New Democratic Party Platform

Posted by Jen 9.29.2011 7 comments

Today I am reviewing the NDP platform. You can view the PC party platform from yesterday here.

The NDP platform is called the Plan for Affordable Change and it outlines making life affordable, jobs and health care. They also have an Affordable Green Choices Plan, and a Change that Works for Rural Ontario Plan.

I interviewed 2 candidates from the NDP Party. Nik Spohr from the Halton riding and Karen Gventer from the Dufferin-Caledon riding. Their answers are below and offer additional explanation of the NDP party platform.

Environment
     * Ensure the burden of the cost of recycling/disposal is on the manufacturer
     * Develop a cap and trade plan with revenues going to reducing carbon emissions
     * Strengthen regulations to reduce over packaging

What programs/incentives/penalties will be available to corporations to ensure that Ontario resources are kept in Ontario?
According to Nik the NDP party will ensure that the government is purchasing local products to build Ontario transportation, construction, local food processing, and other services. They want the government to always try to “Buy Ontario” first, and only go out of province if they can’t find that resource or product in the province.
  
Energy
     * Merge the 3 Agencies to reduce duplication and cost in the power sector
     * Fund large scale, publicly owned green energy projects (10,700 MW by 2018, 5000 by 2030)
     * Target 5000 MW of combined heat and power by 2021
     * Phase out coal powered electricity by 2014
     * Will not proceed with plans to build any nuclear plants

What incentives do you propose for individuals choosing the more sustainable products or services? 
Karen explains that the NDP party will help people who want to make their homes more energy efficient. We will offer rebates of up to $5,000 for people who want to retrofit their homes. As well, by making life more affordable for everyone, it will be easier for individuals to make more sustainable choices.

Food
     * Require Ontario government to spend more money on local produce
     * Assist farmers to market/promote their local food.
     * Increase Ontario grape content in 'cellared in Canada' wines
     * Expand risk management program for meat and honey

Your platforms says you will ban junk food advertising that is aimed at children. Does this include fast food restaurants like McDonalds?
Nik explains that the NDP want to amend the Consumer Protection Act to prohibit commercial advertising of “unhealthy food and drink” targeting children under the age of 13. The key word here is “targeting”- so we wouldn’t be banning advertising for unhealthy food and drink outright- only the advertising aimed at children, who are in an early-developmental state and highly susceptible to the addictive nature of these products. Both Nik and Karen agree that this would indeed include advertising by companies like McDonalds.

Transportation
     * Freeze transit fares at current levels for 4 years
     * Invest in new transit projects
     * Create cycling infrastructure (bike lanes, storage and bike tourism)

What improvements in transportation systems can Ontarians expect from the NDP party?
Nik outlines the NDP platform for transportation as a transit fare freeze over four years in exchange for a 50-50 budget funding model between municipalities and the province; making sure that transit models work for the community, and not profits, first; and support a comprehensive strategy that makes roads safer for cyclists and pedestrians. Karen explains that they would support an active transport strategy to make roads safer for cyclists and pedestrians.  An important principle of the NDP is to provide municipalities with more input into decisions; the NDP would work with municipalities to build public transit that makes sense for the community.

Health Care
     * Cut ER wait times in half
     * Scrap the LHIN's and replace with local decision making
     * Forgive student debt of new doctors who practice in under serviced communities
     * Fund 50 new 24 hour health care clinics by 2015

What programs can we expect to support new moms?
Nik explains that the NDP party will cancel the recent cuts to the Healthy Babies Healthy Children program. They will invest in the development of a provincial breast feeding strategy and pilot 4 birthing centers that will be run by Midwives. Their plan will cost $5 million but if they cap executive salaries at $300,000 then $80 million could be diverted to programs like these to help new mothers.

Do you plan to support other health professionals? (doulas, midwives, naturopaths etc)
Karen explains that in addition to what Nik outlined above for creating birthing centers for Midwives the NDP's plan to support prescribing authority to Naturopaths as it is necessary for them to maintain access to natural or botanical substances.

Additional Commitments include:
     * Removing the HST from daily essentials (hydro, gas for heating, gas for cars)
     * Will set gas price ceilings at the pump each week 
     * Develop an Ontario Retirement Plan 
     * Create a 10% tax credit for companies who invest in equipment and buildings in Ontario
     * Amend Mining Act so that minerals mined in Ontario are processed in Ontario

What do you think about the NDP platform? Have their 3 plans? What are your thoughts?

You can follow Nik and Karen on their Twitter accounts.

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Progressive Conservative Platform

Posted by Jen 9.28.2011 9 comments

During the federal election Annie at PhD in Parenting had great coverage of the party platforms. I decided to review the PC, NDP, Liberal and Green party platforms for the provincial election. I will mostly focus on their commitments to the environment, green energy, transportation, food and healthcare but I will also give the top highlights of other parts of their platforms. I also interviewed candidates from across the Province and will post their perspectives on their parties platforms. 

The Progressive Conservative platform is called the Change Book and it outlines their commitment to health care, education, taxes, business, transparency in government and the environment.

The Environment  
    * 100% of hunting and fishing license revenue will be dedicated to conservation
    * Investment of $10 million in Ontario Parks to make them even more enjoyable and accessible 
    * Increase funding to expand land acquisition for the Bruce Trail 
    * Cancellation of the eco taxes on items like batteries and light bulbs
 
Energy
    * Complete the closure of coal powered plants by 2014. Use sites for natural gas or biomass
    * Focus on natural gas, hydroelectric, and nuclear for power generation
    * Remove the provincial portion of the HST on hydro and the cost of home heating 
    * Unplug mandatory smart meters and allow families to decide if they want time-of-use pricing

Food
    * Implement  a Buy Ontario food policy

Transportation
    * Invest  more than $35 billion to pay for new infrastructure (transit and transportation)

Health Care
    * Eliminate the 14 Local Health Integration Networks (LHINs)
    * Make ER wait times available in real time through Telehealth and online
    * Increase annual investments in health care by more than $6 billion by the end of the first term

Addition Commitments include
    * Continue to roll out full day daycare
    * Reduce business tax to 10%
    * Lowering income taxes by 5% on the first $75,000 of taxable income
    * Change the tax system to allow all couples to share up to $50,000 of their income
    * End the foreign scholarship program and reinvest those funds in Ontario students instead
    * Create up to 60,000 post-secondary spaces in Ontario

I reached out to several PC candidates for interviews and did not hear back from any of them so I am unable to provide their perspective on the Change Book. 

What do you think about the PC platform? Have you read the Change Book? What are your thoughts?

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He Said - Joe's Reply to Fruit Flies

Posted by Joey 9.27.2011 6 comments

First off, let me start with this…..I have never done this before. I have never blogged, written a response to any editorial or story I have read in the on-line version of our local daily newspaper (although I’ve been tempted many a time), post a comment, HELL ….. as many family and friends can attest to, I haven’t even used the wall on Facebook, EVER! But alas, no better a time than now, to give the readers of my lovely wife’s Blog some insight of the “his” viewpoint.

Now let it be known, I will admit that Jen and I don’t always agree on certain ways of handling various pests or intruders. Jen will always resort to the more environmentally friendly solution first, followed by another if that doesn’t work, and then another. I will entertain the first attempt, but inside my manly instinct is already taking over and the little guy sitting on my shoulder wearing the skull and crossbones is chomping at the bit.

As you are all well aware by now, she has developed many enemies; bees, ants from hell, vines large enough to consume small children, and most recently the dreaded flesh-eating fruit flies. What prompted the decision to go out of my comfort zone was not the great “alternative” remedies she has offered to everyone, but to highlight the one flaw I as her husband have identified. Something that is a constant reminder each and every time I step out into the yard.

I admit that her remedy with the fruit-in-a-glass covered with plastic wrap worked…..it truly did. BUT, here is the flaw. You see, Jen makes the point of reminding everyone you can release them outside IF YOU WANT TO. People, in order for this to truly be an effective option you must, I repeat, you MUST remove the plastic from the glass!! As you can see from the picture, the constant reminder I have is the fossilized fruit flies that are still on the back step in the glass coffin for all to see, circa 2010!

Jen my love, the idea is to release them……but only IF YOU WANT TO I guess??

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Standing Up by Sitting In

Posted by Jen 9.25.2011 4 comments

Tomorrow environmental activists will gather in Ottawa to protest the Tar Sands Pipeline from Canada to the US. When I initially found out about the event I was excited and wanted to go. The reason why I will be at work tomorrow instead of Parliament Hill is because the risk of arrest was too high for me and adding to it is the fact that I would be 6 hours from home. In the end it was just too far outside my comfort zone. Now if there is another one that is closer to home I will seriously consider going.

The main issues are as follows:

*Alberta's land use planning process is currently not protecting biodiversity, managing tailing waste and placing limits on water withdrawals especially during low flow periods.

* 95% of the Woodland Caribou (a threatened species) habitat will be lost in order to promote tar sands development.

* Recent reports indicate that cancer rates are up 30% in the Aboriginal population and as such further studies are needed on the health impacts from the water pollution.

* There have been no successful reclamation of tailings to date and therefore no comprehensive plan to deal with the 223 billion gallons of toxic waste that will be generated by the tar sands.

* Models (no actual rates are available) indicate that roughly 3 million gallons of tailings leak into the environment every day from the tailing lakes. 

* Alberta plans on an emission growth over the long term (16% over 1990 levels) due to CO2 emissions from the tar sands. This will put Canada beyond the targets that we have committed to. 

* $820 million has been set aside by the Companies for reclamation but studies indicate that the actual costs could be $10-15 billion. The difference may have to paid by Albertans ($4300-$6300 per person).

This isn't just a Canada issue either. The US is heavily involved and citizens are standing up and saying No (99% of exports from the tar sands go to the US).  

What can you do?  
* Vote with your pocket book - Take public transit or if you have to have a vehicle buy hybrid or electric cars
* Talk to your local government about their stance on the tar sands. Use this information when elections come up
* Attend a protest or if you can not consider donating so someone else can
* Look for local events that can attend
* Educate as many people as you can about the tar sands

Have you taken action on the Tar Sands?

The Pembina Institute has a lot of research and papers available on this issue. I encourage you to check it out.

Related Posts - Check them Out
The Power of 1
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Mortal Enemy #76782371 - Fruit Flies

Posted by Jen 9.21.2011 9 comments

It's that time of year again....the time when peaches are in season, apples are delicious and fruit flies stalk us like we are their prey. All it takes is one night where you forget to take out the compost or you leave an apple core on a plate on the counter. You wake up and it is pure mayhem in your kitchen. Obviously everyone knows how to prevent getting fruit flies in the first place but let's be realistic...we are all going to get them every year so here are some green ways you can get rid of them. I have tried most of these over the years so I have put them in the order of what I find to be the most effective.

Soap and Vinegar - I put some vinegar into a shot glass and then add a few drops of dish soap on top. They say that apple cider vinegar works best but I have seen great results with balsamic and red wine vinegar. Perhaps I just have fancy fruit flies? You are probably wondering how this works? Magic! Or maybe science....so the fruit flies are all 'OMG look at that vinegar, I love me some vinegar' and they fly into the shot glass to enjoy its bounty. They think they can land on the vinegar but when they try the dish soap breaks the surface tension of the vinegar and BAM the fruit flies fall in and drown.

Fruit in a Jar - I take a piece of fruit that is a bit too ripe (like a peach or apple) and put it into a glass (I prefer clear so I can see the action). I then cover the glass with plastic wrap and secure the sides with an elastic. The top has to be very tight so it doesn't look like there is anything there...you want the plastic to act like a ninja barrier. Then poke some tiny holes into it using a pin or toothpick. Now sit back and watch as the fruit flies fly in but can not get out. You can then release them outside if you want to. Tip - re-use plastic wrap from packaging

Cone in a Jar - I haven't used this technique but basically you follow the same instructions as Fruit in a Jar but instead of doing the plastic on top you make a cone out of paper (scrap paper people) secure it so it is a tiny hole at the bottom. Place this into the opening of the jar.

Okay I just did a quick google search to see if there were any other methods that I hadn't used that I thought would work and I came across this. Check your flour. That's where they hatch larvae. You are looking for shed larvae skins. They are light brown and translucent. W.T.F? Okay now I am officially grossed out.

How do you get rid of fruit flies? You totally want to go and check your flour don't you?

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Wordless Wednesday - New Growth

Posted by Jen 9 comments

This is the tree that we bought for Earth Day.

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Beyond Junk Mail

Posted by Jen 9.20.2011 3 comments

This week we got 2 pieces of mail that went beyond junk mail. The first was stuck to our front door with magnets. When our friend found it she asked why the hell we have a picture of our house on our house. You see a local real estate agent put a laminated picture of our house with a calendar under it on our front door. I'm not sure why someone would want a picture of their own house. I'm also not sure what I am supposed to do with a calendar that I can't write on. And you should see the grass in the picture...it is like they photoshopped it greener to stick it to us that our lawn sucks. 



I hope that next year I get a picture of my car under my wiper.

The 2nd pieces of junk mail on steroids that we got was related to our upcoming provincial election. We got not 1 but 3 political ads from our local PC candidate. These ads were printed on cardstock that is thicker than a cereal box. And forget about recycled content....these bad boys looked like genuine virgin trees.

How can you prevent receiving items like this in the mail? You could try searching for services that allow you to "block" junk mail but I don't think that would have prevented us from getting either of these items. I plan on reaching out to the real estate agent and the politician and explaining the situation to them so hopefully they will change their practices in the future. 

What is the weirdest and most un-eco friendly that you have gotten in the mail?

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Green Cleaner Review - Method All Purpose Cleaner

Posted by Jen 9.18.2011 0 comments





When I first started to use Method's All Purpose Cleaner I was positive I would not like it because the smell over powered my senses. It was like a pink grapefruit on crack. I have since tried the Lilac as well and it is the exact same over powering fragrance at first. It is weird because the 2nd or 3rd time I use it I don't have the same sensory overload. I'm certain that it isn't because I have burned all my nostril hairs or something but I do think that it is worth mentioning for those that are more sensitive to fragrances. Maybe try shaking the bottle before you first use it.


I instantly did like the results that I got with the cleaner. It is great for heavy spills and also every day use. I used it in our kitchen, family room and dining room and found similar results using it on wood, laminate and stainless steel. Another thing about this product that I like is that you don't need a lot to get results. 1 bottle lasted me longer than 6 months and I used it every day.

On the Method website you can see exactly what is in this product. It is non toxic, biodegradable, and the bottles are made from 100% recycled plastic. 

What would have given this product a 5 leaf rating? Well if there was a way to buy a refill instead of having to buy the entire bottle all over again. They have this for some of their other products so hopefully they will have it for their all purpose cleaners sometime soon. The fragrance issue mentioned above also is a reason I did not give it a 5. Their website indicates that they have a Free and Clear option but I have yet to see this in store here.

Have you used this product? What did you think of it?

** I bought this product myself and was not asked to review it. I am an affiliate of well.ca which does offer Method products for sale.

Related Posts - Check them Out
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I'm the Green Reaper

Posted by Jen 9.14.2011 2 comments

I have been trying to get rid of this vine on the side of our house all summer and before me Joe was trying for 2 years. I have tried ripping it up, digging up root balls, swearing at it and pouring hot water on it. I took this picture almost a month ago of what the vine looked like on one side of the fence.


That afternoon I poured an entire jug of pickling vinegar on the root balls on the other side of that fence. Today I went out to check on its progress. I expected to see the vine growing stronger than normal, angry at what I had done. I found this instead. 


Basically what you see in the first picture was on this side of the fence as well. So this is massive progressive. I am going to have to check and see if there is a root ball on the other side of the fence because there is still some growth there. 

What I learned in all of this is that there are natural ways to get rid of nuisance plants (this one was climbing into our eaves troughs, the vent for our dryer and the vent for our fireplace. It also made the gate completely in accessible). Yes it took longer than if I had used a chemical but now that I know vinegar works things will go much quicker if I ever have to do this again.

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The Earth is Part of Us

Posted by Jen 9.13.2011 2 comments

I remember taking a course in University that focused on systems where we learned how everything in the ecosystem is connected in one way or the other. At the time I remember being bored to death and thinking that I will never need to know this information. But now I find myself looking closely at the food we eat. Where does it come from, how is it grown, is it sprayed with chemicals, what is it fed, how is it transported, how is it prepared. But how does the food I eat make me feel? This is a question I started to ask myself after reading Brendan Brazier's book Whole Foods to Thrive (it is titled Thrive Foods in the US). I found myself nodding in agreement as I read the book. Cravings for starches and sweets - Check. Fatigue at 2PM - Check. Difficulty sleeping - Check. But is this a daily occurrence for me or is it only certain days? Truthfully it isn't all the time (which is good it is only when I get into a horrible pattern with food. Where I am too tired from the day to cook or if I do cook it is something quick and easy and probably not all that great for me. And that right there is the problem I am sure many are faced with. We feel this way because of the food we are eating and in order to break the cycle we need to start eating healthier. Not just fruits and vegetables but the right fruits and vegetables.

The 2nd big eye opener for me what when I read 'Each time we take a bite of food, part of the environment literally becomes part of our biological fabric, our bodies....the Earth is part of us'. To me this just stresses the point that how our food is 'treated' impacts how our body reacts to it. Whole Foods to Thrive explains the environmental impact of the food we eat and how eating healthier whole foods can not only make our bodies feel better but can reduce our foods impact on the environment. 

The Standard American Diet is heavy on red meat, processed based foods and dairy. For 1 day this diet on average would produce 9604g of CO2e (Carbon dioxide equivalent emissions).

The Healthy American Diet is made up of less processed foods and for 1 day this diet on average would produce 5374g of CO2e.

The Whole Foods to Thrive Suggestion is composed of plant based whole foods and for 1 day on average would produce 1199g of CO2e.

That is a massive difference in emissions isn't it? So if eating the foods that are outlined in this book are better for the environment and for your healthy why aren't more people eating this way? I believe it is because we think it is complicated and complicated means more time which most people do not have. I made some of the recipes in the book and you know what....they were easy and fast. I made a variation of the Grilled Spinach with Salsa Rustica. Basically instead of putting the salsa on spinach I put it on whole grain bread and heated it in the oven to make bruschetta bread. It took me less than 15 minutes. I also made the Garlic Thyme Sweet Potato Oven Fries which including cooking time took 40 minutes.  The book also outlines the properties that are important in the key nutrient dense foods which for me helped to identify why it is important to throw those pumpkin seeds on a salad rather than just leave them off because it is easier to not have to try and find them in the grocery store. 

You can buy Whole Foods to Thrive on Amazon.ca and you can buy Thrive Foods on Amazon.com.

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I received Whole Foods to Thrive to read and review but all the views expressed above are completely my own.

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Step by Step

Posted by Jen 9.12.2011 0 comments

This past Saturday I spent my day doing this.


For the 2nd year in a row I walked in the Weekend to End Women's Cancer walk. Last year I did the full 2 day 60 km journey. This year we did the 1 day 35km walk (because seriously my feet still have not healed from last year).

Last year I blogged about the environmental impacts of the walk. I am happy to say that there were a few improvements this year! 

Last Year - No recycling or composting at the pit stops, lunch, start or finish. 
This Year - They had signs on the waste bins indicating that the waste company will separate out the recycling and compost from the trash.

Last Year - Walkers dropped garbage all over the streets.
This Year - Walkers walked out of their way between pit stops to drop off waste and recyclables in the appropriate bins outside of peoples homes/businesses.

Last Year - Powerade was available in plastic bottles. 
This Year - There was some Powerade available in bottles but they now had big jugs of Gaterade that you could fill up your reusable bottle with . Or they had cups that you could use if you didn't want to fill up your bottle.

I'm happy to see some improvements and hope that each year they continue to reduce their impact by choosing sponsors and vendors that have environmental programs and by looking at ways to reduce the overall footprint of the event. 

Total number of kilometers walked - 95
Total number of hours spent walking - 20
Total number of blisters - 9
Total dollars raised - $3425
Total impact on my life - Unforgettable


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Super Stalker Sunday

Posted by Jen 9.11.2011 3 comments

Welcome to the weekly Super Stalker Sunday hop!

Super Stalk Sunday
What is Super Stalker Sunday?


Glad you asked! Super Stalker Sunday is a weekly blog hop hosted by
Mariah of Formula Mom
and Emily of Nap Time is My Time
Blogs hops are a great way to meet other bloggers, socialize and gain more followers. Do you like to socialize? Well, we all like followers, right?!


If you've been around the blogosphere you know there are Blog Hop's for everything you can think of and every day of the week: RSS Feed, Google Friend Connect, Email Readers, Facebook Fans, and Twitter Followers.


Well, why not get all of your followers in one place once a week? This is the place to do just that!


How to Super Stalk


Follow each host at least one way. Don't forget to let them know you did so by commenting on their blog. We will return all follows, but please be patient as we are busy mama's it may take us a few days to return the visit and follow.


You will only have to link up on one of the host sites and your link will appear on all as we use the same linky.


After you follow the hosts, follow as many bloggers in as many ways as you are willing!
Already follow somebody? Consider visiting and following them in another way as well!


Remember: You will only get as much as you give. The more blogs you can visit, the more visits you will gain in return. We are all here to socialize and greet, not visit only your blog.


While we encourage sharing our button and hop with as many as possible, it is not required. The more you spread the word though, the more we socialize and all gain followers!

This week's featured blogger is






We took this opportunity to ask Jen a few questions and here are her answers:


What’s your favorite way to stalk a blog? - From the bushes :) And I guess also GFC. I love my Reader and being able to label and group blogs together. I used to have a hard time staying on top of it but I recently created a 'Read First' folder and it has helped me to read, interact and not have my Reader jump to over 1000 unread.


You have an extra hour added to your day,what would you do with it? - Before Saturday (the 10th) my answer would be that I would walk. I am training for the Weekend to End Women's Cancers walk and feel like I am in crunch time right now. After the 10th my answer would be that I would grab a glass of wine and talk/laugh with Joe.


Is there a TV show that you have watched every episode? - Lost. I am still in mourning that it is no longer on.


What book is currently on your nightstand? - Whole Food to Thrive


Pick a post,any post. - No Paper Project


If you would like to be a featured blogger, being shared with more than 4,000 combined followers between the hosts of this hop, please link up! At the end of each week we will select a blog via Random.Org to be the featured blog for the following week.
This linky will go live Saturday at 7:00 PM PST and end Monday at 12:00 PM PST.


If you would like to also place this linky on your blog, please feel free to write up your own post and grab the code here.
Thank you for participating, now let's go "stalk" up a storm!



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Eco Pets

Posted by Jen 9.08.2011 2 comments

This is our cat and he is an eco-pet. He eats locally made food and his litter is made from old crushed up corn husks which we can then put into our compost system. We don't buy him a lot of crazy cat toys because at the end of the day he just really wants to play with a beer cap or a piece of pasta (yah I know...he is weird).




There are a loads of eco-friendly options out there for pets (okay mostly cats because we don't have a dog) including:

Pet beds - L sleeps in window sills, on the floor, on furniture or sometimes if I am really really lucky on my head. This means we have no need for a pet bed. I have tried before and he shows no interest in laying in one. If your pet does like pet beds look for one made from recycled materials (ie: recycled plastic bottles) or make one from your old pillows.

Toilets - There are loads of eco friendly litter products on the market now including those made from corn, newspaper or wood chips. I find that sometimes these products are harder to find and may require going to a specific pet store. We have been using litter made from corn for a few years now and are very happy with the results. For dogs think about the bags you are using to scoop the poop. Look for options that are biodegradable or even made from paper if your compost accepts pet waste.

Cleaners - Cats puke...it is just the way the world works. When L pukes he always seems to move away from the tile and hardwood onto the carpet...which is totally awesome right? To clean it up I use reusable cloth wipes and oxiclean. There are loads of pet friendly cleaners on the market that you can use and that are effective. Also try baking soda and use it to make a paste over any pet stains.

Toys - Like I said we don't need to have that many since L shows no interest in playing with regular cat toys. When buying pet toys look for those made with organic materials (like cotton), natural fillers and dyes.
Food - There are so many options for food and treats on the market now or you can make your own. We opt for a locally made organic food and then organic treats. Look for food with natural ingredients with less fillers like ash.

What do you do to reduce your pets impact on the environment?

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The Power of 1

Posted by Jen 9.06.2011 2 comments

I often find myself wondering if 1 person can make a difference when it comes to the environment. Yes this means I question if everything thing I have done and will do matters at all. If there are people who say 'fuck it' when it comes to the environment don't they just erase any good that I and others like me have done? Surely given the state of our world we are outnumbered. So why press on? Why continue to try?

I am only one, but I am one.  I cannot do everything, but I can do something.  And I will not let what I cannot do interfere with what I can do.  ~Edward Everett Hale

1 person can make a difference, they just need to have a voice....an outlet to share their passion.Sure the fact that I compost is not going to save the world or solve our ever growing garbage problem. But if one person raises their hand and asks 'why don't we start a local composting program' or 'why don't we give away compost bins for home use' they can affect change in their local community. And as more communities catch on the momentum spreads and it becomes a movement....and all because someone asked 'what if'.

Bob Hunter was a true eco warrior who started out just like you and I. He found others who were like minded and together they started a small little movement called Greenpeace. Together they took The Power of 1 and affected change in a very big way. He started by spreading the truth about business practices, whaling, nuclear testing and seal hunts. He educated others in order to arm them with the knowledge and resources they would need to turn their Power of 1 into the Power of 100....the Power of 1000....the Power of 100,000.

Now I am no Bob Hunter but I still have a voice and my passion is clear. I am an educated consumer who shops locally as often as possible. I am aware of the impact our family has and am actively working to reduce that impact. I vote for a better Canada by always considering environmental policies, I strive to live by example and foster the same mentality within my son.

What can you do?
* Find your voice (if you haven't already).
* Look for what ignites that passion inside of you and run with it.
* Examine your life and the impact you have and look for opportunities for improvement.
* Volunteer locally and connect with like minded individuals.
* Talk about your crunchiness! Don't hide it, don't shy away from it...embrace it.
* Know that you CAN make a difference....as 1, 1000 or 100,000

Related Posts - Check them Out
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Zero Waste Week - Focusing on waste outside of the home

Posted by Jen 9.05.2011 5 comments

It is easy to have control over what waste you produce when you are within your own home. We have weighed our waste streams, conducted the No Impact Experiment and over the years focused our efforts on waste reduction in our home and away from the home. It is certainly more difficult to keep your impact minimized when you are at work, on the road, on vacation etc. It isn't that you can't stay green in these situations but it can take more work to be at the same level as when you are at home. Sure it usually means we are carrying garbage home with us but some planning in advance can make this much easier. I think it is also an opportunity to lead by example, walk the walk, spread the crunchy.

Reusable containers - I have a coffee mug and water bottle at work that I use each day, I take my lunch and snacks in reusable containers and I bring my own cutlery. If we travel we take these things with us too. B has reusable snack bags that are great for in the car or when out and about. An opportunity for improvement for us is to take reusable containers when we are getting take out. That can be a focus for us in the future since we are currently not eating any takeout food. I don't get coffee in the morning but for those of you who do try taking your own mug.

Compost and recycle on the go - We have recycling at work so I do not have to bring any of that home but if we are not at home and there is no recycling available I will bring it home. Same goes for composting. I bring a container to work each day for collecting compostables which I then bring home to compost. You don't have to get fancy with how to store and transport your compost. I simply use an old ice cream or cottage cheese container.

Bring your own snacks - It is easier, cheaper and more environmentally friendly to bring your own snacks when you are away from home. For quick trips we just bring food for B but for those longer trips I bring a big container full of a variety of snacks for all of us.

Dining out - Food waste is a large contributor to the piles in our landfills so when you are eating at a restaurant if you don't eat everything you order take it home with you. Bonus points if you bring your own takeout containers!

This week is Zero Waste Week and is an opportunity to reflect on your current practices and find opportunities for improvement. What can you do to reduce the impact your waste has when you are not at home? We will be continue to focus on what we are currently doing and ensure we do it 100% of the time. You can see what others are doing by heading over to Reduce Footprints and the Change the World Wednesday Post.

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Being Present in Nature

Posted by Jen 9.04.2011 2 comments

Nature plays a big role in my life. It started at a young age too...I was not even a year old when I went on my first camping trip. My parents had us out hiking, camping and bike riding pretty much the entire summer. As a kid I would explore every inch of the forest, taking it all in. The sound of wood breaking underfoot of a chipmunk running across the path, the smell of pine and wet moss. I find as we grow up we stop being present in the moment. We are too busy talking or texting or taking pictures to really enjoy why we decided to be in nature in the first place.

On one of our walks last week I came across this old tractor. It looked like it has been there for decades but I have never seen it in the hundreds of times we have walked down this path. 


I had missed this old rusty tractor frame hundreds of times because I wasn't present in the nature surrounding us. I was too busy focusing on what was in front of me rather than what was around me. One day I went on a walk with B and left the stroller at home. We took our time, stopped to look at crickets and frogs, to pick up sticks and throw stones. I was in that moment with him and it rocked.


Perhaps every walk after work or on a warm Saturday morning shouldn't be about 'something to do' or 'wasting time until bedtime'. It should be about slowing down, relaxing and reconnecting with each other and the environment around us. By teaching our kids to do this we are teaching them to appreciate nature and perhaps that will instill the drive within them to want to protect it.

What do you do to get out and enjoy nature?

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Reducing Food Waste

Posted by Jen 9.02.2011 2 comments

I was cleaning out our fridge the other day and was happy that we can compost everything. Some things can only be composted in the city program which means resources are used for this process. So while it is great that they are not going into the landfill there is still an environmental impact to composting. The solution is to be less wasteful with food.

We try to menu plan to not only take advantage of sales but also to ensure that we have less food waste in the end. Make sure you only buy what you need. Sometimes the deals just seem so good that people end up buying more than they really need and then it doesn't get used and becomes waste. If a recipe calls for something that we don't use on a regular basis then we look for another recipe that also calls for it so we can use it all up. If we have bought meat we make sure to separate it into smaller portions so we can easily grab what we need out of the freezer and not be cooking 6 chicken breasts just because they were packaged together in the store.

Cook only what you need. We make enough for dinner and then lunch the next day. But sometimes we don't take it for lunch (for some reason this always happens with pasta) and then we find it in the back of the fridge and we have to compost it. Now we try to watch portion sizes to make sure we are not making too much.

Keep an eye on expiry dates. I check them in the store before I even buy them so make sure it won't expire before I can use it. If fruit or vegetables are getting to the point of being over ripe then use them up! I freeze bananas for banana bread and smoothies. Strawberries also get frozen for smoothies, bread gets cut up for croutons, peaches and apples become delicious peach/apple crisp, veggies become the base for veggie stock.


The biggest thing to avoid food waste is proper storage. It can be a real PITA to keep fruit and veggies fresh. I find that our fridge keeps them for a really long time which does help. Not every type of fruit and veggie can be stored in the same manner so find out what works best for what you have. I don't use any plastic bags or wrap to store produce and have found that they last longer this way.

You know what you want to avoid......clean out the fridge nights. I HATED those as a kid. Seriously, they were the worst nights ever because it was never the good leftovers that were left.
What do you do to reduce the amount of food waste that you generate?

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Weekly Eco-Challenge: No More Fast Food

Posted by Jen 9.01.2011 3 comments

I never really used to eat that much fast food until I started to date Joey. He is somewhat of a fast food junkie (burgers mostly) and it seriously has an impact on my eating habits...because it is easier. But it is so very very bad for both of us. Plusalso fast food is horrible for the environment. 

This weeks eco-challenge will be a month long. We will be going the entire month with no fast food (this includes take out pizza). I wonder who will crack first? My money is on Joey losing it first. I think I will find him curled up in a ball in the closet eating an extra large pizza. Cheese and sauce and a look of satisfaction all over his face.

How much fast food do you eat? Want to join in on the "fun"? Let me know if you are up for it and how you are progressing!

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