Meet our favourite Eco-Influencers #3 | Arti Jalan @forageandsustain

Everyday, Forage and Sustain is "helping you live your best sustainable life" and isn't that what we all need? To celebrate Earth Day, we're sharing with you the people who help us the most and inspire us to always take that extra step towards an eco-friendly lifestyle. 

Behind the inspiring Forage and Sustain is Arti Jalan, and we asked her a few questions to get to know the person behind all of this: 

- Where abouts do you currently call home?

After having lived in 3 different countries, I've finally settled down in Toronto, which is where I was born and raised :)

- What’s your favourite part of having such a loyal following? 

I love the community I've built and the relationships I have within it. It's so special to be able to connect with people from all over the world who are like-minded, and have the same interests and vibe as you!

- Who’s your favourite artist and why? (Musician, painter, designer, anyone!) 

This is such a hard one, as there are so many! Van Gogh has always held my interest, but in modern times, I've been quite taken by Ai Wei Wei's politically centred art, as well as CJ Hendry who completely amazes me! They're all so different from each other, but each technique and approach is so layered and complex.

- Your favourite city in the world?

Another hard one! I seem to have trouble thinking in absolutes, so I'll give a few of my favourites - Paris, Shanghai, Rome and Matera

- How about your favourite beach?

Probably Nusa Lembongan in Indonesia :) The water is so unbelievably blue! 

- 5 things you can’t live without… go!

My iPhone, a good book, pain au chocolat, a really good moisturizer, and creative expression!

- What is your favourite quote? 

"Enlightenment is when a wave realizes it is the ocean." - Thich Nhat Hanh

- What is your best Eco Tip to share with others? 

Instead of trying to do it all and be zero-waste, first introduce consciousness into your realm. It can be easy to buy all the green living things that we feel we need in order to make change, but the first step is changing our mindset and understanding why. Ask questions, dig deep, and do your research. Sustainability is a lifestyle change and should come with personal transformation, not just cute bamboo cutlery and reusable bags.

- If you could say one thing to our Mother Earth, what would it be?

Mama, your resilience is unfathomable...but I promise, we'll do better. 

- What’s one cause that you would want people to rally behind and why? 

It's not so much a cause as it is a movement. I want to create a generation of change makers and advocates for the earth and social equality.. I want people to care, to really care, and to see how we are all connected. There is no "you" or "I" - it is only "us" and we need to rally together in literally every aspect of life!

Arti's Instagram: @artijalan
Forage and Sustain: @forageandsustain