urban treehugging

serious about sustainability

*Photo in McCarren Park by Anna Sirota, wearing Hyde organic cotton yoga apparel.

In my early phase of exploring a mindful, wellness-related lifestyle [such as actual nutrition values versus diet foods and caloric intake] I was inspired by this whole eco-friendly movement that began making an appearance in everything from food to bathroom cleaners to packaging. I knew it was important, but didn't do much besides recycle and continue to hope for world peace.

I have always been a lover of animals, and in my mind I was a unicorn superhero whose mission was to save the planet and its species [how I would do that was unclear]. It wasn't until grad school that I went from testing the waters to jumping in face-first.

While at Academy of Art University for Fashion Merchandising I began studying sustainable fashion, eco-friendly products and practices. I became increasingly interested in food as I watched my roommate whip up everything from salads to stews to sweets. The connection between it all became clearer as I learned more about the ways in which one affects the other, the same as humans affect one another.

One example I often use is cotton, which I discovered in my research for my thesis on sustainable west-coast fashion brands. The pesticides and herbicides used to spray cotton fields are incredibly toxic, and can cause horrendous physical and mental damage not only to those exposed to them but to the environment. The cotton itself usually goes on to be dyed, which is another story in and of itself including harmful runoffs to our water systems and soil, the amount of energy used in the process, and more...

There is much more to say about this issue alone, not to mention things like the overall environmental impact of mass production, recycling, the energy it takes to recycle or commute, how trash and chemicals and non-renewable resources are damaging not only the ecosystem but also its inhabitants [animals, plants, you, me, our loved ones].

Click here to read the full post, including a few tips and products we can all consider if we feel passionate about creating a more loving, thriving earth on which all of us and our loved ones breathe.

What are some ways you like to incorporate urban treehugging into your own lifestyle practices?

Read on for delicious recipes, exciting upcoming events, good music and more.