Honey is such a versatile product. Not only is it nutritious, honey also builds your immune system, energizes you, beautifies you, treats wounds, and it can improve your scalp and be a great moisturizer. If you want to get the best out of your honey make sure it’s raw. Raw honey contains vitamins, minerals, and enzymes as opposed to refined honey. We have many local honeys here at Down to Earth… come in and check them out! (My fav is Manoa honey.)

Here are some treat yo’self honey recipes:

In early March, a group of Down to Earth team members attended Expo West, one of the largest Natural Product shows in the entire world. At this convention, the main draw is usually to see new products and upcoming innovations. There are also numerous events and workshops that cover relevant topics surrounding the Natural Products industry. One of the most popular events focuses on predicting upcoming trends. Usually these feature trending categories like specific kind of snacks or beverages (i.e. plant-based jerky, kombucha, etc.) that are gaining popularity.

My New Year’s resolutions always start out strong and fire-y and then by mid-February, I sizzle out pretty spectacularly. I’ve got the usual stereotypical resolutions: eat better, exercise more, etc. I get all pumped and excited for the first few weeks and go at my resolutions with a vengeance. But eventually it becomes too overwhelming and I burn out. I scour the internet for tricks and hacks but get overloaded with information that is quite frankly too generic for me to practice. But this year, with the help of chocolate, I’m going to try something different.

Down to Earth is pleased to be a sponsor of Hawaii's first ever VegFest Oahu, coming this September 24, 2016 from 1pm - 6:30pm at Honolulu Hale. Here's a roundup of what's new with the festival and how you can get involved.

Earth Day is on April 22, one day before my birthday. Growing up, I always felt a connection to Earth Day; it was like my own special holiday. My young mind seemed to think that Earth Day was actually the Earth’s birthday and so close to mine – it made me feel like I was “birthday buddies” with the Earth. Of course I eventually knew the real story behind the day but it hasn’t taken away this odd sense of kinship with my “birthday buddy”.

As you plan your Christmas shopping list, consider making a more conscious effort to purchase local presents. You’ll be giving great gifts and supporting your community. Down to Earth works with over 400 local vendors, including more than 100 local farmers, to bring you as many locally grown foods and products as are available. We believe supporting local businesses helps promote a healthy and sustainable lifestyle in Hawaii. Also, locally made products are just plain amazing because they're made with genuine love and care.

The weather has cooled down – maybe just a little bit here – and the holidays are just around the corner. We love making our own crafts for the holidays and putting them all around the house. You can get super creative and crafty with just a couple things.

Here are a few fun crafts you can do with your keiki:

Potato Prints: Cut potatoes in half and score them with patterns. Dip them in paint and make whatever design you want. Some fun examples are trees or pumpkins!

When you think of the word sustainability, do images of farms, recycling symbols, and windmills come to mind? Sustainability can be a huge concept to wrap your mind around. Working at Down to Earth, I’m usually surrounded by like-minded people who incorporate sustainable practices in their lives without a second thought. However when I run into the “real world”, it shocks me sometimes how little many care about sustainability. 

Eating organic is essential to a healthy future for ourselves and our environment. Last month our Love Life! team gave a cooking demo to Hawaii Famers Union, Patricia Bragg, and a group of young people on a cultural exchange with Native American Indians and Hawaiians. It was a pretty epic evening in the back roads of Waimanalo on Green Rows Farm. This demo was so special because we had young people -- our future -- visiting and connecting with organic farmers from across the Islands.