- Author: Jill Santos
Eating more plants and sourcing food locally are two of the simplest ways to improve personal health, protect the environment, and even save money. By making small adjustments to our diets, such as incorporating more fruits and vegetables and reducing reliance on carbon-intensive foods like dairy, livestock, poultry, and highly processed grocery items, we can cultivate better health, conserve natural resources, and economize our budgets.
Why Eat More Plants?
Eating more fruits, vegetables, and whole grains is recommended by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Additionally, plant-rich diets have a much lower environmental footprint compared to energy-intensive meat and dairy-rich diets....
- Author: Jill Santos
Happy Halloween! It is the time of year for Jack O' Lanterns, trick or treating, spooky decorations and funny costumes. This season is rich in diverse traditions including those of All Saints Day, Dia de los Muertos, and of course, Halloween.
But Halloween has an even scarier tale seldom told. The U.S. produces more than 2 billion pumpkins each year. But only one fifth are spared the fate of the trash bin. Americans spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on pumpkins and gourds annually, only to toss them in the trash when Halloween ends. There are, however, much more clever ways that a pumpkin can be given a second chance at life, even after the candy is all gone.
Pumpkins are Nutritious and Delicious...
- Author: Jill Santos
Future Design Gives New Graduates Hope
Spring usually brings an abundance of colorful blossoms and excitement for high school and college graduates everywhere. In the past, graduates celebrated their hard-earned achievements, ready to carve their own paths in the world, while parents reluctantly released them into an uncertain future. A study released by The Annie E. Casey Foundation in 2023 reported that Gen Z'ers (ages ranging from 12 to 27) have the highest self-reported mental health concerns compared to previous generations[i]. The source of this distress? Future anxiety.
Today, many people worldwide grapple with daily struggles,...
- Author: Jill Santos
The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second-best time is now.
– Chinese Proverb
What is your happiest memory that involves trees? Hopefully, most of those memories are positive. Trees provide a multitude of benefits that are hard to overlook. Reflecting on happy memories involving trees often evokes a sense of joy and wonder. These towering guardians not only serve as the backdrop to cherished moments but also provide an array of invaluable benefits.
However, in regions like the Western United States, escalating wildfire risks loom large, burdening homeowners with soaring insurance costs and stringent fuel reduction mandates. Balancing the delicate interface...
- Author: Jill Sarick
Spring marks the onset of the environmental education event season. We've curated a comprehensive list of events scheduled through May, emphasizing environmental literacy, climate education, and participatory science opportunities throughout the County.
Kicking off this weekend is the highly anticipated STEAM Festival on March 8th, 2024, hosted by California State University – Channel Islands (CSUCI). Attendees can engage in hands-on educational activities facilitated by UC ANR staff and various community-based and academic organizations. The event will promote 'science, technology, engineering, art, and math' (STEAM) via interactive exhibits, science experiments, and maybe even some cool rocket launches to inspire...
