Ecotourism with Value upon the Ocean’s Floor

Moray Eel (photo: Ian MacKenzie) We all want to visit beautiful places, but it is easy to overlook just how many other people do as well. Giving our money to businesses and organizations that account for the impacts of our visits when offering us their services is not only a good way to help mitigate our impact, it supports those who are working to ensure that the experience is one that endures into the future. Due to the fact that so many of us flock... Read More

Kona’s Organic Coffee at its Finest

The Kona Coffee Bean If you are anything like me, most mornings can be neatly split into two categories: before, and after, coffee. College put me on this path and graduate school cemented its course: I am an AM caffeine junkie (aside: if I drink it after noon, I am up all night). I’ll admit that it is not the most sustainable habit – coffee requires a significant amount of energy to produce and ship, and of course there are significant water,... Read More

Nicaragua’s Land, Trees, and People

Under a midday sun, I guided my horse up a steep, dusty slope, eventually emerging at the top of a ridge overlooking a brown valley, roads crisscrossing the landscape. Though it was the dry season on Nicaragua’s Pacific coast, this area seemed more void of life than normal. Above, a large hawk circled, riding thermals up and down the ridgelines, searching for small prey before settling in a large tree, one of the few still standing. We should have... Read More