HeartFelt

would you pay $65 more for your iphone?

2012-01-26T17:53:00.000-08:00

News Article: Apple's Deal with the Devil

And did you hear about the threat of mass suicides at Foxconn: Digital Journal Article

(Although here at least the workers are trying to find their voice.)

It must be frustrating for companies that offer "Canadian-made" products to always be faced by the criticism that their products are over priced. We have to start asking ourselves what monetary value do we want to place on fair labour practices and better working conditions?

Take for example the iPod Nano Wristband called The Deckster (invented by an Ottawa couple) - made of recycled material and manufactured in Canada. Although noted for its quality and the brilliance of the way the wristband holds the nano, the main concern is the expense of this wristband compared to others that serve the same function. But for the most part their competition manufactures overseas - how can you compete with that?

In the end you have to appeal to the more educated consumer, the one who isn't into fast fashion and the one where "recycled and made in Canada" mean something.

In the end we do end up voting with our pocketbook, every single day.

Friday Smile: gorgeous hand bag!

2012-01-20T17:32:00.000-08:00

From True Stitches Blog Nov 2011: "This handbag is made from the persimmon cured cloth used to strain the lees in sake-making. The fabric becomes like leather over its years of use."

Picture from Japanese Magazine: Kateigaho International Edition. I love what she writes about in terms of the appreciation of wabi sabi and mottainai. Check out her post: Beauty in Frugality:

"In refreshing contrast to the glossy high-end brochure I had trouble with in the last post, this issue of KIE delves deeply into the aesthetic of frugality and speaks eloquently about the beauty of reuse and repair and how connected these concepts are to Japanese culture. No fashionable flash in the pan, the Japanese appreciation of wabi sabi, mingei (folk art) and mottainai (respect for all things, using them so nothing is lost or wasted in the course of an object's existence) flows from spiritual belief imbued in daily life."

All You Can Eat... (Sustainably)

2012-01-06T21:11:00.000-08:00

I remember when friends would come back from Vancouver and rave about the sushi restaurant deals there... Now all-you-can-eat sushi is a popular dining option all over Canada - even in landlocked cities. If sushi is getting to be THIS popular and THIS easy to over consume is it possible that it can also be sustainable? What can you do if you are a sushi lover?

I've found it hard in the past to determine what fish I can and should eat, so now I try to stay away from it as much as possible. Ottawa is really lucky to have The Whalebone Oyster House and other restaurants who offer sustainable fish choices to their customers but I still found some contradictions in what was listed as sustainable and what my Seafood Watch Guide recommended. (Perhaps it was out of date - I'm looking at it right now and it's from 2009!) How do you keep yourself on top of this issue?

Here's are two excerpts from a 2009 Toronto Now Article "Are You Getting a Raw Deal?":

"What’s in the guide may come as a shock. Your typical sushi combo dinner – tuna, salmon, yellowtail or amberjack, eel – can be classed as red in its entirety...The experience also reveals a problem with the fish eco movement thus far: little mention is made of sushi’s carbon footprint. Importing fish from halfway around the world burns a lot more oil than serving stuff caught in local lakes, but that isn’t reflected in the SeaChoice guide."

So what's a person to do when they want to make sustainable choices? How can we keep informed on what's sustainable when ocean stock numbers change and recommendations can be seasonal? Is there a truly easy option? I did some searching online and here is what I came up with:

ONE: Bento Sushi announced in 2010 that they were partnering with SeaChoice and that by 2012 (talk about timely post!) they would only supply sustainable seafood. And the good news is that there are at least 16 locations in Ottawa and 2 in Gatineau! It's not all-you-can-eat but at least it's something!

TWO: Sea Choice now offers an Seafood Guide App for your iphone which you can purchase at iTunes - developed by Collabra. Now that's money well spent! The other option is to download the pocket-sized Seafood Watch Sushi Guide but be prepared to still ask questions when you go out to eat.

THREE: Opt out or at least insist on local sustainable fish. Go for a vegetarian option when you are craving sushi. If you can't get sustainable sushi in a restaurant perhaps you can get sustainable sushi grade fish at your local market and make it at home. Remember the carbon footprint of your fish and try some artic char or alaskan crab or something else that is recommended that isn't from thousands of miles away.

At least we have options for now! This last line in the NOW article, made me take note: "If we don’t make a shift, then there just will be no tuna, period." - Bill Wareham - David Suzuki Foundation

(Image Source: Wikipedia)

finally my eco-sock prayers are answered!

2011-12-16T19:04:00.000-08:00

I've been looking for a good option for new socks and hadn't been happy with the selection available. I definitely was excited this November when Pact launched a sock line for women. Finally some fun, sustainable footware!

Here are the deets:

"Knit with super soft organic cotton in an eco-factory that runs on 100% wind power. Responsibly manufactured in Turkey (90% organic cotton / 7% nylon / 3% lycra)"

I have not purchased any as I finally ordered a set of MUJI socks. If you do not want your socks as colourful as these Pact ones, the MUJI line might be for you. The ones I received were muted colours of tan, yellow, beige and light blue.

I've also repaired (darned) five of my socks - which will allow me to get some more wear out of those four pairs!

holiday cheer - the o-town way...

2011-12-13T15:41:00.000-08:00

Have been finding some really wonderful, creative, inspiring and touching posts from local bloggers - many helping put me in the holiday spirit. Wanted to share with you some of my favorites:

- This truly heartwarming post on Wuppenif about a treasured friend and a lovely "Tea for Two" tradition.

- UnFolding's article on the Cube Gallery's Christmas Window Display (1285 Wellington St West) - sounds like a "must see"!

- Music samples from Hibernation Nation on Ottawa Tonight. (Check out her songs on the right-hand side music player - esp. "Bike Ride".)

- Sweetest Digs' post on The Tin Barn Market in Almonte (they are open every day from now until the 24th)!

- Book on Inspiring Handmade Artists from Desire to Inspire - she had to arm wrestle it back from friends!

- Great ideas - beautiful holiday picture inspirations for an Apartment Sized Christmas from Acquired Taste...

And one final link through Wuppenif:

Loved this post from Day By Day the Farm Girl Way

on Being a Deer Mother.

* All images from websites listed, except bottom image (source)

***************************

Other O-Town Holiday 2011 Posts:

- Your Local Etsy Artisans & Crafters
- Ideas for Stocking Stuffers in Ottawa
- Sustainable Style Shopping - "Capital" Green Gifts

last minute etsy (canada) ...

2011-12-12T20:18:00.000-08:00

I couldn't resist... there were so many great items last time, that I still had a couple in reserve and I had found the cool bike print earlier this year - thought it was the perfect "eco" image - so I *had* to feature it!

So here's a little extra etsy love... enjoy!

Cool Bicycle Print Pillow Case by Black Fly Design (Toronto)

Fruitwood Candle Holders from Western Images (Bowmanville)

Graphic Zipper Pouch by sweetstitch (Ottawa)

Sweetest Bunny Knitting Print by Mika Art (Ottawa)

Stylin' Salt and Pepper Set by Juliana Rempel (Calgary)

Balsam Fir Sachets by Sewn Natural (Ottawa)

** Of course don't forget to ask if it can be delivered by your holiday date, if you do order and if you are in Ottawa, I bought my Sweet Stitch Pouch at Adorit on York!

********************

Other O-Town Holiday 2011 Posts:

- Your Local Etsy Artisans & Crafters
- Ideas for Stocking Stuffers in Ottawa
- Sustainable Style Shopping - "Capital" Green Gifts
... more to come!

local eco-shops for holiday gifts

2011-12-11T16:14:00.000-08:00

Some cool places to shop this year - especially if you are looking for a unique gift:

Modern Karibou (online store): they have 15% off all Blomus products presently and a holiday gift guide, eco-friendly and canadian design sections to shop in.

Ten Thousand Villages (two locations in Ottawa): their blog posts feature gift suggestions for different people in your life. So far they've done hostess, wife and something for the chocoholic!

Enviro Boutique (on Rideau Street) - This is not only a great place to purchase energy-efficient items for your home, as they also carry some funky, colourful items like bowls made out of recycled telephone wire and bags made out of used seat belts!

Stride Design (pictured above) - if you live near Metcalfe, you can check out the Stride Design boutique. They not only have great furniture but also feature sustainable clothes, local art and great jewellery. You can also buy maple syrup, honey and eggs while you are there!

All great places to shop and perhaps even find those one-of-a-kind items! We especially enjoyed going out to Stride Design as it's part of Castor River Farm and a great outing for the day where you can see the pigs and chickens all free-ranging about! I'll have to write a longer post on this business soon! And if you want to minimize your running around - driving from here to there - checking out different stores - don't forget Ottawa's ecohood: Dalhousie North in the Byward Market! You can get alot of shopping done in one afternoon!

************************

Other O-Town Holiday 2011 Post

- Your Local Etsy Artisans & Crafters
- Ideas for Stocking Stuffers in Ottawa

Stocking Stuffers... Unique Gift Certificates...

2011-12-07T17:56:00.000-08:00

Cha Yi - Maison de thé (downtown Gatineau) - $20 gift certificate for an "Animated comparative tasting: Exploration of about ten varieties of tea along a theme of your own choice, tasting and appreciating tea from a visual, olfactory and gustative perspective."

Passport to Prana - $20 - The Gift of Yoga - With over 18 yoga studios to visit (passport allows holder one visit to each studio) in Ottawa and beyond (Almonte, Kemptville, Carp) this is a great stocking stuffer for the new yogini! Good for one full year!

2012 Empowerment Totem - $45 - Twenty-minute phone consultation to determine which animal totem wants to reveal itself and represent your family member or friend's spirit, nature, true self, essence, higher self or inner being for the new year. From Julie Desmarais - Holographic Energy Practitioner (613-688-1717, 1-877-325-8543, info@juliesmarais.ca)

Friend of the Gatineau Park Membership - $15 - Benefits of membership include discounts, priority registration for public activities, and member only-events. They have a great annual line up of events that include their popular Frog Chorus evening in early spring and their Wolf Howl Gathering in the fall!

Frankendie (Kickstart Investment) - from $5 to $70 or more - For the Game Lover in your life... the opportunity to be a ground level investor in a new game being designed here in Ottawa. $70 investment gets you 2 Frankendie games once they are manufactured and 2 t-shirts!

Spring Garden Planner - City of Ottawa Course - $20 - Learn how to work to a manageable schedule of spring cleanup and garden preparation. Dempsey C.C. (1895 Russell Road) – 613-247-4846, Saturday 10 am-noon, January 21, 2012, Course # 679970

Ottawa Biplane Ride - $66 per person - From the website: "Feel the wind in your hair and experience aviation as it was in the 1930s! This ride provides an introduction to flying at its best – in a vintage open-cockpit biplane." From Rockcliffe Field Airbase.

*******************

Other O-Town Holiday 2011 Posts:

- Your Local Etsy Artisans & Crafters
- Sustainable Style Shopping - "Capital" Green Gifts
.... more to come!

Dark Chocolate!!! (need I say more??)

2011-12-03T19:46:00.000-08:00

A friend and I noticed this summer that there was a new chocolate bar (or candy bar for those in the U.S.) available for purchase when we were out shopping. It was promoted as a artisan delicacy made locally. We bought some for one of our events and enjoyed the sample immensely! And then again when I was out getting groceries at the health food store in the market this fall I spotted a different chocolate treat by a business just over the river! Seriously two new chocolate businesses?? It made me think that perhaps it was time for a taste test comparison... I mean we have to take our chocolate seriously right? So here goes...

Olivia Chocolat (Artisan)
Location: Gatineau, Quebec

Eco Cred: "Made in Canada from bean to bar" (from imported ingredients)
Certified Organic by Ecocert Canada

76% cocoa (six ingredients)
1 bar (50 g) for $5.39 - 11 cents a gram
Packaging: thin carboard & gold foil

Taste Test: I sampled the maple one earlier this year but they only come in packages of two so I went for the almond one this time (1 bar). I liked the thin tablet format. Rich - deep cocoa taste, good butter "notes", but favours those who like their chocolate with a strong hit of dark cocoa.

To Note: they also have a raw line!

Rochef Chocolatier
Location: Gatineau, Quebec

Eco Cred: Organic and Fair Trade (Gluten Free) without soy lecithin
Sustainable Forestry Initiative - Certified Fiber Sourcing for packaging

72% cocoa (four ingredients)
100 g for $7.49 - 7 cents a gram
Packaging: thin cardboard & plastic

Taste Test: Dark chocolate with Fleur de Sel. It was hard to really believe that this was 72% cocoa. It tasted almost like milk chocolate - very smooth and creamy. I would say more of a velvety butter taste with a slight hit of cocoa. The salt which was a fun, novel flavouring may have thrown off the balance of the rich chocolate.

To Note: they also have maple!

When I was out purchasing these two delicacies I noted another option (made in Ontario):

Giddy Yoyo Raw Chocolate
Location: Orangeville, Ontario

Eco Cred: "truly organic, beyond fair trade"
(but what is "heirloom ecuadorian criollo arriba nacional cacao paste"?)

75% cocoa (250 calories) five ingredients not including love & gratitude!
45 g for $4.89 - 11 cents a gram
Packaging: paper & foil

Taste Test: I sampled the Raw Chocolate Cru Mocha flavour which had great spice with the cardamon. But I did find that this hid the mocha flavour. And while it was a little dry the butter did comes through as a bottom note. This one I liked for its balance between cocoa and sweetness - it was not lacking there.

And just to allow for a side-by-side comparison with a more familiar chocolate treat that might be a more regular purchase of yours, I also sampled:

Camino Dark Chocolate
Location: Ottawa, Ontario

Eco Cred: fair trade and organic - packaging comes from mixed sources
Business La Siembra who makes the chocolate is a co-operative!

65% cocoa (six ingredients)
100 g for (TBC)
Packaging: paper & plastic

Taste Test: I like the Camino for its rich dark chocolate taste. It is not too sweet - this has a great balance between all the flavours. It is however on the more bitter side as a true dark chocolate would be. There is a little hint of butter but what brings this bar all together are the raspberries. In the end I think this will still be my go to chocolate treat!

Local Artisan Chocolate can be found at:

Market Organics - York Street

Herb & Spice - Bank Street

La Botega Nicastro - George Street

** Please Note: this is Heartfelt's 31st post (yeah!) on local Ottawa & Gatineau businesses that carry sustainable products: local, organic, recycled, fair trade and/or other eco options! Congratulations to all the wonderful businesses that are making a difference and changing people's shopping experience! When we do have to make purchases it's great to have choices like these to support!

new brewery in town!

2011-11-28T19:47:00.000-08:00

From their website:

"WHAT IS BROADHEAD?

Broadhead is a scrappy little beer company that aims to do big things. It's the underdog - a long shot, a dark horse. What it lacks in size, it makes up for in spirit. With six feisty, flavourful ales brewed through good old-fashioned hard work and know-how, Broadhead pays homage to the perfect pint.

Introducing the Broadhead Brewing Company.

Cheers to the Underdog."

Beer is available in 19L Cornelius kegs for $79.65 + HST = $90 (plus deposit) of $30, and 1.89L growlers for $8.85 + HST = $10. (plus deposit).

Choice of 6 handcrafted ales: Underdog Pale, Backbone Standard, Long Shot White, Grindstone Amber, Dark Horse Stout, Wildcard Ale

Located at: 81 Auriga Drive, Unit 27, Nepean (open three days a week - Thursdays to Saturdays). Phone: 613-695-9444.

800 Montreal Road (or why I love Canada Lands Corporation...)

2011-11-24T18:53:00.000-08:00

Official Plan from the Public Consultation Presentation:

• "Arterial Main street" Residential apartments, retail, office and community-oriented facilities
• Focal points for shopping, offices and community interaction
• Active, pedestrian-oriented mixed use districts
• Intensification encouraged along Main streets
• Greater building heights and densities along Main street
• Montreal Road designated as a "Transit Priority Corridor"

and Proposed Sustainable Design Strategies:

• LEED Certified
• Natural Drainage
• Green Roofs
• Enhanced Landscaping
• Recycled waste management
• Public Transit Oriented
• Bicycle Storage
• Natural Energy Sources
• Geothermal Heating and Cooling
• Wind to passively heat/cool buildings
• Reduce light pollution

They looked at prevailing winds, prime sun exposure locations, and they wanted to retain mature trees! Unfortunately the final project (by FoTenn) looks watered down - especially the beautiful central park that was there is now gone... But at least it's a step in the right direction!

**************************

P.S. Remember 37 Eccles? I really loved being able to see the progress with that house! Well now Jo Stockton of It Ain't Meat Babe is building a new LEED certified home in Sandy Hill with her husband. Check it out here: When I Get Home.

my favourite fall drink...

2011-11-21T19:23:00.000-08:00

After being reminded about the lasting effect of plastic over at Ottawa's No Plastic Project blog, I thought more carefully about my purchases the next time I went to the grocery store.

I was thrilled to find this cidre: Filsinger's Organic in glass jars and that it was from Ayton, Ontario (more local if you are in Southern Ontario rather than Ottawa but still within the province!). Since I've gone back to get more, I started wondering if this farm would consider reusing bottles and I find out that they DO accept glass bottle returns in North York! So again good news for all of you in Toronto. I sent an email to see if they would consider expanding this program... I will report back when I hear from them.

For those of you in Ottawa, the closest locations you can purchase this cidre (and perhaps white and red grape juice, which they also make) are:

- Our Green Shelf in Merrickville
- The Granary in Carleton Place

Perhaps it's time to discuss with your local health food store the possibility of carrying this product or working with local Ottawa farmers to consider glass bottles and a return program!! Do tell me if there is local cidre in glass bottles in Ottawa - it would be good to know where you can get it!

******************

p.s. love that Childfree is biking into work until Christmas - maybe you'd like to go and visit her and leave a couple of words of encouragement!

oh Ottawa etsy!!

2011-11-18T10:11:00.000-08:00

I've been missing the Girl About O-Town posts on her favorite local Etsy finds so I thought I'd see what there was myself and man was I amazed. Etsy Ottawa now has over 250 "pages" of handcrafted and vintage goods to offer! My how it has grown - what a plethora of items and talented crafters! If you are not looking for something high tech for those on your list for the holidays you could definitely pick up alot here. Below is just a sliver of what you can find online:

For the e-book lover: a Kindle Cozy

For the word-loving wine-connaiseur: Wine Glass Charms

For the cat lover: Recycled Fabric Mice

For the avid photographer: Lens Cap Keeper

For the female college student: Bottle Cap Earrings

For the marvelous messy chef: Linen Apron

For the filibuster politico: Politician Puppets

For the intrepid traveller: 2012 Travel Calendar

For the chic urbanite: Light City Ceramic Earrings

For the gardener: Wood Burning Bangle

For the vintage lover: 70's owl brooch

For the nature lover: Birch Tree Necklace

For the kid at heart: SVG files to make a 3-D Paper Train

For the fashionista: an Infinity Scarf

For the new home owner: one or more Felted Bowls

For the tea lover: Tea Kettle Illustration

global green loans

2011-11-16T15:45:00.000-08:00

Quick post just to say that if you are a KIVA lender, the organization has 18 GREEN projects listed currently. Most are agriculture (for natural fertilizer) with eight for home solar energy panels. These loans usually go fast!

Other options, though not listed as green, are rickshaw operations (under transportation) and many clothing shop owners selling second-hand clothes (although I'm guessing the clothes are from North America/Europe to begin with). And earlier this year I saw a health project where the woman was growing and collecting local plants/herbs to treat her patients.

Some really great projects to help out! If you haven't considered loaning before check it out: Kiva.org!

Update November 17 - Wow! Less than 24 hours later there is only one left that is still raising money to complete the loan. That was fast!

etsy shop - Larime Loom

2011-11-15T17:55:00.000-08:00

...introducing the Larime Loom Etsy Shop and Lucia Squillari the Italian designer (with an American mom) behind the name. She blows me away with her selection of handmade dresses, designed and fabricated by herself!

Picture cobblestone streets, an afternoon in piedmonts and a cappuccino w biscotti...

Imagine touching a garment of linen, silk or wool made from that area... the soft folds of the fabric evoking such a romantic location every time you put it on...

Maybe it IS environmentally friendly to buy something handmade from overseas if it is almost as good as the travel experience itself!

And while you are there check out the handwoven shawls that are naturally dyed with onion skins, chrysanthemums, elderberries and other plants! This shop is definitely a splurge but well worth it. Any of these items will stand the test of time and become an instant classic!

local times three

2011-11-09T19:15:00.000-08:00

LOCAL FREE WORKSHOP

The next Transition Ottawa’s Resilient Kitchen Workshop will be held on November 15th: Kitchen Cupboard Medicine: Healing Herbs and Spices. Join Amber Westfall to learn how to treat minor ailments and practice basic first aid using common culinary herbs and spices. Space is limited so please register online.

LOCAL WINE: VANKLEEK HILL VINEYARD

Check this out: "The wine is organic, Kral explained, because both the growing and filtering processes are free of chemicals. The yeast is filtered from the wine naturally, as opposed to using potassium sorbate to kill it."

- from The Review article on Vankleek Hill Vineyard.

And here's a video on this Eastern Ontario vineyard (in French)

LOCAL COTTAGE OWNERSHIP

Whitewater Village (by Windmill Development Group) - one hour north of Ottawa. Be a "fractional owner" of a cottage in this 4,000-acre protected forest by a great northern river. Each cottage has major eco-cred including geothermal heating, solar ready water heaters, sustainably harvested materials and on site wastewater treatment system.

Ottawa's "Dalhousie North" is the City's EcoHood

2011-11-06T23:49:00.000-08:00

Daya Organic Spa - wellbeing boutique | 200 Dalhousie

Nest - wooden toys & natural textiles | 204 Dalhousie St

Bridgehead - fair trade, organic and shade grown coffee | 224 Dalhousie

Victoire Clothing - carries Canadian designers | 246 Dalhousie

Workshop Boutique - local handcraft items | 242 1/2 Dalhousie

Milk - carries local designer clothing lines - 234 Dalhousie

Young Janes - a vintage clothing boutique | 223 Dalhousie

Murray's Market - locally farmed food - charcuterie | 261 Dalhousie

Maison Chaloin - organic ice cream | 256 Dalhousie (Marché By)

Scooteretti - electric scooters | 258 Dalhousie

Adorit - Fair-trade eco-fabric boutique | 159 York Street (just around the corner!)

... and as long as you are on York - drop by Market Organics (great beauty & home products)!

Are there any I missed?

It'll be interesting to see what goes in at the old Book Market (347 Dalhousie) and at Pagoda and Bali (near Scooteretti)...

six more days to vote on aviva community funding...

2011-11-02T14:57:00.000-07:00

Do you have a favorite project? Are you lining up voters for perhaps one that you proposed? Are there so many you can't choose?

I just found out about an interesting sustainable project and just in case you like the vision I wanted to share it with you:

Idea #11016: Resizing Fashion's Footprint Canada

I especially like this part: "EcoFashion Parties - The Eco Fashion Party will be a fun and hands-on one-day event introducing practical sustainable fashion and beauty activities to fashionistas of all ages.

The event will revolve around a clothing swap where attendees can trade gently used high-end garments with other participants, allowing them to change up their wardrobes in an “alternative shopping” setting. They will also be able to browse and shop a selection of new sustainably produced clothing by Canadian eco designers."

This idea was proposed by Canada's "Eco-Chicster" Kelly Drennan - the wonder woman behind Fashion Takes Action and one of Flare Canada's "most inspiring, newsworthy women to watch".

and from Vancouver's Eco Fashion Week I wanted to share this: Nicole Bridger's Spring/Summer Collection 2012.

I have to admit that I am wary about the continue turn over of fashion and designers new lines being promoted each season (to get consumers to buy "fast fashion") but I do love how Nicole Bridger worked with yoginis and dancers to showcase her new pastel coloured line that was designed for movement.

It seemed to be the perfect clothing for this type of idea with the drapes and tucks of shirts and skirts giving the pieces visual interest which were accented by the fashion show's models dancing and yoga poses! And I must say the wider sewn pleats on the waists really give them a punch.

And these are words of the wise: I had to totally surrender and know that everything would be ok. I said, “Okay, here’s what I’m hoping for but I’m going to let you put it into place in your own time.”

and just to leave on a local note: did you know that Malorie Bertrand, the editor-in-chief of Ef Magazine was voted by Hub Ottawa as a local game changer? Read more about her and her efforts to profile eco-designers and boutiques at Hub. Congratulations Malorie!! And what a great idea from Hub Ottawa - to profile Ottawa's emerging talent!

an early start to the holidays

2011-11-01T19:45:00.000-07:00

Here's an early Christmas idea!

Maybe you are still on the fence between real xmas trees or plastic (that may last 10 years with you but forever in the landfill)? Maybe you are not sure about all those Christmas lights or are tired of stocking up on decorations? Here's a cool option made out of 100% recycled paper and made in Canada! You can get your very own modern holiday tree (prices start at $24) that will end the debate forever.

The trees come in three sizes (132 cm (52") 104 cm (41") and 61 cm (24")) and shipping costs only $5. But order fast as I'm sure that these will run out way before the holiday season.

Cascades Boutique

Update November 10, 2011: Ottawa Refashionista just posted some great ideas for homemade Christmas gifts that you can start making now (some that you can make with your children!). I'm liking the upcycled sweater mitten idea!

Walking Art Tour in Ottawa

2011-10-30T21:44:00.000-07:00

Canadian leads Ottawa tour of her “banned art” exposing Canadian government inaction on Climate Change

By Andrea Harden-Donahue, Friday, October 28th, 2011

If you are in Ottawa this coming Tuesday, consider joining me and others planning to attend Franke James’ short walking art tour.

Here are the details:

When? November 2nd, 2011, at 12:00pm.

What? Short walking tour of James’ art which is on display outside.

Where? Starts at the South-East corner of Bank and Wellington St, leading to Bank and Queen.

What is this all about?

James’ 2011-2012 European Art Tour, organized by Nektarina Nonprofit, scheduled to travel to 20 European cities, was cancelled.

In James’ own words:

“Nektarina Nonprofit, the producer of the tour, contacted officials at the Canadian Embassy in Zagreb, Croatia. Initially Canadian officials were supportive. However, on May 2, 2011, the Canadian embassy changed its position and decided not to support the show. But they did more than simply withdraw support. They advised Nektarina to cancel the show completely, saying “Don’t you know this lady speaks against the Canadian government?” Over the next two and half months the Canadian Government continued its behind-the-scenes interference by contacting the show’s sponsors and venues. On July 22, 2011, Nektarina released an official statement, “In the past few months we have encountered many difficulties in organizing the exhibitions, usually connected to interventions of the Canadian Government… at times we felt patronized and even intimidated”.”

Come, join the tour, find out more about why James feels her art was banned and see some of her fun, new creative art on Ottawa streets!

(I missed this event but wanted to post about it anyway - pretty cool she was up in Ottawa!)

another cool local store!

2011-10-29T17:18:00.000-07:00

Ummmm... why is it that it took a post from Vancouver for me to find out about La Forêt? This store is up in Wakefield (which is not easily accessible for me) but what a gorgeous little shop and how wonderful that it is available to all those north of the city.

They have a bulk natural food section, a live juice bar and natural health products - many in bulk! Take note that their Fall & Winter Hours are 10am - 5pm Tuesday to Sunday. They are closed Mondays and Tuesdays.

La Forêt
757 Chemin Riverside
Au Coeur du Village
Wakefield, Quebec
819.459.3555

Thanks to the Clean Bin Project for mentioning the store in their package-free post!

EQ3 offers sustainable made-in-canada furniture line

2011-10-23T17:27:00.000-07:00

Did you know that EQ3 has a sustainable line for the bedroom?

From their website:

Made in Canada, the EQ3 Sleep by Natura collection is an exclusive line of modern designed, eco-chic mattresses, pillows and comforters. Our sleep collection features 5 mattresses, 5 pillows and 2 comforters, made of environmentally friendly materials that provide natural, soothing comfort.

Get more details at their website: EQ3 Sleep by Natura

And there are also some sustainable/eco features in their CORE dining room and bedroom products such as: FSC Certification, sustainable-harvesting and water-based finishes. What a great start!

Check them out in the Byward Market:

EQ3 Ottawa
60 ByWard Market
613-562-9111

all I can say is wow...

2011-10-18T20:26:00.000-07:00

From the website: A quick click on the sustainability tab of the (Algonquin Centre for Construction Excellence) website at www.algonquincollege.com/acce and you will be welcomed by a large image of the exterior of the building that highlights 9 of the building's features that make it a leader in sustainable construction.

(There) you will find more information (through the interactive sustainability page where you can roll your mouse over the circles) about the green roof, 5-story bio-wall, high-efficiency building envelope, increase of college and community greenspace, storm water recovery system, and more.

It is supposed to be officially opened this fall... can't wait to take a tour!

My sustainable breakfast

2011-10-16T09:26:00.000-07:00

7:30 am... (I can't push my snooze button anymore...)

Groggy and slow I make my way to the kitchen table. Included are:

- organic butter (no margarine that may include palm oil)
- cloth napkins (no disposable napkins made from the boreal forest)
- rainforest certified coffee (supporting biodiverse agroforestry)
- twelve grain bread from a local organic baker, I know by name
- applesauce I made myself from this fall's harvest at a local farm.

Even while sleepy and barely awake, there are choices to make that affect the world around us. We are all connected in more ways than we can even imagine. Even one small change is a step in the right direction for our planet.

Happy Blog Action Day!

Three videos for you

2011-10-11T19:09:00.000-07:00

Permaculture teacher Geoff Lawton visits Vietnam (thanks ND!) from EcoFilms

Found on Treehugger: Power Your Entire Home by Bike...

A Mockumentary with Julia Stiles - what do you think?

Tom Rand's Green Hotel in Toronto

2011-10-06T18:43:00.000-07:00

Have you heard about or stayed at Planet Traveler, seen Tom Rand's Ted X talk or read his book "Kick the Fossil Fuel Habit"? I like this guy and what he's done so far and I love that he is Canadian! Find out more:

Planet Traveler - North America's Greenest Hotel

About Clean Energy in his Hotel and his Ted X Talk

Found first at Green Living Online

Coming to a Storefront Near You!

2011-09-29T19:03:00.001-07:00

Have you heard about the "Fashion on Display" event in Ottawa? This innovative event (Starting October 6th) will pair stores with artists and showcase streetfront window displays to raise awareness of sustainable fashion options & ideas. It'll be exciting to see the creative, provocative displays starting next week. The stores that are participating can be found here.

Here are some themes that they have suggested that I really hope get featured:

- Energy or water consumption (and even personal consumption?)
- Recycling, restyling or repairing clothing (esp. like the last one!)
- Landfill waste

Malorie Bertrand (from Ef Magazine) and Maureen Dickson (slow fashion forward) are behind this innovative idea! And what I really enjoyed reading about is how this idea/event came about - it's really about meeting people, sharing ideas and finding support. These ideas grow in places you would least expect! And it was great to hear that Hub Ottawa was key also - social innovation at its best. (This is also why shared spaces are great also - they allow different groups /people to meet/interact and come up with great ideas like this!)

More details at their website: Fashion on Display! October 6 to 20 / 2 weeks / 10 stores / 10 artists / 10 concepts / you /

(P.S. This is another project sponsored by Awesome Ottawa - where would this city be without this funding support for creative ideas!)

Affordable Coffee Art

2011-09-27T18:08:00.000-07:00

Chow Coffee ($25)
- original illustration: coffee (yes coffee!) and ink on paper
- Brian's blog can be browsed for available prints (check 2008-2009)

Xavier Coffee ($24)
- made with recycled coffee bean burlap bags
- backing is MDF: Medium Density Fiberboard

Coffee Four Ways ($16)
- hand printed illustration on a vintage book page
- post-consumer recycled mat board included
- sent in a biodegradable cello sleeve

The Oasis

2011-09-22T05:54:00.000-07:00

Love this:

"The KILLALOE EARTHSHIP "THE OASIS" is the home of Asoma Music, a finely crafted audio production studio, nestled in a relaxing rural setting, approximately 2 hours west of Ottawa. We are housed in a mammoth tire and concrete structure known as an Earthship. We are powered by the sun and totally ecologically sustainable. We offer Earthship building workshops, Earthship design & building consultations, sacred astro sound workshops, and produce music for healing & meditation and celebrating life. Our oasis of information and relaxation is open for tours by request."

Wood For Life

2011-09-14T19:44:00.000-07:00

Came across this business in Winchester, Ontario: Wood for Life

They reclaim century old timbers and used them to build furniture. This rich wood offers a unique statement in your home - "the patina, character and graining cannot be matched by today's lumber standards". They also recycle scrap metal.

Take a visit - they have a showroom on Main Street in Winchester.

Fashion a la Canadiana

2011-09-07T16:10:00.000-07:00

Dahlia Drive by Wendy van Riesen (Vancouver) - Vintage slips embellished with natural dyes, screenprints, lace & ribbon

Susan Harris Design (Toronto) - makes clothing (dresses, arm warmers, scarves, sweaters) out of recycled materials - check them out at the Cabbagetown Art & Crafts Show this fall.

Melissa Ferreira's line: Adhesif - clothing made from recycled vintage pieces in Vancouver and also available on Etsy online.

Elroy Apparel in Delta B.C. - fair trade with a focus on sustainable fabrics. This Bellis Dress is made from 100% pineapple silk!

Meemoza (Montreal). This line is made in Quebec with sustainable fabrics like modal and tencel (with chlorine free wood processing).

Must thank J. Raya's article for introducing me to some of these designers: Sustainable Fashion 2009

linen tea towels and more...

2011-09-02T19:37:00.000-07:00

Tania from Manusmade is getting alot of attention these days. She's going to be at both Handmade Harvest (in Almonte this November) and Urban Craft (at the GCTC on Wellington this September). Updates about her business and about new stock in her etsy shop can be found on her blog!

You can find modern goods made out of natural fabrics including tea towels, aprons, pillows, toys and felt jewellery. She adds sweet appliques and/or embroiders details on her pieces to give them character. The natural fabrics (silk, linen, wool, etc.) are such a plus - you just can't compare the feel, weight and textures of these types of fibres.

I especially like her felt boxes as I'm always on the look out for simple ways to organize items!

updating the blog

2011-08-30T17:50:00.000-07:00

I know I don't need any but these incredible photos of Gallant & Jones' lawn/beach chairs (seen on Poppytalk) made my day - and at least help me extend summer just a bit on this blog...

Speaking about photos here is a quick blog update:

- I added photos of the inside of T.A.N. (coffee shop in Sandy Hill)

- Farm Fresh Eggs post is updated with a picture of the Bread & Sons "local produce map"

- there is now an ESSENTIA store in Ottawa - at 356 Richmond Road (613-695-7422)!! (as of May 2011)

- this pot scrubber didn’t last long - the bamboo handle didn't like being wet and split apart!

- I added a link to the Ottawa Xpress Freshii review on my Downtown O-Town Lunch Spots post

- the Four Sisters now have a storefront location in Gatineau (reviewed as part of my Lansdowne Farmer's Market post)

- and an update to my Jan. 23, 2011 Post - Rexall now takes all drugs - even over the counter!!‏ And E in E had also posted that Jean Coutu takes them also!

Also if you don't want to sign up for the Freecycle Group listserve - Kijiji and Used Ottawa both have a "Free" Section where you can post & search for items now! Happy Reusing!!

And don't forget that there will be another Really, Really, Really Free Market this fall in Vanier! It will be on October 1st and here's the link for more details: Full Circles Blog.

two yoga tops

2011-08-25T19:33:00.000-07:00

I bought two new yoga shirts this year. My old ones (five years plus) were too short for all the different stretches - I just didn't feel comfortable in them so will repurpose them for other activities. Did some research online and this is where I bought from:

Respecterre Yoga t-shirt - made in Quebec
- bamboo fabric for $50 (shown below)

Squeezed Stretched Tee - made in Canada
- organic cotton for $43 (shown above)

Wanted to mention that the two shirts fit very differently - while the respecterre shirt was comfortable in a medium, the squeezed shirt was still tight in a large and it rides up more than the first.

Other yoga companies that I have featured, ordered from or found online:
Omala - bamboo products (U.S. company),
Be Present - earth friendly fabrics (U.S. company),
prana - use recycled/organic fabrics, clothing made in u.s.,
tonic - clothing made in canada and
Yogo yoga clothing - both the fabric and the clothing are made in Canada.

referrals by google

2011-08-21T19:07:00.000-07:00

WHAT ARE YOU SEARCHING FOR...

- lots and lots of searches for Naot Shoes (ottawa)

- lots for shipping container homes (ottawa)

- more and more for online home decor

- many for greentree clothing

- lots and lots for: boutique le local

- more and more for T.A.N. coffee!

- online canadian clothing boutiques

- vanier community garden

- outdoor planters Canada

- tom rand green blog

- lorax checklist

- eco tights

- homesteading adventures

- best ovenware

- sustainable pets

- green pedal

- eco outdoor planters

- tour la nuit

- recycled yarn socks (muji socks)

- beaver barracks

- Aviator scarves (ottawa)

- Fair Trade clothing (ottawa/gatineau)

- (really??) bungee cord necklace

- Ami McKay (furniture)

Everlee Designs - recycled notebooks

2011-08-17T18:11:00.000-07:00

These cute & handy notebooks are made by Megan Lee (a 22 year old printing & design graduate). She experiments with different materials: paper, cotton, canvas, paint, and ink and creates illustrated and/or handmade cards, notebooks and other paper items.

- eight different sets (different colours/designs)
- cover made from heavy card stock of 70% recycled paper
- two for $5 (books are approximately 5x8 inches when closed)
- handmade paper goods made in Ottawa

On Etsy: Everlee Design

shared community office space

2011-08-12T18:59:00.000-07:00

"Exploring Shared Spaces for Social Enterprises in Ottawa" - Spark Ottawa

From the website:

Buildings which co-locate a number of social change organizations can create the conditions in which collaboration and innovation allow everyone to better achieve their mission and Causeway Work Centre is trying to inspire others to help redefine the role of shared spaces in Ottawa.

The Causeway Work Centre is located at 22’O Meara in Ottawa’s Hintonburg neighbourhood. Causeway currently shares this space with two other organizations (The Ottawa Community Loan Fund, and Familes Matter Co-operative), and is considering renovating the space to open it up to additional organizations.

These community/non-profit spaces are great for collaboration and moving forward ideas and meeting new partners. If an organization doesn't need an office full-time, renting part-time space or becoming a member of a space where you can use computer or internet access by the hour or book a meeting room is a great way to reduce the demand of space that may be unused especially during non-work hours.

Love this post about the Oxfam building in Vanier: Designing for Collaboration

Image from Office Interior Design Blog

Update December 2011: How about this communal incubator kitchen: Red Apron rents out its old space on Gladstone.

home delivery with a conscience...

2011-08-08T19:12:00.000-07:00

Have you heard about The Collective Conscience otherwise know as Eco Ottawa dot Com?

They are Ottawa's local eco-delivery service bringing green, eco, organic, fair trade items to your door. Items that they carry include:

Bath and Body
Cosmetics
Baby Care
Eco-Home
Non-Toxic Cleaning
Gardening
Eco-Office
Real Food
Natural Pet Care
Green Gifts & Baskets
Specialty

I love that you can browse by brand also!

They have a regular delivery schedule, check it online to see when they are in your neighborhood and for orders over $35 this service is free!!

This year they are celebrating their five-year anniversary and their new website will be launched this week. If you ever wanted a personal shopper - now's your chance. Visit the Collective Conscience today!

Friday Smile - handmade cashmere quilts

2011-08-05T19:21:00.000-07:00

This is SUCH a great idea using old sweaters!!

Photo by Sun Moon Lake of Instructables

Canada Provides Green Energy for Internet!

2011-08-04T20:26:00.000-07:00

From the Montreal Gazette:

If the Internet was a country, it would be the planet's fifth-biggest consumer of power, ahead of India and Germany. The Internet's power needs now rival those of the aviation industry and are expected to nearly double by 2020.

"The Internet pollutes, but people don't understand why it pollutes. It's very, very power-hungry, and we have to reduce its carbon footprint," said Mohamed Cheriet, a green IT expert and professor in the engineering and automation department at Montreal's Ecole de Technologie Superieure (ETS).

Some seeking to reduce the Internet's carbon footprint point to a homegrown solution: the GreenStar Network.

GreenStar, which is based at Montreal's Ecole de Technologie Superieure (ETS), is an alternative Internet that runs on small data centres powered solely by cleaner renewable energy, like wind, solar and hydroelectric power.

GreenStar is growing quickly because of the huge worldwide demand for green IT, St. Arnaud said. Since being launched last fall with a core of five green data centres in Canada, the network has expanded to include 15 other data centres in Europe and the U.S., mostly at universities and a few small industrial partners. Others are planned for China and Africa.

"Our biggest problem is meeting demand. We've demonstrated that we can build an Internet that's as reliable as the normal Internet, but without using dirty energy," St. Arnaud said.

The province says the market for green IT will be worth $600 billion annually worldwide by 2013.

found on Transition Ottawa website...

2011-08-03T19:25:00.000-07:00

bird-friendly toilet paper

2011-08-01T19:07:00.000-07:00

If you use disposable paper products you may want to consider "bird-friendly" options.

Excerpt from Silence of the Songbirds, Bridget Stutchbury:

"(The boreal forest) has earned its unfortunate claim to being the biggest toilet paper, facial tissue, and magazine factory in the world, as it is being logged at a rate of several hectares (2.4 acres) a minute to fuel the demand for paper products in the U.S. markets to the south. The United States buys about 80 percent of Canada's timber exports... We have encountered bird-friendly coffee and bird-friendly vegetables, so why not bird-friendly toilet paper?"

Here is where you can find out more about products that are made from recycled paper and environmentally-friendly manufacturing processes:

Natural Resources Defence Council's Shopper's Guide to Bird-Friendly Disposable Paper Products

And unfortunately forestry is only one of the many threats to these birds:
- Report Finds Millions of Birds will be Lost from Tar Sands Development
- Boreal Birds now at Risk in Gulf

Small changes from people can make huge differences for wildlife... it definitely is something to consider!

webisodes on green design

2011-07-28T20:59:00.000-07:00

Were you a fan of Pure Design also? I liked Samantha Pynn's show - it was great to have something on HGTV Canada that was about eco-friendly design. You can still watch the episodes from Season one and two online. I loved that they profiled local eco artists (in Toronto) and you can find a link to each artist's website online - under the details for each redesigned room (they provide paint, furniture, decor info also!)

Samantha is now working on other projects but her assistant Julia Black is featured in four webisodes on green design available only at HGTV.ca. These short two to four minute episodes are fun primers on eco-friendly decorating!

The videos can be found here: HGTV Videos. Enjoy!

they finally launched!!!

2011-07-19T17:16:00.000-07:00

You knew them first as the label that brought you the endangered animal sports tees like the "Beijing Bears" and the "Havana Hawksbills". Celebrities and common folk alike were sporting them from the beaches of California to the streets of New York. They were the talk of the town from Oprah to Cindy Crawford to CNN and they even showed at London Fashion Week in 2008. A portion of the profits from the sales of the t-shirts went to support the wildlife and their threatened habitats. They called it "Consumer Powered Conservation" and for me it was the first time I was introduced to the idea that What I Bought could truly make a difference. Wildlife Works helped me make that connection.

For the last year the Wildlife Works store was temporarily closed as they refocused on the organization's priorities and new projects. And finally today, I received an email that they have officially launched their new site where they now offer both a carbon offset credit market and a new fashion line which both help fund their forestry protection programs.

The organization had always been transparent about the origins of the clothes - giving details on which were organic, which were fair-trade, etc. but now with their revamped website, they have provided details for each item from cradle to consumer including the carbon count! And their sleek site is beautiful to behold and easy to navigate - the images seem to leap out from your screen. The acacia trees silhouetted against the deep blue skies, the rock outcropping against the horizon of the Rukinga sanctuary and the exotic, wild elephants photographed... the images make me yearn for an opportunity to find myself sidetracked in Africa or at least enjoying a short stay in the savanna!

From the website:"Wildlife Works is the world's leading project developer for a UN-backed carbon credit program called REDD (Reduced Emissions From Deforestation and Degradation), which has emerged as the most hopeful initiative to combat global warming." This type of transparency is incredible and I hope that we see more of the same from other organizations - companies. And I also like that their work encompasses so many elements: education, eco-friendly products, protecting wildlife, growing trees and helping farmers.

So whether you are a fashionista or a devoted environmentalists (desiring transparency in what you buy), or you are seeking a great place to purchase carbon offsets (love that they have options for "party", "monster truck" and "dorm room"!) or you just want a new fair trade tank top or maybe for you it's all about helping save some gorgeous, regal elephants - Wildlife Works does it all. Seriously - this organization rocks!

Visit them here: Wildllife Works and Wild Blog. You'll find more details on the REDD program, journal entries on the work they do at the Rukinga sanctuary and videos on each of the six elements of the organization. And if you want to receive project updates you can sign up to receive them. I can't wait to see what's next for this progressive organization. I truly feel better about the world knowing that there are organizations like this.

**************

"We believe that all species have an intrinsic right to exist on Earth, without having to prove their value." - Wildlife Works

* Images from Ann's Kenya Blog and Babe in the Bush Blog

need mosquito deterrent!

2011-07-16T17:25:00.000-07:00

I went to Petrie Island for the first time ever. It's a gorgeous spot on the water with a nature reserve and a bunch of hiking trails. We were on our way to try and spot beavers when the mosquitoes/bugs became too much to handle. This is the second time I was empty-handed/unprepared while on a nice nature hike so I'm looking at these three bug repellents for our next excursion - don't know which one to buy:

Druide Citronella Insect Repellent Spray
Ingredients include citronella, terpene, tea tree essential oil, organic rosemary, thyme, basil, geranium, and patchouli.
250 ml for $15.75

Quantum Buzz Away Citronella Insect Repellent
Pure, natural essential oils including cedarwood, citronella, peppermint, eucalyptus and lemongrass.
60 ml for $9.59

Citronella Mist
Citronella Mist has these bug repellent essential oils: lemon eucalyptus, catnip*, citronella, lavender, basil, lemongrass, thyme, patchouli.
4 oz for $7.00

* Ten times stronger than DEET according to an Iowa State University study.

Anyone try them? Have other suggestions?

Image from Gardening Dream Inspire

simple living

2011-07-14T21:56:00.000-07:00

As I’m purging my items around the house (that I don't need anymore) before the big move this article has been inspiring:

Living With Less - Re-Nest by Landis Carey

She also has a blog: Mint Peach - celebrating "modern simple living" and you can read about her favorites at Simple Lovely.

********************

On a totally different note: Planet Botanix (on Bank Street) is giving away a free tomato plant with each purchase this week! They have yellow, cherry, black and other varieties - I myself took home a chocolate one - yes chocolate cherry tomatoes!!
: )

Ottawa green transportation blogs...

2011-07-11T20:45:00.000-07:00

Time to show your love for all things sustainable and all ways of getting around the city.

Have you spotted yourself yet on Ottawa Cycle Chic Blogspot?

Have you had your say on why Ottawa buses make your day at I heart OC Transpo blog?

It's time to share your thoughts on these healthy, green mobility options!

* Image from Ottawa Cycle Chic

if only I had room in my closet...

2011-07-07T17:20:00.000-07:00

FIVE OF MY FAVOURITE SUMMER TOPS:

Grecian Box Tie Top
- made of 100% organic ribbed cotton knit
- can be worn three ways
- $28 + delivery

DAISY Top - Raw Asymmetric V-Neck
- made by Rose La Biche (Paris, France)
- "effortlessly chic silhouette"
- 95% combed cotton + 5% spandex
- $69 + delivery

we3 Kimono Sleeve Essential Top
- different version of this top yearly
- two fabrics: bamboo/cotton or modal with some lycra in both
- review of top by Canadian Natural Mama
- $79 + tax & delivery

Earth Creation Tiki Top
- natural clay dye colours including celadon, sunstone & topaz
- 100% organic cotton jersey and 100% organic cotton crochet (yoke)
- originally $52 - on sale for $26 + shipping

Short-sleeved Cowl Tee / by Replicca
- exaggerated overlapping cowl neck for "multiple levels of coziness"
- lightweight polyester cotton blend knit
- handmade in Canada
- $55 + delivery

Green at Heart - Paper Pads

2011-07-05T18:24:00.000-07:00

From the Scrap N Stamp website:

"Basic Grey goes green...and hot pink, tomato red, posey purple and bright white in Green at Heart.

Printed on quality acid-free and archival safe FSC-certified paper with soy-based inks, these fresh and fun patterns in bright prismatic colors will spur your creativity and help save a tree."

36 sheets - 2 of each of 18 designs - Price: $7.49

welcome to our community

2011-07-04T19:54:00.000-07:00

Did you know that the Welcome Wagon was Canadian? I had no idea! It's been a "Canadian Tradition since 1930" and was started in Vancouver. Now it is in over 500 communities across the country.

When I was going through some piles in my study, I came across some of the items I had picked up or been given in recently years and seeing it together, I thought that it would make a great "welcome gift" to new residents to Ottawa. Wouldn't it be great if we could get different companies to sponsor items like seeds or the "Buy Local" map so that it was in every Welcome Wagon basket? Sounds like a great project for a local environmental group!

Organic ingredients make soft hands...

2011-07-01T17:54:00.000-07:00

Introducing Veriterra!! This local home business sells lotions, lip balms and creams. My friend bought some of the creams as gifts for the holidays last season and everyone loved them. How can you go wrong with ingredients such as bergamot, peppermint and cocoa? And the truly sweet hand painted glass jars can be returned for reuse. From the site:

5 Reasons you'll love our products:
- Natural, organic, and/or local ingredients
- Made with essential oils
- No harmful chemicals or artificial preservatives
- Refillable/refundable hand-painted containers
- Not tested on animals

Contact Brittany from Veriterra at NaturalBeauty@Veriterra.ca, or +1 (613) 851-8892.

happy, happy gifts, finds & posts

2011-06-29T18:13:00.000-07:00

1. Wow! My friend gifted me this very cool bike basket - that you can detached while you are shopping - can’t wait to go to the farmer’s market! Thank you soooo much ND!

2. Last Value Village purchase: comfy, organic yoga pants by STEM (California company) – what a great find!

3. check out this gorgeous green living wall at the Minto Building (these 6000 plants support the oxygen needs for 20 people a day!)

4. I may be the last person to know about this but am excited that Adorit (on York Street) now carries the Smoking Lily line

5. Really loved reading about the Evergreen building’s cooling system at Andrea’s blog “Healthy People, Healthy Planet”. (Picture from Earth Development.)

6. I sooooo want to do something like this Itajime Shibori dye project - so lovely... What a cool way to be able to make a pattern! Gorgeous!

7. It's time to "Have Your Say" for those who live in Ottawa and tell the City want you want to see in terms of sustainability and biodiversity. The two Cities of Ottawa & Gatineau and the N.C.C. are advancing their "Choosing Our Future" campaign/study and are seeking public comments to help shape the direction of the Capital Region for the 21st Century. Comments are being taken until July 14th - add yours today!

Saying No to Monoculture Poultry Farms (part II)

2011-06-27T19:42:00.000-07:00

In my April post, I debated the options in Ottawa for purchasing small scale locally produced eggs. I really wanted to do some research on the size of flocks for some of the local poultry farms but truth be told, supporting a monoculture farm is not the ideal. Instead of dedicating farms to poultry only (which has its drawbacks), chickens should be seen as a livestock investment that enhances a diverse farm that grows hay, raises cattle and sheep and produces vegetables, fruits, herbs and other edible plants. I loved this video by Michael Pollan that explained how a permaculture farming system can be self-supporting - watch from the 10:45 mark:

The example he gives is Joel Salatin's Polyface farm in Shenandoah Valley, Virginia.

Specialization may cut down on costs but it makes a business more vulnerable. If there is a disease or other virus it could wipe out an entire flock, crop, etc. which could be the farmer's one and only income. But if there is diversity a farmer has many other different products to fall back on. I've read similar things in terms of shade grown coffee - where this encourages polyculture farming and allows for less intensive farming methods. We need to value food more, be willing to pay more which will also make our food system stronger and resilient. And until we can all purchase eggs from local farms that have small flocks maybe we can at least rethink how we use or what we purchase that has eggs.

******************

Start an Egg-volution:

- Ask your local breakfast joint where they get their eggs.

- Bake more of your snacks at home so you know where your eggs are coming from.

- Support CLUCK and the backyard chicken bylaw in the next City of Ottawa debate.

- Try making your own pasta, egg nog and/or egg sandwiches.

- Have a strategy for the use of your egg yolks when your recipe calls for egg whites only.

- See if you can start a neighbourhood egg club so that one farmer can start a monthly egg delivery for your area.

- Adopt/support a chicken (especially a heritage breed!) and/or visit a sanctuary farm!

- Rethink some of your Easter traditions if you end up wasting eggs.

(Where to Get Farm Fresh Eggs in the City - Part One)

New CSA to grow goji berries in Ottawa!

2011-06-25T07:01:00.000-07:00

Padgeberry Farm is back in business!! Ross and Edie Batstone had been looking for interested buyers since 2007 and finally found someone last fall! Malcolm and Sharon Dales are the intrepid couple who are following in Ross & Edie's footsteps and they are ready to make their own mark in Ottawa!

They have installed geothermal, put up new hoophouses for extending the growing season and it looks like they have bottled maple syrup and are raising chicks (see their Facebook page). The list of fruits, vegetables and herbs that they are going to grow is extensive and part of their focus will be on "crops and foods that contain high nutritional and other health benefits, such as goji berries, garlic and quinoa." For their first season they are offering CSA shares and selling organic seedlings to backyard gardeners. The CSA baskets will include melons this year and in 2012 they hope to add black and red raspberries and blackberries. I also love that they have asparagus!

If you can't commit to a weekly CSA basket, you can always buy directly from the farm; they are open on Sundays from July to October, 1:00pm until 5:00pm.

Location: 4265 Nixon Drive, Osgoode, ON K0A 2W0
Email: info@padgeberryfarm.com
Phone: 613-868-3907
Website: http://www.padgeberryfarm.com

summertime means... patio furniture time!

2011-06-24T17:52:00.000-07:00

Quick post about this: Recycled plastic outdoor furniture! I found it on Green Living Online: Ottawa

I love the idea of buying recycled plastic IF you want to buy plastic outdoor furniture. They have Adirondack chairs and benches that look like wood and last forever.

They also have other interesting products such as "PermaDeck" for your backyard deck, "Enviro Shakers" for roofing and the Envirocurb Bardmatic for home composting that breaks down meat and animal waste.

Here's what their website says:

Welcome to Enviro-Curb a Manufacturer and Distributor of recycled plastic site furnishings and decking. Also availiable are Rubbermaid, Polyboard, Enviro Curb Blue Box Systems and various Enviro Curb Rubber Recycling products.

Their email address is: info@envirocurb.com. It doesn't seem they have a store front but the mailing address is P.O. Box 5536, Merivale Depot Ottawa, Ontario.

Claire de Lune B & B (Kawartha Lakes)

2011-06-22T18:42:00.000-07:00

Exploring the countryside around Ottawa, has lead to long weekends up the Ottawa Valley, cottaging in the Rideau Lakes area, winter trails in Quebec and wine-tasting in Prince Edward County. This spring we went a bit further to explore the Kawartha Lakes region and found a great B & B with some really impressive eco features!

We were made to feel completely at home by the hosts (Claire & Rod) and had a very wonderful, relaxed stay. The attention to detail that they have put into their business is impressive and they were ever so helpful with restaurant recommendations and providing maps to get around. The eco features of their B & B include:

- locally milled wood used for construction (from their lot!)
- stone from a local quarry
- hot water is heated by wood stove
- breakfast is served on local handmade pottery

The rooms feature eco-foam soy mattresses, organic sheets and Canadian made organic soaps. There are even small binoculars in all rooms for bird & other local critter watching (there is a local family of otters living in the lake!)

Rod & Claire serve a delicious four course breakfast that doesn’t leave you feeling weighed down but definitely leaves you completely satisfied. And you will be able to dine al fresco in the summer.

It’s in a gorgeous setting, facing a lake and the trees on the property have been carefully harvested. The buildings are nestled in amongst the trees which make it feel like they’ve been there for decades! There are walking trails for guests to enjoy and places to sit facing the lake.

For more details on their environmental friendly features check here.

I would also recommend eating at Riverhouse Co. in Lakefield. The restaurant was opened a few years ago by a Toronto chef and their menu focuses on local ingredients & flavours! I recall with great fondness their lavender crème brûlée! The Kawartha Lakes region is a great place to visit with canals and beautiful lakes and they know how indulge you there! We had a wonderful time!

(We also enjoyed seeing a big beaver cross the lane/dirt road on the way back to the B&B in the late evening returning from our dinner out!)

Friday Smile - Bungee Cord Necklace

2011-06-17T21:58:00.000-07:00

You've probably heard about the t-shirt necklace. I love that look! So here's another for you crafty people if you have lots of spare bungee cords around! : ) This is from Mary Design (Brazil) - what a great idea!

Where are they now: passenger pigeon

2011-06-11T18:41:00.000-07:00

Back in 2005 Heather Schibli and Wendy Traas started a new sustainable clothing line called Passenger Pigeon. The clothing received rave reviews and was carried in boutiques across North America. They avoided synthetics as much as they could – preferring to use "natural fabrics that would not create plastic pollution at the end of their lifecycles". They also made all their garments in Toronto – at a sweatshop free facility even while realizing that much of their “competitors” garments were made overseas – at a much lower cost.

These two women walked the talk – making sure that all their travel within Toronto was done by bicycle or public transport and they donated a percentage of their profits to organizations that supported their values such as Greenpeace and WSPA. They volunteered time with local groups like FLAP and Adventurology and donated off-cuts and bolt ends to local schools.

The clothing company, Passenger Pigeon, named after the bird that became extinct, is no more. Both woman have gone on to pursue other endeavors but are still keen to promote sustainability in their work. Wendy Traas was featured in an exhibition starting in late 2009 called Fashion Forward by Ontario College of Art & Design (OCAD) Professional Gallery. She has followed her desire to create custom wedding dresses and has opened up her own business in Toronto. Heather Schibli worked as a costume designer in 2010 for the play “The Queens” at the Alumnae Theatre in Toronto and then exhibited some of her prints at Canvas Gallery on Dupont Street in Toronto later that year. She has since relocated to Guelph but is continuing her work as a design consultant and designing her own printed textiles.

It's really great to find out that these two business woman are keeping a sustainability focus with their new businesses! I can't wait to see what they do next.

Canada's Hometown Heroes for 2011

2011-06-09T18:55:00.000-07:00

The Hometown Heroes for 2011 have been announced. Earth Day Canada had their gala and it was a huge success. At the end of the evening they presented the three national awards to the following inspiring winners:

Individual Award: Jonathan Glencross, Montreal, QC
Group Award: Bay Area Restoration Council, Hamilton, ON
Small Business Award: Oilseed Works Inc., Barrie, ON

I was especially excited about reading the last one. Oilseed Works Inc. "has been fostering the growth of industrial hemp across Canada by convincing farmers to shift from genetically engineered commodity crops and devote productive land to growing industrial hemp... the total number of hemp acres doubling since 2010; an admirable feat because of the favourable nature of the crop and its low environmental impact!"

great green blogs

2011-06-07T19:28:00.000-07:00

I keep stumbling across so many great blogs – some of them I’ve added to my right hand column and some of them I want to feature more in depth. Here’s a couple for now:

- An “eco-home” blog (Glen Morris, Ontario)
- David Suzuki's Queen of Green: Lindsay Coulter
- Simple Green Actions - a great Canadian blog by Cascades
- Canadian Living's green Life Blogger: Daniela Payne

and I really enjoy reading Ottawa's own Spyder Grrl's blog! I heard about the first tweet from Everest from her! She has such great posts about unique tech finds, fun viral videos and she features cool innovative (and some crazy) sustainable ideas! Check out her eco, environmentally-friendly and green technology labels. This video that she linked to in March for Earth Hour really caught my eye: Do the Green Thing!

* all images of cool green creations are from Spyder Grrl's website - check them out!

Celebrating the Environment

2011-06-05T08:00:00.000-07:00

Just wanted to wish everyone a Happy Environment Week! During this week, we also celebrate: World Environment Day, which is Sunday June 5th and Clean Air Day which is Wednesday June 8th.

I thought for this week I’d profile some great people who are making a difference, whether through getting the word out there through their blog or whether they are entrepreneurs or heading up great non-profits. Some have even transitioned from their first eco-friendly business to the next stage in their life while still keeping an eye on the sustainable side of things. It’s all very inspiring! And during the week, Earth Day Canada will be announcing their Hometown Heros for this year at their gala – I can’t wait to see who they are!

*******************************************

ECO-ENTERPRISING
- Young People Greening Their Own Path In Ottawa

Have already been able to profile some great Ottawa entrepreneurs /business people that are making waves in the capital city:

- Michael Sunderland's Michael Dolce jams,
- Jacqueline Joliffe soup truck,
- Carole and Lise who are Modern Karibou's Co-Founders and
- Marie-France Roy and Marc Gagne of Le Local Boutique in Hull

and after finding two more recently and thinking about others I've met along the way, it struck me that Ottawa is growing young successful entrepreneurs like weeds! It will be very exciting to see in the upcoming years where these entrepreneurial people will take the city and how they will help reshape it...

Here are the two others:

- Chrys and Dom Coballe (Ottawa Start featured them last month) have come up with a ipod Nano wristband concept which they want to manufacture as sustainably as possible - maybe you want to be one of their investors?

- Alexis Williams just won the Awesome Ottawa award this spring for her food/art installation idea of growing mushrooms on donated phone books!

And I also admire:

- Marysol Foucault of the (almost) one-year old Edgar sandwich shop that opened up in Gatineau who uses local sustainable food.

- Kristen Inrig, Ottawa's own young eco-dynamo, who quit her job at the federal government to become the Executive Director of Tucker House. While doing that she also worked at Greening Sacred Spaces, opened her own business called Sustainable Foundations and was on the Board of the Ottawa Sustainability Fund. I cannot wait to see what she does next!

- Daniel Spence, one of the inventors of Cupsuckers from Blue Heron Solutions. Before that he worked at Ottawa's Enviro Centre and was managing the Byward Market TMA Feasability Study and the first phase of implementing it.

- Amy McRae of Be.You.tiful A.muzing and her creative e-book endeavor: Joy the The Earth - a "Handbook for a Meaning-Filled, Eco-Conscious & Thriftastic Holiday"!

There are great local fair-trade coffee shops, others who are sewing and designing sutainably and we're recently met some inspiring women who shared their interests/passions at our first two nature walks. I'm sure there are dozens of other great, energetic, imaginative entrepreneurs out there who are changing the world for the better. I think we are in great hands!

*** Photos from Macoun Marsh by my amazing and talented bfriend V. Glazduri! (Please join us on our OUWT walk later this month - the project that the students are doing at the marsh with their teacher Michael Léveillé is inspiring!)

Doors Open this Weekend!

2011-06-01T19:09:00.001-07:00

Doors Open is an exciting festival where buildings open their doors for the public to freely tour the interior of a space. Ottawa has been participating for quite a few years and this year I will be checking it out for the first time. I looked through the list of participating buildings and saw that you could even do an “eco-friendly” Doors Open day! Check out some of these:

- Beaver Barracks (rental unit) with a low ecological footprint (464 Metcalfe St.)
- Ashbury College’s green roof on its 100th year anniversary (362 Mariposa Ave)
- Arts Court – a great example of the reuse of heritage building (2 Daly Ave)
- Robert O. Pickard Environmental Centre – city’s water program (655 Shefford Rd.)
- Billings Estate - natural resources used in construction (2100 Cabot St.)
- C.D. Howe Building’s green roof (urban nesting site for ducks) 235 Queen St.
- CanmetENERGY’s clean energy science and technology facility (1 Haanel Dr.)
- Ottawa’s own local hydroponic greenhouse (Suntech Greenhouses, 5541 Doyle Rd.)

Listed alphabetically on the Doors Open Website (with maps for each location). Enjoy your tour!

behind the scenes with heartfelt's urban girl

2011-05-30T20:43:00.000-07:00

I always wonder about the people behind the blog so I thought it would be fun to share some little-known facts about me:

- my restaurant "must try" recommendation: one pan brunch at the Parkside Café on Rideau
- my best second-hand/vintage find: cool set of 4 Holt Howard yellow tea cups found during university
- if I could open up a store: it would be like wabi sabi in Ottawa or the workroom in Toronto
- my newest food crush: lemon juice on freshly sliced or shaved raw beets - so simple yet so delicious!
- the best pick-me-up song hands down: Amy Steinberg - Exactly - it's always just what I need to hear
- I’m not good at: using herbs – I always grow them but forget about using them! Last year I didn’t do too bad: inspired by a friend’s lemon balm tea recipe and impelled by fresh herbs from our C.S.A. I found a great cilantro salad dressing recipe
- beauty secret: I found I never became sun burnt while outside gardening when I used Greens for Skin
- elusive find: a great fair trade, organic, loose leaf, fruity tea – that’s not too much to ask is it? : )
- most recent book that I’ve read: just finished Silence of the Songbirds by Bridget Stutchbury
- expressing my inner girly-girl: I want to decorate the inside of my clothes closet... pink!
- I envy my friend’s: decadent carob peanut butter treat recipe – it knocks your socks off! (will you share it with me, ND?)

Tell me some fun stuff about you!

reviving a cast off piece

2011-05-26T20:11:00.000-07:00

Happy happy happy! Our reupholstered love seat came back and we can't be more thrilled! There was a label on the bottom showing that the last time it had been upholstered was in the 1960's (in Quebec) so it did get a fifty year lease on life.

It definitely cost more than a love seat would at IKEA. A part of the base of the frame needed to be repaired and all the cushions needed to be replaced so that made the price higher than it would have been just for upholstery but it was still worth it. We also received the extra fabric (that they didn't use) so we have the option to make some pillows or recover a small chair to match. All in all a great investment. (Remember what it looked like before?)

We went with J. Ennis Fabrics Ltd., Reef Pattern in Grey, 100% Recycled Polyester. Really would have liked a natural fabric but in the end, it wasn't an option. We had to search through a ton of patterned fabrics - we thought it would be better to go with a solid neutral and add patterns/colours with cushions. Will give more versatility in the long run.

We also talked to the Cover Co-op about repairing our couch we bought at Suede. Some of the padding at the front is sagging and he thinks we can slip off the upholstery from the bottom, fix the padding and then just staple it back up. This is great news because we don't want to have to replace a two and a half year old couch!

Check out the Cover Co-op if you are in Ottawa and interested in getting something reupholstered. This is the second piece I've done with them and Steve (the owner) is great!!

Pure Green

2011-05-24T19:44:00.000-07:00

Every time Celine publishes a new Pure Green Living Magazine I keep meaning to post about it here. But each time for some reason… it slips my mind. And I really don’t know how it does, as Pure Green is always such an amazing read, the topics are so spot on and the photography captures such gorgeous images/lifestyles - lovely to behold.

So here’s the news:

This is a really great issue NOT to forget as the magazine has been upgraded/updated/restyled and Celine now has a team of talented contributors to put the publication together. So take a look at Pure Green Living 2.0 and enjoy their spring edition articles, lovely colour photo spreads and green/eco finds – they have sections on clothes, food, design and other great topics! You can even read it on your ipad!

Also for those in Ottawa, Malorie Bertrand has been working on her own Eco Fashion e-magazine. Great articles here on Fashion Week, thrift shopping and much more! Stay tuned for future giveaways also! She is blazing quite the trail in this sleepy civil servant town.

* Mosaic from the Pure Green Living website

"earth-friendly" custom framing

2011-05-21T20:39:00.000-07:00

Earth Friendly Frames available in the Byward Market.

Picture Plus is open Mon - Fri until 6 pm and Saturdays until 5 pm.

Picture Plus | 179 George Street

SHIFT Urban Cargo Delivery

2011-05-20T07:17:00.000-07:00

Not in Ottawa but this is very exciting!

SHIFT is a new distribution service in downtown Vancouver. We are replacing conventional delivery trucks by transporting loads of up to 600 lbs using our zero-emissions, heavy-duty cargo trikes. We can haul a diverse range of products including coffee, catering, office supplies, clothing, moving supplies, beverages, produce, and many other goods. We also offer eye-catching advertising on our attractive delivery trikes.

Email: info@shiftdelivery.com
Phone: 778 231 2866
Shift Delivery

* Image from Shift Delivery website

before the may long weekend...

2011-05-19T18:20:00.000-07:00

Have you ever wondered how sustainable your gardening is? Earlier this month the "No Plastic Project" in Ottawa wrote a post about all the PLASTIC that can accumulate when you work outdoors. It had some really helpful suggestions about how to avoid plastic trays, plastic bales of soil and other such plastic. And Ottawa Frugalista wrote a post about common household items that can be used for gardening. Forget going to the nearest store to combat pests or boost your garden – you probably have what you need at home!

Ever wonder where all that top soil, gravel and peat moss comes from? I was surprised to find out that PEAT MOSS may not be the most sustainable choice for your garden. I had used it the first year I built my raised garden bed as I was told that it was a good material to hold water so that roots don’t get too damp. It actually helped a lot as that summer was very rainy and everyone around me talked about how their tomato plants were suffering while mine were thriving! But in the future I’ll have to see if there are alternatives.

And one last thought – maybe you want to help native bee populations? Buying a mason bee condo or building your own is a really easy way to get more pollinators in your backyard. NATIVE BEES help with local biodiversity and encourage a more sustainable, stable ecosystem with many different species supporting each other. Read more about local bee populations here.

coveting for spring....

2011-05-15T20:58:00.000-07:00

anna korte necklace first seen at Pure Green blog last year

redhanded cowgirl clutch first seen at The Streets I Know blog (this girl has a great eye for fashion!)

cole haan air lalita shoes - could I even wait to get these shoes second hand...

green building for the Ottawa Humane Society

2011-05-11T19:53:00.000-07:00

Loved reading about the new Ottawa Humane Society Building!

From the website:

"In our new shelter we will have many beneficial environmentally conscious features, such as:

* Site Development: minimize storm water run-off, encourage non-motorized methods of travel to and from site, increase urban density and green space.
* Water Efficiency: reduce water consumption, minimize or treat wastewater.
* Energy Efficiency: use renewable energy, such as passive solar heating.
* Material Selection: minimize construction waste, use renewable construction materials and design and build more durable buildings.
* Indoor Environmental Quality: incorporate day lighting, provide operable windows and occupant control of work space, improve delivery of ventilated air.
* Innovation in Design: incorporate innovative environmental features not covered in other areas.
* Accessible to every member of our community, including those with mobility impairment."

mini-update

2011-05-08T18:11:00.000-07:00

Here is a small update from the past few months:

ONE - We went to the Ottawa Home and Garden show last month. There were some great green products and ideas there but what I loved the most was the shipping container model home that you could buy! I added some info to my Shipping Container Housing post on this.

(And I also added an update on a modern eco home that I found recently online.)

TWO - I’m getting a love seat reupholstered by the Cover Co-op. It had been left here, at the house by the last owner and we loved the lines - just not the orange velour fabric. In terms of eco options for new fabric my choices are: recycled polyester (made in the U.S.), synthetic suede (made in Canada) or natural wool. Will do a before and after post when it's done!

THREE – Yeah it’s spring! I'm excited about wearing my two newer pairs of shoes - one are Vejas that I bought last fall in Montreal and the others are El Naturalistas. Also in terms of fashion, I entered an online draw and won a White Soul t-shirt from Faeries Dance! Double Yeah! By the way, have you shopped at Faeries Dance yet? I love their service and their selection... you must check them out!

(And I also updated this Green Fashion Links post with new links that I have found.)

FOUR – I’m still trying to find a pretty hemp shower curtains - thanks DF for the tip on Zia and Tia – I’ve sent them an email. During my search I did find organic cotton shower curtains at Bed, Bath & Beyond by "Amy Butler for Welspun" if anyone is looking. I’m still hoping for hemp!

FIVE - Am helping organize a series of tours this summer for Transition Ottawa entitled: Ottawa Urban Wild Tours. If you want to get outside and learn about edible wilds, the value of marshes, tracking animals, stream ecology and foraging for nuts these tours are for you! They will be a great way to celebrate the unsung nature that is right in our backyard or down the street. More information is available online.

p.s. That's a photo of my new Lilikoi dress that I bought this spring!

p.p.s. I signed Ontario Nature's Biodiversity Charter - maybe you want to also?

WORK WEEK - eco business cards

2011-05-06T19:32:00.000-07:00

A quick online search for eco-friendly business cards will provide you with the following options. Perhaps you haven’t thought of greening your business this way? With so many choices, now may be a good time to think about it. Not only is it good for the environment but it can also make a unique statement and get the attention of customers. Take a look below:

TRADITIONAL CARDS

1. Vista Print
- 100% Post-Consumer Waste Recycled Paper
- Canadian Company based in Windsor, Ontario
- 250 cards for free (does not include shipping and upgrade to recycled paper)
- 42 designs available for free offer with some eco/green designs

2. Moo Cards
- U.S. Business
- 100% recycled paper
- processed chlorine free
- wind powered business
- designs are hip & fresh

3. Greener Printer
- Based in Berkeley, California
- 100% recycled paper, FSC Certified, 60% Post-consumer Waste
- Processed Chlorine Free
- Soy & Vegetable zero-VOC inks
- Chemical-free plate processing
- Scuff-resistant, non-toxic aqueous coating

4. en masse media
- Vancouver based business
- 100% post-consumer recycled paper
- vegetable-based inks
- free business card templates

HANDSTAMPED CARDS

Handstamped cards have the versatility of using any type of writing material for your business stamp from leftover scrap papers to recycled cardboard to fabric and more. The stamps can be costly however so determine how permanent your address is before you invest. Or just use your phone and web address so that the stamp can be used no matter where you are located.

Here are some businesses where you can get stamps and non-toxic inks (look for water or soy based ink pads):

- Sweet Paperie (U.S. etsy store)
- T.S.T. Rubber Stamp (Canadian)

Non-toxic inks from:

- Quietfire Design (acid-free, non-toxic, fade resistant, water-based dye inks)
- Printy Rubber Stamp Co. Inc. (water based non-toxic stamp pad ink)

To see what the possibilities are check out Hello Friend blog for examples: 11 handstamped business cards.

*
*

And here are some other CREATIVE OPTIONS for a personalized business card that will make a great impression with your customers!

* Mosaic from Kariann’s collection of designer business cards on Flickr.

WORK WEEK - Carbon Savings Calculator

2011-05-04T18:29:00.000-07:00

Footprints: The Carbon Savings Calculator Plugin for Adobe Connect

Have you ever attended a webinar and found it a great time saver? You just sit at your desk for an hour instead of fighting traffic or worse getting on a plane to go to an event? Or perhaps your headquarters meets virtually with all satellite offices, file sharing online and discussing projects via their computer webcam?

Have you ever wondered how much of an impact you could make by having more of these meetings and events virtually? Now you can find out!

From their website:

“Footprints, works by calculating the approximate location of each attendee in a virtual meeting based on their IP address, converting that to their physical Latitude and Longitude and then determining the roundtrip distance they would have to travel to get the the meeting host’s location and back home again.

Footprints shows each attendee their Carbon savings, the total savings of the entire meeting and how much the organization has saved the planet over all of the meetings that have been run using the tool.”

What a great reporting tool for your company’s bottom line! More and more businesses are starting to provide annual sustainability reports and this could make their job much easier. Even as a participant in a webinar, it’s nice to see this information at the end – what your total impact would have been if you had had to travel. It really makes you think twice.

WORK WEEK - fancy pants lunch tote

2011-05-02T18:19:00.000-07:00

From the great Kitchener (Ontario) online store: Fenigo "everything for your litterless lunch":

The Tasty Lunch Tote
* Made from neoprene (the wetsuit material)
* Tested for lead safety - No vinyl or PVC used
* Insulates hot or cold food and beverage for up to 4 hours
* Soft-grip handles
* Zip Closure
* Stores flat
* Machine washable & stain resistant

Unfortunately NOT made in Canada. But just love the pattern (and this also comes in a bigger size).

T.A.N. Coffee - Now Open for Business in Sandy Hill

2011-04-30T18:08:00.000-07:00

T.A.N Coffee now open in Sandy Hill! The cafe is at 317 Wilbrod St (nearest main intersection is Laurier Ave and King Edward Ave) sharing the location with Sandy Hill People Food Co-Op.

Photos of first visit (finally!) on July 16, 2011:

(They really DO have amazing coffee! Not bitter at all and really friendly baristas. They made me a yummy soy chai latte (from actual loose tea). I also noticed that they had peppercorns for sale also - mixed in with their loose tea packages.)

Moss Shop, the Canadian + Handmade blog and Heartsy

2011-04-29T19:56:00.000-07:00

I stumbled across this site this week: Moss Shop (located in British Columbia) and I was very intrigued. Leah Pipe aka the Moss Boss has a great eye for beautiful pieces and I would love to see her open up a shop for these goodies and more!

I love what she says:

“moss cares… we've lost the connection between the maker and the customer with 80% of our items born on a factory line. moss cares about beautiful and practical pieces made by someone's hands with love and crafted with precision…every little bit helps...”

My favourites from her selection are above but I also loved the Forestbound striped totes and the La Casa Decoto crocheted floor cushion pouffes! Leah must have strong skills in sleuthing to line up such a lovely collection of items to curate! These household articles & personal objects will no doubt be treasured and become heirlooms rather than something for next year’s throw away pile. That’s really what green should be!

Presently she is trying to assess whether there is the demand to open up her shop– why don’t you spend a couple of minutes and respond to her survey?

ALSO...

In case you love handmade and find yourself browsing etsy all the time... you may enjoy this site: Canadian + Handmade "celebrating Canadian artists + crafters".

Sarah and Jennifer have been blogging since May 2010 and also provide event listings and interviews with the artists. If you are from the Ottawa area and want to look for something close at hand they even have an Ontario tag!

Happy browsing!

AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST...

if you love handmade you may want to sign up for the latest in social coupons: Heartsy - up to 50% off for your favorite crafters!

Another event - Ottawa's FIRST Really, Really, Really Free Market for 2011!

2011-04-28T16:21:00.001-07:00

There will be two markets this year - a Spring Edition and a Fall one also.

Ottawa's first Free Market day in 2011 will be on Saturday June 4th in the parking lot in front of the Vanier CSC located at the corner of Montreal Road and Begin Street (across from the Jean Coutu) .

If you are interested they are looking for a lot of volunteers this year. Students looking to do their community service hours are welcome and people are free to volunteer for just a portion of the day.

This is a fun event where you can not only help set up but you can also bring some of your unwanted items and then find a few "new" treasures of your own!

Contact Kelly Wilson at: shelbycooper13@yahoo.com for more details!

*Buenos Aires Free Market photo from cometoseemerganser Flickr site

Ottawa's first Tour La Nuit

2011-04-26T19:10:00.000-07:00

Mark your calendars!

Just saw this on Ecology Ottawa's Calendar:

Saturday, June 4th from 7 pm to 11 pm
Tour la Nuit @ City Hall Festival Plaza

"Ottawa's first Tour la Nuit will be an exciting event! The festivities start in City Hall festival plaza at 7pm with live entertainment as the cyclists gather to prepare for the ride. At 8:30, the participants will leave the square. The roads will be closed to traffic and the route will go south on Queen Elizabeth Drive, through the Experimental Farm, and meandering back to City Hall to continue enjoying the entertainment and festivities until 11:00pm. You must register to participate in the ride.

Go to http://www.capitalvelofest.ca for more info."

There will also be "ride-in movies" so check back at the Velofest Website for upcoming movie screenings for the summer.

** Photo from Flickr: Andrew Cumming

Dark and Stormies in Ottawa or rather...

2011-04-24T17:21:00.000-07:00

What I’m enjoying right now… (including a couple of non-green dalliances – you have been forewarned!) : )

- Dark and Stormies at Luxe on a Friday after work

- Kundalini Yoga at Shunnya on Beechwood (includes gong meditation!)

- Virtual Window shopping at Ruche (love this Peacock scarf !) – they have eco & indie sections

- Finding a great pair of jeans at Value Village (a.k.a. Chez Thrift) - oh yes you can! : )

- The great book recommendations from Finola and her readers - The Glass Castle and The Bone Cage being two!

- Picking a weekend for my first brunch at Café My House (they get their veggies from Bryson Farms!)

- Discovering hidden corners of the city like Macoun Marsh

... I know I'm way overdue for an update - coming in early May!

earth day emails...

2011-04-22T16:54:00.000-07:00

My friend sent me this link which is so cool: BETTER WORLD SHOPPER "is a site dedicated to providing people with a comprehensive, up-to-date, reliable account of the social and environmental responsibility of every company on the planet AND making it available in practical forms that individuals can use in their everyday lives. Coming out of more than 5 years of intensive research, this work is based on a comprehensive database of over 1000 companies and utilizes 25+ reliable sources of data to cover everything from the environment to human rights, community development to animal protection." Thanks ND!

Also I just got an email from Kiva announcing the launch of Green Loans on Kiva.org today! Here's why they saw the need: "Green Loans on Kiva are loans to borrowers who want to make their businesses and communities more sustainable by reducing waste, recycling, and minimizing pollution. Kiva's mission from the beginning has focused on alleviating poverty, and lack of sustainable resources is one of the biggest challenges to combating poverty. With Green Loans, Kiva seeks to help break that cycle."

and finally... did you hear? Last month a Canadian won in one of treehugger's "Best of Green Readers Choice Awards": Best Style Twitter Feed! "For those who want up-to-the-minute eco fashion news, clothing collection previews, style tips, and more, Twitter is where it's at (and) these voices are at the forefront of the eco fashion conversation." The talented Kelly Drennan (from Toronto) won for her "EcoFashionista" site with over 41% of the votes! Nice!! Congratulations Kelly!

investing in a greener future

2011-04-20T19:21:00.000-07:00

You’ve probably heard about Socially Responsible Investment Funds. The funds I was most familiar with were Ethical Funds through my credit union. Their goal is to "inspire investors, colleagues, partners and clients to align their investment choices with their goals for a better world, and a brighter future". Ethical Funds does this "through active engagement with the companies in (their) funds, encouraging them to adopt positive and sustainable business practices that make them not only better corporate citizens but also more attractive long-term investments." While you may be investing in an oil company, at least you are at the table to try and get these companies to improve their environmental impacts.

A couple of years ago I was introduced to Index Funds and recently I've noticed that even these types of funds have options that are socially and environmentally "indexed": Jantzi Social Index Funds.

Or perhaps you want to be a little more daring with your savings you could invest in specific stocks yourself. You can look into green transportation such as buses, railroads, bikes or even shoes or you can consider a consumer staple such as organic food or fair trade coffee or perhaps you'd like to invest in some clean renewable energy sources such as solar or wind. There are many, many options when you start looking including energy conservation technologies, water utilities or even clothing companies. Find out what interests you, do some research and get some advice on a good time to purchase.

In 2011 one interesting opportunity could be Zip Car or maybe it's not: On the Rocks? Another seems to be the publicly traded Naturally Advanced Technologies, Inc. which is creating a new fibre from hemp and flax. It has recently been named to the 2011 TSX Venture 50 list. One last possibility, if you are looking for a way to invest more locally is a loan or RRSP investment with an Eastern Ontario based business called Sustainable Foundations Incorporated, that wants to build a portfolio of 100 rental units that can be sustainably renovated (within the next 10 years).

DISCLAIMER: I can’t predict the future so there is no way to tell whether socially responsible and green investments will pay off in the long run. You do this at your own risk or your own reward. Be smart, do your research and review your investments regularly.

******************************
Other Posts on Green Investing:

Evolution Fund (private mutual fund in Vancouver)

Greener Mutual Funds (with links to green investment blogs)

Where to get Farm Fresh Eggs in the City

2011-04-17T18:02:00.000-07:00

It seems so easy. There are so many choices now – omega rich eggs, organic eggs, free range eggs, brown eggs – there must be a humane sustainable option out there, right? It should be simple to just go down to your neighbourhood store or market and find something that fits the bill. Unfortunately none of these types of eggs guarantee that they aren’t “factory farmed” and/or mass produced. I also found out that “free range” wasn’t exactly what I had hoped and that getting organic eggs did not guarantee that the eggs came from a small flock. I have to agree with Experiments in Efficiency - I want to support small scale local producers and get eggs from happier hens! : )

When I researched the farms that were providing eggs to my local grocery stores I was surprised to learn about different farming operations:

** Burnbrae Farms, Lyn, Ontario
Canada's only vertically integrated egg supplier with farms across most of Canada's provinces. (Website distinguishes between free-run and free-range.)

** Rowe Farms, Guelph, Ontario
Farming cooperative in Ontario with free-run hens in an indoor facility

The local health stores aren’t that much better. Everywhere I went (Herb and Spice (Bank St), Natural Food Pantry (Billings), Market Organics, Aubrey's Meat Merchant) the only option was Beking eggs. I was even at Bread & Sons last month and they have this great map that shows all the food supplies that they receive locally – guess where they get their eggs? If all the health stores and many of the farmer’s markets (Main Street, Ottawa (Lansdowne), Vanier) in Ottawa all carried Beking Eggs, well then, how big is this operation that supplies all of us eggs from “roam free hens?” Is this really a good option?

Last year when I chose my C.S.A., I based part of that choice on whether they could offer me eggs along with my vegetable basket. I really appreciated being able to go to the farm and have the farmer’s granddaughter excited to scoop up a hen and introduce us to their flock which lived in a small hen house out on the farm.

Sadly, the egg delivery did not work out that year because the farm was just getting its legs after expanding and on a steep learning curve so they didn’t offer egg delivery. But if you are considering purchasing a C.S.A. basket there are Ottawa farms that offer this option.

As I mentioned in an earlier post, one of my new year’s goals was to finally find local eggs from a small farm where I knew that the hens were living in a traditional way. When I started to investigate options this past winter, I mentioned my “quest” to friends and was surprised to find someone who was getting local eggs from a small farm. This friend worked at a local vet hospital and she was getting her eggs from a colleague who had a small hobby farm. But unfortunately they already had a larger demand than they could fill so I wasn’t able to get eggs from that source. Then when I blogged about it in January my friend Ottawa Mama commented that she was getting eggs from her sister and that I could receive some also. I was so thrilled! Quest complete. (Although not completely as I do hope to go visit the farm this spring!) Thank you again ND!

So if you want to support a local farm, ask around, you may be surprised to find out who has a connection to local farm eggs and/or who may know of a backyard farmer. Working at the public service, our manager used to bring in fresh eggs from his "non-sanctioned" backyard hen house in Mechanicsville. And now with CLUCK working on the possibility of a “backyard farming” demo project in the city, it might even be time for you to start one yourself!

As I was finishing this post, I went back to the health food stores and did find a new option: Organic Meadow. (It says on the box: hand picked on small family farms). While you don’t know the specific farm your eggs came from - this might be a good option while you are searching for your small local farm fresh eggs.

p.s. Eco Mama at Canadian Green Family just wrote a post on "less cruel" eggs with some great links about cage free eggs and new logos/designations to help consumers.

*********************************

(Part 2: Saying No to Monoculture Poultry Farms)

Friday smile - xeriscape

2011-04-15T20:57:00.000-07:00

I went to a talk at the Fletcher Wildlife Gardens at the end of last summer featuring Natvik Ecological who specialize in native plantings and have created wonderful urban meadows and xeriscape gardening. This is a way to create habitat in your backyard for native insects, birds and other wildlife. The gardens are colorful and sustainable and the xeriscape garden in particular needs no watering or maintenance and look how incredibly beautiful it is! Learn more at Natvik Ecological.

*Photo from Natvik Ecological website

Moving On...

2011-04-12T20:44:00.000-07:00

I’ve been in my house for five years. I ended up not doing a lot of the renovating that I thought I might want to do – which is probably good as I would have changed it to suit my taste and then the next person who bought it might have done the same. Instead I’ve lived with many things just as they were when I moved in and gave them five more years of life:

* Oak kitchen cabinets
* Laminate flooring
* Teal-blue carpet up the stairs
* Appliances that were old but still had life* (I actually ended up putting another motor in my dryer)
* Original pink tiled bathroom (and oak vanity & shelves)
* Parquet flooring

My bfriend and I are ready to move into something that suits us both better and to sell the house we are updating some things that are tired and worn. I really do hope that the next person who moves in is OK with the changes and can just enjoy the house as is for awhile before taking any major renovations on.

There was an old plastic surround for the tub and its been replaced with white tile. I’ve also re-enameled the tub (rather than replacing it). And in the kitchen we’re updating the counter tops (the laminate there is soooo ugly – I can’t believe I lived with it for 5 years!) and the hardware. Maybe some of these changes and some of the original features will grow on the next owner like they did with me.

The updates that I DID DO that helped make this house feel like home were:

* Lots of landscaping – we enjoyed dining al fresco for many summers in our lovely city garden.
* A front hall closet shelving unit made out of reclaimed wood from my parents.
* Cool tetris shaped shelving cubes (made by V.) to use as living room shelves – they really help update the space.
* An electric fireplace – sounds cheesy but I loved it on rainy evenings or after a day out in the snow!
* Great new paint colours – when I moved in the living room was pink and the kitchen hunter green.
* When V. moved in we renovated the basement rec room from top to bottom to create a great media space.
* Double hang clothing rods – the closets are really, really small!
* a cute cedar deck that is a perfect corner to enjoy the backyard (we replaced the back steps that were rotting).

It's amazing what little things like paint, furniture and great organizational pieces can do for your enjoyment of a home and some of these items we can take with us when we go! I did end up replacing the washer/dryer when they finally gave up the ghost this winter but I just couldn't take down the pink bathroom tile - it grew on me... finding a great shower curtain and bath mat to compliment it made all the difference!

**************************
* I continue to debate the pros and cons of throwing away appliances that still have a useful life (creating unnecessary land fill) – vs. having another manufactured overseas and shipped to Canada.)

downtown O-town lunch spots

2011-04-09T19:48:00.000-07:00

I was reading one of last month's Xpress food reviews on a new organic sandwich shop downtown and it just amazed me that there are so many great lunch shops/coffee houses/eateries popping up in Ottawa. And so many of them are focusing their business on healthy, local and organic foods!

So the next time you are out downtown may want to choose one of these local businesses over the typical chains:

Green Rebel – 340 Albert (and a new one to open up in the SunLife building on Bank between queen and albert).

Bread and Sons - 195 Bank (they have this great map on the wall that shows where their local food supplies come from!)

Thimble Cakes - 369 Bank - beside the Herb and Spice (read the great review by Green Living Ottawa)

(think) LUNCH (tag line: fresh, local, ready, eco-friendly) – which will have three locations downtown soon: 121 Bank, 102 Metcalfe & 240 Sparks

Bowich - 155 Bank (Xpress review - organic sandwiches start at $11 making this more of a lunch spot than a place to grab a bite)

Sunnydays - Bank & Sparks. Great place with the warm weather for a veggie dog with seasonal grilled vegtables on a whole wheat bun!

Grounded Coffee - 100 Gloucester Street - great non-chain coffee shop - they will have a patio in the summer!

Vitae-Mine – 136 O’Connor - Healthy quick service restaurant for smoothies, juices, sandwiches & salads. Here's a review!

Freshii – 50 Laurier - while this is a chain it's great to have a place you can get custom made wraps & soups! (I found the name of this place through: Happy Cow - my friend ND put me on to this website - what a great resource!)

And if you are a meat-eater however, you'll be happy to hear that Murray Street has decided to open a new venture: Murry’s Market on Dalhousie - they will be offering a line of house-made charcuterie, cheeses and specialty prepared items with the emphasis on local!

etsy Canada for spring!

2011-04-05T19:57:00.000-07:00

Read about Jenna Rose (from Hamilton) in last fall's Pure Green e-magazine. I love her fabric patterns and adore these little fabric pots that she made. They were available last fall and I hope she will make more soon!

Jenna Rose etsy shop

Jenna Rose dot ca

Unscented "Cinnamon"
Goat Milk Soap from
La Savonnerie Du Fleuve
in Coteau Du Lac, Quebec
for $18! Lovely!

Etsy Sewn Natural shop is accepting custom orders for these 18 inch hand embroidered hope pillow shams in customers' favorite colors and fabric

Order for spring!

Cliolunia's Shop in Montreal has cool Fabric Bib Necklaces.
They look like they could give you super powers! Love!

I especially like the Voltronesque black-gold-silver one for $25

English Muffin prints (also from Montreal) are sweet, eye-catching and have a classic touch! Prints come in two sizes: 8 x 10 and 13 x 19. This polar bear is perfect for any eco-loving home!

She is also a member of the Pure Green Mag re-design team.

And last but certainly not least Nikki Designs organic hand crafted home decor.
From window coverings to slip covers she has it all. For the month of April 10% of her sales will go to Japan relief efforts.

I've mentioned her store before - a great place for bed linens.

This month she is having a giveaway for a yoga bag made of recycled cotton - just tell her your favorite yoga pose!

newest finds online!

2011-04-02T20:23:00.000-07:00

New Places to Shop:

- An Etsy Online Vintage Clothing Store based in Gatineau - Andrea Janine

- Bamboo clothing made in Canada - Miik in Toronto.

- Ethical Ocean - e-commerce with a conscious (Canadian company)

- good site to start when looking for local items: Made in Canada

Oh and I've been wanting to mention that you might want to put Used Everywhere on your rss reader or blog feed! They've had great posts on: Green Fashion, where to get handmade & local art and what to do for Earth Hour! Check them out!

Ottawa's own Eco Hometown Heroes

2011-03-31T17:56:00.000-07:00

Have you checked out the Earth Day Canada website lately?

There’s lots of great information, not only about Earth Day activities but also about other eco/green events that happen across Canada all year long. You can also find online resources including ecotrivia (quiz your friends!), “Top 10 Actions” and links to the plethora of eco/green organizations that you can find in Canada.

The organization’s other programs include the Everyday Heroes Festival and the Hometown Heroes Awards:

The Everyday Heroes Festival (co-produced with One Stop Media Group and Art for Commuters) starts April 15th. It's a "10-day public film festival with a national scope, reaching over two million viewers a day." The one-minute eco films can be seen in Toronto, select shopping centres across Canada and online at: This year’s themes include: Activism, Conservation, Education, and Great Ideas. Vote for your favourite!

Nominations for Canada’s Hometown Heroes have been extended until April 22nd. This year a new category has been added for recognizing small businesses. The award winners will be announced in June. Ottawa made the finalists list last year in both the Individual and Group Award. A big congratulations to both Michael Léveillé and the Ottawa Riverkeepers!

So who’s your hometown hero?

belts, belts, belts

2011-03-27T20:17:00.000-07:00

Some cool recycled, handmade or eco-belts - happy shopping!

- Belt made from bicycle inner tube (Portland, Oregon)
- Belt handmade in the U.S.: Cheekie
- Colourful Wool Belt handwoven by women's co-op in Peru
- Sustainable cork belts handmade in Portugal
- Made in Canada brown felted Alpaca wool belt (Sarnia, Ontario)
- Soft leather designer wrap belt from Vancouver
- License plate buckle (vintage, metal, mosaic) - Maryland, U.S.

green date nights

2011-03-21T19:01:00.000-07:00

So I really like Ottawa Date Blog as it has some great and unusual ideas for going out. It's a good reminder of cool spots that I'd like to check out like Avante Garde or the jazz duo at Farb's or of events I'd hadn't heard of like the Craft Beer Tasting at Billings Estate. Local Tourist is also a good blog to check out when you are looking for ideas. It's fun to find out about unusual events and check them out. I started wondering if there was a way to combine fun, new events and put a green spin on them. So here's what I came up with:

Wednesday, March 23
Perhaps your date enjoys an intellectual evening? Take them to a free lecture on architecture and learn about a car free Time Square. For a drink after - visit the Black Tomato which prides itself in offering "the best micro-brewed premium draughts from Ontario and Quebec."

Azrieli School of Architecture - Lecture Series
Last lecture: Craig Dykers on March 23 @ 6 pm, National Art Gallery
Member of the cooperative architect firm in Oslo named Snohetta.

Thursday March 24th
Or maybe your date is as passionate about the environment as you are or a real foodie - well the two of you can agree on this movie from the Reel Food Film Festival called Dive! - "an inspiring documentary that is equal parts entertainment, guerilla journalism and call to action." Walk over to the Arc Lounge (one of Savour Ottawa's restaurants) for a late night bite after.

Reel Food Film Festival
Doors open at 6pm, film begins at 6:30pm
Ottawa Public Library, Main Branch (120 Metcalfe Street)
Free Admission - a donation of $5 is appreciated.

Friday, March 25
What about a night out in the park - Gatineau Park that is! Maybe the two of you love nature and enjoy the outdoors? Why not get introduced to the many local owls in the park by the Friends of the Gatineau Park and Bernie Ladouceur an experienced birdwatcher. You'll find out about the birds' unique features and behaviours and go outside to see who will respond to some bird calls.

Friends of Gatineau Park present Owl Prowl
March 25, 7-10 p.m.
Gatineau Park Visitor Centre, 33 Scott Road, Chelsea
Cost is between $15 for Adults and $5 for Children
Information and Registration: xx819.827.2020xx

Saturday March 26
Perhaps a more romantic evening for you would be one that includes some star gazing? Well this weekend you can visit your local museum for a free "star party" where you can gaze at the night sky with telescopes and binoculars (Strictly weather permitting - Dress warmly). This coincides nicely with Earth Hour (8:30 - 9:30 pm) so you may be able to see more than normal in the city!

Earth Hour - Star Gazing
March 26 @ 8 pm, Canada Science and Technology Museum

Or perhaps you want to do something more celebratory yet at the same time sacred? If your date enjoys yoga or likes to sing, a Kirtan may be something fun to try. Kirtan (which means "to repeat" in Sanskrit) is a call-and-response type of chanting, part of the yogic tradition. This weekend the Bhakti Connection is having an Ottawa Fundraiser Kirtan for Japan - giving you a chance to donate to those in need while sharing your love for the earth. Don't fret if this is new to you - beginners are welcome.

Bhakti Connection - Kirtan Fundraiser - registration online
Saturday March 26, 7:00-8:30pm
Yoga and Tea, 211 Donald B. Munro, Carp

A Cup of Stone Soup

2011-03-18T18:55:00.000-07:00

How about a sustainable soup truck?

Well Ottawa is blessed to have one - this new venture is an exciting one and if you haven't had the chance to try Jacqueline Joliffe's soup (maybe you try a bowl at Winterlude?) you definitely have to go and try some soon! She is using local organic ingredients as much as possible and she is going to use solar panels on her truck for cooking!

Stone Soup Foodworks Website

Presently you can find the truck at Ottawa University Campus at Templeton and Louis Pasteur - open from 11 am- 7pm daily.

Ottawa discounts

2011-03-17T15:54:00.000-07:00

Have you signed up for Ottawa daily coupons yet? There are quite a few sites including Koopon, Living Social, Deal Find, Kahoot and Groupon which work with the buying power of a group to offer you great deals in the city.

For example today's Koopon is 90% off yoga for Inner Soul Yoga and Cycle on Viewmount and today's Living Social deal is a $40 certificate for a $20 price for the Byward Market's earth-friendly fashion boutique: Adorit!

That's great for those eco minded people who like to shop for fair-trade and locally made items! "Everything in the store is recycled, reclaimed, and restyled just for you. Browse bright bags, vibrant print dresses, and patterned fabrics to adorn your home. Or, show off your unique personality with vintage jewelry, cute shoes, funky wallets, and colorful scarves." (10 more hours remaining on this deal!)

It's definitely worth signing up - you never know when one of the Savour Ottawa restaurants might be featured or one of your favorite local shops could offer a great deal. With Koopon you can even suggest businesses!

And also if you have some favorite online shops you should consider signing up for Pure Citizen - they offer similar discounts for ethically sourced products. There have been some great deals for Indigenous Designs and today they are offering Oliberte shoes for almost half off! Definitely worth a look!

***************

Friday Update: Today's "Deal Find" was for 60% off at Daya Spa. It's so great you can get green deals!

Another deal was for Aubrey's Meats in the Byward Market - where you can get naturally raised locally grown meat.

festivals going green...

2011-03-13T21:36:00.000-07:00

Laura at Mindful Merchant passed along some info: The Ottawa Festival Group is looking for an Environmental Coordinator. It's a 26 week position and applications are being accepted now. This sounds like a great position for anyone with some environmental management background but I do know from others who have worked in festival positions that this description is right on the mark: you must have the ability to multi-task in a very high pressure environment. Festival positions are very demanding but this is a chance to think outside the box, work with great partners and make substantive environmental changes for this city.

Remember when two guys invented the "cupsucker" and the Bluesfest quickly saw the benefit and started using them in 2005? Or perhaps you received some tulip bulbs from the Tulip Festival years ago? And the Folk Festival has always been green with bicycle parking and their Enviro Tent and starting in 2009 they banned bottled water and provided hydrating stations instead. Hopefully more festivals will consider green initiatives such as these.

Presently there is a five-year study in place looking at the various impacts that festivals have in Ottawa including environmental impacts. The first two years are looking at the social aspects. The study will be complete in 2015 so it will be awhile before results can be shared.

But it does look like Ottawa is taking measures in the right direction for green festivals!

The Spanky Project

2011-03-09T18:37:00.000-08:00

This is a "public service" announcement - not so much on the environment topic (so bear with me) but an important issue anyway... I just had to shed light on the following situation with as many people as possible so I've sent an email to friends and wanted to share it with this caring environmental community also!

V. came back from Cuba and he had lots of great photos but I was saddened by the photos of the street dogs down there.

Seven of the photos in the collages are his - including the three-legged cat below - the one that isn't his is of Canela (bottom collage) - the dog with the broken leg. Some of these photos are really difficult to witness (let alone take!).

I wanted to know if there was an organization that is trying to help out Cuban's with their sick, stray animals and I found The Spanky Project. (Of which credit goes for the photo of Canela.)

It's actually run by a Canadian which is cool and given that many Canadians vacation down there, I just had to share this information with as many people as possible. Even if you are American, you may have friends that vacation in Havana or one of the resorts. It must be hard as a tourist, not knowing who is taking care of these animals.

Here's an interview of one of the Toronto vets that went down there last year: Animal Housecalls CP24. They also help stray cats and horses in need.

Not only do they bring down supplies but they also sponsor vets to travel down there and help spay and neuter the street dogs. It sounds like a great program!

servicizing...

2011-03-07T20:27:00.000-08:00

Have you heard about the newest trend in "servicizing"? I saw a presentation last spring that highlighted some of the servicizing companies including carsharing, bike shares that you are probably familiar with but the newest type is an online service that helps you lend or borrow items instead of buying them. Unfortunately there weren't any available in Canada at the time of the presentation and I haven't found any online since.

Basically individuals can rent and/or lend to other individuals either in their neighborhood, city or within certain online communities. Check out some of the options and how they work:

- Rentalic
- GoGoVerde
- NeighborGoods
- Bright Neighbor (Portland)
- Neighborrow (NYC)

You can share books, DVDs, gadgets, garden equipment, sports and camping gear, small appliances and anything else that you want! What a great idea. You can even share land: Shared Earth (and YES this one IS available for Canadians!)

Maybe you know of an online service like this set up for your city or perhaps there is one for Canadians - I would love to know! The time has definitely come for this idea!!

welcome to the future (today!)

2011-03-04T18:58:00.000-08:00

This is for the bfriend (it's his bday this weekend!) - he keeps sending me these awesome links to these inspiring building projects.

Like this one: Green Roof in Manhattan

and this one in Boston: Checkerboard Building

Shopping Embargo (not)

2011-03-01T18:24:00.000-08:00

Second part of the end of February update:

- bought a Lilikoi dress (end of season half off sale) that should serve me for years to come - received three compliments on it the first day I wore it!
- one of the new shirts that I bought bled during the wash load - it ruined 4 items in the wash - two which can't be worn again. Not good when you buy one thing but then need to replace two others! : (
- bought some bowls at the salvation army, found some kitchen canisters on kijiji and borrowed snow pants from a friend rather than buying!
- purchased $20 Merrell hiking shoes on Kijiji (so great to be able to buy these things second hand!)
- when shopping for a gift for my bfriend I went to Bouclair home. I was immediately smitten by a $20 ruffled pillow (which wasn't on my list) but I did resist the purchase. Even if it costs more, if I really need it, I'd rather buy from etsy.
- I think watching Manufactured Landscapes has helped with stopping the cheap impulse buys. If you haven't seen it yet - it's definitely a great documentary - check it out.
- Speaking about purchases: I wrote to Tim Horton's, telling them that I admire their environmental efforts so far (they even won an award in 2009!) but that I was concerned with their Roll Up the Rim to Win contest that encouraged single use cups. I asked them if there was some way to allow customers to participate in the contest without the need of that type of purchase. Andrea at Healthy People, Healthy Planet brought this to my attention with her great blog post. I think more people should write in and encourage them to do something about it! They definitely are making lots of environmental strides and it would be great to encourage them to do more!

And just in case you can help me out: I'm looking for a hemp shower curtain. There are pretty expensive but will be worth it as an investment. It's just that I want a pretty one and the only ones I can find are plain/solid colour. It would be great if it was on sale also! : ) The one pictured above was from Gaiam but they don't carry it anymore. If you do see one online or in Ottawa please tell me!

Happy March Everyone!

February Updates

2011-02-28T17:55:00.000-08:00

This month:
- we went through our dozen eggs and received another - was hoping to go out and visit the farm but it didn't happen this month.
- bought bulk (using my cotton bags): sesame seeds, sunflower seeds and pepitas - was thinking about buying bulk chocolate chips but they weren't organic/fair trade.
- next bulk item: epsom salt - will also check out Arbour to see what type of laundry soap they have - we just got a new washer so we need the HE soap.
- speaking about bulk I did notice that Herb & Spice seems to have more organic products in bulk then Natural Food Pantry. Anybody else notice that?
- I finished the trim on my throw. Now I can get on to other handmade, crafty items and you know what's first up... : )
- brought a small tea pot with infuser to work so that I could brew up loose tea for my breaks rather than use tea bags.
- went to the Ottawa Organic Farmers Market and they had raw cheese - the line up was long though so will have to go back another time!
- recycled my beer caps - The Beer Store does such a great job at recycling all of its packaging! They even take back beer can rings!
- put together a baby gift for a friend - all products from Market Organics including a cute kid sized SIG water bottle!
- went to Café My House on Bank Street and had an incredible dinner - the portion sizes were generous and the meals were inventive and delicious - they also offer gluten free dishes - I am going back for brunch soon!
- and last but not least was really happy to find that the winter resort we stayed at this month charged all visitors a carbon fee. It was great to find that they were doing pro-active things for the environment such as using 4 stroke or electric engines, installing solar panels and serving as much local food as possible!

UPDATES TO PREVIOUS POSTS:
- I've added a comment to the full circle kitchen products I bought.

- Lush sent me a response regarding my questions about the ingredients in their products so I thought I would post it.

- I added a couple of links to sustainable investing sites I found to this post.

green roofs are popping up everywhere!

2011-02-26T20:39:00.000-08:00

More sustainable housing (off Main Street):

Metropia (6 condos at 140 Springhurst)

Featuring: passive solar design, energy-star rated appliances, low-flow toilets, green roofs and backing on to parkland!

The East Towns (5 townhouses at Chestnut & Evelyn)

Featuring: roof terraces, low VOC paints, energy-star rated windows and fixtures, green paving technology and passive solar design...

Friday Smile: Green

2011-02-25T19:09:00.000-08:00

Green mosaic found at Strategic Public Relations: Is Green Getting Obscene?