My Ultra Cool Lunchbox: A lesson on impulse buys

A few of you commented on my pretty stainless steel lunchbox and were wondering where I got it and what the company was. Really, I didn't elaborate much because if I could have a 'do over' in the lunch box department (geez, how weird is that) I totally would. But, in the sense of honesty and spreading the lunchbox WORD, let me clarify :)


First off, WHY did I choose a stainless steel lunchbox instead of plastic or glass? 


We all know that plastic is terrible. It's made from petroleum, lasts forever, breaks down into tiny 'nurdles' which are eaten by fish and then us, leaches toxic chemicals in our food and causes a crap-ton of pollution. I wouldn't even say that plastic containers are convenient; in that they NEVER get rid of the food smell (ick), are gross to clean and I never heat my food in plastic. The only aspect of plastic that is nice is it's lightweight.


Glass would be a wonderful alternative if it came in stackable and attached lunchbox forms. We use a lot of anchor glass containers for food storage (fridge and freezer) and when I have extra foods I bring for lunch. They require less energy to create, are made from renewable and are a completely recyclable resource. Plus you can heat your food in them. The downside- they may break, and I haven't found attachable 'lunchbox' forms yet.

So- stainless steel it is. You should know that stainless steel does require quite a bit of energy to mine and form. Depending on where and who, the steel could have been mined in a destructive manner (think razing mountains). So, in order to get your environmental benefit from this lunchbox, you need to use it.


Alright, down to the nitty gritty. This is where I wish I had done some research before my impulse-buy at P'lovers. My lunchbox is a Zebra. I LOVE the convenience of having something that holds my lunch and is ONE unit with a handle. It's SO easy to clean and displays my 'Plastic Bags Blow' sticker very well.


However. I *wish* I would have bought a different lunch tin. Therefore I will tell YOU about my wish list lunchbox (sigh).


Life Without Plastic. The company is Canadian and they do quite a bit of research on all the products they carry. They carry a variety of options and there are some pretty similar lunchbox containers to mine. They also carry this AWESOME wool insulated bag that Beth Terry from Fake Plastic Fish reviewed glowingly. Seriously, how cool would that be? 


My favourite by far, the 'To-Go Ware 2-tier Tiffin'. If you're in the states, you could order directly from the To-Go Ware company. 


Why it is so beautiful:


- It's stackable with a handle, made from high grade stainless steel.
- BEST: each container can function on it's own! (Currently my lunchbox only shuts with BOTH containers attached. I need an elastic to only bring one section). Seriously, you have no idea how convenient it would be to have the option to bring only one.
- It has a plate and little sauce-nut-extras tins and is dishwasher safe (if we had one that would be cool... currently we have 'Dishwasher Andrew').
- According to the To-Go Ware website, the top section can hold liquids!! (Currently, mine leaks all over the place...).
-Also according to the To-Go Ware website, these tins are made in Mumbai India, is certified ISO for human rights and environmental protection.


Lessons learned from using a stainless steel lunchbox:

• Consider whether you could actually use each section separately. You're not always going to have two different foods to bring for lunch.
• Stainless steel doesn't keep things hot or cold, BUT having a cover would help.
• If there isn't a plastic-rubber seal around the edges, really check the tightness of the closure. If you like liquidy things, find something with a really tight seal.

The biggest lesson: you can't reheat steel in the microwave... so you'll need to remember to bring a bowl or plate as well. Although this 'may' seem like an extra step, I actually really like eating my lunch out of a bowl from home. If I'm lazy, I'll just bring my reheatable stuff in my glass anchor containers.


I heart my lunchbox, and have used it consistently over the past year. Once you get through the 'new habit' stage it's just as convenient as gross icky plastic.


There you go! I hope that was helpful and that you'll take the leap into the ridiculously awesome world of stainless steel lunchboxes. :)


Happy Weekend! (upcoming: an update on my community yoga group!)


article and photos copyright of EcoYogini at ecoyogini.blogspot.com

Candles; Romantic VOC Enablers

Planning this 'eco' wedding has definitely come up against some challenges. Mainly the surprising fact that instead of 'the customer is right', once you announce that you are a 'bride to be' vendors automatically treat you like a brainless twit. Trying to explain to a florist that I really don't care about colour, my priority is sustainable and local while she repeats 'come back when you have your colours and are organized' was an exercise in ujiai breathing... to say the least.


One area that I have zero flexibility is candles. Filling a space with run of the mill wax candles is not going to fly... What, you're studio-home-space is constantly graced with pretty candle-topped flames? Perhaps you should reconsider...


Paraffin based candles are an indoor air quality and environmental nightmare. Paraffin is actually a derivative of petroleum, a toxic waste product to be exact. Burning these oil babies can produce 'soot deposition', depositing black oil guck smoke remnants on the walls, outlets or... you may find them from blowing your nose. Yum.


Couple that with the ridiculous amount of synthetic scents filling our homes with chemicals and we have another reason for high levels of indoor chemical exposure.


Although American companies have agreed to remove lead from their wicks, others have not...Say if you bought your tea lights or candles from the dollar store. According to a recent study, burning one candle a week inside emits enough lead to raise your child's lead-blood levels above federally approved amounts! (Ecoholic, 2004). To check- cut the wick, strip the outer layer and rub against a piece of paper. A black mark means lead. 


So- what are our options?


1. Soy based candles. These are easily found at several stores, but be careful! Some cheaper candles are only made with a soy 'blend' meaning there is 'some' soy mixed in with the regular paraffin crap. I saw some at The Whicker Emporium for example.
Although soy candles are easily accessible and look pretty, we also need to consider how soy is harvested. The soy bean is second only to corn when it comes to monoculture. Over 90% of all soy beans are genetically modified to resist scary, agent orange derived pesticides (like RoundUp). The run-off from these chemicals makes a pretty chemical rainbow on our coastline... creating a growing 'dead zone' where fish and sea life cannot survive.


Since I try to avoid supporting the toxic big agriculture whenever possible, I've decided to steer clear of the soy candles.

photo source: Endangered Bee

2. Beeswax candles. These are more difficult to come by in regular stores. In Halifax there are a few local bee farmers who sell beautiful, buttery coloured beeswax candles at the market. You can also find them at Planet Organic (although the price jack-up is crazy).
Beeswax actually cleanses the air by releasing ions that cause dust particles to fall. Plus they generally have a beautiful natural smell (no synthetic scent needed!).
Same caution- make sure it's 100% beeswax and not a blend.


Unlike soy, buying beeswax candles (especially those locally made) actually supports our environment. If you haven't heard, honey bees are actually in danger, their numbers decreasing significantly over the past years. Named Colony Collapse Disorder occurs when workers from a beehive quickly disappear. Northern Ireland reported a disappearance greater than 50%. 


If you think this sounds a bit trivial, you're missing the big picture. Bees are an essential part of flower and plant pollination... um, procreation. Without bees, plant species would decrease, affecting the animals and humans who eat them... and so on. Among other postulated reasons, pesticides, climate change and GMO's have been linked. 


Honey beekeepers help keep hives healthy, with 'domesticated' or 'farmed' hives reporting significantly less losses. This is one case where buying an 'animal' (or insect to be precise) by-product actually supports the creature.


My hope is to collect enough small votives for our wedding to have nice, warm butter-y coloured beeswax supported flames providing a subtle, natural scent and light. Now... just to find some locally made that don't cost a fortune...


Blessings!


(ps- if you're reading this and you remember a honey beekeeper blog who had a beautifully moving video posted on her site a few months back- please post the link- I LOVED it).


article copyright of EcoYogini at ecoyogini.blogspot.com

How To Clean a Yoga Studio while Helping the Planet

As the Sundays go by, my energy exchange becomes more a part of the norm. I have a certain 'flow' that seems to be progressing. I have realized that my goal in cleaning a ginormous studio, with two changing rooms, a bathroom, two massage therapy rooms, a reception area and a porch entry area plus three windows (inside and out) in one hour was.... crazy. On average it takes 2 to 2 and a half hours to clean.


I've been learning a lot about myself, how others view me and my practice during this time. There's nothing like being the 'cleaning lady' to humble the soul. Everyone at the studio is so lovely, but after spending five years of being informed how much my time is worth... I have to deconstruct my 'story' of what this work entails. It has been an interesting journey.


What I have learned is how to clean a yoga studio with environmentally friendly products.... economically! If you own a studio, or teach at one, this is an area where you can significantly impact the exposure of chemicals to your students and the environmental impact your studio is having on our planet. 


Each time traditional, toxic-filled chemicals are used to clean the studio floors, bathrooms, windows and surfaces, you are damaging an already fragile, CLOSED, water system. A water cycle that every single living thing, from plants to us humans, depend upon to survive. Each, pristine white, chemically bleached paper towel represents toxic sludge being dumped into rivers from the factories and thousands of precious virgin forest cut to clean your counter. We can all make some small changes that will have such significant impact- just a tiny voice, a small suggestion and we can make a difference, off the mat.


Floor Cleaning Alternatives:
Instead of using expensive cleaners (especially expensive 'eco' brands) why not use vinegar and water? Use one-part vinegar to four parts warm water with a bunch of tea tree oil and your essential oil of choice in a large pail. The tea tree oil will help kill bacteria and germs while the vinegar's acidity melts away dirt and grime WITHOUT leaving a sticky residue.
In the studio I clean, I need two buckets for the entire place. Simply buying a litre of no name vinegar results in huge monetary savings.


Instead of using a wasteful swiffer-duster, use a broom. Especially for those studios where the snow gracefully falls, brooms make way more sense for dirt, slush and salt bits that get tracked inside.


Surface Cleaning Alternatives:
Mirrors, faucets and windows:
Here's where vinegar and water beats brand-cleaners hands down. Forget the environmental and health impact of inhaling the chemical soup mist, I am constantly amazed at how well vinegar actually leaves a streak-less shine. Every single time.
Just get an old spray bottle, one part (or half if you like) vinegar, three parts water and add a few drops of essential oil and tea tree oil (for bacteria).


Hardware: 
Instead of buying paper towel that's been bleached with harmful chemicals (that you're just going to dirty anyway!) and has resulted in countless cut trees...
buy paper towel made from post consumer recycled paper.


Sinks, toilets, counters etc:
Using vinegar and water will work here as well. However, if you're concerned about excessive amounts of bacteria, purchase reliable eco-brands such as Seventh Generation, BioVert (for those Canadians) or Ecover. As you'll be saving money from using vinegar for the floors and shiny surfaces, this spray bottle will LAST.


Hardware:
Instead of trying to scrub a sink with paper towel, use a cloth rag that will get clean the dirt much better, dust and is reusable. Of course a toilet bowl scrub is always necessary.


Extras: 

• Instead of offering paper cups for students to fill up their water, encourage them to use their water bottles (via signage).
• Have compost and recycling bins in the studio (especially in Halifax). It's possible to have them tastefully displayed, and trust me, proper small compost bins do not smell.
• Instead of paper at sinks, offer a towel and wash in cold water. Or offer postconsumer recycled paper.
• Use toilet paper made from post consumer recycled paper. You can buy some that isn't scratchy at all. The hospital in Lower Sackville has recycled tp...
• Bring plants into the studio to help breathe in the toxins offgassing from furniture and laminate flooring.
• Put up the awesome 'How to Recycle Your Mat' poster that EcoYogini has created... :) 

Hope this gave you some ideas, or motivated you to perhaps make a tiny suggestion at your studio. Yoga is about our connection with each other and our Earth. When we realize how simple and easy these changes can be, we will create a new culture. Of respect and connection.

Blessings!

article copyright of EcoYogini at ecoyogini.blogspot.com

BYOContainer without getting funky looks

Fridays... they happen to be special in that I buy my lunch at a local grocery store. I usually only schedule a few clients on Fridays so I can catch up with paperwork... and risk walking to Pete's Frootique for some SALAD.


Not just ANY salad, but a 500 zillion ingredient option, build your own salad!


My issue, which I have emailed them about (and received non-commital answers), was that they packaged these salads (two sizes, large and small) in non-recyclable or compostable containers. Sure the containers are made with post-consumer recycled content, but the waxy coating isn't recyclable- so into the landfill it goes.


Trying to trouble shoot around this, I figured bringing my own bowl wouldn't be well accepted... ('who IS that weirdo treehugger anyway??'). I realized that the best solution would be to bring my stainless steel lunch container, about the size of the salad and see what they said.


It took about a month to muster the nerve. You see, I'm a pretty awkward person, especially when it comes to dealing with customer service people. I had these visions of having to explain myself, strange looks, flat out 'no's, being embarrassed etc etc.


Finally, one morning I just took a deep breath, bundled up against the snow, and marched over to Pete's, trusty container in hand-mitten.


I fretted the entire time I was in line, while the guy was filling up his mixing bowl with my ingredients and then: 
'Can I ask you a weird favour?' (geez I'm so awkward)
'yesss.....?' (cautious look)
'Could you put the salad in here' (shoves the container to the dude)
'Sure.' 


Sure?? Wow, that was anti-climatic. Thank goodness! The salad fit completely and he even complimented my BYOBag: Plastic Bags Blow, sticker. YES. I am COOL! Now I only need to worry about the cashier... Who didn't even blink when I opened the lid and said: 'See, it's a small salad'.


Today was my fourth or fifth time doing this without anyone even giving me a weird look! Seriously a fantastic experience. Today one of the cashiers said they were thinking of providing a discount for people who brought their own containers. YES. I am emailing Pete's tonight.


My next step is to bring my own take out container when we go to certain restaurants that I usually take the food home. I'm not as sure how that will go... but we'll see.


It's all about taking a step away from the disposable lifestyle. A fantastic site is: TakeOut Without Campaign: fill your stomachs, not the landfills. (love that!). A wonderful organization supporting those who wish to rethink how they live their lives. Every small change in habit will eventually lead to beautiful things. 


Just as we move in our yoga practice towards healing our bodies and minds, so we can practice in stages to change how we treat our Planet. 


Happy Weekend!


article and photographs copyright of EcoYogini at ecoyogini.blogspot.com

Toxic Super Bubbles; Growing our Air with House Plants

So many of us Canadians spend a lot of time indoors during the winter months. With everything sealed up to prevent heat loss, we get a super bubble environment. A super bubble that is usually 100 (and sometimes 1000) times more toxic than the air we breathe outside (Ecoholic Home, 2009). Seriously. Our houses are potentially a super smog bubble.


We have chatted about ways to decrease our indoor toxic exposure by revamping our greening supplies and I have actually just progressed to phasing in water and vinegar (and tea tree and lavender oil) for regular bathroom sink, toilet and counter cleaning.


Another option that doesn't involve completely renovating, ripping out carpets (although if this is an option- DO IT, carpets have a TON of gross crap in them that get spewed up with each vacuum), repainting.... would be house plants.


I will admit that I have killed cacti... by UNDER watering them. Yep, I dehydrated a water-resistent plant. I have slowly improved in my plant keeping skills, but am admittedly a bit of a spaz when it comes to growing stuff. However, if I can grow stuff anyone can.


The trick, I have discovered, is to grow to your light capacity. Andrew and I had houseplants every place we have lived. While in BC we ONLY ever lived in basement apartments, one with the tiny basement windows. I had five plants in that apartment, all low light and they all lived. My favourite- the ZZ plant (which you sometimes see in malls, they kinda look fake...). 


In our apartment here we have a bit more success with 14 plants (wow!), one of which is definitely not happy (the xmas cactus....) and two that are pot bound. Since I'm too lazy though, they remain to be repotted.


House plants are wonderful at clarifying the air, taking in toxins and pooping out nice clean oxygen (ok, maybe not pooing, but ya know..). 


Different plants will filter different chemicals and according to "Plants for your Health" the three most common chemicals found in homes are:


Trichloroethylene: effects similar to alcohol poisoning; headache, dizziness with long term damage to the liver and kidneys. Found in varnishes, lacquers adhesives (like in particle board), dry cleaning and paints.
plants that can help: Peace Lily, marginata, gerbera daisies.


Benzene: can cause drowsiness, dizziness, vomiting and unconsciousness. Has a pleasant smell which is why it used to be in aftershave... (ick!). Found in detergents, synthetic fibres, plastics, tobacco smoke, inks, oils.
plants that can help: English Ivy, Chrysanthemums, peace lily


Formaldehyde: Can cause headaches, watery eyes and difficulty breathing. Is classified as a possible human carcinogen by the EPA. Found in clothes, plywood, carpet, particle board, paper goods, furniture...
plants that can help: Spider plant, golden pathos, philodendron, corn plant, bamboo palm...


I highly recommend checking out the article, there are more specifics on what plants help with which item (furniture vs oil) and am very interested in finding this "How to grow fresh air" book.


Another essential reason for surrounding yourself with plants is to strengthen the connection between us and nature. As many of us live in the city or a town, we often spend our entire days surrounded by concrete and minimal plants. Even Halifax, with many trees, definitely pales in comparison to growing up in rural Nova Scotia. 


Having plants reminds us that we SHOULD remain connected to our Planet, as we are a part of the Sacred Balance. We cannot pretend to be separate and we cannot forget that our actions have direct consequences on our health. 


I love mindfully watering our plants and meditating on them during yoga practice. There is nothing more peaceful than surrounding yourself with LIFE during your practice. I find studios that are lacking in plants barren and sterile. No matter the colour scheme, it is all artificial and contrived until you add plants. 


Have a new studio, or have recently painted (low or no VOC paint I hope!)? Add plants to help decrease the benzene and formaldehyde your yogi-nis are breathing in during their practice. No one goes to yoga in order to inhale carcinogens....




article and photographs copyright of EcoYogini at ecoyogini.blogspot.com 

The Cycle; Yoga Off the Mat

After five years of practicing yoga, I have finally begun to try to integrate beyond the asana. Oh I consider being an ecoholic to be inextricable from Yoga, ahimsa, oneness etc, but I have always been a 'crap, should have BREATHED during that situation' type person.

driveway to my parent's cottage... where we stayed this weekend

This weekend sure tested my ability to centre, to ground. My family is close, my extended family (aunts and uncles, tantes et oncles), are extremely important and have been a part of my life since I can remember. I have come to understand that not all families are this way, Andrew's family isn't. Although I have lost several family members to cancer (and other reasons), I have only said 'goodbye' once... when I was 15 years old. The experience haunted me for years, and I don't think I quite grasped it then.


This weekend, Andrew and I made an emergency three hour drive 'home' to visit my Uncle who is dying of cancer.


Strangely, I thought that because he was the one Uncle that I have had the least amount of contact with, that it would be easier. I was very wrong. He was diagnosed a few months ago, during a seemingly inconsequential operation. No treatment was recommended... He is in his home, recognized me and we actually had a lucid conversation. We'll be making another trip very soon, it was apparent. He looked so much like my father... 


I really can't write more about the visit, it was personal and I want this experience to remain sacred... it still feels raw.


Throughout the visit and afterwards I breathed. I practiced grounding my Self, holding on to that connection I was there to make. Despite feeling like a weird empty husk today, I know that my family, Andrew and what I have learned through yoga helped.


I also know that yoga has opened up those closely shut doors on my emotion that have kept me disconnected. Once we recognize our interconnectivity, to each other and our planet, it becomes harder to separate the 'me' from 'us'. As a result, each person, each exchange FEELS so much more. If it is a part of 'me', then I feel it as US.

Me and BACON, my brother's Giant Breed Saint Bernard on the lake

It's important that as I stumble through this life, that I cultivate healing to help with this. At the same time, I do believe that although many might deem as 'drama' I see this emotional sensitivity as Right.




On this day of Love and Family, I wish you all, EcoYogi-ni's, Light and Connection.


article and photograph copyright of EcoYogini at ecoyogini.blogspot.com

Making Bread Sans Electrical Mixing Devices

Three years ago, if someone would have told me I would be making bread and jam "from scratch" I would have laughed and probably have said "yeah f*@-ing right" (except if it was my mom, dad or grandparents... no swearing in front of them!). 


Well holy poop, Andrew and I did both those things!


First of all, why make my own bread when I can buy some uber cheap at the grocery store? You know, the kind of bread that lasts for two weeks in our fridge and comes wrapped in plastic? Unfortunately their longevity is due to hidden ingredients such as preservatives (such as calcium propionate which is toxic to mould). Like other huge factory made products, these breads were created using a lot of energy (i.e. carbon) and PLASTIC.


Really though, I love home made bread, and my favourite happens to be Grand-mère's recipe. Sadly, she hasn't baked in the past decade and stories of her bread have actually taken on epic and legendary tones at family meals now.


Since both Andrew and I are slightly competitive (ok, Andrew is REALLY competitive) and everyone has always told us how HARD it is to make bread, we thought we'd rise to the challenge. (Andrew being a standmixer... we had to do this on the floor for leverage)


Our first attempt was on a Sunday as making bread takes TIME (don't even start about the 5 minute artisan stuff, I tried that twice and they both bombed terribly). Since Andrew got a food scale and by-weight baking book for Christmas, we were being EXACT on timing and ingredients. 


So exact, that when the recipe called for the dough to be put in the stand-mixer for 10 minutes... we both took turns stirring the dough in a stand-mixer-type motion. Seriously. We were stand-mixers. It was invigorating. (fancy schmancy folding technique as opposed to kneading...)


Five hours later we had bread that was still mushy in the middle. Being all crafty, I remembered that lots of other eco-bakers make home made croutons out of their stale bread. Quick olive oil, thyme, garlic and pepper and the mushy bread failure transformed into YUMMY crunchy croutons! 


The following Sunday I declared the by-weight baking book to be lame. I've always been much more of a fan of community and family recipes, and I wanted grand-mère's bread! (imagine me stomping my foot, that was practically the scene!).


After a quick phone call to my mom and convincing Andrew that grandmère never would have had a stand-mixer and thus we did not in fact have to pretend to be one, we actually made TWO loaves. Which turned out perfectly and... taste like grandmère bread!!! YES! (Croutons!!)


Seriously, I feel super crafty and love having yummy homemade bread. In order to make it worth the time it takes, we'll be freezing a few loaves (using old bread bags that I've saved). While it rises and does it's yeasty thing, I'll be able to practice yoga, read or chill out. I've even read an article about the meditative qualities of kneading bread... (lol, stirring a ball of dough like man-people isn't very meditative...).  (Successful loaves! Mmmm)


The next step, making whole wheat or 'crunchier' bread.


For those who don't mind trying white bread, here's the recipe!


Grand-Mère (Evelyn's) White Bread
1 cup of water
1 and a half tablespoon of dry yeast
1 tablespoon of sugar
1 and a half teaspoon of kosher salt
2 cups of warm water
2 tablespoons of shortening
6 to 7 cups of flour


Add 1 cup of lukewarm water and sugar to the yeast (or add instant yeast to the other dry ingredients and then add three cups of water) let stand for ten minutes.
Add 2 cups of water, shortening, salt and half the flour. 
Beat with a spoon until smooth
Add the rest of the flour gradually: mix thoroughly using just enough so that it doesn't stick to the sides of the bowl (6-7 cups)

When dough is mixed well, create a ball
Place in a greased bowl and cover

Let rise (in a warm place!) until it doubles in size.
Punch down and divide into 2 loaves, place in greased pans.
cover and let rise until double in size.

Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes. :)


Tahdah!


Do you have a favourite homemade bread?




article and photographs copyright of EcoYogini at ecoyogini.blogspot.com

How to Green your Beans... Yoga and Coffee

It seems fitting to begin this week with yet another coffee post. Tonight I'll be meeting with a local Anusara teacher to discuss ideas of a student centered-yoga group. We'll be meeting at a local coffee shop and my hope is to get a 'Yoga and Coffee' group going (Andrew shot down my 'Yoga Latté' idea...sigh). I'll keep you posted :)

We North Americans drink a LOT of coffee. Non-fair trade equals supporting slave and child labour, we could just as easily label those coffee beans 'blood beans'... Check out my post on ethics for more info. I've also mentioned how we use 23 BILLION cups a year, all to be thrown in the landfill. You think that little 'biodegradable' symbol on your cup means anything? Think again, most municipalities are not equipped to deal with 'compostable' coffee cups, so out to your neighbourhood garbage pile (aka landfill)  (Haligonians, read here for our own personal greenwashing- JustUs!).

Think your personal change won't make a difference? Read this little article over at the Onion, seriously, it's awesome.

So how do we green our coffee? (N.B. same ideas could apply to tea...)

My Coffee Arsenal....

Step One: Bring Your Own Mug (BYOM). And invest in a good one that will last a few years. Preferably stainless steel as it won't leach icky plastic and phtalates into your coffee and something you'll LOVE to carry around. Even though I had serious buyers remorse after spending 27$ on mine, it has lasted 5 years and despite dents and scratches, keeps my coffee hot the entire morning.
Tips: remember to wash out your mug the night before (I put mine in the 'to wash' dishes space)... rotten milk doesn't smell too great....

Step Two: Make your own coffee. This step actually has phases. What I've discovered is that coffee tastes are a personal preference. I like medium roasted, Cafe Femenino Peru (sadly not carried in Halifax anymore). You might like a darker or lighter roast.

2 a) buy fair trade organic coffee whenever possible. Although a few dollars more per pound, if you can spare two dollars per bag there is no other way. Non-fair trade coffee means slave labour, minimal women and child rights and overall abuse on entire societies and cultures. Just for your cup of jo.

2 b) buy a small coffee grinder, mine was under 20$. If the main reason you're not making your own coffee is because you think pre-ground tastes like crap... it's because you're right. Grinding your own fresh each morning takes 5 extra seconds, is fun and tastes a zillion times better.

2 c) Get a reusable coffee filter. Seriously made for us lazies in the world, reusable coffee filters are awesome. You just rinse them out like any screen-type dealy and the grinds that filter through are negligible. Unless you are the ultimate coffee bean snob, you won't notice.

2 d) Invest in a French Press. This was the final step for coffee making chez nous. The perfect solution for all you counter space deficient apartment dwellers. It takes a few extra steps (boil the water, making sure the French Press is actually cleaned the night before, sitting for exactly 4 minutes...), but the coffee tastes YUMMY.

Step Three: Whenever possible, ask for your coffee 'for here' in a mug. If I'm not on my way to work, this is usually what Andrew and I do. I see it this way; if I can spare 10 minutes to sit and enjoy each others company, then why add another throw-away cup to the pile? I'm gonna suck back the coffee in about that time anyway.

Step Four: customize your coffee at home so that you LIKE drinking coffee made at home. If you're anything like me, my ultimate coffee experience isn't coffee at all... but espresso drenched in chocolate. In order to replicate this I have come up with a system. Here are some of my favs:
- use honey instead of sugar. Local honey adds a whole other flavour, is better for you and tastes great!
- use fair trade organic dark brown sugar
- use fair trade organic chocolate (Haligonians, JustUs! carries a spicy chocolate powder- YUM).
- use chocolate milk (this is for emergencies only...)
- sprinkle in some cinnamon, nutmeg or other spice that you like.

Step Five: Start supporting small, local roasters. Let them know what you like about their company (i.e. selling fair trade organic, composting and recycling at their shops) and what you'd like to see more of (more aggressive BYOM campaigns, stop claiming that their cups are compostable, bringing back café femenino- ok those are mine... but you know what I mean). Simple, intelligent and rationally written emails can do the trick.

Step Six: Buy locally roasted, fair trade organic coffee beans in bulk. This one is our recent phases, for some reason I had this impression that although from the same company, the beans at the bulk section of our local organic grocery store were ick. I have no idea why. Recently, I bought a whole bunch, asked for a paper bag to put them in (had forgotten my cloth produce bag at home) and they now reside in a glass container. The paper bag is currently being used to hold our frozen blueberries.



How do you green your coffee?





article and photographs copyright of EcoYogini at ecoyogini.blogspot.com

EcoYogini the Frozen Sailor

I thought after my lofty "I am green because I walk to work" post the other week I should give you an update on how that said walking to work is going (and as it's Friday it's nice to have a shorter post!). 


I will be honest, the first three weeks I only walked to work on average about 3 of the 5 days. I felt like it was 'no big deal', I felt connected to my city and smug. Why wasn't everyone ELSE doing this?


This week was my first- walk to and from work every single day. My tune sure did change!


Although I'm no longer winded or getting side stitches (sad that they occurred in the first place, I know!), I am exhausted when I get home. Wouldn't you know that it has been COLD COLD COLD this week?? Of course the opportunity to walk to my work coincides with a cold Canadian winter and not the beautiful weather of summer. I thought I was prepared for the cold, with tights, knee high insulated boots, knee length winter jacket, scarf, mittens and a hat. HAH. 

snow at my parent's cottage (see the deer tracks?)

Then on Tuesday it was -30 Celcius (-22 Fahrenheit) with the windchill. If you have never experienced that kind of cold, it ISN'T something you want to expose your skin to for a forty minute walk. Thankfully the collar on my jacket was high, so I could hold it up until only my eyes were showing. I had to switch hands as the wind was whipping into my mittens and freezing them. At each stop light I would turn my back to the wind and scrunch down with my eyes closed.


I morphed into scary, angry Yogini this week, as wouldn't you know it was that cold Tuesday, Wednesday evening, Thursday evening and today. YAY. Even though I had some fun new Québécois podcasts (Christiane Charette!) to supplement my French-fix, my inner dialogue looked a bit like this:


"Oh My Goddess, it is EFFING COLD.
Being an environmentalist sucks a**.
Why do I DO this to myself?? 
I wonder if someone I know will recognize me while they're driving and bring me home? Maybe if I look sad enough a kind, non-rapist stranger will take pity on my poor self and bring me home....
Holy Eff, the squigee guy IS NOT WEARING A HAT. Isn't he cold?? Is he CRAZY? Quick, walk past and don't make eye contact.
Can eyeballs get frostbite? Cuz they effing hurt a LOT. 
Maybe I should just sit down and rest for a bit... WAIT- that is BAD.
Since I can't feel my legs, it's weird that I'm still walking....
I hate walking to work. This sucks. I am NEVER doing this again."


Repeat each day.


Annnnd, as you can see, when I become angry or irritated (or cold) I drop a lot of f-bombs.... Actually, keeping my swearing under check is something I work on for the benefit of my work and friends who may find it offensive. But the Andrew is sadly exposed to a lot of 'Lisa the Sailor' at home...


Now that I have achieved day numéro CINQ in my walking adventure this week, even though my face feels like a map of prickly needles, I am proud of my accomplishment. In one week I have saved myself 75$ in parking and 2.5 hours of carbon that would have been spewed out in the atmosphere.

ALSO, speaking of accomplishments... last night I FINALLY got my head off the floor in Wheel! Only 5 years in the making! WOOT WOOT! Now to actually work on alignment... :)


Happy Weekend!




article and photos copyright of EcoYogini at ecoyogini.blogspot.com

"Awayland", Magical Place of Consumerism and Waste

I know I don't often talk about the "big" issues, mostly because a) I can't seem to write about them in an entertaining way and b) they are completely overwhelming and let's be honest... depressing. At the same time, they are important and I do believe that our slow-moving paradigm shift to polluting habits becoming more unacceptable and "uncool" is essential. We can't really have this shift without first understanding the 'why'.

The road to my parents cottage last weekend... snow!

Something I have been thinking about quite a bit lately is exactly how wasteful we can be (I know, my inner mind is just so interesting!!). It's just so EASY to throw something 'away', our entire system in urban settings are set up for 'out of sight, out of mind'. We Canadians (and Americans) throw our garbage to some magical land called 'away' with gusto. 


According to Stats Canada, household waste makes up a whopping 40% of our national solid waste. In 2002, I (along with every other Canadian) generated 383 kg (844 lbs) of waste. Out of the 12 million tonnes (metric) generated in 2002, 2.5 million were recycled. So 9.5 million metric tonnes of solid waste was magically whisked 'away'.


First of all, where exactly is this place called 'Away'? For some North Americans it's a 'dump'. Have you ever been to a dump? I have, it's where our garbage goes in the village where I grew up and it's about 20 minutes from my house. Visualize a picturesque fishing village; little houses built on the ocean, winding roads, no sidewalks, lots of trees... Cross the highway from our turnoff and drive down a dirt road inland for about 20 minutes. Then you'll come to the Dump.


It's a huge field where the garbage is literally just dumped in piles surrounded by a huge fence. It smells and there is no escaping that these piles of plastic garbage bags are simply left in the middle of a forest. So that bag of old clothes you threw out? It's only twenty minutes away! Those old pair of shoes? Hanging out in your neighbourhood. 


Since we generate so much garbage, it doesn't take long for the bags to get buried under more plastic, thus limiting the amount of sunlight and oxygen needed to break down the plastic and any organic material inside. Toxic substances leach into the soil, contaminate local water systems (there are many lakes around our dump) and pollute wildlife.

What about landfills? It sounds prettier doesn't it? Landfills are basically designated areas where huge, carbon spewing machinery plough over piles of plastic garbage with dirt. So instead of having garbage in open air, the plastic bags get buried, with no air or sunlight to break down and layers of soil to pollute. At least it controls the amount of methane that's released into the air from rotting garbage.


Really, if you seriously consider this, throwing out garbage to a dump or landfill, is essentially like choosing a random place in the forest to dump your trash. The waste management facilities are still on land, on top of soil, rained upon and connected to our local water system and plant and wildlife. It's not like a landfill has some special 'dome' encircling it- or that toxins will just 'know' to seep straight down and not over.


This isn't all to say that in our household we don't have ANY garbage. We do, and I'm trying to decrease the amount of waste we produce. We recycle (although we know that recycling plastic is just a short term solution- plastic is forever), we compost ALL food items but the big thing.... is I'm trying reduce.


It's all well and good to do the 'green' lifestyle, buying 'eco' products just seems to glamorous and trendy! Oh we love to buy STUFF. But the truth, the truth is that reducing is the greenest thing out there. Instead of feeling good about getting that salad in a container made with recycled waxed lined paper, destined for your neighbourhood landfill, bring your own container and step off the cycle.


Blessings!


article and photos copyright of EcoYogini at ecoyogini.blogspot.com

How to Build a Yoga Eco Community?

A huge part of living sustainably that isn't discussed much is 'community'. Oh, it's sometimes alluded to, or mentioned, but part of our unsustainable lifestyle that we've built is how isolated in our cities and towns we've become. In smaller, more rural communities, people just know who can help build the house-garage, bake awesome bread, make the best jam, take a look at your car... etc.


Here in the city, it took a while before I felt comfortable asking our neighbours for sugar. If it came to an emergency, I would certainly knock on their door for help, but I know that as an apartment dweller I am in the minority.


Andrew always thought it was weird that wherever we lived I made 'friends' with random people. In BC the coffee shop and local organic grocery store people knew me. At the time I chalked it up to feeling lonely and needing a semi-familiar face to greet me. Now that it seems to have continued in Halifax... I'm thinking maybe it's something to do with 'me'.

Guerrilla Yoga in the Park! Can't wait until Spring!

I like connecting with people- so I try. Which results in many awkward moments (especially when I lived in Montreal! I had to be careful!). Sigh, I think it's the 'rural' in me that just never went away.


Local is a huge part of living sustainably and it requires some connection. None of us can bake, sew, create everything from scratch and still have the time to pursue our passions. By building a community, along with creating connections to take advantage of different skills, we nurture feelings of ownership and responsibility. The more we connect, the more we care about our community and the Earth it inhabits.


For some reason, I thought getting 'in' on the yoga community would be easier than say, other groups. In Halifax, not so much. It's actually been more difficult- who knew? Oh, each teacher and studio owner knows everyone else, but us students don't see them together all that much. The studios even have different Lululemon-featured months!


Instead of having all the studios come together for general yogic celebrations such as solstice or Yoga Day, each studio has their own free or by donation isolated events.


An example; Seth's new Ashtanga studio that has opened above the Lulu store (convenient location!). As a reader commented, The Shala was having a week of free yoga classes to commemorate their opening... so I went last Monday. The studio is gorgeous, beautiful colours, bathroom with two showers, trendy low couches and decorations. As I walked in, yogis were lounging on the couches and looked très cool... in fact I felt not cool enough to be there (flash back to high school or what?). The class was fine, Seth intimidated the crap out of me and then I left.


Until I spoke with the owner of Breathing Space while cleaning the studio on Sunday, I didn't think much of it. She pointed out that The Shala's free week coincided with The Yoga Loft's annual (forever!) free week... As Seth was a previously well-loved instructor at the Yoga Loft prior to opening his studio, obviously it was no coincidence. It was also rumoured that they had a very public falling out and there's some weird drama occurring.


It's all quite weird and a little sad. Personally, as a student, this type of drama makes me want to stay away from that little soap opera. I want to practice yoga and didn't expect this type of division between studios for whatever the reason (style, theoretical approach). 


So how to foster community in Halifax's Yoga world? I could just accept that it's lacking... but then I like community. As I'm not an instructor that also adds a bit of a challenge on my 'street cred' front. What I was thinking was organizing some sort of group open to students, teachers whatever. We could meet, have yoga-geared events, perhaps have a reading night with different topics of discussion and.... dare we say... speakers? We could talk about yoga stuff over fair trade organic COFFEE... and of course it would have to be 'eco'.


It's time I step out of my 'boîte' of an apartment- what do you think my eco-readers? Suggestions, thoughts?


article copyright of EcoYogini at ecoyogini.blogspot.com