It’s officially summertime! With long days fueled by the sun’s energy, the natural world is teeming with life. It’s bringing forth all that was stored in the winter and cultivated in the spring. This summer, I just want Black people to feel good—to soak up the sun, to be outside, to eat good food, to cool off in water, and to laugh together. The past few months have been exhausting on many fronts. So, this summer, we are carving out space for us to relax, rejoice, and recreate.
Through our We Outside collection, we are celebrating the recreation and joy that comes from time spent outdoors. Learn tips from Black birders on how to start your birding journey and dive into the history of Black beekeeping. This season, we also highlight environmental justice advocate Catherine Coleman Flowers’ genealogy journey and share her beautiful yet complicated connection to Lowndes County, Alabama, her hometown and the site of severe environmental injustice.
For your cookouts, we are equipping you with my family’s simple potato salad recipe, a hydrating watermelon refresher, and a couple things to plop on that grill. And we can’t forget about the music. We partnered with DJ Jihaari, who worked primarily from his vinyl collection, on a soundscape that is perfect for a day at the beach or the park. Wherever your summer jaunts take you, we hope that you find ways to be rejuvenated through your connection to nature.
— Darel Scott
Founder, Editor-in-Chief, and Creative Director
![Did you know you could be buying fake honey? 👀🍯
According to @detroithives co-founder Timothy Paule Jackson, “ninety percent of most honey that you get in big box stores is fake.” To make sure you’re getting the real stuff, he suggests checking out the nutrition label. Fake honey will have ingredients like “high fructose corn syrup, peach syrup, [and] it’ll have some type of sugar.” Avoid honey labeled as “pure” or “pasteurized,” and instead look for words like “raw” or “local.”
And with winter approaching, it’s the perfect time to stock up — not only is it full of vitamins and minerals, but real honey can also be used as a remedy for sore throats and coughs. Swipe to check out some of our favorite Black-owned bee farms and Black beekeepers selling the good stuff 🐝🍯](https://earthincolor.co/wp-content/uploads/sb-instagram-feed-images/314552686_126502226881255_7598404171432106028_nfull.jpg)
