What Star Trek Taught me about the Keystone Pipeline

Star Trek teaches me a lot, like today how Captain Picard's crew had to accept the fact that their continued use of warp travel was damaging the corridors of subspace. Decades of a way of life, and now space travel will have to change. Sound familiar? (Oh Star Trek, you are so clever).

Just like the Federation shares space with multiple civilizations and species, we have to share our planet with multiple countries. And, as subspace doesn't care whose federation each star system is touching, our water and air really couldn't be bothered to stop at country borders for a body scan.

The XL Keystone Pipeline has been a disheartening and disappointing piece of news for Canadians. I don't have a lot to comment regarding Obama's apparent amnesia with regard to his promise for 'green' policies, but I do feel that there are valuable and essential discussion points that should be addressed.

The discussion in the media has become an 'environmentalists against the economy' type rhetoric, which really misses an essential point- the economy is a human-created, not oil-dependant abstract concept. The environment is a true, delicate and concrete organism that is absolutely necessary for our survival as a species. We can't exactly live without water or air, but we can most certainly live with an economy sustained and nourished by something other than oil. As David Suzuki has said, the economy is a made up.

Instead of focusing our money and energy into unsustainable methods of fuel and energy consumption, we should be directing our energy to creating and fostering reusable, sustainable energy. Developing better (and cheaper) electric car batteries and infrastructure, wind and solar power. Arguing that it's either a pipeline or giant refineries misses the mark. What about neither? We have the capabilities, the science and the resources if we direct them responsibly.

The transcanada organization claims, as do our governments, that it's safe and measures are in place to protect our precious farm and water ways from oil contamination. Didn't they say that about the BP oil spill? According to David Suzuki, earlier this year Alberta has already had a huge oil spill that has contaminated kilometres of necessary water and earth.

On Q (cbc radio show) on Friday, a few notable journalists commented that the big issue for discussion should be whether we allow the US to dictate our energy and environmental policies. This journalist stated firmly that other countries had no right to tell us how to treat our planet.

I disagree. It's absolutely ridiculous to stand like an immovable tadasana with the misbelief that air and water we treat here in Canada stops at this magical invisible barrier at our borders. The air I breathe, you have breathed as well. The water I drink, you have drank as well. We don't have special Canadian air or water here. Water evaporates and cycles through the system, moving as rivers, oceans and clouds across continents. It makes complete sense that we should work together to protect our most primordial resource- our Planet.

As yogis, we have a responsibility to connection. With each other to work together as Nations and peoples to protect and respect the Natural World, as well as beginning to take those measures needed to stop our addiction to consumption and oil. The tough stuff, like bicycling more, taking public transit, eating locally and stop buying STUFF. The really tough stuff, like writing our government and exercising our right to civil disobedience. Like voting for your Health and the Planet first before your pocket.

Tonight is the New Moon, the perfect time for new beginnings and new commitment. What will you do?

article copyright of EcoYogini at ecoyogini.blogspot.com

A Glimpse of the Highlands

After a long 6 hour drive home, I'm finally back in my own space. Some thoughts to come on "owning" environmental resources and the right to create and modify policies to come this weekend.

First though, I managed to make it to the Cabot Trail, even though I only had time to drive about 30 minutes in. Unfortunately, what with work, I couldn't even contemplate a voyage to the Red Cap, where Pema Chodron's Buddhist temple resides. Regardless, the aren't giving tours right now...

Here are a few pictures I was able to snap. I sadly didn't see a moose (although other guests at the B&B did!), or whales... but the view from up above was phenomenal. At one point, the clouds were literally gracing the tree tips and my car. The pictures really don't do it justice at just how high up I was, barely minutes out of Chéticamp. It's worth a click to make them bigger- trust me :)

 The very beginning of the park, those are the beginnings- towards Chéticamp.

 The first ocean picnic-ing place about 5 min drive in.

 A random 'Inukshuk' someone had left.

 I snapped this as I drove, if you look closely you can see the ocean, hundreds of metres below as the road winds through the highlands.

 That ocean sur is far down. The beauty of the highlands is that in a few short weeks, unlike the furry mountains in BC, they will burst into reds, oranges and yellows since they're covered in leafy trees. Also, interestingly enough, that many leaves means there was a constant almost ocean-like sound of the wind through millions of leaves.

 A zoom in from my camera to the ocean.

And this is my customary boat shot in Chéticamp for my dad :)

Blessings!

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

Discovering Cape Breton's Chéticamp

I'm typing this in a Bed and Breakfast, nestled in the most beautiful part of Nova Scotia- Chéticamp. After an uneventful five and a half hour drive from Halifax I arrived to tiny Acadian town called Chéticamp and will be here all week for work.

After reading Yancy's post at FiveSeed about how she drove less than 3000 miles since last September I am definitely feeling the "eco" downer. My little Yaris is pretty darn fuel efficient, but that doesn't take away the fact that I've been driving it a lot this past year. My job requires that I travel across the province (and I've had to receive training in Ottawa, New York and Montréal...). That's a lot of carbon emissions. Unfortunately I can't afford to purchase offsets and my job is my job. If only we had teleportation- "Beam me up!" (yep Trekkie here!).

Since I need my job (and I also adore my role in bringing French services to the province), I can't change the amount of traveling I'm going to be doing. I have been thinking more and more seriously about whether I can afford to purchase some sort of carbon offset. Andrew has started University again this fall and we're now back to 'student-mode' in the apartment.

Anyone have any thoughts, ideas, suggestions?

Although I was exhausted and the wind is a bit chilly up here, I managed to get a bit of sightseeing done as well as some yoga overlooking the ocean on the cliffs of Chéticamp Island. I plan on going back for some more serious 'yoga-ing' tomorrow wearing actual yoga clothing (although the jeans worked out fine).

I'll be honest, the Okanagan Valley can't even compare to Chéticamp and the surrounding areas. With 'furry' mountains behind you and the powerful atlantic ocean spreading out as far as the eye can see, who wouldn't want to live here?

Here are some lovely pictures of my journey here- I'll be taking some more over the next few days... :)

 As soon as you enter Cape Breton, all the town signs are 'bilingual'- English and Gaelic! It's very cool.

 The view near Inverness... Homes are nestled amongst the furry mountains the entire way. Just beyond those furry mountains is the Atlantic ocean.

 Made it to the Acadian region- from here signs are bilingual French-English :)

 If you look closely, there's a barn with the entire side painted like an Acadian flag... this was just outside of Chéticamp.

 My walk to Chéticamp Island, just at the very start.

 You can see tiny little white dots- those are the houses in the outskirts of Chéticamp

 Even the grass is beautiful and wavy in the wind. 

The island comprises of grassy outcroppings onto cliffs overlooking an ocean that goes on forever. There's a constant noise- it's the sound of the waves crashing against the rocks of the cliffs all around. There is no 'peace' here, but power and beauty. I rolled out my mat directly on the soft, mossy grass.

Blessings and Happy Mabon!

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

How to Enjoy A Book

(For those of you considering abolishing "real" books from your life in favour of a (no!) e-reader, I present you with a few essentials to live by...)

How to Enjoy Books

(this is one of our book shelves, with my current book  that I'm enjoying: "Wildwood" written b y Colin Meloy and illustrated by Carson Ellis)

Step 1: Entering a small, locally owned bookstore/library/Secondhand bookstore pause briefly and take a deep breath. You are now surrounded by books. Enjoy this moment thoroughly.

Step 2: Start perusing each section, gazing upon the rows and rows of colourful spines. Perhaps grazing your fingers across a few, tilting your head sideways so you can read the titles or even removing a few to take a peak at the cover. Don't rush, walk slowly or stand quietly for a few moments. It's socially acceptable to do this in a book purchasing/borrowing space, take advantage.

Step 3: Find a book that interests you. It may be the topic, the title or even the cover art. Pick out the book and hold it in your hands.

Step 4: Pass your hand across the front of the book. Feel the finishing of the book, the weight of it in your hands. Is it a light book, or is it extremely heavy (meaning the possibility for a very lengthy and amazing read). Does the cover have bumps or art that feels different?

Step 5: Read the description at the back and check for an author's photo. You never know, it may sway your decision.... seriously.

 

the beautiful illustrations in the book caught my imagination

Step 6: If you've made it this far it means you've got a serious contender. Open the book and take a rifle through. Feel how the pages move. Do they have rough edges? (I LOVE those books!) Do the pages feel dry and stiff or do they flop through, heavy?

And... the ultimately most important part of the Book Adventure:

Step 7: Open the book and bring your nose in close. No, no, I mean REALLY close- right up in the pages. Inhale...

You might call me a huge weirdo, but different types of books have different scents. Some pages smell like chemicals, some like older paper. Library books have their own special smell (umm, I am not a fan honestly lol).

Books are so much more than the story inside. Having a real paper book has Seven essential steps before we even get to the Story World waiting inside. E-readers.... they can't even compare.

article copyright of EcoYogini at ecoyogini.blogspot.com

J'me 'garde dans la bourrique

Bourrique: n.f. Nombril (terme enfantin). Historique: Depuis 1925, expression vulgaire pour nombril. Paraît être une variante des formes "bourit" ou "bouril" au sense de "ventre, abdomen" relevée dans les parlers de Saintonge.
Dictionnaire du français acadien,Yves Cormier

Bourrique: Childhood term for belly. Historic: Since 1925, lay expression for stomach. Appears to be a variant of the forms 'bourit, bouril' in the sense of 'stomach, abdomen' from the speakers of Saintonge.

In the past few weeks, predominantly the last few days of this Harvest Moon, there's been quite a bit of introspection bouncing around. A looking inwards, gazing at my mystical belly button. Ma bourrique. Coumme si ma bourrique y'avait les réponses... 

Several things have come out of this:

1. Upon much thought, yoga and I will remain together. We just need to set new boundaries and expectations. A slight reshuffling of priorities and yoga's place in my life, yoga to a 'miniscule' and no longer a 'majuscule'. I'm pretty happy with this new step.

2. Since yoga has taken a side step to 'miniscule', it's time to begin shaping and molding what my spiritual practice truly shall be. Exploring my connection with the Goddess only had a brief time to grow before Yoga à la majuscule 'Y' left no space for Her.

3. I need to begin reshaping my place in the world. For the first time in my life my future is settling down, growing large roots with the potential to get dusty. I'm married, I have a full time job and am thinking qu'un jour j'serai enfamille. Big Life Stuff. I imagine myself ten years ago and I had ideas of where I might go in life, write music and perform, travel to see Ireland, something a bit more glamorous. Don't get me wrong, I've traveled and met l'houmme de mes rêves, but will there be more? Just a slight mental readjustment of reality shifting into place and saying 'Hi!' to my dreams.

(A little pumpkin trikonasana pour vous!)

The waning Harvest Moon, the last full moon before the Fall Equinox on September 21st, is a beautiful time to begin an examination of one's mystical 'bourrique'. A time of closing up shop, reigning in and contemplation. Summer is waving goodbye for another year and my favourite season, Autumn is stretching Her arms to play :)

Blessings!


article copyright of EcoYogini at ecoyogini.blogspot.com

Thoughts on Lululemon and Their 'Bottom Line'

The beginning of 'Salutation Nation'- the International 'Ohm' Lululemon sponsored yoga event this Saturday, the ambassador leading the class intro'd with a little speech about Lululemon.

This speech, although I was strangely surprised (I shouldn't have been, Lulu was hosting it), brought up some interesting points of consideration. Many of which I do not agree with... even though I was there and took part in the event, since it was free.

Our first spot w Miss Veronica and Andrew's bike, Mr Manelli (he's not very original). Unfortunately, softball games were everywhere and a ball actually flew into the crowd almost hitting a yogi... so we moved. The second spot was actually better :)

Firstly, before I get into the good stuff, here are some positives of Salutation Nation:
- It did bring over 200 yogis, practicing together. Although mostly university aged students, there were mothers and their children as well as some guys and a few 'post-university' yogis.
- Practicing with that many people outside was pretty darn neat to see!
- Everyone was pretty positive, the overall message was positive (if not somewhat 'foofy').
- It provided an opportunity to practice yoga for free- woot!

- While over 200 yogis were lying down for savasana, I stuck out like a sore thumb in my seated meditation. I made sure to take off my sunglasses to make it more obvious that I was meditating and not just being difficult. I was SO nervous- I knew the ambassador could see me... sitting up amidst a sea of corpses. I closed my eyes and just tried to breathe, mentally preparing for when a helper instructor would come up and ask some questions. Instead- I felt a leg against my back and an instructor's hands opening my shoulders as if I were in savasana. Such a moment of honest and open acceptance brought a few tears to my eyes. I was (am!) so grateful to that instructor that I actually said 'Thank you' out loud (without opening my eyes) after she finished.  

Our final practicing space- those empty green spots quickly filled in!

Alright, the points of contention. 
The ambassador's opening speech went something like this: 'Lululemon is a fantastic company that does so much for our communities across the globe. They're manifesto is 'Elevating the world from mediocrity to greatness' (this is their 'vision statement' actually)...' and continue onward with 'Yay Lululemon is so great and wonderful' speech with how their main purpose is to bring together community and a healthy lifestyle. It was a serious 3-5min of gushing, an 'Ode to Lululemon'.

I get that as an ambassador OF Lululemon, at an event that is hosted by Lululemon would begin by thanking the company for organizing and sponsoring the event. I expected a short something thanking them.

However. To imply that Lululemon's *main purpose* is to support community is ridiculous. Lululemon, a company with CEOs, lawyers, accountants and PR-planning committees, has as it's main goal to make money and sell clothing. That is the ultimate goal. Sure, they have many 'community' based events (for the most part in their store- where participants can see all the wonderful products waiting to be bought), but this isn't Lululemon's bottom line. We all know this. Lululemon doesn't set up shop in the most impoverished and in-need neighbourhoods, countries and cultures globally. They have stores, set up to sell costly clothing (not even made in that country) to upper middle and upper class women and men. The community events aren't geared for the homeless, or the impoverished, but to the market of people who could potentially purchase their clothing.

Cynical? Perhaps a bit, but I'd be surprised if the upper circle of the company thought differently.

What would make them a truly inspirational company?

- If they invested some of that time, energy and money into creating and manufacturing all their clothing from environmentally sustainable fabrics in low or ZERO carbon footprint and pollution factories.

- If they manufactured their clothing IN the country they sold them, instead of factories located in impoverished countries with lower health, environmental and work policies as well as workers that made a pay we'd find unacceptably low.

- By investing in local, Canadian (or American) factories, they'd lower the carbon footprint created by the huge container ships they need to use to ship the clothing, as well as *truly* be investing and supporting local communities and economies.

- Instead of community events in their store, wouldn't it be beautiful if they sponsored health and yoga events for those who are actually in need; such as the homeless, women's shelters, those who struggle with mental health or illness. (Supposedly each store has 'charitable giving' that the consumer's choose local charities to 'give back'- when I searched the Halifax store site there was no information. I have never ever heard of Lulu hosting a charitable event in Halifax, Montréal or Kelowna- where I've lived. If they do, it's the exception and not the rule).

Hey, I own some Lulu clothing and obviously am willing to take advantage of a free yoga class they've organized. However, I'm not going to pretend that this Business's bottom line is something other than making money and selling clothing.

There are so many other local companies that invest and actually do give back to our communities (like LoveMe Boutique who sells only Canadian Hand Made products, or Bhavana who offers Canadian and American, sustainably made yoga clothing) who truly have more than 'selling clothes' as their bottom line.

I am not 'Anti-Lulu', I'm more of a 'let's be real' kinda yogini.

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

Blueberry Pear-Cider Jam Filled Cookie Recipe!

While in PEI I discovered a wondrous thing (that most of you probably already knew): liquor can be added to a jam recipe. WEEE!! 

After picking 15lbs (of which we got 10lbs) of blueberries, I was determined that we would make (successful!!) blueberry-champagne jam. 

Unfortunately, champagne (and bubbly) was not available at the Farmer's Market. QUICK- change of plans (cuz I fly by the seat of my pants like that)- Tidalview Cider. After some deliberation as to the best flavour for blueberry jam, the deciding factor was the fact that we'd have to drink the rest... so Pear Cider it was.

As there weren't any blueberry- pear cider jam recipes we kinda had to wing it. That and I had no idea how to do the 'canning' part. We must have used THREE different recipes, for a mish mash. Wouldn't ya know- it worked out! 

EcoYogini's Blueberry Pear Cider Jam:

Software:

6 cups of blueberries

5 cups of sugar (ack!- but we'd already bought normal pectin and not low sugar so...)

1 package of regular powdered pectin (Certo)

1/2 cup of local Pear Cider

Hardware:

Large saucepan/pot

4 large mason jars (or six smaller ones)

A canning pot & rack (you can get cheap versions at Canadian Tire)

Potato masher

Step 1: Take blueberries out of the freezer, place all six cups in the large saucepan and turn on low. If your blueberries AREN'T frozen... well luck you! Have faithful man-assistant periodically try to mash the blueberries.

Step 2: Place the mason jars in the canning pot, two inches of water above. Bring to a boil for 10 minutes to sterilize. Bacteria can be nasty buggers, especially if you're preserving. Afterwards, leave the jars in the warm water until you're ready with the jam.

Step 3: Open the Pear Cider, pour a 1/2 cup in a measuring cup, cover so fruit flies don't kamikaze into the cider. Continue to pour you and your man-assistant each a hefty glass of cider. Enjoy.

Step 4: Into a bowl, add 1/2 cup of the allocated 5 cups of sugar to the pectin package- mix. 

Step 5: When the blueberries are all mushed up by the potato mashing skills of your man-assistant, add the pectin-sugar mix and bring to a hard boil. Then add another 4 and a 1/2 cups of sugar and 1/2 cup of pear cider. Stir continuously, bring back to a hard boil (that a stir can't break) for 1 minute.

Step 6: remove the jars (this was scary as we didn't have handy dandy jar lifters, so tongs were used. No jars broke thank goddess) and fill them with yummy jam leaving 1/4 inch from the rim, clean off excess jam. Place lids and put back in the canning water pot.

Step 7: Keep 2 inches above the jars and boil for at least 5 minutes- we boiled for 8 minutes.

Step 8: Remove the jars (seriously, fancy lifters would have been handy). Place where they won't get bumped and leave overnight. Done!! Jars should be kept sans lid-rings to better see spoilage if it happens and should be good for 6 months (put date on lids). If you don't preserve them, the jam needs to go immediately in the fridge.

More than just jam for your toast, this yummy creation makes a kick-butt filler for my mom's jam-filled cookie recipe. YUM!

EcoYogini's Blueberry-Pear Cider filled Cookies:

Preheat oven at 350F, use butter to grease pans (ew- Pam spray is gross and fake)

Cream together 2 eggs, 1/2 cup of butter (melted or softened), 3/4 cups of sugar.

Mix in 1 and 3/4 cups of flour, 2 tsp of baking powder, 1 tsp vanilla, pinch of salt.

Roll dough in balls and place on cookie sheet. Afterwards, dip your thumb in flour and make little thumb prints. This recipe is a blast to do with children (or your hubby.... lol). Using a spoon, fill the thumb prints with your beautiful blueberry-pear cider jam.

Bake for 8-10 min. This is crucial- check the cookies at 8 min. They are ready when you see a tiny hint of brown along the bottoms. 

Enjoy!!

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

Salutation Bicycle Nation: Practicing Yoga with Intention

As a non-studio specific yogini, I like yoga events that are not 'studio' centric.

A great example is the Global Mala Project. A global initiative on the Fall Equinox (September 21st) where yogis across the world practice yoga together in the name of Peace. The essence isn't to get together, hang out and practice some free yoga, but to inspire action, fundraising and community connection for our Planet. Something I can get behind.

Sadly, Halifax had one studio who participated with limited between-studio linkages, participation and results. As far as I can tell, the entire event has been dropped.

This weekend, I received a facebook invite to something called 'Salutation Nation; Neverending Ohm'. You can probably guess- sounds lulu-esque huh? Yep, sponsored by Lululemon, this (free!) one hour yoga class happens on September 10th in Canada and the US, outside and led by one of Lulu's ambassadors. Guess how many people are signed up? So far in Halifax over 200 people have confirmed attending, with over 80 maybe attending. Myself included.

I'm happy to practice outside amid so many yogis (did I mention it was free?), but I'm a bit disappointed that a clothing store with an event that doesn't take advantage of gathering so many yogis together, was successful at creating a yoga community event where the yoga studios were unable.

This event could have so many positive (and environmental!) spins to it- I'm left utterly confused why the goals are: 'Join your community and move, breathe, connect and get your downdog on!' Sounds a bit like a yoga professional networking to me.

Here's what would be even more"ohmtastic":

(please feel free to steal this little badge- I made it just for you!)

'Salutation Nation Ecofied':

Leave your carbon monster at home and take the true Yogic Transportation:

Your Bicycle.

Nothing beats coasting to an outdoor yoga class on two wheels, a nifty helmet and a cute dringdring bell.

All yogis attending 'Salutation Nation' I challenge you to step up and Ride Your Bicycle to Yoga. 

Make this event about more than just a yoga class, about a commitment to our Planet.

Who's with me?

article copyright of EcoYogini at ecoyogini.blogspot.com

Saying 'NO' to Hair Dye; Mousy Browns have More Fun

All the hair highlighters, raise your hands. (*I shamefully raise my hand*).

Since at least grade 11 (um, 12 years?), I have joined the ranks of people who have had their hair highlighted. I've been pretty darn blond, and once RED, and at least highlighting once and often twice a year. My natural hair colour is pretty boring, a mousy brown. BORING.

That said, I haven't dyed my hair in over a year (since before the wedding) and I'm starting to get the itch again. Especially since, I will vainly admit, I'm feeling a bit wonky about a new, shorter, haircut.

This post is to remind myself why I should reconsider the hair dyeing decision.

 I know it's small, but this is an example of how blond my hair got- I'm at Gray Monk Winery in the Okanagan Valley. My hair is naturally quite mousy brown, so you can definitely see the artificiality at work here...

Conventional hair dyes contain a ridiculous amount of nasty chemicals. Anyone with a nose knows this- that nostril burning smell? Those are cancer-inducing chemicals that you're inhaling into your lungs, soaking into your skin and entering your body. Yum!

Scary chemicals in hair dye:

Ammonia and peroxide: known allergens and skin irritants
PPD(p-phenylenediamine) and diaminobenzene: toxic to the chemically sensitive. PPD has been linked to cancerous tumours in lab tests by the US National Cancer Insitute (as cited on David Suzuki)
Coal Tar: darker dyes (like deep browns or blacks) often contain coal tar, or a synthetic version. This ingredient has been linked to higher rates of cancer. These coal tar derived ingredients may also be contaminated by heavy metals which are toxic to our brain (David Suzuki).

A few studies have linked prolonged use of hair dye and an increased risk  (two to three times and for hairstylists-estheticians up to 5x!) of bladder cancers, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma cancers and multiple melanomas (Ecoholic 2006, p. 13).

What isn't absorbed into our bodies gets washed down the drain:

Above and beyond our health concerns hair dye is directly washed out and down the drain, entering our water ways, rivers, lakes and oceans. These chemicals are toxic to aquatic life and how vain can we be that we'd risk our precious water sources for our hair to be a different colour?

Cultural Reality of 'Grays'

Ok, I say all this, but my one 'white-gray' hair is in my left eyebrow (yep, weird I know). I know that once I start getting whites and grays I'll feel even more tempted to dye dye away. COAL ME UP. In our culture of 'worship of youth' anything age related has left us conditioned with a knee jerk fear reaction. Nothing shouts age more than gray or white hair. I once thought one of my supervisors in Montreal was in her fifties as she sported a beautiful cap of gray hair. She was 36.

Lets be honest, gray and white hair will result in the perception of age. I do believe that we need brave women to say 'NO' to this culturally defined version of 'beauty' and 'worth'. But am I brave enough to be one of these women? I hope that when the day comes (most likely in a few short years) I will be. I am not judging though, that's all.

Some Solutions:

100% Natural: Henna is the number one natural darkening hair product. Yancy at FiveSeed has a first account post on the pros (and a few cons, notably the alfalfa aroma) of Henna; the results mainly of fabulousness. She also has a guest written post by Callah about Lush's Henna.

Halfway: Companies like Herbatint, Ecocolors and Naturcolor all have 'less chemical' hair dye solutions (Naturcolor is an ammonia-cruelty-free plant-based option *low* in PPD for example).

Not So Terrible Pros: If you're like me and am definitely not into DIY with your hair, there is virtually no chemical-free salon options. That said, Aveda, (who have, I will grudgingly admit, upped their 'eco' game in recent years) have hair dyes that are up to 97% plant based. (I highly doubt Aveda doesn't have at least a few sketchy ingredients...). Sadly, the Aveda salons here in Halifax are filled with not so friendly, snobby stylists.

Another option- pick up a box of the 'Halfway' options and bring it to your stylist, insisting on your and our planet's health. (Not for the faint of heart, I'd hope to have a kick-butt relationship with my hair stylist before attempting this one).

What about you, trusty readers? What are your thoughts on bucking the hair dye economic machine? Will you take a stand when those gray hairs start creeping in?

Blessings!

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

Yoga on the lake, s'mores and blueberry picking!

Just returned from an entire week at a cottage on the lake, without internet access OR cell phone service. Yep, there are places still that do not have cell phone reception. It was bliss.

Highlights included Yoga on the dock in the mornings while the mist was still drifting up and away from the lake, a campfire with yummy s'mores, a quiet canoe ride, the quiet and clean air surrounded by trees, water, mosquitoes and birds. The entire week we watched the trees quietly turn from green to red and welcomed Fall with acceptance and connection.

Sadly we forgot our camera (and I forgot to bring the runes to bless them near the lake- but no worries Roseanne and Aradia, they will be blessed by the Atlantic Ocean after tomorrow's Yoga in the Park!). So here are a few pictures taken by my mom of the cottage over the past two years:

 

 The living 'room' area. All the woodwork, including the actual structure, cedar walls, window coverings even that little coffee table, bedframes, vanity in the bathroom, kitchen cabinets... all made by my dad over the years. This space has been a labour of love for our family over 25 years. We may have all the conveniences now, but there was a time when we had to run outside to pee in the outhouse... lol. This picture was taken in the wintertime if you take a peek outside.

 The view of the cottage last autumn in October.

 The view from the front yard last Fall. This lake is fed by two rivers on both ends and is beautifully clean and home to fish, birds and a rare pink flower that only grows in this region.

A fun highlight was blueberry picking. Wild blueberries (lowbush) taste SO much better than highbush or cultivated blueberries. Usually my parents pick 10-20lbs of wild blueberries every year, and this year instead of mooching we decided to pick our own this year. Unfortunately, the wild blueberry fields aren't being cared for like they used to, with regular burnings every few years. As a result, no wild blueberries were to be found and we planned a trip to a high bush u-pick in Yarmouth.

Before this, Andrew and I discovered some actual true wild blueberries out in the woods on a wheeler (ATV) path behind our cottage. We barely picked a cup of blueberries, and I kept an eye out for black bears as we picked, but they were YUMMY. Totally worth the deer tick that hung a ride and was found commando crawling on the bathroom floor (ick!!).

 (cell phone photo of me holding Grand-mère's blueberry basket filled with berries. Amazingly, Grand-mère used that basket to pick berries and now my mom uses it. It was perfect, very sturdy and holds exactly 10lbs of berries. I felt so connected knowing that generations of 'd'Eon' women have used that basket, picking berries for jams and preserves)

The highbush berries kinda resembled a winery- rows of wiry bushes with plump blue berries hidden beneath green leaves. The owners of the u-pick were sketchy to say the least, an unhappy dusty farmer's couple straight out of an American-type movie. A sign claimed that the berries were 'organic' as in 'not sprayed' while you had to walk by a pile of garbage waiting to be burned on your way to the bushes.... lol. Classy!

Out of a quick 30min pick we got 15lbs of blueberries easy- and my parents were both quite disappointed with the limited berries available! I now have 10 lbs of frozen blueberries that we'll make blueberry jam (hopefully with champagne!) and that I can eat with my morning granola!

All in all, it is nice to be back in the city where I don't have to gas up my car 3x a week (typically it's a two week gas up for me!) and the farmer's market is around the corner. That said, when Andrew and I build our 'eco' forever home (someday!) we'll definitely be near the ocean and out of the city.

Happy Labour Day Weekend!


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