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

October’s here, and for us in the Northern Hemisphere, that means embracing cozier comforts as the season changes. Click here for an October Mindfulness calendar to inspire a “slow-down” season in your home. 🍁

ECL TRIVIA: What are the smoke-derived compounds that can trigger seed germination after wildfires? (Answer below)

♻️ COASTAL CLEANUP: Did you know litter in America is down 34% overall since 2020? Over 4k people in San Diego, CA volunteered last week to clean up the coast, collecting 103k lbs of litter and debris. And, learn more about the “trash pick-up kayaks” provided to volunteers HERE.

🐸 BIG LEAP FORWARD: Scientists are seeing success with the release and reintroduction of this beautiful endangered frog in Southern California, high up in the San Gabriel Mountains. Learn about the global fungus affecting them, how these frogs promise “hope,” and how “they add a layer of interconnectedness to an ecosystem that not a lot of animals do because they have two separate life stages.”

🌊 ALASKAN TSUNAMI: Last year, a massive landslide in an Alaskan fjord triggered the second largest tsunami ever recorded (water and debris rose 1.5k feet!) but luckily, no one was present or harmed. Now, scientists are describing how this happened and what it looked like, alert systems that could help in the future, and how to build public awareness for less remote areas.

🍭 ULTRA-PROCESSED: What does eating more ultra-processed food mean for your health? A huge multi-decade analysis of 8.8M adults across 50+ studies revealed that higher consumption of UPF was linked to greater risks of heart disease, cancer, diabetes, digestive problems, depression, and early death. Click HERE to learn risks of 100 excess grams consumed per day.

🥡 QUIET POISON: We’re so careful about the food we consume, but what about the plastic we ingest and touch daily? “92.8% of assessed plastic chemicals present a high risk to human health,” Environmental Justice Foundation warns. Click HERE to watch their 5 minute film about the types of plastic we want to reduce exposure to, and their call to governments globally for a plastics treaty.

🧠 7 MIN MEDITATION: Do you have less than 10 minutes to make a mental change? This initial study of 1.3k+ people found that a “7-minute digital meditation session was associated with immediate changes.”

How healthy is your home? The cookware, detergent, lighting, and products we use every day deserve a closer look.

I created the 14-Day Healthy Home Reset to help you work through those choices with more confidence. Through short video lessons and practical daily actions, we’ll walk through your home, sharing what to look for and where simple changes can make a difference.

You can start with what you have and upgrade as things need replacing.

The course is included in our Earth Conscious Life community, where you can ask questions and share your progress.

Join us and start your reset.

What are the smoke-derived compounds that can trigger seed germination after wildfires?

Answer: Karrikins. They signal that competition is reduced and nutrients may be available in freshly cleared soil.

To a healing future,

— Rob