Living a Green Life

So I've started reading Green for Life by Gill Deacon. I got it from Russ/Lucas for Christmas...he sure knows what I like! Gill Deacon used to have a super cool tv show on CBC that I started watching after Lucas was born...it lasted less than a year before it was cancelled. It's since been "replaced" by the Steven & Chris show, which makes me dumber for watching it! She spent a lot of time discussing the environment, and how to be more "green" in your everyday life. So I am very excited to have her book! (FYI: She was the host of Daily Planet on the Discovery Channel back when it was brand new!!)

I've only finished a couple of chapters, and it already has me reworking a lot of things in my life. I do a lot already, but I know that I can be doing a lot more. And it's going to take some work on my part, but I'm up to the challenge. And I hope you take the challenge with me...not just for the environment but for yourself. SO much of the things we have in our homes and put in our bodies are not only bad for Mother Earth, but they are bad for our health as well, even though we may not see the effects right away.

I am going to start an Eco-Monday series on my blog. Every Monday I will post a green tip for you, taking my cue from Gill's book. That tip will be my challenge to myself for the week...step by step to a greener life! And I hope you join me in my challenge as well!

Tip#1: How to Make Dinner
This is Chapter One, and for good reason! Everybody has to eat!

Eat Local. Eat Organic. I know this can be tough in Canada, especially if you don't live next to, or on a farm! But we do have access to farmer's markets and organic produce in the grocery store year round. There are two year-rond Farmer's Markets in Edmonton: Old Strathcona and Capilano. And there are a whole bunch more that open up come spring and stick around until Thanksgiving. Just Google "Edmonton Farmer's Markets" and you'll get a nice list. And now that organic eating has become more popular, most grocery stores have a wide selection of organic food. Superstore, with their new stupid renovations, have devoted a whole aisle to organic food and other eco-friendlier products (like soap, cleaners, shampoo, etc.).

I am challenging myself to start buying more of my food from local growers...and if that means getting up extra early on Saturday morning to make it to the Strathcona market before work, than that's what I'll do!

Why Buy Local?? How do you think those steak and potatoes got on your plate? More than likely they had a long journey on a truck/train/boat spewing out toxic fumes, and taking lots of packaging and lots of time (meaning that "fresh" strawberry isn't all that fresh!). Plus, you're supporting your local economy, which is a super great idea in this current mess of an economic climate we're in!!

Why Buy Organic?? You really don't want to know about the kind of chemicals, pesticides, herbicides, hormones, antibiotics that end up on and in your food (and then make it into your body). It's really quite disgusting. Here's a stat for you: "a 2003 medical study in the UK showed that women with breast cancer are five to nine times more likely to have pesticide residue in their blood than those who are cancer free." Yeah...you read that right. Plus, organic farming is more sustainable and less likely to destroy the earth it's using and the people who are working it.

There are so many more reasons to eat local and eat organic...but it can be a big expense for a family to change their diet completely. At least we can try to incorporate as much local, organic, fresh food into our diet as possible.


Further Reading:

http://www.100milediet.org/

http://www.eattheseasons.com/

Organic Delivery Service

Canadian Organic Growers

So, next week I'll try to be less preachy...I can get a little carried away with talk of the environment!!

P.S. And just so I'm not accused of plagiarism, all of the facts, and the lovely quotes come from Green for Life by Gill Deacon (2008, Penguin Books Canada)
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On to other things! The Oil Kings game on Saturday night was fun...we were super close to the ice, which was an interesting experience in itself. But they would only let me buy one beer at a time, and I had to wait a long time, and the beer costs $7.75, but the fries were good!

Super Bowl Sunday was AWESOME! Heather's chili was excellent, as usual, and the game was exciting as well! Interception and turnover in the end zone, which was run down the field for a touchdown!!! Steelers were ahead the whole game, then lost the lead in the last 5 minutes (by 3 points), only to come back in the last minute to win! So Arizona lost (which made the room sad, except for Russel), Steelers won their 6th Super Bowl (that's a record people!!), and Lucas won $10 in the pool. G'Ma Connie walked away with close to $100 (as far as I heard) to add to her "Sock Fund"

Speaking of "Sock Funds", my dad has christened this year, the year of the Sock Fund. This is essentially a "never touch unless there is a major catastrophe" fund, that you keep three month's worth of living expenses handy so you can get at it quick (if there's a major catastrophe). So I'm starting my Sock Fund...and you're all free to join me!

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I pre-made a couple of dinners this morning. I think Lucas was confused because to him it looked as if I was making dinner at 10am!! So I quickly made him some noodles for lunch so he wouldn't feel left out (and freak out!). We decided that while Dinner Revolutions is a great idea, most of the meals we really liked we can make just as easily at home (and for less $$). So Russ made some BBQ beef last week, and I made two pasta bakes today. Super easy, and with stuff I keep around all the time any way. I'm going to have to try and find some other good, freezable recipes in some of my books so I can keep this going.

And I need to make more soup. Yummy soup.

Sorry no pictures today! Check out the TM Classes and Techneeks blogs for the two projects I completed on Saturday. My new faves!
Later,