By Jess Daniels This is a big year for a vast yet microscopically small problem: microplastics. California is set to begin a series of regulatory and policy efforts aimed at understanding, measuring, and strategizing to mitigate the plastic smog that blankets our waterways, soils, and even air. With more than 7 Trillion microplastic particles pouring annually […]
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Engaging Art & Nature with Spiritplay Toys
Written and photographed by Koa Kalish On the winding road that leads to the wild coastal shore of Sonoma County, CA, you will reach the quaint, sleepy town of Bodega. Nestled between the world-famous Northern Light Surf Shop and Colleen’s Coffee Shop lies the toy studio. A small cedar-shingled shack with a red-painted door and […]
Read MoreCarbon Farming and Co-Benefits at PT Ranch
Written by Koa Kalish and photographed by Paige Green At PT Ranch, 525 acres sit at the base of the Sierra mountains, where melted snowcap hydrates the land. Historically, with the abundance of moisture in the soil, grass has grown plentifully. But with the increasing droughts, the Taylor family, including Molly, her sister Madeline, her […]
Read MoreThe Rhythm of Care at Rockstar Alpacas
Written and photographed by Koa Kalish Three days ago, Lisa Beatty woke up to see all of her female alpacas huddled together in a tight circle, facing inward. She knew that they must be circling around a newborn cria (or baby). “All of the moms love the babies,” she explains. “They all make a point […]
Read MoreRekindling Family Farming at Owl Oak Acres
Written and photographed by Koa Kalish Just before the sun sets, Evelyn (Evie) offers up the evening feed to all the animals on her family’s small ranch, Owl Oak Acres, in Red Bluff, California. She goes around from pen to pen, patiently throwing dinner over the fences to the eighteen ewes, the thirteen lambs, the […]
Read MoreSlowing Down Fashion with Italia A Collection
Written by Sarah Lillegard and photographed by Paige Green Among the garments displayed at the 2019 Fibershed Gala was a loungesuit with an open v neckline and wide pant legs that tapered to a tie at the waist. Made out of undyed Climate Beneficial™ wool, it was a sophisticated but cozy look. Titled the Coastal […]
Read MoreA Gathering Place at Warner Mountain Weavers
Written & photographed by Sarah Lillegard In the northeastern corner of California, the Warner Mountains run north through Modoc County into southern Oregon. To the west of these mountains is Goose Lake, and to the east is Surprise Valley, the town of Cedarville, and a shop that bears the name of that range: Warner Mountain […]
Read MoreThe Hemp Casita of Rezolana — Rising up from the Ground
Written and photographed by Koa Kalish, except where noted Out along flat, sprawling farmlands that run up against the sharp incline and dramatic sweep of the fiercely peaked Sangre de Cristo mountains, a story rises up from the ground. Kissed by blue sky and vibrant clouds that come to life, there humbly stands a ten-by-ten […]
Read MoreFrom Soil to Skein with Mendocino Wool and Fiber Inc.
Written by Stephanie Wilkes and Rebecca Burgess, Photographed by Paige Green If anything can be said to be normal for Mendocino Wool and Fiber Inc., it is that normal doesn’t exist. After years of permitting delays, construction, fundraising, and equipment that flat-out didn’t work, the business is stable and growing in Ukiah, California. Since 2018, […]
Read MoreHarvesting Hemp: Reflecting on Opportunities with the One Acre Exchange
One Acre Exchange supports the development of an agricultural economy centering the sustainability of farmers, workers, and the planet. In North Carolina and beyond, we support farmers and artisans in the growth and development of industrial hemp because of its tremendous potential to revitalize local economies and regenerate the environment. Read past dispatches to learn about […]
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