greenliving

My mother has spent the last 9 years of her life in San Francisco, but it’s only last week that I actually got a chance to go visit her. Considering Vancouver is just a short flight away, it seems a shame I never made the trip earlier. But this time, I was ready for a break and her 72nd birthday was a great opportunity to go visit.

The city is quite incredible. I mean, we all know about cable cars and windy streets, but what impressed me the most was how ‘organic’ the city is. Take the area my mother lives in (and no mum, I’m not giving out your address!). It’s on a busy street with tons of ethnic and diverse restaurants. One of the most popular amongst them is ‘Pauline’s Pizza”. They serve only pizzas and two kinds of salads, and both are made from herbs and veggies grown (organically of course) in Pauline’s garden. The wine is organic too. My delicious salad came complete with an organically reared ant, which I promptly set free to go graze on other organic delights.

Apart from Pauline’s, it’s heartening to see even the small delis serving some organic fare. And coupled with a healthy lifestyle (you have got to be fit to a certain extent if you want to negotiate the streets of San Francisco), I’m sure most city dwellers have a long life expectancy. A big thumbs up for San Francisco!

For more information on Pauline’s Pizza, visit their site at www.paulinespizza.com

Airports fascinate me. I mean, how many other places can you name, where masses of humanity congregate for just a few hours of their time, giving way to newer people, newer faces, all going to different destinations. So, on my recent flight to San Francisco to visit my mother, I was rather surprised to see a young gentlemen sitting peacefully amidst all the hustle and bustle, with a smile on his face. He must have been around 18, and had on the customary teenage uniform, comprising of jeans and a tee shirt, with headphones over his ears. But what was different about him was the fact that in his hands, he had a book. Not a comic book or one usually read by the young. He was in fact reading Adria Vasil’s Ecoholic. For those of you who don’t know this book, it’s a fantastic account of environmentally friendly products and services available in Canada. When I finally cornered him at the check in queue and asked him why he was smiling (an odd question no doubt, but he didn’t seem to mind), he told me it was because he was enjoying the book. Not the ‘metal music’ I could hear pounding away on his eardrums, but the book he was reading! Renews your faith in the next generation, doesn’t it?

Of course I have a copy of Ecoholic and for those of you who want to do some serious reading, it’s worth investing in it. You can also visit her site at www.ecoholic.ca

Am back and this time it was a super vacation to the Canadian Rockies. For those who have been there, you’ll know what I’m taking about. For those who haven’t - two words- Go there! Right now. Ok, so that’s four words, but oh, truer words were never spoken.

When we first moved to Canada, our impression of the country prior to the plane touching ground, was lots of mountains, clear air, sparkling lakes, bears and …this last impression was mine alone, definitely not shared by my husband - hunky men! Canada has definitely lived up to my expectations. And for hunky men - the rockies it is! Actually, the area has just about everything a gal - green or otherwise, would love. It’s amazing to see acres and acres of forested land and spotting our first bear, elk, moose and deer - all just meandering along the roadside, left us pretty dumbstruck. Of course, the easiest way to spot an animal is to stop next to the line up of tourists in cars, RV’s and bikes - all with their cameras out, clicking away furiously. My husband swears the animals get trained and paid (in grass, the munching kind i.e.) to stand around, because they seemed to be quite at ease with the situation, and a lot of our best views were in towns such as Jasper and Lake Louise and around public areas such as gas stations and golf courses. We sensible folk of course know that this is because they probably get fed by tourists - naughty naughty. But more on that later. For now, am off to unload the dirty laundry and get back into city life.

The next few weeks, greenliving is going to be a bit silent, as I pack my bags and head off with the family to visit the Canadian Rockies. I am very excited as it’s only something we’ve seen in pictures and documentaries, and I can’t wait to explore its wilderness and soak in its beauty.

If like me, you’re going to be heading outdoors, then I hope you think of taking certain precautions to protect your favorite sites and spots from what I call, camping decay.

Many of us litter and abuse the sites we love, often unknowingly. It takes only a few people, to do a few random acts against nature, to destroy it forever.

SOAP/CLEANERS – Have you seen people sprinkle dish powder around their site to keep it ant free? When it rains, the powder which contains bleach is going to soak into the earth, polluting it. Similarly, emptying your dirty dish water into areas meant for drinking or bathing causes water pollution. Use designated sewer areas or drains for this. Better yet, use environmentally friendly cleaners, when you go camping (and otherwise too).

LITTER- You know that being a litter bug is not very nice. But you may do it anyways.

The following items are non biodegradable and are in fact, harmful to pets, children and the general wildlife around campsites- Aluminum foil, Diapers , Cigarette butts, Styrofoam and PVC, Beer and Coke cans. Other litter may include wrappers, disposable plates and cutlery and the biggest offender, food. The latter not only takes a long while to disintegrate, but also will attract a whole host of wildlife and insects to the site. Take a couple of bags with you and dispose of your picnic into it. And then drop it off in the appropriate bin. Leave the site cleaner for its next visitor.

GRAFFITI- Graffiti is not only offensive to the eyes, often it is impossible to clean off and stays on for a long time. When going outdoors, think of alternative ways of expressing your love for Suzie or Ronald, by taking them to see the sun set from the top of the hill. Or vent your angst by going for a long jog or hike. Not only will Suzie appreciate the gesture and you feel better, but the rest of the site visitors can enjoy the view as nature intended it to be.

So, this is something new I learned today - the average microwave, one that is not in active use on a daily basis, uses more energy to power its digital clock, than it does to heat up a dish! So, if you don’t really need that clock display, you may want to think of turning it off when not in use. Other ways you can save energy are by reheating on low instead of high power. And remember to cover the dish that’s being heated.

When cleaning your microwave, say goodbye to expensive cleaners and instead, dab on a little baking soda on a sponge and give it a good wipe down. The baking soda acts as an abrasive cleaner, while at the same time, absorbing any food odors that remain inside. Another great way to get rid of odors is to heat a bit of diluted lemon juice in bowl, for a few seconds. While still damp, wipe the inside surface. Your microwave will come away clean and nice smelling.

Did you know that plastic comes in many forms and not all are recyclable? No matter how Eco conscious you get, there are times when you can’t get away from using plastic. What you can do however, if learn to differentiate between good and bad plastics.

Polyethylene terephthalate (PET or PETE) - This is one of the most popular of plastics and probably the most recycled as well. You’ll find shampoo, soda and water bottles all made from PET. They do contain UV stabilizers, but probably have fewer harmful additives in them .

High density polyethylene (HDPE) - This is the kind of plastic found in your milk jugs and shopping bags. Some of it can be recycled, a lot, such as margarine tubs, at times, can’t. Check to see if your container has #2 on it, and is the kind your municipality accepts.

Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) - Another popular household name, PVC probably ranks as one of the top Eco offenders of all. PVC is make up of vinyl chloride, a known human carcinogen. Used mainly in the construction business, you’ll also find old vinyl records, vinyl sofa seating and vinyl clothing, all containing PVC. If your plastic bottle or container has the number 3 or V on it, it too contains PVC and probably won’t be recyclable.

Polypropylene (PP) - In many municipalities, this cannot be recycled, making it an unfavorable choice for single use items.

Polystyrene (Styrofoam) - Another plastic which commonly cannot be recycled.

You can generally find the kind of plastic your container is made up of, by looking at the embossed logo at the bottom of the container. Try to choose the types that are recyclable, such as a #1 (PET or PETE) or #2 (HDPE). In addition, speak to your municipality to see the kind of plastic they accept.

Apparently when it comes to water usage, we Canadians are the second highest per capita in the world!

Why should we let all that water go to waste? One way of saving is through recycling grey water - i.e. used water from non-toilet sources. There are numerous and easy ways to do it. Place a large bowl in the sink when you rinse out all your veggies. Or place a bucket in the shower next to you, to capture your bath water. I know, it sounds a bit tedious. But think of the amount of water you’ll be saving each day. Water, which in turn can be reused to wash your car, water your plants and garden, or, to flush your toilets.

Envirosink produces cool grey water gadgets that allow you to pour any water collected into a storage tank, to be used at your convenience. You can also purchase more complicated gadgets with filters and pumps that make saving and storing water a breeze.

Remember though, that you do need to take care of what’s in your grey water. It should not contain too many chemicals, especially if you’re going to be reusing it in your garden. Using natural bath products is one way of getting around this. Don’t spray veggies or fruit directly with it and keep in mind, that you don’t want anything in your grey water, that you’re not happy spraying your soil with.

For more information, and to get all your questions answered, visit www.greywater.net

Some cool trivia:

How much of the earth’s water is suitable for drinking water?
1%

Is it possible for me to drink water that was part of the dinosaur era?
Yes - water is constantly recycled

What is the most common substance found on earth?
Water

How much water does the average residence use during a year?
Over 100,000 gallons (indoors and outside)

How much water does an individual use daily?
Over 100 gallons (all uses)

How many miles of pipeline and aqueducts are in the United States and Canada?
Approximately one million miles, or enough to circle the earth 40 times

For more water trivia, visit this interesting site- www.epa.gov and click on kids/water trivia

How much water does an average person use each day?

An average person uses about 123 gallons (466 liters) of water daily. Some individual household activities and the amount of water they consume are listed below:

Sources: Famighetti, Robert, ed.The World Almanac Book…

Hands up those of us who are slaves to take-out!

We all know that cooking at home is a far healthier and energy saving option. But most of us still lack the time to go home and cook that big nourishing dinner, and opt instead for the nearest take out joint or supermarket freezer section. If time is a problem, then try cooking over the weekends and freezing food in small batches, which can be reheated instantly. If you prefer fresh daily cooked meals, then there are loads of 30 minute recipes you can download from the internet (downloading will also save you from buying cookbooks that are rarely used completely), or borrow from the library. When cooking, try the following- instead of cooking your dish on high heat for the time given, switch the gas off 5-7 minutes in advance and let the pan, covered tightly, sit on the hot stove. The food will continue to cook on it’s own. This works well while boiling pasta and eggs too. Similarly, don’t bother preheating the oven unless you’re cooking bread, pastries or souffles. Incorporate stir-fries into your cooking. It takes the same amount of time and energy to do a stir fry, as it does to reheat a pre-packaged meal. And the results are definitely more tasty and nutritious as well. And finally, buy a slow-cooker. This is an excellent time and energy saver for the busy person.

For excellent 30 minute or less meals, some websites to browse are:

Simplified Living Online - http://www3.telus.net/slon/chef.html

Rachel Ray’s 30 minute meals: www.rachelray.com

I’ve stopped going to the gym. I used to find it enjoyable, working out on the treadmill and appreciating the other beautiful men and women running alongside me. But one day, it dawned on me that, there’s nothing quite as unhealthy as being cooped up in an air conditioned, all sweat, enclosed atmosphere, sharing treadmills and bench presses, while watching inane television soap operas. So, I decided to skip the gym in favor of exercising at home or outdoors.

Exercising outside the gym does not necessarily mean boring or…boring. There are a variety of ways to add fun to the mix. Try going jogging with a buddy.  Not only will you have someone to pace you, but you’ll get that extra energy to do the final 100 meters. Or, join an outdoor walking or jogging group. Most communities have these set up and they are easy and fun to join. Want to try something new? You can always take up cycling, swimming or hiking. How about mountain climbing, surfing or skiing? The outdoors offer a variety of exercises depending on where you live and the level of thrill you seek. If you find that you’re not motivated to don those sneakers unless you pay for it, then set up an ‘exercise box’ and drop in $5 each time you exercise. Use that money to treat yourself to something nice when you finish 10 sessions.

If you are going to watch TV while you exercise, then why not use the opportunity to learn something new? Ever wanted to try yoga or Pilates? How about kick boxing or belly dancing. If you’re new to any exercise, always make sure you start at the beginner’s skill level and always with a doctor’s approval.

So, stop that gym membership (put the money into your ‘exercise box’), don a pair of sneakers and head outdoors!

If you can’t afford to take public transport, or swap your car for a hybrid, then the next best thing is to try and maximize the efficiency of your current vehicle. You can do this in a number of ways:

1. Slow down: By sticking to the speed limits, especially on highways, you’ll use 20% less fuel. The slower you drive, the more you save.

2. Use natural air conditioning: Opening your windows and switching off your car’s air conditioning will save you another 20%. On the highways, this may not be possible, but while cruising along city roads, give it a try.

3. Pump up your tires: Proper tire pressure can reduce your greenhouse gas emissions by an eight of a ton a year. So, keep a little tire gauge handy and check tire pressure often.

4. Clean out your trunk: By loading your car with unnecessary equipment, you’ll only be making it heavier and leading it to gobble up more fuel. Unload the groceries and remove your golf clubs as soon as you get home.

5. Carpool: If you are using your vehicle, then get others to share it. And take turns, so yours is not the only car driving around the block.