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CONTRIBUTERS’ ® What is your favorite “green” household product?

Issue 12 | The Sustainability Issue | July/Aug 2019

P U B L I S H E R . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Victoria Wise E D I T O R . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lee Virden Geurkink ILL U S T R A T O R . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Trish Wise L E A D D E S I G N . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sovic Designs

A: Uppa Tea in my

A: White vinegar – it’s

A: Seventh Generation

C O V E R D E S I G N . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lauren Foster

- Victoria Wise

- Lee Virden Geurkink

- Sarah Angle

glass water bottle

a great cleaner

dish liquid

C O N T R I B UTI N G W R I T E R S Sarah Angle Lyle Brooks Nicole Gorretta Lauren Foster Jackie EH Elliott, PhD Angela Weaver William Wise

A: A good pair of shoes for walking, not driving

A: Nature's Miracle Green Leaf stain and odor remover

- Lyle Brooks

- Kim Burnstad

A: Hay or bamboo straws-

A: Common Good’s lavender-

A: Seventh Generation all-purpose cleaner - Nicole Gorretta

A: Houseplants - Jackie EH Elliott, PhD

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER Kim Burnstad

Madeworthy Magazine is an extension of Tanglewood Moms, LLC., and serves to tell community stories for a family audience. For website and magazine advertising opportunities, please contact: Victoria@MadeworthyMedia.com

Almost every weekday, I take an afternoon walk through downtown. I walk from the Wells Fargo tower, over the bricks on Main Street, past the shops including Haltom’s Jewelers and their beautiful window displays, the Sid Richardson Museum, and restaurants to grab coffee at Starbucks.

I love watching the people in Sundance Square. If the weather is nice, there are kids running and playing in the fountains with parents sitting at the tables nearby, watching while enjoying a coffee or treat from the popsicle or ice cream cart nearby. The laughter of the kids splashing each other always brightens my coffee run and is a welcome break in my workday.

The mambo taxis on the Taco Diner patio always call my name, and don’t get me started on the appetizers and cocktails on the Del Frisco Grille patio. Shouldn’t those people be at work?

Walking through Sundance Square has always been the best part of working downtown. Not only is it always clean and safe, but it is beautiful and uniquely Fort Worth. It is the perfect blend of modern Cowtown and historical Fort Worth with great food, shopping, and entertainment sprinkled throughout. Take a walk through Sundance Square, and you see the hustle of the nine-to-fivers rushing from lunch, to a meeting, to the office, but you also notice tourists taking in the sights. You also see people enjoying the day having a drink or eating a delicious meal. The square is meticulously maintained and the center of community and business downtown, but there is more to Sundance Square than meets the eye.

In August of 2017, Sundance Square, which spans 35 blocks of mixed-use development in downtown Fort Worth, announced that they extended their nine-year relationship with Green Mountain Energy for an additional seven years.

Green Mountain Energy will provide renewable energy for all of Sundance Square’s 42 buildings.

Sundance Square has been very forthcoming about

they are biodegradable!

- Lauren Foster

scented all-purpose cleaner - Angela Weaver

their commitment to cleaner electricity, and this relationship will increase the amount of renewable energy used by the development from 50 percent to 100 percent. For comparison sake, this is estimated to avoid approximately 8.4 billion pounds of carbon dioxide through 2023. This is equivalent to planting more than 7 million trees.

This clean energy partnership with Green Mountain Energy advances Sundance Square’s leadership position in renewable energy and places Sundance Square as Texas’ largest green power purchaser in the real estate industry.

“We have partnered with Green Mountain Energy since 2008, and our relationship is an extension of our efforts to promote sustainability in downtown Fort Worth,” said Johnny Campbell, president and CEO of Sundance Square. “As companies seek out environmentally friendly developments for new retail and office spaces, Sundance Square is at the top of the list. We have created a business, entertainment and residential district that focuses on being a good steward of our environment, and Green Mountain Energy has been

A: Vinegar - Trish Wise

A: Old school shaving soap – no aluminum, no plastic, no harmful propellants - William Wise

a big part of this endeavor.”

The environmental impact of choosing renewable energy is significant for both Sundance Square and greater Fort Worth. Over the next seven years, Sundance Square expects to purchase approximately 453 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) of energy.

Sundance Square will also partner with Green Mountain to educate the community and stakeholders on the benefits of purchasing clean energy.

“Green Mountain Energy is excited to continue our partnership with Sundance Square as we celebrate 20 years of providing homes and businesses with the choice of clean electricity,” said Mark Parsons, vice president and general manager of Green Mountain Energy. “Sundance Square is the perfect showcase for the impact a business can have when they choose renewable energy, and we hope others in the region are inspired by them to protect our environment.”

There is more “green” in Sundance Square than just renewable energy. You can’t walk very far in Sundance Square without seeing one of the recycling bins located at convenient intervals. In an effort to keep the entire development clean for Fort Worthians and tourists alike, Sundance Square has a large and comprehensive sustainability program that recycles plastic bottles, aluminum cans, copy paper, cardboard boxes, newspapers, and other materials. With the total of 42 buildings in Sundance Square comprising nearly four million square feet of retail, residential, and office space, this amounts to nearly 750 tons of waste that is being recycled every year.

With all the effort that goes into making the award-winning Sundance Square both green and clean, it’s quite easy to see why Fort Worth is so proud of its square.

by Lyle Brooks

photo courtesy of The Meadows Center for Water and the Environment

DR. ANDREW SANSOM: T H E FAT H E R O F T E X A S W AT E R C O N S E R VAT I O N Everyone knows the importance of water. H2O comprises approximately 70% of both our planet and bodies. Beyond survival, water performs key functions in our environment: as a major factor in the transformation of geological structures, like coastlines, riverbeds, sediment, caves and mountains; and as a profound influence on weather regulation. Our behavior directly affects the quality and availability of this life-sustaining, miraculous molecule. As municipal populations continue growing throughout Texas, water scarcity is becoming a priority in many city and state administrative office buildings.

In San Marcos, Texas State University’s Meadows Center for Water and the Environment is at the forefront of freshwater research. The Spring Lake campus is situated around the unique body of water known for generations as “Aquarena Springs,” a former amusement park located at the headwaters of the San Marcos River. Texas State’s conversion of the facility was completed in 2005; restoration was finalized in 2013. In homage to the history of the springs, the Director of Environmental Strategy, Dr. Andrew Sansom, has a desk fashioned from the first glass-bottom boat in his office that was once the Honeymoon Suite of the Aquarena Inn. With eight federally protected species, including blind salamanders and fountain darters, the Center maintains precisely-monitored environmental parameters. The Center also works to spawn species that have never been spawned. Dr. Sansom warmly notes they have doubled the population of Texas’ first successfully grown wild rice. “Took us a while to figure out how to do that.”

More than fifty thousand students visit the springs every year as part of their robust educational program. This initiative extends into the training of Citizen Scientists, who measure water quality in the state’s rivers and streams every month. These two thousand active volunteers form an early warning system for water quality in Texas. Collected online, this data allows local leaders to develop remediation and conservation efforts. The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality recently awarded this program an Environmental Excellence Award for their impact.

As Executive Director of Texas Parks and Wildlife for 12 years before transitioning to the Meadows Center 18 years ago, Dr. Sansom adds, “Water permeated everything we did, from recreation to fish and wildlife. It is the biggest natural resource issue facing Texas in the coming generation.”

With the state’s consistent growth showing no signs of slowing, all communities are being forced to use water more efficiently. Naturally, water sustainability is a hot-button issue for Dr. Sansom. “One of the reasons the Rio Grande does not really get down into Texas anymore is because in the upper parts of the basin they grow hay which takes huge amounts of water out of the river. It doesn’t seem cost effective to do that.”

Texas has built no major new reservoirs in 25 years, so water conservation must start at the top. There is a gradual shift in city governments to the One Water philosophy which connects all forms of water in the system – municipal, rain, waste, and condensate – into a comprehensive, integrated management plan. Applying this approach to large water users like schools can help facilitate increased efficiency, as seen in Wimberly, where the school district recently announced a zero-waste year.

Any discussion of water conservation inevitably returns to convincing communities to alter their approaches to lawn care and gardening, which has valued lush grasses and plantings so highly for so long. Dr. Sansom notes that the Center is working with upscale neighborhoods known for water-heavy blooms, like azaleas, to find more regionally-suitable alternatives, placing the higher value on the water itself. San Antonio, El Paso, and Austin have made advances in lawn irrigation efficiency, and he elaborates, “The national leader in this regard is Las Vegas, Nevada, where homeowners can actually sell to the city every square foot of lawn converted from turfgrass to xeriscape.”

Leadership at all levels must find ways to make water conservation a priority in order to make any sort of real change. This troubles those like Dr. Sansom who know the significance of ignoring water. “Sadly, my opinion is major reforms in response to climate change will be difficult until we experience more extremes such as flooding in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey or the drought in 2011 – the worst on record.” While the legislative process may move more slowly than necessary, change is possible as individual Texans educate themselves on methods of water conservation. Sansom adds, “As daunting as we think it is, things are much worse in other parts of the world.”

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ingredients 1 clove garlic 2 tbsp. water 1 tsp. dill 1 tsp. black pepper 2 tsp. onions powder 1 tsp. salt 1 tbsp. apple cider vinegar 2 cups plus 2 tbsp. vegan mayonnaise ½ cup unsweetened soymilk 2 tbsp. lemon juice 1 ½ tbsp. dried parsley directions Blend garlic and water in a blender until the garlic is pureed. Add the rest of the ingredients except the parsley and blend until combined and smooth.

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FROM FOR T WOR TH'S FOOD MASTERS

MOJITO FRUIT S ALAD Meyer and Sage’s Callie Salls makes this refreshing and healthy fruit salad for her customers and delivers it to them in reusable glass containers.

mojito lime dressing ingredients ¼ cup local honey, room temperature or slightly warmed ¼ cup lime juice zest of 1 lime a couple pinches of sea salt (brings out the flavor of the fruit) dressing directions Whisk together in a bowl to combine. salad ingredients 1 ½ cups seedless watermelon, cubed small 1 ½ cups grapes, halved 1 cup blackberries

CARROT TOP CHIMICHURRI

1 cup blueberries 1 cup raspberries

Our publisher Victoria makes this delicious chimichurri out of the feathery tops of carrots which are usually thrown away. What a great way to make use of the whole carrot!

lime rounds and fresh mint, for garnish salad directions

ingredients

Combine fruit in a large bowl and delicately toss with mojito dressing, careful not to bruise the berries. Chill to marinate at least one hour before serving. Serve very chilled and garnished with fresh mint leaves and lime rounds.

1 cup carrot top leaves ½ cup olive oil 2 tbsp red wine vinegar

Serves 4 to 6.

1 tbsp lemon juice 1 tbsp chopped red onion 1 clove garlic 1 tsp kosher salt ¼ tsp black pepper ¼ tsp crushed red pepper directions Combine all the ingredients in a food processor. Blend until the ingredients are evenly chopped. Serve over chicken, beef, or seafood. Store in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

illustrations by Trish Wise 6

EV EN TS

ACTIVITIE S

Victoria Wise, TanglewoodMoms.com founder and Madeworthy publisher, brings you the top Fort Worth experiences. You do not want to miss these!

July 2 (all Tuesdays in July) Yoga in Burnett Park: Downtown Fort Worth | ymcafw.org

July 4 Fort Worth’s Fourth: Panther Island Pavilion | pantherislandpavilion.com

July 28 Methods of Self-Healing: Indra’s Grace Yoga Fort Worth | indrasgrace.com

Aug 1 NCHA Summer Spectacular: National Cutting Horse Association | nchacutting.com

Aug 1 Distillery Tour & Tasting: Acre Distilling | acredistilling.com

Aug 2-4 Carrie The Musical: Casa Mañana | casamanana.org

Aug 3 photo by Tarrant Regional Water District

Kimbell Kids Drop-in Studio: Kimbell Art Museum | kimbellart.org

July 5 Outdoor Film, Little Shop of Horrors: The Modern | themodern.org

July 5 David Allen Coe: Ridglea Theater | theridglea.com

July 6 Survive and Thrive with Native and Adapted Plants: Botanic Gardens | brit.org

July 6 Race Street Rollick: River East | Eventbrite.com

Aug 3 8th Annual Family Expo & Big Latch On: University Christian Church | biglatchon.org

July 7

LET’S DESIGN YOUR DREAM SPACE TOGETHER

MADE Festival (Music, Arts, Drinks, Eats): Stage West | stagewest.org/made

Schedule a showroom tour today.

DA L L A S

F O RT W O RT H

SOUTHLAKE

Aug 4 2019 Watermelon Run: Trinity Park Pavilion | watermelonrun.athlete360.com

July 11 Abstract Painting Workshop: ART ROOM | artroomfw.org

July 13 Bullet Creek Live: The Woodshed | woodshedsmokehouse.com

July 13 Run & Brunch 5K: Pacific Table | socialruns.com

July 13 Cheesecake Love & Marvelous Mums: Food Hall at Crockett Row | alicestable.com

July 14 Randy Travis (book event): Chief Records of Fort Worth | Eventbrite.com

July 15-19

Helping Fort Worth Sleep Better for Over 30 Years

Summer Art Camp - The Great Outdoors: Sid Richardson Museum | sidrichardsonmuseum.org

July 18 Summer Movie Series, The Grinch: Sundance Square | sundancesquare.com

Aug 6 UGM Lunch and Learn: Union Gospel Mission of Tarrant County | ugm-tc.org

Aug 7 Wine-Down Wednesday with REI: Waterside | watersidefw.com

Aug 10 Paramount’s Laser Spectacular featuring the music of Pink Floyd: Casa Mañana | ticketmaster.com

Aug 15-Sep 14 A 3D Adventure: Circle Theatre | circletheatre.com

Aug 15 Summer Nights featuring Joshus Harmon: Taste Project | eventbrite.com

Aug 17 Lyle Lovett: Bass Hall | basshall.com

Aug 17 Photography Basics with Edgar Miller Images: Near South Studios | edgarmillerimages.com

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July 20 Josh Weathers: Billy Bob’s Texas | billybobstexas.com

July 21 Canoe Fest: Fort Worth Nature Center and Refuge | fwnaturecenter.org

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photo by Edgar Miller Images

Aug 20 Fiddler on the Roof: Bass Hall | basshall.com

Aug 25 North Texas Boxer Rescue Adoption Day: Melt Ice Creams | northtexasboxerrescue.org

July 22 Cowgirls with Cameras: National Cowgirl Museum | cowgirl.net

July 25 Summer Movie Series, Mamma Mia: Sundance Square | sundancesquare.com photo courtesy Melt Ice Creams

900 S. Haltom Road, Fort Worth, Texas 76117 I 817-834-1648 I citymattressfactory.com

by Sarah Angle

MADEWORTHY: Why does sustainability matter in the jewelry business, especially when it comes to diamonds?

MEGAN: Diamonds, gemstones, and metals are mined. This is an unavoidable truth in jewelry; the materials we use are formed over millions of years and must be extracted from the earth. We must tread delicately and respectfully.

MW: What does Megan Thorne Fine Jewels do specifically to create designs in an environment that honors sustainable practices in Fort Worth and beyond?

S U S TA I N A B L E

MEGAN THORNE FINE JEWELS When it comes to distinctive fine jewelry in Fort Worth that can’t be found anywhere else in the country, Megan Thorne Fine Jewels is at the top of my list. Megan is part of a new wave of modern jewelry designers who create pieces that are ethically sourced and simultaneously stunning. When I buy jewelry from Megan, I know where my stone is from and who produced the piece. She also uses recycled metals and vintage stones to add another layer of sustainability to the design process. Her family-owned business shines when it comes to service, style, and originality, and it will be moving shop this summer to Fort Worth’s newly revitalized South Main in the Near Southside.

Megan Thorne talked to Madeworthy about the process of producing sustainable jewelry and new trends in engagement rings.

MEGAN: We recycle, upcycle, and reuse. All our jewelry is made from 18K recycled gold, which means the metal we use was not freshly mined — it’s part of a loop process where metals from industrial practices, manufacturing, and post-consumer wear are refined for new use.

When it comes to diamonds and gems, you have a few options for sustainability. My favorite is using antique stones. Truth be told, I prefer antique stones for their aesthetic character and charm. The fact that they are also the most ethical choice is almost gilding the lily for me; it is such a no-brainer.

Diamond Foundry manmade diamonds are another fantastic modern option. Completely unlike diamond alternatives or synthetics of the past, these manmade stones are real diamonds — same optical, chemical, and physical properties as mined stones — but created above ground in a carbon neutral process.

MW: How do you carry the idea of sustainability into your own life?

MEGAN: Does wearing clothing until it literally falls apart count?

MW: What’s your creative process look like? Where do you find inspiration?

MEGAN: A lot of jewelry design starts with the stone first. I sort of work backwards, beginning with the metal details and then finding a stone after the fact. Inspiration often comes from the metalsmithing process itself, building on techniques as we go, and one choice informs another. The final question is always: Is this an heirloom? Will someone want to pass this down to her daughter or granddaughter?

MW: Is it more expensive for the consumer to buy sustainably sourced stones?

MEGAN: Yes and no. Stones of high quality with traceable origins will be more expensive than commercial grade with no sourcing information. Manmade and antique diamonds are often comparable to modern cuts in terms of pricing.

MW: What are the latest trends in engagement rings?

MEGAN: I’m noticing a return to classic styling. In recent years, I felt like the buzz words were “different” and “uncommon.” Now I hear “timeless.”

MW: We know buying local is important, but how can we be more environmentally aware as consumers?

MEGAN: Value local hands and ask questions. Artisans and makers are thrilled to share their passion with you, and when you know a bit more about the creation process, you can make informed choices.

MW: What’s your favorite piece or line of jewelry right now?

MEGAN: The Evergreen and Wood Nymph collections with their sweet botanical touches on classic silhouettes, and always and forever yellow gold.

by Nicole Gorretta I had lived in Vancouver, Washington, all my life before moving to Fort Worth to begin my first year at Texas Christian University. My first week on campus I experienced immediate culture shock. I learned how to line dance, I dressed up for my first college football game, and I ate lots of barbecue. A big difference between Vancouver and Fort Worth was the lack of awareness regarding environmental issues our world is facing. The university lacked a recycling program, and Styrofoam was widely used in our dining facilities.

This culture of recycling and reuse is something I took for granted back home, and this lack of awareness in my school sparked a passion in me

MW: When does the new store open? Why did you decide to move? What’s “in store” for Megan Thorne lovers off South Main?

MEGAN: We’ll be open in late June or early July. Our production studio will be set up first, and once we’re comfortable creating jewelry again, we’ll turn our focus to the new store.

Leaving the Magnolia Avenue studio was bittersweet. I loved that little jewel-box space, and it was difficult to say goodbye, but we just couldn’t fit one more person in there. It was so tiny!

Our new studio in the Dickson-Jenkins Plaza is light and bright and airy with a window wall viewing straight into the production studio. I’m so excited to share a little glimpse of our process with our clients.

for protecting the environment. Entering my sophomore year, I was appointed to the position of Student Government Director of Sustainability, and I immediately began researching TCU’s strengths, but also searching for areas that needed improvement. I was pleased to discover that our campus had many clubs filled with students, faculty, and staff who were trying to do exactly what I was trying to do: create change.

In 2017, TCU created a University Sustainability Committee comprised of students, faculty, and staff. The next year, the committee drafted a sustainability policy for the university as well as collaborated with ROXO, the student-run marketing agency, to create a clear message and mission for the university and to create a website to get our message out. The website will be finished this fall and will include resources such as the Texas Drought Monitor, guides to recycling, suggestions for how to live a more ecofriendly lifestyle, and will connect students to resources around campus.

In the spring of 2018, TCU held its first-ever Earth Day fair. Campus organizations put up tables to educate students, faculty, and staff on why every choice they make is important and how these choices impact the earth. In 2019, the event expanded to a week-long celebration focusing on water and trash consumption, waste and recycling, and environment and society.

Sodexo catered a vegetarian food truck for students for lunch to promote a greener diet, and students from Dr. Coles’ Environment and Society class hosted a variety of educational events and interactive games. Seniors Austin and Eric Ngo distributed straws made out of grass and utensils made from wood to encourage students to reduce single use plastic usage. Dr. Macias and the Gamma Kappa chapter of Alpha Phi Omega held a school-wide denim drive and collected 75 8

pounds of denim to donate to a company that repurposes it to make insulation. Clubs like the Environment Club and the Food Recovery Network also participated with their own events. At the end of the week, the founder of the Great Plains Restoration Council (GRPC), Jarid Manos, came to campus to speak about his work and explain how students can get involved in protecting this beautiful land that is right in their backyard. Dr. Coles plans to continue TCU’s relationship with GPRC in the fall by bringing her class to the prairie to do a BioBlitz.

When I was appointed Student Government Director of Sustainability, there were issues I wanted to address, including the widespread usage of Styrofoam products and the lack of recycling across campus. I am pleased to report that as of 2019, we have eliminated the use of Styrofoam products and switched over to reusable options in our dining facilities as well as at the Chick-Fil-A located on campus. Every year, we have purchased more recycling bins, and a continued aim is to increase education and awareness about how to properly recycle.

Last year, I outlined a 1-5-10-year plan for the direction TCU needs to go in order to become even more environmentally responsible. It was TCU’s first sustainability plan, and it was voted on and passed by the Student Government Association in the fall of 2018, showing that our students want to change and want to be a part of making a difference. In the last two years, we have experienced a sustainability boom on campus with many different groups now working together cohesively. These passionate groups are going to bring a massive wave of change, and it is truly inspiring to see everyone working together to make a difference in their community, which in turn will make an impactful difference in the world. I am proud to be a part of this movement and even prouder to be a Horned Frog.

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2019

FORT WORTH MAGAZINE

by Lee Virden Geurkink e’ve all done it. Seduced by gorgeous produce at the farmer’s market or grocery store, we buy more than we can eat before it gets mushy.

Or we make a big batch of pasta or soup, and no one eats it. Or we get a doggy bag from a restaurant and simply don’t eat the leftovers before they start to wilt. So we join people all across America and toss out that mushy produce or that unwanted soup or that wilted salad.

Harmless, right? The only thing that wasting food affects is our bank accounts, yes? Unfortunately, that isn’t the case.

According to researchers at the U.S. Department of Agriculture who analyzed eight years of data, Americans waste about a pound of food per person every day. That amounts to approximately 150,000 tons of food a day across the nation or about 40% of food produced. Translated into dollars, Americans waste more than $160 billion in food a year. Fruits, vegetables, and dairy, because of their perishability, are the top loss leaders.

A great majority of this discarded food ends up in landfills. As the food decomposes, it releases methane, which is a powerful greenhouse gas. In addition, food waste takes up an enormous amount of space in our landfills. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimates food dumped into our landfills, comprises some 22% of a municipality’s solid waste, more than any other kind of waste we produce.

At the same time Americans are wasting so much food every day, there are people in our country, our state, and our city who go to bed hungry every night. According to Feeding America, a hunger relief agency, 15.4% of the population of the United States are food insecure. Texas’ average is 17%. In Tarrant County, 18.1% of the population is food insecure. One in four children in Tarrant county suffers from food insecurity.

So what can we as consumers do? How can we stop wasting food and make sure that people in our community have access to food? I reached out to Dr. Gina Hill with this question. Dr. Hill has taught in the Department of Nutritional Sciences at Texas Christian University since 2003. A Registered and

Licensed Dietitian, Hill’s resume is extremely impressive. A member of the Nutrition Dietetic Educators and Preceptors and the Hunger and Environmental Nutrition dietetic practice group, Hill has worked with Meals on Wheels of Tarrant County, Inc., to improve the nutritional status of homebound elderly and with University Christian Church’s Weekday School to create a learning garden. She serves on the Food Recovery Working Group of the Tarrant County Food Policy Council (TCFPC), helping guide county-wide solutions to

current food issues that affect our community.

Dr. Hill admitted that there is no single answer to the question of how we can stop wasting food while ensuring that people don’t go hungry. “We have to educate consumers,” Dr. Hill says. “And we have to work with local government to change the laws.”

Hill became interested in food waste through an article in Modern Farmer magazine. While she knew

about food waste, she says she hadn’t realized the severity of the problem in the United States. Her growing interest was further peaked by a research study in the TCU cafeteria. What food wasn’t eaten, regardless whether it was a half-eaten sandwich or an untouched banana, was thrown out. This happens in school cafeterias, restaurants, and grocery stores across the country every day.

In 1996, President Clinton signed into law the Bill Emerson Good Samaritan Food Donation Act. By minimizing liability, this law was created to encourage food donations to nonprofit organizations.

The Federal Food Donation Act of 2008 builds on that law. Federal contracts for purchasing food valued over $25,000 must make provisions for contractors to donate wholesome excess food to nonprofit organizations. Grocery stores and restaurants could donate their excess food to nonprofits under these laws, but they don’t. How do we change our attitude to food waste?

“By education,” says Hill. “We need to put the pieces [of food waste awareness] into place, so let’s start with the kids.” To that end, Hill, coordinated a Sustainability Pilot Program at North Hi Mount Elementary School in the spring semester of 2019.

The program was a partnership between the Fort Worth Independent School District, the TCFPC’s Food Recovery Working Group, TCU’s Department of Nutritional Science, and Fort Worth’s Cowboy Compost, a private composting company founded by entrepreneur Johanna Calderón and Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra’s Music Director Miguel Harth-Bedoya. After breakfast and lunch, North Hi Mount’s students sorted their cafeteria waste into trash, recycling, compost, and items for the Share Table. The Share Table is for uneaten food like whole fruit and intact packaged items. Any student could take something from the Share Table,

photos by Kim Burnstad/KBB Photography

the Food Recovery Working Group and food left on the table at the would love to help. end of the day was passed out to Another way to get food to hungry students as they boarded school people is a citywide food rescue buses for home. program. City Harvest is a non-profit The program at North Hi food rescue organization in New Mount not only teaches students York City which could be emulated how to reduce waste, it helps in cities across America. City Harvest students who are struggling with trucks collect excess food from food insecurity. The program restaurants, grocery stores, bakeries, was, by all accounts, a success. greenmarkets, food manufacturers, “A fifth-grade teacher told me and corporate cafeterias and that after her class had lunch in transported it to the Food Rescue their classroom, they insisted on Facility where it is then distributed going down to the cafeteria to to community food programs. sort their waste and put things on According to City Harvest’s website, the Share Table!” Hill recounts. food collected and delivered by City However, the program was Harvest helps over 1 million residents funded by a research grant. While of New York City. recycling and share tables are The top tier of the Food free, composting costs money. In Recovery Hierarchy is labeled Source April, North Hi Mount produced Reduction. Hill says this means that 2100 pounds of compostable we need to “fill up our fridges with what we need… materials. (The school started arbitrarily assigns and means that the food should not more [food] than we [can] eat that then gets using compostable lunch trays be consumed by that date “to assure for ideal tossed.” In other countries, refrigerators are small, and napkins at the beginning of quality.” and people shop for food every day, thereby the program.) The continuation — The “sell-by” date is aimed at retailers for ensuring fresh ingredients that get used instead of of the composting program is inventory management. It is not a safety date. going bad. Unfortunately, this might not be possible uncertain without the grant.

According to the IFT, if a product on your pantry in our busy, work-driven American society. But there Sparked by the conversation shelf has passed its sell-by date, it does not mean are things we can do to reduce the amount of food about the North Hi Mount that it is unsafe to consume the product. “Typically, we waste. program, I asked Hill about one-third of a product’s shelf life remains after the One concrete step in reducing food waste is citywide composting. I had family sell-by date for the consumer to use at home.” to educate ourselves on the difference between who lived in Seattle and was — The “use-by” date is the last date “use-by,” “sell-by,” and “best-by” dates on food always impressed by their municipal composting recommended for the use of the product at peak labels. Confusion over what these phrases means program. In addition to recycling and trash, the city quality. Unless it is on infant formula, it is not a leads to billions of pounds of food waste every year, picked up compostable food scraps every week. I safety date. according to the Institute of Food Technologists asked if this was something that we could see Fort Fruits and vegetables are particularly perishable.

(IFT). Just because something has gone past its Worth doing in the future.

As they are essential to a healthy diet, we tend to “best-by” date does not mean that the food is Imagine my surprise when Hill said that the buy lots of produce, only to store it incorrectly. If inedible and/or unsafe to eat. Except for infant City of Fort Worth has launched a food scrap produce is stored incorrectly, it deteriorates more formula, the US Department of Agriculture does not composting pilot program. A $20 subscription fee quickly, leading to more waste. Store bananas, require food dating. The quality of food products will get you a small pail for your kitchen counter and potatoes, tomatoes, and citrus in a cool, dry place, may deteriorate as these dates pass, but the food a 5-gallon bucket. When you fill the bucket, you can also mushrooms, onions, garlic, and eggplants. should still be safe to eat if they have been handled drop off the food scraps at any of 10 collection sites Store lettuce and greens in the crisper drawer in the properly. across Fort Worth. Hill said there has been a huge refrigerator, as well as apples, carrots, celery, and Here is a breakdown of what each phrase means: response for the program, which is being managed most fruits. Herbs can be cut and stored with the — The “best-by” date is merely a suggestion.

by Cowboy Compost and funded through a grant cut ends in water, while asparagus can be wrapped It is neither a purchase nor safety date. This is the from the Texas Commission on Environmental in a moist paper towel. date that the manufacturer or the grocery store Quality.

Hill says that a large part of the problem is that “But composting isn’t enough,” says Hill. She we as a society do not value food. America, after all, pointed to the EPA’s Food Recovery Hierarchy is the land of plenty, and food is taken for granted. (see sidebar). In Hill grew up on a farm and is that upside-down an accomplished gardener, pyramid, composting so she understands the is only one level above work that goes into growing landfills as a strategy to food. She keeps chickens deal with food waste. “We who are given food scraps and need to do more on the composts. She has rain barrels to upper parts of the pyramid.” collect rainwater for the garden. Her The upper levels of the Food backyard, with its vegetable garden, Recovery Hierarchy are “feeding chicken coop, and compost bin, is a hungry people” and “source model of what can be done on a small scale reduction.” According to the EPA’s to produce food for a family. “If you grow website, these levels are “the best your own food, you learn to value it,” Hill says. way to prevent and divert wasted food Hill told me about a field trip for her students. because they create the most benefits for Instead of going to a museum or the zoo, she and the environment, society, and the economy.” her students went to the City of Fort Worth’s landfill.

The Food Recovery Working Group would “It’s really state-of-the-art,” Hill says. “It has sprayers to like to see share tables and recycling programs at keep down the smell. But it really puts into perspective schools across the city. In addition, the group hopes the amount of food we waste.” Every day, between 700 to work with grocery stores, schools, and parentand 800 trash trucks dump their contents into the landfill. “I teacher organizations. If grocery stores could donate realized we were standing on garbage,” Hill says. “Once we fill culled fruits and vegetables to schools, a significant this one and the next and the next, where will all our garbage go?” amount of food waste could be avoided. Hill says that anyone To learn more about food waste, food insecurity, and what you interested in helping set up a partnership with a grocery store can do to help in our community, please visit the Tarrant County or a recycling/share table/composting program at their school, Food Policy Council’s website.

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by Madeworthy Editorial Team

REAL WORLD WAYS TO

GO GREEN We hear a lot about “going green,” and most agree that it’s generally a good thing to do. But changing habits can be hard, and it’s easy to get overwhelmed. We of the Madeworthy editorial staff have put our heads together to come up with some easy ideas to make your life a little greener!

Stop using traditional glitter which is micro-plastic and use eco-glitter instead

Buy fabric shower curtains instead of plastic ones – they don’t last as long and can’t be recycled

Use biodegradable trash bags for your kitchen and poop bags for your dog

Stop using cotton swabs with plastic sticks

Switch to shampoo and conditioner bars instead of plastic bottles Switch to a bento box for your lunch instead of plastic baggies Take your reusable bamboo or metal straws when you eat out Bring your own take-out boxes to a restaurant Get your meat from a butcher who wraps in paper instead of buying it on Styrofoam trays Fill an empty refrigerator with jugs of water to reduce temperature slightly to save energy – the fuller the fridge, the easier it is to cool

Shop second-hand or in buy/sell/ trade groups Host a park clean-up in your neighborhood Add mulch to your flower beds to reduce water evaporation

Bring your own reusable cups to convenience stores – or buy one of theirs and stop using single-use cups Use a French press instead of K-cups to brew your coffee Make your own toothpowder instead of buying toothpaste in non-recyclable packaging Try beeswax wraps instead of plastic baggies Buy natural bristle brushes instead of plastic sponges for cleaning dishes Use cast iron or stainless-steel pots and pans instead of ones coated in Teflon Buy a Berkey water filter system instead of a plastic water cooler Charge your smartphone on airplane mode so it charges more quickly Buy products made locally

Stop buying plastic water bottles – use a stainless steel or glass one instead

Don’t give low quality plastic toys as party favors – give seeds or plants instead

Use newspaper to wash your windows instead of new paper towels

Shop at your local farmer’s market

Bring your own bags to the grocery store or really, any store Make reusable bags from old t-shirts

Turn off your smart phone or tablet and read a book instead Plan your errands before leaving the house to reduce your daily mileage

Stop buying products with plastic microbeads such as soaps, toothpaste, and make-up Donate used clothing to thrift stores Support products like Rothy’s shoes which are made from 100% recycled plastic water bottles Use rechargeable batteries Get zero energy power switches from Belkin Organize a clothing and jewelry swap with friends Choose eco-friendly landscaping with indigenous/native and acclimated plants Keep your reusable shopping bags in your car so you don’t forget them Learn about ethical fashion brands like Tribe Alive Watch the Planet Earth series for inspiration Invest in a Water Pik or Sonic Care to replace your toothbrush to reduce plastic waste Switch to energy efficient light bulbs Plant a tree every year Sign up for Cowboy Compost

Plant an herb garden

MAKING FORT WORTH MORE BEAUTIFUL

by William Wise

A Yard of the Month is a wonder to behold.

It is to be ogled, honored, and perhaps even envied. The bright green, lush lawn. The perfectly manicured shrubs and trees. Big pops of color scattered throughout. The commitment to that yard is obvious to even the most casual observer.

Drive through any neighborhood in Fort Worth, and you will find these gems. They stand out because they are beautiful examples of something with which the rest of us struggle to create. That is, if we haven’t given up entirely.

The joys of a wonderful landscape aren’t found only in our city’s residential areas. There are many businesses and institutions in town who clearly take pride in their natural surroundings. A drive through the TCU campus makes that obvious.

There are many hard-working, dedicated people who spend time, money, and a lot of effort to attain such heights.

A run down to the big box hardware store, a $100 bill, and a couple of sweaty hours will likely improve the condition of most yards. However, to consistently achieve a high level of landscaping perfection season after season takes much more than that. It takes real understanding and knowhow. The people who do it know secrets the rest of us don’t.

When preparing a meal, it goes without saying you need to have the right ingredients.

If you do, you will likely produce something good.

Every chef knows, however, that if you want to go beyond

Ride your bike to school or work

good, if you want to be considered great, the quality of the ingredients matter. A lot. The higher the quality of the ingredients, the better the dish.

The same is true of producing outstanding landscaping results. The ingredients matter! If you want beautiful landscaping, you must buy the highest quality plants you can. Before you can grow beautiful plants, you must have the highest quality soils to nourish those plants, and you must protect that soil from erosion and decay with high quality mulch. High-quality soil and high-quality mulch will take you from a decent gardener to a gardener worthy of a Yard of the Month award.

But where can you find such soil and mulch?

Not far from the shores of Lake Worth, you will find the answer.

Founded in 1983 by Robert Dow, Silver Creek Materials is a family business that has earned their reputation as the source for the best soil and mulch to be had in Fort Worth. They also have an unbeatable customer service track record as well.

We Fort Worthians are friendly, but we are wary of almost all new businesses. Sometimes it can be tough for a company to earn their place in Fort Worth. Any company that has been around for 36 years has clearly been accepted, as they have shown they have what it takes to earn our trust.

That would have come as no surprise to Robert Dow, who is a Fort Worth native. He knew that to create a lasting business here you have to work hard and treat people right, and for nearly four decades he and his family have done just that.

Silver Creek Materials provides the ingredients needed to create those award-winning and aweinspiring landscapes we see each day as we drive

around town.

Not only does Silver Creek produce quality products, they are at the forefront of sustainable gardening.

Each year thousands of tons of recyclable organic materials, like wood, tree trimmings, and past-theexpiration-date beverages are diverted from landfills and used by Silver Creek Materials for composting and mulching. In fact, their positive impact on the environment earned them the 1997 Governor’s Award for Environmental Excellence.

Silver Creek’s newest product is not only high-quality, it is decidedly Fort Worth and very whimsical. Over the past couple of years, they have worked to develop a purple mulch that is taking the city by storm. If you haven’t seen it yet, you will. TCU and Paschal fans and alumni have been buying bags of the festive mulch to show their hometown pride in a unique and very visible way. Available from Silver Creek Materials directly or at independent hardware stores throughout the city, the striking mulch is both environmentally safe and affordable. It’s a great way to support your school.

Finally, Silver Creek Materials gives back in other impactful and often more visible ways. From Eagle scout projects in and around the city to Mayfest to public school landscaping, Silver Creek Materials is often behind the scenes making Fort Worth a more beautiful place to live.

C O S M E T I C • I M P L A N T • F A M I LY D E N T I S T R Y

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For this issue, we wanted to do something different for

our Fort Worthies page. We asked readers to nominate

people and organizations who do good for our environment.

Madeworthy is grateful to all who work to make Fort Worth

OUR COMMUNITY’S MOVERS & SHAKERS

The Botanical Research Institute of Texas (BRIT) and the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo (FWSSR) are proud to announce the launch of a very unique Texas wine competition. Honoring both the wine producer and the grape grower with the understanding that the relationship between the two is critical to the environmental and economic impact of the final product, the Texas Sustainable Winegrowing Competition is based on both sustainable practices and taste. The BRIT has a history of promoting sustainability in winegrowing while the FWSSR continues to expand its educational scope to include all aspects of Texas agriculture.

The 4-H Club at Fort Worth Country Day School (FWCDS) recently welcomed 18 adorable baby chicks on campus. The FWCDS 4-H Club is Tarrant County’s largest chapter of the national youth organization that aims to develop citizenship, leadership, responsibility, and life skills through experiential learning and science, engineering, and technology programs.

Families of the 4-H members will raise the chicks to become egg layers. 2019 marks the 30th year that the FWCDS club has hatched baby chicks on the school campus.

Local visionary James Zametz loves Fort Worth. The founder of Keep Fort Worth Funky, Zametz is always looking for ways he can make the world a better place. Fort Worth doesn’t recycle Styrofoam, the main product in to-go and singleuse packaging, and the price of compostable packaging is high. Zametz has started a group that is interested in a green product bulk buying program that would reduce the price of compostable products and keep non-recyclables out of our landfills, waterways, and streets. Stay tuned!

Michelle Davis nominated her husband, Steve Davis. She says that even in summer, Steve rides his bike to work in the Foundry District. The Davises are a one-car family, significantly lowering their environmental impact. After living in rainy Portland, the Davises, both native Texans, moved to be closer to family and soak up some sunshine. Steve is a father of two who loves biking, fishing, and hiking, and he hopes that by biking to work, he will inspire more people to “ditch the car” and to encourage Fort Worth to be more bike friendly.

a better, greener place to live. Ladies and gentlemen, we

by Lee Virden Geurkink

present your Green Worthies!

Photo by Sara Hooten

Founded by a group of friends, including local chef Andrew Dilda, Fort Butcher is a new ranch-to-table marketplace for all-natural meats at grocery store prices. By controlling the supply chain from start to finish, Fort Butcher offers hormonefree, antibiotic-free meats that consumers can enjoy and feel good about serving to their families. In addition, Fort Butcher has paired with the Tarrant Area Food Bank (TAFB) to launch a campaign called “Buy a Pound, Donate a Pound,” giving customers the opportunity to donate meat to the TAFB.

BRIT Facilities Manager Greg Gunn was nominated by his coworker Chris Smith. According to Smith, Gunn lives to educate his fellow employees and the public about environmental sustainability, encouraging recycling, and energy efficiency.

“While part of his position calls for him to inspire better sustainable building, landscape construction, and management practices,” Smith writes, “One can easily tell that he enjoys enlightening others on the benefits of sustainability... [which] aligns with BRIT’s conservation mission.”

The site for the new Overton Park Elementary School is one of the few remnants of the prairies that stretched from Texas into the Great Plains. To preserve that legacy, the school will include a Monarch Way Station, providing a practical education area to the students while offering native plants pollinators need. Fort Worth is part of the migration route of monarchs, and Mayor Betsy Price joined other U.S. mayors in signing the Mayor’s Monarch Pledge to promote native pollinator habitat. The new school will be part of the “highway” that the monarchs travel each year from Mexico to Canada.

Photo by Hannah Lacamp

The Healing Shepherd Clinic recently hosted a benefit at the TX Whiskey Ranch which raised more than $100,000 to aid in its mission of serving the health and wellness needs of the residents and guests of the Union Gospel Mission. Established in 2008 and working closely with the John Peter Smith Health Network, the Healing Shepherd Clinic is dedicated to providing education, preventative care, and medical treatment to homeless individuals in a climate of compassion and dignity.

Visions Paints, Inc. is a DFW company that collects and recycles latex paints from contractors and homeowners from across the Metroplex, thus preserving natural resources and leaving the earth cleaner than when they started, while giving their customers the best paint on the market at the best prices. Since 2017, Vision Paints has recycled over 3 million pounds of latex paint. Their products are available from Habitat for Humanity ReStores. Follow Vision Paints on Facebook or their website, www.visionpaints.com.

When we asked for nominations for Green Worthies, we received several for Fort Worth chef/restauranteur Jon Bonnell. He has a deep investment in sourcing from specific purveyors who are committed to the environment to assure sustainability in every ingredient. Bonnell’s restaurants, while serving wild seafood and game, never serve anything that is not sustainably caught or endangered. Such attention to detail creates an unforgettably delicious experience that diners can be happy about!

It’s more than a bed or a couch. Furniture represents a chance for self-sufficiency and stability. It represents hope. Working with social service agencies and nonprofit organizations, the Tarrant County Furniture Bank ((TCFB) provides basic furniture at little or no cost to people transitioning from homelessness, while keeping it out of the landfills. This is good for the economy and the environment. To help the TCFB fulfill their mission, please visit their website at www.tarrantcountyfurniturebank.org.

What can you do with leftover office supplies, arts and crafts supplies, and building materials? Why, give it to The Welman Project, of course! The Welman Project connects schools and nonprofits with the community, serving as a free resource and distributing surplus materials for creative reuse in the classroom and beyond. Using innovative conservation skills enhances the learning experience, allowing kids to become confident, resourceful, and socially engaged citizens. To learn how you can help, visit www.thewelmanproject.org.

Something to smile about.

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P: 817.731.6964 | 4200 Bryant Irvin Rd #129, Fort Worth, TX 76109

FROM

TO

by Lauren Foster | photos by Jason Kindig

Earth. That big marvelous orb, swirling like a green and blue marble among an endless number of stars. The place of our origin and our only home. A strong magnetic field, a collision that created a stabilizing moon, the formation of a protective atmosphere, our position in the galaxy, and distance from our sun have combined to beat the odds and support life on Earth. It is a delicate balance and one that must be nurtured by us.

We can all do our part, big or small. We can educate ourselves on the current state of the world and our environment. We must realize we have the power to make a difference. Changes for the better come through the smallest acts within ourself to the grandest ideas technology and science have to offer. Sustainability is an essential factor to promoting the health of the land and economic growth, while finding solutions to end hunger in a world of rapid population growth.

This year, the Inland Ocean Action Summit, which focuses on marine conservation, the Inland Ocean Coalition, and EarthX featured guest speakers such as Fabien Cousteau. Fabian is the grandson of the legendary French undersea explorer, Jacques-Yves Cousteau, whose legacy continues as the family furthers the work he began almost ninety years ago. At the world’s only underwater marine laboratory, Aquarius, Fabien spent 31 days submerged in the deep blue collecting data for research and broke the previous records set by his grandfather. In early 2016, he founded the Fabien Cousteau Ocean Learning Center, fulfilling his dream of creating a positive change in the world. Like his grandfather, Jacques, once said, “People protect what they love, they love what they understand, and they understand what they are taught.”

Being a part of a movement toward a healthier environment opens the doors to meaningful pole-to-pole experiences with family, friends, and community. For example, GoEco offers over 150 affordable volunteer options where one can work with giant tortoise and sea turtle conservation in the Galápagos, care for and rehabilitate some of Australia's indigenous wildlife, or become birds of a feather with co-volunteers at the Penguins and Marine Bird Sanctuary in South Africa. It is possible to discover new cultures and satisfy your wanderlust while actively working toward ethical solutions for a healthier planet.

Through motion pictures, EarthxFilm covers a variety of topics from nature and wildlife to social and climate change. EarthxFilm’s 2019 film features included The Serengeti Rules, which shares the journey and research of pioneering scientists on a quest to understand how nature works and their discovery of one set of rules applying to the Earth’s diverse ecosystems. Tribes on the Edge shows the plight of an indigenous leader and his people on the brink of extinction, and their attempt to survive in the Amazon. In Watson, Captain Paul Watson takes the audience on his relentless mission to take illegal poachers head-on, defending marine life from the Galapagos to Japan, Antarctica to Portugal, and beyond.

Recognized annually, Earth Day, founded in 1970 as a day of environmental education, is now a global event celebrated in 192 countries.

The Earth Day Network website states that more than 1 billion people are involved in Earth Day activities making it “the largest secular civic event in the world.” Earth Day April 22, 2020, will be the 50th anniversary of the founding of a day we celebrate our planet and the 10th anniversary of EarthX, an international nonprofit environmental organization inspiring action for a more sustainable future.

Michael Cain, President and Co-Founder of EarthxFilm, is one of the most well-known and successful movie producers in Texas, and he is recognized nationally as one of the top Film Festival Programmers. “We created a film festival that not only creates awareness but also creates impact.” Cain and his wife, Melina McKinnon are both mission-driven and award-winning filmmakers who genuinely inspire change in one of the most compelling and effective media.

What began as Earth Day Texas in Dallas in 2011 transformed into EarthX. The world’s largest annual environmental event was founded by Trammell S. Crow with a focus on inspiring environmental leadership across various spheres and parties. Crow has been successful in bringing together people and organizations from the global community to explore and collaborate on solutions for some of today’s most pressing environmental concerns. Every year the numbers continue to break attendance records, with EarthX 2019 hosting 175,000 visitors. The ever-increasing participation demonstrates that more and more people are becoming interested in learning, getting involved, and making a difference. The nonprofit organization offers awareness through EarthxEDU, EarthxFilm, the ExpoEarthx experience, and the EarthxConference.

In addition, EarthxLeague and EarthxSimpleTruths promote continuous efforts for individuals and communities to remain informed about global environmental issues. The League is a network of passionate people who it offers opportunities to get involved all year round. Simple Truths gives valuable insight into the daily choices we can make to improve upon our overall environmentally conscious goals. For example, every 2 minutes of idling in your car is equal to 1 mile of driving and recycling creates 10-20 more jobs than landfilling.

Every orbit around the sun brings us to another Earth Day and the EarthX experience. For approximately one week in mid-to-late April, EarthX provides environmental fun and education for the entire family. Interact virtually with the planet, swim with dolphins and whales, explore outer space, and go on a world adventure protecting endangered species. Taste eco-friendly food offerings prepared by Dallas restaurants, scuba dive with master divers in the Go Dive Now Scuba Pool, test drive solar race cars, visit a tiny house exhibit, and work on your yoga poses with goats. You can even take it a step further and enlighten yourself and your family by attending the Green Speaker Series, where experts share their knowledge of environmental issues and positive advances made in sustainability efforts and conservation awareness.

The Dallas based EarthX movement has captured the overall vision to inspire and connect students, families, activists, innovators, capitalists, scientists, environmentalists, business professionals, officials, foundations, farmers, ranchers, researchers and more. Whether you want to have a significant role in preserving mother nature or you want to know what small efforts can lead to big change, chart your course with the experience and adventures that await at EarthX.org.

18

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F O R T W O R T H R E A L E S TAT E

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John Giordano & Rick Wegman

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8351 Deerwood Forest Drive | 76126 | $679,000 | Coming Soon

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LAUNCHPAD ASTRONAUT BLAST OFF MOON EARTH

APOLLO HOUSTON SPACESUIT PLANET LUNAR

ELEVEN DISCOVERY SATELLITE SOLAR MARS

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photos courtesy of Elizabeth Showers

by Jackie EH Elliott

the H E A LT H Y home Before Elizabeth Showers established a name for herself as a successful jewelry designer and business owner, she was a 24-year-old woman undergoing a seismic personal transformation. Having recently overcome her battle with AnorexiaNervosa, Showers set her sights on building a brand that uplifted and improved the lives of others through beauty, health, and positive thinking.

For over two decades, she upheld this commitment to countless customers and employees. It wasn’t until 2015 that she found herself battling a new and unexpected health challenge: unexplained sleep disturbances. After years of searching for answers, the solution to her troubles didn’t come from the medical field. It came from Showers’ friend and certified Building Biology Environmental Consultant Diana Jabour.

“She’s opened up a whole new world to me.” said Showers of Jabour. “She [came] here and mitigated my home and helped with allerg[ens]... We’ll sometimes talk on the phone for over an hour about the environment and health.” “Mitigating a home” is a term that building biologists use to broadly define the process of making one’s home less toxic and more safe for occupants.

Jabour, who is also an Electromagnetic Radiation Specialist, lives in Austin, Texas, but the two friends try to get together when they can to talk about building sustainability and Showers’ new venture into Jabour’s field. Last December, Showers enrolled in the Building Biology New-Build Consultant Certification Program at The International Institute for Building Biology & Ecology. She’s using her new knowledge to make ongoing improvements to the home she resides in with her fiancé, two stepchildren, and their three dogs.

In addition to this craziness, the family hopes to adopt a newborn baby from the Gladney Center within the year. Here’s how Showers is embracing eco-friendly nesting in manageable increments.

Plenty of studies have confirmed that prolonged exposure to indoor and outdoor pesticides can lead to health complications. Young children and pets are at an even greater risk than adults. A greener and cleaner option Showers likes is Eco-Safe Pest Control, which uses natural ingredients that certain pests find unsavory.

Better yet, you can plant lavender, basil, peppermint, and other natural repellents that add verdure to your living landscape.

The prescription of sleep medications is on the rise, but most Americans still struggle to fall asleep at a decent hour. Showers explained that the unnatural incandescence of our homes and the blue light on our phones raises cortisol levels to the point that we can’t produce the melatonin we need to sleep. When you can, dim your lights in the evening. Staying off your phone can help, too. If you really struggle with sleep disturbances as Showers does, you can find blue-light filtering glasses to wear in the evenings.

“Smart is stupid.” is one of Jabour’s favorite sayings when it comes to wireless technology.

When Jabour visited Showers home, she used an electromagnetic field (EMF) meter to locate higher radiation spots, one of which was located in Showers’ bedroom. Since then, Showers’ husband has stopped wearing his Bluetooth headset to bed, and the family turns off their Wi-Fi router at 10:00 pm via a timer. If one of her teenage stepchildren needs to use the internet for homework, they can connect via an ethernet cable, but they also know how to turn the Wi-Fi back on for short periods of time.

Did you know your carpet could be making you sick? Showers is living in a rental home until her family moves into a permanent residence and uses several Austin Air Purifiers in her home to help offset the damage that carpet can do. “The glue used to make carpet stick to floors can be really toxic.” she explained. “Then the carpet [fibers] can be toxic and if companies come clean your carpet it can get mildewy or moldy. Or if a dog or child makes a mess on the carpet you’ve got another opportunity for mold to grow.” Installing new floors can be costly; using an air purifier can be an economical way to undo any damage.

Few people are aware of the fact that air conditioning units can emit EMFs each time these systems run. When Showers realized one of her home’s three AC units was behind the wall of her bedroom, within a few feet of the bed, she made a simple change and rearranged her furniture. With the EMF meter, she was able to measure a three-foot radius of radiation coming from the AC unit, allowing her to move her bed just enough to avoid that electromagnetic field. Now she says she can feel a difference in her sleep most nights.

Your detox and supplement regimens are dependent on the quality of water you consume, and most naturopathic consultants would tell you the same. New research on the chemical levels of fluoride and chlorine in tap water systems have even given the Environmental Protection Agency some cause for concern.

Showers recommends water filters from Mercola, using local filtration and delivery service such as The Mountain Valley, or Trace Mineral Drops from ConcenTrace.

Ever since The Devil We Know documentary hit Netflix, the carcinogenic nature of non-stick cookware has caused controversial conversations in the kitchen. Showers has slowly been replacing her pots and pans with safer alternatives, such as cast-iron alternatives from Lodge and Le Creuset. Although some chefs detest the extra cleaning a traditional cast iron skillet takes, Showers assures me that enamel cast iron pots and pans are easy-to-clean exceptions.

Cooking on a gas stove might make for quick cooking, but the fumes released into the air exceed most health standards. Always keep your vents clean and running when you cook, Showers says, and you might even step outside to listen for your kitchen vents working. Some venting systems are configured to release exhaust elsewhere into the home, so be sure your system vents to the outside.

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“Our bodies are like a tuning fork, and our cellular structure will align with what’s around us.” said Showers.

“We all want to be healthier and happier in life, so my purpose is to make my home a great environment for my family and the world.”

Showers plans to continue making small adjustments to her home where she can as she redefines her career and prepares to move her business online – in partnership with a new Amazon company. Check her website or Facebook page for future updates.

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