Until recently, I didn’t filter my family’s water. This meant the water we drank, cooked with, showered with, bathed in, and used to water indoor and outdoor plants contained a small amount (up to four parts per million) of chlorine. Of course, I would have preferred to drink water without chlorine. In fact, I would…
Whether they’re in the ground, in window boxes, in pots, or in a vase on your living room table, there’s such a thing as flower power. Often the way our environment looks gets pushed to the bottom of our to-do lists. Yes, it would be nice to add a little beauty to our homes or…
Walking has always been my favorite mode of transportation. Yes, it’s usually the slowest way to get somewhere, averaging fifteen minutes per mile. But it makes me feel clear-headed and invigorated when I get to my destination. Thus, I’ve long preferred striding, strolling, or sauntering to driving, riding, and even biking. That’s why I’ve commuted…
Your mouth probably puckers at the thought of eating something bitter. But according to many experts, including clinical herbalist Guido Masé and integrative physician Tiearona Low Dog, a small dose of bitter can prevent and cure a litany of complaints. Why do we need bitter foods? Masé explains that plants developed bitter compounds to stop…
In 2010 and 2012, I shared the magic moments when I heard or read something that surprised or inspired me. Moments that made me say, “aha.” As we say farewell to 2013, I have 13 more for you: Cooking might be the most important factor in fixing our public health crisis. It’s the single most…
My sister Columbine is studying in Shanghai this summer, and she’s been sending me dispatches about the city and culture. I think a lot about urban life, especially how we can create more liveable cities (a new urban habitat, if you will), so it’s fascinating to hear about life in a city of 24 million….