Clean Living Sunday Newsletter 2.2.25 ✨

Positive Climate News of The Week

Empty Office Spaces are Being Reimagined as Indoor Crop Farms

Nearly 20% of U.S. office spaces are currently sitting empty, but indoor farms are turning these vacant buildings into thriving hubs of sustainable agriculture! Urban farming was already on the rise before the pandemic, but now it’s growing even faster worldwide, tackling challenges like wasted space and high transportation costs.

By growing crops indoors, farmers can reduce water usage, crop loss from pests, and the need for long-distance shipping. Plus, instead of growing produce to survive long journeys, they can focus on maximum nutrition and freshness. This is great for local communities!

The biggest challenge is energy use. But when powered by renewable energy, indoor farms can actually be more efficient than traditional farming. And the benefits? Healthier food, less pollution, and stronger local economies. It's one part of an exciting and sustainable future of food!

Source: BBC

Plant Powered Recipe

Ginger Turmeric "Shots"

Turmeric is great for inflammation, ginger for digestion, and orange for immunity, so we are all in for these healthy shots! They come together super quick and easy in a blender, don't require a cheese cloth, and offer a ton of plant powered nourishment.

Prep Time: 8 minutes Blend time: 1 minute

Total Time: 9 minutes Servings: 6 Calories: 60 kcal Author: Pure and Simple Nourishment

Equipment

High speed blender

Stainer or sieve

Ingredients

1 cup water

1/2 cup fresh squeezed orange juice

1/4 cup fresh squeezed lemon juice

1/4 cup ginger root, peeled and chopped into pieces

1/4 cup turmeric root, peeled and chopped into pieces

1-2 tablespoon agave or maple syrup

1/4 teaspoon black pepper

Instructions

1. Place all of the ingredients into your high-speed blender.

2. Blend well until smooth.

3. Pour the liquid through a strainer or sieve into shot glasses or a larger jug.

4. Serve and enjoy!

These will last up to 3 days in the fridge in an airtight container.

Pro tip: Don't skip the black pepper, it is needed to make all of the good stuff in Turmeric bioavailable!

If you end up making this, tag us in your pictures in Instagram at @shopcanopycollective.

Skincare tip of the week

Exfoliation

Exfoliation has so many great benefits including unclogging pores and reducing breakouts, improving skin tone and texture, and removing dry skin. By removing that barrier, your skincare products will penetrate deeper and your makeup will apply better as well. But how often should we do it? And with what exfoliators?

The short answer is you should exfoliate 1-2 times a week. It can be tempting to exfoliate more often, especially in these colder months when you have more dry skin, but over exfoliation will have unwanted side effects. It can strip your skin of nutrients, actually make your skin drier, and can cause damage that might lead to discoloring or pre-mature aging.

Weather you use a physical exfoliator or a chemical one, is largely up to preference or skin type.

Physical exfoliators, consisting of scrubs and brushes, tend to be best for oily or combination skin. However, they can leave micro-abrasions in the skin, so you want to make sure you are using one with gentle ingredients and avoid excessive scrubbing.

Chemical exfoliants typically consist of AHA's, BHA's, and enzymes. These are great for all skin types especially those with sensitive skin. These work by disolving dead skin cells instead of scrubbing them off. You leave these on your skin for a specified amount of time (usually 5-20 minutes) and then wash off. You will want to start small and build with these, and be sure to use and SPF afterwards as they can make skin more sensative to the sun. Chemical exfoliants are all different, so you'll want to make sure you are using one that is right for you! All of our exfoliants are made with clean, skin-loving ingredients, so you don't have to worry about over exfoliating as long as you use them properly!

Feel free to shoot us a message at service@thecanopycollective.com if you need assistance choosing an exfoliator that is right for you.

Sustainability Challenge

Unplug all of your unused appliances

Many electronics—like chargers, gaming consoles, and kitchen appliances—still draw power even when turned off (this is called "phantom energy" or "vampire power"). By unplugging or using a power strip to switch everything off at once, you can reduce energy waste and lower your electricity bill with almost no effort!

So, our challenge is to take a quick sweep through your home and unplug everything you aren't using. Then, see if you can make it a habit this week to unplug things when you are done using them! Simple habits can go a long way 

Bonus: This also extends the life of your devices. Win-win!

Deal of the Week

UpCircle Beauty

We love UpCircle because they are all about pushing sustainability to the next level in a fun and innovative way. They turn by-products from industries like food and drink into effective beauty products, giving waste a new life while making a big environmental impact. It's even in their name—UpCircle—showing their dedication to upcycling and a circular economy to help make the world a better place. Plus, their commitment to high-quality, affordable beauty with ethical and fair-trade ingredients makes eco-friendly skincare an option for everyone, and that’s something we’re totally here for! They have an amazing exfoliant, cleansing balm, and face serum which you can snag for 15% off using code 'UpCircle15'!