I always find that it's a bit harder to buy local foods during our colder months. There's something about the lack of berries, peaches and tender lettuce that just gets me down about grocery shopping. Oh, don't get me wrong, I love my sweet potatoes and apples just as much as the next gal, but I think spring and summer bounty is my absolute fave.

Luckily I came across WWF's Canada's Sustainable Food Buying Guide. The Guide has a handy list of what's available in specific provinces in different seasons. It also has some information about sustainable food, food-buying tips and yummy menu ideas. You can download your free copy here!

The Complete Idiot's Guide to Organic Living

Also, I have great news. I'm giving away one copy of The Complete Idiot's Guide to Organic Living, written by Eliza Sarasohn and Sonia Weiss. This is a guide that provides step-by-step solutions for going organic in most aspects of your day-to-day life. It's useful for anyone wanting to make sustainable changes to their lifestyle.

All you have to do is subscribe to my blog and leave a comment here telling me what your favourite fall and winter dish is (showcasing local bounty, of course)!

I'll announce a winner here on Friday, November 6.

I hope you all had a nice weekend!

I'd like to congratulate ... (more...)

Are you almost green?

James Glave, author of Almost Green, would build a green writing shed. In fact, he did build one in the front yard of his home in B.C. In his book, Glave writes about the trials and tribulations (and constant scorn from his father-in-law) he faces while on his mission. Along the way, Glave makes many other environmental changes.

If you could green one part of your home, what would it be and why?

Just subscribe to my blog and post a reply here for your chance to win one of four copies of Almost Green. I'll randomly select a winner on Monday, October 19.

Good luck!

Congratulations to ... (more...)

Biodegradable pens! Who knew?

Do we have to scrutinize everything we use, and question if it's harmful to the environment? Yes, even though it can be a challenge at times, I strongly believe we do. And wherever it's possible to make changes, we should. A coworker of mine recently turned my attention to Paper Mate's new biodegradable pen and mechanical pencil. I admit, before this I never gave much thought to my writing utensils, but now that I know we can even make small changes in that department, it's something I'll think about every time I pick up a pen or pencil.

Paper Mate's new products will decompose in your soil or home compost within a year. They're made from a product called "Mirel", a bioplastic derived from corn sugar. The other thing that's great is both the pen and pencil can be refilled. Paper Mate Biodegradable will be available this September.

Looking for more good news? The pens will run for about $1.50, and the pencils for $3.15. Pretty reasonable in my opinion!

There are also plenty of pens and pencils on the market that are made of sustainable wood and the same bioplastic material - they're cute and make a great gift.

Next time you write down that grocery list, think about what your pen is made of.

What are you reading this summer?

The one things I love about the summer is my chance and desire to get caught up on all my reading. I have piles of magazines that I'll lug up to a cottage, read them from cover to cover, and then pass them on to my friends. The same goes for novels. I'll get lost in a book and pass it on for others to love when I'm done. Relaxing with a good book is one of my greatest joys.

I'm currently reading The Believers, by Zoe Heller, and though it's a library book, I know I'll be spreading the word about the novel when I'm done. Also, the Penguin Book of Canadian Short Stories is another, rather large, book I'm working my way through. It's perfect for cottage and camping season for read-out-loud sessions. Some of my friends love being read to, and I love reading out loud. It's a perfect match.

What are you going to sink your teeth into this summer? Are you looking for some great reads? Check out our slideshow 10 great reads to ride out the summer to pick out some great summer reads.

Have a great weekend!

The sun has been shining steadily for a few days now, and the forcast calls for sunhine for at least the next week. I think it's safe to say that the warm weather is here to stay.  All this sun has got me thinking about certain things that I really get to enjoy in the warm weather - activities that are undeniably synonymous with summer. One of my favourites is star gazing ... nothing serious, just literally gazing up at the stars. I love when night falls when I'm out of the city. I always make sure to take some time to myself, find a spot and lie down on my back, where I'll have nothing else to look at except a sky full of stars. I could stay there for hours!

I also love swimming. I'm not talking about doing the breast stroke in a pool full of chlorine and floating Band-Aids. I'm talking about floating slowly through rivers, lakes and streams - or oceans, whenever I'm lucky enough to get the chance.

You know what the ultimate summer activity is for me? Swimming under a sky full of stars. What better way is there to enjoy two of our world's best things? I hope we can undo some of the harm we've caused Mother Nature, so that we can enjoy these fabulous things indefinitely.

What's your favourite summer activity? Leave a message here telling us about it and you could win a copy of The Sea: A Literary Companion and Night: A Literary Companion.

Two great summer reads for two lucky winners!

Two lucky winners will win a copy of each book to put on your summer reading list.

In The Sea, twenty-five writers share a love, a fear and a deep respect for the powers of the oceans. Each of these passages takes the reader on an unforgettable voyage, fraught with peril and charged with the awesome power of the sea. Stories by Charles Dickens, Charles Darwin, Ann Saunders and Yann Martel are included in this collection.

Night: A Literary Companion explores the many faces of the night: its myths, its flora and fauna — and its human side, too.  It's the perfect late-night read!

Remember, you have to be a subscriber to win.

I'll annouce a winner here on Thursday, May 28.

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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!).

• 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.

With Earth Day approaching quickly I have lots going on here at the Green Living Blog. For starters, I want to announce the winners of the Origins Organics prize pack and the Mom, Will This Chicken Give Me Man Boobs? books. Congratulations to (more...)