Consumable Earth – Kamloops

Freecycle is quite possibly one of the greatest sites going in that it connects the local community in a way that is completely unique – everything is FREE. Post what you want or what you have and someone from your community or better yet your neighbourhood will come and get it if they can make use of it!

Recently my partner and I moved in together and have done a big renovation (highlights include: high efficiency furnace, tankless water heater, better insulation, cork floors and low VOC paints) which means a lot of waste and a lot of extra stuff. The answer: freecycle. Every time we create a pile of things that have to go I head upstairs to the computer with a list and post it all on freecycle. Within a few days it has all gone to new homes where it can be useful!

This is nothing short of amazing and beautiful. Imagine if even more of the things you ever had or will get were obtained in this way? Freecycle couches, furniture, kitchen items, clothing, movies, it is endless and we certainly have enough stuff to go around, no doubts there.

Short of getting what you need for free there are always thrift stores and it is garage sale season. It has been a habit of mine for years to try and hunt something down and buy it used before I resort to getting it from a store. We all can make do without a lot of the things that we consume on a daily, weekly or monthly basis. When we make time in our lives for these things it is my belief that we will all feel better in our hearts, our minds and generally with our selves.

Be good to yourself and to others.

This comment was posted at the bottom of an article I read recently about eco-friendly shampoos. I have long bought shampoo and conditioner in bulk and I think I’ve only bought two bottles of conditioner in my adult life. I have recently been trying to brainstorm a more natural solution to the supermarket no-name brands and I dug this girls comments:

I have been using the system below for the last year and am very happy with it. I have VERY thick, curly, frizzy hair, so my old routine involved shampoo, conditioner, and lots of products. No more!

I buy Dr Bronners by the gallon. And I buy lavender essential oil, since that’s good for calming the scalp. A gallon of Dr Bronners and a small jar of lavendar oil lasts a LONG TIME. So there is very little packaing involved. I make an herbal tea from rosemary & thyme from the garden, or just use leftover green tea from breakfast, depending on how much work I feel like doing. In a shampoo-sized plastic container (maybe half a liter) I mix:

20% Dr Bronners soap

50 drops lavendar essential oil

Fill with tea

That’s it. You have to shake it before using it. It is very liquidy, but I find it easy enough to squirt some on my head and work it in. I also use it as body wash, and find that a sponge is the easiest way to apply it. This shampoo leaves my hair feeling squeaky clean–which at first was strange but then made me realize what a weird nasty coating store-bought shampoos leave in to make your hair feel artificially smooth.

Conditioner? I was so pleased to learn that even for my curls and frizz, I don’t need it! I buy jojoba oil by the gallon. After I get out of the shower, I massage a small amount into my wet hair. When it dries, its not oily at all, but my curls are all separated and un-frizzy and my hair is shiny and beautiful. I get so many compliments on how healthy my hair looks since I switched to this. I also use the jojoba oil on my body instead of lotion (rub on in very small amounts while your skin is still wet). Jojoba oil is not as expensive as you think if you buy it by the gallon (see Amazon retailers). So that’s pretty much all the cosmetics I need. Except toothpaste… but making toothpaste is another post entirely!

Gloria in Altadena, CA

.: Be good to yourself and to others :.

Boutenko talk: Green Smoothie Revolution

The Boutenkos are the authors of some of the most popular Raw Books and DVD’s such as:

· ‘Greens for Live” · “Fresh – the Ultimate Live Food Cookbook” by Sergei & Valya · “12 Steps to Raw Foods” · “Greens Can Save Your Life” – DVD · “Reversing the Irreversible” – DVD by Valya

April 21: Kamloops
Time: Tuesday, 6-9pm
Location: The Thompson Hotel & Conference Centre in the Conference
Room 650 Victoria St.
Cost: General Public $15 / RawBC* members $10
(Price includes sample of green smoothie and raw appetizers)
RawBC membership is available at the event
Contact: Esther 250-376-0887 or email: rawkinana@gmail.com
RSVP: As space is limited please reserve your seat prior with the contact above.

On Earth Day this year, consider doing something for Mother Earth, such as:

• Organize a neighbourhood clean up.
• Buy environmentally friendly cleaning products or try using natural cleaners such as vinegar, lemons or baking soda.
• Reduce the amount of resources you use and generate less waste.
• Pack a litterless lunch, reusable items can be 45% less expensive and they have approximately 89% less waste than single use lunches.
• Composting reduces household waste by 30% and helps decrease greenhouse gases generated from our landfill. * Reuse items before discarding them.
• Donate used goods to local charities, shops or schools.
• Post items on the TNRD Reuses website to give away or sell up to $99
• Recycle materials that can be made into new products.
• For materials not accepted in the curbside program, please visit Recyclopedia at TNRD Reuses for alternate options.
• Buy Local. For every pound of local food you buy, you save a quarter pound of C02 emissions and also support local businesses.
• Turn off your computer monitor if you are going to be away for 15 minutes or more, the monitor uses 75% of a computers’ electricity.
• Use a layer of organic mulch around plants to reduce evaporation and save water.

In our community:

Chase’s Haldane Elementary School is celebrating Earth Day on April 20th with an assembly, tree planting, gardening, birdhouse building and more! For more information on this event click here

**For more information on Earth Day please visit the Earth Day Canada website

Currently I have been pondering this situation as there is going to be an aquisition soon regarding the furniture that will go outdoors on our new deck. Actually three decks so there is some serious thinking to be done.

New is not an option. There just isn’t something out there that I am going to spend money on to support. Something sustainable that would last. What about iron? Steel and iron furniture will last generations and can be made from recycled materials.

Wicker or rattan options are made from the fast growing leafy part of the tree. Bamboo is another fast growing wood.

Now to find a local artist who is capable… Richmond isn’t exactly local but it’s a start.