Share'n'Voice: Sensible Portions

While I was working I noticed that we had the same chips that we had for a snack on Monday. The brand is called Sensible Portions. The snacks are in healthy portions and according to the website, still taste great! I thought the straw snacks we had were really good. Their products are all natural and gluten free. If you want to see more of their products, check out their website!

Share'n'Voice: greenhome.com

I found a great website called greenhome.com: the environmental store. This online store only sells products that are environmentally friendly. The website also offers articles and information on the environment. There are a ton of interesting articles on here. It also has a Toxipedia, which gives you definitions and explanations for environmental terms. On the home page of the website, you can put in your zip code to find your nearest local organic food, find where you can recycle and compost, and see your home's energy usage. It's a really neat website, go check it out! Maybe you'll find some idea's for Christmas presents. :)

Share'n'Voice: Festival of the Seasons

I know I just did a share'n'voice about an event coming up, but I just found out about another one today that I think people might be interested in.

On Saturday November 20th, the Duluth Farmer's Market is having "Festival of the Seasons." It is from 10 a.m. til 3 p.m. There will be wreaths, Garland, Ornaments, Crafts and more. All items are made by local artists and craft people! It is located on 14th Ave. East and 3rd St. Go check it out!

Share'n'Voice: Sustainability: The New Buisness As Usual

I don't know if you all saw this or not, but there is an event coming up on campus called "Sustainability: The New Business As Usual." Chris Paine, a filmmaker, will be presenting a talk on electric cars on Tuesday November 30th. There will be presentations throughout the afternoon on the 30th about sustainability in businesses and on our own campus. Paine's first documentary "Who Killed the electric car?" will be shown at 3.


For more information you can read about it here.

Share'n'Voice: Going Green Supernews

Hey everyone, I found this video on youtube called Going Green. It's more of an entertaining video than educational, but I think it has an important message.



We are learning a lot in this class about being environmentally friendly, but I think it's important to remember to act on what we learn. I think some people feel that because they recycle they are "green." While recycling is good, it's just one of many things that we can do to help the environment. The point is,remember everything we learn and actually do something about it. Make some lifestyle changes. I just thought this was a funny video with a good message. Enjoy!

Share and Voice: Slow Food

This week I'd thought I'd share a website that I actually stumbled across freshman year, when writing my research paper. The website is called Slow Food. Slow Food is a non-profit organization started in 1989 when 15 countries signed the Slow Food Manifesto, to counter fast food and fast life. The vision of slow food is: "We envision a world in which all people can access and enjoy food that is good for them, good for those who grow it and good for the planet." Their mission is to promote good, clean, and fair food for all. Their definition for their mission, taken from their website, is:

"Slow Food's approach to agriculture, food production and gastronomy is based on a concept of food quality defined by three interconnected principles:

GOOD a fresh and flavorsome seasonal diet that satisfies the senses and is part of our local culture;

CLEAN food production and consumption that does not harm the environment, animal welfare or our health;

FAIR accessible prices for consumers and fair conditions and pay for small-scale producers."

You can read all about the different projects,activities, and events that Slow Food holds around the world. Here is a link to the USA national chapter of Slow Food, for more close to home events. I looked up the local chapters in Minnesota and there's a chapter in Minneapolis,Fergus Falls,Rochester, and DULUTH!

I recommend looking at the first link at the top of the page because that one takes you to the Slow Food International website; it's interesting to look at how big this association is,their philosophy,and what they do. But if you have time, check out the other links too!

Share and Voice: Food Should Taste Good

I work at UMD Stores and while putting out food the other day I noticed we got a new product. The product is a little bag of chips and the company that makes them is called Food Should Taste Good. The reason I'm blogging about this is because the back of the bag caught my attention. Next to the Nutrition facts it says this:

All Natural
Kosher (OU)
No MSG
Low Sodium
Trans Fat Free
A Good Source of Dietary Fiber
Not Genetically Modified
Gluten Free
Lactose Free
No Preservatives
Cholesterol Free

Since we have been talking about food so much in class, I thought this would be interesting to share. We carry it in the store here on campus and for such a healthy snack it's relatively cheap! I tried the Sweet Potato kind and it was very good. If you go on the Food Should Taste Good
website they provide the nutrition facts on all their products. Here's a little bit of what the company does for the Environment;it's taken from their site:

"At Food Should Taste Good® we have taken steps within our manufacturing facilities and offices to lessen our impact on the environment.

Our manufacturing facilities are spread across the country to promote fuel-efficient transportation with less gas usage. Our corrugated packaging is 100% recyclable and made from 65%+ recycled content. Our ingredients are non-genetically modified.

At our main office, we provide employees with plates and silverware that we wash to reduce the use of paper and plastic utensils. We also initiated our own recycling program, use low energy lights, and practice minimal and efficient travel. Our philosophy is that every little bit counts!"

It's a small company, but it looks like they make a big effort to be healthy. I really recommend you try one of their chips.

Share and Voice: The Great Pacific Garbage Patch

I found this video when looking for pictures for my Read'n'Seed. I can't believe I have never heard of this before. I feel so out of the loop. It's so sad and disgusting.



Have any of you heard of this before? What's your reaction?

Share and Voice: Fall in Duluth

Since today was such a gorgeous day, I decided I needed to go outside and just be in nature. Fall in Duluth is one of my favorite times. The colors on the trees are all so beautiful, and it looks so nice with the lake in the background. These pictures were taken in Bagley Nature Area and Chester Park.

I love when there's a reflection of the trees in the lake.

All the trees just look so beautiful! Go take a walk in the woods before all the leaves fall!

If your looking for somewhere nice to walk around campus, try Chester Park or Bagley. Both have spectacular views and really make you appreciate nature. It's also very relaxing to just walk around in the woods and get away from the stress of school.

Share and Voice: UMD Market Day in the Plaza

I know this is last minute, but the last UMD Market Day in the Plaza for the year is tomorrow, Wednesday September 29th! It goes from 1:30-4:30 and it is located right on Kirby Drive! The UMD Market Day in the Plaza has a Farmers Market with all local vendors. It also has music, free bike tune-ups and Art from local artists and crafters. According to the website, here's the list of who will be at the Market tomorrow:

• Darrell Doug Dale: many varieties of apples.
• Seeds of Success: fresh assorted veggies & herbs.
• Maxine Jordahl: baked goods, canned goods and a variety of produce including squash and pumpkins.
• Susie Olund: glycerin soaps, pickles, squash, potatoes, hot peppers, kale, swiss chard, leeks, carrots, beets, potatoes, jam, greens, and more!
• Deb Shubat: parsnips, pie pumpkins, baby cabbages, onions, and 3 varieties of garlic suitable for planting or eating: Russian Giant, Music, and Persian Star. Also, two great winter squash varieties: Sunshine and Confection are both sweet and orange inside, and keep for months at room temperature. Crackers and possibly flatbreads.
• The Wholesome Hippie: mostly-organic coconut granola, and a 100% organic nut-free variety too.
• Peggy Sobczak: sweet grass braids, a variety of veggies, squash and zucchini and herbs.
• Bayfield Apple Co. will be there and will have apples, apple butter, apple mustard, cider and more!
• The Lily Ladies: information on over 100 varieties of lilies, unique varieties and perennials. Open by appointment only, (218) 525-4653 or email: LilyLadyDuluth@charter.net
• DJ Mouse from Cayman Farms: breads, veggies, chutneys, and hot sauces.
• Kim Herschler from Deeps Coffee: home-roasted coffee: Kenya AA Kichwa Tembo, Guatemala Huehuetenango, fair-trade organic Peruvian, Mexican Chiapas Decaf, Sumatra Mandheling, and latte-style espresso blend. Plus, pints of cherry tomatoes in various shapes, sizes, and colors.
• Stacey with Energy for Life Connection: will NOT be at the final market, but hopes to see you at future events. (There is a Farmer's Market event on Saturday Nov. 20th and the "Get it Local" event on Dec. 4th.) You can contact her through her website atfor all your wellness needs throughout the fall and winter season.
• Jamison Meats: fresh local meats including beef, pork & chicken. Look for the white van near the edge of the plaza.

For more Information on who else will be there you can click on this link UMD Market Day in the Plaza for the website. I've been to a UMD Market Day before and it's a really good time! You can find plenty of local food and crafts. Go check it out!

Welcome to Treeific Time with Alyssa!

My name is Alyssa and I am a Junior majoring in Health Education (Community). I love spending time outdoors; especially hiking in the woods surrounded by trees. The picture on the left is from a hike I took this summer. I hope you enjoy the environment too because this blog is going to be all about Environmental Health.

There are 6 possible types of posts on my blog. They include:

1. Advocacy Projects
2. Eye Openers
3. Reflections
4. Eco-Chic Lifestyle Change
5. Read'n'Seed
6. Share and Voice

If you notice at the bottom of this post,the categories will be listed as labels. This post has been labeled with all 5 kinds of posts.You will also see the number of each kind of post in my Labels Gadget at the top of the page. All post titles from now on will begin with one of the categories above.

The members of my web group are:

1. Samantha @ Samantha: Green with Envi
   
2. Adam @ Adams Outdoor Connection
   
3. Emily @ Eco-Quest with Emily
   
4. Kristen @ Kristens Coral Reef
   
5. Katie @ Through Green Eyes with Katie
   
6. Carly @ Go Blue too with Carly
   

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Have a Treeific Time reading! I hope you can learn something new about Environmental Health from this blog and start taking steps to make this world a healthier place!