Biocouture: Where Sustainability, Science and Fashion Intersect

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biocouture, biomaterials, fashion, sustainable style, Suzanne Lee

In its latest issue, Mental Floss magazine ran a story about Suzanne Lee and her unique fashion line. Lee’s Biocouture brand features clothing made from material Lee creates in her lab. These materials include microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi, algae, cellulose, chitin (a derivative of glucose), and protein fibers.

An Ode to the Road

Given that I have roughly five hours to drive home to see family, I am presented with ample time to think. Fortunately, the wooded expanses along the highway and seemingly endless stretches of farmland are conducive to a wandering mind.

I enjoy listening to music on that drive, particularly full albums because the musicians’ lyrical message is complete and thus the perfect accompaniment to contemplation. And so, armed with several of my latest music obsessions and perhaps a cup of coffee, I’m ready to spend the drive sorting out my thoughts.

Photo: Our Glass Heart

The Farm Bill and How It Affects You

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agriculture practices, farming, food stamps, subsidized crops, the farm bill

The $1 trillion farm bill passed into law in February actually affects you more than you might have realized.

To catch you up, after more than two years of debate, the House passed the bill 251 to 166 at the end of January, according to the Associated Press before it went on to the Senate, which passed the bill 68 to 32 early in February, according to The New York Times. President Obama signed the bill into law shortly afterward.

You might’ve missed the news of this mega-bill passing, thinking that it mainly pertains to the agriculture industry in the United States. However, many components of the new bill affect average citizens. As CNN described, “While it’s called the farm bill, in truth, it’s more of a food bill.”

Harvest Frequency as a Piece of the “Global Food Security Puzzle”

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agriculture practices, farming, global food, harvest, Institute on the Environment, Study, University of Minnesota

Given the projected future population increases, food distribution is becoming a more prominent issue. How do we make use of existing resources to feed more mouths? And how do we do this in a sustainable way to ensure that the process doesn’t collapse in on itself?

Researchers Deepak Ray and Jonathan Foley, part of the Institute on the Environment (IonE) at the University of Minnesota, recently conducted a study to measure how increasing harvest frequency with existing cropland could significantly increase global food production.

Photo by Mike Krivit, Farm Industry News

An Ode to the Rain and the Mist

In an effort to break the silence of not blogging for quite some time, I decided to stick with a simple topic specific to the day: rain.

It’s a brisk and chilly Saturday – one that feels misty and slightly melancholy that requires warmth from a good sweater and some good company. The kind of day that feels brightened with some rainy day tunes, a few favorite movies, or a good read. In the spirit of the mid-fall mist and the reflection that such a day brings, I’ve compiled a simple list of rainy day activities meant to inspire indoor or outdoor adventures of your own.

A Tale of Gratitude

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family, friends, gratitude, parents, relationships, teachers

Picture this: You’re sitting in your favorite chair. Your favorite mug filled with your favorite drink is in hand, and you’re about to contemplate the story you’ve been reading. You’ve been reading a bit of this story each day; you’ve enjoyed many chapters, you’ve disagreed with some, and with others, you’re just glad you got through them. Sometimes you go back and reread excerpts, searching for meaning, looking for a foreshadowing clue to explain how the story arrived at its current point. And when you try to flip ahead to steal a peek at what’s to come, the pages are blank. Despite the suspense of not knowing how the story will end, it doesn’t faze you. You know this book’s message will stay with you because you’re living it every day of your life. You are the author and this is your story.

The Not-So-(Sky)Glowing Effects of Ecological Light Pollution

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Charles Nock, ecological light pollution, ecosystems, F.lux, health, light pollution, skyglow

As my boyfriend and I swap stories of stargazing at our northern cabins and the magic of watching millions of stars appear, these memories become all the more precious as we look up to see just a few faint stars in the hazy Twin Cities night sky.

An Ode to Purpose

“How can we live in the present moment, live right now with the people around us, helping to lessen their suffering and making their lives happier? How?”

With the new year, thoughts tend toward making changes. Letting negative habits go, welcoming new perspectives, promising to act. In many cases, these resolutions reflect personal betterment. Indeed, personal growth is essential in positively influencing the lives of those around us. However, how tedious it is to only focus on our own thoughts, needs, and wants! Consider how many individuals play a role in our day-to-day—friends, significant others, parents, siblings … the list continues. Consider how easy it is to step outside our own world and positively affect someone else’s by asking him or her to share news. Or how a quick note sent in the mail might arrive at a time when the recipient truly needs a pick-me-up.

An Ode to the Patio

It’s a verbal retreat three out of the four seasons. In the first, spring buds tentatively brush the trellis while the winter weary shiver off winter’s chill, sip tea, and stretch their legs, grateful for the return of the patio. In the second, summer’s sultry air seasons casual and slow exchanges; conversations abundant with pauses and passing wishes. The third, autumn, marks the return to formal conversation, business-like in nature, fingers curling around mugs of rich coffee and wisps of cigarette smoke mingling with crisp air. Winter, the fourth season, brings the appearance of a ghost town; the white an unwelcome guest crashing into the conversation, silencing it.

Climate & Crisis: Mitigating Environmental and Food Supply Concerns

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agriculture practices, climate, environment, farming, global food, Nature journal, Oxfam, The New York Times, University of Minnesota

Autumn contains many gloriously invigorating qualities. The leaves display their brilliance and the breeze is cool, a hint of winter spicing the air.

This change in seasons also calls to mind a change in global climate and the resulting long-term effects. This summer’s prolonged dry season greatly influenced crop price increases. Fortunately, the index of global food prices remained relatively unchanged in August compared with July, representing a period of stability (although prices continue to remain high compared with historical standards.)