Green Living Magazine October 2019

OCTOBER 2019

FED BY THREADS / Storming the fashion industry US $5.95

TALKIN’ TRASH / Leaders weigh in on recycling

BATTER UP! / The Arizona Diamondbacks take on sustainability A GREEN THUMB / Garden info to know for this month

According to the Map the Meal Gap of 2018, there are 585,000 individuals in Maricopa County that suffer from food insecurity.

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CONTENTS

OCTOBER 2019

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20

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Photo by Kelsey Grant/Arizona Diamondbacks

WORK

LIVE

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SUSTAINABLE YOU

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ARIZONA TO AFRICA

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ALL FIRED UP

Think like a bruise!

Kenya’s Sanivation is green entrepreneurship in action What you need to know about the Amazon rainforest fires

CREATE HOUSING FOR THE 12 HELPING HOMELESS

Arizona Housing Fund offers a new, unique solution

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ANGELA JOHNSON

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THE MEDICINE MAN OF RAROTONGA

A fixture of Arizona fashion and fashion incubator F.A.B.R.I.C. The next part of Ric Coggins’ journey through cancer

20 Ideas to think about

GREEN YOUR HOME

GARDENING: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW 22 FALL A master gardener shares her tips

THE FAST FASHION EMPIRE 24 FIGHTING The rebels at Fed By Threads take on the fashion industry

TRASH 28 TALKING A frank talk with some of Arizona’s recycling representatives

GREEN STUFF 32 TANK’S Helping to reduce our impact on the environment CHAMPION 34 GREEN Ford Motor Co. goes the distance

PLAY TRAVEL 36 TINY Tourism’s very own minimalist movement FOR CHANGE 38 BATTING It’s game on as the Arizona Diamondbacks take on sustainability

40 RECIPES Fall flavors OUTRAGEOUS STUFF 42 COOL Fun things we found

OCTOBER 2019

FED BY THREADS / Storming the fashion industry US $5.95

TALKIN’ TRASH / Leaders weigh in on recycling

BATTER’S UP! / The Diamondbacks take on sustainability A GREEN THUMB / Garden info to know for this month

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ON THE COVER

Fed By Threads is fighting the fast fashion industry. Pictured, Clockwise From Top: Tom Wilson, Director of Business Development and HR; Reagan Prefling, VP of Product Development, Sourcing, and Design; Ariana Rico, Office Manager; Eric Galbreath, Director of Communications; Koren Sherrick, Marketing Consultant.

CENTER: Skya Nelson, President and COO, Fed By Threads.

Photo by Vince Alfaro

greenliving | October 2019

GREEN, HE’S GREEN 44 SHE’S Product reviews SCENES 46 GREEN Calendar of events

Background image of Chase Field.

Photo by Sarah Sachs/Arizona Diamondbacks

greenlivingaz.com

Yours in practicing a greener lifestyle PUBLISHER EDITOR-IN-CHIEF COPY EDITOR OFFICE MANAGER DESIGN ADMINISTRATIVE COORDINATOR ADVISORY BOARD Ric Coggins Valerie Crosby Lori Diab Ken Edwins William Janhonen

Dorie Morales Michelle Glicksman Michael Ziffer Brenda Richter Sly Panda Design Kait Spielmaker

Jon Kitchell John Martinson Mary McCormick Eric Olsen Thomas Williams

CONTRIBUTORS Alison Bailin Batz David Brown John & Jennifer Burkhart Ric Coggins Cassidy Johnson Karen Langston Laura Madden

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Shay Perryman Syerra Rodriguez Lee Stewart Andrew Wei Aimee Welch

MEDIA CONSULTANT John Waechter EDITORIAL INTERNS Syerra Rodriguez Andrew Wei GRAPHIC DESIGN INTERN Cassidy Albright

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Green Living magazine is a monthly publication by Traditional Media Group, LLC. Periodical rate postage paid at Scottsdale, AZ. Publisher assumes no responsibility for contributed manuscripts, editorial content, claims, reviews, photographs, artwork or advertisements. The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the various authors and forum participants do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the company or official policies. Entire contents © 2019 Traditional Media Group. All rights reserved. Reproduction or use of content in any manner without permission by the publisher is strictly prohibited. Opinions expressed in signed columns and articles do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher. Submissions will not be returned unless arranged to do so in writing. One print subscription is $39 per year or digital subscription is $12 per year. Canadian orders please add $13 per year for shipping and handling. International orders add $22 per year for shipping and handling. Bulk and/or corporate rates available. No representation is made as to the accuracy hereof and is printed subject to errors and omissions. Green Living magazine is printed on recycled paper.

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1233 East Camelback Road Phoenix, AZ 85014 (602) 635-2559 www.CourtesyChev.com J.D. Power 2018 Dealer of Excellence ProgramSM recognition is based on individual dealer sales satisfaction research results and successfully passing a J.D. Power audit of dealership sales practices. For more information visit jdpower.com/DOE.

October 2019 | greenliving

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Letter from the Editor

31st ANNUAL

OCTOBER 12 & 13, 2019 Wow—this month is we tackle some big stories! Our pages are filled with everything from circular fashion to trash talk (more on that later), the fires in the Amazon, and more.

For our cover story we spoke with Fed By Threads, a company headquartered in Tucson that is working to change the fashion industry. They’ve taken on the fashion empire, and are the leading the corporate apparel industry in sustainable, circular fashion.

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We also sat down with several local members of the Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA) and spoke with them about the challenges facing municipalities and recycling.

It’s a complex issue!

And, we touched base with the Arizona Diamondbacks regarding the many sustainable initiatives they’ve implemented at Chase Field. From a vertical garden on the side of the stadium to uniforms made with recycled plastic bottles and so much more, they are making a huge impact.

There are so many other great stories. Read about how Tank’s Green Stuff, a company that is already a leader in sustainability in Arizona, is now aiming to be a leader in sustainability across the Southwest; information on gardening; and a new program that aims to help with housing for the homeless.

Read through the issue and then drop me a line and let me know which stories resonated with you—as well as what you’d like to see more of. And as always, have a wonderful month!

Sustainably yours,

Michelle Glicksman Editor-in-Chief editor@greenlivingaz.com Instagram: @MGlicksman

P.S. We love to hear from our readers! Send me an email at editor@greenlivingaz.com with your comments on the issue, the green industry, or story ideas.

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greenliving | October 2019

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THIS OCTOBER, THINK LIKE A BRUISE TO KEEP YOUR IMMUNE SYSTEM HEALTHY ARIZONA’S LOCALLY GROWN FRUIT AND VEGETABLES ARE A POWERHOUSE OF GOODNESS

BY KAREN LANGSTON

A

h, October! Opening our windows and finally, hopefully, getting to wear fall clothes. The excitement of Halloween, the pumpkins of all different kinds and sizes displaying their brilliant colors. I can almost smell the pumpkin pie wafting from an open window.

October is also peak time for an abundance of locally grown fruits and veggies arriving at your favorite local farmers market and grocer. The best part? In-season fruits and vegetables are more powerful than your medicine cabinet remedies and fresher than any bottle of multivitamins, for a lot less.

THE COLORS OF A BRUISE I want you to think black, purple, red and blue. Organic black grapes, blackberries, purple eggplant, plums, beets, red raspberries, dark red cherries, pomegranates, red-skinned apples, purple potatoes and cranberries are an abundant source of polyphenols. We know polyphenols, in red wine and pomegranate juice, are heart-healthy, but did you know they are the number one source for feeding your beneficial gut bacteria?

When we eat polyphenol-rich foods, our gut bacteria ferment the compounds, creating short chain fatty acids called butyrate. Butyrate’s natural anti-inflammatory properties protect our intestinal tract, keep our mucosa layer healthy, and provide the right fuel for our gut microbes. This translates to a healthier immune system, healthy hormone balance, radiant skin, and better energy. It is the natural anti-aging secret—and it’s right there in the produce section.

CACTUS! Our roadways and neighborhoods are lined with cactus.

Did you know there are 12 varieties of fruiting Opuntia cactus? The Opuntia engelmannii (Englemann’s Prickly Pear) is the only one native to the Sonoran Desert. We are in the very peak of prickly pear season. Have you seen the red thorny balls in the supermarket? greenlivingaz.com

The cactus pads (known as nopales) are popular in Mexican dishes, rich in pectin, mucilage, vitamins, polyphenols and minerals. Because of their high fiber content, they are also wonderful at alleviating constipation and keeping us regular.

The beautiful magenta color balls on the top of the cactus pads are the sweet prickly pear fruit. A powerhouse of nutrition, prickly pear fruit are a rich source of fiber, antioxidants, amino acids, fatty acids, and vitamins C and B. Cactus pear fruit are also an incredible source of antioxidant phytonutrients, including kaempferol and anti-inflammatory properties of quercetin.

Traditionally, prickly cactus fruit has been used for reducing inflammation, regulating digestion, reducing oxidative stress, and supporting the immune system. Prickly pear syrup is a natural anti-diarrheal tonic.

This October, instead of orange, think like a bruise: black, purple, red and blue. Stock up on locally grown fruits and vegetables, and feel good knowing you are feeding your body and gut microbes the very best to keep your immune system strong and healthy.

Karen Langston is a certified holistic nutritionist working with clients on how to have three healthy poops a day. Poop well, be well. www.healthygutadvisor.com.

October 2019 | greenliving

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ARIZONA TO AFRICA

KENYA’S SANIVATION IS GREEN ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN ACTION

BY CASSIDY JOHNSON

“You can’t change Kenya in two weeks, but you can change yourself.” – Emily Woods, co-founder of Sanivation

I

n Arizona and most of the Western world, we rarely think about the waste we generate. We put a collection bin on the curb once a week and a truck makes a brief stop to empty our trash bin. We flush the toilet and our waste seems to magically disappear.

In the back of our minds, however, we know that nothing really disappears. Our waste—whether trash or human

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greenliving | October 2019

waste—is merely transferred to another location, where it is treated and/or processed while our homes remain clean.

This past summer, I was fortunate to spend two weeks in rural Kenya as a youth ambassador for Rotary International and a program called Crutches 4 Africa. I knew it would be a life-changing experience, and I learned many lessons on the trip—including several that were unexpected.

One lesson that has resonated with me is that human waste is a phenomenon that isn’t quite as simple everywhere else in the world. In the rural town of Naivasha, I stayed with a home-host who is a green entrepreneur unlike any other in the United States. greenlivingaz.com

A graduate of Georgia Tech and University of California, Berkeley, Emily Woods is a co-founder of an organization called Sanivation, a company that attempts to solve several different sustainability and human health problems for the people of rural Kenya. Sanivation takes human waste (the kind we flush down the toilet) and turns it into efficient fuel. In doing so, she creates employment, improves a major sanitation and clean water issue, and creates an unexpected fuel source.

Ninety five percent of human waste in Kenya is untreated before being dumped back into the environment.

“Untreated human waste is the second leading cause of child mortality worldwide. In Kenya, over 17,000 children die every year because of the lack of safe sanitation,” says Woods. “We are looking to create a world where everyone has access to safe and dignified sanitation.”

Sanivation has been working in Kenya for almost five years.

Three seemingly juxtaposing words have been the key to Sanivation’s broad impact: Waste has value. When people realize that waste has value, this traditionally vile substance can be transformed into a profitable resource.

Sanivation uses a three-step approach in collecting, servicing, and creating revenue from human waste. The first step is providing container-based sanitation services in local Kenyan homes and businesses. This container-based system not only allows waste to be cleanly transferred to the sanitation plant for treatment, but also removes the large threat of waste contamination from many homes. The second step is treating the waste and transforming it into clean fuel. At each of Sanivation’s three treatment facilities, waste is passed through a series of manual filtering and drying systems until the fecal

matter is homogeneous and dehydrated. To eliminate bacteria, the waste is heat-treated using solar energy and combined with biomass waste to produce a usable solid fuel product. Finally, the third step of Sanivation’s approach is selling their fuel bricks as a secondary revenue stream to support their employees, treatment facilities, and clean sanitation in Kenya.

In Kenya, there is a $5 million market for solid biomass fuels. By selling its fuel, Sanivation is creating a solid revenue stream, proving that waste water treatment plants can make money. Sanivation’s three waste treatment plants in Nakuru County serve over 20,000 people and produce 300 tons of sustainable fuel every month. Sanivation’s fuel burns twice as long and has one-third of the emissions of local charcoal, making it more efficient and sustainable in the community. In addition, 88 trees are saved for every one ton of fuel produced in Sanivation’s plants.

Sanivation’s success doesn’t quite stop at manufacturing sustainable fuel from human waste. Currently, Sanivation is creating a livelihood for over 100 employees residing across Kenya in areas like refugee camps and slums. So far, through regular collection, Sanivation has removed 100 tons of infectious feces from environment. In 2018, the company sold over 750 tons of fuel, which saved over 65,00 trees in Kenya.

Future prospects of Emily’s include expanding from three to nine factories and serving one million people, goals small in size compared to the vast impact that Sanivation has already had in Kenya.

Cassidy Johnson is a senior at Desert Mountain High School in Scottsdale, Arizona.

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greenliving | October 2019

greenlivingaz.com

ALL FIRED UP

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE AMAZON RAINFOREST FIRES

BY AIMEE WELCH

T

he Amazon rainforest is almost four times the size of Alaska, spanning 2.2 million square miles across nine South American countries. If it was its own country, the world’s largest tropical rainforest would rank ninth in size. The Amazon is rich with vegetation that takes carbon dioxide out of the air and releases oxygen into the atmosphere—between 6% and 9% of the world’s oxygen. An estimated 500 indigenous Amerindian tribes, 400 billion trees, 40,000 plant species, 1,300 bird species, 3,000 different types of fish, 373 reptile species, 400 amphibian species, 430 species of mammals and 2.5 million insect species call the Amazon rainforest home. Over the last 50 years, about 17% of the Amazon rainforest has been destroyed and, today, millions of acres in the forest are on fire.

So, should we all be freaking out? That depends on who you ask. Is there anything positive about devastating fires burning in the Amazon rainforest? No. Are these fires going to cause a catastrophic oxygen-depleting, humanity-ending situation in our lifetime? Also no. But the destruction of the rainforest would undeniably have a devastating, immediate impact on the countless species that live in it; it would change weather patterns around the world, including the U.S.; and it would release its vast carbon stores, further hindering humankind’s ability to slow down global warming. For these reasons and more, yes… many people are freaking out, and the international community has united to find answers and solutions to protect one of the world’s richest and most diverse ecosystems.

WHAT IS THE CURRENT SITUATION? Global Forest Watch says 2019 marks the highest number greenlivingaz.com

Photos courtesy of nasa.gov

of fires in the Amazon since 2010. Since the beginning of this year, according to Brazil’s National Institute for Space Research (INPE), more than 220,000 fires were detected in the Amazon (as of September 10), including 108,931 in Brazil.

That’s an increase over 2018 of 20% across the entire rainforest, and 45% in Brazil.

Natural fires during the dry season are common, but most experts agree that the intensity and frequency of fires is increasing because these are not natural fires, which reach only a few inches and generally burn dry leaf litter and small seedlings, having no impact on the forest’s canopy. So, what’s going on?

Ane Alencar, director of science at the Amazon Environmental Research Institute (IPAM), told National Geographic, “The majority of the fires we’re seeing now are because of deforestation. It’s crazy. We reduced deforestation by almost 65% in the past. We proved that we could do that.

And now we’re going backwards.”

August begins the dry season in the Amazon, which correlates with an increase in slash-and-burn agricultural practices used by farmers and cattle ranchers to clear (or deforest) the land for cultivation. They cut down trees during the wet season and make giant piles. Then, in the dry season, they burn them. Deforestation often leads to fires, and recent satellite photos show fires clustered around roads and areas where forests have been cleared by humans.

Historically, the rainforest has been protected by a thick canopy that easily maintains enough natural moisture and humidity to make it fire-resistant. Today, however, destructive October 2019 | greenliving

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human activities and more frequent droughts have thinned the canopy and reduced humidity within the forest, creating a drier environment that is more prone to forest fires.

THE IMPACT OF DEFORESTATION This isn’t a new problem, by the way. The INPE reports that between 2002 and 2005, and in 2007, the number of fires in the Amazon was higher than in 2019, prompting international efforts to drastically reduce runaway deforestation. Brazil took action, elevating forest conservation efforts and promoting sustainable development. For the next decade, deforestation rates, and consequently, C02 emissions, dropped significantly.

But in January 2019, President Jair Bolsonaro took office and that progress came to an abrupt halt. Bolsonaro pledged to improve Brazil’s struggling economy, in part, by exploiting the country’s greatest resource—the Amazon rainforest. According to INPE, development is to blame for more than 1,330 square miles of deforestation since January—a 39% increase over 2018. With Bolsonaro in charge, cattle grazers, soybean growers, mining, timber and development firms feel more empowered to exploit the rainforest due to lax enforcement and regulations.

Fires are also burning in Bolivia, Paraguay and Peru, but because 60% of the forest is in Brazil, the world is looking to them to be part of the solution. The problem is, Bolsonaro’s administration isn’t freaking out.

David Manuel-Navarrete, senior sustainability scientist in the Arizona State University Julie Ann Wrigley Global Institute of Sustainability, said in an August 29 interview with Arizona PBS, “The fires are just the tip of the iceberg. The actual iceberg is a political shift that is causing an increase in the deforestation rates.”

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greenliving | October 2019

FINDING SOLUTIONS Manuel-Navarrete says the number of fires isn’t the real problem right now; it’s the fact that they’re burning out of control. Brazil’s government has rejected international aid offered to help put out the fires, but have sent military troops and aircraft in to fight the blazes, and enacted a 60-day ban on land-clearing fires. How much of the forest will burn before people, and more importantly the rainy season, come to the rescue is unknown.

These fires will eventually be extinguished, but that won’t solve the bigger problem. Brazil’s commitment to conserve the Amazon rainforest has been replaced with economic development plans that will exploit it. Manuel-Navarrete and indigenous leaders believe finding ways other than deforestation to create wealth using the forest may be part of the solution. Medical research advances using the Amazon’s unique biodiversity, ecotourism, and sustainable food crops like fruit, Brazilian nuts and açai are some of those proposed solutions. Building relationships with the indigenous tribes to work together on solutions is another.

Solutions to global issues are rarely black-and-white. The forest is in Brazil and has the resources to help meet the rising needs of a growing population. But the health of the forest is fundamental to its inhabitants and the long-term health and stability of the planet. So who should call the shots? It’s a gray area. But one thing is indisputable—the consequences of the Amazon thriving or dying will ultimately impact us all.

Aimee Welch is a writer and editor based in Chandler, Arizona.

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October 2019 | greenliving

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HELPING CREATE HOUSING FOR THE HOMELESS

THE ARIZONA HOUSING FUND OFFERS A NEW, UNIQUE SOLUTION

BY SYERRA RODRIGUEZ

H

ere in the Grand Canyon State, where the sun seems to shine nearly every day of the year, thousands of people are left in the sweltering heat due to homelessness every year. Maricopa County had upwards of 9,000 citizens without housing as of last year. Waitlists for Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) can be up to six months, leaving some of those people with nowhere to seek asylum.

Homelessness is no new epidemic in Arizona, but it is one that continues to grow. Last year alone, 1,776 people were accounted for as being chronically homeless, according to Arizona’s Department of Security 2018 Homelessness Report.

Clusters of tents and shopping carts can be found in nearly all cities.

However, the solutions have become tired and are leaving homelessness on the increase instead of decline. While it may never be possible to solve the problem completely, the Arizona Housing Fund (AZHF) is calling on the community to take

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matters into its own hands and band together to help fellow community members find shelter.

The Arizona Housing Fund is a collaborative partnership that allows business owners, realtors, individuals and anyone willing, to donate money for the building of new PSH units that will be affordable and maintainable for those in need.

HOW IT WILL WORK Howard Epstein, president of Arizona Housing Inc., devised the idea of taking homelessness to the private sector when he realized that previous solutions for change were not working.

Having worked for Bank of America in its Real Estate Assets division for more than 25 years, Epstein hatched the idea to combine escrow with donations.

Every month, more than 1,000 people close escrow in Maricopa County. The idea is that each time someone buys or sells a house, they can voluntarily opt in to donate. The greenlivingaz.com

money will then be placed into the Arizona Housing Fund, and builders of PSH can submit grants they wish to be funded to the advisory committee.

“The whole idea and the whole vision is that over time, our entire community will get used to the idea that when you buy or sell a home, you donate $25 to the Arizona Housing Fund to help the homeless situation,” Epstein says.

Escrow is not the only lane of revenue, though, and Epstein encourages everyone to get involved if they have the means.

Direct donations can also be made at www.arizonahousingfund. org, and store and business owners can agree to a donation program or sign up to be community partners. Every dollar counts when rolling out this new project.

THE PROCESS Since its launch several months ago, AZHF has already garnered major community support and is pulling in donations.

Meritage Homes has already signed on to the $25 escrow program, and since going live, the website has been a major source of direct donations.

“I am happy to say we have already been collecting donations, both private donors and donations,” Epstein says.

Epstein’s neighbor and colleague at Arizona Housing Inc., Tim Sprague, says the reaction has been tremendous.

“I think the biggest difficulty is that there’s not enough hours in the day to talk to everyone,” Sprague says.

The fund has already garnered over 20 community partners and is growing. Through the countless presentations and phone calls, the Arizona Housing Fund is trying to reach as many people as possible.

“People, I think, are genuinely good and want to help others, but what normally happens is that it stops there, and it stops there because getting involved takes time, it takes time out of their schedules, it takes time out of work, it takes time away from their families,” Sprague says. “This is a very, very easy way for everybody to get involved and help.”

THE NEXT STEP To test out this new way of garnering support for the homeless, the Arizona Housing Fund will work towards funding 36 more units at Collin’s Court Inc., a PSH unit near 33rd Avenue and Peoria.

“The whole idea is to bring new stock, new units, new inventory to our community, that’s what we need the most,” says Epstein.

With the tremendous support the fund is garnering, the future looks bright for this endeavor. However, both Sprague and Epstein know homelessness is a long way from being solved completely.

“I think we are the only state that is doing it like this, and there are a lot of people who think if we can show the rest of the country that this works, it can be rolled out everywhere, and I think that’s pretty exciting,” Epstein says on the main goal of the fund.

THE PURPOSE When offered affordable housing and access to clinical and social services, a person is less likely to return to the streets.

Homelessness is often categorized into four main categories: chronic, hidden, episodic and transitional, and impacts everyone from children to the elderly.

There is also a select portion of the population that is not interested in seeking out help, due to personal reasons.

“It’s not going to solve homelessness and we’re not trying to help everyone, we’re trying to help those who want stable housing who don’t have it today,” Epstein explains, noting that the main clientele are those who are the most vulnerable, such as the mentally ill and handicapped.

Epstein and Sprague both encourage anyone interested in finding out more information to visit the project website at www.arizonahousingfund.org to explore the options of involvement.

Syerra Rodriguez is a current undergraduate at the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism, ASU. She is interested in spreading environmental awareness through her writing and integrates many elements of green living into her own life.

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October 2019 | greenliving

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ANGELA JOHNSON

A FIXTURE OF ARIZONA FASHION AND FASHION INCUBATOR F.A.B.R.I.C.

BY LAURA MADDEN

I

f you know anything about Arizona fashion (or even if you don’t), you’ve probably heard the name Angela Johnson. Johnson has been on the fashion scene here since, well, there practically was a fashion scene here. This Arizona designer cares about building an Arizona fashion community, and most importantly, making it sustainable.

While Johnson may have began as a fashion designer, today her resume runs deep, most notably as a teacher, business consultant, co-founder of the Tempe-based fashion incubator F.A.B.R.I.C. (Fashion And Business Resource Innovation Center), and co-founder of the non-profit AZ Apparel Foundation.

Photo by Ryan Walsh

You are known as an award-winning eco-friendly designer; a pioneer for Arizona fashion; and the cofounder of F.A.B.R.I.C., a zero-waste, no-minimum factory. F.A.B.R.I.C. is filling a much-needed void to do good for the planet and transition the industry to a more sustainable model. How is F.A.B.R.I.C. putting sustainable fashion in Arizona on the map?

F.A.B.R.I.C. provides all of the resources that an emerging fashion brand/designer needs to design, manufacture and market domestically, right here in Arizona. Apparel manufacturing is not very sustainable, and when we re-shore manufacturing, we are making it much more sustainable in a lot of ways.

With domestic manufacturing comes laws around labor and environmental factors. To add another layer of sustainability to this, we provide education and consulting to the emerging brands who are using our resources so they have a better understanding of what makes their products more sustainable.

We provide a free sourcing library and wholesale sourcing assistance that can help them find these resources.

Additionally, by creating AZ Eco Fashion Week, we also provide them with a platform to celebrate and sell their sustainable products. We also give all discarded scraps that are left over from manufacturing for hundreds of local brands to a group of designers who have collaborated under the name reFABRICate. These designers re-engineer these scraps into one-of-a-kind, unique clothing that is sold year-round at F.A.B.R.I.C., and show the items on the AZ Eco Fashion Week runway. We try to make every effort possible to provide a sustainable solution to the unsustainable model that is currently the norm in apparel manufacturing.

F.A.B.R.I.C. just celebrated its third anniversary—a huge accomplishment, especially since it is the only fashion incubator in Arizona and it is entirely communityfunded. What is your greatest vision for F.A.B.R.I.C.?

The mission of our non-profit AZ Apparel Foundation is to provide Arizona’s emerging designers and brands with innovative, small-batch manufacturing and strategic business resources, so they can build sustainable fashion businesses locally. Our vision is Arizona as a leader in sustainable, innovative fashion design and manufacturing. Currently, we are assisting over 400 brands with their design development and small-batch manufacturing so they can start affordably and grow. By allowing these brands to make small quantities, we are allowing them to test the market and sell direct to niche market consumers. This is very different from traditional manufacturing, in which product is pushed onto the market in very large quantities in order to achieve lower price points.

We feel that the only way domestic manufacturing can compete with these lower overseas prices is to employ technology along the entire design and manufacturing process so that some of the human element can be removed from the process. This reduction of manual labor not only allows for the human to use their cognitive skills instead of their hands, but also reduces costs. greenlivingaz.com

What have been the greatest challenges?

To figure out how to prove our model, fulfill our obligations to the city, and achieve our mission without any funding. In three short years, we have assisted over 400 emerging and smaller niche brands with design development, marketing, sourcing, and no-minimum manufacturing. We’ve provided free and discounted consulting and education that allows these brands to save tens of thousands of dollars. We’ve given back over $1.5 million to the community in free and discounted classes, events and opportunities, and we’ve helped create countless jobs.

We’ve accomplished all of this with no real corporate sponsor or donor. This has been a labor of love, fueled by the passion of the co-founders and the community. Now that we are in our third year, we qualify for grants and other funding. Our biggest challenge is finding the time to apply and ask while we are so busy delivering all of these programs and services.

This has become a bigger economic development piece for the state, and we need help solving it. We have a vision of a higher-capacity factory that employs the latest technology so that we can provide sustainable, efficient, and cost-effective manufacturing in higher volumes here in Arizona. This would require more financial support and partnerships with visionary corporations, government entities and possibly our local university.

Things are changing here and you are playing a big hand in that, but eco-friendly and Arizona aren’t exactly known to commingle. Do you see eco-friendly fashion having a future in Arizona?

Our vision is to provide a replicable model that should exist in every city nationwide. With the fashion industry finally starting to follow the farm-to-table model in the food industry, there will need to be fashion incubators in every state that help local designers with the design development, tech packs, and no/low-minimum manufacturing.

F.A.B.R.I.C. is unique to the country, and there aren’t any other incubators that do everything we do. We believe we are setting an example. If we can get the right funding and support for our vision, AZ could actually be known for setting an example for the rest of the country on what sustainable apparel manufacturing should look like in the 21st century.

If you are interested in supporting F.A.B.R.I.C., learning more about its classes and events, or scheduling a tour, visit www.fabrictempe.com and www.azapparelfoundation.org.

Laura Madden is an advocate for fashion, art, and sustainability through her work as an influencer, stylist, writer, model and artist. She reports on the intersection of style, sustainability and self-esteem on both her blog, the ReFashion Report, and various conscious lifestyle publications. Madden also serves as a global ambassador for non-profit Remake, is a board member with San Francisco Fashion Community Week, and is the founder of ReFashioned Art, her brand of upcycled art. For more sustainable style, art and shopping tips, check out www.iamlauramadden.com and follow her on instagram @iamlauramadden and @reFashionedArt.

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Photos courtesy of Ric Coggins

THE MEDICINE MAN OF RAROTONGA FOLLOW RIC COGGINS’ JOURNEY THROUGH CANCER…

W

hen I was confronted in mid2017 with a serious cancer diagnosis that allopathic medicine only had limited and harsh treatment options for, I knew that I had to quickly become my own expert on the subject of me and my health. It was my life, and only I was ultimately responsible for the decisions to be RIC COGGINS made, as to how I would find my way back to health. With that in mind, I left no stone unturned in my pursuit of a cure.

Under one very interesting, colorful rock, I found the subject of what I call “indigenous healing traditions.” Its practitioners, known as shamans, witchdoctors or sometimes more aptly medicine men, combine traditions of using native plant compounds as “pharmaceuticals,” and a spiritual awareness to treat the “whole” person.

Mostly passed over by Western medicine and Western religious beliefs, “the baby has been thrown out with the bathwater” by these institutions. Because of that, the body of knowledge possessed by medicine men around the world has been largely ignored at best and ridiculed at worst. Due to my own Western upbringing, I had pretty much dismissed this

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source of healing as well. It wasn’t until I was at the crossroads of life and death myself that I opened my mind to this aspect of medicine.

Filmmaker Nick Polizzi calls this branch of medicine “The Sacred Science.” After being left alongside the road to suffer by Western medicine himself, Polizzi stumbled into the mysteries of shamanism and pursued his health via altered states of consciousness, induced by drums and sacred plant medicines.

His book and film by the same name, The Sacred Science: An Ancient Healing Path for the Modern World, documents his experiences in leading a group of eight chronically ill people, from as many different walks of life, to spend a month in the Peruvian Amazon working with shamans and plant medicine in search of a healing from Parkinson’s disease, diabetes, depression and cancer, that had otherwise evaded years of Western medicine treatment.

Polizzi followed his full-length documentary with the release of a video series he called Remedy: Ancient Medicines for Modern Illness. Remedy features 10 episodes with 47 worldrenowned doctors and health experts discussing plant-based medicines from indigenous healing traditions, readily and inexpensively available to us—perhaps to the dismay of who we call “Big Pharma.”

In his works, Polizzi suggests that the term “medicine greenlivingaz.com

man” may even be somewhat of a misnomer, in that “for thousands of years, women have been the healers in their homes and communities— passing down remedies and traditions through generations,” mother to daughter. He calls this feminine side of healing “The Way of the Wise Woman.”

While I was not ready for the drug-induced altered states that Polizzi had mastered, and nor was I comfortable in making contact with the spirit world that he moves in and out of, I quickly immersed myself in his “medicinal” teachings, and absorbed like a sponge the information he offered on herbal, plant-based compounds. I specifically detailed the herbs that I found personally valuable in my healing journey in the June 2019 issue of this magazine.

PA TEURUAA—THE MEDICINE MAN OF RAROTONGA In August of this year I traveled to the remote South Pacific island of Rarotonga, where I had my own, firsthand, face-toface experience with a real medicine man. The tiny volcanic island of Rarotonga stands over 14,750 feet above the ocean floor, is only 20 miles in circumference, and has a total area of 26 square miles. Living on the edge of a primitive island jungle next to his “infirmary,” medicine man Pa Teuruaa’s healing and spiritual abilities have become so renowned that the world comes to him and Rarotonga for herbal and spiritual healing wisdom. Other pilgrims before me have included NASA astronauts and spiritual emissaries from the Dalai Lama.

If you don’t know where Teuruaa’s home in Rarotonga is, don’t feel bad—neither did I. Rarotonga is located some 700 miles west of Tahiti in the South Pacific. Even though it might sound like it, it is not that impossible to get to. In fact, there is a very convenient direct commercial flight on Air New Zealand (ANZ), which leaves weekly out of LAX. Nine hours or so after my takeoff, the amazing ANZ pilot landed a “very long” Boeing 777 on a “very short” World War II-era airstrip. Being south of the equator, I exchanged my summer for winter and I learned it was true, that the water in the toilet circled the drain in the opposite direction there.

Teuruaa’s humbleness was apparent from our first meeting.

Putting his hands together as if praying, he greeted me and bowed. His sun-bleached dreadlocks and muscular bare chest betrayed his nearly 80 years of age. He was clad in his native traditional “dress” of loincloth and palm fronds tied around his arms and knees.

Teuruaa descends from multiple generations of medicine men and women of Rarotonga. He notes that, to Nick Polizzi’s point about, “The Way of the Wise Women,” his grandmother taught him the most about jungle medicinal healing. greenlivingaz.com

Christianity came to Rarotonga in the 1830s and since then has, over the last century or so, morphed with the native revere for their traditional Polynesian gods. Teuruaa initially offered his prayer over our first meeting with what appeared to me to be some unusually deep-voiced utterances to his native gods, then to my surprise, ending each what I thought to be pagan prayer, “in the name of Jesus.” I later found much of the prayers on the island are a unique blend of Christianity and Polynesian polytheism.

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After a few minutes of conversation, Teuruaa, who speaks eight languages fluently, seemed to intuitively know why I had sought him out and began showing me the various trees and plants he had growing around his home, which abutted a jungle. He carefully described to me their medicinal value in perfect English. When I mentioned to him that I had the normal swollen prostate issues of a man my age, he wasted no time in preparing a “potion” from some roots he had previously dug, dried and pounded with a stone; some fermented Noni fruit; some coconut water from an immature coconut; and some male and female nuts of a native tree. He steeped all of the ingredients that he basically rounded up from his yard in a stainless steel bowl, while he told me about the inherent powers of each ingredients. After the appropriate time, he strained the fluid into an empty Beefeater’s Gin bottle he had handy and told me to drink all of it within the next 24 hours.

Another treatment for which Teuruaa is known worldwide is his ability to heal a deadly jungle fever, for which Western medicine has no known treatment. He says that it was in prayer that he was told by God how to make a preparation from the deadly nightshade plant, Belladonna, that would cure the fever patients. He has been called to various parts of the South Pacific, Malaysia and Hawaii to administer this treatment, which he says if improperly diagnosed is deadly to the recipient.

In 2000, a group of Buddhist monks, followers of the Dalai Lama, came to see Teuruaa. They asked him if he knew where the energy point on the island was. He told them there were two on Rarotonga—male and female. The male one is at the Needle (Te Rua Manga) rock, and that’s the point he took them to.

Teuruaa led the monks to the base of the rock, where they buried an urn with the 900-year-old remains of an ancient master, as they had waited for the new millennium to come to do so.

According to Teuruaa, “The energy point is precisely around the Needle, and the urn is still there to this day.”

The Dalai Lama, through his monks, blessed the needle and declared it to be one of the “eight energy points in the world.”

According to Teuruaa, the Rarotonga energy point is where the ancient Polynesians were spiritually rejuvenated. The monks then left Teuruaa and the island and headed to Sedona, Arizona, for their next “energy point” pilgrimage.

Teuruaa’s healing and spiritual abilities are revered in the Pacific and beyond. He has been summoned more than once to Hawaii to abate volcanic eruptions there. His medicine men counterparts in Hawaii believe that he is one who can influence Tutu Pele, the goddess of fire, lightning, dance, wind, volcanoes and violence. Her poetic name is Ka wahine `ai honua, or the woman who devours the land, and she is considered both a creator and destroyer. She listens to Pa.

HEALING OTHERS Teuruaa also tells of the time a NASA astronaut came to his infirmary and stayed for several months to be cured of a deterioration of bone density from spending too much time in space. Western medicine had nothing for the astronaut’s “dry bones,” as Teuruaa describes the ailment. But after several months of Teuruaa’s jungle medicine and spiritual intervention, the astronaut returned to America completely healed.

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Teuruaa then led me into the jungle, where lush growth grew over the path we were on. For me it was like drinking from a firehose, keeping up with all the plants he pointed out as he described their medicinal value. Occasionally he would grab a leaf from a plant and say, “Eat this!” Then excitedly, as if it were the first time he had discovered it, he would describe what I was tasting and the benefits one would derive from its ingestion.

I will never forget my day in the jungle with the medicine man of Rarotonga.

As I think of the fires burning in the Brazilian Amazon today as I write this to you, I wonder what we are now losing in terms of medicinal plants that we don’t even yet know of their value to the well-being of mankind.

Ric Coggins is a University of Arizona Master Gardener who grew up on a one-acre garden tended by his father, who was a regular contributor to Mother Earth News and Organic Gardening and Farming magazines.

Ric continues his father’s “green” traditions on a one-acre organic garden urban homestead in Mesa he calls The Fool on the Hill Farm.

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October 2019 | greenliving

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GREEN YOUR HOME

BY DAVID M. BROWN

I

nterior designer Tanya Shively and home designer Doug Edwards think green, design green and build green.

“I am passionate about creating homes that are healthy to live in and that are also conscious of the planet we live on,” says Tanya Shively, ASID, LEED AP, who adds that she has been guided by a green directive in her projects since founding Scottsdale’s Sesshu Design Associates in 2005.

She was raised in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, near Yellowstone, Glacier and Grand Teton national parks.

“The idea that we need to be good stewards of the land we live on and to protect that beauty is so deeply ingrained in that area that I couldn’t help but be influenced by it,” she explains, noting that the mission of her firm is, in fact, inspired by the 15th-century Japanese artist, Sesshū Tōyō, known for innovative style, passion and creativity.

including Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills; Fifth Avenue in Manhattan; and Scottsdale, Carefree and Paradise Valley here in Arizona.

“Fortunately, our concerns have become less and less since the public started embracing sustainable design and building science,” Doug says, with a smile.

FIRST, FIND THE SUN Sustainable home design and construction begins with a knowledge of building science and fundamental design strategies that must be aligned with regional and site-specific environments for each project, Doug explains.

Basic to the design of any new home is solar orientation: How can the home be integrated organically with the land it occupies?

“You can have any look you want and still be environmentally friendly. It is also not an all-or-nothing concept. You can make your choices according to whatever is most important to you. It’s a practical approach to design which ensures you have the healthiest home possible and benefits the community, too.”

Good passive solar design begins with knowing how the sun moves throughout the year and how that movement affects a home’s building envelope, he says. When should you block the sun from entering a home and when should it flood the interior conditioned space? This may seem basic now, but only recently has this principle been widely considered in home building, beginning with tract/production designs through luxury and estate homes.

Also in Scottsdale, brothers Doug and Kevin Edwards have been designing and building sustainably since they were in their early 20s—45 years ago, long before this was widely embraced. Their Edwards Design Group has delivered highperforming green homes throughout the United States,

“We design our homes to achieve net-zero energy use as the home relates to the utility company,” Doug says. “We calculate the energy needs of the home using 3D computer modeling software, and size the solar array accordingly to achieve netzero energy.”

Green is not a style, she explains.

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greenlivingaz.com

This is achieved when the home produces at least as much power as it consumes.

The health element derives from her father, who had severe chronic asthma most of his life.

After they establish solar orientation, Doug and Kevin discuss with their clients the access they would like to their home; its view corridors; natural vegetation and landscape features; and their other needs, including the degree of green building they wish to pursue, from energy-efficient glazing to expensive geo-thermal systems.

“The air quality in our home and reducing allergens was always a key concern. Just a few years ago, we also discovered that the house was full of mold due to faulty construction,” she says. “This further cemented my belief that the quality of the air inside our homes has a profound impact on our health and must be carefully addressed in our design decisions.”

While the Edwards brothers were involved with early LEED pilot programs, they established their own standards years ago. Developed by the U.S. Green Building Council, Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design is a green building certification with a set of rating systems to ensure environmental responsibility. But, it adds costs to any project.

Her design philosophy has become what she calls “WELL Designed”: Support and enhance well-being and wellness, using an eco-conscious approach while embracing both luxury and livability.

“Our homes always exceed the LEED certification,” Doug says. “We’d rather put the money into additional energy-savings strategies rather than pay thousands for a certification.”

In addition to solar performance, the design of a highperformance home should include a number of other items, Edwards says. These should include no VOC paints and adhesives, and using locally manufactured materials and supplies.

The firm always calculates overhangs against the summer sun and the placement of high-performance low-E windows. Windows remain the primary means by which heat enters a home.

Insulation is also a priority. Insulate your stem wall from the slab so direct sun exposure doesn’t transfer into the interior slab, he recommends. And use the best insulation available; inspect it and oversee the method(s) of installation before it is covered. Foam is expensive but worth it.

Invest in the best high-SEER multispeed HVAC system you can, one preferably that uses micro-zones and has all wrapped supply and return air ducts placed in a conditioned space. These use the least amount of electricity to achieve the highest efficiency.

“Designing an active solar home can produce enough energy to run the home 24/7 without the cost of your utility company,” he says. “A net-zero energy home can be achieved today.”

She looks closely at products before she suggests them for clients. Many companies greenwash theirs, making them appear to be more sustainable or healthy than they really are.

Look for natural materials rather than synthetic ones; they produce fewer toxins.

For woods, she loves mesquite, actually a bush and not a tree.

“You can harvest it without killing the plant, and it grows quickly,” she says.

Also consider deadfall wood—another way to incorporate wood into a project without endangering forests.

If synthetics are the only option, look for those that have been recycled or can be recycled, Shively suggests.

Repurpose materials, too. Instead of adding to a landfill, old stuff can add character and patina to your space, she says.

An old door, for instance, becomes a talked-about coffee table or headboard.

Make decisions early for cost-effective building and interior designing.

“If you try to tack green components on at the end, it becomes much more difficult and expensive to implement,” she says.

And work with other professionals equally committed to your sustainability goals.

“I see myself as one part of that team, and we all work together to help you get the results you desire.”

This extends to the desert areas of Arizona.

“Because we design and build with cutting-edge building science methods, the outside temps aren’t able to penetrate the interior conditioned space as easily,” Edwards explains. “Consequently, the HVAC system can run on low settings, which, in turn, minimizes the size of the solar array. As a result, the solar array needed to achieve net-zero energy can be accommodated by the roof area of most buildings.”

David Brown is a Valley-based writer. Learn more at www.azwriter.com.

WELL DESIGNED INSIDE, TOO Shively also first considers her clients’ priorities.

Do they have health issues? Do they want to conserve energy and water? Do they want to be sustainable? Is their design preference traditional, transitional, minimalist?

This master bedroom suite showcases gorgeous mesquite floors throughout. Photos courtesy of Tanya Shively

greenlivingaz.com

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FALL GARDENING: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW MASTER GARDENER LEE STEWART SHARES HER TIPS

BY LEE STEWART

Photos courtesy Lee Stewart

I

t’s October, which means it’s time for pumpkin spice and everything nice. This means the warmer weather is diminishing, which happens to be wonderful news for people who want to start a garden. There may have been those who were fearless enough to have braved the summer heat and gotten a head start on soil prepping for their fall garden, but if you didn’t prep your soil before August, don’t worry—soil prepping can still be done now, too.

WHY DO I NEED TO PREP MY SOIL? There may be those of you asking yourselves what exactly you should be doing to prep the soil for your fall garden.

Prepping the soil means adding additional organic soil that has been composting for at least six months to a year. If you live in northern climates or cooler climates, composting can take up to two years.

Adding fertilizers to the soil is also very beneficial in prepping your fall garden. When a vegetable grows in the garden, the vegetable utilizes nutrients from the soil, and those nutrients then need to be replaced. Therefore, soil prepping and amending are important to replenish nutrients in prep for the next season.

ORGANIC AMENDMENTS A few of the organic amendments that are more commonly used are worm castings, azomite and alfa pellets. Amendments or fertilizers should never be added to frozen ground.

These amendments benefit the soil in various ways. Worm castings provide beneficial microbes that aid plant growth, assist with moisture for soil, provide nitrogen, potassium, magnesium, calcium and phosphorus, and assist with fighting off diseases. Just like we need trace minerals for our bodies, plants need trace minerals which contain essential elements that aide in plant growth.

Eventually, plant propagation and leaching due to watering and or irrigating can deplete essential minerals and micronutrients from the soil over time. Azomite is a mineral-rich rock dust that helps give back to the soil by supplying nutrients so that your plants thrive. Alpha pellets should be utilized a month before planting. Alpha pellets serve as a good weed blocker and provide micronutrients for crops such as broccoli,

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greenlivingaz.com

Brussels sprouts, cabbage, collards, kale and kohlrabi. Alfalfa pellets contain calcium, iron, magnesium and zinc. Alpha contains triacontanol ,which will help in stimulating new growth in the spring. Scratching the alpha pellets into the soils surface at a rate of 2 to 5 lbs. per square foot is enough. Be sure not to put it in the planting hole. You can also create alfalfa tea and disperse alfalfa that way for your roses.

WHEN TO PLANT October through February is the ideal time to plant your winter vegetables. During October, the ground is still warm enough for planting seeds. A few winter vegetables you can plant are beets, collard greens, onions, kale, spinach and much more. The fall and winter vegetables will do best if they are mature before the summer heat or when the temperatures fall.

WATERING NEEDS A proper watering system is highly important to ensure that your garden is thriving. Whether you have an in-ground garden or raised garden bed, ensure that your irrigation system is set to the correct water disbursement for the season change.

There are many components to ensuring that you have a successful growing season. The benefits of reaping from your own garden are priceless. Eating from your own garden ensures that you are receiving 100% of all the nutrients the vegetable can provide. We waste so much food when we shop for vegetables in the market. Being able to pick only the amount of food you need for your meal helps keep your cost and waste down—not to mention this will avoid that science experiment that occurs when we forget about the vegetables in our refrigerator drawers!

Another benefit of reaping from your own garden also benefits your cognitive functions by combating depression, anxiety, PTSD and much more. There are many people who would like to reap the benefits of gardening but feel that it is impossible. This is one of the many reasons that

Lee Stewart

I started my company, Veg Up Get Dirty. For many years it has been my passion to teach others about healthier eating practices. I started Veg Up Get Dirty several years ago as an edible landscape company. I am a certified master gardener and mentor for the Maricopa Extension program with the University of Arizona. Since starting the company, I have had the pleasure of assisting with gardens in Montessori schools, residential homes, offices, balconies, patio homes and more.

Additional services I provide are gardening consultations, designing of your garden, custom building of gardens, servicing existing gardens, and education. Recently we implemented a gardening coaching service to educate individuals to take control of their own garden. You may be asking what does this service look like? I come out to the location and conduct a 90-minute assessment/consultation.

During this assessment I look at your area to find the best placement for your garden, assess for amending needs for your already-existing garden, educate, and assess possible watering distribution to the garden.

Lee Stewart is the owner of Veg Up Get Dirty. Learn more at www.vegupgetdirty.com.

greenlivingaz.com

October 2019 | greenliving

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FIGHTING THE FAST FASHION EMPIRE THE REBELS AT FED BY THREADS WORK TO RESTORE FREEDOM TO THE CLOTHING INDUSTRY

Fed By Threads VP of Product Development, Sourcing and Design, Reagan Prefling, and Swisstex VP of Sales, Eric Wertheimer.

Photos courtesy Fed By Threads

BY AIMEE WELCH

R

emember how Darth Vader went around blowing up planets and generally getting in the way of anyone trying to put up any kind of resistance? The evil empire would leverage its big weapons and army of followers (whether they wanted to help or not) to maintain power at any cost. And Vader and Palpatine probably would have sailed through had it not been for the efforts and persistence of the Rebel Alliance.

Now, imagine that fast fashion is the Galactic Empire and ecocorporate-apparel brand Fed by Threads represents the smallbut-relentless group of rebels determined to restore freedom to the clothing industry and improve life for ordinary citizens throughout the galaxy (or Earth, in our more realistic case).

“Evil” may seem like a harsh descriptor, but the apparel industry rightfully earned it—globally, it ranks #2 for pollution (petroleum is first) and #1 in water usage (even more than farming!). The industry is rife with poor working conditions and overworked, underpaid workers, many of whom are children as young as 12 making clothes instead of going to school. Garments and accessories from overseas contain lead and other toxic chemicals which can end up in your body… and the list goes on.

The bigger problem is that, as long as there’s high demand for cheap, fast fashion, the industry will find a way to deliver.

They’ll churn out more inexpensive, low-quality clothing than humanity could ever hope to wear and the vast majority will end up being incinerated or sent to a landfill. So if consumers aren’t paying the price, who is? Therein lies the problem, and the catalyst for Tucson-based corporate apparel company Fed

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By Thread’s continued efforts to change the industry (and the world) for the greater good.

Skya Nelson, president and partner of Fed By Threads (FBT) asks, “Who is being served when profitability becomes the lone goal?” In the U.S., FBT is leading the corporate apparel industry in sustainable, circular fashion and is spearheading the fast fashion resistance. From its innovative circular business model and philanthropic roots to its forwardthinking innovations and commitment to transparency, FBT is a leader sure to attract fashion rebels by the millions.

“Profitability is in the sharing,” says Nelson. “You can’t say ‘I’m successful’ when you are forcing other people to be in poverty and your business is unsustainable.”

But the rebels can’t win the fight against the evil empire alone. As consumers, we all have the responsibility to join the fashion rebellion, and the power to become part of the solution. “To make circularity the norm, it is necessary to start creating products differently and start adopting a lifecycle thinking approach in which all the product’s impacts over its lifetime are considered,” says Nelson. “Shoppers need to read labels, vote with their dollars and buy from the companies that are doing the hard work of building the circular economy… enough little pebbles can divert a river.”

WHAT IS CIRCULAR FASHION ANYWAY? Circularity refers to a closed-loop business model that basically mimics the natural process, recycling a product greenlivingaz.com

essentially back into the same product. The process considers the restorative/regenerative flow of products, by-products and wastes between production and consumption, with the goal of keeping valuable, limited resources inside the loop.

Translation: there’s no waste.

efficiencies,” says Nelson, adding that if the fast fashion industry adopted a truly circular method of manufacturing, new and current products could meet consumer demand every day, without doing any harm. Then, like Darth Vader himself, the “evil” empire of fast fashion could redeem itself.

The concept has been around since the 1990s but gained momentum in 2016 when mainstream news began revealing statistics about the global plastic crisis. Circular fashion demanded that fashion products be designed for “highlongevity, resource efficiency, non-toxicity, biodegradability, and good ethics.”

CONSUMERS (THAT’S ALL OF US) ARE THE KEY TO CHANGE

In other words, says Nelson, it means you reduce a product’s resource use and emissions to the environment, as well as improving its socio-economic performance through its lifecycle. For FBT that means, in part, making new clothes from your old clothes, he says.

“When we sell 6,000 T-shirts to Tucson Electric Power (TEP), in one to two years when the company no longer wants to use those shirts, a Fed By Threads recovery system will collect and deliver all their old garments to our recycling center, and the old shirts will be ground up and made into new thread,” Nelson explains. “That thread will be milled into fabric and we will dye, cut and sew that fabric into new garments…TEP can re-order shirts made from their old shirts.”

FBT calls this process True Love Circularity (TLC) and it is the concept that drives the company.

“Our model in which the values of resources stay inside the system in a closed-loop relies on the fact that our resources are limited, and as we are depleting them, we should keep in mind the First Law of Ecology of Berry Commoner, which states: everything is connected to everything else (1971),” explains Nelson.

This is a vastly different process than the current “take, make and dispose” model of the fast-fashion industry. The literal definition of fast fashion in the Oxford dictionary is “inexpensive clothing produced rapidly by mass-market retailers in response to the latest trends.” Thanks to computers and the digital age, fast fashion became a juggernaut in the 2000s, designed to move quickly from the runway to the store to the consumer… and unfortunately, to the landfill. The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that, in 2015, the fashion industry generated 16 million tons of textile waste in the U.S. alone. Considering it takes 600 gallons of water to make one cotton t-shirt and 1200 gallons of water to make one pair of jeans, the waste of resources is staggering and, frankly, the stuff of an evil empire.

“We need to stop consuming those raw goods to make new material,” says Nelson. “We already have enough clothes for everyone on Earth to wear for the rest of their lives, but we continue to make more.” The making more isn’t the real issue though… it’s the how we make more that needs to change.

The industry’s current process simply produces too much waste, without enough opportunity to recycle or repurpose the excess. A circular supply chain would produce no waste, no pollution, and no harm. It would support fair wages and good working conditions using people-positive/earth-positive methods. “Closed loop apparel systems thrive through greenlivingaz.com

So, if money is the top priority and the fashion industry’s self-imposed standards are unenforceable and have no impact, who’s going to sort this mess out?

We all are, says Nelson. “Customers have all the power!” The state of the industry is flawed but consumers can shift what is made and how by demanding a better product and being willing to pay for it. It’s not easy. Budgets are tight, and buying fast fashion is tempting. But by doing the right thing now, together we can effect change.

“Eventually, the prices will drop as demand increases to maximize production ratios,” Nelson says. “The awful truth is, as long as parents are willing to buy clothes for their children that were made by children, the system will not change, or it will change slowly.”

Chances are, many of us are perpetuating the problem without even knowing it. Donating clothes is good in theory, but the majority still ends up being tossed because no one wants or even needs it.

Google “companies that use sweatshop labor” and see what comes up. Yikes. You’ll recognize many mainstream retail brands that have been ignoring the issue. Why? Because of us.

“We have met with almost every big box store and they have said they believe in buying ethically made clothes and are willing to create a program to integrate circular clothing into the supply chain,” says Reagan Prefling, FBT’s vice president of product development, sourcing and design. “They know it is the right thing to do but they are not going to force the customers to buy our product until the demand makes it profitable… so they wait.”

Nelson says one of the biggest issues he sees is that moms simply can’t find trustworthy, affordable eco-apparel locally so they don’t feel like they have a choice. Nelson says corporate America needs to be convinced to step up. “The budgets have to be planned to focus on circular apparel and they won’t do that until they hear from thousands of moms that are asking for clothes for their kids that are made without formaldehyde, arsenic or heavy metals, like lead,” he adds.

For real change to occur, consumers have to demand it.

WALKING THE WALK FBT has been leading by example since 2012 by practicing and preaching guilt-free, circular fashion, and in 2016 it transitioned from a retail model to focus more on its supply chain. All of FBT’s clothes are American-made, CO2 neutral and Supply Chain Aware (SCA). The company exclusively carries certified, responsibly-manufactured products and provides emergency meals through the purchase of their garments. They pay employees and vendors a fair wage that

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WILL GOOD PREVAIL?

promotes longevity and sustainability. FBT includes an Impact Report with every order to educate customers on the history of that garment. They operate with full transparency and require it from vendors. “The business operates in a totally Earth-positive way,” Nelson says. “Wages, social, emotional and physical (toxicity, supply chain, fuel source)… we look at everything with a keen eye on the impact of the planet. That’s transformed me personally and set the direction for the rest of my life.”

And FBT’s goals for the future are equally as impressive. The forward-thinking organization aspires to own its own mill, recycling center, shipping company, and chemical factory. They want to use Artificial Intelligence to grow organic cotton using lowwater/zero soil practices in 20-story buildings located in urban centers. They are working to centralize all of their U.S. factories under one location to prepare for global expansion, and they have an 11-year plan to launch dozens of products and services.

Things are moving in the right direction but we still have a long way to go. “There is a significant push toward sustainability, and while every step toward ‘green’ is a step in the right direction, the big companies could do more,” he says.

“Plastic pallets can save 40 million trees annually. Over 2 billion wooden pallets are currently in circulation in the U.S. alone, with a majority of them replaced each year. This consumes an estimated 50% of the country’s annual hardwood harvest,” shares Nelson. “For our calculations, we estimate that two 10-foot logs can be harvested from one tree.

With those figures we can then calculate how many trees are saved each year by recycling pallets.

The amount of lumber used in a standard 48x40 GMA pallet is 15.17 board feet of lumber on a gross scale. We can save around 43.5 million trees annually by switching to plastic pallets. If each company would by a few a year in conversion it would be a gradual shift.”

Nelson says FTB doesn’t define its victories the same way as large corporations. “It’s not having big offices; it’s getting to a place where we are a fully sustainable, vertical, circular economy.” Nelson says that partnering with a larger organization that can help FBT achieve its long-term supply chain goals will likely be in the company’s future. “We have had two merger discussions in the past year and we are looking for the right partner,” Nelson says.

“Until then, we are satisfied with the little victories.”

TECHNOLOGY PAVES THE WAY While FBT’s mission is unwavering, the company’s business model is continually evolving, and new technologies will definitely play a role in moving their cause and the industry forward.

Closed-loop textile recycling technology, using plantbased textiles and bacteria-based dyes, and implementing a blockchain-based supply chain to increase transparency are just a few ways the industry can make production and consumption more sustainable, and move away from the evil ways of fast fashion.

In true form, FBT intends to be at the forefront of this progress. Nelson says the company is working with Artificial Savant, an IBM think group, on a proposal for 100% recycled clothing for the Department of Defense and the US Army, as well as an Artificial Intelligence project with Microsoft to track plant growth, recycling, and manufacturing of apparel through the circular supply chain. And they are already working with other fashion rebels who share their vision. Long-time partner Swisstex Direct, LLC of Los Angeles provides FBT with guiltfree, circular knitted fabrics, and is home to one of the world’s most technologically-advanced dye and finishing facilities.

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It’s probably no surprise that the reasons for the slow assimilation are rooted in money.

In the world of corporate apparel, shoppers are typically buying last minute for an event or product launch, so whether or not T-shirts were made ethically or sustainably isn’t high on the priority list, says Nelson. And in the age of fast fashion, getting what you want, when you want it, for the price you want, has become the standard.

But good can still prevail. Nelson has seen a lot of positive change in the industry, from an increase in non-toxic alternative products and waterless printing systems and dyes, to more educated customers. “Each day I meet people who are trying to make the world a better place,” says Nelson.

Large organizations like General Mills and Cox are taking steps toward apparel transparency and ethical practices. Everyday heroes are choosing to buy and promote guiltfree clothing, just because it’s the right thing to do. A rise in corporate social responsibility initiatives has created more demand, and zero waste and recycling programs are becoming more common in large organizations.

And Nelson says they’ve seen even small organizations like “purpose-driven” Ben’s Bells in Tucson have a major impact.

Imagine the impact if more large corporations, selling millions of dollars in merchandise, also get on board.

“They have an opportunity to do something positive for the world,” Nelson says. “We sit down and talk with these organizations and we watch them transform. So Fed By Threads has slowly been chiseling away at the bad system in place.”

As awareness increases about the unsustainable and negative aspects of the fashion industry, progress can be made, but it’s a long road. That road is one Skya Nelson will happily travel to the end.

“I was asked if I could have any career, what would I choose?

That’s easy… Santa Claus. Travel the world and give presents, who wouldn’t want that job?” he says. “I have always been a nice guy who likes to help and have fun. Doing what I do, running Fed By Threads, is the best job in the world. I make T-shirts that make people happy and save the planet!”

Chalk one up for the rebels.

Aimee Welch is a writer and editor based in Chandler, Arizona.

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October 2019 | greenliving

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TALKING TRASH

Photo by Jenny Kaufman

A FRANK TALK WITH SOME OF ARIZONA’S RECYCLING REPRESENTATIVES

R

ecently Green Living Magazine sat down with many representatives from city and town solid waste departments at a recent Solid Waste Association of America (SWANA) meeting. Here, their frank conversation—what challenges they face, what they want consumers to know, and more.

Green Living Magazine: We know there have been a lot of changes in the recycling industry recently… what do you think are the biggest issues the industry is facing right now?

Ernie Ruiz, Solid Waste Superintendent, City of Glendale: Right now, for our city in particular, and for most cities that run both landfill and MRF [materials recycling facility], the biggest challenge is obviously the markets and what’s going on exporting-wise. We’ve been seeing a lot of questions and a lot of markets taking a downturn that it’s hard for us to support the recycling side when you’re running a landfill for $32 a ton versus running a MRF that’s costing you a million-plus dollars to run… and you’re not making the revenue to support it.

Given the facts to residents, letting them comment, letting your council know the true effect it’s having on your budget is critical.

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We recently went to council and advised them that the program is in the negative, the landfill is subsidizing the program, and asking the question of council, “Do you want to continue to recycle?” Fortunately for us, and I think most municipalities, council supports recycling, they understand the costs that are behind it. I think the big thing is getting the information out to the residents. Some residents may or may not watch the government channels or listen to the council meetings. I think it’s important that our residents truly understand what it’s costing the cities so that they have a full picture of what their bill may end up looking like in order to pick up their recycling in the coming years. I think most municipalities are going to have to start passing that cost on to the customers. I know other municipalities—you may have read in the paper, Surprise being one of them—have gone the opposite way and they’re no longer picking up recycling to take to the MRFs. They’re picking it up, but they’re sending all those materials to a landfill right now.

Pat L. Tapia, Deputy Director, City of Tucson: In Tucson, we’ll be going to every other week collection for recyclables, which will go into effect Sept. 30 [2019]. The thing about changing the collections that’s really hard for some to greenlivingaz.com

understand is that we’re reducing some of their services. When you’re reducing service and asking for an increase at the same time, residents are not receptive to the idea as usually it’s one or the other, not usually both.

Everyone expects recycling to be full cost recovery, and I can tell you it’s not. The only time you’re going to recover it all is if you’re billing the right amount, along with being able to use revenues from the sale of the commodity. Some think that full cost recovery is based on the sale of the recyclables, but it’s not. For years, we’ve seen other curbside services cover and subsidize cost.

The current situation we’re in now is that even though we’re going to save some operational costs by servicing every other week, it’s not going to fully cover what we’re actually losing on the revenue side because of recycling.

So, it’s a big challenge to get the residents to understand that the sale or market of the material doesn’t always recover the full cost of collecting it.

The other challenge is educating the public on how sustainable a recycling program that you have now can be sustainable for the future? Right now, I think there’s an unknown. The question is how long is this going to last? A lot of times a business is able to withstand it for a year or two, make some changes here or there, and survive. Since the market is unpredictable, we cannot be sure how long this will go on. Continuing down this same path for the next three, four or five years—what will it take for us to make that decision or that big change that’s going to help us sustain the program for the long-term instead of eliminating the program.

Dave Bennett, Solid Waste Operations Manager, City of Scottsdale: I’d like to ask [everyone]… can you talk about some of the past panels you’ve been on and discuss some of the ideas for cleaning up the waste stream? Processing fees are driving costs because of contamination, what ideas have come from these discussions? For plastics, is the answer just accepting plastic bottles? Maybe just collecting cardboard and newspaper? Simplifying it? Do we need to go back to the early 2000s where there was less confusion? One example of this would be plastics.

Pat L. Tapia: Yes, that’s also a big challenge. In addition to cost, you also have a huge challenge of contamination to deal with. The conversation is, how are we going to educate the public on that program? What are some of the consequences when we find contamination, do we remove their containers, enforce fines? We have to remember that we would just adding more obstacles, we will need to have enforcement agents. It may seem easy to say we’re going to go out there and mandate the program or enforce the program, but the reality is that will only add additional costs to the operation. Who will be responsible to pay to staff to go out there and inspect it? It’s a double-edged sword. I think those are some of the challenges we have going on right now.

greenlivingaz.com

Ernie Ruiz: That’s a good question. I think it’s changed. I think everyone years back, when recycling first started out, the idea was about diversion. Everyone was looking to divert as much material as they could from the landfills. If you see the lists from when recycling first started it was around seven items. Now I think we’re seeing some lists with as much as 26 items. And out of those 26 items, how much is really bad.

For example, glass is inert, so it doesn’t hurt a landfill. It’s actually a good thing if it goes into a landfill because it’s inert, it’s not going to hurt anything. But it’s heavy, so it was great for diversion numbers to drive high diversion rates. Now it’s really turned our industry. Now it’s volume. Now we’ve got to generate a quality material going into the MRF. We’re looking at that.

I don’t know if that’s all the answers, but some of the things we’re looking at is that we might have to reduce on the number of items we’re collecting. Maybe we need to focus in only on cardboard or newspaper. Maybe it’s plastics numbers 1 and 2.

Those materials are still selling. Those are still products that are marketable out there. [Other items] are actually costing us money. The problem is it’s taken us 25-30 years to get to this point, and now, if we’re going to make a change and go in a different direction, how long is it going to take to get those out of circulation?

Dave Bennett: Isn’t that basically driving the costs? The processing fees to eliminate the stuff they weren’t able to market?

Pat L. Tapia: Yes, it’s driving your costs up because they can’t do anything with it and now it’s become a disposal cost.

Our current agreement allows a certain percentage of contamination. In Tucson, our agreement is 18.7%. We don’t get fined or charged anything if contamination is at or below 18.7%. When we get anything above 18.7% contamination, then we have to pay an additional fee. The current average of contamination in Tucson is closer to 30%. So, then we are charged the additional 12% over what we already pay. Our per tonnage rate has gone from $37 a ton to almost $100 a ton, for every ton we take into the recycling facility.

This is the big educational part, at what point do you continue to take it to a MRF to be processed? So, I understand why the City of Surprise made changes. It makes financial sense. If I can take it to a landfill and dispose of it for $31 a ton instead of paying $100, why wouldn’t that make sense? At the end of the day, the residents are going to be paying whatever that is. So, if we reduce that number we can reduce the types taken in and that will help with what that cost is going to be.

Contamination is a big issue. If we can get recyclables cleaned up and out of MRFs, collect clean material, create a list of quality materials collected and delivered to MRFs, then our costs won’t go up as much. If recycling bins continue to be contaminated, it’s always going to cost more to process.

We’ve been doing this for a long time and do educate, but it’s not unusual to still see palm fronds in the recycle bin, we are still seeing car batteries, and other things that shouldn’t be put

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in a recycle bin. Swing sets, the majority of the plastic used in a swing set is acceptable in a MRF, but not a whole swing set with the poles and chains attached to it. That’s what hard.

If you look at every container, everyone puts messages on them. But [the residents] will say, “Well, I don’t know what goes in there, you should put labels on your containers.” Well, the labels are actually on top of the containers!

So, the messages are out there, it’s just getting the public to actually do it the correct way. And I don’t know what that answer is. I think we’ve been trying to research that for a lot of years, how we can educate people out there.

I think we spend a lot of time talking to the residents who do recycle the right way. They’re the ones who show up and seem to care about the program. We have training classes, we talk to everybody, but they’re probably not the ones who are causing the problem. It’s the ones who aren’t paying attention and don’t care. So, how do we reach that group? That’s the contamination we’re trying to figure out.

Ernie Ruiz: The one thing we did do when we met with council was stressed the fact that we need to get back to the basics, back to when we kicked this thing off 20-25 years ago, back to the basics. Your 1s and 2s, your paper, which has dropped tremendously because the paper isn’t even in the bins anymore. Where it once was 60% of your material coming into an MRF, it’s now went down all the way—and I don’t know the numbers for all the MRFs—but anywhere from 30%40%. Getting back to the basics, taking out the 3s through 7s, which aren’t moving anymore and are basically still sitting on everyone’s deck… well, the ones who are still collecting them anyways, and going back to your tin cans, aluminum, fibers and your plastics 1s and 2s is the direction we’re heading to and putting more money into our programs from an education standpoint. That’s another thing that Glendale’s doing. It’s because we know, the message has to get out to the people who are doing the recycling. And getting it to an occasional meeting is not going to hit the public.

You get it on your government channel, you get it into the papers, you get it into the radio stations. At one time, the municipalities had a group... I see that as playing a big part, because the messages we sent out as municipalities was a combined effort of the same message to all the residents, even though [different municipalities were accepting different materials]. We need to get back on the same boat when it comes to advertising what we allow in our bins. I think that’s going to be a critical piece when it comes to spreading the message out in a metropolitan area, even reaching out as far as Tucson goes.

Cristina Polsgrove, Public Information Officer, City of Tucson: There is an effort going on right now for people in the Maricopa County area to bring in all of us to start sharing similar messages, and we’re doing that in Tucson, and we’re working with a group here in the Valley. We’re also working with stakeholders in the Tucson area to get everyone on the

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same message, because the reality is, at least in Tucson, the recyclables that are being collected are going to the same processing facility, so they really shouldn’t have different lists.

Rich Allen, Salt River Landfill: You know, this all began because China changed the way they were accepting materials, and they were stopping taking materials. But, you know, prior to China becoming a big player, there was a lot more capacity for taking papers in the United States. We used to have a recycled fiber plant in northern Arizona, but they couldn’t compete with what the Chinese were paying for materials.

So, it’s going to take a while to build back that capacity. You’re starting to see it. Not in the Western United States, but you’re seeing it in the Midwest and you’re seeing it on the East Coast.

What you’re seeing is that the Chinese are actually getting involved in it. They’re taking ownership of plants in the United States, that way they only can ship over the pulp and they don’t have to take all the garbage that was coming with these loads. But it’s going to take a while to get that capacity back to what it was. The one thing I caution anyone who is thinking of landfilling, is that you have to be upfront with your council and you have to be upfront with your residents, because the last thing you want is [TV stations] coming out there and you were supposed to be taking it to the recycling plant and now it’s going to the landfill. You have to be upfront. Maybe the residents are willing to pay an extra $2 a month or whatever just to make sure it is recyclable. But, you won’t know until you ask them.

Green Living Magazine: What do you see for the future of the industry?

Ernie Ruiz: Everything going to cans! Beer, soda, water.

Pat L. Tapia: You’re starting to see that, actually. I have seen Dasani bottling water in aluminum cans when it used to be in plastic bottles only.

Cristina Polsgrove: Water is even going into aluminum cans.

Matt Morales, Landfill Project Manager, City of Flagstaff: There’s going to have to be a change in the industry, as far as the manufacturers go.

Rich Allen: That brings up a good point, actually, that the manufacturers of these products need to get the recyclers involved. They come up with these packaging materials and they don’t even think twice about what the end result of that packaging materials will be.

I remember when Miller came out with a new type of plastic beer bottle that nobody was recycling that number plastic. If they had just gotten with recycling folks ahead of time, they could have probably dealt with it easier.

greenlivingaz.com

Matt Morales: Last year at our national conference, Procter & Gamble was there and talking about what they were doing to try and be not only ahead of the curve with this issue, but ahead for the next 20 years. With as much plastic as they produce, they could have just put their head in the sand, and not have a conscious thought about it, but we do see that producer responsibility is increasing.

being in a city that accepts glass. If all of the cities could get on the same page, that would make it a lot easier for everyone.

And this translates to our education efforts. In Scottsdale, we have a 10% contamination rate. This isn’t by accident. Our outreach team devotes a lot of time in our schools reminding kids, why it’s important to recycle, what is recyclable, and why certain items aren’t recyclable. The message needs to be consistent. It shouldn’t matter on the city or state you live in.

Rich Allen: Well, in this state too, [recycling] is being done voluntarily. There are no laws or regulations requiring recycling, and that makes it harder to do. Whereas in California, they have laws basically saying that you’ve got to divert a certain percentage from the landfill or you face financial penalties. They also go after the producers—they’ve got to take back old carpet, they’ve got to take back old paints and things of that nature. I’d fall out of my chair if they passed those laws here. Tires are the only thing they mandate get recycled.

With regards to changing packaging practices, we had a representative from Procter & Gamble attend one of our meetings. This representative talked about why they use pouches to package tuna versus tin cans. While these pouches may not be recyclable now, or in the future, the energy expended to make them is far less than a tin can. Also, the efficiency savings derived from this form of packaging has reduced their transportation needs. With all things considered, they [Procter & Gamble] see pouches having less impact to our environment than tin cans.

Sean Tebbe, Director of Business Development, HUB Environmental Group: I just think it’s a complicated issue.

In order to find a solution, we have to first acknowledge why we are in this predicament. As a society, we must invest in and encourage innovation.

I think a lot of municipalities are going to be challenged with what to do with recycling in the very near future. They obviously can’t discontinue the service to customers long term. I do believe, however, they need to reeducate residents about which commodities can go in the cans, based on value.

We’ve got to expedite this process and possibly introduce some incentives for innovation in this country so we can solve our own problems… and as quickly as possible.

Pat L. Tapia: When we first started recycling in Tucson, we had a curbside sort program. We had an operator on the truck who would jump out of the truck, take the recyclables that were collected, and leave the debris behind with a note that they weren’t recyclable and to throw them away. So we were producing a good product; things were clean when they got to the MRF. But everyone forgets how expensive that was and what kind of labor, time and equipment went into that.

Some believe we should go back to that and I say ok, we can, but with the understanding that we’ll almost need to double our current collection routes, as well as need that much more equipment. No one can justify taking all these steps back; we need to really look at what makes the most sense going forward. The whole reason we went to automation and getting a container was to save money and manpower. So, it’s really difficult to go back. No doubt it’s going to get you a cleaner/ better material, but is that savings going to offset how much you’re going to save operationally?

Dave Bennett: Just listening to everybody here, if you look at our industry it’s very fragmented—across the United States and even here in Arizona, you can drive five minutes and be in one city that accepts something, and then five minutes later, greenlivingaz.com

Ernie Ruiz: A lot of things that people don’t factor in is the carbon footprint being put out to collect this material when it really has no value right now or it’s not making its way to an end user that’s actually going to use it. The carbon footprint when you factor in how much fuel it’s taking to pick this material up, and the amount of time it’s taking to process it, and the amount of electricity that’s being used at the MRF to process it, and everything else. Right now, recycling is a negative. A huge negative when you put all the numbers together. But again, we’re doing it for the residents because that’s what they want. I think that as long as they’re educated and you’re being transparent about what’s actually happening and they still want it, we’re here at the municipalities to serve our residents and that’s what we’re going to do when it all comes down to it.

Pat L. Tapia: I think we need to emphasize that using landfills are okay, especially with the gas and energy programs going on there. It’s a good thing. There are many programs and benefits to using landfills. There are alternate programs like composting that are a good thing. Even though it’s going to a landfill, it doesn’t need to be negative. I think we’ve been sending that negative message to everyone, saying, “If it’s going to a landfill, that’s bad, bad, bad. It has to be recycled.” But landfills generate gases that will help the environment, as well, among other options. I think the landfill guys are really going to be able to say, “Hey, this is a good thing for us if you bring it to us.”

Cristina Polsgrove: Yes, for the landfill, we’ve been saying for years that it’s a bad thing and to keep as much out of it as we can, but in these communities where it’s much more densely populated and much more limited on land, yeah, they can’t build landfills, so they have to have other options. But, you have to look at your environment, and here in Arizona that’s not a problem. And it’s very price-efficient. [Plus], knowing what I know now about how they’re regulated, I wouldn’t worry about environmental impact.

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TANK’S GREEN STUFF IS HELPING TO REDUCE OUR IMPACT ON THE ENVIRONMENT THE COMPANY SETS ITS SIGHTS ON BEING A LEADER IN SUSTAINABILITY IN THE SOUTHWEST

BY ANDREW WEI

A

s a company, Tank’s Green Stuff has big goals: To help the Earth; to expand from being a leader in sustainability in Arizona to a leader in sustainability across the Southwest; and to help make affordable, quality organic agricultural materials to the Industry from recycled inputs.

waste,” and thought it better to recycle and repurpose it.

Tank’s Green Stuff was originally born out of both happenstance and necessity. The company’s mission is “to create value added products from stuff that was once considered waste, to create jobs and great products that can be used to build a sustainable local economy.” It provides organic and natural garden and landscape materials that are “Good for People, Plants and Planet.”

Construction industry recycling focuses on all the big things like metal and wood, for starters. But it also covers materials like concrete—which can be repurposed by crushing to a specific size and reusing as roadway foundations or driveways.

Wood becomes horse bedding and metal is melted into new ingots. Practically speaking, there is a recycled product that can be made from most construction debris that would otherwise be destined for the landfill.

NEW COMPANIES ARE BORN Its evolution came under the direction of owner Jason Tankersley.

Founded in the late 1980s, the parent company, The Fairfax Companies, became Southern Arizona’s leader for the construction, demolition and landscape waste industry. In 2008, Tank’s was feeling the pressures of economic downturn [with many others in the industry]. Tankersley, who had taken over the company after his father’s passing, decided to pursue a new direction: manufacturing.

After the economy crashed, there was a shortage of contract awards, Tankersley explains.

Tankersley believed “it wouldn’t be right to just bury the

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That was the beginning of Tank’s Green Stuff and Tank’s Roll-Off.

MATERIALS ARRIVE

But, each product is another material to sort; another material to screen, filter and process.

This factor of the industry, guaranteed labor costs, was another motivator for Tankersley, who was fighting to find a way to help his employees keep food on the table.

Now that lumber must be shredded for bedding and aluminum must be sorted from steel before each can be sorted, ground up, melted down or redirected, the reality is a little different. All of these various things require human operators to do it, and tools to make it happen.

Green, biodegradable waste (landscaping, yard trimmings, etc.) still remains the biggest incoming material that Tank’s receives, says Emily Rockey, Tank’s head of sales and greenlivingaz.com

marketing. Ordinarily the material would be buried in the landfill, but Tankersley had another, simple solution: create landscape and garden products like compost and mulch.

“It can be profitable,” says Rockey. “But at the moment, it is still more of a labor of love.”

Viable as the recycling business was to keep afloat, it only solved part of the problem with the waste they were collecting in recycling and roll-off, as well as being able to grow to be a leader in Arizona’s sustainability community.

These organic materials are perfect for at-home gardeners and landscaping projects, commercial nurseries and growers, large- and small-scale farmers, mine/land remediation projects, roadways, and more.

THE NEXT DIRECTION Currently, Tank’s is opening a larger operation with more efficient processes, and has invested in a new facility in Tucson on South Wilmot.

Tankersley is working to lower overhead and ultimately the

Each year, Tank’s diverts over 150,000 cubic yards of green landscape waste from landfills, transforming it into 50,000 cubic yards of organic compost—enough to overfill 15 Olympic-sized swimming pools. Tank’s Green Stuff is available in over 80 retail locations in Arizona, including independent nurseries and select Ace Hardware stores.

CREATING TOP-NOTCH COMPOST “Most people don’t know that there are locally made, quality, organic gardening materials accessible to them,” Rockey says, noting that often people will go into big box stores for subpar products.

In fact, there are entire organizations surrounding just that—awareness for the creation and implementation of organic lawn and garden materials.

One such community authority, the United States Composting Council (USCC), strives to “[advance] compost manufacturing, compost utilization, and organics recycling,” for its communities, members and the environment as a whole.

Tank’s Green Stuff offers 100% organic compost that is Organic Materials Review Institute-Listed Organic and meets the highest standards of the USCC’s Seal of Testing Assurance program.

The result is a quality product, superior to standard landscaping materials in that the compost can restore the soil’s natural biome and natural mulches that help retain up to 30% more water.

greenlivingaz.com

price tag of its products so that they can be accessible for an even larger audience. He believes that organic landscaping and agricultural materials are crucial to a sustainable future—and Tank’s Green Stuff is one company working to make that future a reality.

Each year, Tank’s diverts over 150,000 cubic yards of green landscape waste from landfills, transforming it into 50,000 cubic yards of organic compost—enough to overfill 15 Olympicsized swimming pools.

Tank’s Green Stuff is available in over 80 retail locations in Arizona, including independent nurseries and select Ace Hardware stores.

For more information, visit www.tanksgreenstuff.com.

Andrew Wei is a soon-to-graduate senior at the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication, with a secondary major in political science and a focused look at democracy and international politics. He is passionate about sustainability and reform to help restore our Earth to some of its former natural glory. Wei juggles his time between Arizona State, Green Living Magazine and working as a solar consultant when he is not hanging out with friends.

October 2019 | greenliving

33

EACH MONTH WE FEATURE A GREEN CHAMPION WHO IS MAKING STRIDES IN THE GREEN COMMUNITY

GREEN PIONEER: FORD MOTOR CO. GOING THE DISTANCE TO MAKE A GLOBAL DIFFERENCE

BY ALISON BAILIN BATZ

I

f you drive a Ford, chances are your car’s underbody skin came from… a recycling bin?

It’s true!

That’s because each year Ford recycles 1.2 billion plastic bottles by using them as underbody shields.

“We are recycling and reusing about 250 bottles per vehicle,” says Sue Rokosz, Ford Motor Company senior environmental engineer, who also notes that the use of recycled bottles improves aerodynamics, which could improve fuel economy and result in less noise pollution.

Something else that amplifies impact: sharing.

“We’re all in this together,” says Rokosz. “As such, we are especially proud of PACE, which stands for Partnership for A Cleaner Environment, and focuses on ways we can help our supplier partners implement sustainable initiatives in their operations.”

One of PACE’s biggest success stories is focused on water.

“Since 2000, we’ve been able to reduce water use per vehicle by 61%.

By 2020, we expect to reduce use by nearly 75%,” says Rokosz. “Through Ford was the first automaker to use PACE, we’ve helped our suppliers to recycled plastics for wheel liners on the Ford Motor Company senior environmental implement some of these initiatives European Escort back in 2006. Over the engineer Sue Rokosz. in their facilities, and helped them to past decade, aerodynamics has driven share learnings down the supply chain, the need for underbody shields, and the magnifying the impact.” global use of plastics in vehicle parts has grown exponentially.

“Here’s how it works: when plastic bottles are thrown into a recycling bin, they are collected with thousands of others, and shredded into small pieces,” says Rokosz. “That’s typically sold to suppliers who turn it into a fiber, by melting the bottle and extruding it. Those fibers are mixed together with other various types of fiber in a textile process, and used to make a sheet of material—which is then used to make the automotive parts.”

Speaking of water, helping conserve it and provide it to those in need is of particular importance to Ford.

Ideas like this are nothing new for the brand, which has 35 dealerships across Arizona, including Sanderson Ford, San Tan Ford, Rodeo Ford, and Earnhardt Ford.

“Getting involved should be part of everyone’s business mission, at all levels,” says Rokosz.

“Many of our plants are in areas where access to clean water is an issue,” says Rokosz.

As such, Ford has Ford Fund, focused on helping people gain access to things they need most in order to reach their full potential, including helping them gain access to clean water.

“Look at founder Henry Ford. He planted soy on company farms and used it to develop early versions of plastics and other products,” says Rokosz.

This sentiment is echoed locally. For example, Phoenix-area Ford dealers launched “Fill an F-150” to help The Salvation Army during summer months. Since its launch in 2012, more than 700,000 bottles have been collected.

Current Executive Chairman William Ford Jr. takes it just as seriously.

“If we work together, we can drive the world forward with care and meaningful innovation,” says Rokosz.

“He walks the walk when it comes to our promise to be an always-greener Ford,” says Rokosz. “He committed to use 100% renewable energy in all of our manufacturing plants by 2035.

And, he committed Ford to eliminating single-use plastics at all worldwide operations by 2030.”

Alison Bailin Batz is a freelance writer based in Phoenix. She has covered the Valley business and entertainment scene for more than a decade, and also writes on food, drink and travel across the country. To reach her, email abailin@hmapr.com.

If you want to nominate a Green Champion, please email editor@greenlivingaz.com

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greenliving | October 2019

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October 2019 | greenliving

35

TINY TRAVEL

Photos by Shay Perryman

TOURISM’S VERY OWN MINIMALIST MOVEMENT

BY SHAY PERRYMAN

L

ess is more. This sentiment resonates in one of tourism’s newest trends, tiny travel. The hustle of everyday life can leave one longing for less—and the market to meet that demand is growing in many destinations.

how much stuff you drag along. Traveling light is symbolic of the growing trend toward a minimalist lifestyle. It represents environmental altruism because, after all, requiring less translates into the generation, use and disposal of less.

How would you like to walk into one of those picturesque spots where an Airstream is nestled in the forest, with the air offering as much fragrance as the ambiance does enchantment? Or, stay in a posh camper van along the Pacific Coast Highway, the thunder of high tide your alarm clock?

What about a tiny house that allows you to practice, albeit briefly, a minimalist lifestyle? You’re in luck.

The resources you require while traveling indicate your level of impact.

WHY IS TINY TRAVEL SUCH A BIG DEAL? My first trip abroad was to Nicaragua. Standard-sized backpack in tow, packed the night before flying out, I was ready to live with very little for two weeks. I found that it was, well… I just did laundry more often. I stayed in hostels where the amenities offered were scant but essential. Clean drinking water, strong coffee, security, and a comfortable bed.

Over time I realized that “tiny travel” isn’t necessarily about

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Don’t get me wrong—my airline emissions tally doesn’t quite afford me a soapbox to stand on, but it has imparted a bit of perspective. I think the greatest defense we have against tourism’s impact on our planet is the collective actions of individuals.

Tiny travel allows you to be comforted by your senses and discoveries instead of your possessions. Perhaps for some it’s a relief from these luxuries that eases the ironically stressed lives we lead. The many things we enjoy require care; from daily chores to supporting hobbies, we have a pace to keep with families, school, pets and careers.

Sometimes I think that our inner child wants to relive those memorable moments from growing up. Do you remember the excitement of building forts out of couch cushions? Tent greenlivingaz.com

camping in the living room? Tiny living spaces may very well be that childhood joy trying to find the same thrill from an adult’s perspective.

TRY IT ON FOR SIZE ONE DAY

Rent a campervan (road trip!). One of the most liberating feelings on the road is to tow your accommodation around with you—not to mention you save a little time (un)packing!

However, trade-offs come into play when you compare energy-intensive hotel stays with the potentially higher output of a 3- to 4-ton wagon and the miles being cast behind it.

Nevertheless, it can be comfortable and will be memorable.

Backpack. One of my fondest memories from abroad involved a cave, a corn harvest, and a family of semi-nomadic pastoralists. My home My accommodation for the evening in Dades Valley, Morocco. for one night was nestled inside this cave, surrounded by a gorgeous and a reverence for the astounding landscapes of our world. dusty-orange landscape that chased the horizon straight across This alone is something to be enjoyed and celebrated.

North Africa to the Mediterranean Sea. I wore borrowed shoes two sizes too big and carried nothing but water, a toothbrush Shay Perryman recently graduated with a master’s degree in and a sleeping bag.

To say that I felt insignificant in this landscape is an understatement. The small cave where I found shelter is what gifted me with a sense of pertinence.

Sustainable Tourism (MST) through Arizona State University’s Center for Sustainable Tourism, with a focus on pro-poor destination development. She manages her own travel blog at www. beyondcuriositytravel.com, and has studied and volunteered in Ghana, Guatemala and Oaxaca, Mexico. She is currently working as an interpretive park ranger in her home state of California.

Stay in a hostel! Noisy parties, noisy youth and the threat of bed bugs are not defining characteristics of dorm rooms. I Home for a night, just steps above the beach. know because I have been quite successful at avoiding them.

Discomfort and tiny travel are not mutually exclusive. Hostels usually cater to a backpacking culture that has arguably embraced minimalist living the most thoroughly.

LESS IS NOT ONLY MORE, IT IS OFTEN SUSTAINABLE Tiny travel isn’t just a symbol of minimalist trends in living, it can be an adventure in and of itself. It can liberate us from the constraint of the upkeep required of having more.

Thriving on the bare essentials empowers one to become more efficient at being efficient!

Traveling light implies a focused appreciation for sharing in the most fundamental joys of the human experience with destination hosts greenlivingaz.com

October 2019 | greenliving

37

BATTING FOR CHANGE

IT’S GAME ON AS THE ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS TAKE ON SUSTAINABILITY

BY MICHELLE GLICKSMAN

“S

ustainability has always been important to the Arizona Diamondbacks as a whole,” says Matt Helmeid, sr. director, special projects & fan experience. “Things have changed in the 25 years since [Chase Field] was being built. The building here wasn’t built to LEED certification in 1998, but what we’ve done over time is make improvements where we can.”

Helmeid has been part of the D-backs organization since 2009, and been in special projects since 2011. For him, sustainability is not only a job, but a passion project. He’s hoping that by implementing changes at Chase Field, not only will that make an impact, but perhaps will inspire others to make changes in their lives, as well.

“I think it’s our responsibility as an MLB franchise to be a good steward of the community and a good steward of the environment. And, to show fans that if we can make changes on this big a level, then [they can] do this at home too and make changes for good.”

FIRST-OF-ITS-KIND Although Chase Field was not built to LEED certification, when Salt River Fields at Talking Stick—the spring training home of both the D-backs and the Colorado Rockies— was built, it received LEED Gold Certification for New Construction and was the first LEED Gold-certified sports venue of its kind in the United States.

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greenliving | October 2019

Photo by Kelsey Grant/Arizona Diamondbacks

“We’re immensely proud of that building,” Helmeid says.

“We put a ton of green elements into that entire facility.”

When built, the facility was situated to provide maximum shade via the angles of the sun. There was also native vegetation incorporated to minimize the amount of storm water runoff, the HVAC was designed to maximize efficiency, and two-thirds of the parking lots are grass lots.

It opened in 2011.

THE APS SOLAR PAVILION It was a busy year for the D-backs in 2011, as another major project had also been underway.

Built for the All-Star game in 2011, The APS Solar Pavilion was “the first real project” at Chase Field, Helmeid says.

Covering 17,280 square feet above the Chase Field plaza near the ballpark’s western entrances and ticket office, the pavilion provides extra shade over the ballpark’s heaviest used entrances. It also generates 100,000 kWh of solar energy— which is enough electricity to power the lights at Chase Field for 11 home games!

DIVING INTO SUSTAINABILITY By 2016, the D-backs’ organization “decided to take a deep dive into sustainability,” Helmeid says. “We had recycle bins, but we weren’t collecting food waste.”

The organization looked at what it could implement and greenlivingaz.com

accomplish, and by 2017, they had made substantial strides.

All garbage bins around the stadium were replaced with double bins in partnership with Waste Management. The bins themselves were also eco-friendly—each was made with 1,300 recycled milk jugs. “[The recycle bins] have been huge in terms of diversion,” says Helmeid. “We’ve seen an increase of over 200% recycling tonnage just due to that change alone, because fans have an easier way to dispose of waste.”

As well, in 2017, a formal compost program was also launched. The D-backs again worked with Waste Management, as well as local composter Gro-Well, to collect food waste from the stadium. A separate bin was placed outside the stadium to help with this, and before, during and after every game the food waste is diverted from the landfill.

According to Helmeid, more than 100 tons of material have been diverted over the past three seasons.

And, since synthetic grass does not need to be exposed to sunlight, the change also means that the stadium’s roof can be closed longer, which translates into less energy needed to keep the space cool. Additionally, a closed roof also helps keep dirt and dust out, keeping the interior cleaner, so less chemicals are needed to clean.

OTHER CHANGES “The beauty of the D-backs is that we’re a forward-thinking organization and we’re always trying to be better and do better on a daily basis, and sustainability is part of that,” Helmeid says.

Other changes the D-backs have implemented include swapping the concourse lights to energy-efficient LED blubs, installing electric vehicle chargers, printing tickets on recycled paper with soy ink, Game Day and Concessions Staff uniforms made with recycled plastic bottles, using a chilled water loop air conditioning system, and more.

“We’ve also done food donation for seven-plus years,” he shares, “but we’ve now put more focus on it, and try to collect as much edible food waste as possible. In the last two years, we’ve donated around 25 tons of unused concessions food. Every night the group we donate to comes and picks it up. We’ve provided over 38,000 individual meals over the past three seasons.”

The same year saw a concerted effort to make changes in the facility’s restrooms. Paper towel dispensers were removed (one remains in each restroom) and replaced with low-energy hand driers—a change that’s led to more than 700 miles of paper towels diverted from the waystream during the past two seasons. As well, low-flow flush valves were installed in toilets and urinals, and low-flow aerators on all faucets.

A UNIQUE GARDEN Those passing by Jefferson and 4th streets may notice a unique sight—a vertical garden growing on the side of Chase Field.

The garden, which includes items such as basil, chives and green onions, was created by Flower Street Urban Gardens and is the first vertical garden in the MLB. The food grown is then used in items prepared at the ballpark. Schoolchildren can also visit the garden and take seeds home with them.

“We’re showing fans that if we can grow herbs on the side of the ballpark, you can do it at home too if you’re interested,” Helmeid says.

FIELD OF DREAMS Another big change at Chase Field?

“For the first 20 seasons we had natural grass. That meant we needed water and fertilizer, and keeping the roof open for sunlight. This year we installed synthetic grass,” says Helmeid.

“We save a tremendous amount of water.”

The synthetic grass is not only organic, but “it feels like dirt and it plays like real grass,” he says.

The change is projected to save two million gallons of water each season, which is an approximate 90% savings from what was previously being used in a season. As well, having synthetic grass eliminates the need for the use of fertilizer. greenlivingaz.com

Photo by Sarah Sachs/Arizona Diamondbacks

“We’re always exploring different options,” Helmeid explains. “We’re also members of the Green Sports Alliance, which is basically a coalition of professional sports teams, venues and businesses who are looking to advance sustainability through sports. We’re proud to be a part of that.

They have summits every year where people get together from all around the world. We’re always paying attention to those and trying to implement green best practices. We’re looking at compostable servicewear and changes to straws. Once we know that our composter could collect those materials and compost them, we can make a change. We’re also looking at LED field lights.

“Our point is that if we can do it here at Chase Field, you can do it at home,” he continues. “And if we can [influence] a fraction of those fans to make changes at home, or to tell someone about a change they could make, our impact spreads.

“We try to communicate with the fans in multiple ways so we’re not preaching to them, but we’re trying to get that information in front of them in a very organic way, and hopefully they take that home with them.

If we get 1% of fans to make a change, that makes a huge impact across the board.”

Michelle Glicksman is the editor-in-chief of Green Living Magazine.

Follow her on Instagram at @michelleglicksman.

October 2019 | greenliving

39

RECIPES

Fall Flavors

PUMPKIN CARAMEL SCONES

Recipe courtesy of Cassie Tolman, of Pomegranate Café Photo by Kait Spielmaker

INGREDIENTS 4 cups white spelt flour ¼ cup cane sugar 2 Tbsp. baking powder 1 Tbsp. pumpkin spice ½ tsp. ground ginger 1 ¼ cup Earth Balance Butter 1 cup pumpkin puree ½ cup rice milk CARAMEL SAUCE 1 cup dates, soaked for 10 minutes in hot water (pits removed) ½ cup full fat coconut milk 1 tsp. vanilla Pinch of sea salt Preheat oven to 350° F. In a mixer, mix spelt flour, cane sugar, baking powder, pumpkin spice and ground ginger. Add butter and let mix on medium speed until dough is a pea-like texture.

On slow speed, add pumpkin puree and rice milk. Do not overmix. Let dough chill in refrigerator for one hour. Cut dough in half. Cut halves into five even scones. Bake for 20 minutes, rotating once halfway. To make the caramel sauce, blend all caramel sauce ingredients together. Once the scones are cooled, drizzle the caramel sauce over the top of the scones.

GINGER SNAP JUICE

Recipe courtesy of Cassie Tolman, of Pomegranate Café Photo by Kait Spielmaker

INGREDIENTS 2 carrots 2 apples ½ lemon 1-inch piece of fresh ginger Dash of cinnamon DIRECTIONS

Juice all items in a juicer. Sprinkle a dash of cinnamon on top and enjoy steamed or chilled!

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greenliving | October 2019

greenlivingaz.com

AUTUMN CHIPOTLE PRIMAVERA Recipe courtesy of Cassie Tolman, of Pomegranate Café Photo by Kait Spielmaker

PUMPKIN CRANBERRY CHIP BARS Recipe courtesy of Garden Cafe, an organic student-run Cafe Photo courtesy of Garden Cafe

INGREDIENTS

1 cup 100% pure pumpkin puree ¼ cup melted coconut oil ¼ cup + 2 Tbsp. pure maple syrup ½ cup coconut sugar 2 flax eggs (2 Tbsp. ground flax + 6 Tbsp. water, whisk together, let sit for 15 minutes) 2 tsp. pure vanilla extract 2½ cups gluten-free rolled oats 1¼ cups gluten-free oat flour 1 tsp. baking soda ½ tsp. baking powder 1 tsp. ground cinnamon 1 tsp. pumpkin spice ¼ tsp. salt OPTIONAL ADD-INS ¼ cup vegan chocolate chips Sprinkle of ground cinnamon MAPLE FROSTING 1 cup vegan cream cheese 2 Tbsp. pure maple syrup ¼ tsp. pumpkin spice Preheat oven to 350° F. Line an 8” square pan with parchment paper and set aside. Whisk together all wet ingredients until combined. In a separate bowl, whisk together all dry ingredients. Add dry ingredients into the wet ingredients bowl, stirring together until no flour patches remain. Fold in chocolate chips and cranberries. Pour batter into prepared pan and smooth out into an even layer with a rubber spatula.

Bake for 20-30 minutes, until the edges have browned. Allow to cool on cooling rack for about an hour. Make the frosting while you wait.

CHIPOTLE SAUCE 10 Roma tomatoes, cut in half 1 yellow onion, peeled and rough chopped 5 cloves of garlic, peeled 1 Tbsp. chipotle powder 2 cups cashews (pre-soaked in water for 1+ hours) 6 cups rice milk Sea salt and black pepper AUTUMN VEGETABLES 5 cups peeled and chopped autumn vegetables (onion, broccoli, carrots, cauliflower, hearty greens, parsnips, etc.)

2 Tbsp. olive oil ¼ cup white wine PASTA 1 (12 oz.) package gluten-free or whole grain penne or macaroni MAKE THE CHIPOTLE SAUCE Preheat oven to 400° F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and drizzle with olive oil.

Place the tomatoes cut-side down, along with the onion and garlic onto the sheet pan and roast until skins have softened and tomatoes are cooked through and juicy (30-40 minutes).

Place roasted tomatoes, onions & garlic in a blender with chipotle powder, cashews, rice milk, salt and pepper. Blend until smooth and creamy.

PREPARE AUTUMN VEGETABLES Warm olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add chopped autumn vegetables (season to taste with sea salt and black pepper) and sauté for 8-10 minutes (if you are using hearty greens, wait until the final minutes of cooking to add them to the skillet). Pour white wine into the skillet and cook another minute or two, until the liquid is reduced. Transfer to bowl.

COOK THE PASTA Boil pasta in a pot of salted water until al dente, drain the pasta, then add to the bowl of vegetables.

Top with the chipotle sauce and enjoy!

FROSTING Place all ingredients in a large bowl and mix with a handheld electric mixer until fluffy and well combined. Once cool, lift bards out of the pan, slice and frost. Top bars with chocolate chips and a sprinkle of cinnamon. greenlivingaz.com

October 2019 | greenliving

41

COOLOUTRAGEOUSSTUFF DR. BRONNER’S 18-IN-1 PURE-CASTILE SOAPS

Laundry, bug repellent, toothpaste, dish soap, body wash, facial cleanser… the list is almost endless; Dr. Bronner’s 18-in-1 Pure-Castile soap really is a miracle worker. Unlike other soaps that are loaded with extra chemicals and toxins, this soap is made with few ingredients and is certified fair trade. Available in soap bar or liquid form, castile soap uses organic oils to cleanse, which means no added toxins, natural hydration, it won’t gunk up your pores, and it’s safe for even the most sensitive skin. Be sure to dilute the solution to the recipe for whatever application you’re using it for (recipes provided). $18.49/32 oz. liquid soap at www.shop.drbronner.com.

SAFER BRAND DIATOMACEOUS EARTH

Can’t get rid of those pesky earwigs? Diatomaceous earth is a food-grade sourced pesticide that is made from crushed fossilized algae. Though it feels like a fine powder, it actually is tiny fossil shards that are sharp when the insects with delicate exoskeletons encounter them, and ultimately tears their exoskeletons and dehydrates them. This product is good for ants and crawling insects, such as cockroaches, ants, fleas and more. Guaranteed to work inside and outdoors, a 4 lb. bag retails for $11.99 at www.saferbrand.com.

ARIZONA WORM FARM’S WORM CASTINGS

If you need a natural fertilizer, consider Worm Castings from Arizona Worm Farm. Vermicompost (worm castings) are a nutrient-dense soil amendment. In fact, worm castings are the richest natural fertilizer, according to the company. Since they contain nutrients in plant available form, they are easily absorbed and so easily stimulate plant growth. Prices start at $5 for a half-gallon at www.arizonawormfarm.com.

COBRAHEAD ORIGINAL WEEDER AND CULTIVATOR GARDEN TOOL

Weeds-be-gone! The CobraHead Original Weeder and Cultivator is an American-made, sustainably sourced weeder with an answer for every weed overgrowth in the yard and a way to cultivate any soil, even clay. Retailing at $27.95, the tool is specifically designed to allow for weeding from a comfortable position with an ambidextrous grip made from 100% recycled polypropylene and strengthened with post-consumer recycled wood fibers. Find it at www.cobrahead.com.

DADDY BURT’S STANDARD STRENGTH (THC FREE) CBD OIL

Daddy Burt Hemp Co. offers hemp-derived CBD that is THC-free and third-party lab tested to provide accurate CBD potency and cannaboid ratios. CBD is used for health and wellness for a variety of conditions, including anxiety, joint aches and mood. 750 MG is $74.95 at www.daddyburt.com.

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greenliving | October 2019

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October 2019 | greenliving

43

SHE’S GREEN JOHN BURKHART

HE’S GREEN

HALLOWEEN CANDY

Product reviews from our eco-conscious couple John & Jennifer Burkhart

JENNIFER BURKHART

With Halloween approaching, it’s hard not to think about all.the.candy. We sure do enjoy seeing more natural and organic candy in those buckets every year. Admittedly, we look forward to the end of the night, sneaking chocolates from our kids’ haul (hey, we walked all that way too!). Naturally, here are some candy reviews to delight or displease the taste buds of adults and kids alike.

ANNIE’S

ORGANIC REALLY PEELY FRUIT TAPE, STRAWBERRY AND BERRY HE SAID: This one really brings out the kid in me. I always have to

put the roll on my finger and eat it like a paper shredder. Usually about halfway through I have that moment of clarity where I realize I’m a 37-year-old with a foot-and-a-half of fruit tape hanging out of my mouth, and all the other parents are staring at me. The adult in me is happy that there’s nothing artificial and no high fructose corn syrup in these.

SHE SAID: As a parent, fruit tape translates to insta-cavity.

Imagine my surprise when this one didn’t gunk up my molars or stick to my fingers. Annie’s hits a home run with these intensely flavored treats! And they did it without added sugar. It’s just fruit juices and purées—perfect for the little goblins at your door.

SEELY

DARK CHOCOLATE MINT PATTIES HE SAID: Oh man, these were as good as a cup of hot chocolate

on a snowy day. The dark chocolate coating was exquisite, and the peppermint filling was sweet and chilly. Seely puts all other peppermint patties to shame. These are the candy that when you see it, you tell your kids, “You wouldn’t like these. How about a fruit tape instead?”

SHE SAID: Somehow, Seely harnessed the frosty air of the

Arctic in a medallion-sized candy (read: must love peppermint).

They were delicious, though more chocolate would be amazing.

These super-rich, fancy patties are for the most discerning tastes, and are best for after the kiddos go to bed.

PROJECT 7

CHAMPAGNE DREAMS GOURMET GUMMIES HE SAID: Hooray! Now there’s a gummy bear for alcoholics. These

tasted exactly as advertised. The rosé gummy was floral and sweet, and the brut was crisp and dry. I don’t know about you, but I like my gummy bears to be sweet and my wine with alcohol in it. So these were basically the worst of both worlds. I honestly can’t think of a time I would ever need these.

SHE SAID: I’m a fan of soft gummy bears, not the chew-

till-your-jaw-hurts kind, so these fit the bill. But, I wouldn’t call them “gourmet” since they just tasted sweet, not like champagne (can we get the real stuff? Ha). What I love: organic ingredients, made in the USA, and giving back to non-profits that are changing the world.

RAAKA CHOCOLATE

YACÓN ROOT, UNROASTED DARK CHOCOLATE HE SAID: I want you to imagine the most delicious chocolate

you’ve ever tasted. Right now you’re probably thinking of something ultra-sweet, silky smooth, and rich with a lightly roasted nutty taste. Yeah, this Raaka Chocolate tasted nothing like that.

This is unroasted chocolate. Turns out roasting the beans is a very important step in making chocolate taste good. This was a bitter punch to the taste buds followed by a tart fruit taste. I literally winced every time I had to sample this.

SHE SAID: Well, unroasted chocolate was a new

adventure to me, and one that I don’t plan on revisiting.

The first taste was smooth chocolatey... deception! As I chewed it, I ended up with a mouthful of chalky bitterness. I guess I’m not sophisticated enough to enjoy this. Hopefully Raaka’s roasted chocolate bars are better.

YUM EARTH

ORGANIC SOUR TWISTS, WATERMELON LEMONADE HE SAID: Our boys loved these, so that’s worth a star or two right

there. I found these to be a bit too sour, and that’s coming from a guy who used to eat Warheads two at a time as a kid. I also found them a little tough for a gummy candy, which was hilarious when our 3-yearold tried to chew up half a pack at once. So yeah, not my cup of tea, but the kiddos loved them and that’s all that really matters in the end.

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SHE SAID: Level of sourness according to the facial-

contortion scale: HIGH. My jaw hurts just thinking about them.

Lemonade is sour already, so I’m not sure why Yum Earth felt the torture was necessary. The watermelon-lemonade flavor combo sounded awesome, but was overly sweet. The witches, vampires and ghosts at our door will likely love these little pouches, and I’ll be glad to pass them out!

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October 2019 | greenliving

45

GREEN SCENES

OCTOBER CALENDAR OF EVENTS CENTRAL ARIZONA Photo by Brian Poore

October 12 FULL MOON HIKE

Join an REI Outdoor School Instructor in this luminous night hiking event through the Phoenix Mountain Preserves. Learn about the best night hiking spots and tips on how to make the most of your next moonlight hike, all while admiring the scenery in a way you don’t usually get to do. The hike will begin at the 40th St. Trailhead at 6 p.m. and is $20 for members; $30 for non-members. Reserve your spot at www.rei.com.

October 12-13

2019 ULTIMATE WOMEN’S EXPO

Get pampered by beauty gurus, indulge your inner shopaholic, and enjoy the best that the 2019 Ultimate Women’s Expo has to offer, from cosmetics to entertainment and everything in-between. Feel empowered and inspired as you listen to this year’s fabulous keynote speakers, such as Kim Fields, Mindy Cohn, Teri Hatcher, MC Lyte and Dr. Lynn Richardson. The event will be held at Phoenix Convention Center, and has a $10 admission fee. For more information, visit www.azwomensexpo.com.

October 12– May 10, 2020

WILD RISING BY CRACKING ART

The Desert Botanical Garden’s latest art exhibit travels to Phoenix from Milan, bringing more than 1,000 animal sculptures made from recycled plastic. Cracking Art aims to show visitors that what people commonly refer to as waste can be repurposed into something magnificent.

46

greenliving | October 2019

The exhibit is free with general admission to the Garden, and fun for all ages. Visit www.dbg.org for more information.

October 13

MOONLIGHT YOGA

Lift your spirits up with the moon, as renowned yoga instructor and wellness mentor Veronica Clark guides you through a peaceful yoga practice under the stars. Part of Mountain Shadows’ new Sun, Moon & Stars Wellness Series, this event nurtures your body and soul. Included in the $25 ticket is also a glass of your choice of red or white wine. For more information, visit www.mountainshadows.com.

October 16

FREE FILM SCREENING: BAG IT

In this eye-opening film that follows “everyman” Jeb Berrier, learn how much of our modern life is tainted by plastics, and what we can do about it. Stay for a post-film discussion on microplastic pollution and the international recycling crisis led by ASU Biodesign Researcher Charlie Rosky and City of Tempe Recycling Coordinator Dawn Ratcliffe. The film begins at 7 p.m. at the Alamo Drafthouse Cinema in Tempe. For more information, visit www.sustainability.asu.edu/events.

October 18-20

MARICOPA COUNTY HOME AND GARDEN SHOW

Meet Emmy Award-winner Martha Stewart, make your own succulent terrariums and bath products, view vendors, take classes and more at this year’s Maricopa County Home Shows. For those 21-plus, top off your visit with a complimentary wine tasting. $8 for adult tickets; $3 for

children 3-12; free for children under age 3. The event is held at WestWorld of Scottsdale. For more event info, visit www. maricopacountyhomeshows.com.

October 19

SPEAK UP FOR KIDS HEALTH AND WELLNESS FAIR

Bring the kiddos to this superherothemed event, which features superhero appearances, games, food, a health fair exhibition, vendors, and more. Come dressed up as your favorite superhero and participate in a great cause. This free event will be held at Heritage Square from 10 a.m.- 2 p.m. For more information, visit http://azspeakupforkids.com/.

November 8

SUSTAINABILITY CELEBRATION: ARIZONA SUSTAINABILITY ALLIANCE’S INAUGURAL FUNDRAISING EVENT

AZSA seeks to implement cuttingedge, innovative sustainability projects across Arizona. Over the past two years the organization has brought together communities, corporations, and cities to address sustainability challenges in thoughtful and inspiring ways. From installing the first food computer for Arizona in Glendale High School to creating a tree nursery where youth can experiment with new growing methods, it has demonstrated the impact that a motivated group can have on our community. This evening celebrates the organization’s inaugural fundraising event. 5:30 p.m. at CREATE Makerspace at Arizona Science Center. To register, visit https://www.azsustainabilityalliance.com/ events/?eid=12095.

greenlivingaz.com

GREEN SCENES

OCTOBER CALENDAR OF EVENTS NORTHERN ARIZONA

SOUTHERN ARIZONA

October 12-13

October 4

October 21-24

Exhibiting the work of more than 125 artists in more than 10 different mediums, this festival encourages creative expression.

Watch live performances, meet local artists, visit the kids’ zone, and enjoy food while surrounded by the beautiful landscape of the Red Rock Mountains.

For more information, visit www. sedonaartsfestival.org.

Let loose at the Reid Park Zoo at this 21+ night of fun. Starting at 6 p.m., this event features local Tucson eats, auctions, animal ambassador presentations, live music and specialty cocktails, with all proceeds going to Reid Park Zoo. Sponsored by The Andrews Family Foundation. Tickets are $95 for zoo members; $125 for non-members. For more information, visit www.reidparkzoo.org.

Presented by the Arizona Chapter of the Solid Waste Association of North America, the annual WASTECON conference allows thousands of industry professionals to take part in training and networking, while also viewing products and equipment from a variety of vendors. Held at Phoenix Convention Center, this four-day event showcases new ways of innovation and sustainability. Visit www.swana.org to register.

SEDONA ARTS FESTIVAL

ZOOCSON 2019

October 13

October 5

Held every Sunday at Dark Sky Brewing in Flagstaff, this all-levels yoga class gets your week started right. Relax and unwind with neighbors during this easy yoga practice, and enjoy $1 off beer. Drop in for class at 10:30 a.m. for $8. For more information, visit www.darkskybrewing.com.

This all-female sprint race challenges and inspires. The event begins with a 400-meter swim, followed by a two-loop bike route, and finishes with a two-loop run through the park. Whether an experienced athlete or not, all women are encouraged to participate and mingle at the fun lead-up events. The event is held 6 a.m.- 11 a.m. in Oro Valley.

Registration is $100 and can be done at www.mightymujertriathlon.com/tucson.

PINTS N’ POSES YOGA

October 29

SEDONA MEDITATION MONDAY

Ease your mind during this free community meditation gathering from 5:30-6:30 p.m. at the pavilion at Posse Ground Park. Bring a blanket or chair to rest on and forget your responsibilities during this one hour of mindfulness. Sponsored by the Mental Health Coalition-Verde Valley, McLean Meditation Institute, Spectrum Healthcare, and Sedona International City of Peace.

Located at Posse Grounds Park. Find more at www.visitsedona.com.

greenlivingaz.com

MIGHTY MUJER TRIATHLON

October 19

BUSINESS

SWANA WASTECON

October 30

USGBC STATE CONFERENCE AND HUMAN FOOSBALL TOURNAMENT Join the U.S. Green Building Council for its 2019 State Conference at Tempe Center for the Arts, and learn how to be futureforward in the era of climate change. Come with your team and stay afterwards to compete in the annual Human Foosball Tournament, for a full day of sustainable fun. To register, visit www.usgbc.org.

29TH ANNUAL BISBEE 1000 THE GREAT STAIR CLIMB

Participate in a physical fitness challenge like no other. Featuring nine staircases connected by winding roads, this 4.5-mile course challenges runners and encourages walkers to venture the 1,000 total steps, while surrounded by the scenic views of Old Bisbee. From 7 a.m. to noon, test your endurance or simply enjoy the cool fall weather as you complete the trek. For more information and registration, visit www.bisbee1000.org.

October 2019 | greenliving

47

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