I have just returned from a road trip where I have begun to become educated in the subject of Water in North America, particularly the West Coast beginning in BC, Washington, Oregan, California, Arizona and Nevada.  I realized how connected we all are in this conversation that begins with the basic needs of the plants, the animals, and the then us the people.  The way we have allowed water to be used and distributed has challenged many communities to experience very large water bills just for the basics.

For all you coffee drinkers I have good news! New research from Harvard University suggests coffee may have some long term beneficial health effects. In addition, research shows that coffee does not pose any negative effects on our health and therefore there is no proof that coffee consumption is unhealthy (1). In fact drinking up to six cups of coffee per day is acceptable and will not pose any health risks (1). Many people like to associate coffee as an “unhealthy” drink because of its main ingredient, caffeine.

I confess the first time I heard about the DivaCup from a co-worker, I was dubious and a little uncomfortable. I was curious about this feminine hygiene product I had never heard of, one that touted no leaks, longer wear time and lifespan at a lower cost. Still, I couldn’t wrap my head around the concept. I used tampons for many years and an internal hygiene device did not bother me, but the idea of menstrual fluid collected in a cup I would have to empty, wash, and reinsert was far from appealing.

Albert Einstein once predicted that if bees disappeared from the earth, humans would meet the same fate within four years. Just south of Calgary, the Honey Meadows Farm works tirelessly to make sure this doesn’t happen. Honey Meadows produces over 300 metric tonnes of honey per year, making it one of Western Canada’s largest apiaries. To do this they adhere to a strict schedule, as the honey season only lasts from March to September due to the long Albertan winters. Last week, beekeeper Jon Zwiers gave me a hands-on tour of the first stages of producing this sweet treat.