Posts Tagged ‘Contest’

Raincoast Trading canned fish: Sustainable fish is good for you and the environment!

I recently heard about Raincoast Trading, a company that has been selling premium wild seafood products since 1978. The company supports sustainable fishing practices to ensure healthy fish stocks for future generations, and they harvest only wild caught seafood. Plus, their canned fish is single-cooked to preserve its natural oils, nutrition and rich flavour and they don’t add water or oil to the fish during the canning process. Raincoast is also endorsed by Ocean Wise,  a program created by the Vancouver Acquarium that works closely with restaurants, markets and seafood products to help ensure the seafood they use is harvested in a sustainable manner, keeping ocean life rich and healthy.

Raincoast Trading products (canned and frozen fish) are sold a Loblaws, Whole Food, IGA and or organic grocers, and prices range for $2.99 - $11.50.

Read more about making sustainable seafood choices here!

Want even better news? I'm giving away three Raincoast Trading gift packs, which all contain three cans of premium, sustainable fish: Albacore Tuna, Pink Salmon and Sockeye Salmon.

All you have to do is SUBSCRIBE TO THIS BLOG and leave a reply here, telling me what your favourite seafood dish is and you could be a winner! I'll announce three randomly selected winners here on Thursday, November 20.

And, don't forget to enter my book giveaway, I'm announcing the winner tomorrow!

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.

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...)

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!!

Congratulations to ... (more...)

How often do you put your car in park?

Yesterday was World Car Free Day, and I hope you joined folks all over the world in leaving your car at home and put on your walking shoes, getting on your bikes or riding your local transit system.

I think World Car Free Day is a great way to reflect upon the harm cars can do to our environment, the state of our public transit systems and the way our cities have developed. But as responsible citizens, we should do better that once a year.

Have you contemplated leaving your car at home often? Say, once a week, or once every two weeks? Do any of you take part in a car-sharing program?

Cars produce over 10,000 pounds of carbon dioxide each year (not to mention the amount of mining that goes into manufacturing cars and harmful petroleum extraction), so imagine the difference if we all dramatically changed our driving habits. Cycling and using public transit are great ways to explore a city, and think of how much less frustrated you'll be because you don't have to sit in traffic.

How have your driving habits changed?

I realize some of you might live in rural communities, where you have to be much more dependent on cars, but have you been able to make any changes?

Don't forget to enter my giveaway and you could be one of two winners. I'll announce the winners on Friday!

Be green AND clean!

I recently blogged about Attitude's cleaning products. I currently use their dish soap and love it!

I have great news for my subscribers: I have one Attitude prize pack to give away. In it is:

A large Attitude reusable shopping bag
Natural air purifier
All purpose disinfectant
Laundry detergent
Bathroom mold and mildew cleaner
Fabric softener
Dish soap
All purpose cleaner

All you have to do to win is be a subscriber to my blog, and leave an answer here to the following question: With back-to-school fliers and ads abound, I'm sure we're all dreading the end of summer. What are you going to do over the next few weeks to make this summer last as long as possible?

I will announce the winner here on Monday, August 31.

Don't forget to subscribe!

Being at the office isn't an excuse to forget your green-thinking ways!

Oh, the office. I could swear that I spend more time here than I do at home. Well, if you factor in sleeping time, I guess I don't spend more time here (sure feels like it sometimes). But if you took one look at my desk, you'd think I've at least moved all my belongings here!

Most of us spend a great deal of time at our work places, and our commitment to living green doesn't have to end when we walk into our office.

Keep up your commitment to the environment, and hope that your co-workers catch on.

Here are some ways that I like to stay green at the office:

• Have a travel mug on hand at all times. That way when you go for an impromptu coffee break, you don't have to use a paper cup.

• Make your lunch. It produces less food waste, it's healthier and it's cheaper. Store Tupperware and cutlery in your desk so when you do have to buy your lunch, you can avoid environmental offenders like Styrofoam, cling wrap and plastic cutlery.

• Turn off your computer for the evening. There no sense in having your computer waste energy overnight and on the weekends.

• Pretty up your desk with a plant. Indoor plants are natural air filters, improving indoor air quality as they absorb pollutants and replenish oxygen levels. They also protect you from germs, so you don't have to worry as much when your cubicle mate has a coughing fit.

Do you practice any of these measures at work? Do you have any more helpful tips and tricks for fellow readers?

Don't forget to enter my current giveaway!

Last August, I blogged about the TD Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup. Almost a year ago, concerned folks around Canada joined together to clean up our precious shorelines. Now's the time when everyone is gearing up to take part again. To date, over 1,000 shorelines across Canada are registered to receive a face lift from concerned Canadians in September. Mary Desjardins, Executive Director, TD Friends of the Environment Foundation, estimates that 150,000 kilograms of garbage will be picked up this year. Plastic, one of the worst environmental offenders, is a great threat to marine life and tons of it are recovered from shoreline cleanups each year. If you think about the garbage strikes going on in these parts, and Windsor, you can imagine how much it has affected our beautiful bodies of water. The TD Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup is a great way to get involved and show your concern for the environment.

If you're interested in joining the 16th TD shoreline cleanup, or for more info visit www.tdgcsc.ca.

Do you plan to take part this year?

Don’t forget to enter my current contest. I’ll be announcing the winner this Friday!