My Green Switch Was Flicked On
I was watching Live Earth, I said, Self, what can you do for the environment? So I created this blog. I do a fair bit but I'm running out of ideas. I'm hoping people post comments or suggestions. Let's all do a couple of things to make the EARTH better.
Things I've done to help the environment:1 Replaced 21 light bulbs with CFL's.
2 Put a few lights on motion detectors.
3 Use a real coffee mug and silverware at my desk.
4 Only buy fair trade and/or organic coffee.
5 Only buy organic produce and meat.
6 On the 100 mile diet. (90% Compliant)
7. Use my own grocery bag.
8. Try to buy products with less packaging.
9. Switched to paperless banking/bill payment.
10 Don't use air conditioning.
11. Take public transit.
12. Unplug instant on stuff, except for VCR and alarm clock.
13. Buy only sustainable power from Bullfrog.
14. Switched to Ice Melter instead of salt.
15. Offset the rest of my emmisions with a carbon credit.
Green things I still need to do:1 Get rid of my extra beer fridge. (I don't know about this because I brew my own and it need's to be refrigerated.)
2. Quit smoking. (OK, so I'm working on this now)
3. Buy a hybrid. (So, I couldn't buy a hybrid this time cause I had to get a work truck but, I'll limit my driving and will buy a hybrid for personal use at a later date)
Please Note: I am not a writer. Most of these articles are shared from other sources. Please use the links provided to get the whole article from the source site. Please support these sites too! We all have a role to play.
Where I'm At Now
I've decided that organic may not be the way to go. What's the sense of shipping an organic product 3,000 miles if I can find a locally produced item? OK, so it may not be organic but I guess it's a balance between chemicals to grow or chemicals to ship. I've actually found local chicken, beef, pork, lamb and goat, all naturally raised, antibiotic free and free range where applicable. I've managed to find local potatoes, yams, carrots, onions and garlic all winter. I also have a local hydroponic lettuce grower and besides lettuce he grows cucumber, bell peppers and tomatoes.
I've switched to Bullfrog Power. Bullfrog uses only environmentally sustaining power sources like wind as well as low-impact hydro-electric.
I've also discovered Guerrilla Gardening. Take over an abandoned patch and make it grow. Stay tuned.
Well this year, I've decided to post more about what I'm doing. I'll still have cool products once in a while, especially if I've tried or switched to them.
Earth News
Hi all,
I just want to take a moment to send my thanks to all of you for your decision to do your part to protect the planet we call Earth. I also appreciate your support of this group. Without your participation and feedback my efforts would be lost.
I have a few items I’d like to share with you.
If you live in Ontario, we’ve had devastating news with the recent announcement of new development near Bradford. 500 hectares of prime farmland in the Holland Marsh will be lost and much more threatened by the industry expected to move there. This actually violates Ontario’s own Places to Grow plan and will contribute to urban sprawl. More important, this poses a serious risk to the existing farms in the area due to pollution and contamination of an already delicate
“Greenbelt”. I urge you all to write the province and voice your displeasure. You can read more here,
http://www.thestar.com/article/634129 There’s also a 393 megawatt gas power plant going in rather than a more sustainable choice.
On a positive note, Toronto should be going ahead with a major expansion
of the Light Rail Transit network throughout the city. New low floor streetcars will replace hundreds of buses and reach most areas of the city.
The David Suzuki Foundation has a few events, Take the Living Room Challenge! and events to support World Oceans Day 2009. Check out the DSF page for details,
http://www.davidsuzuki.org/About_us/Volunteering/livingroom.aspLots of communities have local clean up days. Get out and support your town or city.
My good friend Mike decided he liked Earth Hour so much he’s going to do it every month. We’ve created a fan page,
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Earth-Hour-By-The-Dozen/88569523342 and event
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?ref=home#/event.php?eid=98038411564 to promote the idea. Check them out.
Finally, please post or send me news and events in you corner of the globe. I really don’t know what’s happening without your help. If you forward me a news article, please try to include the URL so I can post it for all to read.
Thanks for your time and remember to invite your friends.
I've Started The 100 Mile Diet
Here is a sample market run. Not all of this is available during the winter
All Produce was Local & Organic, Lettuce - Romaine, Red Leaf & Green Leaf
Celery, Peppers - Green, Orange, Red & PURPLE, Radish, Green Onion, Cucumber
(That's my weekly salad stuff)
Spinach, Swiss Chard, Peas, Corn, White and Sweet Potatoes
Onions, Apples, Pears
Lots more available but I didn't buy.
Dairy, All Local & Organic (Naturally Raised or Free Range)Milk (In Glass Bottles), Cheese, Butter, Eggs, Yogurt, Cottage Cheese,
Sour Cream & others available but I didn't buy.
Bread and Rolls, Organic but not all grains local. I've been baking my own too, using local if possible.
And for the Meat Eaters, All Local & Naturally Raised
Chicken - Whole, Boneless & Skinless Cuts (Other Cuts Available)
Lamb Chops (Other Cuts Available)Pork Chops (Other Cuts Available)
Beef - Steak, Ground (Other Cuts Available)
There were other products such as Goat, Emu and others that I didn't buy.
Now, I know not everything is available to all but if you can replace half of your grocery list with local products you would be doing what you can as well as telling retailers you want local products.
I know I'll have a challenge in February. There won't be as much local produce available.
I've committed to starting a greenhouse garden in my basement and growing my salad.I'll let you know how that works out.
Barry
Update: June 2,2008
February produce was a challenge but I found lettuce, bell peppers, cucumber and tomatoes, all grown locally the hydroponic way. At least I had a small salad every day.
I don't have a basement greenhouse yet but I do have a backyard garden.
More later.
Update, August 18th 2008
Well the vegetable garden was a bust. I put in a 10' X 12' garden but I don't get enough sun in my yard. We have tomatoes and peppers in containers and they are doing much better. Looks like I need a new plan.
Update, September 12,2009
So gardening at my house is out. Too shady.
I switched to Bullfrog Power a year ago. My hydro comes from wind and non destructive hydro-electric.
I gave up driving to work a year ago as well.
With a friend of mine, we started Earth Hour By The Dozen.
It's Earth Hour but we have it on the 4th Saturday of every month.
“Greenbelt”. I urge you all to write the province and voice your displeasure. You can read more here, http://www.thestar.com/article/634129 
of the Light Rail Transit network throughout the city. New low floor streetcars will replace hundreds of buses and reach most areas of the city.
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Looking forward to your comments, Barry.