To begin learning how to try growing hydroponics for the first time, you have to first understand what hydroponics are on a deeper level. The definition of hydroponics is the process of growing plants in sand, gravel or liquid with added nutrients but without soil. To go in depth Hydroponics is a subset of hydroculture and is a method of growing plants using mineral nutrient solutions, in water, without soil. Terrestrial plants may be grown with their roots in the mineral solution only, or in an inert medium, such as perlite or gravel. The nutrients in hydroponics can be from fish waste, normal nutrients, or duck manure.”
There are many reasons for someone to look into hydroponic growing opposed to traditional soil, Some examples include:
Then a continuous oxygen supply is added to the water. The most common way that growers oxygenate the nutrient solution reservoir is with an air pump and airstone to pump bubbles into it. This keeps your plant’s roots from “drowning” which — while it sounds weird — is a real concern because your plants will suck the oxygen they need out of the water. Using the DWC system, you’ll find it’s extremely simple to setup (once you understand how it all works) and extremely low-maintenance (again, once you understand how it works) making it perfect for hydroponics beginners. Sources: https://www.advancednutrients.com/articles/easy-hydroponics-beginners-guide/
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Come join us for a workshop where we are partnering with Harlem Grown to discuss the various topics on how to eat produce in a sustainable way. Different topics that will be discussed are growing your own produce, shopping locally, the harms of chemically grown produce and so much more! In this workshop we will demonstrate how to begin your own small farm in an urban environment. Even if you are living in an apartment or on 5 acres we will show you in this workshop how you can make it work with your space.
Food is an essential part of living and there is no question that food is a necessity that all humans need to buy. With that said it may seem very overwhelming on how to change buying behaviors without fully reducing your food consumption and increasing your shopping bills. Below are a few easy ways we have came up with as a team that can begin your journey to shopping for produce and eating more sustainably.
Check out our social media posts to get excited about what is to come in this workshop. JOIN US: WHERE: ON ZOOM. LINK TO COME SOON BY SIGNING UP FOR OUR EMAIL SUBSCRIPTIONS WHEN: SATURDAY JANUARY 8, 2022 TIME: 12-3PM PST WITH WHOM: STRIVE URBAN AND HARLEM GROWN Shopping clean, what does it mean and how can you do it? Well it is a lot easier than you think. You can shop clean by shopping vintage, avoiding fast fashion, buying clothing made from sustainable textiles, shopping with sustainable brands and properly recycling your clothing. It is a known fact that the fashion industry is the leading polluter in the world from the energy it consumes, water consumption and the waste. As humans, we all need clothing and we can’t shut down the fashion industry but we can take actions to shop clean and make our own shopping choices that are more sustainable.
As humans, we all love to shop, we love to shop, we love new things, we love. The feeling of the crisp smell of new shoe, new phone, and especially new clothes. But what happens when we have so many shoes, so many books and clothes. According to GreenDrop.com, Here are important reasons to recycle your used clothes.
1. It Reduces Greenhouse Gases Clothing made from organic materials (cotton, linen) should be biodegradable. However, when people toss out clothes and they end up in landfills, those clothes lack the oxygen needed for organic materials to break down. Lack of oxygen leads to decomposition through anaerobic digestion, which means that microorganisms break down the organic manner, producing byproducts like methane. Produced consistently and uncontrollably, methane escapes into the atmosphere, harming our air quality and our planet. 2. It Helps Those in Need Probably the main reason people choose to recycle clothes is that it helps people in need. For example, when you donate your local donation centre, you can support four different organizations—the Military Order of the Purple Heart, the American Red Cross, the National Federation of the Blind, and the Society of St. Vincent de Paul of Philadelphia. Your clothes are turned into monetary donations to help those organizations. But donated clothes are also often sold to thrift shops or even sent to developing countries. When you recycle clothing, your aid is widespread. 3. It Reduces Costly Consumerism For the past few years, people have been raving over the idea of living a minimalist lifestyle. Though it’s not for everybody, the idea of living on less is an important ideal, especially when in reference to consumerism. Materialism does not lead to happiness, and when people recognize that, one of the first things to go is clothing. People purge their closets and shop less—the minimal lifestyle prevents us from participating in costly consumerism, or more importantly, costly waste. When we buy recycled clothing, recycle clothing ourselves, and simply buy less, we’re making a personal impact on the wastefulness and costliness of the textile industry. References: https://www.gogreendrop.com/blog/7-important-reasons-to-recycle-your-clothes/ It’s a common misconception that consciously shopping with sustainability in mind is for the wealthier class, but the more time that passes that companies are making conscious decisions about how eco-friendly their production and distribution practices are the more efficient process become more accessible for the average companies and in turn making more accessible to the average consumer. This article isn’t going to have prices that can compete with fast fashion, however the companies listed sell quality pieces that would outlive many cheaper options.
Tentree – Men’s and Women’s essentials Certified B-Corp tentree creates sustainable apparel that is designed in Canada and ethically manufactured around the world. It sources the most eco-friendly materials such as Tencel, recycled polyester, organic cotton, and hemp. Every time a customer purchases an item, tentree plants 10 trees. Kotn – Men’s, Women’s clothing and Lifestyle Founded in 2015, Kotn creates beautiful basics from authentic Egyptian cotton that’s finer, softer, and more breathable than any other cotton. Unfortunately, since 2001, there has been a 95% decline in demand from big corporations that opted to go with cheaper options. As a result, millions of farmers, weavers, and craftspeople are struggling to make ends meet. By working directly with cotton farming families in Egypt, Kotn seeks to rebuild the industry from the inside. The brand makes its own fabrics from raw cotton bought direct from farmers at guaranteed prices. A certified B Corp brand, Kotn has built and operates seven schools in rural areas of Egypt without access to education. Levi’s – Adult and Children’s clothing and accessories The majority of Levi’s cotton is sustainably sourced or recycled, and more than six billion liters of water have been reused and recycled so far. In addition to its range of jeans, jackets, and jorts, Levi’s also stocks a secondhand shop with discounted pricing These three companies produce great quality products that will have a long life in your closet if taken care of properly, and at reasonable price. There are many more companies out there like these out there, just do your research on their actual business practices rather than blindly believe talking points made by the company. References https://ecocult.com/the-18-most-affordable-places-to-buy-ethical-fashion/ https://www.thegoodtrade.com/features/affordable-ethical-fashion-brands Have you ever thought about how your shirt was made, how long it took to make and all the tiny fibers that it takes to make up your entire shirt? Well when you put thought and research into it you will find it takes a large amount of water, energy and labor to develop textiles that make up garments. 15 million tons of used textile waste is generated in the United States each year. One of the leading textiles that the United States creates is cotton.
As many of us know, the fashion world is one of the biggest polluting industry causing an obscene amount of energy and waste from all aspects of the supply chain. As a consumer it is important to understand how your clothing is made and the fibers that go into the garments you have hanging in your closet. One of the most common fibers that clothing is made out of is cotton. Many people believe that since cotton is a natural fiber it is automatically more sustainable than other fibers. However, that is far from the truth. Cotton is grown with a vast amount of pesticides and genetically modified processes to make the best cotton that harms the environment. From the farming of the cotton to the manufacturing and processing it takes 10,000 liters of water to produce one kilogram of cotton. To reduce the amount of pollution and waste caused by conventional cotton it is important to be shopping and buying products made from 100% organic cotton. What is organic cotton? Organic cotton is cotton that is grown in a more sustainable way by not using genetically modified seeds or pesticides. There are many technologies that go into processing the cotton that are more sustainable. These technologies include using less water, less heating and less waste of agriculture. These technologies allow for the cotton to be used by itself and not mixed with man-made fibers that cause the cotton to not be recyclable or biodegradable. To learn more about the technologies and organic cotton view cottonworks.com. This is an educational company working to educate and bring awareness to sustainable cotton. https://www.cottonworks.com/topics/sustainability/cotton-sustainability/ How do you know if your clothing is made from organic cotton? If you are wondering if the clothing you have sitting in your closet is made with organic cotton there are a few ways to check. First is to look on the tag if it is made from 100% organic cotton it will state that. If it doesn't, check the other ingredients if there are man-made textiles like polyester blend or spandex most likely your shirt is not sustainable. Polyester and spandex are man-made fibers that are very damaging to the planet and build up the waste in the fashion industry. 100% organic cotton can bring the same comfort that spandex and polyester do. It may be more expensive but the lasting quality is worth it. Another way to check to see if your clothing is made from organic cotton is by a simple google search. Look up the company you bought it from and research where they manufacture, are they fast fashion, what is the price of the garment. If the garment is on the pricier side and not from a fast fashion company, made in the United States, odds are the shirt is more sustainable than others in the market. Places to shop that sell 100% organic cotton clothing:
To learn more about how these companies are working to build a more sustainable fashion industry visit this link: https://goodonyou.eco/know-your-product-a-quick-guide-to-organic-cotton/ It can be daunting to think deep about the meaning of the clothing you wear everyday but, your favorite shirt or the shirt you’ve never worn had a huge impact on the environment that you never thought twice about. Switching out your basic pieces for ones made with sustainable cotton will drastically reduce your carbon footprint. The price may be scary as well but the quality will last a lifetime, even when you are done with the garment. About the Author: I am a senior at Washington State University studying fashion merchandising and communications. As an individual who is entering a very polluted industry I want to have an impact on creating a more sustainable world and lowering the pollution in merchandising. There are so many small and affordable steps to create a more sustainable lifestyle. I am passionate about the outdoors and I want the beauty of nature to remain beautiful. -Mallory Dickman Strive Urban team member References: https://goodonyou.eco/know-your-product-a-quick-guide-to-organic-cotton/ https://www.theworldcounts.com/challenges/consumption/clothing/cotton-farming-water-consumption/story https://www.cottonworks.com/topics/ Over the last 20 years, the volume of clothing that is disposed of by Americans has doubled, now nearing over 17 million tons per year. In 2017, only about 15.2% of that number was recycled properly, leaving the rest to be thrown into landfills or incinerators. On an individual level the average American creates 80 pounds of textile waste alone. With these statistics, comes the understanding that we as human beings do have a need for fashion and textiles as a basic necessity.
As seen in our earlier blog post from Erin, there are two larger focuses of how fashion is manufactured and consumed; fast fashion and slow fashion. Another form of fashion consumption that we have seen working its way into the industry is secondhand fashion, also known as thrifting! The biggest shift in this idea of consumption has been the way it is viewed by the public. Not that long ago, the idea of secondhand fashion came with many negative stigmas and was not an avid practice of many. I would almost go as far as to say we are in a wave of secondhand, thrifting and vintage shopping being a massive trend. This trend however holds serious power to create real impact in the way that our textile waste impacts the planet. Not only as a consumer to not buy into the negative manufacturing and production processes we have discussed, but as a beneficial way to recycle clothing from your closet. From my own personal experience, thrifting can be a bit daunting which is why fast fashion consumption is so popular - it’s easy and accessible! But thrifting can be too! So to help ease the transition into this new wave of your sustainable lifestyle, here are some tips and tricks for successful thrift shopping!
My name is Samantha Cushman, and I’m a student at Washington State University, and am currently studying Apparel Merchandising and minoring in Communications and Business Administration. I want to end up working within secondhand retailing and fashion, and want to work towards more sustainable practices within the industry as well. References: Elie, K. (2021, October 19). How to thrift shop for clothes: 7 beginner tips. The Good Trade. Retrieved October 25, 2021, from https://www.thegoodtrade.com/features/thrift-shopping-tips. Brown, R. (n.d.). The environmental crisis caused by textile waste. RoadRunner Recycling. Retrieved October 25, 2021, from https://www.roadrunnerwm.com/blog/textile-waste-environmental-crisis. Fashion is always evolving throughout the times and there are always new trends, but trends come and go. The issue of fast fashion is that it is only getting worse. Fast fashion is a design, marketing and manufacturing method concentrated on mass producing clothes that are typically described as “trendy” and or look like knock offs of high-end clothing and accessories. The production of fast fashion generally makes use of trend replication using low-quality materials. Fast fashion is almost always cheap and or average to a lower price tag. Not only does the manufacturing and production of fast fashion have many environmental issues, but also ethical worries as well.
Before the 1970’s about 90% of the clothing sold within the United States was produced and distributed in the United States. In the mid 70’s the world of fashion took a turn and clothing started to be mass produced in China, Latin America and areas throughout Asia where they built gigantic textile mills. It seemed like an easy and cheaper alternative to not spend so much money on clothes by using inexpensive materials and mass producing what was trendy at the time. As the years flew by more and more fast fashion was being seen in stores and soon clothing that was produced within the United States could not compete. Fast fashion is not only unethical, but there are many problems with it, to name just a few: textile waste, CO2 emissions, water pollution and unsafe work environments. I understand how difficult it can be to try to not shop fast fashion because it is all around us. I am a senior in college and I ball on a budget, so fast fashion seems like an easy option because I get more bang for my buck. But even my favorite clothing websites are mass producing their clothing with cheap materials. That is why it is so important to do research on how your clothes are made and making sure that there are fair labor practices. Feeling confident in knowing where your money is going, and where the clothes you are putting on your body is a wonderful thing. A few alternatives to fast fashion are quality over quantity, if you take time to explore sustainable and ethical brands and try not to over buy clothing it will make buying higher quality clothing more rewarding and fulfilling. It will end up lasting longer, so that your money is going further. The alternative to fast fashion is slow fashion. Slow fashion is made with mainly recycled materials and focuses on respecting the environment and the consumers. It focuses on the quality of the items over mass production and produces garments that can withstand the tests of time because of the purposeful and intentional time and care. Sustainable and ethical places to shop: · Patagonia · Pact · Reformation · Levi’s · Eileen Fisher · Able About the Author: Hello, my name is Erin Walker and I am a senior at Washington State University studying communications with an emphasis in public relations. I have always been into fashion and always keeping up with the latest trends. Lately, I have been doing more research on my clothing and trying to be more sustainable, ethical and cautious on where I buy my clothes from and where they are manufactured and produced. There are so many amazing clothing brands that people might not even know that are out there. I believe that it is important to look into how I am spending my money and being smart about what I buy and choose to wear day to day. -Erin Walker (Strive Urban team member) References Stanton, A. (2021, October 14). What does fast fashion mean, anyway? The Good Trade. Retrieved October 25, 2021, from https://www.thegoodtrade.com/features/what-is-fast-fashion. |