Tomorrow is International Day of Climate Action, and people all over the world will gather in groups to take a stand against climate change. Photos from events all over the world will be submitted to 350.org, who will put together a giant, visual petition (in time to use at the UN Climate meeting in Copenhagen, taking place in December).

During tomorrow's many events, the focus will be on the number 350 - representing 350 parts per million, which is the safe limit for atmospheric c02.

Search 350.org to find a group gathering in your area.

Have a great weekend!

Do you think this kitchen actually gets any use?

When I asked you all last week what part of your house you would green, many of you mentioned your kitchens. Well, I have good news: greening doesn't always mean spending lots of money. There are lots of little things we can do in our kitchens to help reduce our ecological footprint.

• What are you cooking with? Make sure your staple fry or sauce pans are made of stainless steel or cast iron. These options are free of toxins.

• Say no to plastic baggies and wrap. Though little resealable bags are darned convenient, they cause unnecessary waste. You can find glass and BPA-free plastic alternatives to house odds, ends,  snacks and lunches!

• Close the door. Your oven door, that is. Taking a look at your apple pie before it's finished will allow lots of heat to escape from that oven, which will then have to work extra hard to climb back up to the appropriate temperature (I get scolded for this one all the time ... but it's really hard not to peek!).

• Go ahead and put the kettle on, just don't fill it up all the way. If you're only having one cuppa, put the required amount of water in the kettle. If you fill it all the way up, you're wasting more energy getting water that you're not even using to a boil.

For all of you who dream of a nicer, cleaner and greener kitchen, I have great news. You can enter Canadian Living's Ugliest Kitchen contest for your chance to win a $25,000 kitchen makeover from The Home Depot. All you have to do is submit a photo or video of your kitchen here. Find more information on the Ugly Kitchen Contest here!

I hope you all had a nice weekend!

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

If anyone is looking for some entertainment next week, they should consider catching some shows at the 10th Planet In Focus International Environmental Film & Video Festival. Taking place from October 21-25 at various venues in downtown Toronto, the event celebrates environmental cinema. People seem to be getting excited about Finding Farley, a movie about a family taking an off-the-beaten road journey to visit famous Canadian author Farley Mowat.

There are close to 100 enticing films to check out, so browse around the website to find a few films that appeals to you. Also, the films are very affordable, even when you chose to donate a small amount to PIF. I'll be checking out A Blooming Business and The Toxins Return on Saturday and can't wait.

Don't forget to enter my giveaway, as I'll be announcing four winners on Monday!

Will you use your whole pumpkin?

With Thanksgiving behind us, we are now able to fully focus on Halloween. How can you not be all about Halloween when those tempting mini chocolate bars are lining the aisles at the grocery store?

I bet you all have your pumpkin, sitting out there on your porch ready to be carved. When you carve your pumpkin sometime in the coming weeks, I challenge you to use the entire thing. Think of how many things you can do with the seeds? They'll be no good sitting in a landfill, anyway!

Salvage all the seeds and give our Jack-Be-Spicy Pumpkin Seeds a try.

And when your done with your uncarved pumpkins you use for decor, use them for a Honey Pumpkin Pie.

Looking for more Halloween ideas? Check out Canadian Living's Complete guide to ultimate Halloween fun!

Also, don't forget to enter my contest for your chance to win a copy of Almost Green. I'll be announcing four winners on Monday, October 19!

What local delectable will you be cooking up this weekend?

Well, it's here. There's no denying that summer is totally gone, and fall has reared its chilly, yet spectacularly colourful, head. I forgot about all the delicious bounty that's available this time of year. Apples, squash, potatoes, Brussels sprouts, kale, cranberries, cabbage, carrots ... you catch my drift.

Tonight, I'll be knee deep in the apples I picked last weekend. I'll bake my mother's apple pie (I watched her cook pies for years, and it's amazing what one remembers) and Canadian Living's Apple Cardamom Cake. Then I'll be heading up to the cottage - pie in tow - with my family, and who knows what yummy treats will be served!

What special treat, made with your local ingredients, will you be cooking up this Thanksgiving?

If you need any tips, head to our everything Thanksgiving page for great ideas.

Don't forget to enter my giveaway!

Happy Thanksgiving to all!!

A full and happy crowd.

On Sunday afternoon, I joined a happy crowd of people at the Picnic at the Brick Works at Toronto's historical Don Valley Brick Works. Hosted by Evergreen and Toronto Slow Food, the event was overflowing with many-a-talented chef creating delectable dishes which showcased local bounty. I think I must have sampled everything there (including plenty of local wines and beers), which had me heading home very satiated and very happy.

I highly recommend putting this event on your to-do list for 2010.

Just some of the tasty snacks at this year's Picnic at the Brick Works!

We're so used to looking to the experts for advice on how to better ourselves, but what about turning to kids?

I attended an event today at the beautiful Toronto Botanical Gardens where the Sunlight Green Clean Kids were introduced. Ten Canadian kids between the ages of six and 13 chatted about their environmental commitments, projects and dreams. Most of these kids have started eco initiatives in their schools or neighbourhoods, or have just been so darned committed as to change the views of their entire families. The event was very inspiring. These kids may be small, but they are certainly mighty.

The Sunlight Green Clean Kids will have the opportunity to review Green Grant applications and help other environmentally conscious Canadian kids to put their green ideas into action, handing over between $250 and $1,500 to help fund their initiatives. They also each receive a $2,000 honorarium.

Let me tell you, after seeing these kids speak today, I know Mother Nature is very lucky to have them on her side. I'm confident knowing that the next generation is very capable, and will do great things for the environment.

What important environmental lesson has a child in your life taught you?

My personal MacBook is totally on the fritz. Once I got over the shock of hearing from the lady at the Apple store that "the water damage is so bad, to the point where things are growing inside" (for the record, I've never, ever spilt on my computer!), I started wondering what I would do with my computer once it's totally kaput.

First, just in case you're not too clear, don't just throw your computer in the garbage. Computers contain lead, cadmium, mercury and other nasty toxins that if sitting in a landfill will leach into our water, causing all sorts of environmental and health hazards.

So, what are your other option?

Many computer companies, like Apple, HP and DELL have take-back programs. To quote Apple's site: "All equipment received by the program is recycled domestically and no hazardous material is shipped overseas." That's all good news. To find more info on these companies' take-back programs, visit their websites.

Also, Industry Canada runs a nifty program called Computers for Schools. They refurbish old computers and send them off to schools, libraries and not-for-profit learning organizations. You can visit Industry Canada's website for more information on this great cause.

What did you do with your old computer?

Celebrate local harvest at Evergreen's Picnic at the Brick Works

Like me, many Torontonians are sitting on the edge of their seats, eager to taste what the third annual Picnic at the Brick Works will bring. Locavores and foodies will once again head down to Toronto's beautiful historic Evergreen Brick Works this coming Sunday to sample delicious local bounty.

This year's theme is Saving Diversity, and top chefs from all over the city will use local farmers' harvests to create tasty dishes to represent the many ethnic groups that make up Toronto.

And how will we wash all this delicious food down? I hear that many local wineries will be on site to showcase their great products too.

You can buy tickets to Picnic at the Brick Works from Evergreen at a cost of $110 per person (food and drink included, of course). Proceeds from ticket sales go to Evergreen and Slow Food Toronto.

If you're in or around Toronto, do you plan to attend to celebrate the sustainable food movement? If not, how does your community celebrate their local harvest?