Style & Home

For someone who claims immunity from technology dependency, my mobile phone’s trip through the wash was a real reality check. Hoping to revive it, I tried the bury-your-phone-in-rice thing, which worked for roughly two seconds before the truth set in: My phone was really dead. Since then, I’ve learned there isn’t much hope of resuscitating a completely drowned mobile phone, but there are all sorts of sleeves, bags, cases, and covers to protect our precious gadgets from the occasional tumble or spill. These five accoutrements offer protection with an eco-friendly edge.

A round-up of stories VT editors dug this week: According to the EPA, Americans generated 31 million tons of plastic waste in 2010, so it's a little uplifting that the town of Concord, Mass., just banned single-serving plastic water bottles. Small steps! [Huffington Post]

Check out Vegetarian Times Editors's author page.

Check out Vegetarian Times Editors's author page.

A round-up of stories VT editors dug this week: Newark mayor (and longtime vegetarian) Cory Booker survives a week of living on food stamps, but not without a few challenges—like burning a sweet potato and craving cookies. [International Business Times]

Check out Vegetarian Times Editors's author page.

A round-up of stories VT editors dug this week: A few dedicated "fruit hunters" travel the world saving rare avocado breeds threatened by deforestation and climate change. (We're especially curious about the tasty-sounding Pura Vida variety, which can grow up to 3 feet long.) [Slate]

Learning how to make a batch of nutrient-dense kale chips is the perfect way to get your greens on. What could be more satisfying than digging in to a big bowl of crunchy chips that you can enjoy guilt free, knowing each bite delivers a powerful dose of nutrients?

The rain really isn’t so bad—for a day. Especially if that day falls on a weekend, when it gives me an excuse to bake chocolate-chip cookies, sip endless mugs of steaming tea, and cuddle up with my dog and a good book. After 24 hours of the stuff, I begin checking the online weather channel compulsively and dreaming of a dry bicycle commute. When venturing outdoors becomes an inevitable necessity, I reach for my trusty trench coat, wind-proof umbrella, and Wellies--the ultimate wet-weather trifecta. When you’re ready for a stylish upgrade that’s rain-ready and eco-friendly, too, look to these pretty pieces to keep you dry and looking divine. 



My summer herb garden is winding down and it’s time to clean out the planters so the soil will be ready for next year. I had a good crop of sage, but I’ve never been able to winter over the plants, so it was time to pull it out and put it to use.

Check out Vegetarian Times Editors's author page.

At the first nippy stirrings of autumn, my body seems to sense that even colder winter days loom ahead, so I take that as my cue to unpack last season’s toasty garments from their warm-weather hibernation. The tags on most of my frost-ready outerwear read Polyester, Viscose, or Polyurethane, which are warm-and-snuggly synthetic alternatives to down (bad for birds), wool (ba-aa-aa-d for sheep!), and leather (bad for cows). This doesn’t mean hitting the streets looking like an Arctic explorer; today’s high-tech fibers are stitched into fashion-forward designs that look as good in the forest at they do on Fifth Avenue.