Living in the Cork Forest
Vast portions of Portugal are covered in montado or cork oak forests. Unlike the traditional forests of North America, the montado is a blend of trees and grassland, creating a home for a wide variety of animals. Many cork forests have been converted into agricultural farming or property development. This caused mass displacement of some of the animals of the cork forest. Some of these displaced animals are now listed as threatened or endangered species.
5 Spectacular Benefits of Cork Yoga Mats
Ever wonder why you are performing a mindful, longevity practice on something made of plastic? We had the same question!
As it turns out, cork is one of the best sustainable materials to make a yoga mat! I have listed our 5 top reasons you should be using a cork yoga mat below.
"Cork is Something to Cheer About"
I am here to spread the cheerful joy of the incredible cork tree and its delightful bark. If nothing else, to shed some light on the negative carbon footprint from the world of consumerism.
Cork is the bark of the cork oak tree. Once harvested from the tree, it allows new bark to grow in its place without killing or damaging the trees (think sheering a sheep).
"The Myth"
I talk (or think) about cork all day, every day. I have for years. Explaining the process of the cork harvest and how the bark immediately begins to re-generate has always made me feel good. The key points are:
- The tree is not cut down in the harvesting process.
- The tree will naturally live to be 200 and 500 years old.
- The bark can be harvested every nine years on average during the tree's life.