To celebrate World Oceans Day, we’ve created an ocean-themed cocktail. This Ocean Breeze Cocktail is light, refreshing and slightly salty like an ocean breeze. Oceans have a huge impact on us and the planet, so we want to honour them in the best way we know how, with a beverage, of course! This recipe is made with Healthy Hooch Turmeric Sunshine Kombucha. Check out the full recipe below then keep on reading for 10 ways to help save the oceans.

Oceans are intertwined in every aspect of our lives. We seek them for vacations, adventures or choose to live near them so we can marvel at their vast beauty. Oceans enrich our lives, but they contribute so much more than we can see. We depend on them for the air we breathe, climate regulation, transportation, food and the economy.

The oceans we love and rely on are being threatened due to global warming because of human impact. We often assume that because the world is covered with oceans, there is an abundance of them, but that isn’t the case. They are not immune to the actions of humans. That is why today is dedicated to World Oceans Day. The purpose of World Oceans Day is to educate and inform us on how we can sustainably take care of our oceans. They are Earth’s life support system and ours, after all.

Optional:

Add a touch of natural blue food colouring to the second layer. We used homemade red cabbage food colouring. Note, it does turn purple when it hits the second layer.

Instructions

1. Blend 2 oz of Healthy Hooch Turmeric Sunshine Kombucha with ice, 1 oz lime juice, 1 ½ oz tequila, 1 oz orange juice, a pinch of salt and 1 Tbsp agave.
2. Layer into a martini glass about ½ full.
3. Blend the blueberries, ½ ounce triple sec, ice and 3 oz Healthy Hooch Turmeric Sunshine Kombucha. You can optionally add some natural blue food colouring if you would like it to turn out blue. (it will be purple if not).
4. Fill the glass the rest of the way and garnish it with an orange slice.
5. Enjoy!

10 Ways to Help Save the Oceans

1. Reduce Plastic Use

You may have heard of the great pacific garbage patch. It refers to an accumulation of marine debris, mostly made up of plastic, that sits in the North Pacific Ocean. No one knows exactly how much trash makes up the patch, but expeditions found that it covers 1.6 million square kilometres, and there is an estimated 80,000 metric tons of waste. To put that in perspective, it would take 67 ships one year to clean up less than 1% of trash in the pacific ocean.

The problem with plastic is it doesn’t biodegrade. Instead, it breaks down into smaller pieces or microplastics, which wreak havoc on the oceans, harming marine life. That is why it is vital to stop plastic from entering the ocean in the first place.

80% of plastic in the oceans comes from land sources. Human actions like throwing plastic in the bin when it could be recycled, littering or disposing of plastics down the drain are why plastic ends up in the oceans. The first step to ensure plastic stays out of the oceans is to reduce our plastic use. Small changes like bringing a reusable bag when grocery shopping, avoiding single-use plastics like straws and water bottles and purchasing bulk items are a great place to start.

2. Reduce Carbon Footprint

Greenhouse gases and global warming are making our oceans more acidic. What this means is that the PH of the ocean is dropping. If the Ph gets too low, it will begin to dissolve shells and skeletons, affecting coral and shellfish, which are part of the much more extensive food chain we depend on.

Some ways to reduce your carbon footprint include driving less, flying less, eating less meat, wasting less, conserving energy in your home or office, recycling, shopping sustainably and eating organic.

3. Shop Sustainably

Avoid purchasing products that harm the oceans and marine life. Many commercial products harm endangered or threatened species because of ingredients they contain or harmful business practices on the companies part. Support brands that have ethical business practices. Before making a purchase, ensure they are doing their part to minimize waste, pollution, and environmental impact.

4. Choose Sustainable Seafood

Overfishing is one of the most significant issues affecting our oceans. Choosing sustainable seafood helps ensure the species has a long-term future and helps keep the oceans healthy. Some brands have the bluefish sustainable seafood label, or you can check out the Ocean Wise sustainable seafood recommendations.

5. Be Respectful

When you visit the beach or explore the ocean, leave no trace. Take all of your belongings with you, and don’t take anything that belongs there. Removing shells from the beach can damage ecosystems and organisms that rely on them for survival. Be especially careful when visiting reefs. Coral is fragile, and touching, standing on or kicking it can cause damage or even kill them.

6. Join an Ocean Clean Up

Volunteer to join your local ocean clean-up efforts or help clean up the beaches while you’re on vacation. If you don’t live close to the ocean, cleaning up rivers, lakes, channels, and ditches also helps. Trash can make its way into the ocean from other water sources.

7. Travel Responsibly

Never touch or ride wildlife. Many marine species, like manta rays, have a protective layer on their skin, and when it is touched by a human hand, it can cause contamination. This then leads to infection and can cause death. Be sure to book with reputable companies that have the oceans and marine animal’s welfare in mind.

8. Use Reef-safe Sunscreen

Sunscreen contains the chemical oxybenzone, which is what helps protect skin from UV damage. The problem is that it has the opposite effect on coral. It has a bleaching effect on the coral and disrupts its growth cycle. When you enter the water with sunscreen on, those chemicals are left behind. Instead, opt for reef-safe sunscreens that are made with natural UV protectants.

9. Educate Yourself and Others

Continue to educate yourself on issues affecting the oceans. Then take what you learn and tell others. If everyone makes small changes every day, it has a huge impact.

10. Explore the Oceans

Explore the oceans and all of the beauty they have to offer. It will make you feel more connected and better understand why we truly can’t live without them.

If we could spend all of our day outside in nature, we would. When we have free time that’s where we spend it, and it’s so important that it’s preserved. We want future generations to see and appreciate its beauty, and we want wildlife to thrive in healthy habitats for years to come. We’re very fortunate to live in a place with so much wilderness. British Columbia is home to vast mountain ranges, lush rainforests, dry grasslands and endless coastlines. It is rich in diversity and home to many unique ecosystems thanks to its moderate, often rainy, climate and distinct vegetation. We love this province we get to call home, and we want to help protect it so that we can all continue to enjoy its wonders.

This spring Healthy Hooch Kombucha is releasing a new seasonal flavour, Passion Fruit! 5% of total proceeds will be donated to The Nature Trust of British Columbia to help conserve the landscapes we cherish. Keep reading to find out more about this incredible organization and the work they do.

About The Nature Trust of British Columbia

The Nature Trust of British Columbia is British Columbia’s leading non-profit land conservation organization. The organization is dedicated to protecting BC’s unique and diverse ecosystems. Beginning in 1971, they now protect and manage more than 500 properties throughout British Columbia.

The Nature Trust of British Columbia acquires land through direct purchase, donations, conservation covenants and by land lease or license. It’s then restored and maintained to protect habitats rich in biodiversity that are at risk of being lost. By preserving these vulnerable habitats they’re also saving a whole host of plant and animal species that are in danger because of low or declining populations.

Why is Land Conservation Important?

Land conservation is when the land is kept in its natural state or restored back to its original form. This is important because it protects the biodiversity within an area. Biodiversity is the variety of life, including different species of animals, fish, plants, trees and more, in a habitat or ecosystem.

More than 50,000 species live in British Columbia because of the diverse ecosystems, however, of the species that have been assessed, 43% are now at risk due to habitat destruction. Put plainly, we are essentially to blame for this, but we also have the power to change it. Our population has been growing rapidly in recent years, and with that, the need for more development. Homes, shopping centres, schools and roads are being built over farmlands, fields and forests, destroying the natural habitat that once existed there.

The problem with habitat destruction is that we rely on those ecosystems. We get a lot of our resources like timber, fish, minerals, agricultural products and water from our ecosystems. Species in these ecosystems are also responsible for things like pollination, soil fertilization and pest control. Healthy ecosystems give us basic life necessities. They are what keep our air and water clean, regulate climate and temperature, and provide us with food. We depend on them for the economy and our survival.

How Can You Help With Land Conservation?

Protecting the delicate ecosystems in our province starts with us. There are many ways to help with land conservation.

Protect Your Land and the Lands You Visit

Don’t use pesticides or fertilizers on your property. They are harmful to wildlife and aquatic life; instead, opt for natural solutions. There are natural DIY options that are just as effective as synthetic ones and will keep you and the environment safe. Some of the best homemade fertilizers are probably sitting in your compost right now!

Keep an eye on your pets when they are outside. They can cause problems for the wildlife especially if there are wetlands nearby.

Conserve water in your home. It saves you money and takes less water from our rivers, bays and estuaries.

Plant trees and plants on your property. It helps the environment by attracting more wildlife and improves their habitats. It also enhances water quality on your property if you have streams or ponds while protecting groundwater supply.

If you spend time outdoors, you may have heard of the phrase “leave no trace” before. It’s referring to the practices we should follow to protect our natural ecosystem. When visiting parks, hiking trails, lakes and rivers, you can minimize your impact by following these seven principles. Plan ahead and prepare, travel and camp on durable surfaces, dispose of waste properly, leave what you find, minimize campfire impact, respect wildlife and be considerate of other visitors.

Volunteer

There are several volunteer programs throughout British Columbia. You can help with clean up in backcountry areas, plant trees and habitat restoration. The Nature Trust of British Columbia puts on Volunteer events each year.

Donate to The Nature Trust of British Columbia

If you would like to donate to The Nature Trust of British Columbia, you can head over to their website. There are multiple ways to give from such as a one time donation, monthly donations, gifts through corporations, donations through partners and more. They also put on events, like their upcoming online auction, to which you can donate on auction items or bid on items.

Spread the Word

Tell people about The Nature Trust of British Columbia and the fantastic work they do! Continue to educate yourself on land conservation and spread the word.

With it being Earth Day today, it is a reminder the earth should always be on our mind. Our planet is changing every day and we all want to be on the right side of history. We believe this is possible. There are small changes we can make every day that have a ripple effect, like reducing our meat and dairy consumption, buying more organic food, turning down the heat, taking a shorter shower and the list goes on. 

In light of Earth Day, and because we’re a food based business and farm, we’re going to focus on organic food and the benefits of organic. Organic food can be more expensive but as the demand goes up and more farms transition, the increased volume can lead to efficiency and help reduce the cost. Right now, there are far fewer organic farms than conventional, meaning we’re paying a premium because there just isn’t enough! So how do we justify buying organic food at a higher price? How much would you pay to reduce your risk of disease by say 10%, 20%, 30%, 50%? I’m not a scientist but I do follow studies on pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, and they’re not good. One day as a society, we’ll look back on the lifetimes of exposure to these chemicals and be appalled. Many European countries are already in this phase of reducing and banning pesticide use. 

When we buy organic food we’re not only buying less contaminated food, (no it’s not perfect, but it’s about 90% better than conventional) but we are supporting farmers that inevitably contribute to a healthier planet and future through more sustainable practices. This means fewer pollutants that affect our waterways, atmosphere, local animal population, soil degradation, and so on. Now, there are varying degrees of sustainability, however, when compared to conventional farming, organic farming has a much smaller negative impact on pollinators, animals and the environment, full stop. 

For us, becoming an organic company and farm was never a question. It’s important that while we’re creating consumer products, we’re doing everything in our power to reduce our footprint. This post is to share a perspective, not judgment. Organic food can be more expensive but not always. When it comes to bargain shopping that’s me, all the way. I calculate the cost per gram or ounce, and I buy organic food that’s in season or on sale. I also always ask myself, am I really questioning buying this $7 cauliflower when just this week I bought a $7 coffee or gave a $7 tip to door dash? This is a post about what we can do to become more thoughtful about our purchases and how a $7 cauliflower may feel like a negative hit to your wallet, but it actually has a diffusing positive impact on your health, the planet and the future.

Again, this isn’t a post to criticize only to enlighten. We all buy many different conventional products and there are amazing conventional brands but with the changing times, so must we. It’s time to learn, grow and make changes when possible.

Below are some key points on the benefits of organic farming and the impact of buying organic food.  

What is Organic?

Organic refers to the way agricultural products are produced. It means that they are grown and processed without harming wildlife or the environment. Fruits, vegetables, meat and certain materials can all be grown using organic farming methods.

 In Canada, organic farms cannot use any synthetic pesticides, herbicides or fertilizers on crops. Antibiotics, drugs and synthetic hormones cannot be used on livestock raised for organic meats. And organic products cannot have GMO’s (genetically modified organisms), artificial flavours, colouring, preservatives or processing aids.

What Does Certified Organic?

In Canada, for a product to be labelled organic, organically raised, organically grown, organically produced, or have the Canadian organic logo on the packaging, it must contain 95% or more organic ingredients, and if there are non-organic ingredients they must go through an appeal for allowance if the ingredients aren’t available organic. Organic products must also be certified through an accredited certification agency, and the name of the agency must be displayed on the label. 

Healthy Hooch Kombucha is certified organic by BCARA (BC Association for Regenerative Agriculture). Organic certification holds us accountable. It ensures that every step of the manufacturing process is assessed to protect and maintain organic integrity. BCARA conducts in-depth inspections at least once a year of our entire operation. This includes the ingredients we use, sanitization and cleaning products, production methods and business practices.

Benefits of Organic

Organic is better for the environment and our health for many reasons. Below are a few of the main benefits of organic farming and food.
 

• Reduces pollution
• Protects waterways
• Uses less energy
• Improves soil
• Conserves water 
• Protects pollinators
• Fewer pesticides
• Free of antibiotics & synthetic hormones
• No GMO’s

Reduces Pollution

Organic farming focuses on natural farming practices that create less pollution, conserve water, use less energy and improve soil fertilization. No harmful pesticides are ending up in the air or water. 

Protects Waterways

Pesticides used in conventional farming can cause harm to nearby wildlife, like fish or animals, and the environment by contaminating groundwater, rivers, lakes, and oceans.

Uses Less Energy

Less energy is used because it eliminates the need for synthetic fertilizers, which are produced with fossil fuels. Organic agriculture systems also absorb and retain large amounts of carbon. This is important because it reduces carbon in the air, which has an impact on global warming. 

Conserves Water

Organic farming methods create healthier soil that is more resilient to soil erosion and drought. This means healthy soil needs less water, and it’s not being pulled from our freshwater resources.

Improves Soil

Healthy soil is also richer in biodiversity, like worms and arthropods that improve soil structure and water filtration. Organically farmed soil keeps improving over time, making it a more sustainable option in the long run. Soil exposed to pesticides and synthetic fertilizers will eventually become overloaded with toxic chemicals making it unusable.

Protects Pollinators

Pollinating insects are endangered worldwide, and organic farming helps protect them because it eliminates the use of toxic chemicals. Synthetic pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers are killing off pollinators like bees, wasps, and butterflies at an alarming rate. Pollinators help grow our crops, plants and flowers, contributing to the diverse ecosystems around us.

Fresher & More Flavourful

Organic food is often fresher and more flavourful. Organic food doesn’t contain artificial preservatives, so a lot of the time it’s grown closer to home reducing shipping time and distance. The soil also makes a difference in the way the food tastes. It has more nutrients, and just like humans, plants need healthy nutrients to grow and flourish.

Contains More Nutrients

Organic food may contain more nutrients. Some studies suggest that organically grown food has more antioxidants, minerals and vitamins. Organic milk, dairy products and meat have a higher level of Omega-3 fatty acids.

Free of Antibiotics & Synthetic Hormones

Livestock raised for organic meat and dairy are not given antibiotics or synthetic hormones. This is a concern because of the rise in antibiotic-resistant bacteria, which could become harmful to human health.

Fewer Pesticides

Studies show organic foods have fewer pesticides than their conventionally grown counterparts. Organic farming also means that less toxic chemicals from pesticides are ending up in the air.

No GMO’S

80% of the genetically modified crops have been altered to make them more resistant to toxic herbicides. Some herbicides have been linked to cancer and may even affect your gut bacteria because of the ingredients in them. Glyphosate (round-up), in particular, has been discussed in several studies.

References

1. Choose Canada Organic
2. Healthy Eating Organic Foods
3. Organic Labeling Canada
4. Organic Farming Uses Less Energy
5. How Organic Helps the Environment
6. Pesticide Residue.
7. Pesticides and Human Health.
8. Round-Up and Glyphosate
9. GMO Facts
10. Conventional Farming