TTT: “New Year, New Tea”
Image: Nebojsa Mladjenovic, Flickr.
In case you weren’t aware, January marks itself as Hot Tea Month in the States. While a perfectly brewed pot of tea can be delightful, certain tea practices actually do the planet more harm than good. Here are a few tips and products you can snag to ensure minimal waste and maximum taste.
Etsy Bomb: Episode #8 | Tundramoon Designs
While I’m here topping off Blue Moon ginger ales and recycling the cans like a good flora-bat…
…Tania Dawn of Tundramoon Designs has been getting creative with aluminum cans, turning them into lovely jewelry!
Along with cutting, decorating and shaping beer and soda cans, she uses bottle caps, vintage pieces of jewelry, glass and wooden beads, and metals in her pieces as well. She also makes custom scarves and hand-knit accessories. So go ahead and check out this month’s Etsy Bomb spotlight, Tundramoon Designs!
The Bat’s Debacle and You
Snakes, black cats, ravens and crows—these are just some of the creatures who have been associated with the ominous and occult for centuries in lore, film, and especially religion. But between all the animals, beasts and insects alike, no others hold nocturnal reign like those belonging to the order Chiroptera.
There are currently over 1,200 recognized species of bats worldwide, most of which aren’t nearly as menacing as people make them out to be. In reality, most bats avoid human blood, and instead consume a large variety of insects. Mosquitoes and other undesirable bugs are common snacking, so in moon gardens, bats could be useful for pest control. Other bats consume fruit, but those tend to be the eating habits of species found in tropical regions. There are even pollinator bats, which enjoy both the pollen and nectar of different flower species.
Truthfully, bats aren’t a real nuisance, since they’d rather not interact with humans. Bats tend to keep to themselves, choosing between living in colonies and solitary living. The only problems with bats and humans are featured in rare cases, where these creatures harbor rabies. Although humans contracting rabies is extremely rare (statistics show only two deaths per year by rabies), they pose a particular threat to owners of livestock such as cattle. Also, if bats decide to nest in a person’s attic, their fecal matter when inhaled contain spores which can aggravate human lungs and bring about cancer. If you’re harboring bats, it’s in your best interest to call a pest-control service so they can safely remove them from your residence.
As adorable as bats are, they are suffering a great deal at the hands of both natural and man-made complications. Since 2006, white-nose syndrome has plagued bat populations in a rampant manner, potentially threatening all species it contacts. It’s caused by a fungus that’s not native to North America, yet found in caves across the country where bats would hibernate. Currently, there are certain species in particular that are being targeted, including big brown bats, tri-colored bats, silver haired bats and more. According to Bat Conservation International, if the fungus is not kept under control, previously common bats could well be on the path to endangerment and extinction soon. As of July 15th, The Nature Conservancy and Bat Conservation International have invested almost $100,000 towards research to combat the fungus.
Along with white-nose syndrome, man-made creations have been harming these guys as well. There has been talk of wind turbines killing avian creatures, and bats are no exception. Annually, over 600,000 bats die to the hands of turbines. To add insult to injury, recent studies have found that bat deaths in particular are not entirely accidental, but rather caused by “barotrauma”, a condition similar to when divers resurface from watery depths too quickly. When bats get too close to the turbines, the pressure exerted from the machines pop the bat’s lungs from the inside.
In countries such as the UK, bats are under strict protection, and fines up to £10,000 are administered if bats are killed. However, with these new revelations, wind farms must now find a way to minimize the staggering numbers of deaths. Since half of the bats dying are migratory, suggestions have been made to crank down the turbine speeds during migratory seasons as an effort to save more lives.
So I’m sure you’re wondering by now what you can do to aid these cuties, and you’ll be glad to know there’s quite a bit. The first obvious bit is to educate yourself about the problems bats are facing, and if you want to do even more research, get acquainted with the numerous bat conservation organizations that are local, regional, national and global. Bat Conservation International, the Organization for Bat Conservation, BatLife-Europe, the Australian Bat Society, African Bat Conservation, and the Southeast Asian Bat Conservation Research Unit are all good places to start looking.
If you want to help some bats even more, and you live in an area where bats would live or migrate, you could build a bat house. Depending on where you live, there might be slight differences and requirements for the habitat, but the little guys would greatly appreciate the sanctuary. If you live in the city, or can’t accommodate them, that’s fine too—bat adoption is quite popular, reasonably priced and readily available.
So before you take to your next novel that features vampires who shape-shift and flit off, do take care to remember the bats. They require a safe, environmentally-sound atmosphere, and in these unstable times we need to protect as many species as possible, including our flying fox-y friends.
Slosh: Spirits at The Drink Factory
A little over half a year ago, I ventured out and took some mixology courses, hoping that I could use that knowledge to save some money on a relative’s birthday celebration. Unfortunately, the event never occurred, but I truly relished the hustle of mixing drinks and learning about synergy between flavours. What’s more is that and I enjoyed meeting the different personalities that mingled about like the mocktails we were practicing; aspiring bartenders have interesting personalities. Reminiscing has brought to life a voice in the back of my head telling me to gear up, brush up, and take to a bar.
But I know how I am. I wouldn’t feel at home in a regular sports pub, or a chain restaurant’s bar for that matter. Nah, if I were to get into tending, I’d want to place myself in an establishment where dark wave hums in the background, the aire is full of despondence, and the drinks sing to the souls who consume them. All cocktails would be savored as a complete sensory experience in every establishment. Of course, this would all be staged in a perfect world.
However, in Northern London stands a research and design lab not too far from the renowned 69 Colebrook Row, and it’s a playground for radical mixologists who’ve vowed to take drink innovation to a new level. The Drink Factory’s been fostering collaborations between drink technicians and inquisitive interns since 2005, offering lectures, demonstrations and experiments in brainstorming and creating superior drinks. Tony Coligniaro, The Drink Factory’s imaginative founder, is a master molecular mixologist and gastronome, and his talent for fusing art, science and alcohol together has made him the pioneer to watch and emulate for decades now.
Early this year, folks at The Drink Factory announced their plans to publish a quarterly magazine for fellow bartenders, epicureans and artists alike. Their first issue ever, Gothic, features an array of eccentric brews and combinations, all themed around the concept of (anti-)aroma and (dis)comfort. Folks at The Drink Factory wanted to push boundaries and turn tables, taking normally unsavory scents (and tastes) and experimenting with them until sixteen palatable signature concoctions were fashioned.
Paired in between each drink is a series of conceptual photography, and the ideal form in which the drink should be presented in. For instance, Tears is suggested to be served in a syringe, and the drink is to be served and savored drop by drop. The Nosferatini—a seemingly normal gin martini—gets vamped up with a splash of red that floats throughout the drink like blood would in water.
Every ingredient to make each aspect for each drink is spelled out, making it very possible to substitute conventional liquor and liqueurs for organic versions. Gothic is sexy enough to be displayed as a coffee table book due to its sumptuous display, however it’d be best if you keep this limited edition issue in a safe place away from your wet bar. If you’re not based in the U.K. or Europe for that matter, expect to pay around 65USD after shipping to the States. If that’s a little steep, never fear; Coligniaro’s other best-selling book Drinks can be scooped up at local retailers for under 30USD.
Any aspiring mixologist, party host, or bar banger should peek at these volumes. They’re indispensable, and provide some eerie theory on making delectable drinks.
Nothing to fear, just cheers.
PSA: World Goth Day is Approaching…
Ten days.
Ten days my friends, and we can walk with even more pride than ever before.
World Goth Day falls on a Thursday this year, on May 22nd.
There are plenty of events going on across the globe from Texas to London, and from Berlin to South Africa. If you want more information regarding events and places to go, be sure to check out the main website and the Goth Day Forum for ideas, meet-ups and more. Already mentioned in almost a dozen major media outlets and various Gothic subculture websites, it wouldn’t hurt to keep abreast of new news regarding our special day by following the Facebook page.
Etsy Bomb #7: La Vieille Lune
Doing my usual Etsy rounds, I stopped with widened eyes at the jewelry on a certain designer’s Etsy page.
Kim Hand–owner, maker, designer and curator of La Vieille Lune–-has been selling her pieces since 2010. She prides herself on re-purposing old pieces of jewelry, lace, handbags and more. All of her pieces are painstakingly detailed, with a lot of her lace products hand-dyed.
This is one of those stores where it’s better to just take a peek inside! And after viewing her Etsy Store, be sure to follow her work on La Vieille Lune’s Facebook page as well!
Relay: Skeletal Serenity
Mysterious and alluring is, indeed, the human body; we already know and experience this everyday we wake, and everyday we rest.
Some people are squeamish or scared of what happens on the inside, leaving the appreciation of the body’s technicalities to our doctors and haemophiliacs.
We as a species should strive to not be afraid of ourselves, as there is much beauty to be seen in the human form.
The folks at Hybrid Medical Animation seem to understand this, and have been beautifying human processes for years now. “X-ray Body in Motion – Yoga” is their newest video, which assesses and analyzes the full human body in motion on a skeletal level. They stated that their “technical challenges included…achieving proper bone densities and representing actual bone marrow inside each bone.” Still, this review of what it means for a human to move is graceful, and it encourages individuals to embrace not only ourselves, but all the activities we as humans can take part in.
But then a pressing thought struck me: unless in a group, it’s very rare to see alternative types in public yoga studios, or any place where there’s communal exercise going on. Be it disinterest, fear of being ostracized, or just too many people in general, meditative fitness (such as yoga) should be a staple in everybody’s life, and it would behoove us all to attempt to find solace through activity.
Relay: Eau de Death–Evasive Zombie Survival
From the zombie lover to the necrophiliac (yes, we’re going there), there’s something about the decay (and animation) of expired human beings that, without a doubt, has captivated the masses. Flesh munchers (along with vamps, werewolves, fae and the sort) have wheedled their way into popular culture–with more reception than previously before.
But people start to wonder, question if zombies will someday be real. If you remember, there were a few incidents in the past of cannibalism, the most recent being the Florida man who almost chewed a kid’s face off. Since then, there’s been some fuss regarding the reanimated brain eaters. AMC’s hit series The Walking Dead hasn’t helped quell concerns of when the ol’ zombie apocalypse will occur.
Luckily for zombie apocalypse believers, Nebraskan chemist Raychelle Burks, PhD of Doane College has come up with a postmortem musk if you will, just in case a zombie outbreak does happen to take hold. In conjunction with the American Chemical Society, the researchers have been working on replicating the scent of early human decomposition.
The brew is predominately a mixture of two compounds–putrescine and cadaverine–and these highly-concentrated polyamines are emitted early in the human decay process. A touch of methanethiol (the scent responsible for bad breath, flatulants and other offensive sulfur-based scents) and the morbid mix is set to keep you protected from evil zombies.
Regarding the mass-production of these polyamines, apparently all of these chemical compounds can be cultivated from a modified E.coli bacteria, seeing it would have the amino groups necessary to produce the scent.
However, it should be noted that with a little research, the chemicals putrescine and cadaverine are quite lethal in large amounts. In a practical zombie survival setting, one would ask if constant application of this mixture would over time, decrease life expectancy due to constant exposure the mix. Little research has been put in to see if this mixture can be created organically from start to finish, however the cologne’s still in its infancy.
The scientists are still working on the formula, and it’s been noted that marketing a product like this would be like trying to sell salt to slugs. However if you’re in the market to protect yourself, or you just fancy that decaying flesh scent, it’d be in your interest to keep an eye on the “Eau de Death”.
Etsy Bomb: Episode #6 | Coffin Kitsch
March’s Etsy Bomb features a lovely shop that specializes in upcycling and DIYing clothes into new creations. Based in Buffalo, NY, store owner Meagen Kyla loves working on fixing up jackets, though she doctors up all sorts of clothes into staples for your wardrobe! Take a peek this at this month’s Etsy store, Coffin Kitsch!
Wanna know what’s also cool about Coffin Kitsch? There’s also a fashion blog you can check out! So check out some fashion concepts and styles by Kyla truly!
Etsy Bomb: Episode #5 | Parts and Scraps
I’m a sucker for a good choker, especially if they incorporate ribbons. So it’s only natural when I stumbled upon Parts and Scraps I lost my #$!@ upon seeing the chokers and necklaces. They’ve incorporated and transformed can soda tabs, recycled computer bits, and recycled bicycle parts into stellar pieces of wearable art. And how attractive they all are! Colourful, sustainable fashion accessories that are seriously affordable are always welcome here. Take a gander at Annemarie’s Parts and Scraps in January’s (late) Etsy Bomb!
*Also, in case you didn’t know, you can right click the pictures in the slideshow to go to the direct web page. Save yourself some time and energy, yeah?
Gaunt’s Garden: The Ebon Essentials
If you’re a Flora Goth, it’d be quite foolish of you to go the synthetic route in your floral decorum when you could create a naturally dark and alluring landscape that can last you all year round. While all of these plants aren’t available as flowers from the get go, preparing and/or planting the first seeds for your occult oasis will be more rewarding than you could ever imagine.
The Countdown Begins…
The most wonderful time of the year is upon us once more, and Flora Gothica aims to lend an inspirational hand in your eco-endeavors this Halloween! Be sure to keep a lookout for this month’s Etsy Bombs, DIY Tuts, and various articles right here on Flora Gothica. There might even be giveaways for followers, so definitely stay tuned, and stay sustainable in the dark!
Etsy Bomb: Episode #4
September’s Etsy Bomb’ll be showcasing Bianca Strom’s Etsy shop, Alter-Eco Clothing!
Based in Nelson, British Columbia, Canada, Alter-Eco Clothing’s lineup changes every-so-often, with new designs that are mainly geared towards female fashions. The shop owner herself has two other Etsy shops, as well; ReLovePlanet features more cutesy apparel, accessories and gifts, and Enstasy Designs stocks handmade jewelry. All of her products are either upcycled/recycled, eco-friendly and vegan and/or utilize vintage materials. Custom-order are very much encouraged, so be sure to drop her a line if you want something specific and unique!
Lurid Illustrations: Valerie Hegarty
Dining Room, Cane Acres Plantation, Summerville, South Carolina.
Image: Brooklyn Museum
If you’re in NYC, now’s an excellent time to view the works of Valerie Hegarty in her current exhibit titled “Alternative Histories”. Right at the Brooklyn Museum on the 4th floor, you can view Hegarty’s displays, which portray themes including “colonization, Manifest Destiny, and repressed history.” Hegarty uses a myriad of media to build these metaphorical and organic chaos and decay scenes. This exhibit is available for viewing until December 1st, 2013, but if you can’t make it, or aren’t in the Tri-State area, you can view her online portfolio and her complete bio here.
Etsy Bomb: Episode #3
To welcome in August (which, might I add, feels nothing like so on the East Coast), I have some incredibly handsome jewelry that is made with the utmost care, and are of the highest quality I’ve seen to date. Check out the Ear Emporium!
K.C. Peck’s Gift and Ear Emporium features almost 30 pages of gauges, earrings, necklaces, and other items for gifting, such as money clips, pins, and even nightlights. The artist uses a variety of materials which include metals, glass, and more importantly sustainably-harvested woods including walnut, oak, and maple. The accessories feature a variety of themes such as nature motifs, gaming references, religious/ethical themes and exquisite patterns–specifically the honeycombs! His gauges are available in a variety of sizes, and custom orders are encouraged, granted you call/ leave a message regarding your request.
The Ear Emporium has over 10,000 fans on the Facebook page, so if you like these products, be sure to Like the page as well for updates and perhaps future deals on accessories!
Etsy Bomb: Episode #2
After a couple weeks of lurking and waiting, our featured Etsy artists for Episode #2 gave me the okay to feature their work!
I’m quite thrilled, and you should be too.
Introducing the work of Mihaela Slav and Roberto Toselli at their shop, dECOnstructionLabs!
dECOnstructionLabs is a collaborative store between Mihaela Slav and Roberto Toselli that has a mission to turn scrap fabrics, leathers, and reclaimed vintage into functional, appealing accessories and attire. Based out of Turin, Italy, they make sure each one of their products are made entirely or partially from recycled materials, and they strive to ethically produce their goods in the respect of people, and nature. dECOnstructionLabs ships worldwide, excluding Cina, Peru, and Brasil, and they’re even open to wholesale orders! So go ahead, and browse their wondrous goods at their Etsy page ASAP!
Update: dECOnstructionLabs also has a Facebook Page! I hadn’t realized before, but if you go and like them, you can keep up-to-date with their pieces, along with seeing pictures of their work process!
Mihaela was also an angel to both myself, and my followers! When purchasing at their Etsy shop, if you mention FloraGothica, you’ll receive a one-time 5% discount on any item!
So now, there’s really no excuse. Just give in and buy–all their products are beautiful!
Etsy Bomb: Episode #1
I dunno about you all, but I do a lot of my shopping online.
Now, if I was back at home in NYC, I probably wouldn’t shop online as much. Then again, I’m lazy, picky, and–well, the list goes on. If you’re the same, I have a treat for you.
From time to time, I’ll feature an artist, designer, or just a collection of some Eco-friendly finds ranging from outfitting one’s self to outfitting one’s home and so on. I’ll pull not only from Etsy, but ModCloth, Artfire, and some similar sites I’ve rounded up.
So, for this episode, Etsy designer Kristin Gallup of KrakenWhip is in the spotlight!
Kicking off our very first Etsy Bomb episode is a talented designer who recycles all sorts of material into sexy, functional pieces to wear. San Franciscan-based Kristin Gallup’s craftsmanship is solid, and her products range from skirts to chokers to tops and other accessories. While the bulk of her current stock is tailored towards females, she’s to release more male products in her line very soon! Her prices are reasonable as well, considering the work she puts into each of her pieces and the positive impact she’s making on the environment. So be a dear and take a look at her Etsy page to see more of what she has in stock.
The Dark Green Revolution
Can’t lurk in the trees if there are no trees left to lurk in.
Image: Gothsuptrees
Turn on your television. Actually, don’t go doing that. Television’s a running joke that’s soured over the past few decades; It’s channel after channel of drivel. Please excuse my cynicism.
Seriously though, take a look at our media, and our growing concern/obsession/fetish regarding the environment, and how we as a collective–locally, regionally, and globally–are making strides, trying to acknowledge and repair the human induced ecological damage that has accrued over centuries of Mother Nature neglect. It’s fascinating, really.
If you haven’t been paying attention when you go to stores, do make an effort to do so, as just about anything that can be bought features better Eco-conscious options. The importance of securing a better future through consumer choice–even if it’s just choosing organic foods, or buying sustainably-harvested wood furniture–is ever so clear, and it seems the Green Revolution’s here to stay. But what about those outside the environmental spheres of influence?
Sure, environmentalists are a group of their own, and they’ve been pushing green thinking along all this time. I guess I’m begging for an answer to this question: where are all the alternative scenes in this massive movement? Does they even exist, have a voice, have a place? Where is The Dark Green Revolution?
The gothic subculture features tens—no—hundreds of subgroups, with varied music, fashion, and ideological tastes. Some of these views stay pure; others mingle with one another, or with a completely different set of tastes outside of the subculture altogether. Either way, whatever these tastes may be work to define a particular person. Hippie Goths—who embrace nature with paganism or Wiccan beliefs—are a known and established subset.
The DIY culture needs no introduction here.
Image: Crafster
However, there’s little known place—if there is at all—for the death rocker at heart who might also love permaculture, or the post-punker who prides themselves on upcycling just about anything they set their minds to, just to reduce their landfill contribution. Some of these values of DIYing and preservation are already rooted in certain Gothic subcultures, but there isn’t an overt connection or recognition of what could well and be the modern-day “Envirogoth”. While the subcultures’ partitions usually boil down to the music,who’s to say another subgroup can’t emerge due to a widened outlook based on environmentalism?
That being said, this blog’s purpose is to help contribute to the idea of the Envirogoth, or Floragoth as I’ll call it, and to open eyes to more environmentally conscious alternatives for other Gothic subsets. From fashion, to home decor, to little tidbits of information regarding overall eco-progress, let this page be the haven for the alternatives who want forests to get lost in the future, and clear night skies to guide them home after an amazing concert and being piss wasted.
There’s a green revolution that occurring now, for sure. But let there be a Dark Green Revolution for all us Goths as well.
Flora Gothica 