theheartysoul--2020-05-19--Did People Actually Drink Coffee From a Saucer?

Coffee has become a sort of subculture these days .
Sure , most of us enjoy a cuppa every morning , probably with some milk and sweetener .
We like to frequent coffee shops and sip seasonal flavors like pumpkin spice lattes in the fall , peppermint mocha in the winter , and frappuccinos in the summer .
Some like to order a different drink every time and some prefer ‘ the usual.
’ Some people take coffee very seriously .
They refuse instant and prefer to grind their own beans .
There are so many fancy coffee machines designed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , sometimes topped with foam .
To them , the thought of pumpkin spice and chocolate peppermint paired with coffee is sacrilegious .
Hey , everyone has their own way of enjoying this drink .
Coffee has been paired with almost every flavor .
It ’ s been iced .
It ’ s been mixed with tea and alcohol .
Its ratio of sugar and milk has been adjusted from one extreme to the other .
Different beans have been tested and tasted .
We drink coffee out of mugs , teacups , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or foam on-the-go cups .
One might think it ’ s impossible to find a new way to enjoy a cup of joe .
Before this new age of coffee , people had a long-forgotten method of enjoying this iconic beverage : sipping from the saucer .
Why Drink Coffee from the Saucer ?
The reason is quite simple .
Pouring a bit of coffee into the saucer makes it cool enough to drink .
When this practice was more commonplace , coffee was boiled and served extremely hot .
The shallow , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ easy , efficient , and polite way of sipping while the drink was still scalding hot .
This method had also been used for tea .
No one really knows where this practice originated .
References show it was common in Scandinavia and Russia .
In Sweden , drinkers purposely overflow their cups to sip from the saucer .
Then they would place a lump of sugar between their front teeth and drink the coffee through it .
This tradition is called “ dricka på bit ” or “ drink with a lump.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ gamechanger when it came to Britain .
Coffee shops became more popular than pubs .
Like today , everyone visited , from artists to bankers to politicians , often each kind of person congregating in specific shop location .
[ 2 ] Sipping from the Saucer Through the Centuries In the 18th century , the saucer method was widespread .
In fact , it was used as a parable to how the American government was created .
The legend goes that when Thomas Jefferson returned to the United States after being in France @ @ @ @ @ @ @ why the delegates had formed two houses of Congress .
[ 3 ] “ Why did you pour that tea into your saucer ?
” asked George Washington .
“ Even so , ” responded Washington , “ we pour legislation into the senatorial saucer to cool it.
” [ 4 ] Saucering continued into the 20th century , although it was become seen as less polite .
If you are familiar with Little House on the Prairie , you might remember the scene where Father Wilder drank tea out of the saucer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jane was more bossy than ever .
She said Almanzo ’ s boots made too much noise .
She even told Mother that she was mortified because Father drank tea from his saucer .
“ My land !
How else would he cool it ?
” Mother asked .
“ It isn ’ t the style to drink out of saucers any more , ” Eliza Jane said .
“ Nice people drink out of the cup.
” Today , you might find some elderly people who remember and still use this practice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ common as it once was .
After all , most coffee shops don ’ t serve their drinks with saucers .
And even if they did , it ’ s unlikely you ’ d find anyone drinking from it .
However , if you happen to be impatiently waiting for a cup of joe to cool and you ’ ve got a saucer handy , why not give saucering a try ?
Like cola in a glass bottle or tea from a real teacup , it might make the coffee taste better .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ you pour the coffee .
Also ensure the saucer is deep enough to hold liquid .
Plus , make sure you are alone so that no one would be annoyed by the slurping and… perhaps there is a reason this practice has been left in the past .

Coffee has become a sort of subculture these days. Sure, most of us enjoy a cuppa every morning, probably with some milk and sweetener. We like to frequent coffee shops and sip seasonal flavors like pumpkin spice lattes in the fall, peppermint mocha in the winter, and frappuccinos in the summer. Some like to order a different drink every time and some prefer ‘the usual.’
Some people take coffee very seriously. They refuse instant and prefer to grind their own beans. There are so many fancy coffee machines designed to create the perfect cup of joe, sometimes topped with foam. To them, the thought of pumpkin spice and chocolate peppermint paired with coffee is sacrilegious. Hey, everyone has their own way of enjoying this drink.
Coffee has been paired with almost every flavor. It’s been iced. It’s been mixed with tea and alcohol. Its ratio of sugar and milk has been adjusted from one extreme to the other. Different beans have been tested and tasted. We drink coffee out of mugs, teacups, mason jars, thermoses, and paper or foam on-the-go cups. One might think it’s impossible to find a new way to enjoy a cup of joe.
Before this new age of coffee, people had a long-forgotten method of enjoying this iconic beverage: sipping from the saucer.
Why Drink Coffee from the Saucer?
The reason is quite simple. Pouring a bit of coffee into the saucer makes it cool enough to drink. When this practice was more commonplace, coffee was boiled and served extremely hot. The shallow, wide surface of the saucer provides an easy, efficient, and polite way of sipping while the drink was still scalding hot. This method had also been used for tea.
No one really knows where this practice originated. References show it was common in Scandinavia and Russia. In Sweden, drinkers purposely overflow their cups to sip from the saucer. Then they would place a lump of sugar between their front teeth and drink the coffee through it. This tradition is called “dricka på bit” or “drink with a lump.” [1]
Coffee was a gamechanger when it came to Britain. Coffee shops became more popular than pubs. Like today, everyone visited, from artists to bankers to politicians, often each kind of person congregating in specific shop location. [2]
Read: 129 Ways to Get a Husband in the 1950s (a dated and hilarious list)
Sipping from the Saucer Through the Centuries
In the 18th century, the saucer method was widespread. In fact, it was used as a parable to how the American government was created. The legend goes that when Thomas Jefferson returned to the United States after being in France during the Constitutional Convention, he questioned why the delegates had formed two houses of Congress. [3]
“Why did you pour that tea into your saucer?” asked George Washington.
“To cool it,” said Jefferson.
“Even so,” responded Washington, “we pour legislation into the senatorial saucer to cool it.” [4]
Saucering continued into the 20th century, although it was become seen as less polite. If you are familiar with The Little House series of books, you might remember an exert from the second installment, Farmer Boy, where Father Wilder drank tea out of the saucer instead of using a cup.
Eliza Jane was more bossy than ever. She said Almanzo’s boots made too much noise. She even told Mother that she was mortified because Father drank tea from his saucer.
“My land! How else would he cool it?” Mother asked.
“It isn’t the style to drink out of saucers any more,” Eliza Jane said. “Nice people drink out of the cup.”
Read: 10 Priceless Quotes That All Grandparents Will Love
Drinking from the Saucer Today?
Today, you might find some elderly people who remember and still use this practice but it’s definitely not as common as it once was. After all, most coffee shops don’t serve their drinks with saucers. And even if they did, it’s unlikely you’d find anyone drinking from it.
However, if you happen to be impatiently waiting for a cup of joe to cool and you’ve got a saucer handy, why not give saucering a try? Like cola in a glass bottle or tea from a real teacup, it might make the coffee taste better. Be careful not to burn yourself as you pour the coffee. Also, ensure the saucer is deep enough to hold liquid. Plus, make sure you are alone so that no one would be annoyed by the slurping, and… perhaps there is a reason this practice has been left in the past.
Keep Reading: 12 Survival Skills Your Great-Grandparents Knew (That Most Of Us Have Forgotten)


theheartysoul--2020-05-19--Here’s A List Of Quick Cooking Substitutions You Will Use Every Day

I am not an organized baker .
While cooking tutorials use pre-measured ingredients in cute little glass bowls , I ’ m running around the kitchen trying to find vanilla extract for half-mixed brownie batter .
Sometimes , I use my “ put away ” method , usually for time-sensitive recipes .
I take out all of the ingredients I need , and as soon as I finish with one , I put it away .
I measure out the flour , and put the box away .
I pour the oil and place the bottle on its shelf .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ more importantly , it prevents me from second-guessing myself .
Wait , did I add the baking soda yet , or have I accidentally put in twice the amount ?
If the container is back in the cupboard , I am certain I had added it to the batter as directed .
The “ put away ” method has another added benefit of letting me know which ingredients I have and which I don ’ t before I begin .
Too many times , I ’ ve been halfway through a recipe and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ingredient .
I ’ m mixing peanut butter cookies when I notice the jar of peanut butter is actually empty .
Some monster had finished it and put it back on the shelf .
But there ’ s no time to find the culprit when my hands are sticky from creaming sugar and I need to find a way to finish these cookies before company shows up .
Halfway through a recipe is a bad time to go shopping for flour , butter , or brown sugar .
During these crazy times , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ possible .
Going to borrow an egg from a neighbor can also be a big no-no .
Social distancing aside , there are many shortages going on , depending on where you live in the world .
Some places need to find grain-free recipes to make up for the lack of flour in stores .
My neighborhood had been missing eggs for a few weeks , which led me to look up vegan baked goods recipes for the meantime .
Unfortunately – or perhaps fortunately , for our sakes — the need for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new issue , whether from shortages or the lack of one ingredient on a particular day .
That ’ s no reason to halt your recipe , and if you ’ re baking for an event or cooking dinner for that night , halting isn ’ t an option .
Amanda from Totally the Bomb has shared a treasure from her Granny Kirkpatrick .
Her grandmother had left her a box full of recipes that she has used throughout her life , and among these cards is a chart of ingredient substitutions .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of you may already be taking a sigh of relief and are marking this chart for future reference .
How to Substitute in Cooking and Baking If you need a substitution for an ingredient that isn ’ t on this list , cookbook author David Joachim of The Food Substitutions Bible has a three-step process for you : • Access the situation .
What ingredient is missing ?
Do you have anything similar , for example , if it ’ s milk , do you have other dairy products or plant-based milk ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ingredient , flavor , garnish , a core ingredient , or a supporting player ?
Will skipping it affect the texture or structure of the dish ?
• Decide what will work best ( not necessarily the same or perfect ) and go for it .
“ Some people think that substitutes are magical and that one ingredient equals another , ” Joachim says .
“ The results will be a little different.
” [ 1 ] Although the recipe may not be the same , it may turn into something unexpectedly delicious @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spice , experiment with another .
If you ’ re missing a vegetable , use one that is as firm or quick-cooking as the one being replaced .
If you need a certain type of cheese , consider the purpose of the cheese in the recipe , to melt , to spread , to add flavor ?
Substitute accordingly .
[ 2 ] Don ’ t be afraid to get creative ; cooking and baking is an art , after all .
Experimentation is how we find new favorites — or learn what @ @ @ @ @ @

I am not an organized baker. While cooking tutorials use pre-measured ingredients in cute little glass bowls, I’m running around the kitchen trying to find vanilla extract for half-mixed brownie batter. Finding the right cooking substitutions can be even harder.
Sometimes, I use my “put away” method, usually for time-sensitive recipes. I take out all of the ingredients I need, and as soon as I finish with one, I put it away. I measure out the flour and put the box away. I pour the oil and place the bottle on its shelf. This saves time cleaning up, but more importantly, it prevents me from second-guessing myself. Wait, did I add the baking soda yet, or have I accidentally put in twice the amount? If the container is back in the cupboard, I am certain I had added it to the batter as directed.
The “put away” method has another added benefit of letting me know which ingredients I have and which I don’t before I begin. Too many times, I’ve been halfway through a recipe and realize I’m missing a core ingredient. I’m mixing peanut butter cookies when I notice the jar of peanut butter is actually empty. Some monster had finished it and put it back on the shelf. But there’s no time to find the culprit when my hands are sticky from creaming sugar and I need to find a way to finish these cookies before company shows up.
Halfway through a recipe is a bad time to go shopping for flour, butter, or brown sugar. During these crazy times, going grocery shopping isn’t even possible. Going to borrow an egg from a neighbor can also be a big no-no. Social distancing aside, there are many shortages going on, depending on where you live in the world. Some places need to find grain-free recipes to make up for the lack of flour in stores. My neighborhood had been missing eggs for a few weeks, which led me to look up vegan baked goods recipes for the meantime.
Unfortunately – or perhaps, fortunately, for our sakes — the need for cooking substitutions is not a new issue, whether from shortages or the lack of one ingredient on a particular day. That’s no reason to halt your recipe, and if you’re baking for an event or cooking dinner for that night, halting isn’t an option.
A Chart of Cooking Substitutions
Amanda from Totally the Bomb has shared a treasure from her Granny Kirkpatrick. Her grandmother had left her a box full of recipes that she has used throughout her life, and among these cards is a chart of cooking substitutions.
The card read as follows:
1 cup self-rising flour = 1 cup all-purpose flour + 1 tsp baking powder
1 cup cake flour = 1 cup all-purpose flour + 2 tbsp corn starch
1 cup buttermilk = 1 cup milk + 1 tbsp vinegar or 1 tbsp lemon juice
1 cup heavy cream = ¾ cup milk + ¼ cup butter
1 cup sour cream = 1 cup Greek yogurt + 1 tsp baking soda
1 cup oil = 1 cup applesauce
1 cup butter = 1 cup shortening or 1 cup apple sauce
1 egg = ½ a large banana
1 tbsp vanilla = 1 tsp maple syrup or 1 ½ tsp honey
1 cup honey = 1 cup maple syrup or ½ cup water + 1 ½ cup sugar
1 cup brown sugar = 1 cup sugar + 2 tbsp molasses or 1 cup sugar + 1 tbsp maple syrup
1 tsp cream of tartar = 2 tsp lemon juice or 2 tsp vinegar
1 tsp baking soda = 4 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking powder = ¼ tsp baking soda + ½ tsp cream of tartar
1 cup bread crumbs = 1 cup rolled oats or 1 cup crushed corn flakes or 1 cup crushed crackers
Many of you may already be taking a sigh of relief and are marking this chart for future reference.
How to Substitute in Cooking and Baking
If you need a substitution for an ingredient that isn’t on this list, cookbook author David Joachim of The Food Substitutions Bible has a three-step process for you:
Access the situation. What ingredient is missing? Do you have anything similar, for example, if it’s milk, do you have other dairy products or plant-based milk? What is the function of the ingredient, flavor, garnish, a core ingredient, or a supporting player? Will skipping it affect the texture or structure of the dish? Decide what will work best (not necessarily the same or perfect) and go for it. “Some people think that substitutes are magical and that one ingredient equals another,” Joachim says. “The results will be a little different.” [1]
Although the recipe may not be the same, it may turn into something unexpectedly delicious. If you’re missing a spice, experiment with another. If you’re missing a vegetable, use one that is as firm or quick-cooking as the one being replaced. If you need a certain type of cheese, consider the purpose of the cheese in the recipe, to melt, to spread, to add flavor? Substitute accordingly. [2]
Don’t be afraid to get creative; cooking and baking is an art, after all. Experimentation is how we find new favorites — or learn what not to do ever again.
Happy cooking!
Keep Reading: Lemon Meringue Cupcakes · You’ll Love These


theheartysoul--2020-05-18--Venomous And Rare ‘Blue Dragons’ Sighted At Texas Beaches

The world is full of undiscovered mysteries and many of these seem to hide in the sea .
During this pandemic , nature has tossed so many strange occurrences at us , from bioluminescent beaches to wild animals trekking into cities .
Now , a new otherworldly creature has entered the scene .
Blue dragons have washed up at the Padre Island National Seashore in the Gulf of Mexico .
These brightly colored sea slugs are among the strange-looking animals that haunt the open oceans .
“ Blue dragons are very small , generally only 3 cm , but don @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , they have a defense worthy of the name dragon , ” a Facebook post from the national park said .
“ After eating , they move the stinging cells from the man-of-war to the end of their ‘ fingers.
’ Because they are able to concentrate the stinging cells together , their sting can be more painful than a man-of-war ’ s !
” [ 1 ] A Portuguese man-of-war looks similar to a jellyfish but it ’ s a carnivorous creature composed of multiple colonies of organisms working together .
Their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ given divers excruciating stings .
[ 2 ] These little sea slugs are a predator of the man-of-war .
Once they consume the man-of-war , blue dragons take the cells that sting from their meal and place them on their extremities , ready for any threat to try and touch them .
Sounds painful ?
The new good news is these blue dragons are rare .
[ 3 ] “ So , if you see a dragon in the park , be amazed as they are a rare find , but also keep @ @ @ @ @ @ @ concluded .
A Texan family noticed several of these blue dragons in the beginning of May and took some pictures of the creatures in a green sand bucket before releasing them back into the ocean .
Leah Lane and her family were taking a trip from Mesa , Arizona , to Padre Island National Seashore when Hunter , her seven-year-old find the first blue dragon .
“ We then went on to find four more throughout the afternoon .
One washed up right next to my foot at some point , luckily I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on it , ” Lane said .
“ Hunter really wanted to touch it , I don ’ t blame him , I did too , as they look very soft and squishy .
But we discussed that since we have no clue what they are we better not .
After thinking about it he even said ‘ he might be like the poison dart frog mom , he is kind of brightly colored , which is a warning.
’ Smart kid.
” A spokesperson for PINS explained that although blue dragons are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on their seashore .
“ A lot of people are finding them lately .
That will often happen with animals , that a bunch will wash up at the same time.
” This is definitely a new occurrence .
Lane commented that her husband Trey and she “ spent three years camping out there , usually once a month or more , in college and neither one of us had ever seen one of these little guys.
” [ 4 ] This creature is also known as blue glaucus or glaucus atlanticus , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ angel .
It can be found throughout the Atlantic , Indian , and Pacific Oceans in tropical and temperate waters .
The blue dragon gets its venom from much larger prey like the Portuguese man-of-war and the blue button jelly .
It sucks toxic chemicals or stinging cells from its prey into its own skin as a defense mechanism .
Despite its dangerous sting , the blue dragon is hardly much longer than 3 cm .
It stores an air bubble in its stomach to keep its body afloat .
The bright blue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the ocean waves , while its gray back blends with the sea surface .
Since the slug tends to float belly-up , it hides from predators above and below it .
A group of blue dragons floating together is known as a “ blue fleet.
” Blue fleets can wash up on shores and sting people swimming nearby , or be photographed in green sand buckets .
Little is known about the conservation status of blue dragons , as it is with other open water dwellers , but hopefully , these frequent sightings @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sea slugs .
[ 5 ] “ They were fun to see and watch .
They would fan out real big and then curl up , wiggle side to side .
Very cool creatures , ” Lane said .
They may be mesmerizing , but be cautious .
“ So , if you see a dragon in the park , be amazed as they are a rare find , but also keep your distance !
” the PINS ’ Facebook post concluded .

The world is full of undiscovered mysteries and many of these seem to hide in the sea. During this pandemic, nature has tossed so many strange things our way, from bioluminescent beaches to wild animals trekking into cities. Now, a new otherworldly creature has entered the scene.
Blue dragons have washed up at the Padre Island National Seashore in the Gulf of Mexico. These brightly colored sea slugs are among the strange-looking animals that haunt the open oceans.
“Blue dragons are very small, generally only 3 cm, but don’t let their size fool you, they have a defense worthy of the name dragon,” a Facebook post from the national park said. “After eating, they move the stinging cells from the man-of-war to the end of their ‘fingers.’ Because they are able to concentrate the stinging cells together, their sting can be more painful than a man-of-war’s!” [1]
A Portuguese man-of-war looks similar to a jellyfish but it’s a carnivorous creature composed of multiple colonies of organisms working together. Their tentacles are extremely venomous and have given divers excruciating stings. [2]
These little sea slugs are a predator of the man-of-war. Once they consume the man-of-war, blue dragons take the cells that sting from their meal and place them on their extremities, ready for any threat to try and touch them. Sounds painful? The new good news is these blue dragons are rare. [3]
“So, if you see a dragon in the park, be amazed as they are a rare find, but also keep your distance!” the Facebook post concluded.
Read: Massive, deep-sea ‘entity’ leaves ocean scientists ‘blown away’
A Rare Encounter
A Texan family noticed several of these blue dragons at the beginning of May and took some pictures of the creatures in a green sand bucket before releasing them back into the ocean.
Leah Lane and her family were taking a trip from Mesa, Arizona, to Padre Island National Seashore when Hunter, her seven-year-old find the first blue dragon.
“We then went on to find four more throughout the afternoon. One washed up right next to my foot at some point, luckily I saw him and didn’t step on it,” Lane said. “Hunter really wanted to touch it, I don’t blame him, I did too, as they look very soft and squishy. But we discussed that since we have no clue what they are we better not. After thinking about it he even said ‘he might be like the poison dart frog mom, he is kind of brightly colored, which is a warning.’ Smart kid.”
A spokesperson for PINS explained that although blue dragons are rare, they have been showing up on their seashore. “A lot of people are finding them lately. That will often happen with animals, that a bunch will wash up at the same time.”
This is definitely a new occurrence. Lane commented that her husband Trey and she “spent three years camping out there, usually once a month or more, in college and neither one of us had ever seen one of these little guys.” [4]
About the Blue Dragon
These creatures are also known as blue glaucus or glaucus atlanticus, sea swallows, and blue angels. They can be found throughout the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans in tropical and temperate waters. The blue dragon gets its venom from much larger prey like the Portuguese man-of-war and the blue button jelly. It sucks toxic chemicals or stinging cells from its prey into its own skin as a defense mechanism.
Despite its dangerous sting, the blue dragon is hardly much longer than 3 cm. It has a gas sack which allows it to keep its body afloat. The bright blue colors of its underbelly are camouflage against the ocean waves, while its gray back blends with the sea surface. Since the slug tends to float belly-up, it hides from predators above and below it.
A group of blue dragons floating together is known as a “blue fleet.” Blue fleets can wash up on shores and sting people swimming nearby, or be photographed in green sand buckets.
Little is known about the conservation status of blue dragons, as it is with other open water dwellers, but hopefully, these frequent sightings are a good sign for these beautifully-colored sea slugs. [5]
“They were fun to see and watch. They would fan out real big and then curl up, wiggle side to side. Very cool creatures,” Lane said.
They may be mesmerizing, but be cautious. “So, if you see a dragon in the park, be amazed as they are a rare find, but also keep your distance!” the PINS’ Facebook post concluded.
Keep Reading: Everything you need to know about the glowing Sea Turtle


theheartysoul--2020-05-20--Iceberg-making submarine aims to help tackle global warming by ‘re-freezing’ the Arctic

Planting trees has become a movement to help replenish forests and reduce carbon dioxide in the atmosphere .
So naturally , we should start planting ice in the Arctic , right ?
A team of Indonesian designers embarked on a mission to find out if this was possible .
They created a unique machine to help fight climate change : an ice-making submarine .
This idea won runner-up in an international design competition for radical ways to improve sustainability .
This submarine design falls in line with other recent proposals to “ refreeze ” the Arctic , from sprinkling the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the sky to brighten the clouds .
This proposal , however , is much more appealing .
After all , it ’ s a sleek , oval , iceberg-creating submarine .
Climate change is wreaking havoc on the Arctic .
Arctic sea ice is continuing to disappear , affecting the temperature of the polar regions , global weather patterns , and habitats for species like polar bears .
The results from the annual Arctic report card in 2019 , a peer-reviewed assessment from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration , found that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as the rest of the plant .
[ 1 ] According to the report , 95 % of the ice sheet of Greenland has thawed , a melt that occurred much earlier than usual .
This caused concern over the rise of sea level .
Arctic sea ice , particularly the Bering Sea , which hosts some of the United States ’ largest commercial fisheries , saw reductions in sea ice for the second winter in a row .
The sea ice that remains seems to be thinner , younger , and more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ affects the heat in the ocean , this loss causes rippling effects to the rest of the oceans and the ecosystems that rely on it , including our own .
The thawing permafrost releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere , worsening climate change , and creating a self-destructive cycle .
[ 2 ] How the Iceberg-Making Submarine Would Work The group was led by 29-year-old architect Faris Rajak Kotahatuhaha as they envisioned a vessel that can produce 16-foot-thick , 82-foot wide hexagonal icebergs .
Here ’ s how .
Step one : The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hexagonal central cavity with seawater .
Step two : The salt will be filtered out using reverse osmosis which will raise the water ’ s freezing point by over 3 degrees Fahrenheit .
Step three : A hatch will close over the chamber to shield it from sunlight .
Step four : The iceberg will form naturally inside the cavity with the help of freezing technology .
Step five : After a month , the iceberg is ejected as the vehicle removes the cover and submerges , leaving the iceberg to float away @ @ @ @ @ @ @ designers hope that the hexagonal shape would encourage the icebergs to fit into each other to create larger frozen masses .
The designers believe that too much focus is on the defense of this issue , not on the offense .
Instead of creating an idea to protect cities from rising sea-levels , they decided to tackle the core of the issue .
Although Kotahatuhaha does add that “ to stop global warming , of course , we still have to reduce carbon emissions throughout the world.
” The submarine is still early @ @ @ @ @ @ @ many questions about the functionality of such a machine .
The designers have yet to determine how the submarine would be powered , although they plan for it to be fully sustainable .
They also designed enough space in the submarine to host polar research centers , underwater hotels , and other functions to help fund the project .
[ 3 ] Read : A golden chamber buried under a mountain in Japan contains water so pure it can dissolve metal .
Could the Submarine Work in Theory ?
Andrew Shepherd , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s Leeds University , believes the idea is an “ interesting engineering solution , ” while doubting the project ’ s scalability .
He estimates that in order to replace the ice caps at the same rate they have melted in the last 40 years would require about 10 million submarines .
Michael Mann , a professor of atmospheric sciences at Penn State , describes the iceberg-making proposal as , “ it ’ s like trying to save the sandcastle you built at the beach using a dixie cup as the tide @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the University of Colorado ’ s National Snow and Ice Data Center in Boulder , gives a similar response .
“ What are you going to do , put out a flotilla of 10,000 submarines ?
Who ’ s going to build them and how much energy does it take , and how are the submarines powered ?
” Unless they are powered by a clean energy source , he adds , these vehicles are going to burn fossil fuels and release even more greenhouse gases into the atmosphere .
Serreze considers the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t address the root cause of greenhouse gas emissions that are causing climate change .
Still , he believes geoengineering is an important tool in this fight for the planet — but only as a last resort .
Keep Reading : Enormous Floating Solar Farms Can Extract Carbon Dioxide from Seawater to Replace Fossil Fuels

Planting trees has become a movement to help replenish forests and reduce carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. So naturally, we should start planting ice in the Arctic, right?
A team of Indonesian designers embarked on a mission to find out if this was possible. They created a unique machine to help fight climate change: an ice-making submarine.
This idea won runner-up in an international design competition for radical ways to improve sustainability. This submarine design falls in line with other recent proposals to “refreeze” the Arctic, from sprinkling the area with artificial sand to spraying seawater at the sky to brighten the clouds. This proposal, however, is much more appealing. After all, it’s a sleek, oval, iceberg-creating submarine.
The Drastic Loss of Arctic Sea Ice
Climate change is wreaking havoc on the Arctic. Arctic sea ice is continuing to disappear, affecting the temperature of the polar regions, global weather patterns, and habitats for species like polar bears. The results from the annual Arctic report card in 2019, a peer-reviewed assessment from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, found that the region is warming twice as fast as the rest of the plant. [1]
“If I had gotten a report card like this as a kid, I would have been grounded,” said Donald K. Perovich, a professor of engineering at the Thayer School of Engineering at Dartmouth College and the lead author of the report’s chapter on sea ice. “It’s not showing much improvement at all. Things are getting worse.”
According to the report, 95% of the ice sheet of Greenland has thawed, a melt that occurred much earlier than usual. This caused concern over the rise of sea level. Arctic sea ice, particularly the Bering Sea, which hosts some of the United States’ largest commercial fisheries, saw reductions in sea ice for the second winter in a row. The sea ice that remains seems to be thinner, younger, and more likely to melt.
“The very old ice that’s been around for more than four years used to be 33 percent of the ice cover and now it’s 1 percent,” Dr. Perovich said. “One way to think about that is, when we look at the area that the old ice-covered back in 1985 it was a little bit bigger than the United States east of the Mississippi River. And all that’s left now is Maine.”
Since sea ice affects the heat in the ocean, this loss causes rippling effects to the rest of the oceans and the ecosystems that rely on it, including our own. The thawing permafrost releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, worsening climate change, and creating a self-destructive cycle. [2]
How the Iceberg-Making Submarine Would Work
The group was led by 29-year-old architect Faris Rajak Kotahatuhaha as they envisioned a vessel that can produce 16-foot-thick, 82-foot wide hexagonal icebergs. Here’s how.
Step one: The submarine would go underwater to fill its hexagonal central cavity with seawater.
Step two: The salt will be filtered out using reverse osmosis which will raise the water’s freezing point by over 3 degrees Fahrenheit.
Step three: A hatch will close over the chamber to shield it from sunlight.
Step four: The iceberg will form naturally inside the cavity with the help of freezing technology.
Step five: After a month, the iceberg is ejected as the vehicle removes the cover and submerges, leaving the iceberg to float away.
Step six: Repeat. The designers hope that the hexagonal shape would encourage the icebergs to fit into each other to create larger frozen masses.
“The main goal of this idea is to restore the polar ecosystem, which has a direct effect on the balance of the global climate,” said Kotahatuhaha, adding that “it is better to prevent than cure.”
The designers believe that too much focus is on the defense of this issue, not on the offense. Instead of creating an idea to protect cities from rising sea-levels, they decided to tackle the core of the issue. Although Kotahatuhaha does add that “to stop global warming, of course, we still have to reduce carbon emissions throughout the world.”
The submarine is still early in its conception, and there are many questions about the functionality of such a machine. The designers have yet to determine how the submarine would be powered, although they plan for it to be fully sustainable. They also designed enough space in the submarine to host polar research centers, underwater hotels, and other functions to help fund the project. [3]
Read: A golden chamber buried under a mountain in Japan contains water so pure it can dissolve metal.
Could the Submarine Work in Theory?
Andrew Shepherd, a professor of Earth observation at the UK’s Leeds University, believes the idea is an “interesting engineering solution,” while doubting the project’s scalability. He estimates that in order to replace the ice caps at the same rate they have melted in the last 40 years would require about 10 million submarines.
“That’s a lot of machines,” Shepherd said. “For context, that’s not far off the total number of Model-T Fords built in all time.” [4]
Michael Mann, a professor of atmospheric sciences at Penn State, describes the iceberg-making proposal as, “it’s like trying to save the sandcastle you built at the beach using a dixie cup as the tide comes in.”
Mark Serreze director of the University of Colorado’s National Snow and Ice Data Center in Boulder, gives a similar response. “What are you going to do, put out a flotilla of 10,000 submarines? Who’s going to build them and how much energy does it take, and how are the submarines powered?”
Unless they are powered by a clean energy source, he adds, these vehicles are going to burn fossil fuels and release even more greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.
Serreze considers the idea a Band-Aid solution since it doesn’t address the root cause of greenhouse gas emissions that are causing climate change. Still, he believes geoengineering is an important tool in this fight for the planet — but only as a last resort.
“There has been a lot of work on geoengineering, and it should continue,” he said. “We never want to go in that direction. But if it’s a last gasp, then you try it.” [5]
Keep Reading: Enormous Floating Solar Farms Can Extract Carbon Dioxide from Seawater to Replace Fossil Fuels


theheartysoul--2020-05-20--This shipping container design is now being built as a home in the California desert.

Shipping containers are inexpensive and versatile .
For those reasons , they have been used for a variety of purposes , including homes .
Though they are a popular material for tiny-homes and minimalist living , shipping containers often aren ’ t the first thing that comes to mind when discussing a luxury residence .
In a clash of art and architecture , London-based architect James Whitaker has designed a shipping container home that ’ s anything but small .
The rocky desert landscapes of Joshua Tree National Park ’ s desert in Southern California are the ideal place for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , this white structure that is best described as a ‘ starburst ’ or ‘ blooming desert flower ’ will flip what is considered ‘ luxury ’ on its head .
From a distance , you may think that this building is a left-over set piece from a Star Wars film , but as you get closer you realize that it ’ s a lavish home made of shipping containers .
Though not actually built yet , this is the feeling that the rendered photos of Whitaker ’ s Joshua Tree Residence evoke @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the concept as a design for office space in Germany .
The project , however , never came to fruition .
Instead , the house is being built as a home in this famous California desert .
To be lifted off the ground via columns , the exoskeleton of the home is made of shipping containers that explode off in all directions from the main area of the house .
In total the home is 2,153 square feet and includes a kitchen , living room , dining area , three bedrooms , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the forefront of the interior design , it is vastly different in appearance than what we ’ re used to seeing for luxury homes , both inside and out .
Read : Australian Couple Turns Three 20 Ft .
Containers into an Amazing Home The client , a film producer living in Los Angeles , reached out to Whitaker about the project shortly after a trip he took to Joshua Tree National Park .
While on the trip , one of his friends looked at the landscape and remembered a picture of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
She thought how cool a building like that would look in that setting and quickly whipped open her laptop to show her companions .
The picture was Whitaker ’ s design for the German Hechingen studio that had never been built .
The next time the client was in London , the pair met up to get the project started .
He already owned 90-acres of land in the desert just outside the national park and wanted Whitaker to design a holiday home for the space .
Construction has yet to begin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it is sure to be an incredible site when it is finished .
Read : This Family Of 4 Built A Tiny Home Village – One Home For Each Family Member

This shipping container design is now being built as a home in the California desert.
Shipping containers are inexpensive and versatile. For those reasons, they have been used for a variety of purposes, including homes. Though they are a popular material for tiny-homes and minimalist living, a shipping container tiny home isn’t the first thing that comes to mind when discussing a luxury residence.
In a clash of art and architecture, London-based architect James Whitaker has designed a shipping container home that’s anything but small.
The Joshua Tree Shipping Container Tiny Home
The rocky desert landscapes of Joshua Tree National Park’s desert in Southern California are the ideal place for this new home concept. Perfectly juxtaposed, this white structure that is best described as a ‘starburst’ or ‘blooming desert flower’ will flip what is considered ‘luxury’ on its head. From a distance, you may think that this building is a left-over set piece from a Star Wars film, but as you get closer you realize that it’s a lavish home made of shipping containers.
Though not actually built yet, this is the feeling that the rendered photos of Whitaker’s Joshua Tree Residence evoke.
Originally, Whitaker came up with the concept as a design for office space in Germany. The project, however, never came to fruition. Instead, the house is being built as a home in this famous California desert.
To be lifted off the ground via columns, the exoskeleton of the home is made of shipping containers that explode off in all directions from the main area of the house.
“Each container is orientated to maximise views across the landscape, or to use the topography to provide privacy, depending on their individual use,” said Whitaker.
In total the home is 2,153 square feet and includes a kitchen, living room, dining area, three bedrooms, and outdoor patio space. With futuristic minimalism at the forefront of the interior design, it is vastly different in appearance than what we’re used to seeing for luxury homes, both inside and out.
Read: Australian Couple Turns Three 20 Ft. Containers into an Amazing Home
The Commissioners
The client, a film producer living in Los Angeles, reached out to Whitaker about the project shortly after a trip he took to Joshua Tree National Park. While on the trip, one of his friends looked at the landscape and remembered a picture of an interesting building design she had seen. She thought how cool a building like that would look in that setting and quickly whipped open her laptop to show her companions. The picture was Whitaker’s design for the German Hechingen studio that had never been built.
The next time the client was in London, the pair met up to get the project started. He already owned 90-acres of land in the desert just outside the national park and wanted Whitaker to design a holiday home for the space.
Construction has yet to begin on this spectacular home concept, but it is sure to be an incredible site when it is finished.
Read: This Family Of 4 Built A Tiny Home Village – One Home For Each Family Member


theheartysoul--2020-05-20--16 Plants That Help You Get Rid of Bugs

16 Plants That Help You Get Rid of Bugs

While bugs , insects , and pests play an important role in every ecosystem , it can ’ t be denied that mosquitoes can turn a camping trip into an itchy nightmare , bed bugs can ruin a good night ’ s sleep , and house flies buzzing in your face are just plain annoying .
Let ’ s be real for a minute : who really likes bugs ?
Especially in their home ?
Many of the conventional ways to deter these pests from your home and outdoor gathering spaces are dangerous to your health and the health of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be to eradicate these small-but-important creatures , just to discourage them from taking up residence in yours .
Thankfully , there are countless natural ways to achieve this goal .
One of the easiest is by using pest-deterring plants .
Read : The Anti-Skeeter Canopy Chair of Your Dreams .
It ’ s Time To Enjoy The Outdoors , Bite-Free .
16 Plants that Get Rid of Bugs and Insects Plant these in and around your home to make your living space naturally pest-resistant .
• Lemongrass You may have heard already of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ used to keep mosquitoes away .
Citronella oil comes from lemongrass , so this is the perfect plant to have in your garden or in pots on your patio to help keep the nasty little bloodsuckers away .
• Lemon thyme This is another one that will do a good job against mosquitoes .
Lemon thyme can grow in shallow , dry , rocky soil , and will do very well in a rock garden .
The plant alone won ’ t keep the mosquitoes away , however .
To activate its repellent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by rubbing a few cut stems between your hands .
Test it out on a small patch of skin first to ensure you aren ’ t sensitive to the compounds , especially if you have sensitive skin .
• Lemon Balm Also for mosquitoes , this is another that you must rub between your hands and rub onto your skin .
Again , do a small test first before rubbing it over a larger area .
• Lavender Though lavender is used as the ultimate relaxation herb for humans , it does anything @ @ @ @ @ @ @ flies , and mosquitoes .
Disperse dry bundles of lavender throughout your home – closets , drawers , and areas where flies sneak in .
Not only will it leave a lovely scent throughout your space but it will keep those pests away .
• Basil One of the world ’ s favorite flavor-providing herbs has additional benefits : flies and mosquitoes hate the scent .
Place small basil pots both in and outside your home , wherever you relax and entertain , to keep the biters at bay .
• Mint This @ @ @ @ @ @ @ planted in pots around your home .
It ’ s best to stick to growing this one in pots as it is a very aggressive grower .
If you ’ re not careful , it will take over your garden or be growing up between the cracks of your patio for years .
• Sage This perennial plant is simple to grow and is excellent for keeping the bugs from crashing your campfire .
Toss a handful of sage leaves into your campfire .
As they burn , the scented smoke they create @ @ @ @ @ @ @ peace .
• Rosemary This is another perennial herb that also works well when tossed into a fire .
It can also be used to make a rosemary water spray that does a pretty good job of keeping mosquitoes away .
• Catnip If you ’ re a cat person , then this is the plant for you .
Not only will your backyard become a popular hangout spot for your neighborhood cats , but it will keep deer ticks , mosquitoes , cockroaches , and flies far , far away .
This @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over your garden , so stick to growing it in pots .
• Fennel A popular digestive aid , fennel will also help to rid your garden of the little creatures that eat your veggies before you do .
Fennel is great for preventing slugs , aphids , and snails from munching away at your home-grown produce .
• Parsley Are your attempts at growing your own asparagus being thwarted every spring by asparagus beetles ?
Try planting parsley amongst your asparagus and the beetles will go looking for someone else ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Leaves No more buying dried bay leaves at the store for your next dish – you can use the fresh basil from your garden instead .
While you enjoy the depth of flavor this herb brings to soups , sauces , and stews , this plant will work double-time to keep flies away .
• Oregano This aromatic herb not only repels a number of bugs and pests , but it also helps your peppers grow by providing them with humidity-sustaining ground cover .
• Thyme Cabbage loopers , cabbage maggots , whiteflies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and small whites will all vacate your garden in no thyme with this herb planted throughout .
• Chives A favorite garnish to many meals , chives are great at deterring several pests .
Japanese beetles , aphids , and carrot flies won ’ t want anything to do with your garden when you have chives planted there .
Read : One Dragonfly Can Eat 100 ’ s of Mosquitoes Per Day : Keep These Plants in Your Yard to Attract Dragonflies !
All of these plants and herbs are especially effective when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is an excellent pest remover , but it can be susceptible to aphids and spider mites .
Plant some dill in there , and your problem is solved .
By using plants and herbs instead of sprays and chemicals to keep unwanted pests away , you will help to keep your family , your garden , and the planet a little bit healthier .
Keep Reading : Forest garden with over 500 edible plants requires only a few hours of work monthly

While bugs, insects, and pests play an important role in every ecosystem, it can’t be denied that mosquitoes can turn a camping trip into an itchy nightmare, bed bugs can ruin a good night’s sleep, and house flies buzzing in your face are just plain annoying. Let’s be real for a minute: who really likes bugs? Especially in their home? Fortunately, there are plants that repel bugs, or at least might repel them, that we can plant in our gardens.
Many of the conventional ways to deter these pests from your home and outdoor gathering spaces are dangerous to your health and the health of the environment. The goal should not be to eradicate these small-but-important creatures, just to discourage them from taking up residence in yours.
Thankfully, there are countless natural ways to achieve this goal. One of the easiest is by using pest-deterring plants.
16 plants that repel bugs
Much of the evidence about a plant’s effectiveness at repelling bugs is anecdotal. Some have better luck with it than others and your mileage may vary. Even if these don’t do the trick, you’ll have still planted a wonderful garden with many useful plants.
Lemongrass
You may have heard already of citronella oil lamps or candles that are used to keep mosquitoes away. Citronella oil comes from lemongrass, so this is the perfect plant to have in your garden or in pots on your patio to help keep the nasty little bloodsuckers away.
Lemon thyme
This is another one that will do a good job against mosquitoes. Lemon thyme can grow in shallow, dry, rocky soil, and will do very well in a rock garden. The plant alone won’t keep the mosquitoes away, however. To activate its repellent properties, you must bruise the leaves by rubbing a few cut stems between your hands. Test it out on a small patch of skin first to ensure you aren’t sensitive to the compounds, especially if you have sensitive skin.
Lemon Balm
Also for mosquitoes, this is another that you must rub between your hands and rub onto your skin. Again, do a small test first before rubbing it over a larger area.
Lavender
Though lavender is used as the ultimate relaxation herb for humans, it does anything but that for moths, fleas, flies, and mosquitoes. Disperse dry bundles of lavender throughout your home – closets, drawers, and areas where flies sneak in. Not only will it leave a lovely scent throughout your space but it will keep those pests away.
Basil
One of the world’s favorite flavor-providing herbs has additional benefits: flies and mosquitoes hate the scent. Place small basil pots both in and outside your home, wherever you relax and entertain, to keep the biters at bay.
Mint
This is another mosquito-deterring herb that can be planted in pots around your home. It’s best to stick to growing mint in pots as it is a very aggressive grower. If you’re not careful, it will take over your garden or be growing up between the cracks of your patio for years.
Sage
This perennial plant is simple to grow and is excellent for keeping the bugs from crashing your campfire. Toss a handful of sage leaves into your campfire. As they burn, the scented smoke they create will let you enjoy your evening in peace.
Rosemary
This is another perennial herb that also works well when tossed into a fire. It can also be used to make a rosemary water spray that does a pretty good job of keeping mosquitoes away.
Catnip
If you’re a cat person, then this is the plant for you. Not only will your backyard become a popular hangout spot for your neighborhood cats, but it will keep deer ticks, mosquitoes, cockroaches, and flies far, far away. This is another plant that will easily take over your garden, so stick to growing it in pots.
Fennel
A popular digestive aid, fennel will also help to rid your garden of the little creatures that eat your veggies before you do. Fennel is great for preventing slugs, aphids, and snails from munching away at your home-grown produce.
Parsley
Are your attempts at growing your own asparagus being thwarted every spring by asparagus beetles? Try planting parsley amongst your asparagus and the beetles will go looking for someone else’s garden to lunch in.
Dill
Also a produce saver, dill repels squash bugs, spider mites, aphids, cabbage loopers, and tomato hornworms.
Bay Leaves
No more buying dried bay leaves at the store for your next dish – you can use the fresh basil from your garden instead. While you enjoy the depth of flavor this herb brings to soups, sauces, and stews, this plant will work double-time to keep flies away.
Oregano
This aromatic herb not only repels a number of bugs and pests, but it also helps your peppers grow by providing them with humidity-sustaining ground cover.
Thyme
Cabbage loopers, cabbage maggots, whiteflies, corn earworms, tomato hornworms, and small whites will all vacate your garden in no thyme with this herb planted throughout.
Chives
A favorite garnish to many meals, chives are great at deterring several pests. Japanese beetles, aphids, and carrot flies won’t want anything to do with your garden when you have chives planted there.
All of these plants and herbs are especially effective when used together. For example, oregano is an excellent pest remover, but it can be susceptible to aphids and spider mites. Plant some dill in there, and your problem is solved.
By using plants and herbs instead of sprays and chemicals to keep unwanted pests away, you will help to keep your family, your garden, and the planet a little bit healthier.
We hope this guide on plants that repel bugs helps keep your backyard garden parties bug free!
Keep Reading: Plants That Repel Ants From Your Garden


theheartysoul--2020-05-20--New plant-based bottles will degrade in a year

Every year , more than 300 million tonnes of plastic is produced globally .
Half of that is for single-use plastics , which leads to a staggering eight million tonnes of plastic that gets dumped into our oceans annually [ 1 ] .
That plastic that we use for sometimes mere minutes , takes multiple lifetimes to break down .
A single-use plastic bag takes ten to twenty years to decompose , while a plastic water bottle can take up to 450 years [ 2 ] .
Because of this , our planet has become overrun with plastic .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crisis , and governments , companies , and environmental organizations around the world are looking for ways to reduce our reliance on the ubiquitous material .
There has been a large focus on switching to reusable materials , such as replacing plastic grocery bags with cloth , or encouraging people to buy a reusable water bottle instead of a plastic one .
While this will certainly help the situation , there will always be a demand for single-use plastic , so some companies are focusing on other single-use alternatives .
Read : There @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Drink Bottled Water The Dutch renewable chemicals company , Avantium , has partnered with major beverage makers to make plastics from plant sugars instead of fossil fuels .
The project has remained on track despite coronavirus lockdowns , and the company ’ s CEO , Tom van Aken , is expecting to announce partnerships with other food and drink companies in the summer .
The plant plastic will be resilient enough for use with carbonated drinks , and would decompose in one year in a composter , and a few years longer in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ however , says that ideally the product would be recycled .
This “ plastic ” will be made by breaking down plant sugars from corn , wheat , or beets into simple chemical structures , which can be rearranged to form a new plant-based plastic [ 3 ] .
The well-known beer company , Carlsberg , has already pledged its support of the project , and hopes to sell its beer in a cardboard bottle that is lined with an inner layer of the plastic .
Coca-Cola and Danone are also backing the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the continued success of their bottled products by being a part of a solution that is addressing environmental damage [ 3 ] .
This is particularly important for Coca-Cola , since the company has come under fire recently after being named the world ’ s largest plastic polluter for two consecutive years .
Read : Company Is Using Plastic Bottles To Make Roads That Last 3x Longer Than Asphalt This new product could not come soon enough , as plastic pollution around the world is rising every day .
Scientists have now discovered @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the seabed , which causes significant damage to marine ecosystems [ 4 ] .
Dr Ian Kane , of the University of Manchester , explained that these microplastics on the seabed make their way through the food chain , eventually ending up on our dinner plate , where we unknowingly ingest them ourselves .
“ The real problem is plastics that are sat around in the environment [ which ] can accumulate various pollutants and toxins on their surfaces , ” he said .
“ There ’ s evidence that some of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the guts of organisms , and then you have the effect of the food chain , whereby small creatures are eaten by bigger creatures , and eventually you get to our fish stocks and you ’ re eating a nice piece of tuna containing decades-old microplastics contaminated with all sorts of nastiness.
” [ 4 ] Jacqueline Savitz , from the conservation group Oceana , says that something must be done to stop the amount of plastic that is being produced and used , citing that cleanups are insufficient , and recycling has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is without a doubt that Avantium ’ s new plant plastic is a much-needed solution to an increasingly dangerous problem , and if everything goes according to plan , we could begin seeing biodegradable plastic bottles on our shelves by 2023 .
Initially , the project plans to make five thousand tonnes of plastic per year from plant sugars .
In the grand scheme of plastic production , this is not a large amount , but the company expects demand for the product to grow as the demand for renewable plastics increases .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ their plastic from sustainably-sourced biowaste , so that the increased use of plant sugars for plastic production does not have a negative impact on the global food supply chain [ 3 ] .
Keep Reading : Discarded Face Masks and Gloves Rising Threat to Ocean Life , Conservationists Warn

Every year, more than 300 million tonnes of plastic is produced globally. Half of that is for single-use plastics, which leads to a staggering eight million tonnes of plastic that gets dumped into our oceans annually [1]. That plastic that we use for sometimes mere minutes, takes multiple lifetimes to break down. A single-use plastic bag takes ten to twenty years to decompose, while a plastic water bottle can take up to 450 years [2]. Now, plant-based bottles could provide a solution.
Because of this, our planet has become overrun with plastic. The plastic problem has become a global environmental crisis, and governments, companies, and environmental organizations around the world are looking for ways to reduce our reliance on the ubiquitous material.
There has been a large focus on switching to reusable materials, such as replacing plastic grocery bags with cloth, or encouraging people to buy a reusable water bottle instead of a plastic one. While this will certainly help the situation, there will always be a demand for single-use plastic, so some companies are focusing on other single-use alternatives.
Read: There Is No Excuse for You to Casually Drink Bottled Water
A Biodegradable Plant-Based Bottle Solution
The Dutch renewable chemicals company, Avantium, has partnered with major beverage makers to make plastics from plant sugars instead of fossil fuels. The project has remained on track despite coronavirus lockdowns, and the company’s CEO, Tom van Aken, is expecting to announce partnerships with other food and drink companies in the summer.
“This plastic has very attractive sustainability credentials because it uses no fossil fuels, and can be recycled – but would also degrade in nature much faster than normal plastics do,” he said [3].
The plant-based bottles will be resilient enough for use with carbonated drinks, and would decompose in one year in a composter, and a few years longer in regular outdoor conditions. Van Aken, however, says that ideally the product would be recycled.
This “plastic” will be made by breaking down plant sugars from corn, wheat, or beets into simple chemical structures, which can be rearranged to form new plant-based bottles[3].
Backed by Major Producers
The well-known beer company, Carlsberg, has already pledged its support of the project, and hopes to sell its beer in a cardboard bottle that is lined with an inner layer of the plastic. Coca-Cola and Danone are also backing the product, in an effort to ensure the continued success of their bottled products by being a part of a solution that is addressing environmental damage [3].
This is particularly important for Coca-Cola, since the company has come under fire recently after being named the world’s largest plastic polluter for two consecutive years.
Read: Company Is Using Plastic Bottles To Make Roads That Last 3x Longer Than Asphalt
The Eleventh Hour
This new product could not come soon enough, as plastic pollution around the world is rising every day. Scientists have now discovered microplastics in greater quantities than ever before on the seabed, which causes significant damage to marine ecosystems [4].
Dr Ian Kane, of the University of Manchester, explained that these microplastics on the seabed make their way through the food chain, eventually ending up on our dinner plate, where we unknowingly ingest them ourselves.
“The real problem is plastics that are sat around in the environment [which] can accumulate various pollutants and toxins on their surfaces,” he said. “There’s evidence that some of these toxins may be released when in the guts of organisms, and then you have the effect of the food chain, whereby small creatures are eaten by bigger creatures, and eventually you get to our fish stocks and you’re eating a nice piece of tuna containing decades-old microplastics contaminated with all sorts of nastiness.” [4]
Jacqueline Savitz, from the conservation group Oceana, says that something must be done to stop the amount of plastic that is being produced and used, citing that cleanups are insufficient, and recycling has been a largely ineffective solution.
“This relationship between microplastics hotspots and biodiversity hotspots compels us to act to turn off the plastic production faucet – it shows that cleanups will never suffice and that recycling has done little to address the problem. Sadly, the petrochemical industry is doing just the opposite, and it will fall on policymakers to stem the flow of plastics into our oceans.” [4]
Plant-Based Bottles With A Plan To Grow
It is without a doubt that Avantium’s new plant-based bottles are a much-needed solution to an increasingly dangerous problem, and if everything goes according to plan, we could begin seeing biodegradable plastic bottles on our shelves by 2023.
Initially, the project plans to make five thousand tonnes of plastic per year from plant sugars. In the grand scheme of plastic production, this is not a large amount, but the company expects demand for the product to grow as the demand for renewable plastics increases.
Eventually, they are planning to make their plastic from sustainably-sourced biowaste, so that the increased use of plant sugars for plastic production does not have a negative impact on the global food supply chain [3].


theheartysoul--2020-05-20--Boy Accidentally Finds 66-Million-Year-Old Dinosaur Eggs

As children , we all loved to play pretend .
We pretended to be superheroes fighting crime , doctors saving lives , or sometimes scientists making amazing discoveries .
For a ten-year-old boy in China , making an incredible discovery wasn ’ t a game of pretend at all .
Last summer while playing near his home , science-loving Zhang Yangzhe discovered a nest containing 66-million-year-old dinosaur eggs .
Yangzhe lives in the city of Heyuan in the Guangdong province of China .
One afternoon in July of 2019 while playing on the bank of the Dong River , he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ looking for tools to crack open walnut shells when he spotted what he thought was a piece of rock that “ looked special ” .
Upon further inspection , he had a hunch that it might be an ancient dinosaur egg .
He has a keen interest in dinosaurs and had read many books about them , so he had a pretty good idea of what a dinosaur egg might look like .
He called his mother , Li Xiaofang , over to have a look .
Yangzhe showed it to his mother @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from a recent to a local museum ’ s dinosaur exhibit .
Xiaofang agreed , so they called the police and then stood guard at the site until the authorities arrived .
Experts from the Heyuan Dinosaur Museum confirmed that the rock was , in fact , a fossilized dinosaur egg .
They excavated the site further and found 11 more eggs , meaning that Yangzhe had discovered a nesting site .
The eggs are believed to be from the cretaceous period some 66-million years ago , just before the mass extinction happened @ @ @ @ @ @ @ yet known .
It wasn ’ t much of a stretch for young Yangzhe to suspect that the strange-looking rock might be a dinosaur egg .
Heyuan is known as “ The Home of the Dinosaurs ” due to the number of fossils and fossilized dinosaur remains that have been discovered there .
The first-ever dinosaur eggs to be found and recorded in the city was in March of 1996 , also near the Dong River .
Since that day , more than 17,000 eggs have been found throughout the city , including @ @ @ @ @ @ @ workers laying new sewage pipes under the roads back in 2015 .
Each of the 11 eggs discovered by Yangzhe is about nine centimeters , or three and a half inches , in length .
They have been added to the Heyuan Dinosaur Museum ’ s collection of over 10,000 dinosaur eggs , the largest collection in the world .
Keep Reading : It Turns Out Your Child ’ s Brain Benefits From Their Dinosaurs Obsession

As children, we all loved to play pretend. We pretended to be superheroes fighting crime, doctors saving lives, or sometimes scientists making amazing discoveries.
For a ten-year-old boy in China, making an incredible discovery wasn’t a game of pretend at all. Last summer while playing near his home, science-loving Zhang Yangzhe discovered a nest containing 66-million-year-old dinosaur eggs.
Boy Discovers Nest of Dinosaur Eggs
Yangzhe lives in the city of Heyuan in the Guangdong province of China. One afternoon in July of 2019 while playing on the bank of the Dong River, he noticed some odd-looking rocks. He was looking for tools to crack open walnut shells when he spotted what he thought was a piece of rock that “looked special”.
Upon further inspection, he had a hunch that it might be an ancient dinosaur egg. He has a keen interest in dinosaurs and had read many books about them, so he had a pretty good idea of what a dinosaur egg might look like. He called his mother, Li Xiaofang, over to have a look.
Yangzhe showed it to his mother, explaining that he remembered the pattern from a recent to a local museum’s dinosaur exhibit. Xiaofang agreed, so they called the police and then stood guard at the site until the authorities arrived.
Experts from the Heyuan Dinosaur Museum confirmed that the rock was, in fact, a fossilized dinosaur egg. They excavated the site further and found 11 more eggs, meaning that Yangzhe had discovered a nesting site. The eggs are believed to be from the cretaceous period some 66-million years ago, just before the mass extinction happened. The type of dinosaur is not yet known.
A Province Full of Prehistoric Treasures
It wasn’t much of a stretch for young Yangzhe to suspect that the strange-looking rock might be a dinosaur egg. Heyuan is known as “The Home of the Dinosaurs” due to the number of fossils and fossilized dinosaur remains that have been discovered there.
The first-ever dinosaur eggs to be found and recorded in the city was in March of 1996, also near the Dong River. Since that day, more than 17,000 eggs have been found throughout the city, including 43 that were dug out by construction workers laying new sewage pipes under the roads back in 2015.
Each of the 11 eggs discovered by Yangzhe is about nine centimeters, or three and a half inches, in length. They have been added to the Heyuan Dinosaur Museum’s collection of over 10,000 dinosaur eggs, the largest collection in the world.
Sources


theheartysoul--2020-05-20--How to Build Your Own Backyard Bowling Alley

If you are a fan of heading down to the bowling alley with your partner or friends on regular nights to catch some good old rolling fun , it ’ s tough to imagine how edgy you feel these days since most everything is shut down .
Bowling alleys were listed amongst the social distancing rule-outs since they are hotspots for large crowds .
So , while we are dealing with this pandemic , bowling addicts need to find alternatives to the pin-buckling pastime .
I ’ ve seen a lot of friends build bowling alleys in their driveways or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ soccer balls and padded bottles as substitutes .
While these innovative ideas are commendable , they are often always epic fails and not nearly as fun as the real deal .
Well , not everyone knows how to “ make-do ” with less than the best .
In 2014 , when his local bowling alley closed down , a guy on Imgur with the username Makgyver87 decided to construct a bowling alley in his backyard from scratch , and he did an incredible job that hasn ’ t stopped resonating ever since [ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ since you can ’ t go to it Makgyver87 went all out with his backyard alley , and he didn ’ t hold back any details of the design on his Imgur post .
Despite being an amateur , he shared pictures of the process from his HB pencil drawings to CADs and finally real-life images .
Using wooden pallets and several flat boards , Makgyver built a solid rolling lane against the right-hand side of his backyard wall .
The lane also features an automatic ball return and a pulley-based pin resetting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ familiar with construction or carpentry and joinery work , you might have a hard time replicating Makgyver ’ s setup .
The dimensions of his platforms were not explicitly written in his penciled designs , so you might need to come up with your own dimensions .
However , if you inspect the lane closely , the materials were 2″ x 6″ deck boards and 4′ x 8′ sheets of 3/4″ plywood .
The lane appears to be about 42 inches wide and each gutter has a width of 10 inches .
Just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ guy is one heck of a creative problem solver .
For the pin resetting system , he did a really smart job of tying the top of each pin with a thread and connecting them all together .
A long rope then runs along the top side of the wall to link up with the threads .
All you have to do is pull from your end and the pins will be standing again , waiting to be knocked down .
The automatic ball-return gutter is equally a thoughtful setup .
Read : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Stop Husband Sneaking Off For A Pint He must have spent a great deal of time and resources putting this together , but it ’ s an incredible investment in my opinion .
His house would probably become the center of buzzing fun in the neighborhood , and it could be a great business venture if he ever decides to make some easy cash .
What time of the day is it best to bowl ?
That ’ s right , no time because bowling is more fun at night .
Makgyver added @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he and his friends could play to their heart ’ s content when the sun goes down .
He didn ’ t exactly mention how things would go when it ’ s raining , snowing , or too hot outside , but that ’ s the point of an outdoor alley – you use it when you CAN be outside .
It would have been a real deal-breaker if he ’ d included a video tutorial or documentary of his project , but you could get a professional to build you one if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lane starting to come through Keep Reading : Explore These Upside Down Houses

If you are a fan of heading down to the bowling alley with your partner or friends on regular nights to catch some good old rolling fun, it’s tough to imagine how edgy you feel these days since most everything is shut down. Bowling alleys were listed amongst the social distancing rule-outs since they are hotspots for large crowds. So, while we are dealing with this pandemic, bowling addicts need to find alternatives to the pin-buckling pastime. Cue the backyard bowling alley.
I’ve seen a lot of friends build bowling alleys in their driveways or backyards over the years, often using soccer balls and padded bottles as substitutes. While these innovative ideas are commendable, they are often always epic fails and not nearly as fun as the real deal.
Well, not everyone knows how to “make-do” with less than the best. In 2014, when his local bowling alley closed down, a guy on Imgur with the username Makgyver87 decided to construct a bowling alley in his backyard from scratch, and he did an incredible job that hasn’t stopped resonating ever since [1].
Bringing the alley home since you can’t go to it
Makgyver87 went all out with his backyard alley, and he didn’t hold back any details of the design on his Imgur post. Despite being an amateur, he shared pictures of the process from his HB pencil drawings to CADs and finally real-life images. Using wooden pallets and several flat boards, Makgyver built a solid rolling lane against the right-hand side of his backyard wall. The lane also features an automatic ball return and a pulley-based pin resetting system.
If you’re not familiar with construction or carpentry and joinery work, you might have a hard time replicating Makgyver’s setup. The dimensions of his platforms were not explicitly written in his penciled designs, so you might need to come up with your own dimensions. However, if you inspect the lane closely, the materials were 2″ x 6″ deck boards and 4′ x 8′ sheets of 3/4″ plywood. The lane appears to be about 42 inches wide and each gutter has a width of 10 inches.
Just like the fictional character MacGyver, this guy is one heck of a creative problem solver. For the pin resetting system, he did a really smart job of tying the top of each pin with a thread and connecting them all together. A long rope then runs along the top side of the wall to link up with the threads. All you have to do is pull from your end and the pins will be standing again, waiting to be knocked down. The automatic ball-return gutter is equally a thoughtful setup.
Read: Wife Builds Pub In Back Garden To Stop Husband Sneaking Off For A Pint
He must have spent a great deal of time and resources putting this together, but it’s an incredible investment in my opinion. His house would probably become the center of buzzing fun in the neighborhood, and it could be a great business venture if he ever decides to make some easy cash.
What time of the day is it best to bowl? That’s right, no time because bowling is more fun at night. Makgyver added colorful lights all over his backyard so he and his friends could play to their heart’s content when the sun goes down. He didn’t exactly mention how things would go when it’s raining, snowing, or too hot outside, but that’s the point of an outdoor alley – you use it when you CAN be outside.
It would have been a real deal-breaker if he’d included a video tutorial or documentary of his project, but you could get a professional to build you one if you are a little lost.
Evolution of the DIY alley:
Penciled sketch
Penciled Sketch showing dimensions
Final Computer-Aided Design
Laying out the floor boards
The lane starting to come through
The gutters are… just incredible
Pulley-based pin-resetting system
Voila!
Pulley system close-up
Another close-up
The alley at night
Keep Reading: Explore These Upside Down Houses


theheartysoul--2020-05-21--Quick Strawberry Bread with Gluten-Free and Vegan Options

The Strawberry season is upon us !
Of course , raw strawberries are nature ’ s candy , but just wait until you ’ ve tried them baked into bread .
‘ Bread ’ here is used loosely .
It ’ s the same idea as banana bread .
It ’ s technically cake , but we want to eat it for breakfast , so let ’ s pretend it ’ s bread .
Soft , sweet , and tasty with a melt-in-your-mouth pink strawberry glaze , this bread is a spring treat .
Baking with fresh fruit can be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ moisture .
For this strawberry bread recipe , finely diced strawberries work perfectly .
The bread will be wonderfully moist , but not soggy .
When you add the strawberries , keep in mind to gently fold them into the batter .
As with all quick bread recipes , it ’ s best not to overmix the ingredients .
And this is a quick recipe ; you need only 10 minutes to throw all of these ingredients together .
Everyone deserves a tasty treat once in a while , so please , leave @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s good for our mental health .
After all , a generally happy , healthy lifestyle should include balance , not extreme restrictions .
That being said , here at The Hearty Soul , we ’ d like to offer a second version of this strawberry bread for those with food sensitives .
This recipe is gluten-free , dairy-free , and vegan-friendly .
It also uses coconut sugar for those who strive to eliminate refined sugar from their diets .
Enjoy the bread , whether you want to indulge in the original @ @ @ @ @ @ @ You can ’ t lose with either version , not when fresh strawberries are involved !
Read : How to Make Perfectly Fluffy Pancakes Without Eggs • In a medium bowl , mix the sugar , milk , oil , egg , and vanilla or almond extract .
In a separate bowl , stir the flour , baking powder , and salt .
Incorporate the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients and stir until the batter is just combined .
• In a small bowl , stir the diced strawberries and the 2 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ well-coated .
Fold the prepared strawberries gently into the batter .
• Pour the batter into a greased 9×5 bread pan .
Bake at 350 degrees for 50–55 minutes or until toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean .
Let the bread to cool for 10 minutes , then set the bread onto a wire rack to cool .
• To make the glaze : Combine the powdered sugar , melted butter , diced strawberries , and extract in a small bowl .
Mix until smooth .
• Once the bread is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ top of the bread .
Slice and serve .
*The cream or milk may not be necessary to make the glaze spreadable .
This could depend on how juicy the strawberries are .
If the glaze is too thick to mix up properly , add a bit of milk or heavy cream a bit at a time until the glaze is creamy and pink .
Read : How to Make Key Lime Pound Cake with Dairy-Free Cream Cheese • 3/4 cup coconut sugar ( see notes below for low carb option*** ) • @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the coconut sugar , almond or coconut milk , avocado oil , egg ( or flax egg ) and vanilla or almond extract .
• In a separate bowl , combine the flour , baking powder and salt .
Incorporate the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients and stir until the batter is just combined .
• In a small bowl , toss the diced strawberries and the 2 tablespoons of gluten-free flour until the strawberries are coated .
Fold the prepared strawberries gently into the batter .
• Pour the batter into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at 350 degrees for 50–55 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean .
Let the bread cool for 10 minutes , then set the bread on a wire rack to cool .
• To make the glaze : Blend the coconut sugar and tapioca flour in a high-powdered blender , starting with slow speed then increase to high speed for about 1 to 2 minutes .
The sugar should look completely powdered and light brown in color .
( Tip : Wait a few minutes for the sugar @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lid . )
• Combine the “ powdered sugar , ” melted coconut butter , diced strawberries , and extract in a small bowl .
Mix until it is smooth .
• Once the bread is completely cool , spread the glaze on top of the bread .
Slice and serve .
*To make homemade paleo all-purpose gluten-free flour , check out this recipe from Tasty Thin .
Simply sift together : Measure out the 2 cups and 2 tbsp needed for this recipe , and store the rest in an airtight container @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be necessary to make the glaze spreadable .
This could depend on how juicy the strawberries are .
If the glaze is too thick to mix up properly , add a little bit of milk or heavy cream at a time until the glaze is creamy and pink .
*** If you ’ re looking to reduce your sugar/carb intake , you can try this golden monk fruit sweetener instead of coconut sugar .
It can be substituted 1:1 .

The Strawberry season is upon us! Of course, raw strawberries are nature’s candy, but just wait until you’ve tried them baked into bread. ‘Bread’ here is used loosely. It’s the same idea as banana bread. It’s technically cake, but we want to eat it for breakfast, so let’s pretend it’s bread. Soft, sweet, and tasty with a melt-in-your-mouth pink strawberry glaze, this bread is a spring treat.
Baking with fresh fruit can be tricky because they add a lot of moisture. For this strawberry bread recipe, finely diced strawberries work perfectly. The bread will be wonderfully moist, but not soggy. When you add the strawberries, keep in mind to gently fold them into the batter. As with all quick bread recipes, it’s best not to overmix the ingredients. And this is a quick recipe; you need only 10 minutes to throw all of these ingredients together.
Everyone deserves a tasty treat once in a while, so please, leave room for a little indulgence, it’s good for our mental health. After all, a generally happy, healthy lifestyle should include balance, not extreme restrictions. That being said, here at The Hearty Soul, we’d like to offer a second version of this strawberry bread for those with food sensitives. This recipe is gluten-free, dairy-free, and vegan-friendly. It also uses coconut sugar for those who strive to eliminate refined sugar from their diets.
Enjoy the bread, whether you want to indulge in the original or the “healthy” option. You can’t lose with either version, not when fresh strawberries are involved!
Quick Strawberry Bread
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 50 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour
Servings: 10
Author: Julie Clark from Tastes of Lizzy T
INGREDIENTS:
For the Bread:
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup avocado oil
1 large egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract or almond extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 cups diced strawberries
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour (to coat the strawberries)
For the Glaze:
2 cups powdered sugar
2 tablespoons melted butter
1/3 cup finely diced strawberries
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract or almond extract
1–2 tablespoons heavy cream or milk* (optional)
INSTRUCTIONS:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. In a medium bowl, mix the sugar, milk, oil, egg, and vanilla or almond extract. In a separate bowl, stir the flour, baking powder, and salt. Incorporate the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients and stir until the batter is just combined. In a small bowl, stir the diced strawberries and the 2 tablespoons of flour until the strawberries are well-coated. Fold the prepared strawberries gently into the batter. Pour the batter into a greased 9×5 bread pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 50–55 minutes or until toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Let the bread to cool for 10 minutes, then set the bread onto a wire rack to cool. To make the glaze: Combine the powdered sugar, melted butter, diced strawberries, and extract in a small bowl. Mix until smooth. Once the bread is completely cool, spread the glaze on top of the bread. Slice and serve.
NOTES:
*The cream or milk may not be necessary to make the glaze spreadable. This could depend on how juicy the strawberries are. If the glaze is too thick to mix up properly, add a bit of milk or heavy cream a bit at a time until the glaze is creamy and pink.
Read: How to Make Key Lime Pound Cake with Dairy-Free Cream Cheese
Gluten Free & Vegan Options
INGREDIENTS:
For the Bread:
3/4 cup coconut sugar (see notes below for low carb option***)
1/2 cup almond or coconut milk
1/2 cup avocado oil
1 large egg (or egg substitute for vegans)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract or almond extract
2 cups all-purpose gluten-free flour*
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 cups diced strawberries
2 tablespoons all-purpose gluten-free flour* (to coat the strawberries)
For the Glaze:
2 cups coconut sugar
2 tbsp tapioca flour
2 tablespoons melted coconut butter
1/3 cup finely diced strawberries
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract or almond extract
1–2 tablespoons almond or coconut milk** (optional)
INSTRUCTIONS:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. In a medium bowl, stir together the coconut sugar, almond or coconut milk, avocado oil, egg (or flax egg) and vanilla or almond extract. In a separate bowl, combine the flour, baking powder and salt. Incorporate the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients and stir until the batter is just combined. In a small bowl, toss the diced strawberries and the 2 tablespoons of gluten-free flour until the strawberries are coated. Fold the prepared strawberries gently into the batter. Pour the batter into a greased 9×5 bread pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 50–55 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Let the bread cool for 10 minutes, then set the bread on a wire rack to cool. To make the glaze: Blend the coconut sugar and tapioca flour in a high-powdered blender, starting with slow speed then increase to high speed for about 1 to 2 minutes. The sugar should look completely powdered and light brown in color. (Tip: Wait a few minutes for the sugar and flour to settle before opening the lid.) Combine the “powdered sugar,” melted coconut butter, diced strawberries, and extract in a small bowl. Mix until it is smooth. Once the bread is completely cool, spread the glaze on top of the bread. Slice and serve.
Enjoy!
NOTES:
*To make homemade paleo all-purpose gluten-free flour, check out this recipe from Tasty Thin. Simply sift together:
2 cups almond flour
1 cup arrowroot flour
1/2 cup coconut flour
1/2 cup tapioca flour
Measure out the 2 cups and 2 tbsp needed for this recipe, and store the rest in an airtight container.
**The cream or milk may not be necessary to make the glaze spreadable. This could depend on how juicy the strawberries are. If the glaze is too thick to mix up properly, add a little bit of milk or heavy cream at a time until the glaze is creamy and pink.
*** If you’re looking to reduce your sugar/carb intake, you can try this golden monk fruit sweetener instead of coconut sugar. It can be substituted 1:1.


theheartysoul--2020-05-21--Baby calf dies by mother’s side after eating birthday balloon

It ’ s a common sight- garbage tossed into the ditch on a roadside , trash blowing across our sidewalks and getting caught in sewer drains , and wrappers , plastic bags , and even clothing flowing down our rivers and streams .
It ’ s sad but true- many people operate with the “ out of sight , out of mind ” mentality , and carelessly dispose of their refuse wherever and whenever they like , never stopping to think about where that trash is going to end up , and whom it might impact .
One farming family @ @ @ @ @ @ @ even one piece of garbage can have , and wants everyone to think before they simply toss something to the ground .
Lisa was a six-month-old baby cow living in Lincolnshire in the UK .
Her owners , Sharon Ley and her husband , Adrien , had brought her to the farm for one of their cows who had lost her own baby six months prior .
After a passerby notified them that they had seen a cow staggering around in the field , baby Lisa was taken to the vet where they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gotten lodged in her bowel .
They later found out that the calf had ingested a discarded birthday balloon .
Sharon , Adrian , and their thirteen-year-old foster daughter brought Lisa back to the field , and tried to make her as comfortable as possible , hoping that she would pull through .
Five days later , little Lisa passed away with her mother licking her , trying to wake her up .
The family is devastated , especially knowing that this was a needless and easily-preventable death .
Ley says that while @ @ @ @ @ @ @ go of , there are those who simply let them go without any idea as to where they ’ ll land .
She noted that before they put the cows in that pasture , her fiance went around and was able to fill an entire bin with the trash that had been thrown from the road .
Sadly , Lisa , the calf is just one example of the dangers that are created by littering .
Car accidents are a major concern when it comes to littering .
Even one piece of trash @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s a small car driving over something sturdier , like a wooden crate , or a larger vehicle swerving to miss a piece of garbage on the road and losing control .
Littering also degrades natural areas and can kill plants and other wildlife .
Images of turtles and birds being caught in a soda can ring can be found all over the internet , with their bodies permanently misconfigured , which will eventually lead to death .
Additionally , litter can destroy our water quality .
Hazardous waste can seep into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ groundwater pollution .
This can poison the wildlife and vegetation that survive in water , and can lead to human illness as well .
Littering is also an expensive problem .
Millions of dollars must be spent every year to clean up litter in communities around the world , and additional funds must be spent in order to filter and clean contaminated water for us to use in our homes [ 2 ] .
Read : Horrifying Photo of Dead Turtle Killed By Entanglement with Fishing Gear Wins an Ocean Art Award How @ @ @ @ @ @ @ direct impact on this problem by simply not littering .
If we all ensure that we are disposing of waste properly , it will not end up in farmers ’ fields where it can be unwittingly ingested by unsuspecting cows or other animals .
Of course , reducing the amount of garbage you create is another excellent step toward creating a cleaner environment .
Garbage , depending on what it is , can take ten to hundreds of years to break down , and the overflow of waste that we have built up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a significant environmental problem .
The World Wildlife Fund encourages everyone to think about where a piece of garbage might end up every time you throw it away , especially with items like old cell phones or used batteries , that are made of mercury and plastic- both of which are hazardous to the environment [ 3 ] .
The United States Environmental Protection Agency ( EPA ) provides detailed information about different types of waste and how they affect the environment and provides resources for how hazardous materials can be disposed of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the most important thing is to reduce the amount of garbage we generate overall .
This means reducing our reliance on single-use items , reusing whenever we can , repairing things instead of throwing them away and replacing them with something new , and recycling whenever possible .
Keep Reading : Company Collects 80 % of City ’ s Recyclable Plastics and Turns It All into Lumber

It’s a common sight- garbage tossed into the ditch on a roadside, trash blowing across our sidewalks and getting caught in sewer drains, and wrappers, plastic bags, and even clothing flowing down our rivers and streams. It’s sad but true- many people operate with the “out of sight, out of mind” mentality, and carelessly dispose of their refuse wherever and whenever they like, never stopping to think about where that trash is going to end up, and whom it might impact. And now, the impact is clear after a calf died after eating a balloon.
One farming family has witnessed first-hand the devastating impact that even one piece of garbage can have, and wants everyone to think before they simply toss something to the ground.
Lisa the Baby Cow died after eating a balloon
Lisa was a six-month-old baby cow living in Lincolnshire in the UK. Her owners, Sharon Ley and her husband, Adrien, had brought her to the farm for one of their cows who had lost her own baby six months prior.
After a passerby notified them that they had seen a cow staggering around in the field, baby Lisa was taken to the vet where they found out something she had eaten had gotten lodged in her bowel. They later found out that the calf had ingested a discarded birthday balloon.
“There was nothing we could do,” said Ley. “Cows have several stomachs and it had gone too far.” [1]
Sharon, Adrian, and their thirteen-year-old foster daughter brought Lisa back to the field, and tried to make her as comfortable as possible, hoping that she would pull through.
“We were using a bucket and cup to give her water as she couldn’t keep her head up. We went up everyday with our foster daughter,” Ley said [1].
Five days later, little Lisa passed away with her mother licking her, trying to wake her up. The calf had died after eating a balloon.
“She wouldn’t leave her side. When we were taking Lisa away her mum was running around the tractor trying to get it to stop.” [1]
The family is devastated, especially knowing that this was a needless and easily-preventable death. Ley says that while she knows sometimes balloons accidentally get let go of, there are those who simply let them go without any idea as to where they’ll land. She noted that before they put the cows in that pasture, her fiance went around and was able to fill an entire bin with the trash that had been thrown from the road.
“People need to be more conscious of what they’re doing. If they land in a field like this one has then a cow or a deer or some other animal will eat it and will die,” she lamented. “It’s unbelievable what people will throw away. We should be looking after our planet.”
The Dangers of Littering
Sadly, Lisa, the calf is just one example of the dangers that are created by littering.
Car accidents are a major concern when it comes to littering. Even one piece of trash can cause a collision, whether it’s a small car driving over something sturdier, like a wooden crate, or a larger vehicle swerving to miss a piece of garbage on the road and losing control.
Littering also degrades natural areas and can kill plants and other wildlife. Images of turtles and birds being caught in a soda can ring can be found all over the internet, with their bodies permanently misconfigured, which will eventually lead to death.
Additionally, litter can destroy our water quality. Hazardous waste can seep into the soil, which eventually leads to groundwater pollution. This can poison the wildlife and vegetation that survive in water, and can lead to human illness as well.
Littering is also an expensive problem. Millions of dollars must be spent every year to clean up litter in communities around the world, and additional funds must be spent in order to filter and clean contaminated water for us to use in our homes [2].
How Can You Help
You can have a direct impact on this problem by simply not littering. If we all ensure that we are disposing of waste properly, it will not end up in farmers’ fields where it can be unwittingly ingested by unsuspecting cows or other animals.
Of course, reducing the amount of garbage you create is another excellent step toward creating a cleaner environment. Garbage, depending on what it is, can take ten to hundreds of years to break down, and the overflow of waste that we have built up in landfills around the world is creating a significant environmental problem.
The World Wildlife Fund encourages everyone to think about where a piece of garbage might end up every time you throw it away, especially with items like old cell phones or used batteries, that are made of mercury and plastic- both of which are hazardous to the environment [3].
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) provides detailed information about different types of waste and how they affect the environment and provides resources for how hazardous materials can be disposed of properly.
As mentioned, however, the most important thing is to reduce the amount of garbage we generate overall. This means reducing our reliance on single-use items, reusing whenever we can, repairing things instead of throwing them away and replacing them with something new, and recycling whenever possible.
Keep Reading: Company Collects 80% of City’s Recyclable Plastics and Turns It All into Lumber