ColumnIt’s the season for eating outside with mason jars.

Even if you’re not on an academic schedule, the longer days of the season mean that you have way more time on your hands than usual. Which indicates that it’s high time to stop drooling over blogs about backyard homesteading and actually do something. Welcome to the official Foodie Underground Guide to Summer, with a list of everything you ever wanted to do when it comes to food, and a few things you never thought of.

1. Make your own potato chips.
2. Use a foodie pickup line on someone. Example: “I think we’d grow a great organic garden together.”
3. Pick your own berries.
4. Overdose on berries while out picking them.
5. Come home and realize you actually didn’t have room for 20 pounds of berries in a freezer.
6. Make up three new recipes for said berry and then go out and buy a chest freezer to house the rest.
7. Learn to sing a drinking song in a another language. Host a party and require all guests to learn it.
8. Diversify your mason jar collection.
9. Find a way to incorporate sea salt into everything you eat for 24 hours.
10. Learn how to prepare eggs at least ten different ways.
11. Pair a dinner menu with a playlist.
12. Go vegan for a week.
13. Take your lunch to work in a mason jar.
14. Refuse to go shopping for an entire week and see what recipes you can concoct from what’s in your pantry.
15. Write a food cart business plan.
16. Schedule a date to bone luge.
17. Go a week without taking a photo of a single meal.
18. Learn how to shuck an oyster.
19. Master a chocolate cake recipe so that you know it by heart.
20. Visit a farm.
21. Infuse. Anything.
22. Cook breakfast outside, even if you’re not on a camping trip.
23. Brew your own beer.
24. Bake something and send it to a far away friend. Priority Mail of course, you don’t want things to go stale.
25. Master a summer cocktail and bring it to every dinner party you go to.
26. Consider getting chickens.
27. When you have been woken up by your neighbor’s chickens three days in a row, opt out of getting chickens.
28. Get goats instead and start making your own artisan goat cheese.
29. Follow up every food remark you make with, “trust me, I’m a food blogger” just to see what happens.
30. Two words: fennel pollen.
31. Beer margarita? Yes, please.
32. Plan a meal without the help of a cookbook or the internet.
33. Rhubarb, raspberries and basil… go.
34. Join a co-op.
35. Invest in a red wagon. You will need it when going to the co-op.
36. Start your own kombucha.
37. Invite your friends over and gross them out with said kombucha.
38. Attend an underground supper club.
39. See how many different liquids you can make ice cubes out of.
40. Learn how to can.
41. Learn how to pickle.
42. Invest in a cookbook without images.
43. Keep a food journal, and instead of taking pictures of your food, write about it.
44. Honey, ginger and cardamom… go.
45. Find something to muddle other than mint.
46. Stick to a $10 a day food budget and see where it takes you.
47. Refuse to eat at any restaurant that has a menu in Helvetica for a whole week.
48. Harvest your own sea salt.
49. If you’re not into harvesting your own sea salt, at least carry around a travel container with some in it everywhere you go.
50. Make your own yogurt.
51. Order a pina colada on a first date, just to see your date’s reaction. Then follow up with a whiskey.
52. Find a Le Creuset at an estate sale.
53. Keep simple syrup on hand in your kitchen at all times.
54. Invest in a good spork.
55. Figure out a new use for truffle oil.
56. Get your mother to teach you how to make a pot roast.
57. Seduce someone with food. And only food.
58. Buy a cookbook from the 70s.
59. Laugh at said cookbook from the 70s.
60. Revamp a few recipes from your 70s cookbook.
61. Draft the outline to a sketch comedy food show.
62. Plan a road trip based around regional specialties.
63. Make your own ice cream.
64. Lavender, chocolate and lemon… go.
65. Color coordinate your food and plates and see if your guests notice.
66. Learn some key food phrases in French.
67. Find ten different ways to use quinoa.
68. Brew your own cold brew coffee.
69. Go foraging.
70. Eat figs with something other than goat cheese and honey.
71. Throw a hot sauce tasting party.
72. Marinate some cucumbers; it’s easier than pickling.
73. Eat dinner outside… in the rain.
74. Make cookies with bacon in them.
75. Learn how to make fresh cheese.
76. Film the intro to your new food television series.
77. Cure your own fish.
78. Build a picnic table. With reclaimed wood of course.
79. Read The Omnivore’s Dilemma and if you’ve already done that, read Food Politics.
80. Start a truck farm.
81. Mix up a few jam drinks.
82. Draw your most recent meal.
83. Hand write the menu for a dinner party.
84. Paint one of your kitchen walls with chalkboard paint so you can write on it and feel like you’re in a restaurant.
85. Buy cheap wine and make your own labels for it. Your friends will never know the difference.
86. Perfect your own sangria recipe.
87. End every meal with espresso.
88. Drive to a small town just to eat at the local hotspot.
89. Buy a trashy food magazine. It’s like brain candy.
90. Stop buying Nutella and make it yourself.
91. Host a party where all ingredients come from within a 100 miles radius.
92. Plant an edible flower garden.
93. Get to know a farmer at farmers market on a first-name basis.
94. Take a coffee roasting class. Someone has to.
95. Pickle eggs.
96. Learn how to make an actual pie crust.
97. Opt for cobbler instead.
98. Screen print your own apron with your favorite food quote.
99. Drink a kir royale.
100. Sign up to be grape harvest seasonal help. Fall is just around the corner after all.

Editor’s note: This is the latest installment of Anna Brones’s weekly column at EcoSalon, Foodie Underground, discovering what’s new and different in the underground food movement, from supper clubs to mini markets to the culinary avant garde.

The post Foodie Underground: 100 Things to Do With Your Summer Vacation appeared first on EcoSalon.

Use your days off to do some good.

Using your vacation time to volunteer is a great way to see new parts of the world, help out in your own city and meet new people. Whether you’re inspired by recent events, hoping to help preserve natural areas threatened by traditional tourism, eager for a cultural experience or just have a few extra days, there are lots of opportunities to get out there and do some good. And, bonus, if you are working with a 501(c)3, your trip could be tax deductible.

If donating just doesn’t feel like enough when disaster strikes, volunteer with All Hands, a non-profit that builds homes and schools, provides clean water and more after natural disasters. Since 2010, All Hands has installed 518 bios and filters (which purify water making it safe to drink) and rebuilt 17 schools in Leogane, Haiti. With active projects in the U.S. and all over the world, there are lots of opportunities to get involved. How it works: Pick a project, apply to volunteer, pay for your travel, get yourself to the project site and then stay as long as you can. That’s it. Once you’re there, food and lodging are covered. Many projects run for months so you can choose one that gives you time to plan ahead.

Perks: No fees, the chance to live where you’re working and connect with locals, the opportunity to help a community in great need.

While tourism is a big industry in many parts of the world, it takes a toll on local environments. Spend 1-26 weeks working on ProWorld’s Eco-Tourism Project in Costa Rica. You’ll be living in a rural community 35 km from Quepos and working onsite to help out in an eco-tourism cooperative. You can work on the dairy farm, help out in the animal rescue center, sow seeds in the vegetable garden and more. For about $1,300 a week you’ll get lodging, meals, health and travel insurance, airport transport and more.

Perks: Live with a (carefully screened) local family, free time in the afternoon, a chance to use your Spanish-speaking skills—or take Spanish classes while you’re there.

If you have 2-12 weeks, Cross-Cultural Solutions’ Volunteer Abroad program has open start dates and let’s you head to 12 countries including Brazil, Thailand and Tanzania. The organization will work with you to determine the right role based on your skills and interests. You might work with locals in orphanages, childcare centers, schools, health clinics and hospitals, homes for the elderly, centers for people with disabilities and other community organizations. A two-week stay will cost you about $3,000 (which covers food, lodging and more) before air travel.

Perks: Weekends off to travel, eating food based on local flavors, airport transportation all taken care of.

Outdoorsy types, head into the wilderness with the American Hiking Society and spend a week hiking and helping to maintain trails in remote areas of the U.S. Trips are rated from easy to strenuous so you can choose the project that’s best for your fitness level. You’ll hike and backpack and sleep in accommodations ranging from primitive campsites to bunkhouses or cabins. The $275 non-member fee covers lodging, food and park entrance fees and, in some cases, travel from the airport to the site. You and your 6-15 person team will get the tools and guidance you need to revitalize the trails.

Perks: Affordability, the chance to unplug and exercise, volunteerism and vacation all rolled into one.

Lots of us get inspired to give when we’re on a trip or something happens overseas. But, what about taking a volunteer stay-cation? There are probably lots of people close to home that could use your help. Check out VolunteerMatch, Habitat for Humanity, or food banks for local opportunities. And, if you’re in LA, New York or Chicago visit iVolunteer for opportunities organized by cause and date along with articles that will help you learn more about how to be a top-notch volunteer.

Perks: If you have a great experience you can become a repeat volunteer, you can involve your friends and family, you’re giving back where you live.

A Few Tips:

Be prepared to work and get your hands dirty.

Ask questions, read reviews and do your research before picking an organization—if your gut is screaming, “Shady!” you should probably listen.

Know your limits and understand the logistics: If you’ll die without A/C, don’t volunteer in Vietnam in June.

Keep your travel eco-friendly.

Images: All Hands, Pro-World, Cross-Cultural Solutions, gabriel amadeus, St_A_Sh

The post 5 Ways to Get Motivated and Volunteer on Vacation appeared first on EcoSalon.

A simple and no nonsense guide to going vegan.

Thinking about committing to a 100% plant-based diet? Going vegan isn’t for everyone, but it’s actually a lot easier than some might think. In his new digital cookbook Eat Awesome: A regular person’s guide to plant-based, whole foods, author, web designer and touring musician Paul Jarvis shows us how simple and fulfilling eating a plant-based diet can be.

A total foodie (if you like food porn you should be sure to follow Jarvis on Instagram), his cookbook is a straightforward account of the benefits of a plant-based diet, full of recipes that focus on simple, whole foods, from Chickpea Curry to Raw Cheesecake (hint: it’s made with cashews). For anyone that has felt intimidated by going vegan, it’s an easy-to-use guide that makes transitioning to a diet that is more plant-based seem less daunting.

We caught up with Jarvis to learn more about the book – which since it’s digital, is paper-free and you can score for a mere $5 – and his passion for food, and he gave us his favorite recipe for Deviled Potatoes.

Deviled Potatoes

Ingredients:

• Potatoes
• Mustard seed
• Turmeric
• Nutritional yeast
• Paprika
• Cashew cream (recipe below)

Directions:

Halve about 20 egg-sized potatoes and place on a lightly oiled baking sheet, flat side down.

Bake at 375F for 30-45 minutes, or until tender.

Scoop out the middles and place in a mixing bowl.

Mash the scooped out potato middles with a bit of mustard seed, 2-4 scoops of nutritional yeast, cashew cream (or any vegan mayonnaise) and turmeric.

Spoon mixture back into the middle of the potatoes, and sprinkle with paprika.

Cashew Cream

Ingredients:

• Cashews
• Lemon
• Nutritional yeast (optional)

Directions:

1. Soak 2 cups of cashews for an hour, then drain and rinse.
2. Put cashews in a blender with the juice of 1 to 2 lemons, salt to taste, and a couple spoonfuls of nutritional yeast.
3. Blend until mixture is creamy and smooth.

EcoSalon: How did you get into food?

Paul Jarvis: I’ve been eating since birth and have grown rather fond of it. It’s also been something I’ve cared (see: obsessed) about for as long as I can remember. I need to know how every dish I encounter is made, what the whole ingredients are that dishes are comprised of, and what techniques are required to cook or prepare it. This led me to spending most of my time playing with whole ingredients — I’d rather make something from scratch, even if it takes longer, than buy it already prepackaged or pre-prepared. Even vegan butter, mayonnaise or kale chips (which can take hours to make and literally seconds to eat).

What led you to veganism?

I was vegetarian for years and constantly experimenting with what I was eating to see how eating (or not eating) certain foods affected my moods, energy levels and physical endurance. I happened upon veganism by accident after realizing I had been vegan for a year or so without making a conscious choice to do so. Eliminating milk, cheese and eggs from my already vegetarian diet was making me feel better (and resulted in getting sick far less), which is also what happened when I stopped eating meat. I didn’t wake up one day and shout, “Hey world, I’m vegan!” It was actually based more on observations on how what I ate affected my body.

What inspired you to write a book?

My book Eat Awesome actually wrote itself before I knew what was happening. I was always getting the same sorts of questions from friends, family and co-workers about why I was vegan, what I ate, and the usual… “How do you get your protein?” So all the information and recipes in the book were written out in emails dozens of times. Then I realized, that I could be a little lazy with things (little did I know that putting together a book was anything but “being lazy”) and write the same answers and recipes for people in a single sweep. The recipes are meals I make on a weekly basis, so I didn’t need to figure out what to include, I just wrote out a list of what I had made for meals in the last couple weeks and that became the recipes included.

Your approach to this book is pretty simple — “Eating vegan is a good time” — why do you think so many people knock veganism?

There are a few reasons for this. The first is that veganism challenges the mainstream way of eating, also known as SAD (a Standard American Diet — it’s not just me being sassy). Most adults weren’t raised vegan, so it’s a bit of a paradigm shift on a plate and some folks would rather not challenge how they think about food or what’s in food they eat.

There’s also a shit-ton (I forget the actual Imperial unit of measurement for this since I’m Canadian) of misinformation out there condemning veganism as an unhealthy, hippie, uninformed way of eating. The meat and dairy industries don’t need to be right or factual, they just need to have bigger budgets than that of an organic kale farmer.

There’s also an often unspoken thought that veganism isn’t very manly since Real Men(tm) eat steak. To that I’d say that real men take care of their bodies and want to decrease their risk of things like prostate cancer, diabetes and heart problems (all of which have been shown to worsen due to the consumption of meat and dairy). I’d also tell any dude who thinks veganism isn’t manly to tell it to the face of winning UFC fighter and long-time vegan, Mac Danzig.

When someone says to you, “Oh, I could never be vegan” what is your response?

I thought the same thing until I was one. I’ve never said going vegan was easy — but it gets easy as you learn more. Compared to 10 years ago, it’s easier than ever that adopt a plant-based diet. There’s a ton of great books out about vegan lifestyle, fitness and recipes. There is also support through things like online message boards, vegan meet-ups, creature-free potlucks, there are even iPhone apps that give you directions to the nearest vegan restaurant in any city.

There are some great products on the market that simulate meat and cheeses too. They may not be as awesome as whole, organic foods — but they’re quick, tasty and much more nutritious than their conventional counterparts. I think of faux-meats as the “gateway drug” to veganism. They’re good to start since they look and taste meaty, and they can be enough to get you hooked on plant-based living. But over time and with their help, you can transition to harder vegan drugs — like kale and quinoa.

The other thing is that I wouldn’t ever say that you have to go vegan cold-turkey (why are so many colloquialisms rooted in meat? I sense a conspiracy). Becoming completely vegan can be a goal over time, as you learn more about it. If you slip up or have a moment of weakness, it doesn’t mean being vegan isn’t right for you, it just means you’re human (so congratulations on that!). The vegan police won’t be beating down anyone’s door, since they don’t exist. Simply eating consciously and compassionately is a move in the right direction. You don’t have to become a 100% total absolute vegan instantly — just try a single plant-based meal and take it from there.

If someone is looking to incorporate more vegan foods in their diet, what would be your 5 recommendations of foods to start with?

1. Kale. Kale is the superhero of a plant-based diet. High in fibre, beta-carotene, antioxidants, calcium, vitamin C, folic acid, potassium… the list could go on forever. If eating a green vegetable makes you want to throw up a little in your mouth — try it in a smoothie with some bananas or eat a kale chip or have it cooked up as perfect southern collard greens.

2. Hemp. I don’t mean smoking marijuana. Eating hemp hearts is awesome for good fats, protein and a whack of other nutritive properties. It’s not just for hippies in ponchos!

3. Lentils. These are packed with fibre, iron and protein. They taste great cooked simply in some salted water with a bit of hummus on top. Throw some asparagus on top of that, and you’ve got yourself a meal!

4. Cashews. Most importantly, there are nut jokes. Nut milk. Nut sack. My nuts. Warm nuts. Salty nuts… Nuts are funny, don’t even pretend they’re not. They’re also great as snacks or used in things like making your own cashew milk, raw cheesecakes or even vegan cream sauce for that alfredo pasta you always secretly wanted to veganize.

5. Nutritional Yeast. Known in the vegan world as “nooch,” this inactive yeast comes in flaky form and tastes a little cheesy. It’s a source of B12, folic acid and some other good stuff — but mostly, it tastes amazing on popcorn with coconut oil and salt.

So, tell us more about these deviled potatoes.

You can’t really go wrong with a baked potato and fixin’s, whether you’re a vegan or an omnivore. They look like a deviled egg, but have all the awesomeness and comfort feel of a baked potato. So they go over great at parties, BBQs or even for after attending a 30 Seconds to Mars concert (fyi: the whole band is vegan).

Want your own digital copy of Eat Awesome? We’re giving 5 away. Tell us how you incorporate more plant-based foods into your diet in the comments below!

Images: Eat Awesome

The post Eat Awesome: An Everyman’s Guide to Plant-Based, Whole Foods appeared first on EcoSalon.

It’s nearly time for Beach 2012. If covering up slightly is your cup of tea, we’ve found seven sexy, sustainable one-pieces for you to take to the beach this summer.

A few weeks ago we found seven sexy bikinis for you to take to the beach this summer. If a two-piece is not quite your thing, go for a one-piece swimsuit. The good thing is they are totally back in style, so there are plenty of options to choose from. All sexy, but of course, also sustainable. The best thing about one-pieces is that you can get double wear out of them off the beach by pairing them with your favorite jeans or a long skirt.

1. Cali Dreaming Sweetheart One Piece
Suits by Cali Dreaming are all made to feel as natural as possible, and come in soft hues that blend with your skin. This one-piece comes in a candy pink color that is flattering to most skin tones. The fabric is a semi-fine mesh, which makes this suit score high points on the trend scale. It also features ruching at the cups and detachable halter straps.
$182, ShopBop

2. Emobi Frill Swimsuit
This adorable yet slightly tough one-piece has adjustable neck and back ties, frilled cups and low U-shape back. All Emobi swimwear is locally made in Sydney, Australia but ships to the U.S. in 4-5 days.
$148, Emobi

3. Manhattan Tie Dye One-Piece by Kelly Barry
Tie dye is still going strong this summer, and it also happens to be very appropriate for the beach. This simple, chic one piece has an adjustable tie at the neck and flattering ruching at the sides. It’s lower cut in the front with moderate back coverage. Made and tie dyed by hand in California, from 65% Bamboo, 27% organic cotton and 8% spandex.
On sale for $80.50, BTC Elements

4. Karla Colletto Colorblock One-Piece Swimsuit
This one-shoulder swimsuit by Karla Colletto is both sporty and elegant at the same time – a very on trend combination this summer. Known for mixing precise traditional tailoring with state-of-the-art fabrics, Karla Colletto’s designs always feature unexpected details, such as lacing, buttons, and strategically placed cutouts. Each piece is manufactured in-house in the U.S.
$285, Neiman Marcus

5. Swash Bodysuit
Designed by the up-and-coming design duo behind Swash, Sarah Swash and Toshio Yamanaka, the two met while studying at the renowned Central St. Martins College of Art & Design in London. This cool bodysuit works double-duty as a swimsuit. The Horn Of Africa Eclipse print is both quirky and elegant and will take you from the office to the pool in a pinch.
$290, Beklina

6. Tarona Swimsuit by Jungle Gurl
Model-cum-actress-cum-designer Natalie Golonka designs swimsuits and bikinis made from vintage fabrics she has collected during her travels around the globe. They’re one-of-a-kind pieces with a bit of an edge that will look good for many years to come.
$115, Jungle Gurl

7. Swimsuit by Ashley Paige
This sweet heart-print, plunge-neck, one-piece is from designer Ashley Paige’s 2012 collection. Based in LA, Paige is known for exquisitely handmade swimwear that has an almost heirloom-like quality. They’re almost too nice to go into the pool with, but that would be a shame – these suits may be pretty but they’re also made to be shown off.
Available shortly, Ashley Paige

The post 7 Sexy (And Sustainable) Swimsuits for Summer appeared first on EcoSalon.

5 herbs and spices you’ll want to make part of your daily diet.

Fresh or dried, chances are you aren’t getting enough of these five herbs in your diet. Make no mistake, they aren’t just around for taste – spices and herbs are indeed nutritional powerhouses that can complement your health and help to treat a condition or sickness. The following will not only diversify your palette but also bring a whole new meaning to such things as cancer prevention, weight management and anxiety reduction.

Turmeric
I only recently learned the health benefits of turmeric and ever since have made sure to incorporate it in my daily diet, usually as part of my morning tea.

Turmeric originates in India, where it has been used for more than 2,500 years and is a staple in Ayurvedic and Unani medicine. Above all other health claims associated with it, turmeric should be regarded as a detoxifying agent. It naturally cleanses the liver and has antiseptic and antibacterial properties. Additionally, the spice reduces the risk of all cancers, is anti-inflammatory and helps with weight management. Turmeric also treats Alzheimer’s, depression and arthritis.

How to use it: Each morning, add the juice of 1/2 a lemon to 1 cup of tea water along with a dash of turmeric, cinnamon and cayenne pepper. Sweeten with a few drops of liquid stevia to finish off the ultimate morning elixir that will cleanse the liver and get your day started the right way!

Tarragon
Regarded as the “King of Herbs” in France, tarragon dates as far back as 500 B.C. in southern Russia and Siberia. The Greeks would chew tarragon to numb the mouth from toothaches. In the Middle Ages, tarragon was used as an antidote for poisonous snake bites. For our purposes, however, tarragon is relevant in treating stomach aches as well as triggering the appetite. It helps the liver produce bile and thus contributes to proper digestion. Tarragon also prevents heart disease, lowers blood pressure and is a mild sedative.

How to use it: Tarragon is suitable for chicken, fish and egg recipes. It is also a central ingredient in Béarnaise sauce, which is only second in status to Hollandaise sauce.

Allspice
This one truly lives up to its namesake – it is somewhat of a panacea. Allspice is a staple in Caribbean dishes and often goes under appreciated everywhere else. But it shouldn’t! Allspice has powerful anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties and has a soothing and calming effect. It also contributes to gastro-intestinal health, controls blood pressure and improves metabolism. And with its power antioxidant content, allspice prevents cancer and aging.

How to use it: Allspice is useful in most Caribbean dishes, such as soups, stews and curries. It is also commonly used to pickle mixtures in the UK. It is a great additive to meat mixtures and marinades as well as pates and terrines. Allspice also adds an edge to cakes, biscuits, ice creams, pies, hot chocolate and chutneys and jams.

Marjoram
If I could bottle marjoram, I would. Rubbing its fresh leaves on your wrists and behind your ears makes for the best perfume – it has a deep tone but an air of lightness and freshness you can’t get from synthetic sprays. In fact, in ancient Egypt, it was originally used for cosmetics. However, today it is mostly used as a seasoning herb.
Marjoram stimulates digestion,raises appetite,calms the mood, treats insomnia and is a diuretic.The herb has a hefty list of medicinal applications,including treating appendicitis, vomiting, diarrhea, hepatitis, malnutrition, itchy skin, neurosis, pancreatitis, fever and the flu.

How to use it: Dried marjoram is fitting as part of marinades or dry rubs as well as in tomato-based sauces, soups and stews. When fresh, marjoram adds a fragrant touch when mixed into salads and sprinkled atop pasta dishes.

Rosemary
Often used in aromatherapy, rosemary has calming effects and treats fatigue, improves the mood, prevents anxiety, calms the muscles and improves digestion. Consuming rosemary helps to improve digestion, offset obesity, treat liver disease, eases symptoms of asthma and calms an accelerated heartbeat induced by stimulants. Due to its antiseptic and tonic attributes, it also helps with hangovers, colds, sinuses, muscular pains, cramps and headaches. It’s also PMS’ best friend.

How to use it: Rosemary is a hearty herb that pairs well with hearty vegetables and meats. I like to use it in baked potato and bread recipes or tie the stems together and let them steep in a simmering soup to extract flavor.

Aylin Erman currently resides in Istanbul and is creator of plant-based recipe website GlowKitchen.

The post Five Herbs and Spices To Boost Your Immune System appeared first on EcoSalon.

Fashion by the numbers.

Think fashion is just about shopping and trends? Think again. These ten infographics put into numbers and graphs the impacts of the fashion industry, from textile waste to t-shirt lifecyles, and dive into the fascinating history of items like the bikini. You’ll never call fashion fluffy again.

Mind Your Waste Infographic: you’ll be amazed at how much textile waste America generates each year.

How the First Lady Moves Markets: it’s obvious that Michelle Obama has a significant impact on the fashion industry, but this infographic quantifies it.

The Most and Least Fashionable Cities in America: you won’t believe which city beat out NYC.

A History of Fashion, Silhouette Version: a look at how silhouettes have changed over the past 250 years.

Textile Fibers: learn to classify and group different textile fibers with this handy educational tool, originally developed for North Carolina State University’s Distance Education department.

Women at the Oscars: take a trip down memory lane with this round-up of red carpet fashion from the past 22 years.

Where the Wealthy Shop Online: those pretty polka dots actually represent where rich people do their online shopping.

Raven & Lily Infographic: how one brand implements the fair trade model to empower women through design partnerships.

T-Shirt Lifecycle: following the path of a t-shirt from “best” to “duster.”

Women’s Swimsuits: A Fashion History: the long road to the itty bitty string bikini.

ALSO CHECK OUT:

10 Earth Day Infographics

10 Food Infographics That Have Us Consciously Consuming

Image: Mom Smackley

The post 10 Fashion Infographics To Give Us a New Style Sense appeared first on EcoSalon.

Use these eco-friendly ideas and products for your next big adventure.

1. It all starts with inspiration, right? Subscribe to a magazine like Afar magazine and you’ll be treated to travel stories with a focus on authentic experiences, cultural exploration, geo-tourism and more six times a year. And, bonus, with every issue, Afar makes a donation to Sustainable Travel’s International Gold Standard portfolio to offset the carbon emissions generated by flights taken for the magazine. Nice.

2. Plan your trip with help from sites like Travelocity’s Travel for Good. The sub-site offers up info on green destinations, volunteer opportunities and hotels. The site has high standards for giving out their seal of approval – no self-certifiers allowed.

3. If you’re traveling by air, choose a greener airline. The Huffington Post has a great roundup of the top 20 most energy-efficient airlines. Does it really matter? According to researchers at Brighter Planet, yes. “A passenger flying from New York to Los Angeles on Qantas could leave a carbon footprint almost three times greater than the carbon use of a passenger flying the same route on JetBlue. That is because the Qantas flight uses a much larger aircraft, which burns almost four times as much fuel. In addition, the flight is nearly half-empty, carrying only 44 more passengers than the JetBlue flight.”

4. These apps can help. Instead of printing out a piece of paper, use your iPhone as a boarding pass. Many airlines offer you the option of an e-boarding pass. It just gets scanned at the gate. TripIt puts flight, hotel and car rental confirmation emails into one easy itinerary. Maps are old school. Use EveryTrail to figure out where you are, share your walks and find new destinations.

5. We all know the rules by now: liquid carry-on items have to be 3oz. or less and fit into a clear, one-quart bag. According to Three1One, consumers worldwide use a staggering 500 billion to 1 trillion plastic bags annually – 5% are recycled. Don’t be that guy. The company offers reusable zip top bags that will hold all of your goods.

6. Get a brand new old bag. If you’re looking for an eco-friendly suitcase, check out Craigslist or your local vintage shops. Want something new? The Kind Life breaks down some great options, including the Heys USA Eco-Case three-piece. These suitcases are made from 100% recycled plastic and come with a seven-year warranty.

7. Bring an empty water bottle and fill up at the gate as many airlines offer water stations now. Choose glass or metal and you can fill it up with coffee on the way to the airport, rinse it out and add water for the flight. Done.

8. Flying can do a number on your skin. Hydrating is a good start, but stay refreshed with a good toner – this one is travel-sized and smells fantastic. French Rosemary and Sweet Orange beat the smell of airplane food any day.

9. Lots of cities, including Paris, Miami and more, have  really easy bike rentals. Many places allow you to grab a bike where you are and drop it off where you end up. Check out the rental options in your destination.

10. If you’re heading to a city, traverse it like a local. Get a transit pass and a map and download the city’s transit authority app if there’s one available. In some cities – like Chicago and Oahu–the local transportation offers some of the city’s most interesting views.

Looking for more inspiration? Check out EcoSalon’s top travel quotes and music to inspire travel.

Now… go!

Images: romana klee, Kuster & Wildhaber Photography, kthread, vxla

The post 10 Travel Tips To Get You On a Greener Course appeared first on EcoSalon.

Decorate your home with plants and invite the green to clean and add outdoorsy charm to your indoors.

Plants are wondrous creatures, especially for our homes, after all, they remove indoor air pollutants and they smell nice. A spider plant can make all the difference in the world, insomuch that it will save a blasé room from itself without offending the outspoken minimalist.

An herb garden in the kitchen and azalea in the bedroom are also exemplary of ways we’re incorporating mother nature into the great indoors – but both merely hints of the plant decorating madness that follows.

Tall houseplants used as a privacy wall, via Dwell.

From the always gorgeous Old Brand New, a lush altar: perfect for tapping into your inner green goddess.

This staging company decorates with live plants whenever possible because of the negative ions they give off, as in the tasteless, odorless, and invisible molecules we inhale in “fresh” environs like the mountains or at the beach.

Bring the outside in with crawling ivy in a sun-drenched room.

Or liven up an enclosed patio with plants and complimentary color.

An interior garden will add vitality to a room.

An example of a green appointed bathroom, via M. Design.

And a green touch of humor, also from M. Design.

A shabby chic green-appointed interior photographed by Debi Treloar.

An oldie but goodie from Design*Sponge: a utilitarian approach to greenery.

For the greenery impaired, a table full of cacti. Via Dream Avenue.

Maggie Rose decorates with plants and mirrors.

And finds a humane alternative for the huntsman aesthetic.

If ever there was a more perfect DIY for greening up storage: a cutout furniture idea.

Image: Steven Beckly

The post The Green Appointed House: 15 Ways to Decorate With Plants appeared first on EcoSalon.

The good, the bad, and the downright delicious.

Food. For some people, it’s a simple necessity. For others, it’s a reason for living. Regardless of where you fall on the foodie spectrum, you’re sure to enjoy this selection of food infographics, which explore everything from seasonable eating to food waste to the optimum temperature for enjoying a (not ice) cold beer.

Eat Seasonably: an interactive look at what’s in season (click for interaction).

Understanding Artisan Gelato: and why it tastes better than regular gelato.

Bring Food Education Back: an infographic from Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution that makes an argument for teaching kids about good food.

The Case for Beer: so it’s not technically food, but this infographic takes such a good look at beer that we’ll leave it in anyway.

Summertime American Eats: thanks, Pepto-Bismol, we now have heartburn just from looking at this

Food Waste: a reminder to finish your plate.

The Splendiferous Array of Culinary Tools: we sense our Foodie Underground fans drooling.

Kings of Fast Food: a look at how fast food advertisers lure us in.

Vegetarianism: for National Vegetarian Month, RetailMeNot breaks down the world of vegetarianism.

America Wants GMOs Labeled: so “just label it” already, FDA.

ALSO CHECK OUT:

10 Earth Day Infographics

Image: Selma Broeder

The post 10 Food Infographics That Have Us Consciously Consuming appeared first on EcoSalon.

It’s a crazy world we live in.

There’s no better day than Earth Day to learn more about the planet we call home. To help, we present 10 informative graphic representations of the Earth, providing data, statistics, and information on everything from population density to ocean currents to Twitter connections. You know, the important stuff.

An Urban World from Unicef: an interactive map showing world population growth from 1950-2050 (click for interaction)

Geological Time Spiral from the USGS: showcasing the Earth’s storied past

The Hardest Places to Survive on Earth: where not to live

Perpetual Ocean from NASA Goddard Photo and Video: a video visualization of the world’s ocean currents

The Earth at 7 Billion: a snapshot of the world’s population today

A Lonely Planet: a map of the most remote spots on the planet, from the guidebook publisher itself

A Year of Photos from Triposo: different parts of the world light up according to how many photos are shot there throughout the year in this video visualization

The World, As Connected By Twitter: tracking conversations around the world using Twitter’s geolocation feature

Map Shaped By Population Density: an interactive look at the world by population density (click for interaction)

The Environmental Impact of the Internet: In case you needed a reminder to shut off the computer and head outside. Happy Earth Day!

Image: DonkeyHotey

The post 10 Earth Day Infographics appeared first on EcoSalon.