Friday, December 14, 2007
Tuesday, October 2, 2007
Arise Welobikathon
On Sunday, Sep. 30, Arise hosted a sponsored bike ride, the "Arise Welobikathon", to help raise funds Gateway Homeless Shelter in Toronto. We raised over $500! All proceeds go towards providing the shelter with Welobikes that will power the shelter with free green energy. (For more information on Welobike, please visit http://www.welobike.com/).
The day was beautiful and sunny as our nine cyclists biked the Don Valley Trail from Riverside Park to Don Mills and back.
Congratulations to all who participated and sponsored!
Friday, September 28, 2007
Mission: To avoid buying plastic for one week.
Day 1:
I went down to Kensington to meet up for a coffee at Moonbean with my friend Alison. I brought my grocery list and enviro-bag, which holds up to 3 normal grocery bags worth. I didn't realize until later that we drank our iced moccacinos through plastic straws (!), (although the drink was served in glasses, not plastic cups).
Grocery shopping's first obstacle was the plastic produce bags. I took one plastic produce bag and try to stuff all the produce into it without squashing it too much, and put the larger produce into the basket. The second obstacle was buying locally and avoiding plastic. Cherries being in season, there were some loose ones you could buy by the pound which weren't locally grown and some Ontario cherries that were in a plastic container. I decided to buy local, since the bulk cherries would have to be put into a plastic produce bag anyway. I ended up with three "purchased" produce bags altogether for bulk items. I plan to re-use the bags instead of throwing them out. Another lesson was to be one step ahead of the lady behind the counter with "I don't need a bag" to avoid annoying them, although they should ask! All my groceries fit well into the enviro-bag, and over the afternoon I avoided a couple more plastic bags.
Day 2:
I brought my envirobag to a drugstore to buy some soy milk, a 9 volt battery for my smoke alarm, and conditioner. Obstacle one: all soy milk containers have a plastic twist-off cap. It's stupid that they make cartons of soy and juice like that instead of the folding ones of the past! I did buy a carton, but found out later from a friend that "Silk" soy beverage is starting up an environmentally friendly program for their plastic caps. I bought a 9 volt battery, plastic casing and all. If I had a 9-volt recharger, I would have bought a rechargable, so I'm saving up to buy that for next time. I decided not to buy conditioner since the only options were plastic bottles, and a friend had told me about plastic-packaging-free shampoo bars that you can buy at "Lush". I checked online at home and found out they do carry both shampoo and conditioner bars, and they're made of all natural products.
* On a side note, that drugstore needs to train their employees to ask if people want a bag!
Day 3:
My boyfriend, Myke, came over for dinner and we had some burgers. (I know it's bad, but I can't let go of beef just yet.) I did not, however, have any buns, so Myke picked some up on his way. I am planning on re-using the plastic bun bag and staying within my mandate of not throwing out any bought plastic on this one.
Day 4:
Today was a huge deviation from the mission. Myke and I went shopping for a tent and an air pump for our upcoming camping trip. The airpump was completely encased in plastic wrap. The tent is still inside the box- I'm afraid to look and see what's in there. We'll keep as much plastic in there as possible and re-use it if we can, especially peg bags, etc. At least we avoided another plastic bag from the cashier.
This was not the worst part of the breaking of the mandate. We went to the movies, where I completely indulged and bought an enormous ridiculously priced beverage... with plastic straws and a plastic top! I suppose I could have taken off the top and just drank straight from the cup, but the "regular-sized" drink would have meant spillage disasters in the dark theatre. Self-discipline is definetly needed to keep this up. I also should have planned ahead and snuck in my Nalgene bottle.
Day 5:
Waking with a new resolution of the mission, I went for coffee with a friend at a cute little patisserie in our neighbourhood. The goodies we ordered were served on paper plates and with plastic forks, even though we were obviously staying. No other option was offered. I tried to repair the situation by not using a plastic lid on my coffee (which was not served in a mug, but a paper to-go cup... I incorrectly assumed again). I'm planning to go back and speak to them about the waste their business is producing. Unfortunately, I don't think I can go back there to eat or drink anymore until they change their waste policy. On a more positive note, they had some fair trade organic coffee for sale at a reasonable price ($10.95 a pound), so I did buy some on the way out.
Day 6:
Today could have been flawless, but for a plastic straw. I used it at the bowling alley with my can of pop without even thinking about it. I'm banning them from my life now... they really have snuck into my North American beverage lifestyle. No more.
Day 7:
I "had to" buy a bottle of water today. I forgot to bring my Nalgene water bottle to work (I teach singing lessons, so keeping hydrated with water is super important.). I was in a rush and was halfway to the school before realizing my mistake. I really regret it, because plastic water bottles are the worst culprits next to plastic bags and straws.
Epilogue:
Thus, meeting my challenge was pretty much a failure each day despite my efforts, but it was an excellent learning experience. Living without plastic takes a lot of planning. Some things are unavoidable. What about toilet paper? It's completely encased in plastic wrap. Corrosive matter like batteries need something safe like plastic casing to contain them until a viable alternative is presented (or maybe it is already and I haven't done enough research!).
I went down to Kensington to meet up for a coffee at Moonbean with my friend Alison. I brought my grocery list and enviro-bag, which holds up to 3 normal grocery bags worth. I didn't realize until later that we drank our iced moccacinos through plastic straws (!), (although the drink was served in glasses, not plastic cups).
Grocery shopping's first obstacle was the plastic produce bags. I took one plastic produce bag and try to stuff all the produce into it without squashing it too much, and put the larger produce into the basket. The second obstacle was buying locally and avoiding plastic. Cherries being in season, there were some loose ones you could buy by the pound which weren't locally grown and some Ontario cherries that were in a plastic container. I decided to buy local, since the bulk cherries would have to be put into a plastic produce bag anyway. I ended up with three "purchased" produce bags altogether for bulk items. I plan to re-use the bags instead of throwing them out. Another lesson was to be one step ahead of the lady behind the counter with "I don't need a bag" to avoid annoying them, although they should ask! All my groceries fit well into the enviro-bag, and over the afternoon I avoided a couple more plastic bags.
Day 2:
I brought my envirobag to a drugstore to buy some soy milk, a 9 volt battery for my smoke alarm, and conditioner. Obstacle one: all soy milk containers have a plastic twist-off cap. It's stupid that they make cartons of soy and juice like that instead of the folding ones of the past! I did buy a carton, but found out later from a friend that "Silk" soy beverage is starting up an environmentally friendly program for their plastic caps. I bought a 9 volt battery, plastic casing and all. If I had a 9-volt recharger, I would have bought a rechargable, so I'm saving up to buy that for next time. I decided not to buy conditioner since the only options were plastic bottles, and a friend had told me about plastic-packaging-free shampoo bars that you can buy at "Lush". I checked online at home and found out they do carry both shampoo and conditioner bars, and they're made of all natural products.
* On a side note, that drugstore needs to train their employees to ask if people want a bag!
Day 3:
My boyfriend, Myke, came over for dinner and we had some burgers. (I know it's bad, but I can't let go of beef just yet.) I did not, however, have any buns, so Myke picked some up on his way. I am planning on re-using the plastic bun bag and staying within my mandate of not throwing out any bought plastic on this one.
Day 4:
Today was a huge deviation from the mission. Myke and I went shopping for a tent and an air pump for our upcoming camping trip. The airpump was completely encased in plastic wrap. The tent is still inside the box- I'm afraid to look and see what's in there. We'll keep as much plastic in there as possible and re-use it if we can, especially peg bags, etc. At least we avoided another plastic bag from the cashier.
This was not the worst part of the breaking of the mandate. We went to the movies, where I completely indulged and bought an enormous ridiculously priced beverage... with plastic straws and a plastic top! I suppose I could have taken off the top and just drank straight from the cup, but the "regular-sized" drink would have meant spillage disasters in the dark theatre. Self-discipline is definetly needed to keep this up. I also should have planned ahead and snuck in my Nalgene bottle.
Day 5:
Waking with a new resolution of the mission, I went for coffee with a friend at a cute little patisserie in our neighbourhood. The goodies we ordered were served on paper plates and with plastic forks, even though we were obviously staying. No other option was offered. I tried to repair the situation by not using a plastic lid on my coffee (which was not served in a mug, but a paper to-go cup... I incorrectly assumed again). I'm planning to go back and speak to them about the waste their business is producing. Unfortunately, I don't think I can go back there to eat or drink anymore until they change their waste policy. On a more positive note, they had some fair trade organic coffee for sale at a reasonable price ($10.95 a pound), so I did buy some on the way out.
Day 6:
Today could have been flawless, but for a plastic straw. I used it at the bowling alley with my can of pop without even thinking about it. I'm banning them from my life now... they really have snuck into my North American beverage lifestyle. No more.
Day 7:
I "had to" buy a bottle of water today. I forgot to bring my Nalgene water bottle to work (I teach singing lessons, so keeping hydrated with water is super important.). I was in a rush and was halfway to the school before realizing my mistake. I really regret it, because plastic water bottles are the worst culprits next to plastic bags and straws.
Epilogue:
Thus, meeting my challenge was pretty much a failure each day despite my efforts, but it was an excellent learning experience. Living without plastic takes a lot of planning. Some things are unavoidable. What about toilet paper? It's completely encased in plastic wrap. Corrosive matter like batteries need something safe like plastic casing to contain them until a viable alternative is presented (or maybe it is already and I haven't done enough research!).
But I now know of some pitfalls to avoid:
Always be clear when making a purchase to deliberately avoid plastic. Tell the sales clerk you don't want a plastic bag, and that you already have one. A lot of people behind me in line-ups asked where I got my enviro-bag when they saw it (it was a gift, but I saw some at "The Outer Layer" for around $5), and consequently, some people ended up buying the $.99 eco-friendly bags in grocery stores for their purchases. If you're buying a beverage, tell them when you order that you have your own mug if it's to go or clearly specify that you're sitting down to stay. Be clear that you expect your food or drink in a mug or on a real plate if you're staying in, not paper or plastic. You're the customer, say it with a smile and you can't be wrong. If you're eating out, bring tupperware along for the leftovers instead of a doggie bag. If the restaurant doesn't have biodegradable or recyclable take-out containers, leave a comment card or better yet, speak to the manager about it. Watch out for those sneaky plastic straws! Do you really need one?? Re-use plastic bags if you have to take one (in the case of produce, buns, etc.). The decision to avoid buying plastic takes commitment to your choice, as I learned the hard way. Don't give into temptation and stick up for the right thing: both things I still need to work on while growing as an environmentalist.
Some follow-up details:
Always be clear when making a purchase to deliberately avoid plastic. Tell the sales clerk you don't want a plastic bag, and that you already have one. A lot of people behind me in line-ups asked where I got my enviro-bag when they saw it (it was a gift, but I saw some at "The Outer Layer" for around $5), and consequently, some people ended up buying the $.99 eco-friendly bags in grocery stores for their purchases. If you're buying a beverage, tell them when you order that you have your own mug if it's to go or clearly specify that you're sitting down to stay. Be clear that you expect your food or drink in a mug or on a real plate if you're staying in, not paper or plastic. You're the customer, say it with a smile and you can't be wrong. If you're eating out, bring tupperware along for the leftovers instead of a doggie bag. If the restaurant doesn't have biodegradable or recyclable take-out containers, leave a comment card or better yet, speak to the manager about it. Watch out for those sneaky plastic straws! Do you really need one?? Re-use plastic bags if you have to take one (in the case of produce, buns, etc.). The decision to avoid buying plastic takes commitment to your choice, as I learned the hard way. Don't give into temptation and stick up for the right thing: both things I still need to work on while growing as an environmentalist.
Some follow-up details:
I did find some awesome solid shampoo and conditioner at "Lush", both which smell amazing and work really well. They'll all natural ingredients. You buy them by the pound (I spent about $10 on each product) and they last for months, plus no plastic packaging! You can also use the conditioner bar for shaving, as a pommade or a leave-in. I also came across some travel sized Burt's Bees solid shampoo in "The Outer Layer" on Queen St. West for around $3.
Monday, September 17, 2007
A Letter to the Churches of North America
Has the Body of Christ in North America grown obese?
Has the Church of Jesus of Nazareth ignored its call to be stewards of God’s Creation?
As a pastor, I am sad to admit that the answer to both of these questions appears to be undoubtedly affirmative.
We who call ourselves Christians are generally as unhealthy and unfit as the rest of the population despite our confession that our bodies are the Temple of the Holy Spirit.
We who claim to follow Jesus in North America have too often bought into the mainstream idea that the chief aim of humanity is consumption.
The Church now faces a crisis; we must face the Truth that we are succumbing to the sins of gluttony, sloth, and prideful self-centredness. We must take collective corrective action immediately.
I believe that God has compelled me to bring an idea to His Church that will be one small step towards combating the Spirit of this Age. And I believe the power lies at our feet.
The basic idea is based upon the fact that on average approximately 50-100W/h of electricity can be generated by an individual pedaling a bicycle.
Has the Church of Jesus of Nazareth ignored its call to be stewards of God’s Creation?
As a pastor, I am sad to admit that the answer to both of these questions appears to be undoubtedly affirmative.
We who call ourselves Christians are generally as unhealthy and unfit as the rest of the population despite our confession that our bodies are the Temple of the Holy Spirit.
We who claim to follow Jesus in North America have too often bought into the mainstream idea that the chief aim of humanity is consumption.
The Church now faces a crisis; we must face the Truth that we are succumbing to the sins of gluttony, sloth, and prideful self-centredness. We must take collective corrective action immediately.
I believe that God has compelled me to bring an idea to His Church that will be one small step towards combating the Spirit of this Age. And I believe the power lies at our feet.
The basic idea is based upon the fact that on average approximately 50-100W/h of electricity can be generated by an individual pedaling a bicycle.
50-100W doesn't seem like much - only one 100W light bulb - but that is 6-10 energy-efficient fluorescent light bulbs (or 30-50 L.E.D.s). Furthermore, 100W adds up as more people pedal; it only takes 10 experienced cyclists to generate 1KWh. The electricity can be used immediately, stored in hydrogen cells, car batteries, or put directly into the power grid.
My plan involves the growth of a social movement. The Christian world is filled with huge buildings that have many empty rooms during the week. If we simply opened up one room for a gym per Church we would do the world a great service, as well as actually get to know our local communities. Millions of people spend millions of dollars on gym memberships; I don't think it is much of a stretch to conclude that we could get many people out to a free (or inexpensive) gym which was also helping reduce tonnes of toxic gases. Eventually our culture could one day look at a church building and say, "They are doing some concrete things to help the environment in there – and keeping healthy at the same time."
To give you an example of the potential of this idea, I have a list of almost 5760 different churches in my home country of Canada. Let's pretend that somehow, through a movement of the Spirit in His Church, only 5% of these churches (=288) decided to open up a energy-producing bicycle gym. If they were able to have just 20 man-hours on bikes per day that would mean of course 5760 man-hours. With each person generating 0.1kWh, that would equal 576kWh of power per day, or $51.84 dollars at $0.09/kWh. Each year that would mean $18921.60 in savings to the Church in Canada and 210240kWh of clean energy introduced into the system. As the cost of electricity continues to skyrocket, these savings will increase substantially.
I think believe that these numbers will eventually prove to be very conservative. If a Church had 10 bikes and was open 10hrs a day … that would be 100 man-hours a day. Depending on the size of the church, it is possible that each church could cover their entire lighting bill with these community-building workout spaces. If efficient lights were installed and solar-power was used to help take care of the heating and wind-power used for additional miscellaneous purposes, we could see many churches operating (almost) entirely with clean electricity.
If this idea was implemented en masse in the United States of America, the Church of Jesus Christ could significantly alter the way the entire world perceives the God-given gift of energy.
This plan has many benefits including: green electricity; finding one practical way to get the church to actually start exercising their Temples of the Holy Spirit; reconnecting churches with their local community; getting the Church to actually think about their environment in the first place; being a prophetic voice; saving a significant amount of money on gym memberships for individuals; and, finally, saving some money on electric bills.
We should not underestimate the potential of this idea for physical and spiritual health. Gluttony and Sloth have crept into the Church and are very difficult to remedy. People who spend an 1hr on a bike every day or two will have more energy and motivation in volunteering on other projects. God would be happy to see his people taking care of their bodies. How better for the Church to make a stand on this issue than to open their own doors?
As far as getting people motivated, I doubt I could have so quickly got so many people on board with any other initiative – this is the chief difficulty facing any collective action. Now is the opportune time. As I pastor, I have to think about how the people of God can make an impact as a social unit and I truly believe this will be a culture-changing initiative.
I have spoken with people in leadership in many churches and non-profit organizations and have had positive feedback and interest. There is an actual chance to see this idea spread once our experiment at The Gateway homeless shelter works. Thus, for right now, I must go ahead with this project if I am to feel at ease in my Spirit. I pray that other Christian churches, organizations and individuals will also hear the call.
Some may laugh at this idea in self-satisfaction – a natural reaction – but a fraction of actual action will have more attraction than all the sermons that leave people squirming in our lacking reactionary factions. In the Electric Power of Christ,
Cyril Guérette
Associate Pastor, Freedomize Toronto
Associate Professor of Philosophy & Religious Studies, Heritage CollegeFounder
President, WeloBike.com
Wednesday, August 8, 2007
Home Energy Retrofit Program
To help homeowners save energy, save money and help reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the Ontario government has created the Ontario Home Energy Retrofit Program. The program provides homeowners with grants of up to $5,000 for home energy improvements.
Friday, August 3, 2007
Finding Alternatives to Plastic Water Bottles
Environmental activists are encouraging people to find alternatives to bottled water — and water bottles. Most of the price of a bottle of water goes for its bottling, packaging, shipping, marketing, retailing and profit. Transporting bottled water by boat, truck and train involves burning massive quantities of fossil fuels. More than 5 trillion gallons of bottled water is shipped internationally each year. Just supplying Americans with plastic water bottles for one year consumes more than 47 million gallons of oil, enough to take 100,000 cars off the road and 1 billion pounds of carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere, according to the Container Recycling Institute.
The message is clear: Bottled water is “good” water, as opposed to that nasty, unsafe stuff that comes out of the tap. But in most cases tap water adheres to stricter purity standards than bottled water, whose source—far from a mountain spring—can be wells underneath industrial facilities. Indeed, 40 percent of bottled water began life as, well, tap water.
Most disposable water bottles (e.g. – Evian, Dasani, Aquafina, etc.) are made of PET plastic. According to the American Recycling Institute, only 14% of these bottles are recycled. Most of the PET bottles end up in litter or trash where they can take up to 1,000 years to biodegrade, filling our landfills and injuring wildlife.
PET is a petroleum-based plastic. Manufacturing and transporting bottled water (especially from distant countries such as France and Fiji) unnecessarily burns fossil fuels – approximately 1.5 million barrels per year according to the NRDC.
Does using a reusable water bottle make sense financially?
Check out these link for getting your own safe reusable water bottle
Klean Kanteen: www.kleankanteen.com/
Swiss Engineered Water Bottles: http://www.mysigg.com/
Thermos: http://www.thermos.com/
Voss: http://www.vosswater.com/
for babies Born free: http://www.newbornfree.com/
What is actually one tonne of CO2?
CO2 (carbon dioxide) is an achromatic, non flammable, inodorous and nontoxic gas, that makes up to about 0,003% of the earth's atmosphere.
How can one imagine a tonne of this gas?
How can one imagine a tonne of this gas?
To illustrate graphically, one tonne of CO2 correlates to the volume of a 10 meter wide, 25 meter long and 2 meter deep swimming pool!
The average family home generates 6 tonnes of CO2 per year. It is estimated that approximately 30% of our home energy is wasted, which means we could save 2 tonnes of CO2. Here's a few things you can do to reduce your carbon footprint.
• Eat meat-free meals every other day. Vegetarian food requires much less energy to produce.
CO2 savings = 487 pounds
CO2 savings = 487 pounds
• Park the car for 60 days this year. Walk, cycle, or take public transit.
CO2 savings = 917 pounds
• Switch from hot to warm or cold water for every load of laundry.
CO2 savings = 600 pounds
Total = 2,004 pounds (one tonne)
• Switch two standard light bulbs to more efficient fluorescent bulbs.
CO2 savings = 1,000 pounds
• Replace the current shower head with a low-flow model.
CO2 savings = 300 pounds
• Turn the thermostat down two degrees for one year.
CO2 savings = 500 pounds
• Cut vehicle fuel use by 10 gallons in 2007.
CO2 savings = 200 pounds
Total = 2,000 pounds (one tonne)
• Replace the 20-year-old fridge with an energy-saver model.
CO2 savings = 3,000 pounds
• Send out one fewer 30-gallon bag of garbage per week.
CO2 savings = 300 pounds
• Leave the car at home two days per week this year.
CO2 savings = 1,590 pounds
• Recycle aluminum cans, glass bottles, plastic, cardboard and newspapers.
CO2 savings = 850 pounds
Total = 5,740 pounds (almost three tonnes!)
Tuesday, July 3, 2007
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Monday, June 25, 2007
ARISE challenges you!
1. Bike or walk to work/school/anywhere for a week (minimum).
2. Buy local produce. Visit your local farmer's markets! (list to follow)
3. Reduce your waste at home by recycling and using a compost bin. (You don't need to buy one of these- re-using an ice cream or yogurt container works well.) if you don't have a Green Bin System in your building, pledge for one.
FARMER'S MARKETS
City Hall
Nathan Phillips Square
100 Queen St. W. Wednesdays
June 6 - Oct. 17, 2007
10 am - 2:30 pm
(No market on June 27)
Don Valley Brickworks Farmers’ Market
550 Bayview Ave - just off the Bayview Extension (between the Prince Edward Viaduct and Pottery Rd.)
Saturday & Sunday
May 26 and 27
10 am - 4 pm
Then Saturdays only
June 2 - October 27
8 am - 2 pm
Dufferin Grove Farmers’ Market
875 Dufferin Street
(in the park across from the Dufferin Mall).
Year round Thursdays (outdoors around the rinkhouse in summer and inside the rinkhouse in winter)
3 - 7 pm
East York Civic Centre
850 Coxwell Avenue
Tuesdays
May 22 to October 30, 2007
9 am - 2 pm
Etobicoke Civic Centre
399 The West Mall
Saturdays
June 2 - October 27, 2007
8 am to 2 pm
High Park
Back patio of Grenadier Restaurant
Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays
8 am - 4 pm
Metro Hall Square
55 John Street
Thursdays
May 31 - Oct 25, 2007
8 am - 2:30 pm
North York Civic Centre
Mel Lastman Square
5100 Yonge Street
Thursdays
June 14 - October 18, 2007
8 am - 2 pm
Riverdale Farm
201 Winchester Street
(three blocks east of Parliament Street)
The first market will be on Saturday, May 5, 2007.
Markets then occur Tuesdays
May 8 - Oct. 30, 2007
3 - 7 pm
St. Lawrence Market
92 Front Street East
Year Round
Tuesday thru Sunday (Farmers come on Saturdays)
York
GO Train parking lot at John St. & Weston Rd.
Saturdays
May 19 - Oct. 27, 2007
7 am - 2 pm
Trinity Bellwoods Park
(Dundas & Shaw)
Tuesdays 3-7 IT ROCKS!
Liberty Village
(East Liberty & Fraser)
Sunday mornings (maple syrup & bison)
2. Buy local produce. Visit your local farmer's markets! (list to follow)
3. Reduce your waste at home by recycling and using a compost bin. (You don't need to buy one of these- re-using an ice cream or yogurt container works well.) if you don't have a Green Bin System in your building, pledge for one.
FARMER'S MARKETS
City Hall
Nathan Phillips Square
100 Queen St. W. Wednesdays
June 6 - Oct. 17, 2007
10 am - 2:30 pm
(No market on June 27)
Don Valley Brickworks Farmers’ Market
550 Bayview Ave - just off the Bayview Extension (between the Prince Edward Viaduct and Pottery Rd.)
Saturday & Sunday
May 26 and 27
10 am - 4 pm
Then Saturdays only
June 2 - October 27
8 am - 2 pm
Dufferin Grove Farmers’ Market
875 Dufferin Street
(in the park across from the Dufferin Mall).
Year round Thursdays (outdoors around the rinkhouse in summer and inside the rinkhouse in winter)
3 - 7 pm
East York Civic Centre
850 Coxwell Avenue
Tuesdays
May 22 to October 30, 2007
9 am - 2 pm
Etobicoke Civic Centre
399 The West Mall
Saturdays
June 2 - October 27, 2007
8 am to 2 pm
High Park
Back patio of Grenadier Restaurant
Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays
8 am - 4 pm
Metro Hall Square
55 John Street
Thursdays
May 31 - Oct 25, 2007
8 am - 2:30 pm
North York Civic Centre
Mel Lastman Square
5100 Yonge Street
Thursdays
June 14 - October 18, 2007
8 am - 2 pm
Riverdale Farm
201 Winchester Street
(three blocks east of Parliament Street)
The first market will be on Saturday, May 5, 2007.
Markets then occur Tuesdays
May 8 - Oct. 30, 2007
3 - 7 pm
St. Lawrence Market
92 Front Street East
Year Round
Tuesday thru Sunday (Farmers come on Saturdays)
York
GO Train parking lot at John St. & Weston Rd.
Saturdays
May 19 - Oct. 27, 2007
7 am - 2 pm
Trinity Bellwoods Park
(Dundas & Shaw)
Tuesdays 3-7 IT ROCKS!
Liberty Village
(East Liberty & Fraser)
Sunday mornings (maple syrup & bison)
Wednesday, May 9, 2007
Do It Yourself Household Cleaners!
EIGHT ESSENTIALS
Avoid purchasing commerical toxic cleaners by keeping an ample supply of these eight items, which make up the basic ingredients for nearly every do-it-yourself cleaning recipe.
Avoid purchasing commerical toxic cleaners by keeping an ample supply of these eight items, which make up the basic ingredients for nearly every do-it-yourself cleaning recipe.
- Baking soda: provides grit for scrubbing and reacts with water, vinegar or lemon by fizzing, which speeds up cleaning times
- Borax: disinfects, bleaches and deodorizes; very handy in laundry mixes
- Distilled white vinegar: disinfects and breaks up dirt; choose white vinegar over apple cider or red vinegars, as these might stain surfaces
- Hydrogen Peroxide: disinfects and bleaches
- Lemons: cut grease; bottled lemon juice also works well, although you might need to use bit more to get the same results
- Olive oil: picks up dirt and polishes wood; cheaper grades work well
- Vegetable based (liquid castile) soap: non-petroleum all-purpose cleaners
- Washing soda: stain remover, general cleaner, helps unblock pipes; should be handled with gloves due to its caustic nature. Washing soda is usually found in the laundry aisle of grocery and drug stores. Don't forget to pick up an empty spray bottle at the hardware store, and keep those old rags and used toothbrushes for wiping up and scrubbing.
WHOLE HOUSE
All-Purpose Cleaner
1/2 cup borax
1 gallon hot water
Mix in pail (or use smaller amounts in a spray bottle: 1/8 cup borax to 1 quart of hot water) dissolving the borax completely; wipe clean with rag.
Floors - Wood
1/4 cup white vinegar
1 gallon warm water
Linoleum
1 cup white vinegar
2 gallons warm water
Mix in mop bucket, rinse afterwards.
Furniture Polish
1/2 cup white vinegar
1 teaspoon olive oil
Mix and apply with a clean rag to dust and polish. Reduce the olive oil if wood looks too oily.
Metal Polish - Copper and Brass
2 Tbsps salt
White vinegar
Add vinegar to salt until you've created a paste.
Adding flour will reduce abrasiveness.
Apply with a rag and rub clean.
Stainless Steel
Baking soda
White vinegar
Apply baking soda with a damp cloth, using the vinegar to eliminate spots.
BATHROOM
Toilet Bowl
Baking soda
White vinegar
To clean and deodorize, sprinkle toilet bowl with baking soda, add white vinegar and scrub with a toilet brush.
Tub and Tile
1/2 lemon
Borax
Dip the face of the lemon half in borax to create a hand-held scrubber for dirty areas. Rinse and dry the surface afterwards.
KITCHEN
Countertops Marble: Mix one Tbsp castile soap with a quart of warm water, rinse well, then dry with a warm cloth.
Other surfaces: halved lemon dipped in baking soda to scrub off residues. Follow up, by spraying with glass cleaner mix (below).
Dishwashing
castile soap
White vinegar
Wash your dishes in one dishpan filled with a mix of water and castile soap, then rinse in a separate pan containing a mix of water and vinegar (a 3-to-1 water-to-vinegar ratio works well).
Drains
1 cup baking soda
1 cup vinegar
Add baking soda and vinegar to a pot of boiled water and pour down the drain, then flush with tap water.
For more stubborn clogs, use a "snake" plumbing tool to manually remove blockage, or try suction removal with a plunger. To prevent clogs, install inexpensive mesh screen, available at home improvement and hardware stores.
Glass
1/4 cup vinegar or 1 Tbsp lemon juice
2+ cups water
Fill a clean spray bottle with water and either white vinegar or lemon juice; wipe with a rag or old newspaper.
Oven
Baking soda
Water
Sprinkle baking soda on surfaces, spray water, then let soak several hours or overnight. Rinse with water.
Stovetop and Oven Grease Remover
1/2 tsp washing soda
1/4 tsp liquid soap
2 cups hot water Add washing soda and soap to hot water in spray bottle. Since washing soda is caustic, wear gloves.
LAUNDRY ROOM
Laundry Detergent
1 oz. liquid castile soap
1/2 cup washing soda
1/2 cup borax
1/4 cup baking soda or 1/4 cup white vinegar
Using the liquid castile soap as a base, combine with washing soda, borax (for stains and bleaching), and either baking soda (reduces static and softens fabrics) or white vinegar (softens fabrics, reduces static and bleaches clothes). If you feel like your clothes aren't clean enough, play around with the amount of liquid castile soap, using from 1 oz. to 1 cup.
Bleach alternative
1/2 cup hydrogen peroxide
YES!!!!
Province To Give You Incentives To Reuse Plastic Shopping Bags
Wednesday May 9, 2007
You use about four of them a week individually. Ontario residents use about seven million of them daily. They're plastic bags and they're good for lots of things -holding your groceries, carrying your papers and stowing that nasty stuff your dog did in the park. But they're bad for the environment. The sacks don't biodegrade and no one's quite sure just how long they last in landfills. Toronto councillor and environmentalist Gord Perks claims it could be hundreds or even "thousands of years." Which is why the McGuinty government is about to offer you a velvet glove to get you to reduce your dependence on them.
The Liberals are set to announce a program that will see shoppers rewarded with everything from incentives to extra Air Miles points for reusing their existing bags - or putting newly purchased reusable containers to work as they shop. The plan will involve almost every store in the province as a means to get consumers to control the endless use of the plastic carry-alls.
Several places - most notably San Francisco, which banned the bags to big fanfare last March - have restrictions in place. And there are forms of controls in Ireland and one small Manitoba town. Our measures won't be quite as serious as an outright prohibition - yet. But what happens if Ontario residents 'bag' to differ and don't respond to the plea? After a suitable trial period - with a goal to cut the use in half within the next five years - tougher measures could be introduced that will hit you in the wallet to force your compliance.
The city of Toronto has already flirted with imposing a 25-cent levy on each plastic bag you use. And many no-frill-like stores have limited programs in place that charge customers five cents a bag and encourage them to bring their own plastic containers to use again. And almost all sell reusable cloth bags for a small fee.
But in a technologically advanced world, there's a certain irony in what may be yet to come - the possible re-introduction of those old brown paper sacks shoppers once used in the 40s, 50s and 60s, as the need for recycling literally take us back to the future.
Wednesday May 9, 2007
You use about four of them a week individually. Ontario residents use about seven million of them daily. They're plastic bags and they're good for lots of things -holding your groceries, carrying your papers and stowing that nasty stuff your dog did in the park. But they're bad for the environment. The sacks don't biodegrade and no one's quite sure just how long they last in landfills. Toronto councillor and environmentalist Gord Perks claims it could be hundreds or even "thousands of years." Which is why the McGuinty government is about to offer you a velvet glove to get you to reduce your dependence on them.
The Liberals are set to announce a program that will see shoppers rewarded with everything from incentives to extra Air Miles points for reusing their existing bags - or putting newly purchased reusable containers to work as they shop. The plan will involve almost every store in the province as a means to get consumers to control the endless use of the plastic carry-alls.
Several places - most notably San Francisco, which banned the bags to big fanfare last March - have restrictions in place. And there are forms of controls in Ireland and one small Manitoba town. Our measures won't be quite as serious as an outright prohibition - yet. But what happens if Ontario residents 'bag' to differ and don't respond to the plea? After a suitable trial period - with a goal to cut the use in half within the next five years - tougher measures could be introduced that will hit you in the wallet to force your compliance.
The city of Toronto has already flirted with imposing a 25-cent levy on each plastic bag you use. And many no-frill-like stores have limited programs in place that charge customers five cents a bag and encourage them to bring their own plastic containers to use again. And almost all sell reusable cloth bags for a small fee.
But in a technologically advanced world, there's a certain irony in what may be yet to come - the possible re-introduction of those old brown paper sacks shoppers once used in the 40s, 50s and 60s, as the need for recycling literally take us back to the future.
Monday, May 7, 2007
"Climate report maps out 'highway to extinction"
Animal and plant species have begun dying off or changing sooner than predicted because of global warming.
"A key element of the second major report on climate change being released Friday in Belgium is a chart that maps out the effects of global warming with every degree of temperature rise, forecasting that the number of species going extinct will rise with the heat, according to the draft report obtained by The Associated Press".Click here to read the article.
Friday, May 4, 2007
Earth Day launch re-visited
On Sunday, April 22 (Earth Day!), Arise launched it's impact on Toronto by organizing and participating in a clean-up of the Peace Garden in Regent Park. The Peace Garden was created and planted by Elsaida, who lives in the area, in peaceful retaliation of violence and war in communities. It was surprising to see how much litter was strewn around the garden and the surrounding children's playground; the before and after effect was astonishing and wonderful to see. Many thanks to those who came out! We'll be re-visiting the garden to help Elsaida again soon!
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Arise also has a 'zine created by the wonderful and talented ladies Naomi Wilson and Jenna Kess. The 'zine is a fun and creative read that presents information and articles as to what each individual can change about their lifestyle to help save the environment. The next issue will come out sometime in the summer. In the meantime, explore the blog, and if you have any information/articles/thoughts/ideas that you'd like to pass along, you can email them to us at arise.toronto@gmail.com.
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