ch ch changes

We're starting again-hardcore no garbage for one month. My friend Kally is going to do it with us for one week. We were interviewed and photographed by the Globe and Mail, so you should look for the article on Saturday. Also I am trying to move the whole blog over to wordpress where it will be easier to navigate as well as leave comments. I'm having a bit of technical difficulty so if anyone wants to help, that would be awesome!
The new site is nomoregarbage.wordpress.com
There's not a lot there so far,but you can check it out and more is coming ASAP

Whether yellow or brown, use the bucket to flush it!

For a housewarming gift, my lovely friend Blair made us a beautiful little felted piece that says "if it's yellow, let it mellow. If it's brown, flush it down." This used to be our rule in the bathroom until Kyle told me about his german friend who kept his bath water and used it to flush the toilet with. I liked the idea so much that we implemented it immediatly (and i think Kyle instantly regretted having shared the antecdote!) The only problem is that I am a bit of a clean freak and if you leave the water in the tub, the tub gets very dirty. We now have a large tupperware container (i mean large, I could fit into it all scrunched up) and a big bucket and a small bucket. The system is this:
1.Put the plug in when you are having a shower
2. When you finish use the big bucket to scoop the water in the tupperware
3. After using the toilet, use the big bucket to "water bomb" the bowl of the toilet and everything will flush down
4. Put a small bucket full of water in the toilet so that there is water sitting for the next time
5. Use a towel to wipe up the water you have inevitable spilt on the floor

*****Alternately
3. Use the small bucket to scoop for the tupper ware and fill the big bucket to Water bomb the toilet. This way you won't splash water on the floor. Follow step four but skip five.
*** If the tupperware is already full, and it is nearing time to clean the tub anyway, you can leave the water in the tub, however; if the tub is sparkly clean and the tupperware is full, just fill the buckets and then pull the plug
*****If you shave a large beard, or your head, or excessive body hair while in the shower, just pull the plug and then wipe the tub down with a rag and some vinegar.

It's too much to embroider or felt onto a plaque and almost too much to remember! We did leave our housewarming gift on display because it was so beautiful, but many people follow the instructions and it means i have to clean the toilet every day because it stains! So, we hid the beautiful sign and for the most most, let guests just flush with the handle unless they ask us. I may just make another plaque the says " "Whether brown or yellow, don't let it mellow. Use the bucket to Flush-it!"

Break Through

One of my biggest struggles with this project has been plastic. When we are trying not to produce garbage, we still end up with plastic-wrapping from CD's or tapes, straws, a small piece of plastic on the top of a bottle etc. At one point because of buying bulk in reused plastic bags, we ran out of plastic bags and had to ask friends for some of their collection. It was an awe inspriring moment actually. Despite our little victories and our great efforts, we can't seem to kick plastic out of our lives altogther. We still use tupperware and reused yogurt containers for storage and we still use bags (our collection is once again reproducing rapidly). But, something amazing has happened. A good friend rscued some material out of the garbage at work and brought it to me. He thought I could use it for painting on. It is bright green nylon type fabric, like rain pants are made of. It is cut in to long strips that would make perfect banners. There is a lot of it. I used some of it to winterize our wicker couch on the balcony and then a brain wave hit. I can make bags out of it to put our food in so we don't need plastic. I could put flour, sugar, nuts, beans etc. and wash and reuse them forever. Probably some of the material actually is a type of plastic, but still I am excited. I think I will make them as gifts for friends too. You could put a swim suit in it, or your lunch (so it doesn't leak all over your back pack), or what ever. Thank you Fissah for the refuse rescue!
If you need Christmas or solstice gift ideas here's some:
-pay me to make the non plastic baggies :)
-make hankies for friends (Kyle got a home made hanky as a gift from a work mate last night-it was an awesome gift!)
-buy toy veggies made from organic cotton www.walkingsticktoys.com (see picture)
-go to www.idealbite.com or www.thegreenloop.com for more ideas
- make cards from magazines, reused wrappings, fruit stickers etc. Believe it or not they are beautiful and well received.
-order from a local artist like Daryl www.Darylvocat.com
For vegan friends, he has an awesome "vegans taste better" t-shirt with cute underpants on it.

Green Eyes

In September 2005, I started working at a historic museum. The job has provided me with information that helps me in reducing my garbage production, and I am quite happy there. Part of my position involves dressing like Victorian servant and giving tours of the house. My glasses are not at all Victorian,so I take them off and work blurry-eyed. As soon as I got the job, I started thinking about contact lenses and trying to find out information about the environmental effects of contact lenses compared to glasses. I searched and searched and found nothing. Fast forward to this year on my birthday- a good friend contacted other friends and family to collect a "get Sarah new glasses fund" as my glasses have been on their last legs (arms?) for almost two years, since I fell off my bicycle and cracked the frames. I finally had time, and money (thanks to the fantastic gift) to make an optometrist appointment last week. I found one very close to my house:
M Daalderop OD

986 St Clair Ave W, Toronto, ON (0.25 miles away)
416-654-6443

I think he may be retiring soon, which is unfortunate, because I like him so much. He did a great job, was very good at explaining things to me, kept the needs of his patients in mind, and not only answered my environmental questions but told me I made his day for asking them!
I got to my appointment early, and was reading in the waiting room when a woman about my parents age came in with her father. He was very old and dependent. Wren the doctor finished with his patient, the woman and her father were called. As soon as they went, the receptionist apologized profusely and explained that she wouldn't usually let someone butt in like that, but the man had eyelashes stuck in his eye and it wouldn't;t take long to remove them. I told her it was fine and I wasn't;t worried ( I mean really who would complain about a 90 year old man going in front of them?). She told me that I was a sweet heart and many people had complained in the past. When Dr. Calderon came out, he also apologized to me and we went through the same song and dance. I didn't think the apologies were called for, but I was impressed that the recognized me a valuable customer. So, i did all the eye tests and discovered I do need a new prescription because my astigmatism has gotten worse. I asked if that meant I could have contacts, and he explained that used to be the case, but now there are special disposable contacts for a astigmatism. After he explained how they work, I asked if they were only available in the disposable format and he said yes. In my very non eloquent way I said " well what happens to them after-I know they are not very big, but are there any options other than going to the land fill and will they leak harmful chemicals?" He paused and looked at me before asking " Are you asking me about the ecological effects?" and I said "Yes". He replied, rather astonishedly " I have been an eye doctor for 25 years and no one has ever asked me about this, but I think about it all the time. Thank you for asking" and then he launched into a well thought out and precise answer. I was also shocked because I'm used to people looking at me like I'm an alien and saying they have no idea. Anyhow I decided to go with the contacts. The disposable ones actually end up being more earth friendly than the permanent kind because of chemicals and the amount of solution needed.
I also learned some dangerous info about John Fleur shoes. I have been really wanting tall boots and have been looking around for sweat shop free-also scouring the second hand stores. I went to the Fleuvog website www.fluevog.com
and discovered that they have very morally sound labour practices. Good for the world, bad for my wallet, as Fleuvogs cost about $300 and I love them. Fortunatly I am satiated for the time being with boots I got for free at Friday night's clothing swap. Yaaaaay!

Puttin it all together

Yesterday, I went on a "Leaf" Tree Tour. Leaf is an amazing organization dedicated to preserving the urban forest. www.leaftoronto.org/
I had replied to a call for submissions for environmental art, and they invited me to attend the tour. I learned that I really don't know much about trees, and neither do most people, to the detriment of the trees. It was a fantastic tour. I think the highlight for me was when the guide picked up the corner of the "mulch" the tree was planted in and it was actually a rubber matt. You can buy them at garden centres so that it looks like you have mulch but you don't have to do the work of really keeping mulch. They are marketed as eco-conscious because they are made from recycled materials, but as our guide Todd said so eloquently "Much gives the tree precious minerals and nutrients and a rubber matt does not."
I was talking to some people about the no garbage project and getting excited again. I am soon switching this blog to word press where it will be easier to navigate. You will be able to search by subjects, so that you don't have to go through 112 entries to find out how to keep racoons out of your garden or what not. I have already come up against two road blocks though: the little plastic piece that comes off of the reusable milk bottles, and stickers from fruit and veg. Maybe it is impossible to totally eliminate garbage, unless you are on a farm. I wonder what I can make from little plastic circles and fruit stickers.... maybe a beautiful broach?

Too cold for the penguins

Last week when I went to the organic market in high park, I was told that it was their last day of business for the winter. I was very surprised, as they had previously said they would be open all year. When I asked why, the cashier told me in was becasue their refrigdgerators don't work in really cold weather. On my bike ride home, I thought "???!!!!!????" (that's a direct quote from my mind) Why do you need refridgerators when it is that cold? Why not just use the natural cold to store things?

I scored

The other day I was asked to do a card making workshop. It was great fun. I got the idea mainly from Amira and Kyle, but for the past year or so I have been making collage cards out of second hand materials, including old design magazines. I often use the plastic from windowed envelopes ( because you can't recycle it and it's almost imposssible not to get them in the mail) to make a little window in the card. It's really fun and people love them. It takes a long tiem though- sometimes up to two hours for one card. I'm also a bit concerned about the glue. We use glue stick or spray glue, neither of which it particularly environmentally conscious., but they work so well and flour and water glue is so lumpy!
I thought I had much more to say, but I'm so tired that it has all flown out of my brain. I've been working non stop and saving money so that I can dedicate a few months (January to April) to art and music. I consider this project an art project as well and Kyle and I are planning to start again, hard core style on January 17th. By that time I should have a better web site for it that is easier to navigate and more public. I might try to get a camera crew, or we'll just document it ourselves. We will need to collect video tapes to use, as new ones would create garbage. Anyone have old ones we can tape over?
Yesterday, I had the day off so Kyle and I planned atrip to Home Depot. On the way to the bus stop we discovered a lovely new vintage store. Yes,I said on the way to the bus stop, which means it's about 2 blocks from our house! It's called " I scored". It's on the corner or Alberta and St.Clair, just slightly more on Alberta, one store south of St.Clair on the East Side of the Street. It is beautiful, resonable priced and has some amazing things. I bought a top without trying it on and will have to go back and exchange it tomorrow. I bought the top because it looks like the background to this page, but unfortunatly it doesn't look good on me. No problem really because there was alot there that I really liked and I can't wait to go back. The counter is made up of coloured stones, the walls are pale green and it has really great stuff. Oh and did I mention, it's just up the street from me?! I'm soooo excited. Yaaaaaaay reused clothes. Speaking of which, we are having another clothing swap on December 1st. Email me if you are interested (girls only).

EarthRangers

I have some good friends coming to visit and the male half of the couple is all excited to come and save his poo in a bucket! Ha ha ha. It's actually the water you save in the bucket in order to flush the poo, but what ever, at least he's enthusiastic.
I applied for an environmental job that I'm really excited about . The position is education program co-ordinator at Earthrangers. www.earthrangers.ca
You should check out the website because it's chalk full of amazing resources. The only two cons of the situation( as in pros and cons) are that it is in Woodbridge and it starts out contractual so at first there are no benifits. If I had a car, it wouldn't be so bad to get to Woodbridge, but there's no way I'm getting a car in order to commute to an environmental agency. It's so oxy moronic that the oxy falls off! Also, I've been working my buns off to save up money for the slow slow winter, and if I don't get a slow slow winter,I don't get to slow down. But, I do really want the job. It was great to be able to put all the little things I do in the cover letter. It made me feel kind of proud instead of wierd and difficult.
My web site design course is going well and I'm just trying to decide what to work on first-this project or the pure joy challenge or Push Buttons. Jeez I have a lot on my plate. Speaking of plates, I sort of take for granted that when I go to a restaurant I will get a real plate, and these week my eyes have really been opened to the fact that there are many popular eat-in restaurants that only have disposeble containers and cutlery. It seems so strange to me.
Oh we got rid of the moth problem. Kyle washed everything including the cupboards with natural bleach (hydrogen peroxide) and it seems to have worked. yaaaaay Kyle!
My winter jacket is ready and I wore it today. I had a friend replace the lining (it looks great) and then I took it to the Eco drycleaners. It looks great. It cost about the same as a new one would have but I feel good about keeping my old one, so there is no waste. I thought there was a solar powered dry cleaner in the beaches, but it's actually just a laundromatt-still very cool though. www.mondial-energy.com/beachs...mat.htm
The eco Cleaners is in Mount Pleasant. There are many called eco cleaners or envirocleaners, but it's just a name. This one is actually making an effort to be eco friendly. www.nowtoronto.com/issues/2...holic.php
That's it from me. I'm exhausted!

Belated Halloween Info- remember for next year.

Happy Halloween and Happy Birthday to me! We didn't have a garbage free or sugar free Halloween, but I did find organic fair trade candy. I looked all over town before going to my favorite and closest health food store, Etherea. Why didn't I go there first!!!! Anyhow, no one else seemed to have even heard of fair trade or organic halloween candy except Organics on Bloor who had hand made chocolate lollys for $4 a pop. Trick or treat my ass! Of course David from Etherea ( 1151 Davenport Rd.) had lots organic/fairtrade candy featured and all reasonably priced. In fact we worked it out and it was the same cost as mainstream candy. I got Endangered Species chocolates and Organic fruit drops and lollipops (the brand name is simply " organic candy co.") We only got 2 trick or treaters because I wouldn't put the pumpkins out. We worked really hard on carving them and I didn't want them to get smashed. Next year we will have to do one we don't care about to put out.
Also I bought organic pumpkins too early and they turned mushy and oozy before we could carve them. So Kyle had to run out at the last minute and get regular pumpins to carve.
I had an amazing birthday and was totally spoiled rotten. Thank you so much to everyone! Amira and Kyle and Natasha painted me up with water colour pencil crayons so I could be the tattooed lady-hopefully I'll have pics soon.

Food Irradiation

Sorry this is long overdue! I have been insanely busy!!!
On October 21st, I called my brother, Donald for his birthday and he told me about a lecture he had been to. Donald has his doctrate in...actual I'm not sure what, either science or computers or both. Anyhow he is one heck of a smart guy and is very good at explaining things to me. He is also very into healthy and environmentally sound living. So, he was telling me about this lecture on food irradiation that he recently attended and of course I asked "what is food irradiation?" OH MY GOD! I wasn't prepared for the answer. Basically for the past 30 years, most produce that comes over the border gets treated with nuclear radiation to kill bacteria and bugs and also stop the produce from being able to regenerate-this is why all of us to have tried to sprout avacodo seeds have had no luck at all. This includes organic produce. Of course there are links between this proccess and the uprise of cancer. I tried to find out more info but no one seems to know anything. I was surprised at how many activists and organic gurus had no idea it was going on. Instead of finding information I just succeeded in spreading the little information I did know and horrifying people. Oh yes, I am always such a ball of sunshine! The info on food irradiation is not really hidden, if you know exactly what to look for but it is also a far cry from public knowldege. Here's a few sites I found that give more info. Of course all the government sites say its proven to be totally safe, but to me putting the words "safe" and "nuclear" together is oxy moronic!
www.cbc.ca/consumers/ma...n/canada.html
www.organicconsumers.org/irradlink.html
www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fn-an/secu...ndex_e.html