Issue Nº 503

Thursday

In today’s issue, we’ll take a look at:

• Eating with the seasons

• A new plastic bag ban

• Free, unbiased news

• How you can help build solutions to climate change

True or False?

Forests once covered a third of the Earth's land.

Scroll to the bottom for the answer.

Eating With the Seasons This Fall

By eating seasonally, we mean eating fruit and vegetables that have been grown locally and harvested during the current season. This comes with a whole host of benefits. For one, it means food doesn’t have to travel halfway around the road before it reaches your plate, creating an immense load of planet-warming greenhouse gasses. Food that’s been freshly harvested will also taste better and be bursting with nutritional content. Plus, buying from farmers’ markets - aside from being a wholesome Sunday activity - can help strengthen your local economy.

So, now that the leaves are falling and autumn is firmly with us, what foods should you be eating to keep your body in rhythm with the seasons? Here are some ideas: 

1. Apples

Fall is the best time for crisp, delicious apples - why not find an orchard near you and make a day out of picking your own?

2. Pumpkins

When else would they be in season? Don’t just carve them up for Halloween without making the most of the fruit itself - use them in pies, soups, and curries. 

3. Root Vegetables

From carrots to parsnips, radishes to rutabaga, fall is when these nutritional powerhouses are at their best.

4. Cranberries

Cranberries come into season just in time for Thanksgiving! Why not make them into sauce, bake them into scones, or turn them into juice?

Time for Totes: Plastic Shopping Bags Banned in California

Under a new law, plastic shopping bags will no longer be available in California grocery stores. While thin plastic bags had already been banned, thicker ones which were meant to be used again and again are now also on their way out. According to one Senator, people weren’t actually using these bags again - in fact, the amount of shopping bags thrown away per person rose from 8 pounds a year in 2004 to 11 pounds a year in 2021. Now, if customers don’t have their own bags to hand, they’ll be offered a paper one. This move will go a long way toward protecting California’s coastline and marine life from plastic pollution.

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Help Tackle Climate Change as a Citizen Scientist

We need a lot more data to create viable solutions to climate change. Volunteering as a citizen scientist means you can play a pivotal role in collecting this data. You might spend a day collecting samples from rivers to measure water quality, count butterflies to help scientists understand their migration patterns, or just spend a couple of hours tagging photos from the comfort of your own home. 

If you have some kind of skills - maybe you’re a keen bird watcher or know your way around a telescope - that’s great, but to be a citizen scientist you don’t need any previous scientific experience. You can undergo training that will give you all the tools and knowledge you need. This vital work can help create datasets that scientists don’t have the time and resources to build on their own.

Start by looking at the NASA website, which lists loads of ways to get involved in exciting projects, or do a Google search to check out what opportunities there are near you!

Reflections:

• 🌎 True or False: False, forests once covered almost half of the Earth's land.

• 🌅 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 in next Wednesday's newsletter!