Green Inspirations

Egos & Do Gooders

2008-05-10T12:35:00.000-07:00

I am reluctant to write this post, but feel so strongly about the subject that I feel I must. I am completely conflicted about volunteering for environmental groups because there are so many egos involved. In my experience I have found that the people I meet who are most inspiring are also handicapped by their monstrous egos. They work tirelessly and passionately for environmental causes, but hurt those around them by lashing out because they want to be the "hero" who saves us all. They stand alone in their fight and forget about the other volunteers standing beside them wanting to lend a helpful hand.
I have had two recent experiences where I have gone out with the best of intentions to help out and have been verbally assaulted in the process. The most recent incident the organizer of the event came out to find all the volunteers standing around waiting for direction. As we were all standing there they said to another volunteer, "Can you just get these people out of here, they are in the way, this can happen." Now this was my first time meeting this organizer, and this was my first impression, I was in their way like a piece of garbage. Now I am a passionate person as well, but really is this way to treat someone who is just there to lend some help? I'll tell you my reaction was not so great, I got my personal belongings and went up to another volunteer to explain I was leaving. I felt awful making this decision because I believed in the event, but I also didn't feel right staying.
Why is it that egos often get in the way of helping out? Is this why the green movement could be destined to fail, because everyone is so self involved that they can't let others help them in their quest? Or is it better said that perhaps these environmental leaders and pioneers just want the glory all to themselves? That their egos get in the way of all the good they are attempting to do and therefore it negates the very thing they believe in.
What do you think? Has this happened to you to?

Projecting Change Film Festival

2008-04-29T20:20:00.000-07:00

I'm just trying to spread the word about a local film festival happening starting May 8th - May 11th. I will be lending a helpful hand over the weekend and other volunteers are needed, so if you are interested in becoming involved please contact Pamela, (pamela@projectingchange.ca) the event volunteer coordinator.

Here is a blurb from the festivals website to give you a taste of what it is all about!

"Projecting Change is an innovative organization that focuses on promoting Green and Sustainable Living through the use of entertaining & educational Film. Through the strategic use of engaging films and inspiring speakers we aim to increase awareness and promote change within our local community. Through these efforts all profits are invested back into local initiatives."

For more information:

www.projectingchange.ca

Granville Magazine a new FAV!

2007-09-09T20:07:00.000-07:00

I have been eagerly awaiting the second issue of Vancouver's newest green magazine, Granville!
This past spring when the magazine was launched I was intrigued, but sceptical, because even though it was free was it going to be another advertisers dream and lack actual content? But I was pleasantly surprised when it popped up in my mail slot with it's nice graphics and plentiful amount of green information that is specific to Vancouver. This magazine is a definite must for everyone who wants to know where to go to buy green products, fill up their calendars with green events or read inspiring articles about locals making a difference.
Added bonus, right now this magazine is free and can be delivered to your door too. To sign up for a subscription just visit the website at www.granvilleonline.ca or call 604-299-2116.

The 11th Hour

2007-08-12T22:31:00.000-07:00

This Thursday August 16th at 7:00pm The Sierra Club of Canada, Lower Mainland Group and the Fraser Riverkeeper are previewing The 11th Hour documentary by Leonardo Di Caprio. The event is being held at Empire Granville 7, 855 Granville Street, in Vancouver. There is also a question and answer period to be held before and after the screening.
Leo has long been a stand up activist within the green movement and now he is putting all his energy into educating the public about what is going on and what we can do about it. Leo narrates the movie and there are several scientists making appearances and environmental designers such as, William McDonough and Bruce Mau. It seems like another An Inconvenient Truth, type of movie, but hopefully this will also include what we can do about the current state of the planet. There is also a good website to accompany this movie that has several features to help people contribute further on their own accord. Features include; a section dedicated to writing actions letters to your favorite restaurants, stores, etc, and links to other websites that will send you daily tips and trends via your email box.
Check it out, it looks like it should be a good watch!

Real Campers

2007-08-08T21:39:00.000-07:00

I was lucky enough to discover a treasure of a campsite this past August long weekend. Now I would give away the location if only it wasn't so sweet and this ever smaller world wasn't so damn full of people to ruin something so beautiful. While I was literally in the middle of nowhere which meant no running water, washrooms or such I realized a few things.
First I am a huge chicken now and I am completely unaware in the wild. When the sun went down I couldn't go more than 20 feet from the campfire because I could swear something was lurking in the dark waiting to attack me. I was terrified of nature! Now this is a girl who has lived in a town that had no street lights and the possibility of a bear crossing your path was a reality. I remember this time fondly actually, it was a time when I would marvel at the thousands of stars above me as I walked home from a late night of work. How the city lights and noise has changed me. I miss the quiet and the noises of the night like crickets and such. Instead I have the 99 bus route screaming down my ever busy street and people hooting and hollering at two in the morning.
I also found out in a painfully difficult way that some people still don't get it; that you treat your environment with care. I couldn't believe that my friends would just toss garbage in the lake, throw their cigarettes in the woods, or put plastics into the fire?! Now in all fairness not everyone was doing this, and some were great and basically attempted to scold the clueless in the nicest, politically correct way. Still in this day and age when the environment is such a hot topic, why are some not getting the message?
To sum up what surprised me the most was how beautiful our surroundings were and how little we actually appreciated it on a whole. Sure everyone took pictures and commented on how great the view was, but did they take care to watch their impact on the site? Did we truly do our best to make sure nothing was left behind? How can we continue to do this and expect anything to change or better yet stay the way we remember them?

Elroy Apparel

2007-08-02T12:36:00.000-07:00

This past weekend I finally made it to the wonderful Portobello West Market that is held at the Rocky Mountaineer Station, which takes place at the end of each month. First of all the location is fantastic with big windows allowing tons of natural light in combination with modern finishes that gives the space a fresh and inviting appeal. More importantly though is the exposure the artists and fashion designers receive by displaying their wares for us lucky shoppers to buy. I love that many of items you will find here are unique, handmade and environmentally friendly!

My favorite find was someone I had been searching for, Elroy Apparel. After seeing a fashion show in the spring featuring Elroy I just had to see the clothing for myself. I was not let down either, the designer Leanne McElroy has created a beautiful, modern fall collection. On display were her cutting edge woman's designs that can be worn in the office, on the town or out for a fancy dinner. I fell in love with a trench that is definitely a must have for this fall. Also all of her clothing is created using organic materials, as she herself is taking a part in saving the planet. Leanne is a graduate of Helen Lefeaux Fashion School here in Vancouver, BC and I believe a name we will here more of as she gains exposure!

Check the Elroy Apparel site out at www.elroyapparel.com and the Portobello West Market at www.portobellowest.com for more info. The next market day is August 26th.

Illuminares Lantern Festival this weekend!

2007-07-27T09:28:00.001-07:00

Today I'm going to be working on a recycled paper lantern for the Illuminares Lanterns Festival at Trout Lake's John Hendry Park, near Commerical Drive. This will be my first year attending the local celebrations, where I have heard hundreds of handmade paper lanterns turn up to light the park. The event is put on by the Public Dreams Society this Saturday July 28th from 7pm until 10:30pm.
The deal is you bring your own handmade lantern with you, or five for that matter, the more the better! This year the theme is Drive in Dreams, which comes from the dreams of the locals living in and around Commerical drive. People come and hang their creations from the trees for others to admire and to set the mood. There are fire dancers, clowns and a general circus like atmosphere to add entertainment for the young and old. This seems like a great, free community event that will spark the imagination and bring out the kids in all of us. So if you are looking for a fun, interesting event, besides the fireworks, come on down and don't forget your lantern!

Greendrinks Skyline BBQ

2007-07-25T09:49:00.000-07:00

Yesterday evening I attended the Greendrinks BBQ at Jericho Beach and I was blown away with just how many people showed up! It was a great turn out, so much so that they ran out of veggie dogs and many were left to eat only buns. Which no one even batted an eye at, it just meant more creating thinking on how to eat the bun.
They had a few sponsors for the event that were giving away such products as Frisbees, low-energy light fluorescent bulbs, water bottles and bamboo face cloths with some free knowledge of the products or services they represented. The key sponsors were, Shared Vision magazine, Delta Q, Mountain Equipment Co-op, Choices and Ethical Funds.
One of my favorite activities going on was a Japanese drum circle being lead by a couple of pros who used fruit names to teach the young and old participating how to get the beat on their plastic garbage cans! Even this morning I woke to hearing blue-berry, ap-ple, pear, ok I guess you had to be there.
All in all I think everyone would agree that this event was a great success and a definite sign of how many of us are out there making a difference and changing our lives to live a better greener existence!

Back on track....

2007-07-18T15:17:00.000-07:00

Today I felt inspired to work here and create a new template, so I am back to writing and sharing my ideas and findings with you. Enjoy...

Busted!

2007-05-28T19:50:00.000-07:00

It came to my attention today that people might actually read this blog, seriously I was beginning to wonder. I have been bad about posting and someone out there had busted me on it, guilty as charged.
I promise to have more interesting articles to come. I am currently working out a new format to post. My creative juices are flowing, and soon I'll be back on here writing.

Keep the comments coming, and let me know what's going on in your neighborhoods.

Cheers! Brandy

David Suzuki & The Vancouver Sun

2007-05-06T17:41:00.000-07:00

David Suzuki is the guest editor this weekend with The Vancouver Sun. Lots of information to find, actually it is taking me forever to read it all! I will post more once I have read through all the pages. I think this a great idea, and like David Suzuki said himself in the paper, we need to have a section permanently dedicated to green news and information! AGREED!
If you missed picking up a paper go to The Vancouver Sun's website to read the many different articles!

Carbon Offsetting - For it or Against it?

2007-04-10T10:20:00.000-07:00

Everyone is talking about carbon offsetting, so what's the big deal?!

Carbon offsetting is becoming a popular method available for traveling with a conscious. There are packages available when flying so you the consumer can lower your eco-footprint by purchasing your carbon emissions back. How does this exactly work? Well companies like Offsetters.com use the added surcharge on your plane ticket and re-invest it into planting trees, (for example). So even though the carbon is still being released into the atmosphere when you fly, the goal is that the planted trees will absorb the carbon; making the trip carbon neutral. They also make it pretty easy and affordable for you. On their website you can play with a carbon calculator that tabulates your carbon emissions and tells you how much it would cost to offset the trip. For example, a return trip from Vancouver, BC to London, UK costs $40.39 (on top of the flight cost), releases 2.142 tonnes of carbon into the atmosphere at a distance of 7574 km. Offsetters also has a partnership with WestJet, so WestJet will tack on the extra surcharge if you request it when purchasing your flight ticket. Airplane travel causes a huge amount of carbon dioxide to be released into the atmosphere, so next time you book your trip look into offsetting your carbon emissions, because every little bit helps!

Global Warming Water Levels Rising

2007-03-28T09:33:00.000-07:00

Today I came upon an article on Treehugger.com about a computer programmer named Alex Tinger who has created flood maps. These flood maps are meant to be a demonstration of what could happen if waters were to rise from the affects of global warming and our melting polar ice caps. Alex mentioned that he doesn't want to be an alarmist, but rather an optimist, and he is giving you the tools to see how we are affecting the planet so we can make changes to stop it. I for one think it is an excellent way to wrap your head around rising water concerns! I find it scary at times to even think about, but we can stop this from happening. The research is on top of it, all we need is everyone behind it now. Check it out for yourself and give me some feedback too. I have downloaded the maps here and will keep them up for awhile.

Shut Down Day

2007-03-25T10:30:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was Computer Shut Down Day and the goal was to stay off the computer for a solid 24 hours. Which made me think, when is it not some kind of day that I have to give up my bad habits?! So if you are wondering I completely failed and couldn't stay off the computer at all, go figure. I love checking my email and surfing the net for interesting findings and what is the harm in that, really? I suppose it is the amount of energy my dear computer consumes and not to mention the fact that my boyfriend also has a computer going non-stop too! We are a pair of computer junkies. Still yesterday when I awoke to start a new day, I really considered following through with this whole no computer thing just to see if I could. Unfortunately it is my routine though, just like caffeine I need it! Perhaps if I had been somewhere else, say like Maui, I would have had enough distraction to not even bother, but I am weak and apparently addicted like a crack head for my daily fix of emails, craigslist, and whatever else I find out there in the cyber world.
I would love to hear anyone else out there attempted or succeeded in keeping off their computers. Was this day a bust or what?

An EPIC Show!

2007-03-19T17:54:00.000-07:00

This past weekend was the first Sustainable Living Expo in Canada, and I have to say that it was a success! I spent over four hours wading through the overwhelming amount of info available and I also took a seat to watch The Raw Fashion Show.

The Food
Capers, an organic grocery store here in Vancouver, had a whole section dedicated to the products you can find on their shelves. You could also take a seat and watch some of Vancouver's greatest chefs prepare organic meal ideas at the Cooking Stage. During my trip through the maze of booths my taste buds were treated to a variety of organic products and I have to say some of my personal favorites were, A.C. LaRocco Tomato and Feta Pizza, Hard Bite Chips Cheddar, and NatureLand Organic Amber Ale. Now if only my pocketbook could keep up with my desire to buy organic all the time.

Home Improvement & Style Ideas
There was a great display set up that showcased different materials you could use to green your home. Pictured to the right is a wall insulated with old jeans! Other ideas to implement into your own home were materials such as bamboo for flooring and furniture choices, cork flooring, low VOC paints and clay based paints, energy saving lighting, low flush toilets, low flow faucets and more. It was very helpful to the general public, because they had signs with information on the products on display!

The Raw Fashion Show
I sat in for my first organic fabric fashion show, which was inspirational. The clothes were beautiful and interesting. They had clothing you could wear to work, out and about and for a night on the town. During the fashion show they had a projection screen displaying what the organic material the model was wearing was, for example bamboo or soy. So it was a learning experience as well as a visual. I could have spent a fortune there! Unfortunately organic fashions usually carry a heavy price tag, but companies like Cotton Ginny and now amazingly enough Gap are making organic cotton t-shirts at great prices!

Pictured below a designer created an outfit out of wheat grass, ok so maybe not practical but amazing to see! To the right an outfit I loved from Elroy.

Green is Tres Chic!

2007-03-14T10:09:00.000-07:00

Today let's have some fun and dive into organic fashions, because being green has suddenly become tres chic I am loving it! So you may be asking what's the big deal with these "green" fabrics hitting the market? Well I'll give you the scoop. Eco-friendly fabrics take into consideration how the items are being made, where, and if they come from a renewable resource.
These fabrics are made without using harsh chemicals that can not only be toxic for the end user (you), but also the workers involved with creating the item. For example, conventional cotton is produced with pesticides that is bad for you and the workers in the fields. It also takes a tole on the soil it is harvested in. The fabrics are also produced without resorting to sweatshop labor practices, where people in poorer nations are taken advantage of with low wages, long hours, under-age workers and daily exposure to toxic chemicals. It is equally important that we have our garments come from a renewable resource, so we can continue creating them without just taking from our planet.

Now I know the price tag is usually higher for eco-fashion, because it is not yet a mainstream practice. Consider this though, you are investing into something that is a higher quality, which is not only better for your delicate skin, but mother nature as well. This also doesn't mean you have to replace your wardrobe all at once, start slowly and overtime you will have a few pieces to integrate into your regular outfits. If green fashions keep gaining popularity, it will mean that overtime prices will go down.

Here are some cool green fabrics few to look out for:

Organic Cotton - Choosing organic cotton over conventional cotton you are getting a product with no pesticides in them, which helps the farmers that grow it and takes less of a toll on the soil it is produced in. You can find many items made with it such as, linens, clothing, and home furnishings.

Modal & Lyocell - It is made from beech wood pulp and has such properties as it is soft, breathable, and pliant. It is a good replacement for polyester and rayon. You'll find it in bedding and clothing.

Bamboo Fibers - It can be made into varying sizes of yarn and it is commonly used to create, socks, sweaters, and stretch pants. Unfortunately it is hard to find items made 100% out of bamboo, but that should change with popularity.

Merino Wool - It comes from New Zealand and Australia and is a great renewable resource, as it is sheared from sheep. It is great from outdoor wear, as it provides a soft, thin insulating layer that keeps moisture off your skin. The only concern here is making sure the wool comes from farms that raise their sheep in healthy conditions.

Hemp - Gone are the days of itchy hemp that only die-hard hippies would wear! It can now be made into soft, high quality fabric as thin as silk. I have some hemp clothing and it is warm and very soft on the skin, love it!

Recycled Pop Bottles - Usually found in fleece, old plastic bottles are being worked into all kinds of products. I bought my Step- Dad a winter hat for Christmas this year, very fashionable!

What's in a Cleaner?

2007-03-12T09:40:00.000-07:00

What's in your household cleaners? Ever wonder what your cleaners are and where they go when you use them or if they have any harmful side effects? Well if so, here are helpful tips on Greening your home with friendly cleaners!

Greening your life has become a whole lot simpler lately and all it takes is a change in mind set! First step is to become educated and aware of the products you spend your hard earned dollars on. Don't worry companies are making it easier for you to find these products, because now they are appearing on local supermarket shelves. All you have to do is look for them.
Second step is the let go of old habits. Now I know that many of you are thinking we have been using these products forever and nothing bad has happened, but try to think about it this way. When you use these harsh cleaners in your home they leave behind their potent smells and traces of those bad chemicals on whatever surface you are cleaning! Over a period of time these chemicals find their way into our blood streams, and from what I have heard, we all carry several toxins around in our bodies. Also now doctors are saying that over time we can develop asthma and that many of us have sensitivities to these chemicals that are in our daily lives.

Another thing to think about it is where do these chemicals go when we wash them down the drain? Unfortunately they make their way into our drinking water, rivers, lakes and soil. This affects the food that we grow and the fish in our waters, so it basically finds it way back into us in some form or another. So why are we hearing about this now? Well that is a question I ask myself a lot. They only answer I have is that these companies have not put enough research into what they are making and selling to us, and therefore the knowledge of what the effects are is lost. Sometimes making a buck is a higher priority than long term health effects as well.

There is no need to worry though, we can make better decisions by being better consumers. Now you have the knowledge you can start choosing the safer, natural products. So go out there and look for those nature friendly products and you'll feel a whole bunch better about what you are using in your homes!

BAD CHEMICALS to watch out for;

Ammonia - found in glass cleaners - Why? It causes headaches and lung irritation.
Phenol & Cresol - found in disinfectants - Why? It can cause dizziness and kidney and liver failure.
Lye & Sodium Hydroxide- found in oven cleaners - Why? Can burn skin, the eyes, and respiratory track.
Butoxyethanol - found in oven cleaners - Why? Can poison the blood, liver and kidneys.
Chlorine bleach - found in scouring powders & cleaning solutions - Why? It's the number one cause of poisoning in homes.
Hydrochloric acid & Sodium Acid Sulfate - found in toilet bowl cleaners - Why? Can can burn the skin and eyes or cause vomiting, diarrhea, and stomach burns if swallowed.
Pentachlorophenal - found in mildew removers - Why? Can be fatal if swallowed.

ECO-Friendly Alternatives;

Diluted Tea-tree Oil - an excellent disinfectant
Borax - a naturally occurring disinfectant
White Vinegar - Can be used to clean floors and other surfaces
Baking Soda - Add with white vinegar for scouring surfaces
Laundry Detergents that are fragrance free and biodegradable
Castile Soap - a general household cleaner, including laundry
Natural Oils, such as Olive, Walnut, food-grade Linseed and Jojoba- make excellent furniture polish and floor wax
Grapefruit-seed Extract- a disinfectant in the bathroom
Baking Soda and Water - a natural scouring choice

You don't have make your own cleaners, there are lots of products already on the market with these ingredients in them!

Look in my Natural Products Links for companies that produce greener choices, for ideas on what to look for in your local stores and more info on harsh chemicals and their effects!

Stanley Park 10, 000 Trees Lost

2007-03-05T09:45:00.000-08:00

Yesterday Jeff and I went to Stanley Park to see how the clean up was going. As you can see, from the picture on the left, it's still a wreckage of fallen trees. It was an amazing site to behold, all these massive, beautiful trees tangled within the ones who survived the windstorms this past December. The smell of freshly cut pine in the air was a constant reminder of the death of approximately 10,000 trees during those violent storms. To re-build the park the estimated cost (financially) is 9 million dollars, but I have a feeling it will surpass that. Vancouver citizens have opened their hearts and pocket books though and millions of dollars have been raised for the park's clean up, which shows just how much people love it. Unfortunately the environmental damages are much more than money and it could take at least a generation to see the park back to it's original glory. The physical damage to the seawall is severe with ground stability being a huge concern with the missing trees. There are also all those displaced animals that lost their homes and the huge open areas that were once a thick forest area. The park officials are also worried about the fire hazards this could present in the upcoming summer months if we see another hot and dry season.

So what will happen to all those downed trees? Well there are a few things being discussed such as, leaving some behind to decompose naturally, creating symbols of the destruction into totem polls, using them in the building design of the Olympics and perhaps selling them so they don't get thrown into the dump. I can imagine the demand for these beautiful trees would be high demand by the public.

Why did this happen in the first place? Well this is the kind of destruction we will continue to see if we don't make some very big changes. Global warming effects our weather patterns by changing natural jet streams in the ocean waters. The warm climate also helps create terrible tornadoes and hurricanes as we are seeing in the United States right now. All you have to do is watch An Inconvenient Truth to get a good grasp of what is happening to our planet. It is a force that we have no power over unless we start to lower greenhouse gas emissions. Mother Nature is a powerful woman and she is speaking to us all, shouting really. She is telling us if we keep this up more storms will come and more it will continue to effect our lives and the environments we live in!

It is not all doom and gloom though. We have so many options available right now to start making the much needed changes. Whether it be you taking the local transit to work, walking or biking instead of driving, or buying a low emissions car. It depends on what you can do personally, because let's face it not all of us can afford a new hybrid car. It's all about being aware of what you do each and everyday and how you can make changes to lower your consumption and emissions.

So what can you do about it that's easy?

1. Take the bus, walk or bike instead of driving those short distances that you really don't need the car.

2. When buying your next car look into low emission car that require less fuel. Not only will you helping the air we breathe but you also will save money in your pocket, especially with rising gas prices.

3. Car pool with co-workers, friends or family members.

4. Make your voice heard with your local government, so they know this is a concern to you! Major polluting industries should be made accountable for their actions and our country should be leading the way with projects like Kyoto. For more info go check out David Suzuki's website and join his Nature Challenge:

http://www.davidsuzuki.org

5. Look into Car Sharing programs that are becoming a popular alternative to buying a car. These programs usually operate by paying a one time membership fee and then be charged for how often you use a car. For more info on Car Sharing visit:

http://www.thecompanycar.ca
http://www.cooperativeauto.net

Also you can visit this site to find Car Sharing programs all over North America:
http://www.carsharing.net/where.html

Fun Facts about Stanley Park

Opened: September 27, 1888
Area Covered: 400 hectares (1,000 acres)
# Of Trees: Approx. 500,000 (80% Coniferous & 20% Deciduous)
Annual Visitors: 8 million

If you want to donate to Re-build Stanley Park (you can even buy a tree at the cost of $2000):

http://vancouver.ca/parks/parks/stanley/restoration/donations.htm

Wind Energy

2007-03-04T13:07:00.000-08:00

I had a great question posted about wind energy, so I decided to some research on it.
For all the good people in Ontario I do know of a company that works with this great technology and are called Bullfrog Power. The way they work is they buy into wind energy and low impact hydro generators. When you switch to Bullfrog nothing changes, you still get your hydro from the grid but the extra few cents you spend is re-invested by Bullfrog into greener energy sources. It's a great way to invest your hard earned dollars and feel better about the energy you use! For more info on Bullfrog Power or if you are inspired to make the change go to:

http://www.bullfrogpower.com

In BC we aren't so lucky as to have a program in place like Ontario and most other provinces do. There is some good news though. There are a few companies such as Sea Breeze Power and Naikun that are in the process of building large scale wind farms on Vancouver Island and along the BC coastline. The frustrating and understandable part is that these farms have to go through an environmental assessment before the site is deemed fit. As well the wind turbines have to put up during calm wind times, not sure when that is exactly, but it apparently happens over a two year period. Naikun is hoping to have their system up and running by 2009.

Some more fun facts about wind turbines;

~They last approximately 20-30 years
~ Wind is an endless source of energy, clean and reliable
~ Wind uses no water or harmful extraction processes to capture the energy, all they need is the blades to move in the wind

For more information on Wind Power in BC go to:

http://www.seabreezepower.com/projects/knobhill/video/KHWF.mpg
http://www.naikun.ca

Also there is also the Canadian Wind Energy Association for more info on other provinces and projects on the go!

http://www.canwea.ca

Stay tuned for more info on energy saving tips for your home!

*Pictures above - Left - Me in Saskatchewan at a wind farm, Right - Transport truck outside Sault St. Marie carrying a massive blade

Community Garden Day!

2007-03-03T14:36:00.000-08:00

Today I visited Vancouver's City Farmer! I have decided it is time to put my large balcony to some good use. At City Farmer I learned some methods to create a garden with a worm compost and hopefully add a rain collection barrel. The worm composter is fairly small and can only compost raw foods, no meats, dairy products, oily foods or grains though. The run off at the bottom of the bin has nutrient rich liquid that I can use to put into my garden! Also I will be looking for a smaller rain barrel, because water is very heavy and was pointed in the direction of Lee Valley to find something suitable for my deck.

Here are four great reasons to start your own worm composter:

1. Cut the Garbage
When you compost kitchen scraps, you reduce the amount of garbage going to our landfills and incinerator.
2. Conserve Water
Compost spread around the bases of trees, shrubs and perennials helps soil retain moisture and reduces the need to water.
3. Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Composting reduces garbage; less garbage means fewer truckloads to the landfill or incinerator. Less material in the landfill means less methane gas generated by garbage rotting there. The net result is reduced air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to global climate change.
4. Your plants will Thank You!
Worm compost is full of valuable nutrients. Finished compost will improve your container and garden soil by;
~releasing nutrients slowly
~reducing soil erosion
~reducing the need for fertilizers and pesticides

If you are interested in learning more about worm composting go to:
http://homepage.mac.com/cityfarmer/PhotoAlbum23.html

Other good news is that here in Vancouver in the month of May you can visit the Vancouver Composting Site and free of charge pick up one cubic meter of compost to use in your gardens! All you need is to bring containers to put it in or a truck! Compost is for sale year round there as well for about $10 a cubic meter.
http://www.vancouver.ca/engsvcs/solidwaste/landfill/annual.htm

I also learned that within the next couple of years the City of Vancouver will incorporate composting into our garbage pick up, so everyone can start saving their food scraps!

For everyone not living in Vancouver I suggest finding out if such programs are in place where you live and becoming involved!

Todays Tip!

2007-03-02T11:11:00.000-08:00

Hey All,

One of my favorite places to visit daily is www.treehugger.com. They have a great website where you can find so much info about being green. You can also sign up for a daily email where they send you top stories, ideas, companies,etc., that are green.

Check it out and become a treehugger!

Also watch the news tonight on CBC. David Suzuki is in Ottawa today on the final leg of his If I Were Prime Minister Tour. He will be speaking at the museum of civilization tonight and I hope there will be some coverage shown! I went to see him a couple of nights ago and was completely inspired!

Join his Vote for the Environment campaign so everyone in Parliment knows how important the environment is to all Canadians! There is an election coming and they need to know what Canadians want.
http://www.davidsuzuki.org/tour/vote.asp

I posted a video for this campaign on YouTube too...pretty funny!

Welcome!

2007-03-01T20:51:00.000-08:00