Check out these 15 examples of unusual pets kept around the world. Then next time you’re caught in the midst of some tedious debate between a cat lover and a dog lover about which is the better pet, you can just turn to them and say, “Actually, I’m more of a hippo person myself.”

Photo by Canvasoflight

I graduated university with a BA in English. No Honors, no Masters, just a bachelor’s degree. I was all prepped to take a teaching position in South Korea, when a local company offered me me a job as a technical writer. Hell, yeah.

I was damn proud of getting a job in my field. After battling the negativity that comes with doing an arts program (“What are you going to do with that, anyway? Teach?”), I now found telling people my profession a treat. Something to be proud about.

About a year later, I began realizing the job was not for me. I’d sit at my desk, open some technical guides or a binder of documentation, and I’d feel sick. They contained meaningless words, dull material and absolutely no creativity. I’d stay awake later in the evenings in an attempt to delay the arrival of morning.

I had developed such a rigid routine for myself, I could pinpoint the exact minute something would happen. My alarm went off at 8 a.m., by 8:04 I was digging through my closet. I’d appear at my desk at 9:06. At 5:11 I’d head to the gym, and I’d be on the treadmill by 5:25.

Then two weeks ago I was called into the boardroom where I was told they were letting me go. They were apologetic, while I sat there being surprised but not really surprised. I had wanted to leave forever, and here they were handing me my freedom. I collected my things while my boss accompanied me to my computer, giving me a moment to save any personal documents. I thought, “Screw this,” and left.

Now What?

Photo by imacootis

I took two days to mourn the loss of my job. I suddenly missed the tiny details of my day, the routine I had abhorred. The thought of my coworkers wiping my desk clean like I had never worked there made me cry. Regardless of how much I hated the job, it was an essential part of my life. I spent more time with my coworkers on a daily basis than I did with my own family and friends.

But the same morning I was laid off, my roommate Matt made me breakfast and we started to talk ideas. For the first time in my life since I started working 9-5 and freelancing in the evenings, I had time to spare.

Ultimately, my company did me a favor. I was terrified of quitting, and I felt guilty for hating my workload with the company who gave me a head start. I had formed strong bonds with my coworkers, and most contacted me with support when I left. I’m attending the lead writer’s wedding tomorrow. If I had quit abruptly, the story might have been different.

I took almost two weeks to enjoy some careless freedom, to wrap my head around everything. I went home for my town’s Come Home Year celebration: barbecues with relatives I hadn’t seen in years, beach parties with friends, hiking and fishing trips with Dad. Reconnecting with people outside the office made me realize I’d be okay.

Photo by author.

People keep telling me to beware the unemployment depression trap, sitting around in my underwear watching daytime soaps. I had a day where I sat around in a Disney princess inflatable pool drinking beer, but hey, some of us deal with things differently. It’s okay to mope, but not for long.

Get Moving

As soon as I knew I was unemployed, I’d let people know. I tweeted about it, and then I wrote a blog post. The support I received from the connections I’ve made over the past year (and from absolute strangers!) was absolutely overwhelming. Friends even started showing up at my door armed with coffee, cake, and hugs. Every single person who contacted me had the same words of comfort: “This is the best thing that could have happened to you. Now do what you want to do.”

I took care of the painful stuff, applying for repayment assistance with my student loans and filing for Employment Insurance. I realized my debt payments would have to be put on hold. Then I started exploring my options: reviewing job banks, career websites and talking to people about freelance work.

Photo by woozie2010

I decided I needed to establish a routine. Having time to sleep in was absolute bliss, but when one evening I set my alarm clock for the first time in over a week, and felt a little pang of surprise, I knew I had to start setting some rules. Staying out late and eating garlic fingers for breakfast is not cool for long, especially when you discover you’ve been wearing your pants inside out all morning.

Figuring out a new life plan is tricky, and the uncertainty can be terrifying. I still don’t necessarily know what I want, but it doesn’t involve sitting at a desk for 8 hours a day. It does involve travel, writing, and being my own boss.

I’m obviously no expert in the unemployment world, but I’m fortunate to have learned a really important lesson so early in the game: corporations offer amazing benefits, great experience and solid income, but there is no such thing as job security.

Keep that in mind when you’re more concerned about the welfare of your company than your own personal happiness.

Community Connection

What is the future of the workforce? Can we make money while fulfilling our dreams?

Photo by Piutus

It can be tough to stop smoking. As well as a positive and focused intent, many people need a little help from outside sources. Nicotine replacement therapy is popular, as are books such as Allen Carr’s Easy Way to Stop Smoking. But there are also lots of other natural methods you can use to ease your addiction. Here are a few of them.

Acupuncture

Acupuncture can help alleviate many symptoms of nicotine withdrawal, such as the jitters, restlessness and irritability. Needles are used to stimulate energy meridians in the body that lead to the heart and respiratory system, as well as to parts of the brain responsible for cravings.

You undergo an initial evaluation with a therapist to determine your unique smoking habits – when you smoke, how often you smoke, and what triggers your desire to smoke. The therapist will then put together a treatment plan for you, which may involve behavioral management training as well as the acupuncture itself.

Photo by ~ggvic~

Therapists normally recommend four to five treatments to get the full effect, and at $40 to $100 per session, acupuncture is one of the more costly natural methods. But they will also show you how to self-treat with acupressure for when cravings arise.

Herbal Medicines, Homeopathy and Flower Essences

Some herbal medicines have properties which can help alleviate physical and emotional distress. Many can be ingested as pills, in teas or in tinctures, and you can buy pre-packaged homeopathic kits which often use a combination of herbs and plants. These are some you could try:

Chamomile, lavender, skullcap, or kava – All combat stress and anxiety.

St John’s Wort – Helps battle chemical addiction by boosting dopamine and norepinephrine levels in your brain, both of which are produced when you smoke.

Lobelia – Potent muscle relaxant that binds to nicotine receptors in your brain, tricking your body into thinking you’ve smoked. Caution: highly toxic if taken at the wrong dose, so make sure you know what you are doing.

Bach Flower Essences – It’s controversial as to whether they really work, but some practitioners claim they help treat psychological and emotional issues. Honeysuckle and Star of Bethlehem are said to be good for smokers trying to kick the habit.

Photo by Smoob

Aromatherapy – combine essential oils such as chamomile, lavender and sandalwood in a carrier oil like jojoba to make an anti-stress massage oil.

Or carry a bottle of lavender oil around with you and take a sniff to reduce the anxiety brought on by nicotine withdrawal. (Note that most essential oils should not be sniffed directly.)

Remember to research each plant you are thinking of using, and follow all directions on the labels. If taken improperly, herbal medicines can be dangerous.

Hypnotherapy

The mental health community claims hypnotherapy can be a powerful way to release negative thought patterns, get to the bottom of emotional triggers, and explore repressed areas of our consciousness.

Hypnotherapy works through a combination of guided meditation, visualization, relaxing music and deep breathing, which lull you into a trance state. Once there, the therapist will make suggestions and affirmations that deeply resonate in your subconscious.

In the case of smoking, the therapist will remind you of all the benefits of quitting (rather than what you’ll be missing out on), such as asking you to envision how much more freely you will breathe without cigarettes. This helps you associate that positive feeling with quitting smoking.

Creative Visualization

Practice a version of self-hypnosis by inducing a relaxed state on your own. Use a combination of whichever relaxation techniques work best for you. Then try to visualize yourself as a non-smoker in any situation you choose.

Photo by creativedc

Use your intuition, and don’t think of it as a hypothetical situation. Hypnosis works by taking you to that state now, not at some future date. Try to imagine the colors, smells, emotions and other sensations you will experience as a non-smoker. Use positive affirmations and keep them in a journal.

Detoxifying

Flushing the nicotine out of your system can help ease your physical addiction. Buy detoxifying roots, plants and herbs – like dandelion root, mullein, and rosemary – at your local natural foods store. Also stock up on Vitamins C and B-Complex, and drink plenty of water.

You can complement this with activities such as yoga and pranayama (breathwork). Visualize a white ball of light filling your body as you breathe in, then breathe out and visualize everything negative and toxic – in whatever form it arises – leaving your body.

The Quit Smoking Combo

Rather than relying on just one of the above techniques, try combining two or more of them to give you more chance of success. Homeopathy, acupuncture or creative visualization alone may not do the trick, but a combination of all three together could work provided you are in the right frame of mind.

Good luck!

Community Connection

Have you tried to quit smoking (or any addiction) by natural methods? Were you successful? Share your stories in the comments below!

During a sunset in the dunes between Dubai and Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, the mind traverses the landscape of the soul. Photo by Michael Liberati.

At the Bay of Fundy in Maine, seventeen-meter tides uncover clay riverbeds twice a day, where those caught in the mix transform from careful and clean to completely carefree. Photo by Harold Godsoe.

A top-down view of Macchu Picchu, Peru. Photo by Gayle Lazoration.

Nothing says “I’ve reached the top!” like a well-blown stream of bubbles at the summit. Photo by Tyson Schutz.

“Hey Dad, if this is New Zealand, where’s Old Zealand? Are we there yet?”. Photo by Katrina Greitschus.

As we emerge from childhood, it is not darkness, but the light of discovery, which greets us . Photo by Jerry Maxedon.

A sunrise hot air balloon ride in Macedonia: a perfect hybrid of old and new. Photo by David Quirk.

“So what if my scalp has been burnt to a crisp? I’m living life to its fullest degree.” Photo by Chris Lynn.

Sixteen intrepid travelers, each on the same path, yet with such vastly different journeys. Photo by Deborah Gordon.

Providing and obtaining healthy food in a sustainable manner on a small farm in Costa Rica. The farm provides fresh, inexpensive, completely organic fruits and vegetables for local residents. Photo by Katy DeSantis.

It’s difficult to not feel mighty after standing on the roof of Yosemite. Photo by Rachael Taft.

On the top of Lion’s Head in South Africa. No description needed. Photo by Heather Thorkelson.

While this may be one of her first moments of reflection, it’s certainly not her last. Photo by Alicia Masemom.

“Hiking with the two dogs in central Florida.” Photo by Eva Matthews.

Amidst the landscape of the Indian Himalayas, one feels both massive and minuscule in the same moment. Photo by Adam Seper.

Though it’s not as apparent, the cow is actually making the same expression as the girl. Photo by Kaya Howe.

New Zealand: the only place in the world fit for sunbathing on ice. Photo by Manfred Greitschus.

In Mt. Cook National Park, a father and his daughter share an icy dip of relaxation. Photo by Katrina Greitschus.

It seems that when we find that we have nowhere to go, we always return to nature and its trees, and though the base of the trunk may be the strongest part, our eyes never stray from a longing to reach the top. Photo by Elena Bargo.

All for one and one for all in Costa Rica. Photo by John Suhar.

After 46 mountain hikes, there’s not much left to do but laugh with your twin sister. Photo by Sarah Ohanesian.

It’s fascinating how we can wear such an expression of looking for something in places where we have come to because we know we will find nothing. Photo by Kyle Warden.

This jumper knows not to waste a single sunset. Photo by Mike Hedge.

We send a big thanks to all those who submitted their photographs, and to KEEN Footwear for sponsoring a great competition. Keep living, searching, creating, and dreaming!

COMMUNITY CONNECTION

How do you balance what’s important in your life?

Photo by Linda N.

My first encounter with urban farming was in Philadelphia, smack in the middle of downtown. Between cheesesteak joints and T-shirt stores lay a gorgeous green lot, tended by a happy mix of young and old people. Children were gleeful with fat watering cans in their arms. A man carried a handful of carrots fresh from the earth, the skinny kind with green stalks still on them. The kind I had only ever seen on TV, held by Bugs Bunny. Everyone had a job, and everyone was happy.

The scene was so gosh darn wholesome, I wondered if there was a director and TV crew staked out in the toolshed.

But no, it was the real deal; one more green patch in the ever-growing urban agriculture trend. Urban farming has gained popularity in North America in recent years, as we learn more about the emissions impact of our imported produce.

The trend is taking on some pretty creative forms. The green living site Earth Eats has published a list of six urban agriculture success stories in the United States. This list includes a converted freeway on-ramp in San Francisco and a communal backyard in Seattle, where property owners get a share of the harvest in exchange for use of their land.

My hands-down favourite project is in Cleveland, where an old shopping mall in the city’s downtown core has been converted into an eco-village. The space will include farms, community education programs, and green retailers (think vegan cafes).

I think it’s a brilliant way of re-using old commercial space. In a big city, who would really miss one less mall?

Photo by Gabriel Kamener

I admit, I’ve never farmed much beyond a few berry-picking afternoons. I’m a born-and-bred city girl, and thought that farming anything beyond a basil plant in the windowbox was best left to, well, farmers. But these urban agricultural projects are a chance for us city folk to bridge that divide.

It’s a great way to better understand the field-to-table journey of my daily fruit and veggies. How satisfying would it be to eat a salad from your own farm? To bite into a tomato that you grew yourself? How much fun would it be, I wonder, to get my hands dirty with that pastoral community garden that I watched with envy in Philadelphia?

That’s the appeal of urban farming for me. Not just the food you can eat, but the communities that build around a shared interest in a greener, healthier city.

COMMUNITY CONNECTION

Have you ever participated in Urban Agriculture? Or have you ever encountered such a project in your town? Share your stories in the comments below.

For more inspiration, check out our articles Chicken Coops in Your Backyard and Urban Homesteading: Turn Your City Home Into Country Living.

Photo by skyseeker

I’ve often wondered if we could tell our pre-child selves exactly what becoming a parent would mean — the sacrifices, the inhuman patience, the changes, the lack of sleep, the disappearance of late weekend brunches, the leash that binds you to your kids — how many of us would decide against procreation?

It’s not easy being a parent, but given the opportunity, would we want to return to pre-child life? I certainly wouldn’t. No, it’s not our children that make us unhappy. I’d argue that our children allow us to see the world more joyfully and with fewer pretenses. No, the source of our lugubriousness lies elsewhere.

Parenting By Committee Sucks

Apparently, there are rules for parenting that baby books fail to mention:

You don’t take your child out for dinner past 8pm. Your child shouldn’t jump, shout, laugh or make any noise unless in a place specifically designated for children. Travel with children is impossible. Homeschooling is whacky, and at no time should your child ever touch another adult’s stuff.

Take for instance a recent discussion I had on You Be Mom, the counterpart parent group to the Urban Baby Jennifer Senior mentions in her article. One mom vented about another woman, a stranger, yelling at her to “keep her children in line” because her three-year-old son touched this woman’s handbag.

“She’s right. Your child shouldn’t be touching other people’s stuff,” the majority of other mothers scolded.

I chime in my two cents that kid are kids; they run around. An adult should be mature enough to understand that.

Photo by sektordua

“You must be raising some really entitled brats,” I was told.

It’s what I call parenting by committee. We imagine everything that could potentially happen based on the needs of all the others on the committee, and then create rules based on those possibilities. Individual child and circumstance don’t matter.

Imagine, though, if the adult simply turns to the child and kindly but firmly requests “Please, don’t touch my bag.” It would have more effect on Lila than hearing my repeated orders of “Don’t touch strangers’ bags.” She’d also remember this lesson the next time she thought to rifle through another person’s belongings.

The Myth of Perfection

When Noah and I fight, the pitch rises and at some point he accuses me, “You think you’re perfect.”

But it’s not that I believe myself to be perfect, it’s that ideally I want everything to be perfect. Clean house, happy kid, work done, dog well trained, healthy meals, lots of free time and nothing out of order.

It would be nice. It’s never going to happen.

The sooner we embrace our imperfections and revel in the things that do go well, the more content we will be.

We’ve Lost the Ability to See the World As Children

“Did you see Babies?” asks Lois Nachamie, a couples counselor who for years has run parenting workshops and support groups on the Upper West Side. She’s referring to the recent documentary that compares the lives of four newborns—one in Japan, one in Namibia, one in Mongolia, and one in the United States (San Francisco).

“I don’t mean to idealize the lives of the Namibian women,” she says. “But it was hard not to notice how calm they were. They were beading their children’s ankles and decorating them with sienna, clearly enjoying just sitting and playing with them, and we’re here often thinking of all of this stuff as labor.”

This sounds suspiciously like existing in the moment.

Children handle the overwhelming influx of information differently. They ask a lot of questions, ignore some of it, fixate on other parts. They rarely worry about the future or past. That’s what allows Lila one minute to tell her friend Rosie she hates her and the next minute they’re best friends again.

Photo by slightlywinded

It’s one of the best things about being a parent, really, to have this little person forcing you over and over to be with them right then and there. Play with me.
Draw with me. What is that? Why is the flag so stretchy? What is the dog eating?

We Do Not Trust Ourselves

Last week, a boy at school told Lila that she’s not as pretty as Desiree. She was crushed.

“Are you friends with him?”
“No.”
“Do you think what he says is true?”
“No.”
“Then why does it matter what he says?”
Problem solved.

Generally, the things that bother us most are the things which we ourselves already believe to be true, and are based squarely in our own already well-cultivated insecurities.

Tell me my child is an entitled brat? I’ll shrug my shoulders. Call me a blue jumping lily leaping frog, and I’ll think you’re crazy. I know none of these to be true.

Suggest to me that I spend too much time working and not enough time with Lila. That hits home.

I am a much happier person today than I was before Lila was born. I am more content and less anxious about every area of my life. Again, this has nothing to do with Lila and everything to do with myself and the way I see the world.

If I’m more worried about the contents of a stranger’s bag than myself and my child, I rely on that stranger’s approbation before I feel right in myself. If I care what another says about my house, clothes, weight, my child’s development or any other number of things, I place the onus of my happiness in their hands.

Even if a stranger manages to touch on an insecurity hot spot, we still have the ability to recognize the insecurity, address it and change it.

Why hand over that power?

We Give Up Our Own Responsibility

Just yesterday, Lila had a huge fight with Rosie, because she wanted to be the cat and Rosie was supposed to be the horse. Rosie doesn’t want to be a horse. Rosie hits Lila. This escalates into crying, and even when Rosie apologizes, Lila does not want to accept. “She doesn’t even mean it!” she screams, tears running down her face.

Photo by bobby-james

Lila’s feelings are hurt. She’s angry. She feels rejected, because her friend doesn’t want to give her what she wants. There is little Rosie can do to ease Lila’s pain. Now Lila must decide for herself to move past her emotions.

While this may seem a childish exchange, the pieces are merely variables. Lila’s experience working through interpersonal relationships mirrors the adult experience.

You decide for yourself. When is it so much more important to be the kitty instead of the horse that you’ll trade your own contentment?

The Parental Conundrum of Self Development

Having a child forces us to be more aware, more in the moment and less selfish, all things that make room for tremendous self growth. But having children also robs us of the time and energy we need in order to make the changes we’d like to improve our lives and outlook, so we find ourselves constantly off balance. Then, we worry it’s not OK to be off balance, because we’re disappointing others. In the meantime, we’re not nourishing ourselves.

So there we are, standing on one foot, juggling horses in one hand and kitties in the other, all the while wishing we could be doing it better, with more style; that we could be happier doing it. At what point do we stop, pat ourselves on the back and say, “Hey, look at me! It may not be pretty, but at least I’m doing it.”

While it is often difficult to accept that perhaps we are the cause of our own misery, isn’t it good to know that the power to turn it around lies firmly in our own hands?

Community Connection

What life lessons have you learned from parenting? Share your thoughts in the comments.

The author and her beau, overlooking the view of the mountains.

Our yellow jeep wound along a perilous stretch of road alongside a cliff in Maui. I’d insisted on taking us to see a series of natural pools that lead to the ocean. My boyfriend thought this idea was ridiculous. Already, we couldn’t find the opening to the trail, and our friends were expecting us back in time for dinner. We started arguing.

Suddenly, he pulled over by slamming the brakes. I found myself looking directly in his eyes.

“What are we doing here?” he asked. He wasn’t talking about our plans for the day.

The Way We Were

For a long time, I didn’t know what to call my relationship. My boyfriend visited me in Miami. I spent the summer with him in New York. We met in the Dominican Republic, then later in Maui.

It wasn’t always this crazy.

We occupied the same world for some time, graduated college together, built a life together in New York. Our days filled happily with summer concerts, new restaurant openings, and lazy afternoons drinking wine on the fire escape.

But while he thrived in his creative work atmosphere, my life felt more and more like an endless droning desire for 5 PM Friday. As I found more freelance writing work, I dreamed of quitting my job altogether.

When I finally found the courage to make my break, I decided it made more sense for me to base my life in Miami for at least six months a year. My boyfriend was shocked. His business grounded him in New York for the most part, and he was happy with his life. I tried to assure him — as well as myself — with possible plans. I would come stay with him every few months; we could meet up in different places all over the world. It could work.

The author in Paris.

He knew I hadn’t been happy and in the end supported my decision. I was excited about the possibility of a relationship that could span different continents but also provide the reassurance of everyday routine. We agreed that we loved each other and wanted to make it work.

Our Lives Now

In some ways, our relationship re-energized. There’s new found anticipation each time we see each other. The constant shifting of location keeps life from ever getting stale.

But sometimes there are signs, invisibly chipping away at my confidence in the relationship, whispering ever more loudly that more and more often we occupy separate realms. I no longer recognize every little detail of his apartment, don’t know every aspect of his life. Nor does he know mine.

And yet, I relish my independence. I see my empty calendar and imagine the possibilities, but I still have that anchor drawing me back to him. I miss him, deeply, but my life is full of unique experiences and excitement.

His Side of Things

It has been a different experience for him. He’s had to readjust to his same reality only without me in it. He traces the same people, same places, same city only without me.

Then I reappear and everything is like before, until I leave again and he’s forced back to finding our city without me again.

The author in New York.

I didn’t realize until that rainy day in Maui just how the things that bring us happiness no longer had the same source.

He tells me he doesn’t want to lose me, but he doesn’t want to have me half way either. Neither of us has an answer, and so we keep things going the way they are. But we know we cannot continue like this indefinitely.

What Are We Doing?

This week, boarding a plane to New York is bittersweet like never before. He’s moving to California to work with a client. I’m considering Costa Rica for a few months. Things are getting more complicated. The middle ground moves farther away for both of us.

Neither of us believes in long distance relationships. Neither wants to change life course for the other. It seems our question has an easy answer now. Easy, except we love each other and want to be together.

What do you do when everything in a relationship fits except the worlds you are occupying?

COMMUNITY CONNECTION

Have an answer for Gabriela? Want to weigh in? We’re interested in hearing your thoughts!

Photo by empracht.

Farmers’ markets today can present quite a challenge to conscientious shoppers. There are so many different labels used to describe produce and meat – local, sustainable, free range, cage-free and so on – that the process of shopping can become rather daunting.

This no-nonsense food label dictionary will help you work out what it is you’re really buying.

Cage-free

This is an unregulated claim. It generally means the hens who laid the eggs were allowed to live outside of cages, as opposed to conventionally raised chickens that are stuffed into high-density cages (and probably fed animal protein).

Cage-free birds don’t necessarily have access to the outdoors, though. It’s best to ask the farmer how he or she raised the birds.

Certified organic

A farm must be chemical-free for three years, meaning no synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, or chemical herbicides can be used. Organic meat, eggs, and dairy products must come from livestock that have not received antibiotics or growth hormones, and were given only organic feed.

Photo by anemoneprojectors.

The farm has to pay for the organic label. Most certifications in the US are handed out by the USDA, and any other certifying bodies must be approved by them.

Farm-raised

Fish or other seafood deliberately grown, rather than caught wild. Many environmentalists object to farm-raised seafood because the farms often have the same environmental impacts as other industrial farms. They may use antibiotics or other chemicals, and can cause water pollution.

It’s generally better to buy seafood that has been caught wild and comes from a well-managed source that isn’t over-fished.

Free range

This can apply to meat, dairy, or eggs. The USDA only regulates this claim for chickens and eggs, and it means the birds were allowed access to the outdoors. Whether they were actually outside, or for how long, is not regulated. When in doubt, ask the farmer how things are done. Free range livestock generally roam freely outdoors.

Grass-fed

Grass-fed cattle eat what cattle have evolved to eat: grass. They are allowed to graze naturally, and the meat can be up to six times higher in healthy omega-3 fatty acids than conventionally raised beef.

Grain-fed or conventionally raised cattle are forced to eat corn, and probably animal waste products too. Because cattle haven’t evolved to eat this way, they are plied with antibiotics to keep them from getting sick. These antibiotics end up in the manure, are transferred to water sources and can then enter the entire food chain.

Grass-finished

Can mean one of two things: that the cattle were fed grass their entire lives, or that they were fed grain until they approached slaughter, at which point they were switched to grass. To find out which it is, you’ll need to ask the farmer.

Photo by Ed Yourdon.

Heirloom

These plants have never been hybridized (bred for specific qualities) by humans, a process that reduces biodiversity and results in fewer varieties of produce on the market. Heirloom plants are often considered to be varieties grown during earlier periods of human history. They are sometimes bizarre colors and shapes, like purple cauliflower or blue potatoes.

Heritage

This is the animal version of heirloom. Heritage breeds have been pushed out of the food chain in favor of the few livestock breeds that do well in industrial agriculture. Heritage breeds are often centuries old. Farming them helps promote biodiversity, and their meat can be healthier and more flavorsome.

Local

Usually defined as food grown within a one hundred mile radius. Advantages of buying local are that the food is fresh, its environmental impact is less, and you are most likely supporting a small farm and making an investment in the community you live in.

Natural or All natural

These labels are unregulated and have no agreed-upon meaning! Be sure to ask or do some research to find out more.

Organically grown

Some small farmers can’t afford to pay for the organic label, but they subscribe to the same – or stricter – organic practices and so use this term instead.

Photo by Chris Runoff.

Pastured

Pastured livestock and poultry are raised outside in fields and allowed to eat a natural diet. Meat, dairy, and eggs from pastured animals generally have higher levels of nutrients.

Sustainable

Some farmers have opted out of the certified organic label, recognizing that it is increasingly meaningless as big farms figure out ways to meet the bare minimum for certification.

They’ve chosen instead to practice what was really at the heart of the organic movement when it first started: farming practices that minimize impact, forgo the use of chemicals, and embrace a more holistic approach to growing food that recognizes biodiversity and animal ethics. For specifics, ask the farmer.

Transitional organic

A farm currently practicing organic farming that hasn’t reached the three year mark needed to become certified.

The most important piece of advice

Whenever you are in doubt about what a label means or exactly how some food was produced, just ask the farmer. That’s the beauty of a farmers’ market: you should be able to get reliable information right from the source.

To find a farmers’ market near you, visit Local Harvest.

For more information on these topics, check out The Omnivore’s Dilemma by Michael Pollan, and To Buy or Not to Buy Organic by Cindy Burke.

COMMUNITY CONNECTION

Any other food labels you are still confused about? Ask Megan in the comments below.

If you enjoyed this article, you might also like Going Organic: 6 Reasons Why You Should (Or Shouldn’t) and A Matador Guide to Joining Your Local CSA.