Olivia Choong: Five Green Leafy Vegetables Which Won’t Die on You
Read moreYou don’t need a green thumb to grow vegetables, just some practice when it comes to observation and figuring out the right conditions for your plants. Urban farmer, Olivia Choong, introduces 5 easy to grow green leafy vegetables that won’t die on you, and start you on a journey to growing your very own edible plants. When growing edible plants, it is important to pick ones that will adapt well to your current climate and growing space. In order to be a successful urban farmer, you need to do your research to determine which plants are low to high maintenance and its sun, water, nutritional requirements before planting seeds or purchasing seedlings. Also, you need to observe the space where you will place your plants, including the amount and direction of sun, light, heat and wind. Factors like a glass balcony, hot concrete or highly reflective walls can influence the amount of heat and light that your plants receive. To create ideal conditions for plants, the home gardener can consider using shade cloth to block excess sunlight, mulch to protect soil from drying out, grouping plants together to minimise water loss, and arranging plants in different layers not unlike the rainforest, to create a microclimate that suit individual plant preferences of sun and wind. If however, you are seeking plants which are so hardy that can only die from utter neglect, here are five green leafy vegetables that will thrive year-long in a sunny position in a tropical climate, or during the summer season in sub-tropical and temperate regions. Kang Kong – Also known as water spinach, Kang Kong is a popular vegetable used in Asian stir-fries and soups. It grows like a weed, and has even termed in the US as a noxious weed. Able to grow in water and boggy conditions, Kang Kong is a hungry plant which requires lots of nutrients. Fertilise well with chicken manure or fish emulsion. Malabar Spinach – Ceylon spinach as it is also called, grows prolifically in hot climates. A mucilaginous vegetable, it is best prepared in soups, or sautéed. Although some also eat in raw, it is recommended to cook the spinach leaves because its oxalic acid content. To grow a healthy, long-lasting crop, plant in well draining, moist, fertile soil. Sweet potato leaves – While growing sweet potatoes, you can also harvest its leaves for use in stir fries and soups. This can be grown with other non-vining plants in the same pot or garden bed, and acts as a wonderful ground cover, weed controller and soil improver. The sweet potato plant is not fussy with soil, but when it is grown for its tubers, it needs to be regularly watered and planted in loamy, well draining soil. Sweet Leaf Bush – The Chinese know this vegetable as Mani Cai, and it gets its name from it’s sweet flavour. Like the rest it is commonly consumed in soups and stir-fries. The Sweet leaf bush favours well draining, moist soil, although it is able to grow in a wide range of soil conditions. Amaranth Greens – Otherwise known as Chinese Spinach or Bayam, this vegetable is perfect in soups and stir-fries. This fast growing vegetable grows well in free draining soil and will tolerate different soil conditions. Its leafy greens can be harvested within 30 days, so if you love eating this, be sure to plant a succession of crops. These are some of the easiest plants to grow, and trial and error is necessary when it comes to bettering your growing technique. Once you have mastered growing these plants, you will see that growing vegetables is not so difficult after all. After this, make sure you give fruiting vegetables a go!
Understanding the basics & challenges in parenting
Read moreAs we all know, there are many challenges in parenting, but very few grasps the main root cause of parenting struggles. Family culture, personal beliefs, core values to transmit, education method to follow and healthy habits are some of the key factors considered by parents in order to succeed in parenting. But one challenge that is often disregarded but concerns every modern Parent is the lack of community: “It takes a village to raise a child”, but there are no more villages! And we tend to forget that we are social creatures who thrive on communication and social contact which is absolutely essential to our brain development and our understanding of the world. Let’s compare our biological needs to modern life: What does the biological set-up look like in a tribe? Everybody lives together, no one leaves the tribe; individuals know one another well, share the same values and culture, share the joys, burdens, and sorrows of everyday life, nurture one another in times of need; adults and children of all ages spend all their time together in nature hunting and gathering; they all sleep together, children are fed natural food on demand; there is constant co-regulation in this big group of individuals with adults minding the wellbeing of each other’s ever-roaming children and increasingly-dependent elderly, and feeling fed by their clearly essential contribution to the group that securely holds them. Compare this now to modern life: We live in separate homes, in large cities in a globalised world, surrounded by millions of people with different values, but not always knowing our next door neighbour; only few of us have family members living nearby. We are expected to sleep in different rooms, in different beds, at an early age; one or often both parents work for most of the day, even sometimes not present for days; we spend less and less time outside in connection with nature; we no longer live in unison with natural light because of electric and blue light from screens disrupting tremendously our melatonin production; we live in a world of abundance with unhealthy food, disturbances, and non-stop stressors to our system. Our tribe has now been dramatically reduced to two parents (and sometimes only one), a helper maybe, and grand-parents in some cases. The community we are wired for has shrunk so much that nowadays the role of the Parents is to fill in for the whole tribe and its functions to give children what they need to grow healthy in their body and mind, while Parents face new issues brought by modern life. This is where, Parents – and as a consequence Children – struggle the most. Now, I’m not saying we should go back to tribal life and I’m not idealising it, but I think we should keep in mind our biological needs and understand that the gap between the lifestyle our brain is originally wired for and modern life creates all our parenting challenges.
Spicy tomato soup
Read moreWe like the red foods like tomatoes and peppers – it’s a powerful antioxidant they contain lycopene, that protects against prostate and breast cancer and heart diseases! You’ll come far with this spicy tomato soup! Spicy tomato soup with white beans 200 g white organic beans soaked in water for 24 hours 1 large shallot peeled and chopped 1 large red chili halved lengthwise, seeds removed and chopped 2 leeks washed and chopped 2 garlic cloves peeled and chopped 5 stalks celery chopped 1 large potato peeled and chopped 2 red peppers cut into big cubes 2 cans (240 g each) pomodorini, cherry tomatoes ½ liter organic vegetable stock sea salt ground black pepper Boil the white beans (approx. 1 hour) Place a large casserole over medium heat and add some olive oil, when warm add garlic, shallot and a pinch of salt. Gently saute for a couple of minutes. Add celery, leeks and chili, stir and then add the potatoes and red peppers, and stir once more. Pour in the pomodorini and vegetable stock. Reduce the heat to a simmer, cover the casserole with a lid and let the soup cook gently for 30 minutes. Remove from the heat, and puree the soup in batches, in a blender. Pour the soup back into the casserole and reheat gently, check for seasoning. Serve the spicy tomato soup hot with the white beans in. Want this in your files? Print this beauty:
Keeping it simple: Karine Gauthier’s tips on how you stick to your exercise plan
Read moreFor many of us, doing exercise ends up as an ‘either/or’. situation. We sign up, we go all in, perhaps a little too much, and then work and kids take priority and we’re back to where we started. Perhaps we try to do too much, instead of keeping it simple. Owner of Body Temple, Karine Gauthier’s gives you her personal tips on why keeping exercise basic, is so important. As a mum of 3 and running my own business , “keeping it simple and getting back to basics” pretty much sums up my personal philosophy. Well it works for me, gets me through the day and looking back on the last 13 years of having had Body Temple and growing a family at the same time I feel it has helped me to build a sustainable business and keep the family balanced. In this era of health and fitness we are very spoiled with many options of how to keep fit and active on a daily basis. Almost too much to choose from actually. Don’t get me wrong I am the first one to appreciate and enjoy new exercise and classses but from all the different types of training, endless group exercise classses out there, if you are unsure of what is best for your body and like all of us a bit short on time it can be overwhelming. Then there’s all the diets that promise you amazing results in a short period of time and can be contradictory at time. So I say keep it simple and back to basics!
How to travel with kids – in peace
Read moreWhether you’re vacay- or staycationing with your family – this is the one for you! We all miss going on holiday, and nothing better than to share your holiday with your loved ones! No doubt we’re all dreaming of loving, relaxing, peaceful and memorable family moments which (ideally) will make us forget our stressful lives as they are for many right now. Unfortunately, reality quite often ends up different from the dream, and the holiday moments become memorable for the wrong reason! Hungry, tired, bored or overstimulated children who end up having a wild temper, which affects the parents, who then become frustrated and annoyed. So. What can you then do to make your family holidays enjoyable for everyone? Here are a few tips that can help manage challenging situations when travelling: If you’re lucky to be able to fly at present – choose night flights for long-distance travel, especially with young children: they will eventually sleep, although late, it will leave you with more time to rest and make your travel experience smoother. If travelling with a baby, make sure you book seats that come with the bassinet option, so that both baby and parents can rest for a few hours. Are you on a train or boat, book that extra seat if you want to be able to relax too! Before boarding the car, train, bus or plane, encourage your children to be physically active as this will help them get rid of some of their motor impulses, for while at least, and this will limit their need to move a lot. If travelling with a baby or small toddler, use a comfortable baby carrier so that your hands can be free to carry bags during the transport to your destination. Encourage toddlers and older children to carry a small backpack with some of their best things that you know will keep them entertained for some time. The added bonus is that in that way you won’t have to carry everything and it will foster a sense of responsibility with your child. Bring one or two full change of clothes for your baby/toddler and for yourself on the journey: if anything happens, you or your child won’t have to carry bad smell or wear wet clothes for your remaining travel time. Recent inventions, like Inflatable pillows or suitcases transforming into a bed are convenient to create a space for young children to sleep but if flying, check first with your airline company if they allow these kinds of equipment. Check with the airline or train company, if you can order a specific meal for children, and if they can serve it when it’s more convenient for you, e.g. earlier if a night flight. Make sure to pack a bottle or easy sippy cup for young children to have water available anytime in the plane. Pack healthy snacks children can enjoy: small size snacks can keep toddlers’ hands busy for a while. Avoid sweets full of bad sugar and colourings: some kids react really badly to some of those, and all kids become high on energy after eating sugar. Natural sugar or healthy snacks are preferable. Offer new (and quiet) toy/games such as stickers, books, board games, card… When travelling, novelty brings dopamine to the brain, keeping children interested in the activity/object for a longer time in comparison to a known toy. Feeling bored is actually not a bad thing for a child, but it might create unwanted behaviours in a specific unfriendly environment like a car, bus or a plane. Prepare songs and stories to listen to on your tablet or phone, as well as comfortable earphones adapted to children’s heads, to avoid your kids requesting to put their earphones back on every other minute. If at all possible, avoid screen time for the kids. It is stressful and the blue light keeps the children awake and their energy high. Obviously easier said than done, especially for older kids and during a long flight.
5 things you need to know about organic cotton
Read moreAs more consumers look to buy ‘organic’, more brands have started to serve that demand. The choice can be confusing. Anisa Johnny & Dragos Necula guide you through the complex issues behind organic cotton so you can make more informed choices. Why We Love Cotton Natural fibres have certain properties and cotton has been used in clothing for centuries because it is breathable, easily absorbs dyes and is soft on the skin. Cotton manufacture has a long supply chain process, from growing the cotton seeds to spinning the fibres into yarn to dying or printing. At any stage of the cotton growing process chemical fertilisers such as pesticides and herbicides can be used to ensure the crops grow quickly and are free from weeds and pests. Such toxic chemicals are left in the earth and can affect the food supply chain and drinking water. Organic cotton is cotton textile grown without the use of chemicals to address consumers growing concern for the environment and sustainability in the fashion industry. The quickest way to ensure cotton is organic is to test fibres by analysing their chemical composition but unfortunately most of us as consumers do not have a fibre testing lab at hand. The Process As easy as the test sounds organic cotton producers must ensure each stage of the growing process is chemical free – from land preparation, checking the seeds are not genetically modified, chemicals are not used in the soil preparation and any weed and pest management are all chemical free processes. Once the crop is ready checking the harvesting of cotton bolls and raw fibre to fabric manufacturing process to the final dying process are free of toxins. Toxins travel and therefore a non organic nearby farm could contaminate organic cotton and leave traces of toxin in the fibres. If at each stage in the process the cotton must be ensured to be organic, organic textile manufactures have a high level of complexity to deal with. Two organizations (GOTS & OCS) are recognized as the leaders in identifying if cotton is truly organic and producers have to apply and go through a rigorous checking process to receive certification from these organizations. Certifications Standard (GOTS) certification does not directly cover fiber processing but it does require the fibre to be certified by other bodies that certify agricultural products. This could be national bodies EEC in Europe or USDA in the US or international bodies such as IFOAM family of standards who certify organic produce. This at least means the entire chain of processes is tracked if not all directly by GOTS. GOTS certification checks the production process follows environmental standards such as dyeing facilities have proper filtration facilities and chemicals are disposed of safely. This is to ensure the production does not place strains on ecosystems such as wetlands, woodlands, and wildlife. GOTS certification also takes into consideration other social and environmental responsibility not just for toxic chemicals but other corporate social responsibility issues such as working conditions. However even though GOTS certification is a more rigorous process GOTS ‘Organic’ certification still only stipulates that 95% of the fibre must be organic. GOTS states the remaining 5% may be ‘non-organic natural or synthetic fibres’. This ‘remaining 5%’ is to take into consideration that 100% organic may not yet be feasible and some textiles are blended to give them unique properties for example cotton socks require spandex to stretch. GOTS second tier certification is ‘made with organic’ which requires at least 70% of the product to be made with organic fibres and a maximum of 10% made from synthetic fibres, the remaining can be other natural but not organic fibres such as cotton. The other organization certifying products is the Organic Content Standards (OCS) which only certifies standards on content. This means, that the organic fiber percentage is tested and traced but the process of making fibre to dyed and finished fabric is not covered. Therefore the use of chemicals or social environmental impact from the production process is not taken into consideration. OCS also has two tiers – ‘OCS 100’ which requires 95% organic fibres and ‘OCS blended’ which only requires 5% of the fibre must be organic. To complicate things further, not all certification organisations are recognized by every country – for example in the USA only GOTS certification is accepted by the USDA (United States Department of Agriculture). In many countries laws don’t cover labelling of content in apparel and accessories so the consumer is often left to decide for themselves. In Singapore laws that cover labelling of clothing are more concerned with safety of consumer goods. Confusing the consumer The apparel industry has a long way to go to improve the impact of the fashion industry on the environment. To complicate matters, governments have not agreed on one international standard and as a result have different regulations and laws covering ‘organic’ textiles. Some smaller brands have responsible practices but find the rigorous and often expensive prospect of official organic certification not financially feasible. Smaller brands who have transparent processes are an opportunity for the consumer to enquire further on their practices and sourcing of products. To help you navigate the issue we decided to put together the: “5 Things to look for when choosing organic cotton” Fair Trade – do not assume all Fair Trade is organic. Although some percentage of Fair Trade is organically produced, this is not always the case – so check for certification symbols (see point 4) Colour – even your white or black t-shirt has had dye or bleach applied to it. Look for brands that use natural dye processes or herbal dyed organic cotton these days known as ‘Ecodyed fabrics’. But many processes may use chemical dye fixing process which leads to heavy metal in the water supply. GOTS certified fabric tracks chemicals in the dye and the disposal process. (see point 4) None Dyed Cotton – Unfortunately some experts say ‘Natural dyes’ are prone to fading over time after washing and and as mentioned above may use mordants in the process which can have metal toxins. To be sure your clothing is truly chemical free look for ‘none dyed cotton’ which is always off white to cream or beige in colour. More research is being done to develop natural dyed cotton which is known as colour-grown cotton because some cotton can be naturally brown, red green or yellow. However, natural cotton could be genetically modified so do check for organic certification as GMO cotton cannot be considered as organic under GOTS. Print – printing textiles includes emissions in the air, water and of course can end up in the soil either at the end of the garments life cycle or during the production process. Waste water is the biggest problem and leftover materials from printing called sludge must be disposed of responsibly. Some unscrupulous companies illegally dispose of waste dyes or sludge into the water system. Look for GOTS approved printing ink that check the disposal methods as most natural colour cannot achieve bright hues as yet. Labelling – probably the best method is to look for the GOTS symbol or Soil Association symbol (Soil Association were founding members of GOTS)
Super Easy Body Oil Recipe
Read moreMaking your own natural skincare products is the fun part of switching to a green, sustainable lifestyle. Not only are you able to customise what you make to your individual skin type and goals – you can also be confident that you are getting exactly what you put in. And not having to worry about nasty ingredients creeping into your products can really take a load off your mind! Body oils are one of the easiest product to make and if you’re new to this, we’d recommend you start here. The beauty of body oils are their versatility – use them also as a massage oil, bath oil, makeup remover, hair treatment oil, shaving oil and cuticle oil. And if you can pour oils into a measuring jug, you already have the expertise to make your own. Ready to get started? Here’s a simple body oil recipe that is suitable for all skin types:
How do you know if you are buying sustainable design?
Read moreWhen looking at a design for your home, more people are now conscious of the origin of the material, and many producers of furniture have caught on to this trend. This means that the market is also becoming less transparent, with furniture companies promoting themselves as ‘green’ and the consumer becoming increasingly confused. But how do you know if your new chair, table or bed base is indeed sustainable? Founders of “For the Common Goods”, Angie and Tommy, explain. Q: What is the difference between green and sustainable? “Green” and “Sustainable” are sometimes used interchangeably but they aren’t the same thing. We think of green furniture as being focused on the impact on the environment, and sustainable furniture as going beyond environmental impact. Green furniture can mean for example furniture that has reduced or low carbon footprint, and furniture made using recycled or recyclable material. Sustainability, on the other hand, concerns itself with the bigger picture. Sustainability is caring about the life cycle of a finished product – whether the materials used renewable and sourced responsibly, whether the manufacturing practices are respectful of resources and benefit local communities, how the product was packaged and shipped, and what can happen to it at the end of its lifespan. Q: What should I look for if I want to buy sustainable furniture in Singapore? There are product certification consumers can look out for, such as Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), a certification system for responsible forestry and wood sourcing, and GREENGUARD, a certification system for products and materials that have low chemical emissions. Q: Wood is always the one we look for when thinking sustainable, are there any other materials used in sustainable design, that would be worth looking at? Yes, and a good example is rattan. Rattan is a naturally renewable palm that grows by climbing trees in the tropical forest. As one of the fastest-growing natural materials, rattan can be harvested every 5 to 7 years. Compared to most tropical hardwood, rattan is easier to grow, harvest and transport. As it depends on the existence of trees, forests need not be cleared for its cultivation. In fact, in forests where rattan grows, its economic value to the local community ensures the protection and preservation of forestland. Q: Is it best to buy local? Are there any countries one should avoid? No simple answer to this question. Buying locally does not guarantee the quality or reduced carbon footprint as the furniture or the raw materials are likely to have been imported into Singapore. The good thing about buying locally is that you can verify the quality with your own eyes and ask questions. Q: How do I become more informed about buying sustainable design? Have a think about where your furniture comes from – does it travel all over the world just to get to you or does have efforts been made to reduce carbon footprint. Question the lifespan of the product and where it is going to end up. There are forward-thinking designers and furniture makers out there that take into account recyclability when they design and build furniture. Consumers can ask if the furniture piece contains any parts or pieces that come from naturally renewable, reclaimed or recycled materials, and whether it can be disassembled into reusable or recyclable parts at the end of its lifespan. A single product may not tick all the boxes but the value is in the collective power to make some difference, however big or small.
The important basics of a healthy lifestyle
Read moreWhat is the best way to stay happy and healthy for the rest of your life? Many questions arise: What can you do to avoid pain and disease? How can you effectively stay away from cancer and heart disease? How can you make sure your child is safe? Is it about too much sugar, not enough fats or too little or not enough meat? What about fish? How long should we sleep? Are supplements the right way to go? Naturopath, Sabine Schellerer goes behind the questions and invites you look at the basic foundation of having a healthy life + gives you 6 tips on where to start. The questions on health and nutrition are endless and it’s more or less impossible to find the right answer. Each piece of ‘new research’ can conflict with previous research and what suits one person will not suit another. There is however one basic piece of advice that I like to give my patients when they start their therapy. This applies to each and everyone of us, no matter how young or old, small or big, male or female: ‘Find your rhythm again”. This may sound trivial and almost too simple to be true. But just think about it for a second. Humans are rhythmic beings, because humans are part of this world and part of nature. Everything in nature is rhythmic: We have day and night, ebb and flow, seasons come and go in a rhythmic way. The same with your body: Your heart beats in a regular pattern of Diastole and Systole, your breath goes in and out; stomach and bowel move food around in a pulsing motion. So what happens when stress, the no. 1 enemy in the modern world, enters this rhythm? Well, it’s not stress itself that is the problem. The body is actually well equipped to deal with stress: to react adequately in a life and death situation, to deal with ten phone calls all at once and a screaming child next to you. Stress only becomes a problem when there is only tension without relaxation, when you just peak and never release, when you lose your rhythm.
Olivia Choong: Five Green Leafy Vegetables Which Won’t Die on You
22nd October, 2020
Understanding the basics & challenges in parenting
19th October, 2020
Spicy tomato soup
15th October, 2020
Keeping it simple: Karine Gauthier’s tips on how you stick to your exercise plan
12th October, 2020
How to travel with kids – in peace
9th October, 2020
5 things you need to know about organic cotton
24th September, 2020
Super Easy Body Oil Recipe
21st September, 2020
How do you know if you are buying sustainable design?
18th September, 2020
The important basics of a healthy lifestyle
15th September, 2020
eat
Spicy tomato soup
15th October, 2020
The cheap alternative to superfoods!
10th September, 2020
Carrot Soup | Meatless Monday
7th September, 2020
What is Sustainable Skincare?
******* A discussion on sustainability in the beauty industry*******
Are you trying to be a more conscious beauty consumer? Have you been concerned about the excessive packaging of beauty and skincare products and the nasty chemicals that have been reported to be in these products we use daily and their effects on our health and the environment?
With the beauty industry worth billions of dollars annually, it’s no wonder it’s a significant contributor of environmental pollution and one of the many that creates undesirable impact on not just human health but also the marine wildlife.
Join The Green Collective SG partner brands “kakis” Wellness Within and Iryasa with moderator Mathilde from orgayana as we discuss what sustainable skincare is and buzz words “natural”, “organic”, “vegan”, “cruelty-free”, “eco-friendly” that has been trending in the industry.
Event schedule
7:00pm – Introduction of the panelists
7:05pm – Start of the panel discussion
7:30pm – Q&A
7:45pm – End of session
This talk is part of the #kampungchats organised by The Green Collective SG.
Speakers:
Iryasa
Sarada Raghavan is a cellular and molecular biologist with a PhD who used to work at A*STAR. Her time there was spent working on bio-routes to produce industrially relevant chemicals without the use of petroleum sources. This growing need for sustainability combined with her passion for health and nutrition, led to the creation of Iryasa. The brand ethos is not just producing safe and effective products for the skin and body but also safe for the soil. Iryasa firmly believes in sustainable ingredient sourcing, maintaining the biodiversity and giving back to their entire supply chain.
Wellness Within
Jasmine Chiam founded Wellness Within because of her years of personal experience battling with eczema and being misled by the greenwashing in beauty industry. Skincare products which had claimed to be free of harmful chemicals turned out to contain other toxins which had worsened her skin condition.
Wellness Within’s mission is to advocate affordable and effective natural and organic products that is strictly free of any chemical cocktails harmful to the human body and the environment. They value not just the wellness of their consumers but also that of the planet and the small makers they work with.
Moderator:
orgayana
Mathilde Moyell Juul is the founder and editor of orgayana, a digital platform information on health and sustainable living in Singapore. After moving to Singapore from Denmark, she started orgayana because of her passion to inspire the conscious and curious consumers in all aspects of green living and build a sustainable community here.
The Organiser:
The Green Collective SG is Singapore’s first collective of sustainable brands curated based on the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Housing more than 42 sustainable brands in its Green Kampung, the collective works with a vision to provide sustainable alternatives to everyday products to its community.
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16th July, 2020
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Super Easy Body Oil Recipe
21st September, 2020
Coconut oil:11 ways to use this ultimate travel companion
16th July, 2020
The Bare Minimum – Your 5 Green Skincare Essentials
15th June, 2020
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active
Keeping it simple: Karine Gauthier’s tips on how you stick to your exercise plan
12th October, 2020
Your Guide to FREE Online Exercise!
14th April, 2020
“I want to exercise – but have the kids” – How you can work out as a family!
26th March, 2020