Author

Lindsay Coulter

How to Forage for Food

Raceme ripe berries wild shadberry on a branch ** Note: Shallow depth of field

I grew up foraging for morel mushrooms, Saskatoon berries, wild blueberries, strawberries and raspberries in Alberta. On the West Coast now, I forage for salmonberries, blackberries and young stinging nettle.

For me, foraging is less about sustenance and more about time in nature with family and the thrill of seeking and finding — and Grandma once made me a delicious wild blueberry pie! My family looked for morels in the spring — my grandmother, Mom, my aunts and me. Last spring, my then two-year old son developed a killer eye for morels. It’s a hobby for all ages.

If you’re a city dweller or don’t come from a lineage of gatherers, don’t fret. You can take a foraging tour in a local city park. For example, Forager Foundation @ForagerFDN leads tours in the Vancouver area, ranked beginner to advanced. There might be similar tours or courses led by businesses, non-profits, Indigenous groups or parks where you live. (If so, please share below with a comment and link.)

Tips for foraging

Avoid poisonous or endangered plants — purchase an identification guide to help you triple check the plant or fungi species you find.
Harvest only what you need.
Obey signage. Harvest away from parks and nature reserves. (For example, Metro Vancouver Parks asks people not to harvest chanterelle mushrooms in Pacific Spirit Park.)
Beware of pesticide- or herbicide-sprayed areas — if you’re collecting in ditches for example, watch for signs of spraying (brown vegetation) or call your local municipality.
Obey trail signs, tread lightly and try not to trample natural areas.
Learn animal track, scat and sign to see what else might be foraging in the area.
Take a tour and learn from experts.
Try new recipes.
To increase your chance of seeing wildlife in their natural habitat, leave your dog at home.
Start foraging in your backyard — make dandelion salad!

Have you foraged? Why? What did you find?

Sincerely, Lindsay Coulter
A fellow Queen of Green

April 10, 2016 0 comment

•-Feature Health & Well-being

How to Protect Kids’ Brains

written by Lindsay Coulter

bigstock-Happy-Baby-Girl-With-An-Umbrel-96298097

Not all chemicals are bad.

But I suggest everyone — not just parents — watch Little Things Matter: the Impact of Toxins on the Developing Brain, narrated by Bruce Lanphear.

“We’ve discovered that extremely low levels of toxins can impact brain development,” he says. “We have also discovered that subtle shifts in the intellectual abilities of individual children have a big impact on the number of children in a population that are challenged or gifted.”

Toxins can’t be ignored:

They have lifelong impact.
Even low levels affect kids’ brain development.
One hundred per cent of kids have lead in their blood. There are no safe levels of lead!
One hundred per cent of kids have PCBs (used in the manufacturing of electrical equipment, heat exchangers and other specialized applications up to the late 1970s).
One hundred per cent of kids have PBDEs (flame retardants).
Ninety-six per cent of kids have BPA (a hormone disruptor).
Eighty-nine per cent of kids have mercury.
We regulate as if there are safe levels.
We’re exposed to many chemicals, including some that have never been tested.

Lanphear recommends five ways to lower body burden:

Eat fresh and frozen foods.
Remove all lead hazards, especially in homes older than 1960 (e.g., pipes).
Choose low-mercury fish.
Clean floors, surfaces and house dust.
Avoid using pesticides.

This is only a quick summary of a serious subject. For more details, please watch the full seven-minute video.

Have you found ways to eliminate kids’ exposure to toxins — lead, mercury, BPA, PBDEs?

Sincerely,

Lindsay Coulter, a fellow Queen of Green

March 29, 2016 0 comment

•-Feature Family & Relationships Health & Well-being

How to ‘Green’ Your Toddler

written by Lindsay Coulter

Mother and her child playing in spring field in soft sunlight

As a parent, you’re probably losing sleep.

It might not be because you’re thinking about the eco-friendliest pyjamas, pillows or straws… but reducing your child’s exposure to toxic chemicals can help you rest easier.

By the end of this article you will:

Want snug-fit PJs for your kids
Have an urge to dust
Know another way to help protect oceans and wildlife from plastic

Choose snug-fit, certified organic pyjamas not treated with flame retardants.

Avoid synthetics like polyester. Polyester is plastic (which melts) and has flame retardants built into the fibres. Avoid loose-fitting pyjamas, which are more likely to catch fire.

Shop local thrift and consignment stores — that’s right, you can score organic clothing there! —or try My Little Green Shop, New Jammies, Parade Baby, Simply Merino and Underables, to name a few.

Studies show that consumer products — not industrial emissions — are the likely source of the buildup of flame retardants, or PBDEs, in people and animals.

These toxic chemicals — found in furniture, carpets and electronics — have been linked to cancer, adverse effects on the developing brain, and immune and reproductive problems. They are also persistent and bioaccumulative, which means they build up in the environment and our bodies.

The solution? Dust!

Household dust is now recognized as one of the most significant sources of childhood exposure to toxic substances because it’s really a chemical soup with low levels of flame retardants, pesticides, phthalates and metals like lead, mercury and arsenic.

Choose pillows made from the eco-friendliest materials: wool, natural rubber, kapok or organic cotton.

If you’re lucky, your toddler’s head rests 11 to 13 hours each day on a pillow. But what’s that pillow made of?

Avoid pillows made from synthetics like petroleum-based polyester. Natural fabrics and fibres are better because they won’t off-gas. Some down and feathers used in pillows (comforters and jackets, too) are harvested from live or force-fed birds. And some down pillows contain feathers sterilized with formaldehyde — a known carcinogen.

Pillows are not recommended for babies under 12 months. Choose a low-loft pillow for toddlers.

Wool is naturally resistant to dust mites and mildew. It needs to be spot-cleaned.
Natural rubber is resistant to mold, fungus, mildew and dust mites. It’s also renewable and biodegradable.
Silky threads from the flower seeds of kapok trees are harvested without chopping down the trees.
Organic cotton breathes and, free my chemicals and dyes, is better for the environment. It’s popular among people with allergies or sensitive skin.

Retailers of eco-friendly bedding and beds include Organic Lifestyle, inBed Organics, and Obasan

Choose reusable, recyclable stainless steel plates, cutlery, lunch kits, straws, etc.

Plastics are widely used because they’re cheap and often durable. But most contain toxic chemicals, as softeners or to make them resistant to ultraviolet light.

Health Canada says that 95 per cent of Canadians have measurable levels of Bisphenol-A (BPA) in their blood or urine, with the highest levels found in children. Potential health effects from BPA exposure include breast and prostate cancer, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and a wide range of developmental problems. And phthalates (pronounced “thal-ates”) are increasingly linked to endocrine disruption (interfering with hormone function), and reproductive and developmental problems, among other health effects.

Shop for dishware that’s free of BPA, PVC (polyvinyl chloride), phthalates, and lead and cadmium (or other heavy metals). Places to source non-toxic, air-tight, leak-proof and dishwasher-safe options include ECO lunchbox and Onyx Containers.

March 8, 2016 0 comment

•-Feature Health & Well-being

DIY recipes to help combat colds and flu

written by Lindsay Coulter

There is no evidence that antibacterial products actually do a better job than regular soap in a household setting. So avoid them UNLESS you work in a hospital.

Why? Overuse of antibacterial ingredients — like triclosan — is helping create superbugs. Our increasing obsession with avoiding germs could actually be making us sick.

What is triclosan?

Triclosan is used in cleansers, antiperspirants/deodorants, toothpastes and hand sanitizers as a preservative and anti-bacterial agent. It’s toxic to fish and wildlife and may be an endocrine disrupter, i.e., interfere with hormone function. It’s best avoided, which can be tricky because it seems like it’s in everything — soaps, countertops, garden hoses, garbage bags, socks, laundry products, facial tissues and more.

How to shop smarter

Avoid anything labelled “anti-bacterial”.

Avoid triclosan in the ingredient list.

Avoid parfum (a.k.a fragrance). Some fragrance ingredients can trigger allergies and asthma. Some are linked to cancer and neurotoxicity. Some are harmful to fish and other wildlife.

Choose bar soaps — a U.S. study found triclosan in 76 per cent of liquid soaps and only 29 per cent of bar soaps (American Journal of Infection Control, 2002).

Choose products that list ingredients (especially home cleaners).

Choose products with plant-based ingredients. * Choose products with ECOLOGO or Green Seal labels.

If you live or work with children, non-toxic disinfectants are even more important. Kids are not miniature adults — kilogram for kilogram they absorb more chemicals. They’re closer to the ground and they have an “exploratory nature” — they put everything in their mouths!

Germ killing DIY recipes

One way to get off the antibacterial crazy train — make your own soap, hand sanitizer, cleaner and disinfectant!

Liquid hand or body soap (takes less than 10 minutes)

Add to soap dispenser (even the foaming kind):

¾ cup (187.5 ml) water

¼ cup (62.5 ml) liquid castile soap (unscented or scented with essential oils; available at most health food stores or organic grocers)

Check out my four-part blog on how to make your own cold-process bar soap with vegetable oils and natural exfoliants.

Hand sanitizer

¼ cup (62.5 ml) pure aloe gel

½ cup (125 ml) grain alcohol (e.g., vodka) or rubbing alcohol

5 to 8 drops tea tree or thyme essential oil

Optional: add 2 T (30 ml) vegetable glycerin to combat alcohol’s drying effect

Mix and store in a squeeze bottle. Keep a batch in your diaper bag, child’s backpack, at your desk or in your purse or car.

All-purpose spray cleaner

Mix equal parts white vinegar and water

Optional: add 3 to 5 drops of thyme essential oil

Add to a spray bottle. Use it to clean your home — wipe down countertops, keyboards, doorknobs, etc.

Acetic acid (white vinegar) is a great disinfectant, deodorizer and grease cutter. It tackles salmonella (some strains), E. coli and other “gram-negative” bacteria that can cause pneumonia, meningitis and bloodstream, wound or surgical site infections.

The acid in vinegar crosses the bacteria cell membrane and prompts a release of protons that kills the cell. Heinz unveiled a “cleaning” version of its white distilled vinegar — instead of five per cent acetic acid, it has six. Some “eco” stores sell a 12 per cent solution. Simply heating vinegar can also boost its power.

Disinfectant spray

Transfer store-bought hydrogen peroxide to a dark spray bottle (it’s sensitive to light).

Unlike chlorine bleach, hydrogen peroxide breaks down into oxygen and water and is kind to the environment. Did you know eco or oxygen bleach is really diluted hydrogen peroxide?

On their own, vinegar and hydrogen peroxide are each strong germ killers. Used in combination, they’re even better — 10 times more effective than disinfecting with either substance alone and more effective than bleach in the kitchen.

Here’s the catch: mixing them together cuts their germ-killing power, but using one after the other works well.

Germ killing DIY recipes

One way to get off the antibacterial crazy train — make your own soap, hand sanitizer, cleaner and disinfectant!

Liquid hand or body soap (takes less than 10 minutes)

Add to soap dispenser (even the foaming kind):

¾ cup (187.5 ml) water

¼ cup (62.5 ml) liquid castile soap (unscented or scented with essential oils; available at most health food stores or organic grocers)

Check out my four-part blog on how to make your own cold-process bar soap with vegetable oils and natural exfoliants.

Hand sanitizer

¼ cup (62.5 ml) pure aloe gel

½ cup (125 ml) grain alcohol (e.g., vodka) or rubbing alcohol

5 to 8 drops tea tree or thyme essential oil

Optional: add 2 T (30 ml) vegetable glycerin to combat alcohol’s drying effect

Mix and store in a squeeze bottle. Keep a batch in your diaper bag, child’s backpack, at your desk or in your purse or car.

All-purpose spray cleaner

Mix equal parts white vinegar and water

Optional: add 3 to 5 drops of thyme essential oil

Add to a spray bottle. Use it to clean your home — wipe down countertops, keyboards, doorknobs, etc.

Disinfectant spray

Transfer store-bought hydrogen peroxide to a dark spray bottle (it’s sensitive to light).

Unlike chlorine bleach, hydrogen peroxide breaks down into oxygen and water and is kind to the environment. Did you know eco or oxygen bleach is really diluted hydrogen peroxide?

Here’s the catch: mixing them together cuts their germ-killing power, but using one after the other works well.

November 28, 2015 0 comment

•-Feature

Don’t confuse “best before” with “expired”

written by Lindsay Coulter

Did you know that milk can be consumed 7 days after the “best before” date, opened or unopened? (Credit: Fix.com)

Are you sitting down?

Yogurt with a best before date of today is still good (and safe) to eat for seven to 10 days (open or unopened)!

Reading best before dates as expiry dates probably contributes to food waste and “every year a staggering one-third — 1.3 billion tonnes — of the world’s food is wasted after it has been harvested: 45 per cent of fruit and vegetables, 35 per cent of fish and seafood, 30 per cent of cereals, 20 per cent of dairy products and 20 per cent of meat.”

Let’s change that.

Best before dates have to do with food quality — freshness, texture, flavor and nutritional value — not safety. They are not expiry dates.
I suspect not confusing “best before” with “expired” will lead to these three things:

You’ll waste less food.
You’ll save money.
You’ll avoid sending food waste to the landfill, which contributes to increasing methane emissions and significantly adds to our climate change woes.

How long after a best before date can I safely eat eggs, milk, mustard, cereal, etc.?

LoveFoodHateWaste.ca shares storage time limits, e.g., you can consume eggs one month after the best before date.
EatbyDate.com explains how long food lasts.
Fix.com shares a pantry guide for dry goods.

What happens to food after its best before date?
After the best before date has passed, food may lose some freshness and flavour and texture may change. Some foods lose nutritional value, e.g., contain less vitamin C.

You can buy and eat foods after their best before dates have passed. (I use them to my advantage and enjoy best before sales at the grocery store!)
Where will you see best before dates?
Best before dates are only required on foods that stay fresh for 90 days or less. Some things have them that don’t need them, like bottled water!

Only a few foods — like infant formula and formulated liquid diets — actually have expiry dates.

Note: Always avoid leaky or bulging canned goods.

What surprised you about best before dates?

Sincerely,
Lindsay Coulter, a fellow Queen of Green

November 14, 2015 0 comment

•-Feature

How to leave the leaves

written by Lindsay Coulter

If I know you, you can’t stop helping pollinators — planting a butterfly garden, getting your yard off grass, signing the Monarch Manifesto and more. Well, you won’t believe what I want you to do (or not do) now…

DO NOT rake your leaves! (Because butterflies begin in leaves, as larvae.)

Those brown, dead leaves are the planet’s butterfly nursery. They’re home to butterfly larvae, microbes and worms. And leaf litter is where many species ofbutterflies and moths overwinter as pupae. Animals like toads, shrews and salamanders benefit from leaf litter to hide and hunt, too.

This fall, let your rake collect only dust.

Can’t leave all of your leaves where they fall? Here are a few other ideas:

Does your homeowner’s association have something against leaves? Rake leaves off the lawn and into your planter beds.

Mulch leaves on your lawn

Use your mower to mulch leaves on the lawn and improve your lawn health by suppressing weeds and fertilizing the soil.

Collect browns to compost

Composting 101 tells us to balance “greens” with “browns.” Store leaves in a bin and add them to your backyard composter throughout the winter months.

Craft with leaves

Have children collect their favourite leaves in your yard and throughout the neighbourhood and try your hand at nature weaving. Make a natural loom orcraftiments.

Note: DO rake leaves out of sewers and drainage pathways.

Have you been able to break your leaf-raking habit?

Sincerely, Lindsay Coulter
A fellow Queen of Green

October 20, 2015 0 comment

•-Feature

How to get your yard off grass

written by Lindsay Coulter

Lawn history is rooted in wealth and status.

In 17th century England, only rich landowners had lawns (a monoculture of short, manicured grass). Work once done by sheep increasingly shifted to human labour, especially closer to the house. Before lawnmowers, only a few could afford to hire people to scythe and weed their grass.

Lawn’s purpose? Purely decorative.

Given today’s reality…

Water shortages
The health benefitsof digging in dirt
Our passion for clean, local food
A desire to waste less
How busy we say we are
No need to show how much money you make

…I think society is ready to question, even ditch, the lawn habit.

What to do instead of seeding, mowing and aerating your lawn?

Plant a pollinator garden

If you don’t plant for pollinators, who will? Anyone can provide essential habitat for bees, butterflies, moths, beetles, hummingbirds and other pollinators.

Join our #GotMilkweed campaign to help bring monarch butterflies back from the brink!

Design a rain garden

A rain garden helps minimize the problem of storm water runoff — hundreds of litres of rainwater streaming off hard surfaces like roofs, roads and driveways. For example, shallow beds 15- to 30-centimetres (six- to 12-inches) deep filled withnative plants will filter up to 90 per cent of pollutants. Rain gardens also allow water to drain deep enough into the soil to help recharge groundwater supplies. Find more tips to design your very own rain garden.

Plant a tree

A team of researchers (including the David Suzuki Foundation’s own Faisal Moola) found that 10 more trees on a city block has self-reported health benefits comparable to a $10,000 salary raise (so you can feel richer without showing off your lawn), moving to a neighbourhood with a $10,000 higher median income or being seven years younger.

The study, conducted in Toronto, also found that people who live on a tree-lined block are less likely to report high blood pressure, obesity, heart disease or diabetes.

Xeriscape

It’s a fancy word for water-wise gardening. Use up to 50 per cent less water byxeriscaping or landscaping with native plants better adapted to your area. Our yards can become a lot more like the nature once was.

A variety of front yard landscaping options await you! How have you transformed your yard?

Sincerely, Lindsay Coulter
A fellow Queen of Green

July 28, 2015 0 comment

•-Feature

How to conserve water

written by Lindsay Coulter

It’s hot. Many provinces are in flames and there’s a water shortage.

Now, for the bad news: Our households consume about 340 litres of water per day. And the thirstiest culprit is your toilet, followed by laundry, faucets, showers and leaks.

This is not a problem of the week or this summer. This is what lies ahead.

Five water-saving habits inside your home (in order of impact)

Flush less

“If it’s yellow, let it mellow…” is the two-part jingle. But what about all the other times?

Don’t flush tissue or toilet paper each time you blow your nose. Switch to hankies (see laundering tip below).

Stop flushing the unflushables like baby wipes, floss and hair.

Install low-flow toilet(s). Old toilets use about 12 litres; low flow will cut that in half.

Launder less

Most clothing can be worn a few times before washing. Some peoplenever wash denim!

Avoid using the pre-wash rinse cycle — poopy cloth diapers a possible exception.

Invest in a water- and energy-efficient machine (savings are from 150 to 75 litres).

Faucets off!

Don’t run the tap for a cold drink. Fill a jug and leave it in the fridge. Or drink what you get.

Wet your toothbrush. Then rinse the spit with waste water from your short shower (read below).

Use the water at the bottom of your salad spinner to give plants a drink.

Short showers

Set your phone alarm to two to three minutes. Or listen to a two-minute song (’cause I know you like to sing along). Turn the water off while you soap up.

Don’t wash your hair every day.

Save shower water in a pail for washing floors, the car or rinsing toothpaste spit.

Fix leaks

Does your bathroom or laundry room smell mouldy? Check for leaks from big water sucks — toilet(s), washing machine and faucets.

Metro Vancouver explains how to check a toilet: “Put a few drops of food colouring in the tank. If it shows up in the bowl, your toilet is leaking water.”

Outside: Prioritize watering edibles over ornamentals and annuals

A brown lawn isn’t dead, just dormant (like a bear in winter). Metro Vancouver recommends one hour of lawn watering per week (unless, of course, it rains).

Garden hoses are the least efficient way. Use a drip system or try clay pots!

Follow your city restrictions. Water in the early morning — usually no wind and lower temperatures, so less water evaporates. The worst time to water is late evening because the lawn stays wet all night, making it more susceptible to disease.

Caught someone watering when they shouldn’t? Read this before reacting.

What’s a solution to saving water you think is underutilized?

Sincerely, Lindsay Coulter
A fellow Queen of Green

July 15, 2015 0 comment

Health & Well-being

Test your indoor air quality

written by Lindsay Coulter

Test your home (old or new) for mould and levels of carbon monoxide (CO), total volatile organic compounds (tVOCs), and formaldehyde (HCHO). (Credit: Brendon Purdy Photography)

I was beginning to worry about mould in my home — airborne spores can be inhaled and become a health concern.

I wasn’t feeling sick, but we discovered mould during a recent bathroom renovation, my husband had been rather sneezy and we have a child (children and the elderly can be more vulnerable).

Did you know mould comes in all colours — not just black and white?

I called two companies to ask what was involved in a home indoor air quality testAND the cost. Within a day, a professional showed up to walk through my house with hand-held meters to test for levels of carbon monoxide (CO), total volatile organic compounds (tVOCs), and formaldehyde (HCHO). He also took an air sample and sent it for laboratory analysis to compare mould spore concentrations inside my home to concentrations outdoors.

The $500 I spent gave me peace of mind. My home does not have dangerous levels of mould that are allergenic, pathogenic or more serious toxigenic species. Everything else checked out safe, too! Note: get a few quotes.

I also asked about mould prevention. Guess what’s likeliest culprit in my home (and probably yours)? Drying clothing indoors during winter (you know I like to save energy)!

Tip: If you dry clothing inside, run a fan. Luckily my bathroom fan is the next room over and it’s Energy Star rated. Ventilation is key!

Mould prevention tips:

Run a fan (that’s vented to the outside) when cooking or showering

Keep furniture away from exterior walls to allow air to circulate

Don’t store goods in cardboard boxes (use mould-resistant options like plastic bins)

Don’t store firewood inside the home

Own less stuff

See a full list from Health Canada.

If you’re concerned about indoor air quality, contact a professional. You’ll receive an air quality assessment report and prevention or mitigation suggestions.

How have you solved or prevented indoor air quality problems where you live?

Sincerely, Lindsay Coulter
A fellow Queen of Green

June 11, 2015 0 comment

•-Feature

How Not to Squelch a Kid’s Curiosity About Nature

written by Lindsay Coulter

To cultivate nature connectedness, fuel curiosity and keep plants and critters alive, we made rules.

Most children are curious explorers, so you don’t need to do much to cultivate their nature connectedness — just take them outside! The challenge is more about how to get out of their way while keeping them AND the plants and critters safe.

Ick. Ew. Gross.

These are a few words adults say about nature — in front of kids. I don’t think we even realize it.

Did I love finding a snail on my kitchen ceiling? Or an entire nest of baby spiders, on a stick, in my living room? Not exactly.

To cultivate nature connectedness, fuel my son’s curiosity and keep plants and critters alive, we have rules:

No snails in the house.
Worms can’t do yoga.
No slugs in the hand (the sticky trail is impossible to get off).
Toilet paper can help relocate spiders.
Bees are fun to watch, not touch.
Ant hills are best observed from a distance.
Caterpillars need to be released to morph into butterflies or moths.
To avoid heartbreak, don’t get too attached, e.g., ladybugs are heart-breakers — they will land and quickly fly away.
Wasps and bees need space because they can sting.
Leave some snails behind to work in the garden and for other kids to find.

Don’t get me wrong, I will let him swat mosquitoes!

Tools you may find useful:

Bug bungalow or a mason jar with air holes (much better than pockets)
Butterfly net
Magnifying glass
Dip net (to explore streams and ponds)
Tips from our 30×30 Nature Challenge (to inspire your outdoor explorations any time of year!)

How have you successfully taught the kids in your life about touching, holding and exploring nature safely?

Sincerely,
Lindsay Coulter, a fellow Queen of Green

June 3, 2015 0 comment

•-Feature Family & Relationships Health & Well-being

How to get under the influence…of nature

written by Lindsay Coulter

Did you know that low tide makes a great babysitter?

Some days it feels as though my city is yelling at me, particularly if I’ve skipped too many doses of “Vitamin N” (for “nature”).

Recently my son asked, “Mommy need to go into nature?” Cute, right? He understands how much I need nature to be at my best. (He posed this question after pouring his expensive organic milk on the floor, running through it and tossing his lunch in the puddle.)

I’d much rather be under the influence…of nature. It cures my irritability and so much more — time spent outside reduces stress, makes people more generous and combats loneliness.

To realize the full benefits of time spent in nature, DO:

Inhale: it will lead to clearer thinking
Look directly at it: even if it’s poop
Bring a friend: download our tool kits for workplaces or schools
Listen: turn off your cell phone ringer that sounds like a bird or cricket and listen for the real thing

Nature is calling. Will you answer? Join us for the 30×30 Nature Challenge.

So… if “hangry” is the anger you feel when you’re hungry, what’s the term for the irritability you feel when you’re due for time in nature?

Sincerely,

Lindsay Coulter, a fellow Queen of Green

May 8, 2015 0 comment

•-Feature Family & Relationships Health & Well-being

These Simple, Selfless Acts Will Change Your Life

written by Lindsay Coulter

Ask not what your neighbourhood can do for you — ask what you can do for your neighbourhood!

In one word, what’s one thing you love about your community: ________.
In one word, what’s one thing you’d like to see change: _____________.

The proposition that a few simple, selfless acts will make your neighbourhood a better place to live was tested nation-wide by my Queen of Green Coaches and their recruited families during Module 4: Community Action.

They:

Donated clothes and children’s toys

Hosted clothing swaps and potlucks

Organized an e-waste drive for their school

Proposed to their town’s Sustainability Commission to ban food waste from their landfillMade a Little Free Library

Attended rallies, marches and community events

Joined Project Feederwatch

Started workplace green teams

Ten ideas to fire up your commitment to the people and places you love:

Host a clothing swap.Invite friends, co-workers — even swap kid’s clothing. Leftover items can be donated to a charity or recycled.
Start a soup or salad club. People who take lunch breaks and don’t eat at their desks return to work refreshed, refocused, re-energized and relaxed.
Host a green cleaning workshop. Tried my recipes? Teach a friend or family member!
Host a skill swap auction. Get services you need (babysitting, clothing alterations, dog walking, etc.), save money, reduce consumption and build community. Do it with a group of friends and neighbours or for your next birthday party!
Organize an e-waste donation drive. Fundraise for your kid’s team, school or an organization (including the David Suzuki Foundation). You need a minimum of 10 items like cell phones, print cartridges, laptops, tablets and digital cameras.
Start a food circle. Help a family member, co-worker or neighbour. It’s the best baby shower gift ever and a kindness for someone going through chemo or dealing with loss.
Get outside. Join Project Feederwatch, become a citizen scientist, pull invasive ivy, plant trees, clean up shorelines, etc.
Host a block party. Slow down, even just a little, to check-in with family, friends and community! (Many cities offer grants for these.)
Reduce, reuse and refurbish. Join a repair cafeor organize your own.
Go scent-freeat work. Fragrances in cologne, perfumes, soaps and shampoos come from a variety of synthetic chemicals that can trigger allergies or asthma attacks.

What initiatives have you led or participated in that you think others could replicate in their communities?

Sincerely,
Lindsay Coulter, Queen of Green

March 3, 2015 0 comment

•-Feature

How to Stop Killing Bees

written by Lindsay Coulter

It’s pulled at your heart strings for years — the bees are dying. But why?

The unknown can be terrifying — for nature lovers and whoever eats food.

I bring you super good news! (Bad news to follow.)

We know why bees are dying

An international group of independent scientists (not those paid by industry) released results of a comprehensive, four-year literature review (a fancy way of saying ** analysis of 800 peer-reviewed studies**) on neonics.

Their good news: “there is clear evidence of harm sufficient to trigger regulatory action.” The assessment highlights serious risks to bees and other beneficial species — butterflies (you bought milkweed for monarchs, right?), earthworms and birds.

Mystery solved. Phew! I was starting to think we’d end up eating only porridge, rice and oranges with a side of rhubarb.

The bad news for many species with and without backbones

Science can be inconvenient. At least that’s the way it appears to our governments — federal and provincial. In Canada, neonicotinoid pesticides are still widely used. Let’s ask them to change that!

Last year, Europe announced a moratorium on three neonics used on bee-attracting crops. (Why do things always seem better there? Can we join the EU?)

Meanwhile, in Canada, we’ll wait until the bees are down to the last dozen, freak out because we can’t imagine life without strawberries and chocolate and then give our blood, sweat and tears (and piles of money) to reintroduce them. Yeah, let’s do that.

How do neonics work?

Other pesticides stay on the surface of leaves. Neonicotinoids and fipronil, neuro-active, nicotine-based systemic insecticides, are gulped up by the plant and transported to the leaves, flowers, roots, stems and bee food — pollen and nectar!

Tell your government to side with science and ban neonics.

Do you have a bigger appetite for this topic? The Task Force on Systemic Pesticides can explain it better than I. Watch their 10 minute video and get all the information you need to talk “neonics” at your next barbeque!

Sincerely,
Lindsay Coulter, a fellow Queen of Green

July 28, 2014 0 comment

•-Feature Health & Well-being

How to bike to work

written by Lindsay Coulter

Happy bike to work week!

I walk. It would take me longer to bike and honour the stop signs. So, I quiz fellow staffers — Karianne, Jodi, Akua, Barry, Jeremy, Theresa, Monica and Calvin — for bike to work dos and don’ts for a safe and fun commute:

Bike to work dos

Be assertive. You’re a vehicle when you ride a bike. Take the lane. And stay at least one metre away from all parked cars to avoid being doored.

Be seen, be heard. Wear reflective clothes or tape and many lights at night; use a bell to make your intentions known.

Clean your chain. A dirty chain leads to wear and tear on the gears. A clean chain equals a smooth and enjoyable ride.

Double (or triple) your travel time. Do you ride with precious cargo? Kids are heavy. And it’s fun for them if they can get out and explore along the way!

(Tip: Use an old toothbrush and a dollop of nontoxic dish soap to remove chain gunk. Then, oil it once it’s clean.)

Ergonomics. Most bike shops can help fit your bike properly. Chances are your seat is too low. Get the biggest bang for your effort when you can extend your leg fully.

Keep your head up. Pay attention to what’s going on around you. Make eye contact with drivers, pedestrians and other cyclists.

Ride in a straight line. It’s safer and more predictable for drivers — makes it easier for them to see you. Being squeezed against parked cars? Slow down and look for heads in parked car driver’s seats. And consider switching your route to avoid contentious spots.

Ride in the rain! It always turns out better than you think. Invest in breathable rain gear.

Signal. Hand signals show intent, left and right turns, slowdowns and obstacles. Other riders and motorists will thank you.

Sing. It’s a great breathing exercise! People will hear you coming, and it’s fun! I guarantee you’ll be in a good mood when you arrive at work.

Stretch. Show some love to your quads and iliotibial bands if you ride daily.

Take your time. Enjoy the ride — it’s not a race! Hauling kids? Choose a route that will be interesting for them and make it an experience they’ll enjoy.

Use mirrors. Look for faces in car side-mirrors, or peek inside parked or stopped cars to see if they’re occupied as you approach. It will give you the time to decide whether you need to slow down, go around or stop and avoid getting doored.

Bike to work don’ts

Don’t give cyclists a bad name. Bombing through red lights and stop signs is not cool. It creates more friction between cyclist and drivers, says everyone. Blowing a red light or stop sign is behaving like a bad driver.

Don’t make it about getting from A to B. Biking should be less stressful than driving in rush-hour traffic, or standing on a crammed, hot bus.

Don’t ride on the sidewalk. It’s against the law.

Don’t take the same route you drive. Choose a cycling route that’s safe, stress-free and scenic (even if it’s longer). You’ll avoid getting to your destination with your heart in your throat and white knuckles.

Don’t use strobe lights. Fun at night clubs but annoying for other cyclists and motorists because they can be blinding.

Don’t wear black. Dark colours are hard to see, especially at night and in the rain.

And for motorists, here’s how NOT to door a cyclist:

Please check your mirror, then look over your shoulder before you open the door — especially if you’ve parked on a street with a bike lane.

What’s your bike to work tip?

Lindsay Coulter, a fellow Queen of Green

June 4, 2014 0 comment

•-Feature Health & Well-being

How to Start a Food Circle

written by Lindsay Coulter

Everyone could benefit from a food circle sometime. Maybe you already have?

It’s a great recipe to help a family member, co-worker or neighbour, the best baby shower gift ever and a kindness for someone going through chemo or dealing with loss.

How do I know?

I’m not great at asking for help. But I did when my son was born. I scheduled family, friends and neighbours to drop off a meal a day. It was amazing.

Food circle benefits:

Nutritious, healthy meals cooked with love
No pressure to shop or cook
No expectations to visit or play host
A chance to try new things

Here’s how I’ve set up food circles for new-parent friends — there’s no “right” way:

Step one: Ask first! Does s/he want one? Are there dietary restrictions?

Step two: Collect food givers’ email addresses, phone numbers and/or Twitter handles — maybe post a sign-up sheet at your workplace or organize the circle in-person at a baby shower.

Step three: Make a calendar — shareable or one you manage as “food circle co-ordinator.” Check out Meal Train!

Step four: Suggest volunteers prepare dishes that freeze and thaw easily, like chili (vegetarian or meat) or a quiche or frittata made with eggs from happy chickens! I received at least three different vegetarian lasagnas while I was in “newborn baby survival mode”. Washed, chopped and ready-to-eat fresh fruit and veggies were a welcome treat, too. Pack food in reusable containers like pickle jars, yogurt containers, etc.

Someone with freezer space who lives near the recipient can volunteer to be the drop-off depot. Or people can make their own deliveries — just confirm the appropriate day and time for the recipient.

Food circle co-ordinator responsibilities

Schedule food drop-offs. Does the recipient prefer daily or weekly? (For my new parent friends, I had people drop off big portion meals every few days.)
Co-ordinate or make meal suggestions so the recipient isn’t eating lasagna for three weeks.
Thank participants!
Check in with recipients to make sure they have what they need.

Will you start a food circle for someone in need? Or share your tips if you’ve already done one!

Lindsay Coulter, a fellow Queen of Green

May 27, 2014 0 comment

•-Feature Health & Well-being

Four Things to do on a Sunny Day

written by Lindsay Coulter

The sun is out! Don’t waste it.

Here are four things sunshine can do for you — free of charge:

Whiten laundry

Sunshine is great for drying clothes and linens and getting rid of dust mites — and nothing smells as fresh as sun-dried sheets! But the sun is also great at bleaching. It works best when fabrics are wet. It can even take stains out of cloth diapers — just spot treat them with lemon juice while they’re still damp.

Clean pillows and comforters

Switched to wool eco-pillows? Never put them in your washing machine! Instead — air them (and your wool comforter) in direct sunlight.

On the other hand, never put natural rubber pillows in direct sunlight. Instead, follow manufacturers’ instructions — usually wash in cold water and hang to dry.

To eliminate odors from natural rubber AND wool pillows, sprinkle with baking soda before airing.

Bring out the butterflies

Sunny days are best for butterfly watching! Did you know butterflies are active from about 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.?Learn how to lure them to your yard or garden, then use a butterfly identification guide to find out who came to visit.

Provide Vitamin D

Canadians don’t get enough Vitamin D, which can make a substantial difference in cancer prevention and survival. Good news: There are plenty of days left for our 30-minutes-outside-for-30-days challenge! Check off activities like flying a kite, smelling flowers or getting dirty with our daily tips series.

What has the sun done for you lately?

Comment on this blog to win a David Suzuki T-shirt—100 per cent organic cotton and made in Canada!

Lindsay Coulter, a fellow Queen of Green

May 19, 2014 0 comment

•-Feature Health & Well-being

Get happy, get outside

written by Lindsay Coulter

Have you let deadlines, back-to-back meetings, illness, or injury keep you away from nature? (Credit: Brendon Purdy Photography)

Join me for our annual 30×30 Nature Challenge! I once went 11 days straight without going outside. The reason: we named him Wyn. After four days of pre-labour (who knew that has humanely possible, I mean humanly possible?), hours of active labour in my birth tub (don’t worry it wasphthalate-free and I bought it second-hand on Craig’s List), and stair climbing (among other midwifery/doula tricks to try to “spin him”) — our son was delivered in hospital by emergency C-section. Three nights in hospital later — cringing at disposable diapers and pads and yellow baby shampoo — we went home. My recovery took forever. I couldn’t walk. So I didn’t. For 11 days.

It wasn’t Wyn’s fault I became cranky, irritable, sad, overwhelmed and oh so tired.

(Well… maybe the tired part. Nursing every two hours is not like studying all night for a zoology final. But it’s worth it!) Advice from my midwives and doula:

Tip 1: Send the baby out! Just because I couldn’t walk didn’t mean my son shouldn’t get some Vitamin “N” and fresh air. A good friend took Wyn in the carrier for his first walk outside! Dad did walks, too.

Tip 2: Walk in the yard I put him in the stroller and did a 30 metre round-trip lap in our yard. Something’s better than nothing!

Tip 3: Walk down the block Talk about small steps! I shuffled slowly down a block, turned around and shuffled home. But getting outside did its magic. I felt like a new person! And I got happy. (So did Wyn.)

Is something stopping you from getting out into nature when you need it most — deadlines, back-to-back meetings, illness, or injury? Don’t undervalue your need to see the sky, smell the rain, feel the sun, etc. Find a way. Get happier with me. Join the 30×30 Nature Challenge! Get into nature for 30 minutes for 30 days and you’ll be happily hooked.

Sincerely, Lindsay Coulter, a fellow Queen of Green

May 7, 2014 0 comment

•-Feature

Three planet-saving myths debunked

written by Lindsay Coulter

There is more than one way to save a planet.

It’s Earth Month. Time to blow your mind and debunk a few myths about planet saving!

Myth #1: You need to be an expert
Fact: Anyone can take the lead or be an inspiration. Was it Dr. Nedd who joked, “Feel helpless, complain a lot, you can only make a difference if you have a master’s in (fill in the blank)”?

There is no M.Sc. or PhD. in planet saving. (I suggest you simply turn off the TV.)

People don’t need to do exactly the same thing to make a difference. The change we need in the world is not linear. Make it your own, make it better!

Fact: Colin Beavan of No Impact Manonce said “Don’t waste your time checking me. Checking me is a waste of energy. The question is, moment by moment, how can you help? Time is short. Life is short. Don’t waste it in judgment. Judgment is not important. Judgment is only thinking. What’s important is that this world is suffering. So what can you do?”

Myth #3: Feel guilty because you’re not doing enough
Fact: Instead Margaret Wheatley asks “Who do we choose to be for this world?” and “When have you been fearless?” Someone has to be the first one on the dance floor (despite your Elaine Benes-style moves) —- why shouldn’t it be you?

Sincerely,
Lindsay Coulter, a fellow Queen of Green

April 28, 2014 0 comment

•-Feature Health & Well-being Spirituality

How to Create a Butterfly Garden

written by Lindsay Coulter

All gardens are not created equal. Just ask any butterfly.

Creation and restoration of butterfly habitat offsets those destroyed by development, roadside mowing or wetland drainage. (Gardening pesticide-free helps, too.)

Whether you have a small plot in the big city or a few acres, transform your yard into a butterfly garden!

What you’ll need to attract butterflies
Choose native flowers and shrubs. Butterflies need nectar plants for food and host plants to lay their eggs. Check out this index of larval food plants (listed alphabetically)!

Tiger swallowtails choose nectar plants like lilacs or bee balm; nearby willow, alder, or apple trees can host larva
Painted ladies choose nectar plants like aster, cosmos or zinnia; host plants include thistle, mallow or hollyhock
Monarchs choose nectar plants like, black-eyed Susan, Canada goldenrod, wild bergamot and common yarrow; host plants include the milkweed family. (There are four most common species of milkweed in Canada — swamp (aka rose) , poke, butterfly (aka orange), showy and common. Choose the species that is native to your area.)

Did you know?

Sunny days are best for butterfly watching
Some individual butterflies live only a week, but the flight season for a species may be more than a month — and the migrating monarch “super generation”may live for several months
In B.C., butterfly season runs from March through October
Females are slightly larger than males — because she carries the eggs!
Butterflies and hummingbirds share many nectar flowers, so efforts to lure one may have the bonus of attracting both

How to attract hummingbirds
Is your yard or garden red enough? Hummingbirds are guided by their eyes! And many red-coloured flowers provide good sources of nectar.

Try perennials like red or purple hollyhock, pink or red coral bells, bee balm, summer phlox or sage. Annuals that attract hummingbirds include begonias, cosmos, geranium and petunias. And don’t forget shrubs and vines like hibiscus, honeysuckle and flowering currant. These plants prefer full sun exposure with shelter from strong winds.

Don’t see much action the first season? Enjoy the flowers and wait a year.

How will you create habitat for butterflies or hummingbirds where you live?

Sincerely,
Lindsay Coulter, a fellow Queen of Green

April 9, 2014 0 comment

•-Feature

How to make soap part two

written by Lindsay Coulter

Did you know that exfoliants — poppy seeds, oats or herbs — scrub skin to release debris and remove dead skin cells?

Will you make soap in March with me?

Week 1: Learn about lye, saponification and cold-process
Week 2: Supplies and ingredients (oils, fats and essential oils)
Week 3: The method, step-by-step
Week 4: My favourite recipes
Week 5: Troubleshooting and your questions answered!

Let’s dive into the ingredients and equipment you’ll need to make your own soap!

Ingredients:

Oils and fats (listed below)

Lye (purchase at soap-making store, online or at your local hardware store)

Water (tap is usually fine but distilled is safest)

Essential oils (optional)

Additives (optional): honey or exfoliants (listed below)

Colorants (optional): cinnamon, turmeric, beet powder or cloves

Supplies:

Apron, rubber gloves, eye protection (goggles or glasses)

Stainless steel pot (large), stainless steel bowls (small and medium)

Heat-resistant glass container

Digital thermometer (18-105 C)

Digital scale (metric)

Hand blender/emersion stick blender

Whisk, silicone spatula(s)

Wooden soap block, molds or baking pans

Parchment paper, towel, scissors, tape, steel cutting blade or knife

Cooling racks

Coffee grinder (optional)

Ice cubes (for an ice bath to cool lye and water or the fats and oils)

Don’t use:

Any bowls, pots or pans made from Teflon, plastic, aluminum, tin or cast iron — lye will corrode these

Wooden spoons or spatulas — also will get eaten by lye or splinter

Oils and fats

Apricot kernel oil

Moisturizes and conditions

Avocado oil

Contains vitamins A, E and D

Heals and moisturizes (great for babies!)

Beeswax

Makes bars hard and long-lasting

Canola oil

Moisturizes

Don’t use more than 50 per cent

Note: you can source organic, GMO-free

Castor oil

Attracts and holds moisture

Makes bars hard

Cocoa butter

Moisturizers

Makes bars hard

Coconut oil

• Good lather
• Makes bars hard
• Don’t use more than 20 to 30 per cent

Grapeseed oil

• Light-weight, non-greasy

Jojoba oil

• Conditions and is great for sensitive or oily skin
• Creates a stable lather
• Use one to two ounces per pound of oils

Mango butter

• Moisturizes
• Don’t use more than 15 per cent

Olive oil

• Skin softener (plus easy to find and affordable)

Safflower oil

• Unsaturate, so use it with coconut oil

Shea butter

• From karite nut trees that grow in regions of West and Central Africa
• High in “unsaponifiables”, i.e., retains original makeup (my favourite ingredient—soap feels like lotion)
• Great for sensitive skin (nourishes all types)
• Don’t use more than 20 per cent (you’ll probably use less because it’s expensive!)

Sunflower oil

• Contains vitamin E (a preservative to combat rancidity)
• Use no more than 15 to 20 per cent

Sweet almond oil

• Moisturizes and conditions skin
• Creates a stable lather

Bar soap exfoliants: from “tickly to scratchy”

Exfoliants scrub skin to release debris and remove dead cells. Don’t like texture in soap? No problem. They’re optional.

Ground herbs and flowers like chamomile or calendula

Ground almond meal

Organic rolled oats

Ground, dried orange or lemon peel

Cornmeal

Poppy seeds

Other fun additives: honey (hydrates and soothes), white or green clay (draws out dirt, toxins and sebum).

Essential oils

Pure essential oils are derived from plants and they’re volatile! That means they evaporate quickly when exposed to air. Add one type or blend them to create a desired scent without toxic synthetic fragrances. (More to come…)

Stick with me and I’ll walk you through the step-by-step method next week!

Enter to win a deluxe soap making kit donated by Voyageur Soap & Candle Company Ltd. ($79.95 value)!

Sincerely,
Lindsay Coulter, a fellow Queen of Green

How to make soap part one

March 24, 2014 0 comment

•-Feature Health & Well-being

How to make soap, part one

written by Lindsay Coulter

I make soap. You can, too.

Learn new terms like sodium hydroxide (lye),saponification, cold-process and curing —- and come out smelling like a rose!

Over the past few years I’ve made 35 batches of soap. Here’s why you might try:

You like DIY projects and want to learn another

You hate DIY projects but want to learn about ingredients in store-bought soap

You like cooking and baking, i.e., experimenting with endless combinations of oils, fats and additives like oats, orange peel, honey, clay and essential oils

You hate scouring store-bought soap ingredient lists to avoid toxic chemicals like PEGs and parfum (fragrance)

You’re scared of lye (also found in foods like bagels and olives)

You like chemistry

To make soap, you need an acid and a base to react with one another and neutralize into a salt—that’s saponification. Soap is a salt.

The cold-process method uses lye as a base, fats and oils for acid, water and reaction heat only (no external heat). Ask your Grandma. She probably used animal-based fats like lard or tallow to make soap! I’ll teach you how to make all-vegetable soaps — without palm oil.

Bottom of Form

Make soap in March

My blogs this month break down soap-making for beginners:

Week 1: Some background (buy or borrow a book)
Week 2: Supplies and ingredients (oils, fats and essential oils)
Week 3: The method, step-by-step
Week 4: My favourite recipes
Week 5: Troubleshooting and your questions answered!

Vegetable oils have different properties and require different amounts of lye. One type of oil might lather well but be drying. Another may produce a weak lather but create a hard bar. A third oil might clean well but make a soft bar. That’s why I like to use a combination of five to twelve different fats and oils per recipe.

What can you do this week?

Add these fats and oils to your grocery list: coconut oil, olive oil (not pomace), grapeseed oil, sunflower oil, canola oil, castor oil and butters like shea, mango or cocoa.

And enter to win a deluxe soap-making kit donated by Voyageur Soap & Candle Company Ltd. ($79.95 value) which contains:

A four-pound wooden soap mold

Pre-measured soap kit and essential oil

Natural powdered colourant

Steel cutting blade

Thermometer

Instruction booklets

Sincerely,
Lindsay Coulter, a fellow Queen of Green

March 12, 2014 0 comment