Renee Beaman

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When my daughter was about three years old we drove past a factory pumping a white plume of smoke out a chimney stack. “Look, a cloud factory!” she called out so sweetly. “No, my darling, that’s just air pollution,” I replied.
Ok, not really. She did think it was a cloud factory, but I didn’t have the heart or the energy to explain air pollution and climate change on our way to Grandma’s house. Besides, I figured she should be at least five before I share our inevitable doom and break her lit...

Being a business owner in the sustainability industry comes with additional challenges other business owners may never even think about. And with those challenges come (at the risk of quoting a very old movie) great responsibility. And great responsibility can only be communicated and shouldered with conscious copy.

Every day you’re up against brands that don’t worry about sustainable sourcing. They sell their products at lower prices without worrying about product life cycles. Cheaper produc...

You’re aware by now that bamboo is an incredibly sustainable crop. It grows quickly without fertilizers, regenerates itself, and absorbs an amazing amount of carbon from the atmosphere. But have you ever considered where bamboo comes from and who manages bamboo harvest and production?
The $53 billion bamboo industry is supported by many small, rural farms. Ethical brands look for sustainable farms to work with that put the environment and welfare of workers above their profits.
It’s important...

Heading off to college is a time of excitement about the possibilities ahead. It can be such a positive experience, except when it comes to the amount of trash generated by kids on campus.
The average college student creates over 640 pounds of waste each year. This is surprising given that 92% of college students feel their university should promote and incorporate sustainability.
An easy solution is to switch to an eco-friendly material like bamboo for items needed during the school year. Yo...

You spend a lot of time in your home so isn't it time you loved every single room?
Whether you're looking to update your kitchen or bathroom or want to expand your living space with a finished basement or full addition, Black Dog will listen to your needs and work with you to bring you the home you always dreamed of.
Black Dog is a residential general contracting company specializing in creating comfortable spaces so you can have a home you
Let us be your guide in getting your plans drawn up,...

Connect with your pup through positivity,
not punishment.
Jumping Through Hoopes online dog training offers a compassionate approach to training so you can truly connect with your pup – all from the comfort of your own home.
If you want your dog to…
✔ Happily share food and toys, instead of guarding them…
✔ Tell you when he wants to go outside, instead of ruining your new rug…
✔ Greet guests with a tail wag and a smile, instead of a jump and a bark…
✔ Play gently with your kids and other pets...

Growing up surrounded by lakes in Minnesota meant I was also surrounded by tales of fishing adventure. The monster sturgeon pulled in from Lake Superior. The massive largemouth bass that took a bite of the 20lb walleye being reeled in. And how ice fishing on the Canadian border isn’t nearly as cold as you’d think!
Now that’s a fish story if I’ve ever heard one…
Many anglers, myself included, enjoy fishing to spend time in nature, not necessarily to catch a fish dinner. So what if my version o...

If you’ve been around for a while, you know how we feel about single-use plastic (just say no).
Plastic straws are on the top 10 list of items most found on beaches and in waterways. During a five-year documented beach clean-up, almost 7.5 million plastic straws were collected from U.S. shorelines.
So, what’s an eco-friendly person to do? Maybe you’ve tried to go straw-free, but struggled to enjoy your smoothie or drink on the rocks because ice keeps hitting you in the face.
Fortunately, bamb...

When I was in college I had a friend who had like 50 purses. I never actually counted them, but every time she went home for the weekend she came back with a new bag. And these were high-end, spend your whole paycheck kind of bags. This was wild to me because I was still using my super old cross-body from high school. Apparently, I was in the minority with my one old bag.
Worldwide, handbags are a $56 billion industry and the average American woman owns 13 purses. It’s a wonder we have any mo...

Waking up this morning to the crisp fall air makes me want to transition to all things autumn. While I don’t stand in line for a pumpkin spice latte, I do enjoy aligning my home to the outdoors. I live in a climate with four very distinct seasons and, while I love it, it also means having to transition my space pretty frequently.
Truth be told, I’m a recovering hoarder of seasonal decor. I used to shop all the home goods stores to get the latest holiday signs and seasonal coffee mugs. I had L...

It might seem like bamboo is trending in the design world as minimal and natural styles become more popular. But bamboo has been used in design for hundreds of years, and for good reason. Bamboo is one of the strongest natural materials out there and the smooth natural rods are easy to process into a variety of eco-friendly items.
I like switching to bamboo because of the environmental impact, but there are many benefits to bringing natural design into your home.
Incorporating Bamboo Into You...

Did you know the average person spends 4 hours grooming themselves every week? I’ll be honest, my 2020 work-from-home routine was about a tenth of that. But now that I’m back to seeing actual people, it’s more accurate. Showers, skin care, shaving, cosmetics, haircare… it all adds up!
If you’re spending lots of time making yourself clean and presentable, you may want to take a look at the tools you’re using to do it. Plastic and disposable beauty products are often hazardous to our health and...