Sustainability

They look like little brains, but is it smart to eat them? Walnuts are high in fat, it’s true, but they also contain many beneficial nutrients that may help protect your heart, digestive system, and, yes, your brain. So are walnuts good for you? And what about their environmental impact? Do they use too much water to be sustainable?

Our food system can be cruel — especially for the animals who are raised for meat, milk, and eggs. But in California’s Santa Clarita Valley, a farm animal sanctuary is looking to save both animals and people from trauma and abuse. In this touching interview with the founder of The Gentle Barn, you’ll learn about their inspiring work and discover a message of hope and heart for humanity.

Did you know that kitchen waste makes up a significant percentage of garbage worldwide, and that it contributes to climate chaos? In this article, you’ll discover how to easily collect food scraps in your kitchen to create compost and keep them out of the waste stream. Plus, find out the best countertop composting methods — and what to do with food scraps and compost even if you don’t have a garden or yard.

Research shows there’s a bias toward recycling for consumers when it comes to sustainability. As a result, there’s been a neglect of the other two R’s in waste management, reduce and reuse. This article emphasizes the importance of prioritizing source reduction strategies to address the global waste crisis. And to shift the responsibility from consumers back to corporations.

Explore the art of companion planting and learn how to create a vibrant and harmonious garden using natural methods. From nurturing soil health to enhancing flavors and controlling pests, pairing certain plants together can give you multiple benefits while cutting down on your labor and the need for chemical pesticides and fertilizers. Discover how to get started, and enjoy five recipes that use companion plants, reuniting them on your plate.

In a recent study, researchers compared the amount of meat and other animal products in subjects’ diets with the environmental impact of their food choices. Find out why plant-based diets have such a smaller impact on land, water, and other sustainability measures. And what the global impact could be of choosing to eat less meat.

If you don’t have a solid plan to use up produce or know how to properly store it, your vibrant, nutritious, and flavorful fruits and vegetables can quickly transform into mush. And wasted food is wasted time, money, and resources. It can also put a wrench in your meal plans. And food waste has a detrimental impact on the planet. This article and video provide tips on how to extend the shelf life of and use up, fruits, veggies, and herbs in a variety of culinary applications to avoid waste and get the most out of your food.

Soil, like water and other natural resources, isn’t forever. Get insight into why it’s so important to preserve soil biodiversity, what’s currently threatening soil health, and what’s being done to increase biodiversity and regenerate soil.

Juicing fruits and vegetables involves separating the stuff you consume — the juice — from everything else — the pulp. That can make it easy to get lots of plant-based nutrients into your body, but it also involves a lot of food waste and can keep you from getting enough fiber in your diet. So are there ways to reuse juicer pulp that can solve both problems?

Papaya is a tropical fruit with significant culinary versatility and nutritional benefits — and considerable global popularity. But is it good for you? And if so, which varieties are best for your health and the environment? And are there people who should avoid papayas entirely? Let’s take a deep dive into one of the world’s favorite tropical fruits.

Food scraps often end up in the compost pile. But what if you could regrow fruits and vegetables using leftover scraps? See how you can reduce food waste and save money while also providing your family with fresh produce.

This article explores the ways in which farms can combat climate change while also supporting pollinators. By restoring natural habitats and encouraging biodiversity, farmers are conserving valuable resources and helping to protect the world’s pollinators, which are essential for the future of agriculture and food production.