Green heroes and a giveaway
With Earth Day now behind us we musn't forget the importance of treating out planet with respect and kindness. In order to do so daily, I look to some of my green heroes for inspiration and guidance. Since I was a kid, David Suzuki's name has been synonomous with the environment. My ears always perk when his name is mentioned and I take what he says seriously. I also find him handsome ... but that's neither here nor there. Also, as you may have noticed in previous posts, I'm a big fan of Adria Vasil. I am forever consulting her book Ecoholic for great tips and guidance on how to green-ify certain aspects of my life. Lastly, I greatly admire Alisa Smith and J.B. MackKinnon (of The 100-Mile Diet fame), who mobilized a mass of people to start thinking seriously about eating locally.
And in honour of my green heroes, I'm announcing a green hero book giveaway!! Tell me who your green hero is and why, and you could win these three essential books to get your green library growing (don't forget, you must be a subscriber to be eligible to win, so make sure you subscribe to my blog today!).
- Three essential (and amazing) green reads
• The Big Picture, by David Suzuki and Dave Robert Taylor
• Ecoholic, by Adria Vasil
• The 100-Mile Diet, by Alisa Smith and J.B. MackKinnon
I'll announce the winner here on Monday May 11! I can't wait to read about your green heroes.
May 4th, 2009 at 9:52 pm
My current green heroes are Alisa Smith and James MacKinnon. I have read their book and am addicted to 100 Mile Diet Challenge on HGTV. They are a young couple much to be admired. They have certainly changed the way I think about food and how far it travels to get to my kitchen. So much so that I actually started foraging - most recently for stinging nettles from which I made pesto and also froze several bags of steamed nettles to use throughout the year instead of spinach. I'm also sourcing out all sorts of other foods and buying locally grown food whenever I can.
May 4th, 2009 at 9:53 pm
David Suzuki is not only my Green hero, but my all-around hero in general. He has been by far the most influential Canadian public figure in my life. Growing up watching 'The Nature of Things' I instantly found a mentor in Suzuki. Seeing him speak at conferences is invigorating. His passion is contagious, and I always leave inspired and ready to take action. My second hero, was an old environmental science highschool teacher Mrs Ogilvy. She really opened my eyes, and inspired me to adopt a vegetarian diet. Something I am so thankful for!
May 4th, 2009 at 9:54 pm
my green hero is "elizabeth may". elizabeth is the leader of the "federal green party". during her campaign, running for prime minister, she had many good ideas about making our country "green"and is continuing to lecture, on eco-system technologies, whenever she is a guest speaker at all events; political or otherwise.
May 4th, 2009 at 10:15 pm
My green heroes are right here under my own roof. I have been able to transform my family into conscientious consumers. They read labels, limit packaging, and are willing to carry their reusable bags where ever they go. On a daily basis, I find them less confused about what goes where when we recycle/compost.
They have even become reliant on pedal power. Parking the car and using their bikes instead. Mom the taxi is becoming obsolete.
Hey, I've even reintroduced a hand can opener and donated the electric to a charity drive.
Every little bit counts.
May 4th, 2009 at 10:25 pm
One of my Green heroes is David Suzuki because he is Canadian! Well, not just that but also very knowledgeable about climate change. Another is First Step Green, a youth led group working on climate change issues. It shows the innovation youth can bring to the fight against climate change and other environmental issues.With conferences for youth by youth, FSG encourages teens amd young adults to change their ways. There is a growing awareness of environmental issues and David Suzuki shows you how you change your habits. The 'Nature of Things' is not only interesting but informative! I loved when I watched it in World Issues Class in high school.Either way. there are so many ways to help combat environmental problems, we just need to do it together!
May 4th, 2009 at 10:37 pm
One of my environmental heroes is my friend Maisie who lives in the UK. She does so much and I admire her immensely. Raising two boys in an English village, she and her husband have gotten their garbage goal for the week down to 200grams. Amazing! She recycles everything, buys in bulk, makes things from scratch, is very thoughtful about reusing, reducing and then recycling. She considers where things come from and the impact their creation has on the earth. She tells me that as my boys get older, it will get easier for me to reduce what we send to the landfill. While she may not be famous - she is a hero!
My cousin is another one - her master's thesis is all about land reclamation in the Alberta oilsands. She grew up respecting nature and works to help the earth, too. She's young and, I think, will make a difference.
May 5th, 2009 at 12:38 am
I'd have to say David Suzuki as I've been watching him for years on television. I truly believe he is a visionary in the area of our environment.
I also am very proud of him being a Canadian! lol
Thanks
anne_c_taylor@hotmail.com
May 5th, 2009 at 1:40 am
Count me in as a big fan of David Suzuki....a man before his time...
May 5th, 2009 at 7:13 am
Mine would be my grandmother. I have learned so many simple things from her, she always used reusable containers, had a huge garden and preserved her harvest,laundry was hung on the line not thrown in a dryer,Things were never just thrown away they were donated when she no longer had a need for them. She was green before we knew what green was.
May 5th, 2009 at 7:40 am
I'd have to say my green hero is David Suzuki as well, I can remember watching him as a kid with my Mom and Dad on CBC. I do have some friends that I also think are green heros, my sister is going back to the land, she raises her own chicken, has a huge garden and friut orchard and her next plan is to raise her own sheep. She does everything the old fashion way...No chemicals and everything has a purpose, veggie scraps go the rabbits. Here chickens only get the best organic food and the result is the freshest eggs I've ever had.
May 5th, 2009 at 9:49 am
David Suzuki is mine and a lot of Canadians' green hero. He had started the green revolution decades ago before it became recently widespread. The environmental awareness shows such as "The Nature of Things" and his involvement in various ecological and envioronmental issues has taught and influenced a lot people about the environment and how to preserve our planet. He has definitely made an impact on me and my thinking of the environment, and I am sure he has had the same effect on others.
May 5th, 2009 at 10:02 am
Definitely David Suzuki! He has a way of opening your eyes about what's going on with the planet, without being dry and preachy. He's got a great sense of humour, too!
Also, I really enjoyed Barbara Kingsolver's book Animal, Vegetable, Miracle - it was an inspiration to me.
May 5th, 2009 at 10:07 am
My green heroes are my family. I proposed this year that we all try to be a little more conscious of our gift-giving habits at Christmas time. Rather than spending time at the mall, we are all going to try to give gifts that are homemade (by ourselves, or local artisans) or recycled. This is kind of a big deal, because my family takes Christmas very seriously (as in, we always go overboard). My family is totally in on it (the in-laws too!), and we are planning “shopping trips” to antique stores and craft shows. My sister has even asked me to give her a refresher course on knitting.
Last week was my birthday and my youngest sister gave me a custom bracelet made from a silver spoon. She said “I knew you would love it, because it’s an old spoon living a new life as jewelry!”
I can’t WAIT until Christmas and all the wonderful surprises we will have for each other, and I love my family for being so willing to think outside the box with me.
May 5th, 2009 at 11:07 am
My green HERO is my father who every day teaches me eco lessons. He's been an avid composter for over 50 years. The neighbours used to think he was crazy when he'd ask for their grass clippings and raked leaves for his pile. Now, no one will give him any as they all see how beautiful his garden is as a result of these many years of composting . When I was about 10 or so, he helped my classmate and me with our science project which showed the benefits of composting, complete with plantgrowth with compost and without that very much resembled the Miraclegro commercials today. We won firrst and second prize as the concept of composting was very new to most people back 30 years ago. I guess in some ways, he was a compost pioneer. He's always collected rainwater in barrels to feed his garden and even saves his bathwater to add to his compost pile as he can't fathom to watch all that water go down the drain without purpose.
My father moved to Ontario and later to Toronto, from BC. His property was obviously much smaller in Toronto then he was used to in BC, so he rented out 2 of the now immensly popular city run allotment gardens has been a part of his ongoing summer chores for the last 15 years. He's been growing his own vegetables and sharing his immense knowledge of soil ammendment with all his fellow gardeners in these gardens. I have finally gotten one of my own allotment gardens on Leslie Street and plan to learn all I can from him this planting season.
I could go on about his energy saving lifestyle inside the home as well, as I remember all too vividly as a child my trips to the toilet in the middle of the night on cold wood floors because my father turned down the heat every night to conserve energy, taking our recycling to the recycling center before there was city pickup, and finding a use for everything before even considering chucking them in the garbage, but I think it's clear enough that the man is an eco-hero.
My Dad is my Green hero and he makes me proud with each lesson that he teaches me.
May 5th, 2009 at 8:46 pm
David Suzuki! That goes without saying. I have to admit that I'm pretty proud of my 11 year old daughter...she does her part.
May 6th, 2009 at 4:40 pm
Ed Begley Jr. is my green hero. Unlike other famous people who talk about being environmentally friendly but don't live that way, he actually leads a very green life. He doesn't make speeches about the environment only to jump into a gas guzzling SUV or back to a home that is massive and inefficient. He lives in a small house, drives an electric car, is a vegetarian, and practises what he preaches.
Unfortunately, usually the more money people make the bigger impact they make on the environment - bigger houses, bigger cars, cottages, flying around the world...... if only they could follow Ed Begley Jrs example.
May 6th, 2009 at 7:18 pm
David Suzuki is my Green hero.
May 8th, 2009 at 3:59 pm
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May 8th, 2009 at 10:11 pm
You have asked for green heroes: right now I am really enjoying reading Sleeping Naked is Green by Vanessa Farquharson who decided to add one new green action to her life every day for a year. I admire her dedication to her resolution: she was not a dedicated green to begin with. Her style of writing gives a window onto her experiences which allows vicarious participation but also provides ideas that resonate: I could do that too! Every green step forward is healthier for our world and ourselves! Anyone who inspires is a hero!
May 10th, 2009 at 10:27 am
I love all the above mention environmentalists, but what about someone local whos not doing it for the fame but truly believes in the cause. My choice Gregory White a local Torontonian who recently organized Change for the Environment where they got school kids to donate change to fill a dump truck. They raised over 16000 dollars!! Next year the program will expand and I hope to play a significant role
May 10th, 2009 at 1:12 pm
very important hero/heroes to me are all the volunteers, young and old, who go out on earth day and pick up garbage of all kinds to make our world a greener place.
May 10th, 2009 at 10:13 pm
My green hero is a local teacher named Kerry McManus. Kerry started a group in Stratford, Ontario called CARE Stratford http://www.carestratford.org/ and she plans and executes so many amazing initiatives on both the local level and beyond! She is an example, to me, of how one person CAN make a difference!
May 10th, 2009 at 11:18 pm
I don't think I could choose just one or two people as my green heroes. I would have to say that my green heroes are everyone who not only talks about doing something but actually goes out and does something and encourages others to be green as well. This includes my daughters as well. One is in her school's enviromental club and the other is always trying to find ways to save electricity as well as recycling and reusing.
May 11th, 2009 at 12:03 pm
My green hero is simply my Mom - she thought me froma very early age the importance of reduce reuse recycle even when there wasn't the facilities to do so. She is amazing and very deserving of these books.