So you took your little ones out for a night of door-to-door begging and came home with a load of candy. Once your little darlings were tucked into bed you sorted through the hoard, convincing yourself that your only goal was to toss out the worst of it, the crap candy no one should ever feed a child. But let’s face it, you were also picking out the miniature candy bars and eating them yourself, knowing you only have a year or two at the most before the jig is up and your kids will know exactly how many pieces of candy they scored.

Now that Halloween is over, how do you feel? Are your sinuses aching? How about your gums? Any old injuries reminding you that you are getting on in the years? Any joint pain? Any signs of a viral, bacterial, or fungal infection anywhere in your body?

When we deal with aches and pains or a sudden illness after a holiday, we are quick to blame either stress or the weather. The truth is, it’s probably the sugar.

Sugar does two things: it devastates the immune system for 2-3 days and it feeds Candida (and other fungi), bad bacteria, and viruses. If you’ve been eating well and correcting the balance of good bacteria to bad bacteria and yeast in your gut, you just undid a lot of hard work because your bad bacteria and yeast were just given a feast. All through your body where you have scar tissue or a tendency for chronic infection, you have a little more yeast than you want to have. These guys just enjoyed a feast and exploded exponentially. That’s why your old sports injury hurts or your sinuses have flared up again.

So what do you do now? Eat right!

Time for Salads

If you think a salad means lettuce, tomatoes and cucumbers, think again. A real salad, a healthy salad, an amazing salad, is a feast of raw, fresh, organic veggies. This salad filled with 10-12 veggies (or more) will not only be the most nutrient rich meal you can eat, it is also exactly what your gut needs to regain balance.

Raw vegetables are prebiotic. They (and their roughage) feed and house healthy bacteria in your gut and help them to multiply. This healthy bacteria keeps bad bacteria and fungi in check.

See the first link below for suggested ingredients for the perfect salad.

Supplements

If you’ve sent Candida into mass production through your sugar consumption diet is key but supplements can help. A good probiotic and a great supplement to kill Candida will hurry up the process.

Another Consideration

Now that you are understanding how much havoc sugar wreaks on your system, why are you feeding it to your children? Eliminate processed sugar and high fructose corn syrup from their diet. Both were already horrible for everyone’s health, but now they are worse – both are usually genetically modified. (GM sugar beets and corn). It’s time we step up and make new traditions for our families that do not include unhealthy food. Check out Gluten, Candida, Leaky Gut Syndrome, and Autoimmune Diseases for more information on gut health and disease.

Recommended Supplements:

• FloraMend – Thorne Research
• SF722 – Thorne Research

Further Reading:

• How To Kill Candida, Fungi, Yeast in the Body
• 80% Raw Food Diet
• How To Kill Candida And Balance Your Inner Ecosystem

One hundred seventy-nine million dogs and cats live in the U.S. That’s more than the number of people who called this place home in 1959. Back in the days of doo-wop, pets roamed free and did their business wherever. Outdoor cats buried their droppings discretely; we never saw it. Nobody cleaned up after dogs.  Our job was to not step in it.

Fast forward to 2015. The U.S. pet population has grown to nearly half the human population, the highest concentration of pets in the world. Urban dogs and cats are no longer free range. We’re now expected to clean up after our pets, a process expedited by biodegradable poop bags, fragrant clay litter, and kitty bum wipes.

Yes, we’ve commodified pet care big time. The American Pet Products Association estimates that we’ll spend $60.59 billion on our pets in 2015. But we do a disservice to our pets – lights of our lives, best friends, playmates and family members – as long as we deny our responsibility as their environmental stewards. Much has been written about our pets’ conspicuous consumption and carbon paw prints. But we overlook what’s in plain sight:  the simple fact that we have no sensible, sustainable infrastructure in place for disposing of pet waste.

There’s no way around it; the rascals generate mounds of poo.  Our 83 million dogs produce 11 million tons of waste each year—enough to fill more than 100 football fields 10 feet deep.  Our 93 million cats download five million tons (500,000 dump trucks full) of poop and litter per year.

Sixty percent of dog waste and most cat waste is bundled in plastic and trashed: streamed to sealed local landfills where it takes generations to degrade while emitting methane, a powerful greenhouse gas.  The plastic wrap is a forever gift to the universe. As for the 40% of dog waste left at ground zero, don’t kid yourself, poo is potent stuff.

For a small bay watershed (up to 20 square miles), two to three days of droppings from a population of 100 dogs contribute enough bacteria, nitrogen, and phosphorus to temporarily close a bay to swimming. Dog poop left along trails or walkways threatens native plants while spoiling urban landscapes. And it’s still your job to not step in it.

Eco-minded pet removal services, dog day cares, shelters, dog park managers, and vets search for alternatives to dumpsters.  No one but trash haulers will take pet waste.  Food scrap and yard waste recycling programs list pet waste on the “no” side of acceptable refuse. Water treatment plants won’t process large offerings of pet poo. Biodigesters and other trash-to-energy operations are scarce in the U.S.

The EPA says “go for it” – go ahead and flush that dog doo down the toilet. Not real convenient or appealing, right?  The feds leave pet waste disposal to the states, which often delegate responsibility to local jurisdictions (“You take it…no, you take it”). Some districts offer residents rebates to purchase pet waste composting systems or sponsor pet waste recycling classes. Most say trashing is the only option, cautioning pet owners to “double bag it.”

Ah – but don’t we have bigger dogs in the race to zero waste?  Aren’t our huge quantities of food scraps and yard waste a bigger priority?  According to the EPA’s “Advancing Sustainable Materials Management: 2013 Fact Sheet,” food accounts for 14.6% of residential waste and has a paltry 2.1% recovery rate.  We have a better handle on recycling yard trimmings, which make up 13.5% of refuse but have a 23.6% recovery rate thanks to longstanding municipal collections and traditional composters.

A 2006 San Francisco analysis found that pet poop comprised nearly 4% of residential waste. This might be a conservative figure since trash from pet business and parks wasn’t part of the tally. Why should we be concerned with 4% of the pie chart when food and yard waste add up to 28%?

For one thing, carnivore waste, like raw human waste, involves serious sanitation and pollution issues. Collecting and recovering organics containing harmful pathogens require due diligence, systematic treatment and testing.  Most organics recycling facilities aren’t technologically or financially equipped to accommodate potentially hazardous source material.

But, when it comes to long-range planning, let’s be practical.  While we’re developing systems to efficiently boost food and yard waste recycling, shouldn’t we be combining pet waste and disposable diaper recovery with these two other source materials? Shouldn’t we be thinking our way around comingled pet waste, plastic bags, and clay litter at the product source?

The average dog poops more per day than the average person.  The average cat produces somewhat less waste but also generates an indeterminate amount of trashed litter. Throw in the tons of plastic we use in a foolhardy attempt to sanitize this absurd process.

Add it up and you find that U.S. pets in 2015 generate roughly the same amount of solid waste as the U.S. human population in 1959. Can you imagine an advanced country in 1959 not providing a practical sanitary disposal system that works for its 178 million people? I have a hard time wrapping my head around that one and hope you do, too.

Pet Poop Facts

Human population in 1959: 177,829,628 – U.S. Census Bureau

Current pet population: 83 million dogs, 96 million cats in the U.S., total 179 million – U.S. Humane Society

Pet population concentrations

Top Ten Countries With Most Pet Dog Population
Top Ten Countries With Most Pet Cat Population

Pet products spending

Pet Industry Market Size & Ownership Statistics

Pet waste quantities

• Average dog produces .75 lbs. of waste per day (U.S. Dept. of Agriculture)
• Average cat produces .3 lbs. of waste per day (no data, based on author verification)
• Dog waste weighs average of 35 lbs. per sq. ft. (no data, based on weight provided by Sam Johnson, owner, Pet Scoop, Denver, Colorado)
• Assumption: cat waste and dog waste have similar weight

Football field math / dogs

• 83M dogs x .75 = 62,250,000 lbs. per day or 22,721,250,000 lbs. per year or 11,360,625  tons per year or  around 11.4 M tons of dog waste per year
• 1 football field = 57,600 sq. ft. (includes end zones)
  dogs produce 22,721,250,000 lbs. waste per year
• 1 cu. ft. of dog waste = 35 lbs.
  22,721,250,000 lbs. divided by 35 lbs. = 649,178,571.429 cu. ft. 649,178,571.429 cu. ft. covers 64,917,857.1429 sq. ft. and is 1 ft. deep 64,917,857.1429 sq. ft. divided by 57,600 sq. ft. = 1,127.04613095  football fields 1 ft. deep or 112.704613095 football fields 10 ft. deep

Dump truck math / cats

• 96M cats X .3 = 28,800,000 lbs. per day or 10,368,000,000 lbs. per year or 5,184,000 tons per year or 5.2M tons of cat waste per year. 5,200,000 tons divided by 500,000 = 10.4 tons, average dump truck capacity

Dog waste water pollution

“For a small bay watershed (up to 20 square miles), 2 to 3 days of droppings from a population of 100 dogs contribute enough bacteria, nitrogen, and phosphorus to temporarily close a bay to swimming and shellfishing.”  Pollution Prevention Management Measure

Human waste quantities

On average humans excrete 128 g (.28 lb.) of fresh feces per person per day – Rose, C.; Parker, A.; Jefferson, B.; Cartmell, E. (2015). “The Characterization of Feces and Urine: A Review of the Literature to Inform Advanced Treatment Technology”. Critical Reviews in Environmental Science and Technology 45 (17): 1827–1879.doi:10.1080/10643389.2014.1000761. ISSN 1064-3389.

(.28 lbs. vs. .75 ave. dog)

But that’s an educated guess. Because, as it turns out, there are no definitive figures. In his book Nanomedicine, Dr. Robert A. Freitas Jr. cites three studies in putting his daily figure at 100-200 grams — that is, .22 to .44 pounds a day. A 1992 study in Gastroenterology found an average of 106 grams a day among 220 UK residents, but with the caveat that “data from other populations of the world show average stool weight to vary from 72 to 470 g/day.” The Merck Manual says that Westerners grunt out 100-300 grams a day (.22 – . 66 or .44 lb.). See more

Further reading:

• The Pet Poo Pocket Guide: How to Safely Compost and Recycle Pet Waste, Rose Seemann, New Society Publishers

The Grocery Manufacturers Association is one of the largest organizations representing the food industry. As of 2013, they had over 300 member businesses in food and beverage production as well as biotech and seed companies.

The Grocery Manufacturers Association is one of the leading opponents of GMO labeling. They have poured millions of dollars into defeating bills to label GMOs introduced in various states and are big supporters of the DARK Act, a bill made to make labeling GMOs illegal at the federal level. In the 2012 ballot initiative in California (Proposition 37) and 2013 ballot initiative in Washington (Proposition 522), the Grocery Manufacturers Association and its members donated over 54 million dollars, just to fight labeling.

This organization spends millions of dollars a year lobbying at the federal and state level, primarily to fight GMO labeling. In 2014, they poured money into fighting the GMO labeling initiatives in Colorado (Proposition 92) and Oregon (Proposition 105). The GMA spent big dollars convincing the public that labeling GMOs will increase overall food prices. Unfortunately, their efforts have been successful, though by a narrow margin. Of the 68 companies and organizations listed that funded opposition to these four propositions, only seven were not members of the Grocery Manufacturers Association as of 2013. These 7 organizations are identified.

Full List of Right To Know Opponents

**GMA member donations included in list

In 2013, the Grocery Manufacturers Association took down the publicly available list of members from their website. The 2013 membership directory is archived online and available here.

The Food and Water Watch, a consumer advocacy group, listed the 2012 Board of Directors of the Grocery Manufacturers Association and the amount of money each group contributed. These companies are some of the biggest opponents of GMO labeling. Additionally, these companies are supporting the GMA’s lawsuit against the State of Vermont. In a democratic process the people of Vermont have spoken, and they want GMOs labeled, the GMA is suing to subvert the results of this democratic process. These companies spend big dollars blocking your right to know, not just through the GMA but by direct campaign donations as well.

In these matters, money talks. However, there was a good reason that the Grocery Manufacturers Association no longer publicizes their list of members; it is becoming increasingly expensive to ignore the will of the people. The companies are obviously worried about damage to their image from blocking your right to know what is in your food. If we don’t vote with our dollars, organizations like Monsanto, the GMA, Pepsi, and other companies will vote with our dollars for us, and not with any regard to our wishes.

Recommended Reading:

• Understanding and Detoxifying Genetically Modified Foods
• Scientists Against GMOs – Hear From Those Who Have Done The Research
• Doctors Against Vaccines – Hear From Those Who Have Done The Research
• Celebrities Against Circumcision

Sources:

• Industry Profile: Grocery Manufacturers Association – Food & Water Watch
• Who are the companies fighting our right to know? – Just Label It!
• GMO Labeling Initiative By State – Just Label It!
• Grocery Manufacturers Association – Source Watch
• Grocery Manufacturers Association – Key Facts – U.S. Right to Know
• GMA Members – Internet Archive

http://documents.foodandwaterwatch.org/doc/GMA_Profile1.pdf#_ga=1.199922478.1015463669.1441382848

General Mills’ decision to produce certified gluten-free Cheerios delighted the nearly 30% of consumers who avoid gluten until a recall of 1.8 million boxes of Cheerios and Honey Nut Cheerios was announced earlier this week.

According to the company, their Lodi, California facility lost rail service for four days in July. To continue production, gluten-free oat flour was delivered by trucks. Somehow, this change in procedure resulted in a mix-up and wheat flour was mistakenly used.

The recall includes Cheerios cereal with the following “better if used by” dated codes:

HONEY NUT CHEERIOS

• 12JUL2016LD
• 13JUL2016LD
• 14JUL2016LD
• 15JUL2016LD
• 16JUL2016LD
• 17JUL2016LD
• 18JUL2016LD
• 19JUL2016LD
• 20JUL2016LD
• 21JUL2016LD
• 22JUL2016LD
• 23JUL2016LD
• 24JUL2016LD
• 25JUL2016LD

YELLOW BOX CHEERIOS

• 14JUL2016LD
• 15JUL2016LD
• 16JUL2016LD
• 17JUL2016LD

If you purchased one of these boxes, you can contact General Mills at 1-800-775-8370.

It is important to note that the cereal is perfectly safe to eat if you do not have celiac disease, a gluten intolerance, or a gluten sensitivity.

General Mills has a reputation as a family-friendly, trustworthy brand, and loss of faith in their products could have major implications for their recent organic acquisitions like Annie’s Homegrown.

The Implications

After the hype surrounding the gluten-free certification of Cheerios, General Mills is dealing with this major snafu in the only way they can – abject apologies. Calling this an isolated incident, the company acknowledges the reports of illnesses from the contaminated boxes and are encouraging customers to call in and register their ire. It remains to be seen what other tactics will be taken.

The company cites the process of switching to gluten-free materials as a factor in the mistake, but with such big changes affecting the brand, the lack of, or inefficiency of early testing, is concerning. This was an expensive mistake for General Mills that causes one to wonder if the public’s trust in their 74-year-old cereal is worth stricter attention to product sourcing.

Currently, companies submit their own gluten-free certification testing to the FDA to qualify for the label. Individuals are responsible for reporting illness and labeling concerns, meaning that despite having an entire government agency responsible for regulating food quality, the public is left largely responsible for policing their own food safety.

Being Careful Is More Important Than Ever

FDA regulations state that any product labeled gluten-free can contain up to 20 parts gluten per million. Whole grain oats by themselves are gluten free, although cross contamination in transport with other grains like wheat and barley has often prevented oats and other gluten-free grains from being labeled gluten free. These two facts taken together can be discouraging. When foods that are verified gluten-free are still able to contain gluten and foods that are naturally gluten-free cannot be isolated from gluten grains, where does that leave the consumer?

Looking Forward

Gluten intolerance and celiac disease are on the rise due to the way we process wheat, the amount of sugar in our diet, and the imbalance in our guts. It can be difficult to transition to a gluten-free diet after eating the standard American diet. Many people find themselves desperately trying to replace their favorite foods with gluten free alternatives – replacing one processed food with another. Choosing whole foods like veggies and fruits in place of conventional treats can actually begin to heal the damage that gluten has done to the gut, and it has the added benefit of reducing the likelihood the failed corporate testing will leave you sick and disillusioned.

Recommended Reading:

• Gluten Candida Leaky Gut Syndrome and Autoimmune Diseases
• Foods To Avoid With Gluten Intolerance or Celiac Disease
• Easy Gluten Free Pancake Recipe

Sources:

• Gluten Free Cheerios Recall Information – Cheerios
• General Mills Just Recalled Millions of Boxes of Cheerios – Grub Street
• Persistence Gives U.S Gluten Free Cheerios – General Mills
• The Reasons Gluten Intolerance And Celiac Disease Are On The Rise – Organic Lifestyle Magazine

If you want to maintain your health and wellness, the best thing to do is to move. Exercising can help prevent heart disease and other high-risk health conditions as it relieves back pain and stress. Lifestyle fitness shouldn’t be a big challenge. Exercising should be fun, and it shouldn’t be exhausting, even for the elderly.

Swimming Has Incredible Cardiovascular Benefits

Swimming is a wonderful workout for people of any age. It’s low-impact nature makes it suitable for adults. It is not a very heavy workout, but it can bring great benefits to your cardiovascular health. It builds up your body’s flexibility and strength and can relieve back pain.

Walking Is Simple but Very Beneficial

Walking can bring you many health benefits. It can improve your flexibility, cardiovascular endurance, and strength, and it helps you maintain mobility.  If walking is easy and very beneficial, why don’t people do it? Because it’s easy not to. Neglect will make you older. Walk around the block for 30 minutes and you will be  healthier. Lifestyle fitness is truly a matter of choice.

Weight Lifting Maintains Bone Density and Muscle Strength

You do not have to carry heavy dumbbells or barbells to do these exercises. You can simply carry light weights. As long as you do it on a regular basis, you will maintain or develop your bone and muscle health.

Tai Chi Is Very Beneficial To Your Health

Another gentle form of exercise is Tai Chi. Even though it has a gentle nature into it, it can give you a lot of health benefits. This is a wonderful workout for people. Known as “meditation in motion,” Tai Chi is as beneficial to your mental health as it is to your physical health. If you are used to fast-paced exercises, you must be a little bit more patient when performing Tai Chi routines. Its slow movement will improve your balance, strength, and flexibility. This can greatly benefit your spine, relieving back pain.

Stretching will Increase Overall Flexibility

Stretching is very important before you start any workout routine. It will develop your flexibility, which is very important to your overall physical health. Stretching is important to lifestyle fitness as it improves your mobility and motion as you grow older. Make sure you warm up before you stretch. Stretch on a regular basis at least every two to three days. You should hit all of your major muscle groups when you stretch.

Aerobic Exercises Are Great for Your Cardiovascular Health

You can do simple aerobic exercises at home. You can do them alone or with a friend. You can also choose to join an aerobics classes at the gym. There are a lot of variations on aerobic exercises that make workout routines extra fun and exciting. You may already be doing aerobic exercises in your daily activities, such as climbing the stairs or playing with children. This form of exercise is great for your cardiovascular health.

Stay Flexible with Yoga

Staying flexible is very important to ageing, and yoga can give you that. Yoga can help you improve your flexibility and develop your muscles throughout your body. Yoga can also help prevent osteoarthritis,  a disease of your joints. It will improves your posture, which means it will combat back pain. This ancient therapy can also promote confidence and reduce anxiety. People of all age can benefit from adding yoga to their workout routine.

Sources:

• Fitness – Consumer Health Digest
• Senior Exercise – MedecineNet.comm

Allergies are a major bummer that can cause anything from rashes and itchiness to respiratory and digestive problems. They make you miserable and keep you from performing at your best. One way to treat allergy symptoms is through the use of essential oils, a natural therapeutic method known and used for centuries. 

Here Is a List of Tips on How To Relieve Allergy Symptoms With Essential Oils:

Tip 1: Lavender Oil

Lavender oil works well as an organic antihistamine to soothe skin rashes. It can also be used to relieve headaches. Not only does it relieve the pain, but it smells great, too. All you have to do is dab some on the rash three times a day. For headache relief, place a drop of lavender oil on your cheeks, forehead, and sinuses.

In most cases, undiluted lavender oil can be safe to use, but some people’s skin is so sensitive, they require a carrier oil such as coconut oil or almond oil. Mix 1 drop of lavender oil to 1 teaspoon carrier oil.

Tip 2: Peppermint Oil

Peppermint oil has a strong, minty aroma that soothes allergies, especially ones related to digestive or respiratory issues. It eases breathing and treats congestion. For digestive problems, add a drop of peppermint oil into a cup of tea or water.

To relieve sinus congestion, add 1 drop of peppermint oil to 1 teaspoon carrier oil and apply near your nostrils. (Don’t put peppermint oil inside the nostrils. It will burn sensitive tissue.)

Tip 3: Lemon Oil

Lemon oil works as an antihistamine and a congestion reliever all at once. It’s most potent when combined with lavender and peppermint, which will be explained later.

Tip 4: Eucalyptus Oil

Eucalyptus oil treats seasonal allergies and asthma attacks. First, dilute the oil in a carrier oil (1 drop of essential oil to 1 teaspoon of your carrier oil), then apply to neck, chest, or feet. If you prefer to breathe it in, mix a few drops in hot water, drape a towel over your head, and inhale the steam.

Tip 5: Roman Chamomile Oil

Roman Chamomile oil works well to soothe rashes and other skin conditions. All you have to do is dilute it in a carrier oil and apply to the affected area 2 to 3 times a day.

Depending on the area of application, you may have to change your mixing ratios. For example, in more sensitive skin areas it is recommended to dilute 1 drop of Roman Chamomile in 1 teaspoon of carrier oil. For less sensitive areas, dilute 2 drops of Roman Chamomile in 1 teaspoon of carrier oil.

Tip 6: Lemon, Peppermint, and Lavender Oils

As mentioned earlier, lemon is at its strongest when mixed with peppermint and lavender. Together, they soothe inflammation and other pain that results from allergic reactions. One way to use them is to mix all three in a glass of water and gargle a few minutes before swallowing. (Make sure the oils can be safely ingested first before doing this.) Another way is to add them to a teaspoon of honey and swallow for faster relief.

To use on the skin, mix 3 drops of lavender, 3 drops of peppermint, and 3 drops of lemon oil with 2 teaspoons of your chosen carrier oil. If this mixture is still too potent for you, add more teaspoons of carrier oil in increments of one until you are satisfied with the consistency. Some people are more sensitive to oils than others.

Conclusion

Now that you know the variety of ways to treat your allergies with essential oils, give them a try. To learn more about essential oils, subscribe for email updates at Essential Oil Advocate and get 2 free audiobooks on essential oils and aromatherapy.

Recommended Reading:

• Heal Cavities, Gum Disease, Naturally with Organic Oral Care – Toothpaste recipes included
• How I Replaced Medications With Essential Oils
• Essential Defense: Aromatherapy for the 21st Century

Sources:

• Top 5 Essential Oils For Allergy Relief – Healthy and Natural World
• Top 10 Uses for Peppermint Essential Oil – Healthy and Natural World
• Properly Diluting Essential Oils – Warning about EOs.com

Supermarkets that donate their excess food to people in need, roofs covered in greenery, the private sale of glyphosate banned… Should we expect anything less from a country as committed to strikes and protests as France?

Recently, France has been riding a streak of increasingly environmentally and health conscious decisions by their government that have the potential to change the way the world looks at these issues. When a developed nation with worldwide leader status like France enacts a new policy, other countries look at them as an example of what could happen if they, too, were to try something new. Whether or not you know much about or agree with France’s politics, many of their recent steps towards greener and healthier living deserve a closer look.

Reducing Food Waste

Around a third of all food produced for human consumption is wasted or lost every year. The richer the country is, the higher their rate of food waste. Developed countries are more likely to experience higher levels of waste at later stages in the supply chain. Due to a law unanimously approved by French parliament in May of this year, large supermarkets in France are now required to give unsold food to charity or donate it for animal feed. Prior to this new law, pouring bleach over unsold food to discourage dumpster diving was a common practice. While businesses opposed to the law claim they should be allowed to make their own decisions regarding food waste, the law (if not repealed by the French Constitutional Council) has at the very least inspired a closer look at reducing or recycling food waste options.

Green as Far as the Eye Can See

New roofs have an amazing potential. In March of 2015, France followed Germany, Australia, and prominent cities like Toronto, Canada in promoting green roofs, requiring all new roofs in commercial districts to be partially covered in plants or solar panels. The law lets the business choose which option they would prefer, although either option results in significant environmental, practical, and potentially financial benefits. While environmentalists say the law is too limited because it applies only to commercial buildings, it is an important step forward into incorporating green energy and thinking into everyday life.

People are already familiar with the environmental benefits of the sun. Solar panels can save money on energy bills, provide energy security, independence, and reliability, and reduce the use of fossil fuels with their renewable, consistent energy source. Roofs with plants on top of them are more open to creative interpretation, as there’s a choice to be made between growing food or choosing a more ornamental option. Even the ornamental greenery option provides a range of environmental advantages. Plant life filters pollutants in the air and alleviates stress on the sewer system with its natural ability to manage rainwater. Both options also increase the value of properties through aesthetic improvements and by prolonging HVAC, heating, and ventilation systems.

The Ban of Glyphosate

Glyphosate, the main ingredient in Round-up and an all around health hazard, is treated somewhat differently in Europe than it is in the United States. While the interests of the corporations manufacturing the pesticides still triumph in the U.S., several European countries have taken a World Health Organization report of glyphosate’s role in causing cancer seriously. In June 2015, France banned the sale of glyphosate over the counter, joining countries like the Netherlands. Banning glyphosate three months after the announcement of the WHO cancer study shows how quickly a government willing to put its foot down could make a difference in minimizing the amount of hazardous herbicides and pesticides all around us. At the very least, the French government is displaying a heartening distrust of Monsanto.

Our Oh So Chic Canary in the Coalmine

That’s great for France, but what about people who live in the U.S.? While the U.S. is a much larger country than France, keeping an eye on how other developed nations around the world are responding to the need for greener energy, less wasteful policies, and a reduction in the harmful, cancer-causing substances can give us needed ammunition. Seeing a country enact at least three major green policies in less than a year can be an incredibly convincing to those struggling to hold us to the crumbling status quo.

Maybe we can also find inspiration in our own lives. We can add a solar panel, reevaluate our food waste, go organic in our own gardening, or take the next step in our environmental journey. After all, the French can’t beat us in everything.

Recommended Reading:

• 5 Cost-Effective Ways To Home Container Gardening – DIY
• Urban Gardening
• How Vertical Gardening Could Help Save the World
• How to Start a Vegetable Garden – How to Grow Vegetables
• Can Progressive, Cutting-edge Organic Agriculture Feed Everyone?