Culture

Ask Umbra: Is it safe to water veggies from my rain barrels?

A reader wonders if he can use rain barrel water for his garden. Umbra collects her thoughts.

Ask Umbra® Culture

Cooperative organic farming takes root in Kentucky

Nelson Escobar brought traditional ideas of collective, community-sustaining farming from his home in El Salvador to Louisville, Ky.

Daniel Klein Culture

Want to empower African American kids? Give them bikes

From 2001 to 2009, the rates of cycling among African Americans, Hispanics, and Asians grew far more than among whites. Ed Ewing is working hard to keep that trend going.

Josh Cohen Culture

What type of environmentalist are you?

Medium Chill Pragmatist? Eco Yuppie? Traditional Treehugger? Take our quiz to find out!

Samantha Larson Culture

Farming is full of shit, blood, and stubborn fields. How’s that for romantic?

Thanks to farm weddings, agrotourism, and Chipotle, agriculture seems downright glamorous. The truth is much dirtier than that.

Darby Minow Smith Culture

Public transit still isn’t safe for women — but we can change that

We talked to Emily May, founder of Hollaback!, about why sexual harassment is so widespread on public transit, and what we can do to end it.

Eve Andrews Culture

Ask Umbra: What is the greenest party-drink vessel of all?

Cups or cans? That is the question. To which Umbra replies: "Neither."

Ask Umbra® Culture

This timelapse serves up some deforestation with your World Cup

Soccer not your thing? Then maybe you'd prefer to watch the rainforest disappearing around a much-maligned stadium in Manaus.

Amelia Urry Culture

The not-so-hidden climate messages in Spike Lee’s “Do the Right Thing”

It’s worth revisiting “Do the Right Thing” on its 25th anniversary for its prophetic messages about global warming and cities.

Brentin Mock Culture

Drug users buy local, snack heavily

The world's drug market is also hitting the locavore trend.

Jim Meyer Culture

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