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What You Need To Know About “Natural” Products
What Are “Natural” Products To get right to the point, no one really knows. And that’s because there’s no regulatory definition for what “natural” is, which also means there’s no certification process or standardization for products claiming to be natural. Compare this with organic products, which must meet a certain set of criteria in order to receive USDA certification. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is the agency responsible for “ensuring the safety, efficacy, and security of human and veterinary drugs, biological products, and medical devices; and by ensuring the safety of our nation’s food supply, cosmetics, and products that emit radiation.” And while there are still tens of…
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Let’s Talk About: Feeding Wildlife
I think we all have an innate connection with wildlife. Whether you’re a city slicker who visits the zoo, an avid sportsman who hunts and fishes to feed your family, or you’re like me and you’re somewhere in between, we all have a desire to see our wild counterparts. Many people feed wildlife in some capacity as a way to engage with nature. But is feeding wildlife an ethical thing to do? In this blog post I’m going to explore the various components of this question in regards to the individual or household. Government agencies at both the state and federal level may engage in feeding wildlife for certain population…
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What I Wear For Field Work
Last post I talked about how to get an environmental job, now I’m going to give my top clothing recommendations for field work! As a woman in a male dominated industry, it can be hard to find clothing for field work that is actually durable and functional. Nothing in this post is sponsored or commissioned, just tried and trusted items I’ve used for my own field work. Shirts/Tops To be fair, I haven’t purchased a field work top in a few years, so I don’t have a link for this first item. I found my favorite dry fit, long sleeve, neon quarter zip at Walmart and haven’t seen another like…
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How to Get an Environmental Job
In this article I’m going to provide a breakdown of the different kinds of jobs within the environmental industry and my top tips on improving your chances for getting hired. Since a young age, I loved wildlife and nature, and knew I wanted an environmental job. While the high school guidance department didn’t offer much assistance at the time in teaching us degree options, I had whittled mine down to two : zoology or environmental science. I chose Environmental Science because it had broader applicability. Once in school, I learned of state agencies responsible for wildlife management and for years I dreamed of becoming a wildlife biologist. However, I wasn’t…
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How To Vacation (More) Sustainably
This past week my husband and I along with two close friends vacationed down in beautiful St. Croix, USVI. It was an absolute dream, and a much needed break from the nose stinging, face freezing temperatures at home. In this post, I’ll be sharing with you some details from my trip and how to vacation more sustainably. *We got COVID-cleared, as the US Virgin Islands require a negative test result within five days of travel and pre-approval to enter via a travel portal. While this isn’t something I would normally consider as “eco-friendly”, this is now something that needs to be factored into travel plans for most places. Getting To…
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My 3 Go-To Unintentionally Vegan Meals
I follow an intuitive eating approach to fueling my body and don’t abide by any food rules. This means, I’m not vegan. But a vegan diet is a choice people make for a variety of reasons, with the most common being for ethical and environmental reasons. If you’re like me and don’t adhere to a strict diet, but are looking to incorporate tasty and effortlessly vegan meals to your rotation, then try my three go-to unintentionally vegan meals! Breakfast Inspired by one of my favorite food bloggers and Food Network hosts, this vegan breakfast is an adaptation of a Pioneer Woman recipe. Apples and Peanut Butter on Toast sprinkled with…
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6 Eco-Friendly Winter Activities
Winter is arguably my favorite season because there are so many ways to get outside and enjoy nature, without dealing with bugs, heat, and humidity. In this blog post I’ll go over six different eco-friendly winter activities for you to try this season. If you’re a regular reader of my blog, you know that I’m not just all about sustainability when it comes to the environment, but also when it comes to finances! Being in a debt free journey myself, I’m always looking for ways to have fun and adventure at a low cost, while also being environmentally friendly. I evaluate these activities based on three criteria: Cost, Accessibility, and…
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Let’s Talk About: Volunteering
Welcome back to another “Let’s Talk About” series post, where I dive a little deeper into topics and provide supporting research. Today’s topic is all about volunteering, its benefits, and my experience. Storytime: My History With Volunteering I first began volunteering in college. Midway through my second year, I discovered that I could graduate an entire year early, and as exciting as that was, it was also a terrifying reality check. I was coming to the realization that my classwork alone wouldn’t differentiate me enough as a job applicant, and with only one and a half years of school left, I needed to get more experience, and fast. I already…
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10 Small Sustainable Swaps for 2021
I’m not big on new year’s resolutions. Don’t get me wrong, I love goal setting, and have vision boards and lists galore. But I prefer to tackle things in smaller increments whether that be scale or time frame for what I’m trying to accomplish. So I’ve decided to share my top 10 small yet attainable, sustainable swaps I’ll be continuing or adding in 2021. Reusable produce bags (continued) I started using reusable produce bags in 2019 after buying some on amazon. They worked pretty well but I had misplaced most of them and recently rediscovered my bags last month. It’s so fun to whip out my reusable produce bags at…
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Let’s Talk About: Feminine Hygiene
The Tipping Point Ladies, we’ve all been there. Digging through our usual emergency stash locations for a tampon because the regular stock is out. Well, recently on a chilly December morning, I was in this exact predicament. I checked my purse, car, field work backpack, camping backpack, under the bathroom sink, and could not find a tampon to spare. At 6:45 in the morning, I couldn’t even run to the store to grab a small box. I had to wait until 8am for Walgreens to open. I thought, this isn’t the first time this has happened, so while I’m completely out of tampons then today is the day. Today is…
