Eating Dirt: A photo essay

I always knew I felt healthier, happier outside. Science is catching up. Microbes in the soil aid in keeping allergies at bay, asthma (which I suffer from but was fine this last week), helps fight depression and many other maladies. Dirt - a new super-food. I ate plenty of it last week...

Volunteered to help clear trail through backcountry chaparral with the Ojai Valley Land Conservancy, hanging out at a few schools with Common Vision that has planted orchards for some 250 schools in California, checking out a couple local farm-to-fork acreage with Patagonia... All a very good re-education into why it is good to stay connected and be a more integral part of the local landscape, to know the process of where our food comes from, to help expand the network of local opportunities to explore off the pavement. So many new experiences still to have, and in the backyard.

Next phase is getting out to volunteer on the local farms...

all images ©Bennett Barthelemy

Bicycles and Climate: A Photo Essay

Copenhagen has a reputation of being perhaps the most bicycle friendly city in the world.

As we roll forward into a super-heated world, as COP21 looms ahead and the chance at an international agreement to better realize divesting ourselves globally of the fossil fuels, I quite enjoy surrounding myself with bicycles and not driving a car anymore.

Rain, nightfall, rush hour, being dressed up or even wearing a dress... Rarely seems to slow the steady flow of bicycles.

Bicycles are a ubiquitous part of society here with an infrastructure that promotes bicycle safety and their use with wide dedicated lanes. When going to an event it will list where the nearest car parking and bicycle parking is located.

I am told that to buy a car in Denmark you must be prepared to roughly pay 200 percent tax on it.

At a meeting in Copehangen a few days ago hosted by the French Embassy in Copenhagen, the European Parliament's Office, Nyt Europa to help educate French Citizens living in Denmark on the issues that will be raised at the climate talks at COP21 it was stressed that the actions will largely come from the bottom upward. "You cannot come to the COP without first changing in your own home." Martin Lidegaard - Former Minister of Climate, Energy and Building for Denmark

"66 percent of citizens globally view that adapting policy for climate change will improve their quality of life." Bjørn Bedsted - Head of Danish Board of Technology International

"No climate models look good. Action is urgent - If we decide not to do anything for 25 years it will be too late. It is technologically feasible and economically viable." Dr. Jean Jouzel - IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change)

I am excited to have the opportunity to go to the climate talks in Paris next month... 

All images ©Bennett Barthelemy 2015