ZERO WASTE
How to get four years of trash in a mason jar
URBAN AWARENESS
Personal safety and self defense
WINDOW FARMING
TIME TO GET DIRTY, PRINCESS! TIME TO GET DIRTY, PRINCESS!
Build your own & watch it grow
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spring 2015
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EDITORS / PHOTOGRAPHERS /
Hey!
PRODUCERS
Welcome to our very first issue of Skirt Magazine. This issue is all about starting out... we understand that life is a process, and we are all at different places. What you will find in the pages of Skirt Magazine is a collection of inspired and instructive articles to help you be more empowered and self-reliant.
Monika Collins Sarah Ewashen Janet Molchanko THANKS Thomas Porostocky Adam Teasdale
SUBSCRIPTION One year (4 issues) U.S. and territories $24.00; Two years (8 issues) $34.00. One year (4 issues) Canada $43.00 including postage, tax, handling. One year (4 issues) International $49.00 including postage, tax, handling. For subscription name or address changes, adjustments, cancellations or refunds, email customerservice@skirtmagazine.com; write Skirt Magazine Subscriptions, P.O. Box 37524, Boone, IA 50037-0524; call customer service at 1-888-797-9925 or go to skirtmagazine.com/customerservice. The first copy of a new subscription will ship six to eight weeks after ordering. For advertising inquiried, please email: advertising@skirtmagazine.com
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Janet Molchanko
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Skirt’s Favourites
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ZERO WASTE
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WINDOW FARMING
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How to get four years of trash in a mason jar
What you need to know to start
SITUATIONAL AWARENESS Personal safety and self defence
Fresh Ideas 6
8
10
11
12
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NATURAL HEALTH The Secrets Of Medicinal Herbs: Get to the roots of healing
EAT CLEAN Green Clean: Top juicer recipes that energize and detox
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URBAN FARMING
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GEAR UP
Juice for Humans: Find a slow juicer
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MONEY MATTERS
Are You Ready?: Prepping for a two-week power outage
RESOURCES Need Help with a Health Quest?: Free mobile apps to help you eat better Let Us Inspire You...: Amazing books by remarkable women
Emergency Savings: The 50/20/30 rule explained
TIPS & TRICKS
Eat Well: Appliances for healthy living Drip a Perfect “Cup of Ambition”: Best rated coffee machines
ON/OFF GRID Get Your House Passive: Strategies for inspired efficiency
Roof-top Gardens: How to grow your own balcony garden
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SHTF The Safest Places in Canada to Survive a Zombie Apocalypse
DIY Beekeeping: The “buzz” on rooftop beekeeping Make Your Own: Bug out bag essentials Composting in Apartments?: Yes!
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Grow Your Own Drugs Get to the roots of healing
MEDICAL HERBS THAT GROW LIKE WEEDS Mo ma vendae nem voloribus, tem coneceat. Natium esequiae re alis eaquam ut as desto dio et esti resciis quodis audaesed eatia acil id evenim nobit maximinis debis andae velit quae. Et aut voluptaere ventibeaque volorep.
Juniper was traditionally used for snakebites,
Willow Bark was traditionally used to
cancers, sore aching muscles, arthritis and rheumatism. Internally the berries were used for stomach ulcers, respiratory ailments and colds.
reduce fevers, relieve pain and stiffness and to arrest post-partum hemorrhaging.
Red Clover was traditionally used for malignant cancers, kidney problems and whooping cough. It is naturally rich in trace minerals and earth salts. Clover leaf will effect an increased production of natural estrogen.
Red Raspberry was traditionally used by midwives to quell menstrual cramps, aid in the prevention of miscarriage, assure an easy labor and tone the muscles of the pelvic region.
Sage was traditionally used for smudging.
Yellow Dock was traditionally used to for
Nettle was traditionally used to combat the
internal and external treatment of skin sores, rheumatism, sour throat and liver ailments. Some also used dried yellow dock rood to purify the blood.
discomfort of skin irritations and was given by native midwives during and after pregnancy as a blood builder because it is rich in iron and promotes copious milk supply.
Echinacea was traditionally used as an antiseptic and immune stimulant. It induces the lymphatic system to clear away wastes, toxins and has a definite antibacterial activity.
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Tea was made as a rinse for the hair to add shine and luster, to lower blood sugar levels and promote bile flow. Pregnant women should avoid sage as it will dry up breast milk.
The modern Medicine Wheel INDIGENOUS HEALING Traditionally Medicine Wheels or sacred hoops are a symbol of indigenous North American culture and religion. They are constructed for religious, ritual, healing, and teaching purposes.
This wheel is a contemporary version of the traditional indigenous medicine wheel herb garden that now can be purchased at most pharmacy and health food stores.
Saje Echinacea Throat Spray, 30 ml $19.95 | Buddha Teas Red Clover, 0.83 oz $11.83 Liliwen Herbs Raspberry Leaf Tea $10.50 | Aveda Rosemary Mint Hand and Body Wash, 33.8 fl oz $19.00 Dr. Hauschka Sage Purifying Bath Essence, 100 ml $29.97 |The Body Deli Sage and Grapefruit Cleanser, 4 0z $28.00 Herb Pharm Stinging Nettle Blend, 29.6 ml $12.00 | Yogi Skin DeTox Tea, $17.28 TEXT by Sarah Ewashen
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Green Clean
Top juicer recipes that energize and detox MANGO - GREEN TEA BOOSTER
CLEAR HEAD
This purĂŠe of tropical mango and banana will boost your energy, and the addition of green tea enhances the effect.
The snappy spiciness of radish perks up this tomatoey concoction, clearing your head while feeding your immune system.
Juice the mangoes and banana, in that order. Run the pulp through three times to extract as much liquid as possible. Pour the mixture into a serving glass, add the tea, and stir until combined. Serve immediately.
Juice the celery, radishes, garlic and tomatoes, in that order. Run the pulp through again to extract as much liquid as possible. Serve immediately.
2 Medium mangoes, pitted and peeled
4 Celery ribs
1 Medium banana, peeled
2 Radishes
1 Cup / 240ml brewed green tea, chilled
1 Garlic clove 2 Medium plum (Roma) tomatoes, peeled
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MOOD LIFTER
BRAIN BOOSTER
This sweet and cheery red juice gets its intriguing herbal flavour from basil. Basil is often prescribed as an herbal antidepressant.
Papaya is rich in antioxidants, and flaxseed adds essential fatty acids to help your brain work. Fresh turmeric protects the brain and stops inflammation in the body.
Juice the carrots, basil, and beets, in that order. Run the pulp through again to extract much liquid as possible. Serve immediately.
Juice the papaya, raspberries, flaxseed, and turmeric, in that order. Run the pulp through again to extract as much liquid as possible. Serve immediately.
12 Medium carrots
5 Cups chopped papaya
1/2 Cup packed fresh basil, leaves and stems
1 1/2 Cups raspberries
2 Large beets
2 Tablespoons flaxseed One 2 in / 5 cm piece fresh turmeric
TEXT by Robin Asbell. Juice It! Energizing Blends for Today’s Juicers
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Big Monsters And Little Devils FRIDGE/FREEZER Refrigerators are the topconsuming kitchen appliance in households, and separate freezers are next on the list. The approximate energy range is 30-200 kWh/month. If you have a brand new high-efficiency unit, your consumption could be more like 400 kWh/year.
With the cost of living on a seemingly continual upward curve, limiting the amount of energy we use in our homes is becoming increasingly important and Energy Hungry Appliances need to be carefully monitored. WATER HEATER According to the U.S. Department of Energy, heating water is responsible for 12 percent of U.S. home energy use. We use the water heater in so many applications: showers, cleaning dishes, cleaning clothes - it’s a pretty ubiquitous part of our daily routine. And at an average consumption of 400 kWh per month, it’s also a powerintensive one.
HEATING SYSTEM
COOLING SYSTEM
DEHUMIDIFIER
A home heating system is one of hungriest home appliances. It’s also arguably the most necessary one. The kWh range for heating devices is extremely broad, running from a measly 100 kWh per month to a shocking 3,500 kWh/month (if you live in a cold region, you’ve probably been shocked by your heating bill more than once). It all depends on which type of heat you use and how efficient your particular model is.
As usual, the actual number of watts consumed in cooling a home varies greatly depending on the type of unit, the capacity, the time it’s operating and the efficiency rating. An air-conditioning unit might use anywhere from 200 to 1,800 kWh/month.
Lots of people leave dehumidifiers running all the time. That’s why they’re such a huge power consumer: It’s a high-wattage appliance that runs for long periods of time. A dehumidifier comes in at anywhere from 60 to 1,000 watts, depending on capacity, with an average somewhere around 785. Using a dehumidifier might consume 160 kWh/month, which is probably more than your refrigerator uses.
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TEXT by Julia Layton, howstuffworks.com
Managing Your Money: Building An Emergency Fund If you don’t have an emergency fund, what’s the best way to build one? LearnVest advises you to split your monthly budget using the 50/20/30 rule.
50/20/30 RULE:
50%
or less of your take-home pay should go to essentials like rent, groceries, transportation and utilities
20%
or more should go to priorities like saving an emergency fund, saving for retirement and paying off debt
30%
or less should go to lifestyle choices like shopping, entertainment, going out with friends, etc.
How the 50/20/30 Rule Works in Real Life LET’S COMPARE TWO REAL BUDGETS; ONE FOR MOLLY AND ONE FOR A COUPLE, SARAH AND TIM.
MOLLY
49% = $1,100 21% = $475 30% = $675
Molly is a 22-year-old recent graduate with her first job. She has student loans, but she is still able to meet her student loan payment every month plus pay all her bills. Her income: $36,000 a year. Her take-home pay after taxes: $2,250 a month (we’re assuming 25 percent of her salary goes toward a combination of taxes and her 401(k) contributions). Essential Expenses: Rent: $750 Transportation: $75 Utilities: $75 Groceries: $200 TOTAL: $1,100 = 49% of her take-home pay
SARAH AND TIM
38% = $2,600 37% = $2,503 25% = $1,664
Sarah and Tim are in their mid-40s and have two children nearing college-age. Sarah and Tim’s household income: $150,000 a year. Their take-home pay after taxes: $6,767 a month (we’re assuming 30 percent of her salary and her husband’s go toward a combination of taxes and their 401(k) contributions). Essential Expenses: Mortgage: $1,200 Car payment and insurance: $600 Gas: $250 Groceries: $400 Utilities: $150 TOTAL: $2,600 = 38 % of income
Financial Priorities: Student Loan: $225 Roth IRA contributions: $200 Travel savings fund: $50 TOTAL: $475 = 21% of take-home pay
Financial Priorities: Roth IRA contributions: $833 account contributions: $1,470 Vacation fund: $200 TOTAL: $2,503 = 37% of their take-home pay
Lifestyle Choices: $675 = 30% of her take-home pay
Lifestyle Choices: $1,664 = 25% of their take-home pay
TEXT by LearnVest,huffingtonpost.com ILLUSTRATIONS by Sarah Ewashen
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Are You Ready? Prepping for a Two-Week Power Outage A great starting point for someone who is just getting going on a preparedness journey is prepping specifically for a two-week power outage. If you can comfortably survive for two weeks without electricity, you will be in a far better position than most of the people in North America.
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Use the following information to create your personal 2 week preparedness plan. Modify these suggestions to adapt them to your particular home, family, and climate.
WATER Everyone knows that clean drinking water is something you can’t live without. In the event of a disaster, the water may not run from the taps, and if it does, it might not be safe to drink, depending on the situati`on. Each family should store a two week supply of water. The rule of thumb for drinking water is 1 gallon per day, per person. Don’t forget to stock water for your pets, also.
FOOD AND A WAY TO PREPARE IT There are two schools of thought regarding food during a power outage. One: you need a cooking method that does not require the grid to be functioning. Two: you can store food that doesn’t require cooking.
HEAT If your power outage takes place in the winter and you live in a colder climate, heat is another necessity. During the first 24 hours after a power outage, you can stay fairly warm if you block off one room of the house for everyone to group together in. Keep the door closed and keep a towel or blanket folded along the
bottom of the door to conserve warmth. You can safely burn a couple of candles also, and in the enclosed space, your body heat will keep it relatively warm. However, after about 48 hours, this is not going to be enough in very cold weather. You will require back-up heat at this point in certain climates. If you are lucky enough to have a source of heat like a fireplace or wood stove, you’ll be just fine as long as you have a supply of wood. Consider a portable propane heater (and propane) or an oil heater. You have to be very careful what type of backup heat you plan on using, as many of them can cause carbon monoxide poisoning if used in a poorly ventilated area. Also invest in a CO2 alarm that is not grid-dependent.
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Did you know you can make homemade candles from virtually any solid (saturated) fat?
SANITATION NEEDS A common cause of illness, and even death, during a down-grid situation is lack of sanitation. You won’t want to use your drinking water to keep things clean or to flush the toilet. For cleaning, reduce your need to wash things. Stock up on paper plates, paper towels, and disposable cups and flatware. Use hand sanitizer after using the bathroom and before handing food or beverages, as there may be more germs afoot in a disaster. Look at your options for sanitation. Does your toilet still flush when the electricity is out? Many people discovered the hard way that the toilets don’t work when the sewage backed up 14 | skirt.com
in the highrises in New York City in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy. One solution is to stock up on extremely heavy duty garbage bags and kitty litter. Place a bag either in your drained toilet or in a bucket. Sprinkle some kitty litter in the bottom of the bag. Each time someone uses the bathroom, add another handful of litter. Be very careful that the bag doesn’t get too heavy for you to handle it. Tie it up very securely and store it outside until services are restored.
FIRST AID KIT It is important to have a basic first aid kit on hand at all times, but particularly in the event of an emergency. Your kit should include basic wound care items
like bandages, antibiotic ointments, and sprays. As well, if you use them, keep on hand a supply of basic over-the-counter medications, like pain relief capsules, cold medicine, cough syrup, anti-nausea pills, and allergy medication.
GET STARTED TODAY You can start right now - all you have to do is grab a pad of paper and a pen. Begin by personalizing the suggestions above to fit your needs. The peace of mind that comes from being prepared for a disaster before it happens cannot be measured.
TEXT by theorganicprepper.com PHOTOGRAPHY by healthstartsinthekitchen.com
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The BUZZ on Urban Rooftop Beekeeping If you’d like to benefit your garden and community and offer a treat to your taste buds, consider trying your hand at natural beekeeping in your own backyard.
GETTING STARTED
HOW NOT TO GET STUNG
The general rhythm of bee life involves making and storing honey in wax combs from spring to fall, and then feeding on the stored supply in winter. Bees make honey from nectar. Strong hives make more honey than they need, so good beekeeping involves doing everything you can to keep the colony healthy, and taking out just the right amount of honey without depriving the bees of an ample winter supply.
You will need to look inside the hive from time to time to see what’s going on, sometimes to feed your bees sugar water to supplement lean nectar supplies, and certainly to harvest some honey in late summer. When working with the hives, take your time and practice slow, fluid movements, which are least likely to upset the bees. You will calm the bees by first using a smoker to puff pine-needle or leaf smoke in and around the hives, but even calm bees will crawl around on their keeper. Fortunately, calm bees seldom sting.
Check to make sure local regulations do not prohibit beekeeping. In most areas, beekeeping falls under generalized nuisance laws, and two hives are highly unlikely to become a nuisance. Locate hives where the bees will have an open flight path. Ideally, morning sun should warm the hives, which should be in a place where they will seldom be disturbed by human activities. If there is no pond or stream nearby, you will also need to provide a pool, birdbath or tub of water within 40 feet of the hives.
12,000 BEES, PLEASE You can buy worker bees (and an egglaying queen for each hive) by mail. The best time to start beekeeping is after the last hard freeze in the spring, so you’ll want to have them delivered then. As you shop, choose queen bees from regional sources that have been bred for “hygienic behavior” — a genetic trait that leads to workers with superior talents for cleaning out larvae with disease or mites. For each hive, you will need 3 pounds of bees with a queen — that’s about 12,000 bees!
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THE SWEETEST HARVEST You can harvest your honey with the beeswax comb intact (comb honey), or you can use a hot knife to cut the caps from the comb and remove the honey. As frames are replaced, you will harvest more bounty from your bees in the form of beeswax for candles, soaps and lotion. Should you decide to sell some of your honey, you will find that prices are significantly higher for local, raw honey. Some people buy it for health reasons, including to relieve allergies, although proof that it works depends on anecdotal evidence. As fascinating as they are productive, bees bring rewards far beyond honey. As a beekeeper, you get the pleasant respite of working with your hives, and the bees spread their pollinating benefits and put delicious honey on your table.
Light-coloured roofs deflect heat, which create a far better environment for your bees. Tar applications on most city roofs and black-topped roofs, conversely, can reach temperatures of up to 120°F, which is uncomfortable for the bees.
WHAT YOU’LL NEED TO START: Boxes (the hives)
Frames with wax foundation
A bee suit, or other protective clothing
TEXT by motherearthnews.com PHOTOGRAPHY by Geoff Fitzgerald ILLUSTRATIONS by Sarah Ewashen
A smoker
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Bug Out Bag Essentials
No one wants to be in a situation where they have to drop everything and leave in an emergency but given the increasing uncertainty in today’s world many people are choosing to prepare themselves in the event of the unforeseen.
GORP Clean Energy Bar $3.00 | Gerber Freescape Camp Kitchen Kit $82.00 | Optimus Terra Weekend HE Cookset $32.00 Kelvalite Emergency Blanket $2.00 | GSI H2O Lite Bottle $7.00 Kathmandu Compass $18.00 | Fox 40 Sharx Whistle $7.00 | Innate Active Travel Towel $30.00 18 | skirt.com
Composters don’t have to be large and ugly. There are several styles to suit different tastes that are sold in stores like Marshall’s to Williams-Sonoma.
Composting in Apartments? Just because you don’t have yard space doesn’t mean you can’t join the growing number of Canadians who are composting!
Try vermicomposting! It’s ideal for small spaces and can be done indoors, which makes it perfect for apartment dwellers. It means you discard organic matter generated in your kitchen like carrot tops by feeding it to worms. But not just any worms: you’re going to need some red wrigglers. The result is a very fertile mixture of decomposed food scraps and worm poop. Vermiculture is a great way to reduce organic matter otherwise destined for the landfill. The process takes three to six months and depending on how much you feed your worms, you’ll need
TEXT by davidsuzuki.org PHOTOGRAPHY by WilliamsSonoma
to harvest the vermicompost two to four times a year. It’s excellent fertilizer for gardens, laws, potted plants on balconies, and even indoor plants. Fans of worm farms claim they’re much easier to care for than a dog or a cat and they don’t smell. Search on-line for many great resources in your city to help you source and set up your very own worm bin.
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Roof-top Gardens
How to grow your own balcony garden
WHERE PLANTS THRIVE ON YOUR BALCONY
WHAT PLANTS THRIVE ON YOUR BALCONY
Eight to 10 hours of full sun is not always possible. Shade and low light is a common fact of gardening life. Luckily, shade doesn’t have to prohibit urban gardeners from growing their own food.
Size matters when it comes to growing plants on your balcony! Plants love space to grow their roots and choosing the right pot size will help them thrive and grow strong.
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North Shade 3-5 hrs
South Full Sun 6-8 hrs
A shade garden receives no direct sunlight. It receives reflected sunlight from nearby windows, light-colored walls or reflective mulch.
When planting a garden, the amount of sunlight vegetables receive between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. is crucial to a successful harvest.
East Morning Sun 3-5 hrs
West Partial Sun 6-8 hrs
Plants love morning sun. The light is even and milder. This is the best time to water your plants before it gets too hot and burns their leaves.
When a garden receives four to six hours of direct sun, it is considered to be in partial sun or lightly shaded. Even heat-loving vegetables prefer some afternoon shade.
What’s in season? HEALTHY, FRESH AND LOCAL Eating seasonally has many benefits. The cost of seasonal food is down and the quality is up. The food is grown closer to you so it doesn’t spoil on its trip and it’s harvested at the peak of its season. Ideally, this means you’re getting fruits and vegetables that have not had time to lose their flavor or their health benefits.
PREP FOR SPRING This is a good time to make sure all gardening supplies are organized for early spring. February and March are good times to plant seedlings, especially tomatoes. By the time May comes around your seedlings will be thriving and ready plant outside or in pots.
Apples and Grapes Eggplant and Grapes Nectarines Squash Blueberries
TEXT & ILLUSTRATIONS by Sarah Ewashen
Raspberries and Peaches Tomatoes & Peppers Carrots Cabbage and Potatoes Cherries and Strawberries
Beans and Broccoli Lettuce and Cucumber Beats and Cauliflower Asparagus
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How to get four years of trash in a
MASON JAR
If you are not for zero waste, how much waste are you for? If something can not be reused, recycled or composted we should not be taking it and we should not be buying it! TEXT by Bea Johnson & Sarah Ewashen PHOTOGRAPHY & ILLUSTRATIONS by Sarah Ewashen
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To begin a zero waste journey with a goal to fit four years of trash in a mason jar, we must first understand how we accumulate trash, then take responsibility for how much trash we allow into our lives. Making the choice to put your trash habits in the limelight will help you better understand its effects.
WHAT DOES ZERO WASTE MEAN?
WHAT DOES THROW AWAY MEAN?
Zero Waste is a philosophy based on a set of practices aimed at avoiding as much waste as possible. In the manufacturing world it inspires cradleto-cradle design; in the home it engages the consumer to act responsibly. Many people have the misconception that all it involves is extensive recycling, when on the contrary, Zero Waste does not promote recycling. Rather, it takes into consideration the uncertainties and costs associated with recycling’s processes. Recycling is regarded only as an alternative to handling (versus, ideally, eliminating) waste materials, and although included in the Zero Waste model, it is deemed a last resort before the landfill as is composting. (Johnson 14)
It means we take the resources that we have, recyclable or not recyclable, and we put them in the ground where we pollute the soil and we pollute the air, burn it or incinerate it. They try to make waste disappear. What Zero Waste does is make your waste visible. Zero Waste is a goal, a message and a strategy.
WHY IS ZERO WASTE CRUCIAL? Our human footprint doesn’t end after we buy and consume things; the final impact occurs when we discard items – and we Americans discard four-fifths of a ton of trash per person, per year. Here are the numbers: Americans generated 251 million tons of trash in 2006, the most recent year for which the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has data. Our per capita trash disposal rate was 4.6 pounds per person, per day. Sixty-five percent came from residences, while 35 percent came from schools and commercial locations such as hospitals and businesses. (ecokids.ca)
WHERE DOES ALL OUR TRASH GO? Fifty-five percent gets buried in landfills, 33 percent gets recycled, and 12.5 percent goes to incinerators. Collecting and transporting trash and recyclables is a mammoth task. According to the National Solid Waste Management Association, the solid waste industry employs 368,000 people. They use 148,000 vehicles to move garbage to 1,754 landfills and 87 incinerators. They also pick up recyclables at curbside in 8,660 communities and take them to 545 materials recovery facilities for sorting. Solid waste is big business to the tune of about $47 billion in annual revenue. (ecokids.ca)
Zero Waste illustration: The 5 R’s in order to which one would apply. Refuse and Reduce address the prevention of waste; Reuse addresses thoughtful consumption; Recycle and Rot address the processing of discards.
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Want to ditch your
TRASHCAN?
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Reducing your waste in a household is quite simple if you follow these five steps.
1
REFUSE
WHAT WE DO NOT NEED The first R addresses indirect forms of consumption like handouts and marketing materials that creep into our lives. Zero Waste is not about recycling more; it’s about acting on needless waste and stopping it form coming into our homes in the first place. Every bit we accept, or take, creates a demand to make more.
Single-use plastics
Freebies & junkmail
Unsustainable practices
Disposable plastic bags, bottles, cups, lids, straws, and flatware.
Hotel room toiletries, party favors, food samples, swing bags from conferences.
Wrapped kids snacks, receipts, business cards and excessive packaging.
Countless people transfer junkmail from their mailbox straight into the recycling bin. Have a no-tolerance policy.
2
REDUCE
WHAT WE DO NOT NEED AND CANNOT REFUSE Reducing addresses the core of our waste problem and takes into consideration the imminent environmental consequences of population growth, associated consumption, and the finite planetary resources. Reducing also results in a simplified lifestyle that allows you to focus on quality vs quantity and experiences vs stuff.
Evaluate past consumption Assess the true use and need for everything in the home and let go of the unnecessary through paring items down.
Curb current and future consumption in amount and size
Decrease activities that support or lead to consumption
Restraining (new and used) shopping activity.
Media exposure and leisure shopping. Find satisfaction with what you already have.
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3
REUSE
WHAT WE CONSUME AND CANNOT REFUSE OR REDUCE Reuse does not mean Recycling a produce to give it a new form. Reusing is the tipping point of Zero Waste: it addresses both consumption and conservation efforts and offers an unlimited diversion from disposal.
Eliminate wasteful consumption
Alleviate resource depletion
Reusables can eliminate the need for packaging and wasteful singleuse products through: shopping with reusable bags, and swapping disposables for reusables.
Participating in collaborative consumption (sharing), Buying used, and buying smart.
4
RECYCLE
5
Extending the useful life of necessities Repairing, rethinking (a drinking glass can double as a pen holder), returning (Dry cleaning wire hangers) and reusing (worn-out clothing can be used as rags).
ROT
WHAT WE CANNOT REFUSE, REDUCE OF REUSE
COMPOST THE REST
Zero Waste is not all about recycling. Waste management starts outside the home by curbing consumption, which eliminates much recycling and greatly reduces associated concerns. These concerns include the fact that the broad system of recycling not only requires energy process but also lacks regulations to guide and coordinate the efforts of manufactures, municipalities, consumers and recyclers. With every purchase the entire life cycle of the product should be evaluated, even recyclability.
Rotting is simply the process of recycling organic material. Composting is nature’s way of recycling, allowing for organic discards to decompose overtime and return their nutrients into the soil.
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TEXT by Bea Johnson. Zero Waste Home Photography by Sarah Ewashen spring 2015 | 29
Window Farming - a small apartment solution for indoor gardening TEXT by Monika Collins, PHOTOGRAPHY by Sarah Ewashen
The new trend of eating organic, freshfrom-the-farm food is growing and people are becoming more aware of what and how they eat. From my own experience, buying only organic food is expensive 30 | skirt.com
and it could be sometimes limited to the variety of seasonal products. Recently my attention was brought to indoor gardening and window farming.
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WHAT IS IT? The most common way to window farm is using a hydroponic system. Basically it is a method to grow plants without using soil, instead using nutrient rich water solution. Those mediums range from fiberglass to sand and from fired clay balls to nothing at all. Several branches of hyrdoponics include aeroponics (using air as the grow medium), aquaponics etc. hy•dro•pon•ics Noun: The process of growing plants in sand, gravel, or liquid (or other mediums), with added nutrients but without soil. Hydro is Latin for water and Ponos means works or labor. Water works!
WHY WINDOW FARM? For different people there are different reasons. Some people like to save costs of buying from farmers, some people like to know what exactly they eat and what it’s put in the soil, some people believe that food is your medicine, some people simply love to grow food but they have no space for it. Regular garden farming takes space and it gets dirty. Being urban and living in small apartments limits the space for growing food. Also outside weather conditions dictate seasonal foods and attracts bugs, drought etc. Hydroponic systems help eliminate all those problems. You can easily control what grows and it could be done any time of the year. There is no use of pesticides or preservatives. Food is fresh and tasty. Using a hydroponic method of gardening is better than soil gardening for many reasons. Plants need less space because they don’t need to stretch their roots to look for nutrition. The main benefit is higher oxygen levels for the roots than when planted in soil. Also being able to control nutritional level which could vary from plant to plant could be easily adjusted.
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Don’t buy any more herbs at the store. It’s so easy to grow your own rosemary, cilantro, basil, thyme, oregano, parsley, mint, and sage using hydroponics.
HOW TO WINDOW FARM It is very easy to start window farming using hydroponics. There are two way to do it: make it your own using things you have at home or buy a ready-to-use system. Either system you decide on, start slowly, until you get the hang of it. It won’t take long until you’ll understand basics of working system and in no time you will be able to expand your garden. once you get the hang of it, you’ll want to add variety to your garden. Watching and learning how specific plants grow it is a very enjoyable process. As time goes by, you will be more aware of the grow cycles of each plant. Soon enough it will be obvious to you when there is something wrong, and you’ll be able to fix it. It is a fun way to teach kids and have them care about a plant. Not only will they learn a great deal about growing using hydroponics, but knowing that they are helping to grow healthy foods It makes it fun and pleasurable activity.
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Make It Or Buy It?
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DO-IT-YOURSELF There are many ways to build your own hydroponic system. All over the internet you can find people inventing and reinventing hydroponics using found objects around the house. Some of them include: fish tank, plastic bin with a lid, pipes or pop bottles. DIY could be cheaper version but it requires plenty of research and skills. However there are many great resources and supplies found in any home improvement store. The online community offers many ideas and support. Check Hydroponicshabitat.com for advice and detailed descriptions on how different systems work.
1.The simplest way to start your own hydroponics is to use 2L pop bottle cut in half and punch holes 1’ apart. 2. Add damp soil to the top
part and water to the bottom part. Cut two strips of wicking fabric and insert to the neck of the bottle. 3. Sow seeds or plant a seeding.
READY-TO-USE SYSTEMS
windowfarms.com Windowfarms let you grow food year-round inside while maximizing space. They are vertical food-growing gardens that use a dirt-free technique called hydroponics. You can buy a kit or build your own using low-impact or recycled local materials. Having a windowfarm is more about the activity and experience of windowfarming; these are living systems, not just a pretty thing to look at. WHAT’S IN A PACKAGE (per tower): 4 planters, 4 net cups, 4 net cup gaskets, 1 reservoir, 1 reservoir cover, 1 nutrient delivery tube, 1 metal frame w/ top hooks, 1 metal baseplate, 1 reservoir tubing 1 airline tube, 1 connector, 4 cups clay pellets, pH water test strips, 1 maintenance kit, 1 air pump, 1 48 on/off mechanical time.
1 column - $179.95 2 column - $279.95 3 column - $399.95 fresh greens: $29.99 monthly
The tower they designed is a circular from floor to ceiling long, with light installed. There are max of 4 towers with 4 pots.
Can be in a room with no window Max 24 plants Provide special nutritional blend: The NutriBlend Available in white, black and stainless to match your decor Easy assembly with included instructional videos
PRO:
Easy install Can choose between 1 and 4 towers Up to 32 plants on one air pump Monthly delivery of spices Build community for tips and troubleshooting Easy instructions
Diameter - 6.25” (per tower) and 4’ tall
CON:
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WHAT’S IN A PACKAGE: The NutriTower system, 1 high output submersible pump, 8 high output plant spectrum T5 bulbs, all necessary tubing, 24 small pots and netting cups, hydroton, standard seedling starter kit, 3 months of NutriBlend nutrient packs, instruction booklet, assembly tools.
PRO:
PRICE:
nutritower.com NutriTower is the first indoor growing method to use our patent-pending vertical lighting and hydroponic system. This revolutionary design will allow you to grow enough food for you and your family to harvest something every day of the year.
Price might be too high for some Dependent on microclimate Airlift issues
Diameter - 2 square feet and about 7’ tall.
CON:
Extra cost for electricity At this time price is unknown Shipping options are not available
REMEMBER Be patient when you start growing, and don’t try to rush the process. While it is faster than growing outside in the soil, it still takes some time for your plants to reach maturity. The amount of time it takes will be dependent on different factors, like the kind and amount of nutrition they receive, the grow lights used, how much space they have, and even the type of plant it is. Soon, you will be aware of these cycles of growth, and know exactly when your plants will be ready for harvest.
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Is this a potential attacker or another pedestrian? If you are unsure, stop, turn around and walk in the other direction.
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Why Don’t People Trust Their Instincts?
“They sense something is wrong, someone is walking too close behind them... You knew something was wrong but you came back into the house. Did I force you? No. All I had to do was offer you a drink. It’s hard to believe that the fear of offending can be stronger than the fear of pain.” The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo Stieg Larsson TEXT and PHOTOGRAPHY by Janet Molchanko
When I was a kid, my sisters and I played a game we called “Mad Dog”. Essentially we would pretend that a rabid dog would appear and the last one who didn’t find safety was the loser. We would be outside playing, or riding our bikes, and one of us would yell “mad dog” out of the blue, and we would all scramble to find the safest place wherever we happened to be. In its essence, it is a game that has grown with me into adulthood, because at its core it is about awareness of your surroundings. When I check into hotels, I count the number
of doors between my room and the stairwell, I check the windows if they open and if they do, is there an escape route from them? When I walk home at night, I ask myself “what if?” and imagine what I would do in various scenarios. And it is this awareness of your surroundings that is at the core of all self defense. After all, wouldn’t you rather avoid a dangerous scenario if you could, than have to physically defend yourself? Being aware is being proactive.
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It is key to have an arsenal of potential scenarios in your head in which you can draw from. Play the “what if” game: what if someone jumped out from behind that bush? What would I do? Where would I go? What if someone grabbed me from behind while walking late at night? When something surprises us, we often freeze, and that’s not a good thing when being attacked. They key to not freezing is having a plan; being able to draw from that mental arsenal. The next time you step into a coffee shop, transit area or busy commercial building, try to do these simple drills to sharpen your awareness tactics:
STOP AND PRETEND If you feel someone is following you, do the classic stop, turn and pretend like you went the wrong way. Let the suspicious person pass you, and if he doesn’t or reroutes to follow you, you can now confirm that you might have a potential attacker.
BECOME A HARD TARGET Maintaining an appearance of confidence in your manner is very important to how vulnerable you appear to a potential attacker. But further to this, if you come across as very aware of your surroundings - people, physical locations and interpersonal interactions - then you become much less prone to being taken by surprise of any type of attack or threat of violence.
Be aware of anyone around you, especially when pulling out money.
Walk with confidence and make eye contact with the people around you.
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VISUALIZATION By mentally visualizing different scenarios you will develop a strong set of awareness skills and leave little to chance if ever confronted by a violent threat or attack.
INTUITION Much is written about following your gut instinct and as much has been written about how we ignore its signals. We have all experienced a visceral reaction to situations where things just didn’t add up and signified some type of threat or danger. Please pay attention to these feelings or reactions - they will alert you, and if you listen, help to protect you. Adhering to these warning signs can obviously be applied to physical threats, but can also act to warn you about people with questionable integrity. Situational awareness is one of the major keys to keeping yourself safe. 90 percent of the threats and attacks you could potentially face are preventable. If you consciously make the decision to adhere to these concepts you are well on your way to living a safe life!
If you need to walk through an alley way, pay attention to your surroundings!
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BE AWARE OF YOUR SURROUNDINGS! If he’s asking for your property - purse, money, car keys give it to him. I f he’s trying to get you into your vehicle, fight! Scream, scratch, bite, kick, strike. Use your environment. Everything at hand can be used to help you escape. Throw your keys, purse, coins, sand, gravel, rocks at the attacker’s face. ake eye contact - aggressors tend to back down if they M notice you noticing them. If you see a suspicious person nearby watching you, change your route and walk in the opposite direction. Act confident. Do not act or look like an easy target.
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DON’T BE A VICTIM! Don’t get into a vehicle with the attacker. You never want to let him take you to a second location. Statistically, it is not in your best interest. Even if he’s pointing a knife or gun at you, do whatever you can to get away. It’s much more likely that he will leave to find an easier target than chase you and draw attention to himself. Don’t be oblivious of your surroundings. Don’t count your money or be putting it in your purse as you walk away from an ATM. This distracts you and is a perfect opportunity for the attacker. Don’t wander without direction. Walk briskly, head up, with purpose. Don’t look intimidated. spring 2015 | 41
gear
Appliances For Healthy Living Here’s some advice on the best table-top small appliances for some lean - yet still mouth-watering - cuisine. HEALTHY GRILLS
The clamshell design simultaneously grills the top and bottom surfaces of your food, eliminating the need to flip it over. Each grilling surface is indented, angled and covered in a non-stick coating, which minimizes direct contact with the food so that as much fat as possible can be drained. Fat is collected in a removable drip tray clearly showing the amount of fat and grease produced. George Foreman 14054 Grill
BLENDERS, JUICERS & EXTRACTORS
A blender is an invaluable kitchen appliance to invest in if you want to up your intake of fresh fruit and veg and can be used to make soups and smoothies. With a juicer, you can separate juice from pulp in fruits and vegetables to concentrate the nutrition so it is more easily consumable in larger portions and easier for the body to absorb. Alternatively, instead of blending or juicing your food, extractors extract nutrition from fruit and vegetables to get the most out of them, completely breaking down ingredients into a pulp-free smoothie.
LOW FAT FRYER
The Actifry from Tefal is a revolutionary new fryer that requires only one teaspoon of oil. Unlike a conventional fat fryer that submerges the food almost completely in fat, the Actifry uses a unique combination of fast circulating hot air for perfect crispy results. Tefal ActiFry Low Fat Fryer
BODY SCALES
Bathroom scales are becoming increasingly sophisticated each year. The most advanced scales recognize voice commands, are Wi-Fi enabled, and communicate weight loss activity to smartphones and through social media. But these bells and whistles come with a high price tag, and some prefer mechanical, upright scales, which offer better accuracy. And if you’re keen to check the progress on your new healthy regime, look for body scales that will measure both your weight and body fat index. Withings WS-50 Smart Body Analyzer, Health Tracking Wireless Bathroom Scale
Vitamix® 010231 Blender
FOOD DEHYDRATOR
RICE COOKER AND STEAMER
Perfect for risottos, paella, based desserts - this is the ideal kitchen companion for a busy, healthy home. A steamer is used to prepare various foods in a sealed vessel that limits the escape of air or liquids below a preset pressure. Steaming works by boiling water continuously, causing it to vaporise into steam; the steam then carries heat to the nearby food, thus cooking the food.
Here are some things we love about dehydrators: Drying almonds and seeds after soaking them - even adding seasonings for a new taste! Creating raw food snacks that retain the live enzymes that cooking at high temperatures can destroy. Inventing new ways to serve friendly foods, like cookies, flax crackers and other great onthe-go foods. Tribest Sedona Combo SD-P9150-B Food Dehydrator
Russell Hobbs 19750 Cook at Home
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TEXT by Lauren Robinson, johnlewis.com
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Juice For Humans Here we gathered some great slow juicers that will not break your wallet.
Slow squeezing technology allows people to consume larger amount of vegetables and fruits than many would otherwise be able to consume on a daily basis. It helps to balance the diet and can prevent cancer, a variety of diseases, and dietary issues of modern people by delivering vitamins, minerals, enzymes, and fibers in addition to delicious natural flavor.
Juicebuddy Cold Press Juicer | $179.00
Matstone Vegetable Juicer 6 in 1 | $199.00
Hurom Slow Juicer HU-500 | $299.00
LifeSpring Slow Juicer $299.00
The best and most affordable slow juicer especially for beginner juicers. Start using the JuiceBuddy to discover how slow juicing can improve your health and wellbeing!
The Matstone Juicer is a single auger juicer that is the beast vegetable juicer. It produces the best quality juice from leafy greens, hard vegetables and even wheatgrass. It is multipurpose so you can mince, grind and even make pasta.
The Hurom HU-500 Slow Juicer is the latest premium juicer from Hurom. Dubbed “The Entertainer”, the HU-500 looks great on any benchtop and is perfect for daily juicing.
Korean technology and design, stunning LED buttons, smart auto reverse function and high quality juice. The latest cold press juicer in Australia, now with 14 years extended warranty!
TEXT and PHOTOGRAPHY by www.slowjuicer.com.au
Whether you are a coffee connoisseur or someone who just needs plenty of hot java and needs it fast, there is an automatic drip coffee maker on the market for you.
Drip A Perfect “Cup Of Ambition”
Cuisinart Extreme Brew DCC-2650
Mr. Coffee SJX BVMC-SJX33GT
Melitta 10-Cup Coffee Maker 46894
Mr. Coffee FTX 41-NP
Hamilton Beach Black Ice 12-Cup 43255R
DeLonghi 14Cup DXC514T
$106.95
$45.00
$65.00
$100.00
$56.00
$75.00
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TEXT and PHOTOGRAPHY by toptenreviews.com
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gear
Turn ‘Raspberry Mood’ On
Curious what’s new and trending this season? We’re here to show you what and how to match from head to toe!
Patagonia Active Mesh Bra $45.00 | Nike Twist Women’s Yoga Tank Top $60.00 | Hollister Yoga Short Short$35.00 Under Armour Women’s Kaleidalogo Pullover Hoodie $64.99 | Victoria’s Secret The Most-Loved Yoga Pant $39.50 Prana Soleil Satchel $59.00 | S’well Citrine 170z Water Bottle $35.00 | Adidas Yoga Mat By Stella McCartney $70.00 46 | skirt.com
Free People Will Yoga Travel Bag $ 372.47
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resources
Need Help With A Health Quest? It’s just plain smart to be mindful of what you’re eating, and there are plenty of free apps to help give you a reality check of what you’re putting in your body.
FOODUCATE
TRUE FOOD
This free app lets you scan the barcode of any product or just shake it for a random item and then gives you a letter grade, the number of calories per serving. In additional relevant healthrelated information.
Concerned - or just curious - about Genetically Modified Food? Check out this great app from the Center for Food Safety. It’s filled with tons of great information and resources, as well as ways you can take action.
FREE
FREE
21-DAY VEGAN KICKSTART
The app is a companion to the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine’s popular 21-Day Vegan Kickstart program. It gives you vegan recipes for every meal for three weeks. FREE
GOOD GUIDE
Good Guide has rated tens of thousands of products (not just food) according to health, environmental, and social performance.
LOCAVORE
SPARKRECIPES
As soon as you start this app, it finds your location and displays a list of local fruits and vegetables currently in season. It also incorporates a farmer’s market finder.
This Healthy Recipes app by Spark People lets you browse and search thousands of recipes. It’s all geared towards healthy eating and they include nutrition info for each recipe.
FREE
FREE
FREE
DIRTY DOZEN (SHOPPER’S GUIDE TO PESTICIDES)
The Environmental Working Group’s Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides is the definitive guide of fruits and veggies with the most and least residual pesticides.
FIND ME GLUTEN FREE
LOSE IT!
Find Me Gluten Free helps you find gluten-free restaurants, bars, cafes and grocery stores. View others’ ratings and reviews and submit your own.
Lose It! helps you set a daily calorie budget, track your food and exercise, and stay motivated to make smarter choices and achieve your goal.
FREE
FREE
FREE
TEXT and PHOTOGRAPHY by eatingrules.com
Blog corner
Whether you’re cooking or blog there’s something here for everyone! The Happiness Project
Latest Of The Latest
For Happier Cooks
Chic Lifestyle
gretchenrubin.com This popular blog, written by Gretchen Rubin, explores one woman’s daily adventures in the pursuit of happiness and habits. She’s earned a reputation for being a “happiness bully,” which has likely made her one of the most thought-provoking and influential writers on happiness.
markbittman.com We know what you’re thinking. Mark Bittman is a respectable food and health journalist – a New York Times icon, not a blogger. Get lost in his delicious recipes, explore his latest thoughts on food politics, and even learn some useful cooking tips.
food52.com Food52 appeals to every type of cook, from busy parents of picky eaters to the gourmet gluten-free foodie. Some of our favorite Food52 series include: My Broke Kitchen, Dinner vs. Child and Not a Sad Desk Lunch. If you need some fresh culinary inspiration, be sure to check them out.
wellandgood.com Well + Good first began as wellness blog written by New Yorkers for New Yorkers. But while spotlighting the huge urban yoga communities in NYC and exploring green markets all around the city, it grew into much more of a wellness wireless service–and is now loved by healthobsessed readers from Soho all the way to San Francisco.
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TEXT and PHOTOGRAPHY by myfitnesspal.com
Let Us Inspire You... with these three amazing books written by remarkable women. THE SWEETNESS OF A SIMPLE LIFE: Tips for Healthier, Happier and Kinder Living Gleaned from the Science and Wisdom of Nature by Diana Beresford-Kroeger In The Sweetness of a Simple Life, Diana Beresford-Kroeger mixes science with storytelling, wonderment, magic, myth and plenty of common sense. After pursuing a PhD in medical biochemistry, Beresford-Kroeger set out on a quest to preserve the world’s forests. In this warm and wise collection of essays, she gives us a guide for living simply and well: which foods to eat and which to avoid; how to clean our homes and look
after pets; how we can protect ourselves and our loved ones from illness; and why we need to appreciate nature. She provides an easy dose of healing, practical wisdom, blending modern medicine with aboriginal traditions. This inspiring, accessible book emphasizes back to basics, with the touchstone not an exotic religion or meditation practice, but the natural world around us.
YOGA GIRL by Rachel Brathen By the yoga instructor who inspires more than one million followers on Instagram every day. Whether she’s practicing handstands on her stand-up paddleboard or teaching DownwardFacing Dog to the masses, Rachel Brathen has made it her mission to share inspirational messages with people from all corners of the world. In Yoga
Girl, Brathen takes readers beyond her Instagram feed and shares her journey like never before. Featuring spectacular photos of Brathen practicing yoga with breathtaking tropical backdrops, along with step-by-step yoga sequences and simple recipes for a healthy, happy, and fearless lifestyle - Yoga Girl is like an armchair vacation to a Caribbean spa.
KITCHEN CURES by Peggy Kotsopoulos Kitchen Cures is your complete solutions guide that links what you eat to how you look and feel. It shows you just how easy it is to alleviate common health complaints through nutrient-dense and delicious whole foods—without having to overhaul your entire diet! Whether you lack energy or libido, have excess belly fat, tummy troubles, or joint pain, or are suffering from other health issues, Kitchen Cures offers simple and
TEXT and PHOTOGRAPHY by barnesandnoble.com
easy-to-implement solutions to relieve whatever ails you. Kitchen Cures includes 40 simple, nutritious, and delicious gluten-free recipes. From the Very Berry MindBoosting Smoothie to the Chill-Out Cherry Almond Muffins, you’ll be eating guilt-free foods that will make you look and feel amazing!
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when SHTF
Where To Survive The Zombie Apocalypse An outbreak is surely imminent so best be prepared! POPULATION DENSITY
We were inspired to create a Canadian zombie apocalypse infographic after seeing one done on the US. Canada is of course safer than the US largely due to generally lower temperatures - we all know zombies can’t survive a prairie winter! Of course, from watching TV shows and movies it’s not the zombies that we will need to fear but other people, so it’s best to head north and as far from civilization as possible.
Your best bet is to evacuate any populated area and head for the hills! Eventually it’s other people you will need to protect yourself against, not just zombies. 1000
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Canadian cities ranked from safest to least safe: ST. JOHN’S Newfoundland REGINA Saskatchewan EDMONTON Alberta HALIFAX Nova Scotia WINNIPEG Manitoba QUEBEC Quebec VICTORIA British Columbia OTTAWA Ontario CALGARY Alberta VANCOUVER British Columbia MONTREAL Quebec TORONTO Ontario
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DISTANCE TO NEAREST MILITARY BASE IN KILOMETERS When the undead walk the earth we kinda hope that the military will swoop in and save the day, so being close to a base is probably a good thing.
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GUN LICENCING PER 100,000 Of course gun use is only feasible if you have an unlimited stash of ammunition. Better to learn how to use a bow or a knife if you aren’t afraid of getting up-close and personal.
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AVERAGE YEARLY TEMPERATURE Let’s face it, zombies will freeze in sub-zero temperatures so the colder the location the better. Of course this makes growing your own food more of a problem...
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OBESITY RATE
FITNESS RATE
Sadly, obese people make for slower targets, so you have a better chance of making your escape.
The more people who can outrun zombies the better because that equals fewer zombies. Zombieland’s #1 rule is cardio!
9 15% 6 16%
8 18%
10 12% 3 17% 5 18% 1
24% 4 19% 11 16%
7 15% 2 19%
12 15% 0
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TEXT & ILLUSTRATIONS by Janet Molchanko INSPIRED by Michael Ross spring 2015 | 51
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