New site

I know that updates from the new site are not working properly. I am looking into this. Thanks for your patience!

http://www.inspireplanning.ca/blog/

 

oh by the way…

sorry, ahh guess I should mention that the new website is at inspireplanning.ca/blog

MOVING

Please be patient with me, as I’m moving to a new site! I’ll make sure your subscriptions continue on the new site!! Thanks, Tracy

3 second Coffee label guide

After my post yesterday on greener coffee, I decided I would put up the actual symbols as a visual reference guide. Here you go:

 

Fair Trade

look for either one of these

Organic (most common)

Rainforest Alliance (shade grown)

Bird Friendly (organically grown in the shade)

 

For more info check out what Big Green Purse has to say about coffee

 

3 steps to a Greener Coffee

photo by Petr Kratochvil

How do you suppose, when I am on such a tight grocery budget, that I am  okay with spending about 50% more on coffee than I did 2 months ago? These  changes that I have made in my coffee drinking it totally makes up for it.

This is my 3 step coffee make over:

Change #1: Bleached paper coffee filters to a stainless steel reusable filter

Here is the $7 reusable filter I found at Wal-Mart!

Why?

I could have been purchasing non-bleached re-usable  filters  but really did not know any better, so the eco-benefits of a stainless steel re-usable filter start for me with less use/ ingestion of toxins. It’s always nice to avoid bleach altogether if I can.

I found my reusable filter at Wal-Mart for $7. I make 2 pots of coffee a day,  so not having to purchase disposable filters is saving me about $30 a year. Helps to make up for the extra cost of organic fair trade coffee.

Change #2: Any coffee on sale to organic fair trade coffee (looking for shade

This is my current favorite coffee

grown, though if it’s organic most of the shade grown benefits are there)

Why organic?

I won’t go too much into specifically what pesticides are used on coffee. Here are a few reasons I choose organic. Some of the pesticides used  are very toxic to birds, fish, bees and mammals (hello, we are mammals..). Some are banned for use in the U.S. because they are so toxic. I’m not sure on how much of these toxins make it through to my morning cup, but for a few extra $$ I can support the companies that are keeping these toxins out of the environment. For more detailed info you can check out this article on Pesticide use on coffee farms. If you love birds and want to know about the connection between shade grown coffee and the well-being of song birds you can read about why it’s important to  buy shade-grown coffee here.

Why fair trade?

I don’t always know where everything I consume comes from, so when I have an easy chance to educate myself (movie) on something like fair trade coffee, I take it. I just found out about this movie and have it on request from my library.

Check out the trailer for the movie BLACK GOLD

Change #3: Disposable take out cups to reusable take out cup

Why reuse?

While there is some debate out there as to which is more eco-friendly 1 ceramic mug or hundreds of paper cups, I prefer my ceramic cup. I will usually use my ceramic cup to avoid buying take out coffee all together if I can.  It is pretty easy (and cheap) to make an extra cup in my pot in the

Looks like a paper cup but it's ceramic

morning to take with me. I have taken my cup to certain Canadian coffee shops in the past and they still insist on mixing the coffee in a paper cup first. Why would I bother taking in my own cup and still have a paper one wasted? I get that you want it mixed properly but it still seems pretty pointless to me.

Plus I think my ceramic cup is just so cute and I don’t feel like I’m drinking the waxy inside of a disposable cup.  Not to mention it doesn’t get too hot like paper cups sometimes do. I’m not a huge take out coffee drinker but by drinking my home-made take out coffee  3 times a week in place of take-out I am saving about $300 a year. This also makes up for the higher price I pay for organic fair trade coffee.

Just put your kids in a bubble.

After reading a recent article at Inhabitots then looking around my house, I have decided the only way to keep my kids safe is to place them in either

a) an individual bubble

or

b) a group bubble so they can play together

It seems that every day there is a new study out or another recall warning of the dangers of pretty much every item my kids come into contact with.

The Inhabitots article I came across for example, warns of the toxins contained in some types of flooring and wallpaper. Our kids are surrounded. If not at home, at school, at the babysitters or at Grandma’s.  The study found, among other things, toxic substances in flooring that negatively impact the immune system and brain development. Ahh, there goes my baby crawling on the floor, and I was worried about the dust bunnies he eats, turns out the kitchen floor is the problem.  They go on to site a Swedish study that “found that children exposed to the vinyl flooring that emits phthalates, may be as much as twice as likely to develop autism.” Another reason to be weary of vinyl flooring and wallpaper? High levels of lead, you pregnant ladies are not in the clear either. Click here to read the full Inhabitots article.

So that is that, I don’t have the $$ to rip up my vinyl flooring, I guess I’ll just try to contain Mr. Baby Man  in less toxic areas of my house for now. Maybe am incentive for more outside time?

While we are on the subject of toxic substances, lemme say a few quick things about BPA.

Upon reading various articles in The Globe and Mail, I have learned that

• Teenagers  carry about 30 per cent more BPA than the rest of the population
• Men who are exposed to high levels of BPA are more likely to experience sexual-performance difficulties. Does that make you enjoy your daily can of Pepsi more? Realistically the amount of BPA in a can of pop is probably harmless, but when you add it to the masses of other places BPA is suspected to be reaching us from…
• Higher exposure to BPA =  A significantly increased risk of cardiovascular disease. 45% increased risk to be exact.
• Levels of BPA are so high in some waters, that people are banned from swimming .  Too bad we can’t ban birds, fish or dolphins from swimming in certain parts of the ocean.  The same study found that BPA levels  were even higher in sand since BPA’s claim to fame is sticking to things and sand particles are the perfect candidate.

Great news for Canadians!

After a 4 year study we can all  do the non-toxic dance because Canada has FINALLY declared BPA a toxic substance! The researched showed that 91% of us have BPA in our bodies. It is about time! When will everyone else follow suit?

( Shout out! Happy Wedding Day to Kim & Tommy!!)

Eco-Easy Date Night Ideas

In an effort to create some memories that last forever with minimal waste or carbon output try these Friday night (or anytime) date ideas! Feel free to mix and match!

Although you should definitely use reusable table wear, I thought this ad was way too funny!

Some of these day time date ideas would be considered work for all but the most committed greenie, get out and give them a try!

•  sign up for habitat for humanity
•  apple picking in fall
•  visit a farmers market
• go for a bike ride picnic
• clean up a park
• if you can get your hands on one, go for a canoe or kayak ride (just don’t use a motor, ok?)

  My babysitters are usually  available during the evening  so here are some night-time date ideas that I’ve given some extra thought to

• Scope out  a pretty well-lit park and settle in for a night-time picnic, if your date wants to volunteer to make up the basket even better!
• Head to a restaurant that serves organic or local food. This is usually better suited for someone who lives in a city so public transport or even your feet can be taken advantage of. Luckily for me (who lives in the country) there are many little bed and breakfast spots/little restaurants nearby that have  great local organic selections. Another note, if you tend to leave lotsa food on your plate consider bringing  your own take out container in place of those waste full styrofoam thingies or foil.
• Take a walk around and browse used book stores. Consider this little equation: great deal + exercise + loads to talk about + a new book = great date. If you don’t love to read,consider looking for  pretty books for decorating.
• Go together to the liquor store and choose some organic wine or beer, stop in for some organic snacks on the way home and enjoy together
• This idea is probably better suited to a couple that lives in the counrty or has a fireplace, but spiked hot chocolate and a campfire is another great option.
• If you live in the city, go spontaneous and do a random  mass transit date. Choose a stop randomly and this is where your date will take place!
• Do it up old school. Like real old school. Soda shop and stroll, or coffee and stroll, or beer and stroll, or milkshake and stroll. You get the idea.
• I am a board game addict. Try a 2 player board game by candle light for a pretend it’s a black out kinda night.
• For a stay at home movie date, to save money and be eco friendly borrow movies from  the library or sign up for Netflix.

No time for a date but still want to do something eco-friendly together? Conserve water and hop in a shower for two. If you have kids, turn the monitor on and remember to lock the door, as not to scar them for life… 

If you have a great eco date idea I would love to hear it!!

Please stay on the line, someone will be with you momentarily.

Hey!! Just wanted to let everyone know that I had to take my computer in to the hospital for sick computers.. The prognosis is not good.. I’ll be back up and running on Friday ( I hope).

In the meantime keep entering my giveaway! I’ll be working hard on getting some great posts done up for the weekend!

All I want for Christmas is safe drinking water

Today I will join thousands of bloggers across the world in a global discussion of water and the issues it  faces.  The purpose of blog action day to get as many people as possible talking about this issue and bring it to attention.

There are 2 quick topics I would like to cover, one local and one global.

GLOBAL

I’m all for charities, but with my *limited* income I really can not support all the causes I would like to. What I challenge all of you to do is in lieu of a Christmas gift this year, consider shifting one of your gifts to a donation.

In honor of Blog action day I am suggesting charitywater.org as something to consider. I won’t go on too much about this, if you are interested in learning more please click on the link above. Charity: water directly funds sustainable water solutions in areas of greatest need. Did you know that 90% of the 42,000 deaths that occur every week from unsafe water and unhygienic living conditions are to children under five years old. Ahh I hate hearing things like this, it  really breaks your heart especially when you consider many of these diseases are preventable.  On their website charity:water states that “the UN predicts that one tenth of the global disease burden can be prevented simply by improving water supply and sanitation.”

I know most of us are counting our pennies these days, but please consider my challenge to shift 1 gift to a charitable donation this year!!

LOCAL

Although there have been a few free tap water tests happening in my community over the last few years, I was never able to make it to one or have my water tested. That’s why when I heard about the community groundwater monitoring network I was super pumped to sign up! Through this free program I will learn how my water is doing in respects to levels of Nitrates, Phosphorous and Coliform.  Stay tuned to find out how my results compare to other areas in the world!

 

Groundwater testing at BBEMA

 

 

The Bedeque Bay Environmental Management Association is who is putting on the groundwater program, if you live on PEI (yes on, not in) and haven’t checked them out before, check out thier website. They do all kinds of great stuff like this weekend they are hosting a build your own wind turbine workshop!

 

What is a Big Green Purse? I’ll give you one! (review and giveaway)

Win a copy of BIG GREEN PURSE by DIANE MACEACHERN, just leave a comment. ( Open October 14-28 2010)

So the basis for me starting this blog was to write about my One in a Million Challenge (recently I’ve fallen a little behind on this, updates are coming…)

The One in a Million Challenge is an idea that Diane MacEachern came up where she encourages women to shift $1000 of their existing budget to environmentally friendly products.  Since women control 0.85 cents of every dollar spent, this adds up to a lot, like  ONE BILLION DOLLARS we’re talking.  That is enough money to make any manufacturer take a second look at their product and ask “how can I make this a better environmental choice?”.

Skeptical about the importance of buying eco-friendly products?

In her book, Big Green Purse, Diane explains why it’s important to choose the greener options. Diane touches on many subjects in the book, in fact pretty much anything related to living, from beauty products to cars to food.

In her chapter “CLEAN AND GREEN: CLEANSERS SCRUBS, POLISHES AND FRESHENERS”  she points out the health hazards we are facing today . For example 6.1 million kids in the U.S. have asthma, making asthma the #3 reason kids are hospitalized. She points out pretty clear links between what you use in your house on a daily basis with these risks. She then goes on to explain how to make simple easy shifts to healthier options. She makes it pretty easy too, with a thumbs down list of things to avoid, go green cleaning tips and even a where to shop guide.

Diane also has some pretty smart thoughts like “When buying a new appliance, light or computer to remember:  it has 2 price tags- what you pay to take it home and what you pay for the energy it uses” This book is so handy because she then goes on to list the top 10 ways to save energy and money.

It’s pretty clear that I’m a fan of the book, and that it is totally required reading for every woman, no matter where she is at on the going green scale.

One thing I did miss from the book is more info on eco-travel, a follow-up book is in order perhaps?

 

GIVEAWAY!

Want your own copy of the book? Great, cause I’m giving one away! Leave a comment and your e-mail address. Also if you feel the need to tweet or facebook or like Big green purse on facebook about this contest let me know and you’ll get 2 extra entries!!  (Open to US and Canada residents, over 18 please)

Use your big green purse

Hey, if you don’t win you should still totally pick one up. I mentioned where in my Greenie Deals post.  I love having mine around for reference!  You should also check out her big green purse website which is packed with all kinds of great info! As is the big green purse facebook page.