Make

 · 4 min read

Making Wood Last with Fire, Not Paint: An Ancient Technique

One wouldn’t imagine using fire to preserve wood, but the ancient Japanese technique does just that. Shou Sugi Ban is an exterior siding method; it charrs the wood, cools it, cleans it, and finishes it with oil. Traditionally, they use Sugi wood (also called Japanese cedar).  Nowadays, Shou Sugi Ban is used as an environmentally-friendly […]

Sarah Biren

Sarah Biren

Founder of The Creative Palate

 · 4 min read

California company leases backyards for 99 years to build tiny homes and rent them at affordable rates to fight the housing crisis

OBY is a housing company that is attempting two of the biggest problems we are facing today: lack of affordable housing and climate change. Short for our backyard, the California-based company is renting people’s backyards for 99 years to build tiny homes. These homes are compact, eco-friendly living spaces that are addressing the state’s housing […]

Brittany Hambleton

Brittany Hambleton

The Hearty Soul Team

 · 3 min read

How To Set A Mousetrap

As wintertime approaches, all of the furry little friends outdoors will seek warmth. However, sometimes this means finding warm places inside people’s homes. For mice, this is the perfect time to find the best hiding spot with the best food. People tend to get worried about having unwanted guests during the holiday season. It’s a […]

Cody Medina

Cody Medina

Environmental Activist

 · 3 min read

“Liquid Window” Significantly Reduces Energy Consumption in Buildings

Windows and sustainability haven’t always gone hand-in-hand. Scientists at the Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore) have set out to change that. Their newly-developed liquid window reduces both sun exposure and energy consumption in buildings. (1)  The Liquid Window That Reduces Energy Consumption According to a 2009 report by the United Nations, 40% of energy […]

Julie Hambleton

Julie Hambleton

The Hearty Soul Team

 · 3 min read

How to Open Any Can of Food with a Spoon

Have you ever needed to open a can but couldn’t find the can opener anywhere? Or perhaps it broke the second you tried to use it. Either way, you have a can that needs to be open and nothing to open it with. That, however, is where you are wrong: You can open a can […]

Julie Hambleton

Julie Hambleton

The Hearty Soul Team

 · 3 min read

Japan Is Giving Away Abandoned Houses for Free, but there’s a Catch

Like many countries, Japan is facing a housing crisis. Unlike those countries, Japan’s is for the opposite reason: They have more homes than they have people. For this reason, they started giving away abandoned houses – but are they really free? Here’s what you should know. Why is Japan Giving Away Abandoned Houses Japan has […]

Julie Hambleton

Julie Hambleton

The Hearty Soul Team

 · 3 min read

Inside the skinny home that disappears into the tree canopy of a nature reserve

Architects can design structures that seem to be impossible. They are creatives while also being masters of math and sciences. Putting all that together has resulted in some out of this world creations.  Enter “the skinny home”, or more commonly known as the House of the Big Arch.  The tall house in South Africa’s Bushveld ecoregion […]

Sarah Biren

Sarah Biren

Founder of The Creative Palate

 · 3 min read

Say Goodbye to That Pesky Toilet Bowl Ring With This Hack

Let’s face it- very few people enjoy cleaning their bathrooms. When certain surfaces accumulate hard-to-remove stains, cleaning them becomes even more of a chore. This is particularly true of the toilet, which often eventually gets that pesky ring around the inside of the bowl. Luckily, there is an excellent hack for how to remove a […]

Brittany Hambleton

Brittany Hambleton

The Hearty Soul Team

 · 4 min read

4 Forgotten Ways That Were Used To Keep Food Cold Without Electricity

People didn’t always use to have refrigerators to keep their food from spoiling. A lot of the time, people had to rely on the finite sources that the land was able to provide. Forcing people to get creative on how they stored their food. Their imagination has brought convenience and survivability to a whole new […]

Cody Medina

Cody Medina

Environmental Activist

 · 4 min read

Man’s Dream Of A Bright Pink Home Is Upsetting His Neighbors

A house can be an extension of an individual’s personality. Many like to plant raised garden beds and have luxurious lawn furniture. Some people decorate their homes to stand out among other houses in the neighborhood. However, some people like to go the extra mile to give their home some personality. Just like this man […]

Cody Medina

Cody Medina

Environmental Activist