September 15, 2020
Dog mom Kristy shares 4 spiritual lessons we can learn from our canine friends and Summers dives into agricultural finance with soil health investment fund, rePlant Capital. Listen to The Optimist Daily Update with Summers & Kristy - Making Solutions the Read More...
Interest rates on these farm loans are tied to improved soil health
Soil degradation is a looming crisis for the future of our food systems. We have discussed solutions like crop diversification and natural fertilization methods, but when it comes to funding these solutions, things get a bit more complicated. How can we convince farmers to invest in regenerative Read More...
The case for converting some farmland to bee habitat
Although farmers know that bees are essential pollinators for many crops, they usually don’t dedicate parts of their valuable planting space to create a habitat just for bees. But according to new research, farmers should really consider sharing their land with these pollinating insects. In Read More...
Have a laugh with these hilarious wildlife photos
In these turbulent times, we could all use a good laugh. And that’s exactly what we have to offer today in the form of a hilarious gallery of wildlife photos. The light-hearted images of wildlife come from the finalists of this year’s Comedy Wildlife Photography awards. We weren’t aware of Read More...
MIT creates sensor to alert consumers of food spoilage
It may be easy to know when milk is rotten, but there are some spoiled foods that are indistinguishable from their fresh counterparts. This is especially true for foods contaminated by bacteria such as E. Coli and Salmonella. Only once you’re battling food poisoning will you know that they were Read More...
Canada reports no new deaths from Covid-19 over one-day span
Six months after most of North America went into lockdown, Canada has reported no new deaths from Covid-19 in a 24 hour period. According to the Public Health Agency of Canada, over 6 million people have been tested for the virus in Canada, with 2.1 percent of tests coming back positive. And Read More...
Study: 10-minute massages can boost the body’s stress-fighting system
A new study recently dove into the physiological details of how a massage can kickstart the body’s relaxations systems. What they found is that just a 10-minute massage can be all it takes to engage the body’s stress-fighting mechanisms and restore some peace of mind. Although the findings may Read More...
Optimist View: A how-to guide on surviving mental firestorms and thriving in the midst of chaos
BOOK REVIEW of Emotional Inflammation: Discover Your Triggers and Reclaim Your Equilibrium during Anxious Times by Lise Van Susteren, MD and Stacey Colino By Kristy Jansen Inflammation (n): a localized physical condition in which part of the body becomes reddened, swollen, hot, and often painful, Read More...
McDonald’s experiments with circularity with reusable drink cups
Transitioning to a circular economy means making changes across all industries. The food and beverage sector plays a big role in single-use plastics, but fortunately, more companies are getting on board with more eco-friendly, reusable options. The most recent announcement comes from McDonald’s Read More...
Overwhelmed by grief? Here’s how to get through tough emotions
If you have ever experienced loss in any shape or form, you might know how paralyzing the grief that comes with it can be. Sometimes you can keep grief in check and maintain some normality in your days; other times the grief can be overwhelming, making it a challenge to do anything. For those Read More...