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🌳 How to keep strawberries longer
Monday 4/13: Sponsored by Percent and Proton Mail - Sustainable home garden, how to keep strawberries fresher for longer, and why walking outside daily is important
In partnership with
Monday
"What is the good of your stars and trees, your sunrise and the wind, if they do not enter into our daily lives?"
E.M. Forster
In today’s issue, we’ll take a look at:
A new invention doubles strawberry shelf life
How walking outside connects us to the world
What is private credit?
A beginner’s guide to growing a sustainable flower garden
How to protect your privacy online
True or False?
Using your dishwasher is usually more water-efficient than washing by hand.
Scroll to the bottom for the answer.
A New Invention Doubles Strawberry Shelf Life
You know the drill: you buy fresh strawberries, blink, and half of them are covered in mold. But scientists in Brazil may have found a simple, natural way to change that.
They created a thin, edible coating that helps strawberries stay fresher for longer, without changing the taste. The coating is made from pomegranate peels and squid shells (really!) and helps slow down how fast the fruit loses moisture and grows mold.
In tests, strawberries with the coating stayed good for up to eight days, compared to just four for regular ones. The film is safe to eat, doesn’t affect flavor or texture, and might work on other fruits too.
The best part? It’s made from food scraps and only costs about two cents per fruit. That’s a tiny price to pay for fewer soggy strawberries—and less food waste overall.
With up to 50% of produce wasted globally each year, this kind of smart science could be one way to help us throw away less and enjoy our food a little more.
How Walking Outside Connects Us to the World
If your days feel nonstop, it might be worth setting aside just 20 minutes to step outside and walk. Not for exercise or errands, just to move, breathe, and notice the world around you. It’s one of the simplest ways to reconnect with yourself and with nature.
Morning walks in particular can feel surprisingly peaceful. The air is cooler, the streets quieter, and every day scents—like wood smoke, fresh laundry, or damp earth—suddenly stand out. These small moments of presence often get lost in the daily rush.
Walking is also known to lower stress and lift your mood. Some people say their best ideas arrive mid-stride, not at their desk. That’s no coincidence. Walking activates the body’s natural calming response and can gently spark creativity.
It’s also an easy win for the planet. Replacing even a short drive with a walk helps cut down on emissions and adds a little more fresh air to your day.
Whether you're in a quiet neighborhood or a busy city, walking has a way of slowing life down just enough to make it feel more your own.
The Biggest Knock on Private Credit? Percent Changed That.
The number one knock on private credit has always been the same: you can't get out. Lock in for 12 or 24 months, hope things go as planned, wait. Percent changed that in December 2025 with a secondary marketplace. Browse live bid and ask data on seasoned deals, submit an indication of interest to buy or sell, and Percent coordinates the match. For accredited investors who want private credit yields without locking up capital indefinitely, you can do that now. The numbers as of Q4 2025: · $1.82B funded across 981 deals · 16.72% current weighted average coupon · 0.58% lifetime charge-off rate Very few individual investor platforms offer this. New investors can receive up to $500 on their first investment.
Alternative investments are speculative. Secondary liquidity not guaranteed. Past performance not indicative. Terms apply.
Thank you to Percent for sponsoring The Canopy.
A Beginner’s Guide to Growing A Sustainable Flower Garden
Spring flower bouquets are a great way to brighten up your home and bring a little color and personality to your space. Growing your own makes them even better, and with a few conscious choices, it can be easier on the planet, too.
Cut flowers like dahlias, cosmos, snapdragons, and sunflowers are perfect for home gardens. They have strong stems, bloom big, and can be planted in batches throughout the season to keep your vases full longer.
If you’re working with a smaller space, try layering bulbs like tulips with deeper-rooted flowers in the same bed. For low-water gardens, field flowers like yarrow and zinnias are colorful and easy to grow with minimal fuss.
Start with compost-rich soil, group plants by their sun and water needs, and look for organic or heirloom seeds when you can.
However your flowers end up (on a table, in a gift, or brightening a corner), these small steps make a big difference.
Protect online privacy from the very first click
Your digital footprint begins long before you understand what it means. “Free” Big Tech inboxes like Gmail scan your emails to fuel advertising, personalize content, and build data profiles. Proton Mail offers truly “free” email. Free from data profiling. Free from tracking. Free from ads. And free to use.
Quick Picks:
From stargazing to leftover magic, check out this week’s top eco-friendly finds:
Reflections:
🌎 True or False: True! Modern dishwashers use as little as 3 gallons per cycle, while handwashing can use up to 27 gallons.
🌅 Sunset Of The Day: The sun can provide the most beautiful photography. That's why we're eager to see your favorite sunrise or sunset photos. Reply to this email with your best sun-based pictures for a chance to be featured!