Archive for August, 2008

Today's blog post is by Colleen Tully, Canadian Living's web editor. She's here to tell you all about her upcoming .... I'll just let her tell you. Enjoy!

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After being lazy all summer, not exercising much and enjoying crisp, local wine in the sunshine every moment I could, I've decided to run a race. My first race ever. And my charity of choice is WWF (of course!) But this isn't just any race. It's the Nike+ Human Race. 25 major cities across the globe are all officially running this 10k on August 31, and most other cities have groups that are going out on their own to run the 10k just to be a part of the day. Money is officially being raised for WWF, Lance Armstrong and The UN Refugee Agency.
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Many may be thinking that Kermit the Frog said it best when he lamented: "It's not easy being green." But I choose to take an optimistic approach and believe that when it comes to our impact on the environment, some choices are easy to make.

If you are finding it hard to make some eco friendly choices, I suggest you turn to a national icon for some help. Dr. David Suzuki hosts a nature challenge on his website that I guarantee will help you. Don't be dismayed by the word challenge. In Dr. Suzuki's words, it's easy, fast, fun and free. Dr. Suzuki and his team have rounded up the most efficient ways to conserve nature when it comes to transportation, food, energy and public action.

For instance, (more...)

I was recently introduced to a great line of products. Origins Organics, a line of skin, body and hair care products, are all-natural products containing organic ingredients. They make a great massage oil called Body Pampering Massage Oil. Being a fairly active person, I require the odd massage (the at-home kind), and I was pleasantly surprised that this kind isn't super oily and it doesn't leave a sticky film on your skin like so many other massage oils and creams. It also has a really nice light and (more...)

I just wanted to post a little follow up to last week's tapwater post. In yesterday's Globe and Mail, I read that certain cities in Canada are contemplating banning the sale of bottled water from some public venues after London, Ontario has voted to eliminate the sale of bottled water at city-run facilities (arenas, community centres, city hall, etc.).

London is one of the first cities in Canada to implement such a forward-thinking restriction. Now, cities like Vancouver, Ottawa and Kitchener are contemplating following London's lead. And, school boards in Toronto, Waterloo and Ottawa have (more...)

Between September 20 and 28, many Canadians will join the TD Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup. Concerned folk will join together to help clean up the shores of our ponds, streams, rivers, lakes and oceans. The cleanup first started a while ago when Vancouver Aquarium employees volunteered to clean up a small beach. Now, 15 years later, the TD Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup is the second largest shoreline cleanup in the world. (more...)

Has any Toronto resident or visitor noticed these somewhat new City of Toronto ad campaigns? These posters are seen all over the city. I've noticed them on bus shelters, while riding the subway and in many printed publications. Looks like the city is trying to get us to think about how we consume water.

The ad on the left is of a family in their kitchen. They are all dressed in lab coasts and are drinking tap water. The caption reads: "It's what a scientist would drink. Toronto tapwater. It travels trough five layers of filtering and treatment before it arrives in you glass. And is continuously tested for quality. Trust science; not fashion. Choose tapwater. Filtered fresh."

The one on the right is of a woman who appears to be (more...)

Today's Green Living post is by Tara Nolan. She is the web editor of our sister site, CanadianGardening.com. Check out Canadian Gardening's new site after you read her post about water conservation.

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When I bought my house three years ago, I discovered I had inherited a rain barrel. All set up and connected to my downspout and everything. As a new homeowner, I was all gung ho about water and energy conservation, so I was very excited to have a head-start with this handy water saver. I didn’t quite appreciate my trusty rain barrel’s significance until last year’s hot, dry summer when the city recommended cutting water use. Don’t even get me started on the people I witnessed incessantly soaking their lawn or worse, using their hose to wash a few flower petals onto the street (ever heard of a broom?). (more...)

If you're anything like me you like to get away for the weekend – especially when the end of summer is nipping at your heels. Getting away for me means leaving the city. Typically, I try to tag along for wonderful weekends up at friends' cottages or farms, or I'll go camping. Everything about these weekends are perfect, except for the mosquitoes. Those little devils just LOVE me and at the end of an adventure-filled weekend I'll have dozens of bites. As much as I'd like to get rid of all the mosquitoes, I know they are of great value to our eco-system. Our bats, birds, dragonflies and other animals and insects feed off them, so we need to keep them around. (more...)

I made the best discovery about a year ago, and because using this discovery has become such a habit I forgot to tell you about it sooner. Thankfully, someone in our green living forum was talking about reusable bags and triggered this find to pop into my head. Trust me, you'll love it.

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We all know by now the importance of buying local food. It doesn't travel as far, which means less emissions than foods shipped from far-off lands. It also means supporting local farmers and helping them protect vanishing green space. And, of course, we get fresher produce.

You know what else will thank you for supporting local farmers? Your taste buds. For me, there is nothing like biting into sweet, Ontario corn on the cob or a local, juicy peach. I forget what these (more...)