If you haven’t heard that omega- 3 fatty acids are good for you, you’ve not been paying attention.  Two crucial omega- 3s are primarily found in certain fish. ALA (alpha-linolenic acid), another omega-3 fatty acid, is found in plant sources such as nuts, seeds and even leafy greens like cabbage. Not only does your body need these fatty acids to function, but also they might deliver some big health benefits like improving heart and brain health and curbing the pain and stiffness of arthritis. If you don’t get enough omega-3-rich foods in your diet, you may be thinking about a dietary supplement. ... Read More

Boulder, Colorado is considered a leading city for sustainability due to its innovative and comprehensive approach to environmental protection and preservation. The city has been recognized for its efforts by receiving several awards and accolades over the years. One of the primary reasons why Boulder stands out as a leader in sustainability is its commitment to renewable energy. The city has set a goal to achieve 100% renewable electricity by 2030, and it is well on its way to achieving this goal. Boulder has already made significant progress towards this goal by increasing its use of solar and... Read More

Meet Allison! As a Graduate student in Architecture, Allison appreciates the sustainable lifestyle  Boulder has to offer and believes that “the mountains are a perfect remedy” for any break from the hustle and bustle. When she’s not hiking, snowboarding, or walking her dog,  After she graduates, Allison hopes to move back to Boulder and work as a licensed Architect; already looking forward to afternoons by Coot Lake and endless sunshine once again. Thanks Allison!  Read More

One of the major issues in the coffee industry is sustainability. In every aspect and area of the business—from the farm to cup—there is room for growth when it comes to energy and waste management. The future of coffee (like any commodity dealing with climate change) depends on the ability of farmers, roasters, baristas, and customers to make smart decisions that favor long term sustainability goals. As consumers, we can choose to buy coffee from roasteries that participate in direct trade with farmers and cooperatives invested in environmentally sound growing practices. We can also make the... Read More

“For conscious companies, growth is different by definition. We don’t grow only for profit; we grow for purpose. We scale not only for a greater bottom line, but also for greater impact.” Says Lori Hanau, founder of Global Round Table Leadership. Many of the companies that I’ve written about and many others in Boulder strive to be conscious companies. They strive to put purpose before profit and to build products or offer services that make a positive impact on society. However, it’s not just an organic foods or a renewable energy company that can be conscious. Any company, no matter... Read More

Want to build your capacity to actualize a new future for yourself and the world? That’s the purpose of the U.Lab transformational leadership course launching this month at the Boulder Impact Hub as described in this video by course-leader C. Otto Scharmer:  The first U.Lab started last January engaging 30,000 people from 190 countries– with practice groups sprouting up around the world helping to grow a locally rooted, globally connected community of change-makers. The Boulder Impact Hub is hosting U.Lab groups for this round offering additional coaching and group support. Come check... Read More

Hemp fibers are strong and can be grown without herbicides or pesticides, making it an environmentally friendly material. It also takes 3 times less water than cotton and cleans and replenishes soil. This makes natural hemp-made products better for people, animals, and the environment. More and more people are becoming conscious of how they impact the world and are voting for the world they want with their dollars. With so many consumers choosing products with more ecofriendly practices, companies are replacing plastics and other materials with hemp. There are so many ways you can incorporate hemp... Read More

There is a great respect and appreciation for the public land here in Colorado, and the majority of Colorado voters in 2016 “opposed efforts to turn national public lands over to the state.” (Conservation Colorado 2016). With this sentiment in mind, Colorado made itself the first state to create a holiday focused on appreciating the benefits received from public land. Be one of the first to celebrate this holiday on this coming Saturday, the 20th of May, as it will be the one of the first celebrations ever of Colorado’s New Public Lands Day! Colorado’s public land holds great value and... Read More

Just down the street from the larger Avery Brewing Company sits Asher Brewing Company, a company that focuses not only on making excellent craft beer but on implementing a model of sustainability that reflects the brewery’s environmentally friendly mission. This microbrewery uses 100% wind power to create their organic certified beers using locally sourced ingredients when possible. When I visited just this past week, the overhead lights were off since there was plenty sunshine coming through the floor to ceiling windows, helping keep the taproom energy efficient. If all of that weren’t enough,... Read More

On Wednesday, the University of Colorado Leeds School of Business hosted an event that they dubbed the Sustainable Shark Tank. The Sustainable Shark Tank provided an opportunity for MBA students to present sustainable business plans to a panel of expert judges. Unlike the real Shark Tank (the one on television, not the one at The Aquarium) the judges weren’t deciding whether or not to write a check at the end of the program. However, the judges were providing honest and valuable feedback so that the MBA students could decide whether or not it would be worth it for them to take a chance and pursue... Read More

About 10 years ago, bees all over the US started dying off in droves and no one could figure out why. The blight kept spreading and the mystery deepened, getting lots of media attention and an apocalyptic-sounding name: Colony Collapse Disorder. Farmers, understandably, panicked. Without bees to pollinate their crops, production would be decimated—from blueberries to oranges to carrots, almost everything in the produce aisle would disappear. Now, symptoms of Colony Collapse Disorder aren’t as common as they used to be but bees are still dying off at an alarming rate. Beekeepers and researchers... Read More

2015 is a new year, full of potential. While there is a collective hope for a more sustainable future not just locally but across the world, it is important to not forget sustainability’s local victories that have already happened.   Boulder county is a region where there has already been notable successful sustainable reform.  According to Boulder county’s website, sustainability means “The use, development and protection of resources in a way that enables Boulder county residents to meet their needs and maintain a high quality of life, without compromising the ability of future... Read More

One of the largest agricultural producing regions of the United States is under grave danger from water shortages.  According to Mercury News, “The Central Valley, home to the world’s largest swath of ultra-fertile Class 1 soil, is the backbone of California’s $36.9 billion a year, high-tech agricultural industry. Its 6.3 million acres of farmland produce more 350 crops, from fruits and vegetables to nuts and cotton, representing 25 percent of the food on the nation’s table”.  This modern day bread basket of the United States produces a quarter of the food that... Read More

Most of the ski resorts in the Rocky Mountains have environmental protection policies because the mountains they are built upon are considered National Parks. These ski resorts are required to include a certain level of eco-friendliness, commitment to environmental stewardship, and commitment to environmental restoration. Resorts are often a part of the community they are in, especially in a ski town.  Resorts offer many jobs and include shops, restaurants and residences.  Because the resorts are at the heart of the local economies in these ski towns, when a ski resort uses less energy from... Read More

The oil and gas industry in the United States is exponentially growing due to the use of a relatively new technology called hydraulic fracturing, also known as fracking. In fact, the United States is on its way to becoming the number one exporter of oil in the world.  While fracking in the United States has allowed for increased oil and gas production, it is far from benefitting the United States in other important sectors. Fracking is done by injecting a mixture of dangerous chemicals, water and sand into shale deposits at high temperatures.  This mixture is then pulled back to the surface... Read More

The importance to control the potential dangers of fire is paramount for protecting the homes and properties in and near the Front Range. The local forests have been increasing in fuel load and fire severity. With the threat of fire an ever-pressing issue the community’s mind, it is important for locals to understand what is going on with forests across the region. Coloradoforestrestoration.org (CFRI) has a science research with recommendations for how to approach the persistent fire hazard that we face in Colorado. Fire is a natural part of our ecosystem’s development. G. David and E. Wohl... Read More

Saving money and reducing the pollution you emit this winter is easy when you take the right steps. Being sustainable typically involves reducing, reusing, and recycling resources. The following steps are easy ways to reduce, reuse, and recycle this winter at home. Most of these tips come from SustainableKentucky.com or the context institute staff of context.org. It’s easy to make reducing your contribution to polluting cost-effective by following the steps below. Compost: Even if you don’t use your own home’s organic waste for compost, your neighbor’s garden can. Consider donating your... Read More

 The Ballot in Boulder County has topics to vote on this year that if passed will not only benefit individuals but also strengthen the community as a whole. Mentioned below are some of the topics that have the potential to boost Boulder’s resilience in the long term against future threats.  Boulder Weekly has put up a voter guide with info on all the different topics to vote on this year and the ballot is available to read and for use on Boulder County’s website.  GMO Labeling Across the country, states are voting on GMO labeling that would help protect consumers’ rights to know what... Read More