Earth911 Podcast, Sept. 23, 2019: CBD Sustainability, Solar Installation Contracts, and Indoor Vertical Gardens

Following the rapid rise of CBD-based products, Earth911 looks at the environmental footprint of the non-psychoactive product of hemp and cannabis plants. We also walk the steps to a successful home solar installation contract and explore the opportunity to green your interior with vertical gardens.   Join Evelyn Fielding-Lopez, Sarah Lozanova, and Mitch Ratcliffe for this week's sustainable living and recycling discussion.Products containing CBD are promoted as cures of pain, anxiety, and animal health, but is the production of CBD sustainable? We explore how CBD is grown and packaged to discover if your cannabis-based skin regime and sleep aide is good for the planet. Most CBD comes from industrial hemp farms, which use the spent plant material to make textiles and rope, among a variety of things this ancient plant supplies. We also answer a related Earthling Question about how to determine the quality and dosage in CBD products.If you are planning to install solar panels before the next annual reduction in government subsidies, check out Sarah's guide to finding the right contractor and negotiating a good deal.As we head into Fall, it's a good time to look indoors for vegetative inspiration. Vertical gardens can make your home more beautiful while freshening the air and supplying herbs for your Winter meals. Another good source of projects for the longer nights ahead is the shipping pallet, which can be broken down and reused as furniture, kitchen racks, and make your home more attractive. We cover how to choose the right pallets, the tools you'll need, and point to some great DIY projects.This week's Earthling Questions are about how to recycle the interior of a vehicle and whether alkaline batteries need to be bagged recycling. Be sure to keep your guides to recycling single-use batteries and rechargeable batteries handy.Join the conversation and share your thoughts with the community in our Earthling Forum.