Happy Friday {{first name | my friend}},

Today is World Donkey Day, and there’s a donkey that lives on a tiny farm a few blocks from our house. I’ve affectionately named him “Donk,” and we say hi every time we pass by! Here’s 10 facts you might not know about the (highly intelligent) donkey. 🐴

ECL TRIVIA: What is the term for a plant that lives for two years, usually growing leaves the first year and flowering the second? (Answer below)

🌎 FOREST CONSERVATION: Human, animal, and environmental well-being “intersect” in what’s referred to as “One Health.” This recent conservation study of native rodents in Madagascar shows that they thrive in “core” native forests, but get taken over by dominant, invasive species in fragmented, degraded landscapes. Read more from the founder of Mongabay on this fascinating study, and the perspective of “One Health.”

🍓 VERTICAL STRAWBERRIES: What if that nearby vacant office building grew your lunch? The “working at home” lifestyle means now empty offices can become indoor farming locations, like THIS farm in Virginia: transforming unused space into 4M lbs of premium strawberries, resulting in lower emissions, and a smarter way to live and work.

🦸‍♂️ ENVIRONMENTAL HEROES: If you’re in need of environmental inspiration, these 25 international scientists were just named “champions” of addressing ecosystem, food, and water challenges. Categories of their expertise range from “measuring and mitigating emissions” to “restoring and building resilience into our ecosystems.” Read all about the PLANET LEADERS here.

🧘‍♀️ SELF-COMPASSION MEDITATION: This new study examined the association between “Loving-Kindness Compassion Meditation (LKCM) practice and anxiety levels in 60 experienced meditators.” More frequent LKCM, not years of practice, is associated with lower anxiety. Learn the 7 main benefits & read some sample LKCM scripts HERE.

🤖 WORLD’S SMALLEST ROBOTS: This isn’t sci-fi: These new light-powered nanorobots 50x smaller than the diameter of a human hair are able to “gather large clusters of bacteria and place them at specific locations,” scientists say, opening doors for microbiology, and how photon “recoil” can be used to power them. What pros and cons do you foresee with THIS KIND of technology? 👀

🌿 NATURE RESET: “In a world of concrete and screens, short doses of green space can reset your mind, lower stress and boost vitality,” a recent Medium article reported. Now, a new Brazilian study shows how just 8 forest bathing sessions “produced acute reductions in physiological and psychological stress markers, supporting its role as a nature-based, complementary public health strategy.” Read THE STUDY to learn more.

Ever walk into a room and forget why you’re there?

Or blank on someone’s name mid-conversation… even when you know you know it?

Those moments feel small. But they’re signals.

Not that your brain is “failing” – but that something deeper might be out of sync.

One of the most overlooked pieces is the connection between your gut and your brain. When that communication breaks down, it can show up as brain fog, forgetfulness, low mood, even early signs of cognitive decline.

The encouraging part is this isn’t a dead end.

There’s a growing body of research showing that when you support that gut–brain axis, the brain can begin to repair, regulate, and function more clearly again.

This isn’t about extreme diets or piling on supplements.

It’s about understanding what’s actually driving those symptoms and addressing it at the root.

Inside this research, you’ll learn:

If you’ve been brushing off those little signs, it might be worth a closer look.

Click here to explore what’s really going on beneath the surface

Biennial. Many familiar garden plants follow this pattern, including carrots and parsley if left to flower.