a Difference

US $4.99

Green Living AZ 13845 N Scottsdale Rd. Scottsdale, AZ 85254

CONTACT US: +09 - 852 - 3653 - 32 info.contact@gmail.com

STAYCATION IN YOUR CHEMICAL FREE BACKYARD!

STAYCATION IN YOUR CHEMICAL FREE BACKYARD!

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The Power of Water To many, water is nothing more than a simple commodity used in our daily lives for many purposes. Rarely will the average person ever look at it through a microscope before bathing, showering, drinking—or anything at all. As a matter of fact, most people don’t even think twice about what they’re drinking, showering in, or even swimming in on a daily basis. The truth is... you should be very interested in what you’re being exposed to everyday. Unless, that is, your health is not of much concern.

Fortunately, I believe more and more people are becoming increasingly concerned about their health today than they ever were. Next comes the quest for a better understanding of what water system is best for drinking, bathing, and swimming.

Of course, it is important to understand the processes used to achieve the water quality desired. Unfortunately, there comes yet another hurdle to overcome—the propaganda that each retailer touts that their system is the way to salvation in achieving clean, healthy water. How do you truly know which way to go? Are you sure you made the right choice? Can you verify you did as a layman in the water industry?

Fortunately, there are simple ways to a better understanding of water quality. There are certain baselines to water that help quantify whether it is healthy or not.

I’m sure you’ve heard the term “keep it simple” before, right? Well, let’s first take a look at what the elements within the water of a swimming pool should consist of to be deemed healthy.

The baseline elements in a swimming pool consist of a pH of around 7.4–8.0, calcium around 200-300ppm, alkalinity around 100120ppm, and total dissolved solids (TDS) below 500ppm.

The unknown element in this list is the TDS number, which can consist of just about anything that is capable of being “dissolved” in water. Unfortunately, that’s a pretty long, never-ending list! That is why it’s important to keep that number relatively low in order to keep the unknowns to a minimum.

Another important factor to water quality that is rarely

mentioned in ANY type of article is the amount of oxygen present. Oxygen in water is truly essential to the health and balance of just about any body of water, whether it’s utilized for drinking, bathing, swimming, agriculture, aquaculture, fish farming, aquaponics, etc. Just about all forms of life need oxygen in order to survive and flourish, so this is important.

Pure Vision Technologies has been researching and developing different water systems that utilize natural elements to provide a higher level of water quality for those who truly seek that next level. We incorporate oxygen, ozone, and carbon dioxide into our systems by means of highly efficient diffusion systems.

These systems help oxidize, disinfect, and help balance the pH and alkalinity in the water naturally. Those who are allergic to swimming in chlorine can now enjoy swimming in a chemical-free environment—without all the unwanted side effects.

Most of our clientele consist of your highly healthconscious, average American, along with many celebrities (that we unfortunately can’t mention!), who are all just looking for a healthier way of living. The escape to their backyard into their swimming pool doesn’t come without its own set of issues. It’s all too often that these beautiful concrete structures are left unused, due to the fact that the customer can no longer bear the exposure of chlorine to their skin or lungs.

It’s times like these that we need to remember that our skin is the largest organ on our body. It’s like a giant sponge, and absorbs the many different toxins and chemicals hidden in the very water we swim in as well. Therefore, it’s in your best interest to be genuinely concerned about the water to which you and your family is exposed.

If you would like to experience the wonderful benefits of swimming in an oxygen-filled pool, we will be more than happy to assist you. Experience the Exceptional Water Systems difference in water quality, and you’ll find there is just no other substitute!

If you would like to learn more about our systems, please visit our website at www.exwsystems.com or call us at 480-694-4709.

Recycle Your Old Electronics to Make Way for the New

Specializing in Residential and Commercial: ✔ Electronics Recycling ✔ Data Destruction ✔ IT Asset Disposition (ITAD) Mention Green Living magazine and we will waive the $25 drop off fee.

Please call for pricing or schedule a drop off.

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Electronics Recycling Guide What We Recycle: Information Technology

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

•

Mainframes /minicomputers and associated hardware Personal Computers, Laptops, Notebooks and associated hardware All Printers and Copiers Typewriters and Calculators User terminals and systems Facsimile and Telex Telephones (cordless, cellular, and corded) and Answering Systems Scanners Array, Disk Drive Battery Laptop Battery Scanner/Cell Phone Cables/Mice CD Drive, External Charger

What We Recycle: • • •

Power Strip/Surge Protector

• • • • •

Projector

• • • • • •

Hard Drive/ZIP Drive External Keyboards/ Computer Mouse Modem/DSU/CSU/TSU Monitors (CRT Monitors - call for pricing) PC System Monitors PC/MAC, Desktop/Tower and Point of Sales items including Display, Systems, Pin Pad, Register/Monitor, Keyboard, Printer, Drawer, Display, CPU Slice, Hand Scanner, all Base types, Card Swipe, CPU Slice, Scanner/Scale

Router/Switch/Hub/Mux Tape Drive, External Time Clocks

• • •

Test equipment Hard disk drives Power Supplies, Cabling, Wire, and Transformers Connectors Circuit boards Medical equipment Solar Panels

• • • •

UPS, Sml/Med/Lg

Ferrous and Non-Ferrous Metals

Audio equipment, Stereos, Speakers, Cassette Recorders Televisions (call for pricing) Satellite and cable equipment Video equipment I.E. VCRs Video game equipment Digital cameras

•

Ferrous (Metals containing Iron): Carbon Steel, Stainless Steel, Cast Iron, Wrought Iron. All types and all designations...

•

Non-Ferrous: Gold, Silver, Copper, Aluminum, Brass, Solder

Electronic Components

Docking Station Floppy Drive, Internal/External

Printer, Desktop Dot Matrix, Desktop Ink Jet, Desktop Laser (Large or Network), Line Printer, Phaser, Plotter, POS Mod,

Miscellaneous Electronic Items

Consumer Electronics

Communications Controller Dumb Terminal

Power Supply

What We Recycle:

• • • • •

Capacitors Diodes Resistors Transistors Integrated circuits

What We Do NOT Recycle: • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Appliances Mercury Thermometers Thermostats PCB Ballast Smoke Detectors Florescent Light Bulbs Fuel/Oil Filters Hazardous Materials Fluids/Cleaners Paint Aerosols Refrigerant Gas Cylinders Oily Debris Stand Alone Batteries (**Batteries in electronics are accepted**)

CONTENTS

February 2021

GOOD

14 Travel That Makes a Difference Meet the hotel booking platform changing the world one stay at a time

16 Sole Sports Running Zone 18 Sustainable You A green business that gives back Be selfish

HEALTH

20 Tinctures, Tonics, and Teas 22 Vitamin D Some Green to Your 24 Add Dental Routine What you need to know

42

How to avoid a deficiency twindemic

Ways to be eco-conscious

Habits of a Highly 26 5Healthy Brain

FEATURES

Follow ‘BLESS’

30

Zooey Deschanel

34

Sage, Crystals, and More

The actress, entertainer, and environmental pioneer shares the mission behind Lettuce Grow

What to know about how your wellness routine could be hurting local livelihoods

38 Fun Date Ideas 41 42 Hannah Bacon Put a Cork in It

Mesa’s Armor Plate Coating Systems

BEAUTY

28 Stunning Skincare

Adonia Organics redefines skincare

HOME

30 Green Home

4 sustainable home décor ideas

SAVOR

54 Be a GuacStar

Arizona’s first plant-based, full-service restaurant opens

TRAVEL

Ways to connect with your significant other

56 Travel for Social Good

Moving past traditional travel companies and making a difference

TECHNOLOGY

Meet the environmentalist who is hiking 3,000 miles to bring awareness to climate change

58 Stepping Into the Future

Plant-based packaging company, Footprint, is using technology to eliminate single-use plastics

IN EVERY ISSUE

6 6 8 10

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Editor’s Note Contributors On the Web What’s Hot

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Cool Outrageous Stuff She’s Green, He’s Green Green Scenes Final Word

greenlivingmag.com

On the cover: Zooey Deschanel Photo by Sergio Necoechea

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EDITOR'S

Note

Contributors Meet some of our contributors!

This month we asked them…

What is one thing you learned when researching/ writing your story?

David M. Brown, writer Giving back. For everyone that means different things. For some, it is giving money. For others, their time. It can come in the form of a smile to someone who needs it, a donation to a nonprofit, handing out food to those who are hungry (speaking of which, check out Green Living’s Fresh Food Collab which does just that and get involved!), or donating a portion of the proceeds from the sale of your company’s goods to an organization that helps others.

This month is our Giving Back issue. You’ll find stories throughout that speak to that theme, from the products we featured in this month’s Cool Outrageous Stuff, where funds are donated to causes, to our feature on Armor Plate Coating Systems, which helps fund the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline.

Born, raised, and educated in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, David M. Brown is a Valley-based freelancer. In addition to sustainability, he writes about the arts, architecture, cars, and other topics he is passionate about.

“I learned that insulating the exterior walls of your home can help reduce energy costs and noise and thereby increase value."

And, just as important to giving to others is advocating for others and advocating for causes. Read the story on Hannah Bacon, an environmental activist who is hiking 3,000 miles across the country to raise awareness for climate change.

There are so many inspiring things happening in this world!

Happy February and we hope you find time in your schedule to give back, as well! If you do, we’d love to hear about it or see it. Tag us in your social media posts, send us an email, and let us know! We’re also always here for your comments and thoughts.

Tanner Caterina-Knorr, writer Yours,

Michelle Glicksman Editor-in-Chief michelle.g@greenlivingmag.com

Tanner Caterina-Knorr is a Ph.D. student, concentrating in community resources and development, and sustainable tourism, as well as a research assistant with the Center for Sustainable Tourism at Arizona State University. He is the owner of the travel company, Off Season Adventures, and the president of the 501(c)(3) nonprofit, Second Look Worldwide.

“I learned that a couple of our largest global issues, hunger and water access, are relatively affordable when we look at the overall economic contribution of the travel and tourism industry.”

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your conscious life

GREEN LIVING greenlivingmag.com

PUBLISHER Dorie Morales EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Michelle Glicksman VP OF OPERATIONS Diana Vowels ASSISTANT EDITOR Kyley Warren ART DIRECTION & DESIGN Sly Panda Design DIGITAL COORDINATOR Kait Spielmaker GRAPHIC DESIGN & SOCIAL MEDIA Victoria Klotz COPY EDITOR Michael Ziffer CONTRIBUTORS David M. Brown Jennifer Burkhart John Burkhart Tanner Caterina-Knorr Ric Coggins Tiffany Di Giacinto Angel Fuchs EDITORIAL INTERNS Tony Barrera Erin Epel Eva Halvax Patrice Timmons

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Dana Lam Karen Langston Luann Lavin Maria Lopez Elaina Verhoff Sheryl Wright

DATA ENTRY INTERN Edward Balderrama PUBLISHER'S ASST. INTERN Brinton Carlson STUDENT ADVISOR Chloe Billingsley

ADVERTISING Julie Baum - julie.b@greenlivingmag.com Andrea Dias - andrea.d@greenlivingmag.com Sheree Kamenetsky - sheree.k@greenlivingmag.com Dorie Morales - sales@greenlivingmag.com

SUBSCRIBE TODAY! CONTACT US AT:

Subscriptions: orders@greenlivingmag.com Advertising: sales@greenlivingmag.com Editorial: editor@greenlivingmag.com

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1233 East Camelback Road Phoenix, AZ 85014 (602) 635-2559 www.CourtesyChev.com Courtesy is the only Chevy Dealer in Arizona to be awarded the Dealer of Excellence two years in a row!

Please recycle this magazine Green Living magazine is a monthly publication by Traditional Media Group, LLC. Periodical rate postage paid at Scottsdale, AZ. Publisher assumes no responsibility for contributed manuscripts, editorial content, claims, reviews, photographs, artwork or advertisements. The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the various authors and forum participants do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the company or official policies. Entire contents © 2020 Traditional Media Group. All rights reserved. Reproduction or use of content in any manner without permission by the publisher is strictly prohibited. Opinions expressed in signed columns and articles do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher. Submissions will not be returned unless arranged to do so in writing. One print subscription is $25 per year or digital subscription is $12 per year. Canadian orders please add $13 per year for shipping and handling. International orders add $22 per year for shipping and handling. Bulk and/or corporate rates available. No representation is made as to the accuracy hereof and is printed subject to errors and omissions. Green Living magazine is printed on recycled paper.

No Dealer Adds on in-stock units.

For J.D. Power Dealer of Excellence Program, visit jdpower.com/DOE FEBRUARY 2021

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ON THE

Web

This month on greenlivingmag.com and social media. @greenlivingaz

@greenlivingaz

@greenlivingaz

Photo courtesy of Mike Pexels

Photo courtesy of Kelly Kalmbach

/greenlivingmagaz

GOOD

HEALTH & WELLNESS

TECHNOLOGY

Chef Danielle Leoni Partners With Arizona Desert Shrimp

Simone De La Rue, Celeb Trainer, Shares Health Tips

Apple Introduces Electric Vehicle Plan Set for 2024

The Body By Simone founder & Hollywood's famed wellness guru spoke exclusively with Green Living about how to create effective health habits for the new year.

Tech giant Apple is set to enter the market of advanced self-driving technology come 2024, when it debuts its own prototype of an electric vehicle. The model will reportedly boast a “breakthrough” battery technology that will help to push the iPhone producer to be a leader in the EV market.

Chef Danielle Leoni—executive chef and co-owner of The Breadfruit & Rum Bar—has joined forces with Arizona Desert Shrimp to help educate chefs about sustainable seafood and break the negative stigma around farmed shrimp.

INSTAGRAM

FACEBOOK

Trekking...

10 Simple Solutions Video

Green Living interviewed Hannah Bacon—a naturalist and an activist who is on a trek from the Pacific to the Atlantic.

Bacon is extremely passionate about climate activism and is spreading awareness through her journey.

In celebration of Green Living magazine’s 10th anniversary, our team put together a video series of “10 Simple Solutions” that featured tips for living a more conscious lifestyle from staff members and some of our most famous collaborators. The videos can be viewed on both Facebook and Instagram.

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Quality New and Used Resort Furniture Liquidation Marriott’s, Wyndham, Hyatt, Westin, Hilton, Sheraton, Ritz Carlton, Four Seasons, Omni, Phoenician, Radisson

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WHAT’S

Hot

Free Seeds Get ready to grow! Did you know that the Maricopa Native Seed library provides free native seeds to the community, as well as education and information on how to use and take care of them? The seeds available are perfect for both large and small locations.

Local Restaurant to Phase Out Plastic Mr. Mesquite Taqueria—a restaurant in Scottsdale known for its tacos, protein bowls, and other Mexican fare—aims to reduce its carbon footprint and is working to phase out its plastic use by November 2022.

Three seed packets can be taken per month, and there are several locations across the Valley to pick them up. There is also a mail order service available ($1 covers shipping and handling). For more information, visit www.libguides. maricopa.edu.

The owners will eliminate all plastic containers, cups, bags, straws, and similar products, replacing them with ecofriendly alternatives. By the time they reach their goal, they will have replaced 100,000 single-use plastics a month. For more information, visit www.eatmrmesquite.com.

Nordstrom Recycles

M3 Junk Removal Partners with Local Charities to Prevent Landfill Waste

Nordstrom is on a recycling mission. The retailer recently partnered with TerraCycle to create BEAUTYCYCLE, an in-store depository where you can bring any empty beauty containers to be recycled that aren’t accepted in your regular curbside bins. Think empty bottles, tubes and caps, palettes, twist-up containers, and more from hair care, skin care, makeup, and beauty samples.

Bring them to any Nordstrom and drop them in the marked bins in the beauty department. Nordstrom’s goal is to recycle 100 tons of beauty packaging by 2025. And, the company also has a clothing donation program to keep clothing out of landfills. For more information on the programs, visit www.nordstrom.com.

M3 Junk Removal, a division of North Phoenix-based M3 Commercial Moving & Logistics and Muscular Moving Men & Storage, recently partnered with three local charities to donate gently used furniture items from its junk removal pickups. UMOM, New Life Center, and St. Vincent de Paul will receive donations, giving gently used items a second life and preventing them from hitting the landfill.

Ethan Delahunty, director of M3 Junk Removal, says, “While there might be a scuff or scratch here or there, these items are still in great condition and can easily be used by someone else. We are excited that our charity partners will be able to use these items to assist the communities they serve.”

M3 Junk Removal operates on a “donate first, trash second” model. For more information, visit www.m3junkremoval.com.

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Scottsdale’s Charitable Scottsdale’s Charitable Alternative for Home Alternative for Home Décor Shopping Décor Shopping

Got Legs- A not-for-profit Got furnishings Legs- A not-for-profit home store selling home furnishings store used selling high-quality, gently high-quality, gently used furniture and home decor. furniture and home decor.

100% of proceeds support local 100% of proceeds support local Arizona families and Veterans Arizona families and Veterans who have overcome chronic who have overcome chronic homelessness and found homelessness found permanent and housing permanent housing . .

Got Legs Proudly Supports Got Legs AZ Proudly Supports Bridging Furniture Bank Bridging AZ Furniture Bank Bridging AZ is an award winning Bridging is an awardinwinning nonprofit.AZ Established 2004 as a nonprofit.

Established in 2004 501(c)3 nonprofit, Bridging is as a 501(c)3 nonprofit, Bridging is To date, Arizona’s first furniture bank.

Arizona’s first furniture bank.

Tofellow date, Bridging has helped over 60,000 Bridging has helped over 60,000 fellow Arizonians by providing them with Arizonians byother providing with furniture and itemsthem graciously furniture and other items graciously donated by the general public. donated by the general public.

Large selection of fine handmade Largefrom selection fine handmade rugs Persia,ofTurkey, Pakistan rugs Turkey, Pakistan and from India.Persia, Beautiful Handwoven and Native India. American Beautiful Handwoven Textiles Native American Textiles

Now accepting costume jewelry and Now accepting costume jewelry and collectibles for donation. for AZ donation.

Lastcollectibles year Bridging purchased Last year Bridging AZ your purchased 387 new beds.

Donate unused 387 new Donate items, help beds. us serve even your moreunused Vets this items, help us serve even more Vets this year! new bedsyear! for Veterans new beds for Veterans

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STUFF Outrageous

COOL

Cool Products That Give Back 3

1

1 Lip Love The Lip Therapy Gift Set from Blue Heron Botanicals acts as a bundle of nourishing, ultra-rich organic lip goodness— with conditioning glosses formulated to heal and hydrate delicate skin. The female-owned, NorCal-based company is committed to eco-conscious practices through the production of small-batch, premium-quality products composed of locally sourced ingredients. Beyond the fully compostable packaging, a portion of funds from every product sold is donated to SEE Turtles and the Billion Baby Turtles Initiative. $44 at www.blueheronbotanicals.com

2 Bag It Lulu Dharma’s collection of vegan, sustainable, and consciously created handbags are both fashion-forward and altruistic. Fifty percent of the profits from The Woven Weekenders goes to Kiss The Ground, a fund that supports land stewards from around the globe in their transition to safer practices for people, soil, and climate. Additionally, it promotes advocacy and education around the world. Ten percent of the fund goes to grassroots projects on environmentalism and social justice. $175 at www.luludharma.com

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2

4

3 Wear your Dream Vacation Inspired by nature and handmade in paradise, Catherine Weitzman Jewelry is an eco-conscious collection offering luxurious, wearable accessories. Weitzman, a classically trained metalsmith, hand-makes every piece using high-quality recycled metals and natural elements— such as leaves, branches, flowers, and coral—found in her own beachy backyard in Honolulu, Hawaii. She donates on an ongoing basis to Surf Rider Foundation, an organization dedicated to protecting the world’s oceans and beaches. $123 at www.catherineweitzman.com

5

4 Shoes with a Smaller Eco Footprint Raum Goods creates ethically sourced items with all-natural materials. Each shoe is handmade by a skilled group of artisans in southern Turkey who have been making shoes for over five generations. All products are shipped in natural linen bags, and a biodegradable outer shipping envelope made from corn. The company partnered with One Percent for the Planet to donate 1% of its yearly sales to a variety of approved nonprofits and charities. $155 at www.raumgoods.com

5 Fit and Fashionable PSK Collective is a sustainably sourced activewear line founded by legendary World Rugby Hall of Famer Phaidra Knight, in partnership with The Powell Companies Real, LLC (TPCR). The brand focuses on unleashing young women’s inner athletes through fashion that speaks to optimism, independence, and achievement. The trendfocused pieces merge sportswear with streetwear. Sizes range from XS-3XL. Diversity, inclusivity, and equality are driving factors of PSK Collective’s brand, with 15% of all profits benefiting the Women’s Sports Foundation. $36-$69 at www.walmart.com

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GOOD

Business

Travel Kind With Kind Traveler

Photo courtesy Kind Traveler

Meet the hotel booking platform changing the world one stay at a time

BY ANGEL FUCHS

W

What if every vacation taken could be a catalyst of good-doing for the global community? What if a two-week tropical excursion could provide nutritious meals to families in need or help clean up polluted waterways or positively impact local communities?

With just a few easy steps, Kind Traveler is making all that and so much more happen. As a unique hotel booking platform, Kind Traveler is a public benefit corporation with a mission to transform the incredible collective of everyday travelers into a financial force that benefits the health and well-being of individuals, animals, and the environment.

The easy Give + Get strategy allows users to simply choose a destination and hotel, and give a $10 per day of stay donation, and in return they unlock exclusive discounted hotel rates and special perks such as waived resort fees, early check-in/late check-out, a complimentary bottle of wine,

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dining or spa credits, or complimentary valet. Exclusive rates and perks will vary by hotel.

A sustainable travel survey conducted by Booking.com in 2019 showed that 72% of travelers want their dollars to impact the communities they visit. The platform Kind Traveler offers is fulfilling that need while incentivizing the appeal. “People want to help, they just need a catalyst,� says Jessica Blotter, Kind Traveler co-founder.

Blotter saw the need for the catalyst to do good firsthand on

a trip to Belize she took with partner and co-founder Sean Krejci. It was during that trip, on a bus excursion to Mayan ruins, that she and Krejci witnessed extreme poverty.

“On the bus ride, we saw families living in tiny shacks next to polluted swamps, children living in these heartbreaking conditions,” says Blotter. “Everybody got very quiet.”

When the bus stopped for snacks and water, the tourists were approached by emaciated, starving dogs, and Blotter knew she had to do something.

“We couldn't just turn a blind eye to what we saw, so we went in the store and bought all the dog food we could and we gave it to these starving dogs,” she says.

Then she saw that the other tourists followed their lead and also bought food for the dogs.

“The mood changed and went from somber to joyous,” she says.

This small act of humanity served as the catalyst that others needed to step up and fulfill the obvious need. Blotter and Krejci saw the joy the good deed brought to others, which helped inspire the idea to create a give-and-get platform.

The pair used their combined experience and entrepreneurial expertise to kick-start a longtime dream of being champions for good and starting their own purposedriven company. Krejci had previously founded three successful businesses at a young age, and Blotter had worn a few different hats that helped fuel her drive.

“I was a biology major at ASU and actually started my career as an Earth science teacher in Scottsdale,” says Blotter.

“That's where I discovered my passion for sustainability.”

After teaching, Blotter had a decade-long career with many travel and lifestyle publications, where she expanded her

knowledge and gathered the fundamentals to open her own business. Together, she and Krejci founded a brand development group and were advocates for animal welfare.

Their combined passions and interests helped build the foundation of Kind Traveler.

The platform launched in 2016 with 20 hotel partners in the U.S. and Mexico benefiting 15 charities; they now have 130 hotel partners with 70 charitable partners across 15 different countries. Two of those partners are the local sister properties Mountain Shadows and Hotel Valley Ho, both known for their generous charitable contributions to various organizations.

“The properties we partner with are a curated collection of boutique, luxury, and lifestyle hotels with an organic connection to the community,” says Blotter. “And each property chooses the local charities they wish to work with and support.”

The charitable organizations hotels choose range from wildlife, environmental, and animal welfare to human rights, health, and disaster relief.

Hotel Valley Ho and Mountain Shadows chose Epilepsy Foundation Arizona. Essentially, guests who book their stay at either of those properties through Kind Traveler will help fund research of a disease that is more common than MS, Parkinson’s, cerebral palsy, and muscular dystrophy combined, yet receives the least amount of funding.

If the traveler wishes to support another cause than that aligned with the property, they have that option as well, and they can feel good in the knowledge that 100% of their donation goes directly to the charity.

“This is a win for all involved—the traveler, the hotel and the community,” says Blotter.

For more information about Kind Traveler or to book your own feelgood trip, visit www.kindtraveler.com.

Let us design the perfect trip to help reduce your carbon footprint.

Book a trip and mention Green Living magazine get a free travel guide.

480-788-6832

greentravelqueen@gmail.com

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GOOD

Local First

Sole Sports Running Zone

A green business that gives back

BY MARIA LOPEZ, LOCAL FIRST ARIZONA

Y

You can go the extra mile with Sole Sports, a locally owned specialty running and walking shoe store that, on top of great products and services, has a dedicated volunteer base called its Dig Deeper Volunteers that you can be part of to make Arizona greener, kinder, and a place we’re proud to call home.

Another cool initiative at all three Valley Sole Sports Running Zone locations (Scottsdale, Arcadia, Tempe): Old shoes that you don't use any more can be donated there.

Each donation will then make it to a local homeless shelter or nonprofit that is in need. On top of that, when you bring in your old shoes, the company will credit you $5 per pair (up to a maximum of $10) towards your next pair.

"Give us your tired, your worn, your broken-down old sneakers yearning to run free again," it proudly states on the company's website.

This Local First Arizona Certified Arizona Green Business is a true testament to what community and green conscious living can do. Meet more certified green businesses creating lasting change by visiting www.greenbiztracker.org.

HOW 'DIG DEEPER' VOLUNTEERS GIVE BACK Runners began the Sole Sports-backed community volunteer group in 2013. What began with an annual Thanksgiving Food Drive for St. Vincent de Paul, a nonprofit charity organization, has grown into a powerful force for good. It was the brainchild of longtime group runner Kim Lambert, and since then, they have made significant contributions across the Valley monthly.

SOME EXAMPLES OF DIG DEEPER INITIATIVES: Maricopa County Animal Care & Control—Group collects donations and supplies for the animals at the shelter, delivers the goods, and then walks the dogs.

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Girls on the Run 5K—Dig Deeper helps inspire and empower young girls by being their running buddies and volunteers.

Want to dig deeper and get involved? Join the Dig Deeper Facebook group.

HOW SOLE SPORTS GOES GREEN The company: • Gives customers a credit when they bring in used shoes that they then donate to various local charities; • Donates shoe boxes to local groups to reuse; • Recycles all acceptable materials, including electronic waste; • Reuses all packing materials; • Hosts a water refill station in the shop instead of plastic water bottles; • Installed dual-flush toilets to reduce water use and had a water audit done to improve water conservation; • And conserves energy by switching to LED light bulbs and exit signs.

Sole Sports employs a video gait analysis system which allows them to closely analyze your foot strike and determine how much support you need in a shoe.

Check them out at one of their locations and visit www.solesportsrunning.com to learn more.

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Sustainable You

Be Selfish

BY KAREN LANGSTON

H

Have you ever flown? Before takeoff, the flight attendants go over some emergency preparedness. If there is a drop in cabin pressure, the oxygen masks drop from above the ceiling. The passengers are then instructed to put their mask on first before helping either a loved one or someone who may need help. Seems selfish, right? Not really, because if we do not have enough oxygen, we pass out and are useless to anyone else.

The same holds true in our own lives. I know when raising my kids, I always took a back seat to my family’s needs. It is just how it goes—family first, pets first, community, oh, and work. Right, I need to put that first, too.

But, what about you? How long can you sustain running on empty? How effective are you truly, when you are not feeling 100%? How’s your health, sleep, and energy?

If you search this topic on the web, most of what you’ll find is about this lack of happiness and self-worth. I do not believe that this is the crux of what is going on. I believe we are an action of observations from our caregivers. We are either doing what they did, or doing what we did not

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get as a kid. My parents were not the nurturing type. They took care of our essential needs; however, because they were holding down sometimes two jobs each, there wasn’t much room for much more. I did what my mum did—worked my bum off, put everyone’s needs first, and myself last. It wasn’t sustainable, and I got sick as a result.

I came across a quote by Rumi, “Yesterday I was clever, so I wanted to change the world. Today I am wise, so I am changing myself.”

This shook me to my core. I found myself taking a hard long look on how to make changes. I was running on empty, and everyone around me was suffering, too.

If we are running on an empty tank, how can we possibly give a full tank of energy to our family, friends and community? How are we supposed to put 100% of our time, attention, and energy into our business? Stress, anxiety, and exhaustion take a major toll on our mind and body. Interesting to note that in Chinese and Ayurveda medicine, the gallbladder’s emotional connection has to do with regret. More women have gallbladder surgery than men. Coincidence? Women have a tendency to put their aspirations and dreams on hold to raise a family. Sometimes this regret of not doing what they wanted festers for years.

If last year taught us anything, it is to slow down, and take time out for what really matters.

I am not asking you to abandon ship and go off on a yearlong Eat Pray Love sabbatical. Instead, start small by scheduling 30 minutes of time daily that is just for you.

It can be anything you want; it just has to bring you joy or happiness. Once you get comfortable with this, then schedule more time, progressing to getting in a day just for you, or a weekend once every couple of months.

In the beginning this may sound overwhelming, but after some time of experiencing something just for you, you will feel the benefits—and want more. Believe me, the effects of this selfless act will just make you feel happier, which in turn will be felt by all those you interact with. You will have more to give.

Studies have shown happier people have more stable marriages, stronger immune system, higher incomes and more creative ideas. These are the keys to being in a position to give back to others.

Add in some time for movement—it can be a streaming service, a walk outdoors, cycling, yoga; whatever it is, get your body moving. When our body moves, we become stronger. Studies have revealed regular exercise boosts brain function and energy; helps keep your thinking, learning, and judgment skills sharp; and promotes a feeling of well-being and calm.

Now, imagine sharing this energy with others. Imagine giving 100% of your positive energy to others who are then inspired to influence and inspire others. This is where the act of giving truly happens. Think back to a time when you have been in the presence of another where you just felt good around them. You too can feel this way.

It doesn’t take much to get started. At first you may resist it, then you will come to embrace it. When you are happy, those around you feel happy, and when you are inspired, those around you are inspired. When you are giving back with a full tank, others feel it too. This is the kindest act you can do. In the words of Hardy D. Jackson, “Above all, be true to yourself, and if you cannot put your heart in it, take yourself out of it.”

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HEALTH &

Wellness

Tinctures, Tonics, and Teas

BY RIC COGGINS

G

Growing up in the ’60s, herbs to most people were culinary seasonings like “Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme.” My mom, of course, used all of those seasonings and more in her kitchen, but the word “herbs” in our house only referred to the medicinal plants that my father grew or used for wellness purposes. Many of the then-obscure herbal names commonplace in my mid-century childhood home have become mainstream.

Who hasn’t made chamomile tea at bedtime or reached for the echinacea and goldenseal bottle at the first sign of a sniffle?

Gingko commercials have become a fixture on the 24/7 news channels, aimed at a demographic wishing to remember why they walked into the room or where their car keys might be lounging. And, I am pretty sure you have heard of ginseng for general well-being and energy.

Most commercially available medicinal herbs are taken in the form of a capsule that contains a dried pulverized version of the whole leaf, root bark, or whatever plant portion that contains an active ingredient. And, there is a lot to be said for dried whole herbs, as they contain not only the active ingredient, but a myriad of other elements that are known in herbalism to have synergistic effects.

SAW PALMETTO HAS BECOME ANOTHER TV STAR FOR ITS BENEFICIAL EFFECT ON PROSTATE HEALTH These herbal names were the standard vernacular of my childhood vocabulary, which of course made me the “weird kid” in junior high.

I somehow feel absolved by today’s mainstream recognition of these mass-advertised medicinal herbal supplements.

For instance, I recall my father telling me that the herb valerian, often referred to as “nature’s Valium” because of its anti-anxiety effects, not only had the calming action of Valium, but because of its other synergistic elements, also had the ability to heal the nervous system’s myelin sheathing. Think of the nerve as a wire and the myelin sheathing as the wire’s insulation—valerian helps grow back the wire’s insulation.

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But what if you need to take more of an active element to resolve an acute situation? Or, what if you want to benefit from the synergies of other herbs along with it? Unless you want to consume pounds of herbs, this is where tinctures, tonics, and teas come into play.

THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A TINCTURE, TONIC, AND TEA So, what is the difference between a tincture, a tonic, and a tea? In some respects, that’s semantics. To those terms we could also add elixir, syrup, infusion, and decoction. The truth is, they are all really variants of the same thing—the result of using some kind of liquid to draw into solution the beneficial active ingredients of an herb. This process serves to make them bio-available in a more concentrated form than the raw bulk herb. Since not everyone seems to agree on the details in defining one from another, I will, for the purpose of this article, stay in the realm of generalities rather than specifics.

The defining difference between these “concoctions” is the type of liquid material used to draw out the compound being sought. There are four main liquids used depending on the type of chemistry desired to be retrieved from the herb. These fluids are water, alcohol, glycerin, and oil. Each has the ability to dissolve and draw out different desired compounds.

THE FLUIDS ARE ESSENTIALLY SOLVENTS It is much like the difference between solvents for oil-based paints and water-based paints. If I got some oil-based paint splotches on my shirt and wanted to remove them, I would use a turpentine to dissolve them. If I placed the shirt in a 5-gallon pail of turpentine, over time, the paint would pretty much flow out of the shirt and into a cloudy suspension in the turpentine. Water would be of little use here. If paint were latex, only water would soak the paint out.

In the same way, alcohol dissolves alkaloid compounds, volatile oils, resins, and some tannins. Gums or mucilages are strictly water-soluble. Herbs that have more than one class of compound will offer them up differently depending on the solvent applied. So, to generally define these terms, I find that most agree that all of these can be referred to as “extracts.”

Tinctures are commonly referred to as extracts where alcohol is the medium, and teas are the result where water is the extracting medium. Elixirs are alcohol-based where honey is added for its constituents, with syrup serving as the water-based honey counterpart. Again, not all herbalists agree on these definitions, so if you see something different, don’t be surprised.

In the next issue we will continue this conversation, looking at how to source herbal medicinal tinctures and syrups—and if you are so inclined, how to make some of them yourself at home.

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21

HEALTH &

Wellness

How to Avoid a Vitamin D Deficiency Twindemic

BY KAREN LANGSTON

D

Do you know your vitamin D values? It sounds crazy to be thinking about this, especially in Arizona where the sun shines for more than 300 days of the year. But, seriously, when is the last time you had your vitamin D levels checked?

The “twindemic,” flu and COVID-19 season is upon us.

Vitamin D is a powerful antimicrobial, helping your immune system kill viruses and bacteria. Did you know studies have shown there may be a correlation between a deficiency of vitamin D and an increased risk of contracting COVID-19?

Did you know it is well documented that the darker the skin, the greater the probability of a vitamin D deficiency?

Even in southern climates, 55% of African Americans and 22% of Caucasians are deficient, with 40%-75% of the world’s population being vitamin D deficient.

If your blood values are too low, you will struggle to get them up even if with supplementing. If they are too high, you may end up with a toxic overload. If you do not know, how can you properly supplement?

I hear you saying, “Karen, I get all the vitamin D I need from sunshine.” While it is true we can get our daily dose of vitamin D from the sun, we do have to take a couple of things into consideration. If your reserve tanks are not full,

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then you will not be able to reap the benefits from the sun.

If you take cholesterol-lowering medication, are on a no/lowfat diet, or wear sunscreen every day, you will not be able to use the sun’s ability to create vitamin D. This also holds true for night shift workers and those who stay mostly indoors.

In these past few months, I think we’ve all spent more time indoors than out. Infections, inflammation, autoimmune conditions, and stress all increase our need for vitamin D. According to a 2006 CDC report, one fourth of the population was deficient in vitamin D; 8% were "at risk" for deficiency illnesses, and 1% had levels considered imminently harmful.

Look at the amount of depression with our worldwide situation. Could a deficiency of vitamin D be exacerbating the problem? Canadian researchers reviewed 14 studies and found a strong correlation between depression and a lack of vitamin D. The lower the vitamin D level, the greater the chance of depression. Studies in the New England Journal of Medicine also found the same thing.

Please get tested if you are over the age of 50, have low cholesterol, an autoimmune condition, do not eat coldwater fish, have celiac disease, have digestive issues, are missing your gallbladder, had gastric bypass surgery, have kidney problems, eat a highly processed diet, eat a vegetarian/vegan diet, or are under stress (which is just about all of us, right?).

Ask your doctor for a vitamin 25-hydroxyvitamin. This tests for both vitamin D2 and D3. Most conventional doctors are still testing for only vitamin D2, which does not tell us your reserves. The nice thing about living in Arizona is that you can order your own test. LabCorp, Life Extension, and ARCpoint labs are some options. You can also find a home test kit from Grassroots Health.

Of course, discuss with your doctor what is a good number for you. However, the Vitamin D Council recommends ideal levels between 40 and 80 ng/mL. Higher levels may be reserved for those with autoimmune conditions, as well as those with the Gene GC, vitamin D binding protein SNP. Once you know your lab values, check out the Grassroots Health Vitamin D calculator. Punch in your lab value, current weight, supplement intake, and your desired serum level outcome, and it will calculate how much you need to take to reach your desired outcome.

You can’t overdose on food. Foods highest in vitamin D3 include herring; salmon; sardines; mackerel; pasture-raised egg yolks; humane, pasture-raised beef liver; and humane, pasture-raised, 100% grass-fed cow’s milk cheese.

If you are going to supplement, please look for a highquality vitamin D3 (as cholecalciferol); it should say this on the label. The perfect vitamin D3 supplement should also include vitamin A (as retinyl palmitate), vitamin K2 (as menaquinone-7) and vitamin E tocotrienols. Fat-soluble vitamins work together for better absorption. Oh, and be sure to take it with your meal for even better absorption and utilization, especially if you are missing your gallbladder.

Of course, please get out in the sun. Gerry Schwalfenberg MD, CCFP, FCFP, assistant clinical professor, Department of Family Medicine University of Alberta, suggests that one minimal dose of sun exposure during the summer months without burning and without sunscreen, arms and legs exposed to midday sun for 20 minutes, can produce about 5-10,000 IU of vitamin D. Those with darker skin will require more time.

According to Grassroots Health, many of the diseases we are stricken with today could be reduced by 20%-50% or more, if we increase our vitamin D intake through food and skin exposure and supplements. Let’s be proactive instead of reactive. Stay safe and healthy.

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HEALTH &

Wellness

Add Some Green to Your Dental Routine

BY TIFFANY DI GIACINTO, DELTA DENTAL OF ARIZONA

T

The average person goes through three to four toothbrushes every year. This means that over the course of your lifetime, you will likely dispose of more than 300 total brushes. Or will you?

For those seeking a more environmentally conscious route for toothbrushes that have become long in the tooth, consider these hacks: • Use it to fight fly-aways. By spraying the bristles with hairspray, you can use a toothbrush to gently push back unruly hairs along the hairline without messing up your 'do.

• Brow them up versus blowing them out. Using the same method above, an old toothbrush can easily become an effective eyebrow brush.

• Transform it into a lip loofa. The next time you apply lip balm, use a dry toothbrush as an exfoliator to gently scrub off dead skin before washing away or wiping with a towel. Voila, a more perfect pout!

• Use multiple brushes to let out your inner Picasso. Grab some paint and give them new life as art instruments.

• Make the brush do your dirty work. Using a toothbrush as a cleaning tool can help tidy up most nooks or crannies with ease. They are especially adept at cleaning appliances, windowsills, keyboards, grout, shoe soles, and even hairdryers.

Beyond re-imagining your old toothbrushes, you might also consider using a more sustainable option from the outset. Recently, researchers at Trinity College Dublin studied the carbon footprint of the four most common types of toothbrushes–electric brushes, standard plastic

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brushes, plastic brushes with replaceable heads, and bamboo brushes–and the results might surprise you.

The electric toothbrush? Not the winner.

The study found that due to the process of making an electric toothbrush, it is far less environmentally friendly than a plastic brush. It also found that the bamboo brush, which seems the most sustainable by the nature of its appearance, wasn’t the best option either. In the end, a traditional toothbrush made using recycled plastic came out victorious.

Once you have the right brush, you should also pay attention to what you are doing while brushing. Among the easiest ways to help the environment while fighting plaque: • Turn off the water while brushing, turning it back on only to rinse your mouth and the brush. Turning off the water while brushing your teeth can save four to eight gallons of water per person, per day. That’s more than 1,460 gallons of water per year!

• Slow down. Brushing hard and fast isn’t just rough on your gums; it breaks down your toothbrush far sooner, requiring more often replacements. Plus, ouch!

And finally… floss! By flossing regularly, you will help prevent major dental work, which not only saves you money, but reduces your carbon footprint as well.

For more advice on oral health, in general and additional sustainable practices, visit www.deltadentalazblog.com.

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MEDI A

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HEALTH &

Wellness

5 Habits of a Highly Healthy Brain

BY LUANN LAVIN

D

During COVID-19, our beautiful brains are certainly at risk for some nonoptimal circumstances. Unfortunately, Alzheimer’s disease, depression, and anxiety are on the rise—but there are key focus points that you can use to maintain and improve your brain. Show me your habits and I will show you your future.

Dr. Dale Bredesen authored the book, The End of Alzheimer’s, in 2017. As a family nurse practitioner, I use his guidelines to address cognitive health at every opportunity. Dr. Bredesen has been reversing Alzheimer’s disease in patients with significant disease for over a decade, with a very intense and inefficient process which can require years before seeing any success. Learning from his successes, we can create our own personal toolkit to carve out our healthy habits and optimize our brain. You can also complete a Montreal Cognitive Assessment test for an objective assessment. I use the acronym BLESS to describe a healthy habit toolkit.

B is for balance your micronutrients, hormones, and toxins. Micronutrients are the cofactors to our energy and detoxification pathways. When we are unbalanced in this area, we develop chronic disease. Test your micronutrients through your blood and replace them through diet or supplementation only if they are needed. Taking nutrients that your body does not need can have serious consequences.

Important hormones that frequently become unbalanced include thyroid, cortisol (stress), and sex hormones.

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Dr. Bredesen reports that women need estrogen and progesterone to think clearly, and men need testosterone.

When these levels are carefully replenished and kept in balance with your other hormones, the brain is awakened.

Toxins are abundant in our world today. We eliminate them through our liver, kidneys, skin (sweat), and lungs (exhalation). If these systems are weakened, we can develop disease. Food, air, water, man-made products, and radiation, for example, are contributing to our increasing toxic load.

Keeping toxins low can be a daily chore. You can use a good B-complex vitamin, as well as an NRF2 supplement to keep your pathways open. NRF2 increases your primary antioxidant production to eliminate these invaders. If you feel you are exposed to increasing toxins or have weakening of your elimination systems, utilize these supplements to keep them strong.

L is for a low-inflammatory diet. Do you know what foods may be inflammatory to you? This is typically different for every individual; however, in our culture, there are three subsets of foods that are known to be the most

inflammatory to most humans. These are gluten, dairy, and sugar. Testing for food allergies and sensitivities, and exploring elimination or decreasing these foods, are areas that each of us can explore.

E is for exercise. Does this come as a surprise? In the 30 years that I have been studying medicine, exercise has been a strategy for the masses. But can you get too much exercise? The answer is yes. Exercise is important for healthy metabolism, good oxygenation, and the continued development of our musculature. What I like to point out is if we are not able to continue to fuel our exercise, we can see some disappointing patterns. Chronic tissue breakdown can occur from depletion of our mitochondria or the batteries of our brain cells. Mitochondrial support is a strategy for keeping a healthy brain, and we now know how to heal our mitochondria when they are damaged as well as regrow them. CoQ10, resveratrol, alpha lipoic acid, l-carnitine, and quercetin, together in small doses, will heal mitochondria— to mention just a few.

S is for sleep. There is always the potential to not get a solid eight hours of sleep, but generally speaking, this is what we need. Our brain cells and all the cells in our body are able to reset themselves when we allow our brain to stand still.

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difficulty going to sleep or staying asleep, this can be your subconscious mind still at work.

Many utilize sleep medications to assist with quality rest; however, these medications are known to have negative side effects for memory and brain health. Circadian rhythm dictates sleep when it is dark and wakefulness with the daylight. Consider trying to work with your natural cycle and allow yourself to be tired if you have a sleepless night. The next night you may crash early, but re-establish your sleep-wake cycle. One other good habit is to ensure your room is dark, for your natural melatonin hormone to work effectively.

S is for stress. Most of us realize that stress can be detrimental for our brain, but the big unknown is how each of us can manage our stress optimally and process it to our advantage.

Taking time to process stress is truly a genius step, and perhaps one of the most important healthy brain habits to learn. Mindfulness, meditation, and taking “you” time on a routine basis are practices well worth repeating. Using the Insight Timer meditation app or the Chopra Foundation 21day meditation program are excellent places to start. Daily use of a meditation practice should be simple and grounding.

While we are working through COVID-19 sheltering and charting new paths, consider using a healthy habit toolkit, reading Dr. Bredesen’s book, or visiting me for a Montreal Cognitive Assessment Test and growing your beautiful brain.

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STYLE

Beauty

Stunning Skincare

Looking for better skin? Plant-based options help users tap into the Fountain of Youth

BY MICHELLE GLICKSMAN

A

Adonia Organics—the company known for its plant-based 7 Minute Lift/”Botox in a Jar”—aims to redefine skincare, using ingredients such as organic artichoke protein, organic yucca root extract, and more. In fact, when reading the company’s Plant Collagen collection’s ingredient list, there are no chemicals, and nothing a user can’t pronounce.

The collection features four products: • Plant Collagen Day Serum, which promotes longevity and vibrancy through the absorption of plant cells; • Plant Collagen Night Serum, which improves elasticity and reduces wrinkles while a user sleeps; • Plant Collagen Neck and Chest Serum, which fights aging and the effects of gravity; • And Plant Collagen Body Mist, which improves the texture and firmness of the body’s skin.

The products are all paraben-free, cruelty-free, and the molecular-sized plant collagen cells easily absorb into the skin for maximum wrinkle reduction.

“The Adonia Organics Plant Collagen Collection was

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developed as an alternative to using animal collagen products,” explains Valley doctor Mark Binette, MD. “Collagen is such a vital protein for our bodies, and as we age, we begin to lose our body’s collagen, and the ability to produce it slows down. The Plant Collagen Collection helps stimulate your body to produce its own natural collagen, without the harmful effects surrounding animal collagen.

The small molecular size of the plant collagen absorbs more easily into the body to produce a noticeably brighter glow in your skin, reduces sagging and wrinkles, improves elasticity, and plumps up the appearance of your skin. The bioavailability of our high-quality plant collagen enters the skin cells more effectively, where animal collagen simply sits on top, not providing benefits.”

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HOME

Ideas

Your Green Home 4 sustainable home décor ideas

BY SHERYL WRIGHT

H

Home décor can involve more than just making your home look pretty; it could also be green and sustainable. How to make your home décor sustainable? Here are 4 ideas that any eco-conscious household should consider.

Photo by Ksenia Chernaya from Pexels

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INDOOR LIVING WALLS A new exciting home décor trend? Indoor living walls. It's almost like installing a small garden or jungle indoors, except it is used more like a portrait. These can be relatively small, or they can take up almost the entire wall inside your house. How you want to do things is up to you.

These living walls allow those who love nature and want to have it indoors to do so.

There are many types of greenery to choose from, and the living wall sustains itself—making maintenance extremely easy.

DRIED GREENERY On the other side is the use of dried greenery. Nature recycles a lot, and you can take advantage of that. Once a branch breaks away from a tree or some flowers begin to dry, you can take them and use them as home décor. Bonus: It's free if you have some of this nature in your backyard.

Clean them and ensure they are as dried/preserved as possible before you start using the items. Use them in wreaths, or you can place some dried roses or flowers in vases throughout your home. It looks nice and there’s no watering needed.

USE A HANDMADE, WOODEN CLOCK Another sustainable home décor idea is a wooden cuckoo clock (such as those from www.bavarianclockworks.com).

The materials used to make these eco-friendly clocks come from trees that had a long life, and were no longer viable as trees. The folks who collect the wood then plant more trees for future generations.

Many mass-produced clocks don't last long, causing the purchaser to continually replace them—and the more clocks you have to buy, the more you contribute to the overproduction problem the planet is experiencing. A specialty clock represents a great investment, and is the kind of piece you can pass down to your kids and beyond.

ALL THINGS BAMBOO Bamboo is a very versatile material that can be used to create everything from pillowcases to bowls and plates, and even toothbrushes and toilet paper! Bamboo is found so abundantly in the world that its cultivation has helped not only produce high-quality sustainable products, but keep bamboo plants in check from overtaking certain ecosystems.

Bamboo products offer a sleek wooden look while still maintaining a high-quality product. Opt for bamboo instead of plastics for fabrics, dishes, picture frames, and more. There is no end to the options for décor you have when searching for bamboo pieces.

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Onward and Upward with

Zooey Deschanel The entertainer and environmental pioneer proves she’s still growing into her talents

BY KYLEY WARREN

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When Zooey Deschanel launched Lettuce Grow in 2019—alongside Jacob Pechenik—she was on a mission to empower people to grow 20% of their own food through the company’s technology, and to mitigate the environmental implications often brought forth by large-scale agriculture. Her vision had come to fruition just as sustainability was gaining recognition as the future of American culture. And while other companies were transitioning their long-established brands to adapt to the conscious push, Deschanel was ahead of the curve—quite literally rooting the identity of her business in environmentally focused beliefs.

Deschanel’s investment in the company seemed in many ways like a departure from the entertainer’s acting beginnings, where she garnered success for starring in projects like 500 Days of Summer, Almost Famous, Elf, and most notably, as the whimsical, girl-next-door Jessica Day in FOX’s hit sitcom, New Girl—a role that earned her an Emmy nomination in 2012 for outstanding lead actress in a comedy series. Though, Deschanel insists that the business move wasn’t as much a transition as it was simply a chance to make a difference: “[I] just saw an opportunity to help people and wanted to help it come to fruition.”

Under her leadership as co-founder of the company, Lettuce Grow eventually debuted the startup’s first product, the Farmstand—a self-watering, self-fertilizing hydroponic vertical vegetable garden that’s as futuristic in its design as it is remarkably simple in its production. The technology— which is made from recycled ocean-bound plastic from coastal communities—is accented with studded holes, where users can insert pre-potted seedlings that make it possible to house 24 to 36 plants at a time, with only electricity and light required to yield a bountiful harvest.

The Farmstand—which starts at $348—not only uses 95% less water than traditional gardening, thanks to its

automated internal irrigation system, but it’s also completely scalable. As users decide they’d like to grow more food, they can simply buy more units to stack onto the already existing components. And to ensure that the Farmstand is dependable regardless of its environment, the technology is programmed to factor in local climate, weather, and user feedback. The product’s innovative design has been credited for helping to modernize the agriculture industry, and serves as proof that food self-sufficiency is achievable.

Deschanel’s commitment—albeit perhaps unintentional—to creating things that challenge mainstream discourse has continued to emerge as a reappearing theme throughout her career. In the same way that her New Girl character famously controverted outdated Hollywood approaches to depicting female leads—showcasing that women can, in fact, be a lot of different things at once—Deschanel has proved time and again that being entertaining and socially engaged are not mutually exclusive.

Whether she’s leaning into her gifts as a singer and songwriter, leading the charge in pioneering an environmentally conscious world through Lettuce Grow and her children’s show Your Food’s Roots, or simply tapping into her creativity via a number of different mediums, it’s FEBRUARY 2021

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apparent that Deschanel is still very much growing into her talents—and shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon.

We had the chance to interview Zooey about the beginnings of Lettuce Grow and how she’s bridging her passion for sustainability into Hollywood. This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

Green Living (GL): Prior to developing the Farmstand, would you have considered yourself an avid gardener?

Zooey Deschanel (ZD): No! I am not a gardener at all. I love having fresh produce and I love cooking but I have zero affinity for gardening. That’s what makes the Farmstand great—it’s for gardeners and non-gardeners alike.

It’s for everyone.

GL: When you started Lettuce Grow, who exactly were you hoping to reach with the technology?

ZD: We were hoping to reach everyone. We saw that there was so much unused space where people could be growing— on balconies, patios and in backyards. People are so often intimidated to grow food at home, and most of the produce they buy is grown far outside the city. We also thought we could help people make healthier choices by involving them in the process of growing their own food easily and effortlessly.

GL: The brand—and specifically, the Farmstand's identity—seems to be rooted in wanting to help people feel empowered in the process of growing their own food. In what ways has the technology helped to restore that sense of food ownership within your own home—particularly with your children?

ZD: Well, like I said, I don’t enjoy gardening, but I do take pride in growing my own food and having access to fresh produce. It has really made my life so much easier not having to go to the store every time I need herbs or greens or other veggies. It also inspires creativity because I will know I have a certain something growing on my Farmstand, and it encourages me to think of all the things I can make with what I have growing. My kids are always interested in seeing what’s growing, and love tasting the stuff we grow with Lettuce Grow that they probably wouldn’t try if we bought it at the store.

GL: There used to be a time when more value was placed in local, homegrown food—why do you think there's such a disconnect now?

ZD: Most of us live in cities, and real estate in and around where we live is expensive! It doesn’t make sense to grow the kind of volume we need to feed the masses in the city.

So, over time, people have become disconnected from food because they’re not involved in the process of growing it.

What we realized is we can grow food in the city if we get creative, if we grow in smaller spaces for individual houses and use vertical space.

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GL: The Farmstand is a perfect blend of functionality and design. Was that always an important element in the early development stages? And do you have any ideas of how you'd like to see the technology of the Farmstand evolve?

ZD: It’s basically like a piece of furniture, so it has to be beautiful and something people are proud to have inside their home or in their backyard. It’s a conversation piece.

And it changes based on what you have growing. We just came out with grow lights, which have really opened up growing for colder climates!

GL: What is your favorite plant to grow with the Farmstand?

ZD: I think herbs go a long way always and add so much flavor to your food. And I love kale because it’s so versatile.

GL: With the COVID-19 pandemic, there seems to be a growing interest in gardening and food self-sufficiency. Are you hopeful that this sort of interest will inspire people to examine where exactly their food comes from and turn to more technologies like the Farmstand in the future?

ZD: With people spending more time at home and having time to prepare their meals more often, I hope to inspire people to make healthier choices.

GL: With an established career as an entertainer, what has the journey been like transitioning into the role of an entrepreneur?

ZD: I wouldn’t say I made a transition—I founded the lifestyle website Hellogiggles in 2011 and sold it to Time Inc. in 2015, and this was just something I was interested in. I wouldn’t call myself an entrepreneur really—just saw an opportunity to help people and wanted to help it come to fruition. I’m still first and foremost an entertainer though.

GL: And do you have any interest in bridging your sustainability efforts with your work in Hollywood?

ZD: I actually have a show I do with Attn: called Your Food’s Roots. I really love making it, so that’s what I’m doing to bridge the two for now.

GL: Looking ahead, do you have any other green-focused projects that you’re excited about or that you could share with us?

ZD: I don’t have anything else right now, but I’ll let you know if I do!

For more information on Lettuce Grow, visit www.lettucegrow.com.

Photos by Sergio Necoechea

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Sage, Crystals, and More What to know about how your wellness routine could be hurting local livelihoods

BY KAIT SPIELMAKER

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In our modern digital age, coupled with millennial mindfulness and the constant efforts to be more conscious, wellness trends are traveling faster than ever right into every facet of our daily lives. Wellness is all-encompassing and can serve as an elixir to some of our biggest first-world problems. Easily digestible wellness habits, packaged as self-care, have bridged the gap into how to be mindful of our mental health and normalize things like therapy or anxiety.

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Once a new wellness trend hits the mainstream, the easily accessible products are seamlessly featured everywhere, like that time Courtney Cox was rubbing her face with a jade roller at an NYC restaurant or Kim Kardashian’s CBD-themed baby shower. While the wellness movement can be good for our mental health, grounding, and peace of mind, the exhaustive production to meet the mass Western demand can damage communities and sacred practices, and have negative impacts on local environments.

Is there a way to integrate our favorite wellness routines in our lives without hurting local livelihoods? Absolutely—the two are not mutually exclusive. Sometimes our wellness habits can actually benefit the environment. Being mindful of our consumer habits allows for these self-care trends to be a part of our lives while simultaneously promoting sustainability, social equity, and respect for long-standing traditions from which they originate.

PALO SANTO When wellness is mass-produced and commercialized, a lot of the origin and reason for practice gets lost in the messaging.

Take palo santo, my favorite aroma of all time. Palo santo is a tree species found in Central and South America. While it is not technically endangered at an international level, some local palo santo habitats are destroyed for commercial use. Palo santo was originally harvested from dead trees that had fallen naturally and part of native spiritual practice.

Now since demand exceeds the supply of the natural life cycle of palo santo trees, they are often illegally cut down in order to harvest the wood and sell for commercial use. Palo santo is now accessible through large retailers such as Urban Outfitters, Goop, and even Amazon.

BURNING WHITE SAGE Burning sage, or “smudging,” is an ancient practice of FEBRUARY 2021

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Indigenous tribes here in North America. It’s meant to clear a space of negative energies and is known to serve a multitude of medicinal purposes. Once again, because of increased demand, white sage is often over-harvested, not to mention harvested in a way that goes against the native practice. Traditionally, white sage is picked, leaving the root and saying a prayer to the Earth for gifting the plant. This demand has caused an imbalance in the local ecosystems where the sage grows. It’s being planted and harvested in higher volumes, disrupting the local biodiversity.

GEMS & CRYSTALS We have all bought crystals from a cute shop purely for aesthetics or because we believe in their healing nature. But rarely, if ever, do we think about where they come from.

To be honest, I didn’t think about it much until recently.

Crystals are mined, they are a natural resource, and just another in a long list of gifts from the Earth. They often lack transparency with sourcing, and most of the biggest and even smallest suppliers don’t know where their crystal supply comes from.

It’s a complex debate whether burning sage is cultural appropriation. Some Indigenous folks say it should only be used if it is gifted to you by an Indigenous person. Others say that one should only source sage from Indigenousowned shops because it offers peace of mind in the practice and it was harvested properly. This varies from person to person, but in my findings, it’s generally viewed as cultural appropriation by Indigenous folks. This is because as white people practicing wellness, we have deconstructed the practice into a simplified convenience culture care package, leaving out many important aspects. Manifested in Indigenous communities all over the world from native tribes in North America to Aboriginals in Australia are the understanding of a circular system and devoted connection to the land––a coexistence. Buying sage from a disconnected commercial retailer, like Urban Outfitters, removes that collective responsibility and understanding.

This often isn’t intentional, but since crystals make their way through the supply chain before arriving at their final destination, it’s hard to keep track of the origin. Something we do know though is that while we make it part of our wellness routines or meditation, wellness crystals, like jade, quartz, etc., often come from countries that have very relaxed environmental regulations and blurred labor laws.

Furthermore, some of the biggest miners in the U.S. affect the local communities by contaminating the groundwater as a byproduct of their operation. While gem mining operations at an individual or small scale have a minimal environmental impact, the lack of overall transparency in the crystal and gem mining sector can be detrimental to local environments and livelihoods.

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SO WHAT CAN WE DO? Check our sources: It almost seems counterproductive to consume these products and rituals in the name of health and wellness while it damages other people and places. Where does our palo santo come from? Is it sourced from somewhere that pays living wages or supports regenerative farming? According to those at the International Union for Conservation of Nature, palo santo trees and the demand attached to them can actually benefit local environments and promote biodiversity in native areas that have previously been cleared for things like agriculture. Fortunately, in Arizona, there are individuals or small-scale operations for gem mining. You can find their shops or at farmers’ markets across the state. Overall, make an effort to determine where your favorite wellness products are sourced from and ensure that there is transparency into the ethical practices.

Burn herbs that are connected to our own ancestry: I spoke with an Indigenous woman with a prominent social media presence when researching this topic, and she brought up looking into holistic practices from our own line of ancestry. Different groups spanning thousands of years have burned a variety of herbs for ceremonial and medicinal rituals. I am of European descent, so upon looking into the practices of my own lineage, I found it was common to burn herbs like mugwort (which lives in the same family as a sage). The practice dates back to the Middle Ages and was used as a spiritual protector. Also common are plants such as juniper, rosemary, lavender, and countless others.

Grab the root, not the fruit: Knowing the origins, practice, history, and meaning behind something viewed as sacred to specific groups. This offers clarity and good practice for wellness. It also allows us to deep dive into the unique and authentic culture. As with sage, it’s important to remember that English settlers pushed Chrisitan ideology onto Native Americans as far back as the early 1800s, and it wasn’t until 1978 that Native Americans could legally practice their own traditions and ceremonies without being hindered by the U.S. government. Awareness for this part of history allows a deeper understanding of historic precedent to ensure mindful practice and respect of these traditions in the present and future.

Be a mindful consumer: Studies show that the millennial generation is easily the most conscious and sustainable generation to exist, and that is apparent in our consumer behavior trends and our awareness of our mental and physical health. After all, that’s why wellness has become so popular, right? Millennial consumerism is what drives trends, making it easier than ever to be conscious about what we buy. Find companies that offer transparency, ask questions, and be aware of greenwashing (misleading information used to make a product seem more eco-friendly in order to sell more).

FUTURE WELLNESS Wellness is as trendy as it is because we want to be better for ourselves and the planet we inhabit. But as 2020 lifted the veil on so many things that aren’t properly managed in our world, I took a deep dive into some of my own practices. Wellness and exploitation shouldn’t go in the same sentence. As a consumer and someone who has benefited from convenience culture and repackaged wellness meant to deconstruct and simplify the original practice, I have unlearned and relearned.

If you’re someone like me, who for a long time didn’t understand the impact of my consumer behavior, don’t feel guilty. If you are reading this while you’re burning sage and have never thought twice about where it came from or the rituals behind it, that’s okay. All we can do is grow more aware of the social and environmental impact of our consumer trends and establish a connection to the local communities, biodiversity, and practice of our favorite wellness rituals.

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Put a Cork On It

Mesa’s Armor Plate Coating Systems helps Valley residents improve energy savings and helps those in need

BY DAVID M. BROWN

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Mesa’s TJ Millington corks buildings to improve energy efficiency while also helping others through charitable efforts. His Mesa-based business, Armor Plate Coating Systems, applies Vipeq Thermal CorkShield™ to homes and commercial structures throughout the Phoenix metropolitan area. In the last five years, 60-plus homes in the Valley have been treated, saving the owners on their energy bills and improving the appearance and value of their real estate.

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Left: Armor Plate Coatings Systems TJ Millington, right, is joined by business partner, Bart Higley, left, and his son, Justin.

Courtesy Bart Higley

The cork product offers thermal insulation, a water barrier, and sound dampening. Sprayed on, it adheres to all surfaces including wood, masonry, and steel, as well as roofs, where an elastomeric coating is added. The cork has 16 integral colors, and color matching is available to the customer’s sample, Millington explains.

“Traditional insulation, such as rolled batting or blown-in fiberglass, protects the inside walls, but cork adds protection to the outside, where the summer sun in Arizona can create enormous perimeter heat,” he says. “Stopping that heat build-up at the first point of contact is a successful way to reduce the temperatures the inner insulation is designed to repel. Inside and outside, they work together as a system.”

In July 2020, Millington and his business partners, Bart and Justin Higley of Carefree, acquired the sales, marketing, installation, and distribution rights for most of Arizona

Above: An Armor Plate Coatings Systems installer applies cork to the Aazami home in Paradise Valley. Courtesy TJ Millington

through Vipeq, a 30-year-old company. The Higleys’ company, Home Select, has been installing flooring, cabinets, and countertops for 43 years. The men also recently acquired the exclusive rights in California, Nevada, and New Mexico.

HELPING OTHERS Armor Plate Coating Systems is committed to serving those in need, donating money and other services to organizations such as Phoenix’s Teen Lifeline, which combats youth suicide, and Scottsdale-based Childhelp, which is dedicated to freeing children from abusive environments.

Millington and Scottsdale-based Childhelp connected about five years ago through Pat Bondurant at the Bondurant High Performance Driving School in Chandler.

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that was making an actionable and tangible difference in the lives of children,” says Michael Medoro, chief development officer. “TJ wanted to help identify and create new ways to generate both revenue and awareness for Childhelp’s services––and specifically for those children at risk but unable to break free from the horrors of their abusive environment.”

The company invested in a nationwide campaign to support the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline (1.800.4.A.CHILD), the only hotline operating anywhere in the world with trained professional counselors, serving individuals in crisis 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, in more than 170 different languages.

“Because of that annual commitment and investment, Childhelp has been able to expand its reach into more than 25 new markets around the country, most of which would never have heard of Childhelp,” Medoro explains, noting that more than $1.5 million has been received so far in direct support for the hotline. “TJ wanted to see more children and families in crisis be able to connect with this professional lifeline of support, and his investment in our cause has helped to bring this life-saving service to thousands.”

A GREEN-CONSCIOUS VALLEY COMPANY BEGINS “I was part of sales/marketing for Vipeq a few years ago, and I immediately saw the amazing benefits of cork applications back then,” says Millington, who left his native Minneapolis 20 years ago to live in Arizona (for the last five, he and his family have lived in Mesa).

Millington previously raced cars, motorcycles, and, finally, Chevy trucks in NASCAR competitions from 2004 to 2007.

While racing, he also became involved with the business side of racing.

“We follow the same processes with synthetic stucco on a new build: We apply paper, then wire, brown coat and cork. No caulking is required,” Millington says.

Recently, Mike Holmes, general contractor and television host, had Vipeq cork spray his sheet-metal Canadian garage, and he says it has significantly helped, especially in the extremely cold northern winters.

“When it comes to building materials, I think this is the product of the century,” he recently tweeted.

Valley customers have also responded favorably.

“The product works. A while back, I first visited a contemporary home in Desert Mountain in North Scottsdale. The owner had been fed up with all the stucco cracks on his wall; no matter how many times he fixed and painted, they reappeared,” recalls Frank Aazami, a Valley homeowner and principal of the Private Client Group at Russ Lyon Sotheby’s International Real Estate, Scottsdale.

To fix the issue, the homeowner had the cork applied to his walls; after two years, the cork looked as if it had been applied yesterday, says Aazami. As a result, the Realtor® had the cork applied on an older Valley luxury home he and his wife recently acquired.

“The walls look fresh, and the insulation from the outside is already saving us on utility bills,” he explains. “I bet we don’t have to paint for another 12–15 years, and the cracks are gone. The Vipeq crew were in and out in five days. I love this stuff.”

For one, the thermal insulation helps your home feel cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter, reducing energy costs, Millington says.

“That really taught me about how quality relationships make any transaction a win-win for everyone,” he says, noting that meticulous customer service is central to Armor Plate Coating Systems. He visits each jobsite daily, for example.

In addition, cork is mold- and water-resistant, and is a fireretardant—it will melt under direct flame but has zero flame spread. Another advantage is acoustic insulation––it works in the same way as when a sound studio incorporates cork to reduce sound reverberation.

Calling his product “the most advanced green energy product on the market,” Millington explains that before he became a regional owner, a Vipeq crew corked a 6,000-square-foot home in East Mesa in 2015. Before application, the client’s utility bills were $790 to $810 per month June through September, he says.

And, because of the flexible properties of cork, it expands and contracts depending on the weather and will absorb impact. Millington provides a 15-year warranty against cracking, chipping and peeling when his certified installers apply it.

“Since the cork was applied, the homeowner has shared with us that his utility bills have never been over $400 per month,” he reports.

Installation cost is very competitive compared with stucco and quality paint. For an existing home, he says application begins at $3.80 per square foot up to $4 per square foot, depending on whether it’s a one- or two-story home.

For new construction, that range is $5.80–$6.35 per square foot.

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The environmental benefits are also notable. For one, countries are planting new cork trees, increasing the number worldwide.

“In those areas, as the bark is trimmed,” he says, “the cork tree releases large amounts of oxygen, replenishing the air we all breathe.”

For more information, visit www.armorplatecoatings.com, https://youtu.be/Oc_z__e3cL8, and www.vipeqamerica.com.

Fun Date Ideas Day or night, Valentine’s Day or any day, ways to connect with your significant other

BY DANA LAM

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Many people believe that Hallmark is responsible for creating Valentine’s Day to sell more “Be Mine” cards. In actuality, it’s believed that Americans began exchanging handmade valentines and small tokens of affection in the early 1700s.

Valentine’s Day—you either love it or loathe it. For many, Valentine’s Day conjures up thoughts of overpriced red roses, wine, and an expensive dinner out. Why do something cliché when you can plan a surprise experience to really woo and impress your date? Anticipation is what adds spice to life— something to look forward to, a mystery of sorts.

No matter what you choose, select a novel activity, date, and time. Provide your date with basic information, including what to wear, but not what you will be doing. You may want to tease them a little by giving them some hints leading up to the day. As the author and founder of Surprise Date Challenge, I have a few fun ideas. For more, head to www.surprisedatechallenge.com.

OUT & ABOUT Hot Air Balloon Ride: Rainbow Ryders offers both sunrise and sunset balloon rides in February. Since Valentine’s Day falls on a Sunday this year, an early morning balloon flight is a great way to start the day. Better yet, you’ll be able to check this off your bucket list.

Light Your Fire: Create custom candles together through Candle Chemistry. Pop into the store at Scottsdale Quarter. Another bonus? Strolling among the beautiful stores in the Quarter is always a treat. You can also pick up (or have delivered) a candle invention kit to create at home.

Put on your pajamas and break out your favorite adult beverage for a great night in.

Create Wearable Art: Evora Jewelry allows you to design and create your own piece of jewelry. They also have a new option where you design it online, and they create it and ship it to you. This makes a great gift!

A ROMANTIC NIGHT IN Private Cooking Class: The Chef & the Dish offers private cooking classes in your home with hand-selected top chefs and culinary experts who live where the recipes originated. It's just you and your chef in Italy or other countries you choose!

Kokedama Balls: A gardening project at home through SuperMoss. You can order a kit online and have it shipped to your home. Create some craft cocktails and a charcuterie board and have a blast making your Kokedama balls!

Adult Toy Box: The Fantasy Box has sexy and fun date night delivered to your door! From romantic to risqué, I love this subscription box service. There are three levels of subscription for every budget starting at only $39.99. There’s a fun element of “surprise” that you never know what you are going to get in the box, but it’s always something of high quality and sure to bring sparks and passion to your night in!

Choosing an out-of-the-box Valentine’s Day date is sure to inspire connection and romance. The memories you create together through shared experiences will last a lifetime.

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Hannah Bacon: Walking the Walk A conversation with Hannah Bacon, the environmental activist who is hiking 3,000 miles to help bring attention and support to the issue of climate change

BY TONY BARRERA

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If a person is asked where they are, they are very likely to know the exact answer—in their kitchen at home; at the grocery store in the cereal aisle, or at work; sitting at their desk. Most of us are likely to have full knowledge of our present circumstances, including our location. Not sure? Pull up a handy location map on a smartphone.

While Hannah Bacon knows she is in Tucson the day of the interview for this article, the climate change activist doesn’t always know where she is, because even though she may have a map and may sometimes get reception service, Bacon is journeying through unknown territories every single day on foot—which she will continue to do for months to come.

Why is she doing this? Because she wants to do something meaningful for the planet and for climate change.

Bacon’s journey across the country spans 3,000 miles. She began her walk on a beach in San Clemente, California on Nov. 21, and her final destination is currently Virginia Beach, Virginia.

While Bacon understands the monumental nature of her commitment, she also knows that it's worth it.

Even though it is such a big undertaking, the idea to walk did not even exist until a month before it began.

“In October, I was flying out to California to visit some friends, and I [still] had no plans of doing this,” she says.

But, after reading The Uninhabitable Earth by David Wallace Wells, Bacon began to analyze how her own carbon footprint could contribute to some of the world's greater environmental issues.

“I just thought: ‘I need to be doing something more,’” she explains.

Bacon’s love for the planet, as well as her background in environmental activism—she had worked in an

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environmental outdoor school in Santa Cruz and for an environmental nonprofit in New York City—propelled her to make the decision, as well.

Still, even with experience and determination, the decision to embark on a journey such as this is not easy for most people.

For Bacon, it came with the alignment of various factors.

“I think I’ve always been very aware that life happens, and if you have the time [and] opportunity to do something, you better do it... I mean, who knows what could happen in the future?”

Bacon has already raised over $10,000 through her GoFundMe account, which she donated in its entirety to Sunrise Movement, an organization that mobilizes climate change activists all around the world. And although she continues to raise money for this important cause, her goals are not only monetary.

“I want folks to realize that we should all be doing as much as we can. And of course, ‘as much as we can’ is different for every person... but no matter where they are in life or what is going on, there is probably some sort of area that they can change to make a positive impact on the Earth.” she says.

Bacon wants everyone to know that they can have an impact regardless of their background or education.

“You do not have to be a climate scientist or an environmentalist or anything,” she says. “I am someone who cares, but I did not study environmental science in college or climate change. I just got interested, and I am trying to do

something... Anyone can make a difference.”

According to Bacon, there are many things we can all do, from switching up our diet to being more eco-friendly, to being conscious of what we buy, to using public transportation, to choosing to walk or bike more rather than drive. All it requires is a bit of research to find what we can best do to help. There is a lot of power in education.

One just has to take the first step toward it.

As she continues on her journey, Bacon hopes to inspire and educate people on the issue of climate change.

But of course, although the journey is an adventure, it will not always be a walk in the park. Already, Bacon has noted the ups and downs that come with such an epic undertaking.

“The best thing [about the experience] has been meeting people in different places and from all different walks of life.”

Bacon notes how the opportunity to meet all kinds of people along the way, especially in a time that has been distinguished by a lack of human connection, has been a highlight of her journey. “Being able to connect [with people that have different opinions] on the basis of our planet as something that we do all have in common has been a surprise and a beautiful gift this past month.”

As for the challenges faced, she notes that the main one is the range of emotions she has experienced along the way.

“There’s days when I wake up and the sunrise is so beautiful and I am crying about how beautiful it is, and then a couple hours later my body is in so much pain, and I am crying for how strong the pain is. So, it’s been a really wild ride.”

To properly address the emotional weight of the experience, Bacon notes how the solo nature of the walk has been a blessing. “[Being alone allows me] to sit with all of the things that I am feeling. It’s easier to allow myself to feel the sadness and the happiness, and the joy and the pain, because since I am by myself, I do not have to perform for anyone else,” she says.

For those whom she inspires to want to make a difference, Bacon emphasizes that there are many organizations they could support. “[It is good] to see what comes up in your area, and pay attention to it. The number one thing is to start locally, and see what is happening with climate in your [community].”

For more on Bacon and her journey, visit www.milesforclimate.org.

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Valentine's Day Gift Guide

Ideas to Love

Need gift ideas for Valentine’s Day? We’ve got you covered

Toast to Your Love Pour a glass of H2❤/H2O, Sonoma Soft Seltzer, a category-defining, non-alcoholic, wineinfused beverage, for wine lovers and non-drinkers alike. The 0.0% line has eight varietals: Pinot Noir, Rosé, and Sauvignon Blanc, with Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Merlot, Moscato, and Zinfandel launching this year. Available in environmentally friendly, recyclable 16 oz. cans, the drinks contain antioxidant vitamins C and B12, plus electrolytes, potassium, and calcium—with no detectable sulfites, gluten, artificial flavors, added sugar, or artificial sweeteners. $14.99/4-pack at www.H20seltzer.com

Pretty as a Picture Brighten your significant other’s living space with the “Kayaking the Reservoir“ tapestry, which is based on an original drawing created while visiting the Big Bear area of California. The 100% cotton, jacquard woven wall art has hemmed edges and a loop on the back for easy hanging. It is woven in North Carolina, in the oldest mill in the United States. Overall dimension is 25” x 33”. $280 at www.k-apostrophe.com/tapestries

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Let Literacy—and Your Love— Bloom Show your love with flowers that will last forever.

Literary Blooms offers handmade I Love You paper flowers, which come in pink or red roses, and in three sizes. Every petal is hand-cut and shaped with a green leafy stem, created from upcycling pages of favorite classic books that can no longer be donated or sold due to their condition. Even the vases used for the bouquets are picked up at flea markets and estate sales. Best of all, they will display beautifully every day, year after year, to remind that special person of your love. Flowers are sold individually or in bouquets. $21 and up at www.literaryblooms.com

In 2007, Dr. Andrew Weil M.D. and André Fasciola fell in love with traditional matcha on a business trip to Japan. With a shared mission to expand the reach of the product—and to speak on its undeniable health benefits—the duo founded MatchaKari, with the hope of providing an experiential alternative to coffee and sugary drinks to American consumers.

MatchaKari is rooted in the belief that good matcha should be accessible anywhere in the world—and they maintain this belief by only importing products that meet the company’s standards for color, aroma, and flavor. Dr. Weil, a cofounder of the brand, prefers to start the day with matcha because he appreciates the matcha’s: Beautiful color. Aroma. Complex rich taste.

“Also, I like the ritual of drinking matcha. It is a relaxing and meditative time for me and I know I’m getting the health benefits from it,” says Dr. Weil.

Matcha Tea Set $139.00

For more information on MatchaKari, visit www.matcha.com. You can also follow along with the brand on social media at @matchakari

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Valentine's Day Gift Guide

Grow Your Relationship For a scent-sational gift, check out Grow Fragrance’s 100% certified plantbased and toxin-free products, like this Amber Santal Candle. It has notes of warm amber, sandalwood, and smoked myrrh, with a hint of vanilla. And, the candle inserts are made from aluminum that can be recycled after use. They sit within handmade concrete vessels—available in black, gray, or white—which can be reused with every new insert. Plus, 1% of the company’s sales are donated to 1% for the Planet. $34 at www.growfragrance.com

Readings • Energy Healings • Past Life Regressions • Crystal Healings Chakra Alignments • Sound Healing Meditations • Yoga Qi Gong • Metaphysical Group Classes

Mention Green Living for $11 Off a half hour or hour healing

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Aiding Spiritual Beings On Their Human Journey Crystals • Grids • Orgonites • Jewelry

Instagram model @kellyacleland4

Essential Oils • Fairy Gardens • Oracle Cards

Sapone Brothers Handmade Soap All Natural. Handmade. Family Owned.

Contact us directly to order: saponebrothers@gmail.com

www.saponebrothers.com Instagram: @saponebros | Facebook: Sapone Brothers

** Mention Green Living for 10% off your order **

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And So Much More...

Mention Green Living for 10% Off any purcase

(480) 605-8499

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Facebook: @Serenity-Rocks Instagram:@serenityrocks4 Virtual Shopping Available

You Shop. I Ship. text 480-605-8499 for an appointment

1309 W. Guadalupe Rd., Mesa AZ 85202

- SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION -

Activ Intimates Sensual, thoughtfully made lingerie and loungewear

by Activ Intimates. The gift she’ll love confidently this Valentine’s Day. Shop Activ Intimates collections at www.activintimates.com. Complimentary gift wrap and shipping through Feb 28. Featured style: Ultra Sheer Lace Poncho (photographed by James Deak, www.jamesdeakphotography.com)

KEEPING MEN DAMN MANLY • SINCE 2012 A spa designed and tailored for men! Taking the fluff out of the spa experience with old school hands-on methods, RAW skincare, Frank Sinatra, Johnny Cash, and full comedic content. This is the art of manhandling... emphasis on the MAN. Where every visit creates “A seriously happy ending.” To your day, that is.

4375 N. 75th St. Suite B, Scottsdale, AZ 85251 480-686-8538 | BossLady@WeDoMen.com WWW.WEDOMEN.COM @WEDOMEN

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Valentine's Day Gift Guide

20% ve Sa & REE h c F t a uen Ge an Q de o g Ve w/ c

Quench Naturels FREE! FREE!

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This unique kit combines our best sellers. Pick up kombucha infused Radiant Face Cleanser, fruit infused Refresh toner, Restore hyaluronic acid serum, along with a FREE Sweet Lip Scrub and Naturel Hue lip & cheek tint.

Enter code LIPPIE for a FREE Vegan Quench lip balm

- SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION -

Scottsdale’s Charitable Alternative for Home Décor Shopping

Custom Handmade Pens by Veterans

Got Legs- A not-for-profit home furnishings store selling highquality, gently used furniture and home decor.

100% of proceeds support local Arizona families and Veterans who have overcome chronic homelessness and found permanent housing

Priced from $20 - $50 each

Arizona Charitable Tax Credit Please consider redirecting your state income tax to support Bridging AZ. If you pay Arizona taxes you can receive a dollar for dollar Tax Credit - not a deduction but an actual credit.

You can donate toward the Charitable Tax Credit even if you donate to other tax credit programs. Up to $400 per person or $8oo per married couple.

Unique Assortment of Wood Pens

Featured- Hard Rock Maple Pens!

Handcrafted using the donated Basketball court floor from Grand Canyon University Price- $25 each

For more information visit

www.GotLegs.org www.BridgingAZ.org

Got Legs Furniture 8421 N. McDonald Drive Scottsdale AZ 85250 Open Noon – 5 pm Wednesday through Sunday

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Valentine's Day Gift Guide

Good, Clean Fun Sapone Brothers Handmade Soap makes its luxury artisan bars of soap, beard balms, and body butters out of all-natural and pure ingredients like organic Shea butter, coffee grounds, and 100% pure essential oils. Some ingredients are sourced locally like organic tallow, organic raw honey, and sometimes craft beer! These chemicalfree, small-batch products are great stocking stuffers, party favors, and gift basket additions. The packaging is minimal and compostable, made of recycled brown paper and natural jute twine. The soaps come in 3 main sizes, starting at $10 for a bar, with bundle options available. To order, contact @saponebros (Instagram), Sapone Brothers (Facebook), email saponebrothers@gmail.com, or visit www.saponebrothers.com. Products also available through collaboration with primary soap model Kelly Cleland at www.kellyacleland4.com.

Spiritual Journey As you delve into the pages of this book, you are opening the pages to knowledge of other dimensions that are just waiting to be explored by the human psyche. This is the place for self-discovery, and where you might realize that your ordinary life may be more extraordinary than you thought; where the metaphysical becomes the physical and the extraordinary becomes the ordinary. This book brings to light a new awareness of the fact that there is so much more going on around us, other than what just the human eye can see. $13.99 at www.amazon.com

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- SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION -

Cottonwood: You Are Welcome Here Cottonwood is the Heart of Arizona Wine Country. That isn’t just because of its perfectly situated location— close enough to Sedona, just down the road from Page Springs, or at the bottom of the hill from Jerome. It’s the location along the banks of the Verde River, the base of Mingus Mountain, and the center of high desert terrain with a unique climate, that makes a perfect mix for the science and art of winemaking.

less than two miles from Old Town. Here, explorers of all ages can hit the trails on foot, bike or horseback, and discover the terrain that has led many to call Cottonwood home for decades.

Cottonwood is home to nearly 10 wine tasting rooms; countless restaurants serving Arizona wines; and merchants with local product or Arizona produced goods that go hand-in-hand with wine, from cheeses to olive oil. Cottonwood is a place to explore, sip, and share in the art of winemaking.

With partners like Friends of the Verde River working to conserve and protect the Verde River, visitors are encouraged to explore the outdoors, enjoy the opportunities to recreate on the water, but also be mindful to take care of the precious resource flowing through the community. Leave no trace, take only photos to capture the memories!

Photo courtesy Friends of the Verde River.

And, wine isn’t the only reason visitors come to Cottonwood. Cottonwood has embraced the slogan: You Are Welcome Here, and for good reason. Visitors will find a state park—Dead Horse Ranch State Park—

After exploring the outdoors, dine outside in ideal temperatures. In Old Town, the food options for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, are as varied as the shopping selection to take part in after.

Cottonwood is the Heart of Arizona Wine Country and also a place extending the invitation, You Are Welcome Here. Find out more at www.visitcottonwoodaz.org.

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SAVOR

Restaurant

Photos by Julianne Palmer

Be a GuacStar

Arizona’s first plant-based, full-service restaurant with an inspired beer, wine and craft cocktail program opens its doors

BY MICHELLE GLICKSMAN

W

“We wanted to bring plant-based dining to the masses,” explains James Carlin, co-owner of the new GuacStar Kitchen and Cantina, which opened recently in Tempe at 920 E. University Drive.

Carlin, along with partners Suzanne Davis and Julie LaRussa, aims to redefine the plant-based category by creating a dining experience typically associated with that of hip mainstream restaurants found in cities like New York or Los Angeles.

“[We want to show] that you don’t have to sacrifice your taste buds or your wallets by eating plant-based cuisine,” Carlin says. “Our mission is to make healthy food sexy and to create an exciting, unpretentious, plant-based dining destination where the overall experience counts just as much as the food.”

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The 4,650-square-foot restaurant and bar offers plant-based versions of Mexican comfort food classics, including the Enchiladas de Calabacitas (roasted squash and zucchini, house rojo sauce, house verde sauce, cashew crema, cotija) and the Grilled Guac Pocket (queso, poblano pinto beans, pico de gallo, mozzarella, Anaheim chile, Impossible Meat blend, red enchilada sauce, crunchy corn tortilla, wrapped in grilled flour tortilla, house guacamole, avocado crema). Sides include Elote, Achiote Rice, and Cauliflower al Pastor.

Of course, says Carlin, “While the food is amazing and unlike anything in Arizona, we are [also] extremely proud of our bar program. We want people to come in and try our specialty margaritas and signature agave cocktails because they are so innovative and unique that we think people will absolutely love them.”

The restaurant is open daily for lunch and dinner, as well as weekend brunch and late-night dining.

“GuacStar is a restaurant for everyone,” Carlin says. “It was not created just for people who eat plant-based.

Extraordinary Mexican comfort food and artisan cocktails in a sexy, stylish environment will appeal to anyone looking to party like a GuacStar!”

For more information, visit www.guacstar.com.

Outstanding Farm to Table Food Experience Event Catering - Customized Meals School Programs - Private Chef

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Attention to detail, flavor and service with the environment in mind.

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Boost Your Immunity • Probiotic • Fermented • Detox • Energize • Supports Gut Distress • Reduce Sugar Cravings To order or find out more, go to PickUpTheBeet.com

Use the code Green Living at checkout to receive 15% off your order.

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TRAVEL

Consciously

Travel for Social Good Moving past traditional travel companies and making a difference

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BY TANNER CATERINA-KNORR

Many readers may be aware of corporate social responsibility (CSR) as a term used in business that elevates the purpose of the organization. Rather than a business’ sole goal of producing a profit, corporations with a CSR component look to the communities around them to understand how they can make an impact. This assistance comes in many different forms, such as grants, scholarships, healthy living programs, and basic needs assistance.

Typically, CSR goals are meant to positively impact communities that are within the supply chain of the corporations. These communities are either potential customers of the business, or part of the manufacturing or production line. For example, retailers may support communities where their factories for clothing production are located. Or, broadband providers may support communities where their corporate office is located. The goal is to promote these communities while also raising the brand awareness and encouraging potential or existing customers to see these corporations in a more positive light. Individuals working for CSR initiatives must therefore manage this tricky balance by asking “who really benefits”?

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Some organizations, built primarily with social benefits in mind, prefer to use the term social good to project their motivations. These organizations operate so that they can drive profits to social causes such as food security, access to water, climate change, health and human services, or any other larger-scale issue that positively impacts the target community as a whole.

When it comes to travel and tourism, social good impacts can be immense if profits are channeled appropriately. If only a slice of the nearly $9 trillion industry—about 10% of the global GDP in 2019—shifted towards social benefits, then organizations and communities could work together to solve

some of our greatest issues. Ending world hunger, for example, is projected to cost $330 billion over the next 10 years (about 3.4% of the total travel and tourism contribution to global GDP), according to Ceres2030. Further, the World Resources Institute states that securing water access for the world’s population would cost about 1% of the global GDP each year for 15 years. These are not small figures or challenges to remedy, but travel and tourism organizations working toward these larger issues can make a difference.

Though we are in the throes of COVID-19, think back to the last time you took a trip with a travel company. Did you book your tour package just because of the price or offerings?

Or was there a social good component to your tour package?

Would you feel better if you knew part of your tour package cost was contributing to ending human trafficking or promoting micro-entrepreneurs within the destination?

Many travel companies have been founded explicitly to impact social issues. Justice Travel builds tour packages designed to bridge the gap between human rights issues and tourism.

Operation Groundswell brings backpackers to understand gender and religion issues in a variety of destinations. Lokal Travel works exclusively with locally-owned and -operated experiences to build their packages for travelers. In the nonprofit space, the Center for Responsible Travel “aims to minimize tourism's negative impacts on the environment and maximize the positive contributions tourism can make to local communities.” Though operating in different countries, the missions of these organizations are composed out of their

drive to promote social benefits through travel.

Five percent of the package costs of Off Season Adventures tours are administered by the nonprofit Second Look Worldwide. The goal of this collaboration is to ensure that the benefits of tourism are realized within destinations. This nonprofit focuses on infrastructure improvements and grants for communities around tourism destinations. To date, they have sponsored a solar panel water pump system to which thousands of Tanzanians have access, and given a grant to begin hand soap and face mask production for Ugandans impacted by the lack of tourism during COVID-19.

These are just two of many examples that have ripple effects that far extend the single project or grant. There are countless health benefits and social good outcomes from having clean water and soap, especially in places in the developing world.

Imagine if all travel organizations around the world realized that they have a responsibility to support communities within destinations. What a better world we could create!

Once tourism begins again after the pandemic, there will be a rush to travel internationally to all of the wonderful destinations you’ve been dreaming about since March 2020.

When you book your next trip, try to ask the question, “Who is going to benefit from my trip?” You have the power to choose where your money goes and how it is spent. By finding travel companies working toward social good initiatives, not only will you feel great about your choice, but communities within the destination will benefit, too.

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TECHNOLOGY

Sustainability

Stepping Into the Future

Plant-based packaging company, Footprint, is using technology to eliminate single-use plastics

BY KYLEY WARREN

I

It’s no secret that plastics pose a significant threat to the planet and our general health. But even through recycling, it’s impossible to ensure that the materials are being disposed of completely—with recent estimates citing that only 9% of plastic placed in a bin is actually recycled.

And items from within the consumer packaged goods industry— like disposable cups and meat trays—reportedly account for almost 150 million tons of single-use plastics annually.

The environmental effects of plastic are detrimental— which is actually what the sustainable technology firm, Footprint, is hoping to combat through their material science engineering.

Footprint develops and manufactures foodware technologies that are recyclable, biodegradable and compostable. The company is on a mission to support some of the world’s leading industries by offering alternatives for brands to “switch out of plastic to preserve the future.”

“Companies that really understand the flaws of recycling and want to evolve their brands for the better, they're trying to get away from plastic and to use something that's compostable,” says Susan Koehler, Chief Marketing Officer of Footprint. “We're the leader in terms of having plantbased alternatives.”

The concept for the company comes from the minds of former Intel engineers Troy Swope and Yoke Chung—who founded the company in 2013. They began by trying to get a greater sense of the plastic problem within America.

Through searching store aisles, they discovered that

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everything from TV packaging to wine shippers used the material in some capacity—and they followed up on their findings by cold-calling manufacturers in the hopes of securing business.

Today, the company—with headquarters based in Gilbert, Arizona—employs more than 1,200 people, and is currently providing compostable materials to global brands like Tyson Foods, Molson Coors, Wegmans, Conagra and more. To date, Footprint is credited with preventing over 61 million pounds of plastics from entering the environment.

The brand has garnered particular recognition for their thoughtfully made, high-quality product offerings. Footprint uses materials such as virgin newsprint, bamboo and double-lined kraft, among other items, to produce their fully biodegradable technologies. The products are also made with molded fiber, which is engineered to outperform plastic.

“If you look at the trends in 2020, and what they're projecting for 2021, sustainability is absolutely one of the top five trends. And the reason for that is that more and more data supports the idea that recycling does not work,” says Koehler. “People are demanding change—and Footprint is championing it.”

For more information, visit www.footprintus.com.

breakfast ‘n lunch online ordering

gluten-free and kosher available

Total Wine Plaza 10320 N Scottsdale Rd. (480) 483-6922 SkySong 1455 N. Scottsdale Rd. (480) 664-4200

La Mirada Plaza 8876 E. Pinnacle Peak (480) 590-7200

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She’s GREEN He’s GREEN

BY JENNIFER & JOHN BURKHART

Arizona Pepper's Organic Harvest Jalapeño Pepper Sauce He said: I've always loved the Sonoranstyle Mexican food that was offered in Arizona. So, I was not surprised that this hot sauce was a home run. Delicious vinegar hit up front with just the right amount of heat. Our bottle clogged in the neck, but some light taps—okay some violent taps—and it cleared.

She said: Where have you been, oh delicious hot sauce?? I don't care for jalapeños, but if you throw in three more ingredients, I'm sold! Seriously, with the depth of flavor, perfect heat, and organic ingredients, my bottle of Tapatio is getting mighty lonely.

Mexican Food Mexican food is on the weekly rotation in our house. But when you have gluten and dairy sensitivities to consider, it gets to be quite challenging! As you might imagine, we're more than happy to try out new products so that we can still enjoy our favorite recipes. Take a read and see which ones were delicioso, or muy mal. ¡ Hasta luego!

Siete

Santa Cruz Organic

Cassava Flour Tortillas

Agua Fresca Pomegranate

He said: These were amazing! I had to read the package ingredients a couple of times because I couldn't believe there was no wheat flour in there. They are chewy and light, just like a regular tortilla. The only downside is they need to be heated before eating to be the right texture.

He said: The term agua fresca is Spanish for, “I put too much water in the juice.”

This had a very light pomegranate flavor, so you're mostly paying for water when you buy this. I have a better idea: buy a bottle of pomegranate juice, then add water to it. Boom—way more agua fresca.

She said: Consider me a cassava convert! Siete knows what it's doing and these gluten-free tortillas were very good. Just don't overheat them because then, well, you've got a Frisbee. Handy tip: save up for these because otherwise, at $9 for 8 tortillas, Taco Tuesday is only happening once a month!

She said: It was refreshing in the way that it was cold and wet—I'll give it that.

But I didn't enjoy the sour, barely sweet, watered-down watermelon flavor (No, there's no watermelon in this. Weird, I know), like it couldn't decide if it was juice or tea. Maybe I need to try this on a beach in Cabo… yeah, that'll fix it.

Good & Gather blue corn tortilla chips with flaxseed He said: Don't ask me why, but I absolutely love blue corn chips for nachos. I didn’t get the opportunity to make these into nachos yet, but you know it’s coming. They had a great crunch, nice and salty, and the flax gave them an almost nutty after-taste. Man, I'm salivating just thinking about them.

She said: Looks like Target is bringing organic products to the table now (or maybe we don't shop at Target enough). I was happily surprised that these were so delicious and budget-friendly! I liked them better than a few of the big-name grocery store brands. They were light and crispy, held up well for salsa and nachos, and the flax seeds were unnoticeable (but good for your guts!).

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of inspiring interest in and building knowledge of STEM around Arizona

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS Presenting

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Bronze ON Semiconductors | Arizona Technology Council Arizona Parenting Magazine | Green Living Magazine Copper Maricopa Community College | Phoenix Business Journal Bear Essential News | idloom | Zovio

SCITECHINSTITUTE.ORG Virtual and in-person events

JAN. 30 - FEB. 28, 2021

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GREEN

Scenes

February Events Throughout Arizona CENTRAL ARIZONA February 27, 28 Devour Phoenixs Get ready for the return of the foodie event of the year! Although this annual event will not be hosted at the Desert Botanical Garden this year, food lovers still have the opportunity to enjoy dishes from popular Valley chefs and restaurants. This year’s Devour at Home offers a prix fixe menu of dishes to enjoy in the comfort of your own home. Each order includes a meal for four people. All proceeds from the event goes to participating restaurants.

Pre-orders open February 15 at 9 a.m. For more information, visit www.devourphoenix.com.

February 1-22

February 6, 13, 20, 27

Sustainability Solutions Festival

Old Town Farmers Market

Choose from a plethora of sustainability events happening throughout the month at ASU’s Tempe campus. From a conference with future leaders to a film festival, there will sure be a lot to learn from. The focus of the festival is to teach the public about how they can collectively and individually do their part to help protect the planet. To learn more about this event, visit https://sustainability.asu.edu/sustainabilitysolutions/programs/ solutionsfestival/.

Explore Downtown Scottsdale while shopping for fresh produce and specialty products. Supplied by local vendors, the farmers’ market offers a variety of organic and pesticidefree produce, meats, and more. The market is open every Saturday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. For more information, visit www. arizonacommunityfarmersmarkets.com.

February 6 Family Birdwalk Take your family on a fun weekend nature walk in the city of Chandler. Held at one of the best spots in the Valley to birdwatch, Veterans Oasis Park, the birdwalk is a guaranteed fun time for the whole family. The event runs from 8 a.m. to noon.

All nature walks depart every 15 minutes and are 45 minutes long. The event is free. For more information, visit www. desertriversaudubon.org/birdwalks.html.

SOUTHERN ARIZONA February 19-21 The Arizona State Home Show Held in the heart of Tucson, the Arizona State Home Show will showcase everything you need to improve, decorate, and design your home. Additionally, there are professional lessons and tips to help you improve your cooking and gardening skills. And if you are lucky, you could even win cash prizes and gifts cards.

General admission is $8; free for those 16 and under. For more information, visit www.asihomeshows.com/az-state.

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February 24 Yoga Energy Re-energize your soul with this free-flowing yoga class at HealthOn Tucson. Following a simple set of poses, stretches, and balance positions, this class is for people of all skill levels. So grab your yoga mat and prepare to stretch your worries away. For more information, visit www.healthontucson.org.

NORTHERN ARIZONA February 3, 17 Community Drumming Circle Head to Old Town Center for the Arts in Cottonwood and drum your worries away at the community drum circle. Led by Sandra Cosentino and Arvel Bird, the musical circle will include chanting, singing, and dancing. Feel free to bring your own percussion instrument, or just borrow one at the event. There is no cost to attend, but donations are encouraged. For more information, visit www.centerofuniversallight.com.

February 6 Run Sedona

Join a free, informative group session and to learn all about solar energy. Held by the City of Sedona and the Solar United Neighbors non-profit, these Zoom group sessions were made to help homeowners and small businessowners learn about the benefits of using solar energy. Additionally, session members will have the option to purchase solar panels at a group rate. All sessions are free. To learn more and to register, visit https://coops.solarunitedneighbors.org/coops/northernarizona-solar-co-op/events/.

February 20 Broadway Classics Enjoy a special matinee concert of Broadway classics presented by the Flagstaff Symphony Orchestra. The event features the talents of Broadway stars Andrea Burns and Nicholas Rodriguez.

Bring the whole family to the NAU Ardrey Memorial Auditorium and celebrate the golden era of Broadway. The musical fun starts at 3 p.m. For more information, visit www.flagstaffsymphony.org/ event/broadway-classics/.

BUSINESS February 9-11 GreenBiz 21 More than 1,200 professionals will gather online at the premier annual event for sustainable business leaders. Learn of all the current tools and trends in the green business world from the experts who know best. More than 80 different learning sessions will be available. This is also a great opportunity to connect with other sustainable business owners. Prepare to be inspired!

Request your invitation at https://www.greenbiz.com/events.

Put on your running shoes and join the city of Sedona at this virtual race. Choose from a marathon, a half marathon, or a 10k/5k race. Complete the distance you choose at your own location. Prices vary according to the race distance. To register, visit www.sedonamarathon.com.

February 9, 25 Northern Arizona Solar Co-op

February 10 Cocktails and Connections at The Forum Head to Chandler and market your small business while meeting like-minded individuals at a fun social gathering.

This relaxed mixer is the perfect opportunity to network with other entrepreneurs who will provide the best tips and tricks to succeed in the business world. Drinks will be provided. To register, visit www.eventbrite.com/e/cocktails-and-connectionsat-the-forum-tickets-110681401050?aff=ebdssbdestsearch.

February 10 Learn About Land Trusts Attend this virtual webinar, hosted by Local First, to learn about the importance of land trusts. Through it you will learn of all the work that goes into preserving the state lands. The webinar will be led by Liz Petterson, the executive director of the Arizona Land & Water Trust. By learning about this important topic, you will best know how to help preserve the lands that distinguish Arizona as one of the most beautiful states. The event is free. For more information, visit www.localfirstaz.com/events/webinar-allyou-want-to-know-about-land-trusts.

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FINAL

Word

A Name to Watch Dylan Capshaw named a finalist in TIME’s ‘Kid of the Year’ contest

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BY MICHELLE GLICKSMAN

Scottsdale local Dylan Capshaw—just 14 years old—was recently named one of the top 20 finalists for the first-ever TIME “Kid of the Year” contest. Capshaw is a wildlife activist and COVID-19 frontline worker advocate, helping animals in need through his nonprofit, Dylan Capshaw Wildlife Foundation, and printing 3D face shields to help protect the frontline workers battling the coronavirus pandemic, which he ships through his nonprofit, For the Frontline.

While he wasn’t the overall winner, he’s certainly made an impression worldwide. We had the chance to sit down with him.

You are a wildlife activist and already have your own nonprofit! Can you tell us about it?

I started the Dylan Capshaw Wildlife Foundation when I was 11 and in fifth grade to raise money for animal shelters during Hurricane Harvey. From there, I never stopped, and started rescuing animals myself, which led to my current status as an animal rescue and sanctuary. I have rescued a wide variety of animals ranging from a show goat; prairie dogs; and Jade, my wallaby! I also have a 24/7 phone line where I help answer questions or get calls for onsite rescues.

Why were you passionate about helping animals?

I have had compassion toward animals since my earliest memories. I was lucky to find my calling at such a young age, and I will continue this my whole life. Animals bring me joy and by protecting them, I feel I am doing my part in my community.

You also formed a second nonprofit, For The Frontline. What have you been doing with that one?

For The Frontline was started in the early days of the pandemic. Though helping animals is all I had done prior, I’ve always enjoyed helping people, as well. I immediately used the small 3D printer I had to print face masks that had the ability to make one surgical mask last seven times.

I raised over $10,000 and was donated three industrial 3D printers, which allowed me to ship more than 3,000 PPE essential items to frontline workers across the country.

For The Frontline sent free care packages, which included surgical masks donated by Okun Dentistry to the majority of 50 states, with free shipping as well. I also show our appreciation to frontline workers by catering lunch to a variety of fire stations and ICU wards in hospitals.

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How can people support your nonprofits?

I run completely on donations. For The Frontline and The Dylan Capshaw Wildlife Foundation need donations to continue, and if anyone would like to donate, all of my websites are on www.dylancapshaw.com. My rescues all need food and vet care, and in order to be available to assist the frontline workers, For The Frontline needs available donations.

What are your future goals?

I never want to stop helping animals and people, and that is why a career in politics and/or environmental law is my goal.

Here for you

In these unprecedented times, it is important that you know we’re committed to providing you the financial access, guidance and support you need during this rapidly evolving situation.

Through digital, mobile, and by phone Wells Fargo Advisors is here and we continue to serve you and support our communities so that you can focus on what matters most — caring for your family’s health and safety.

Helping you focus on what matters most: Mark Morales First Vice President - Investment Officer Direct: (480) 419-2016 mark.morales@wellsfargoadvisors.com https://home.wellsfargoadvisors.com/mark.morales

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