How Kawartha Lakes People Are Going Green

Green living is spreading in The City of Kawartha Lakes and it is all the David Suzuki Foundation's fault. 




Green Living 101 at the FreeU is over and the world is a little greener. In the 6 week program written by Lindsay Coulter (David Suzuki's official Queen of Green). Students were presented with a little education, allot of discussion, and green living goals to challenge themselves - picked by them, for them.


Check out the small things they will try that will have a huge impact on the health of our lakes...

• Home-made laundry soap X 5
• Home-made shampoo
• Try out vinegar to clean X3
• Switch to reusable feminine products
• Switch out Teflon pans for cast iron
• Stop using produce bags
• Start composting
• Stop ironing (to save electricity)
• Committed to recycling better X 7
• Take shorter showers

Are you passionate about Green Living? Maybe you would like to have this program or a version of it come to your community?  

Build community

Protect the lakes

Be healthy

I will be happy to facilitate or support you in engaging your community group with this easy, fun, green living challenge. Please contact me.

Julia Taylor
juliataylor@live.ca
@sogreenithurts
Facebook

PS- I really enjoyed this group and learned so much from them. I look forward to seeing them out and about and hearing about their green adventures!

How to Help Save the Rain Forest at Home for Free

Have you seen this footage of the devastating effects of paper use on the rain forest?

I did. It got to me... this is what I'm doing to help stop it.

Ditch These Disposable 

Paper Products for Reusable Ones

Cut Down More Trees   Cut Down Less Trees                                                            
Paper coffee cup                                  Reusable mug
Paper plates                                          Real plates
Disposable diaper's                             Cloth diaper's
Throw away wipes                              Cloth and soap
Wrapping paper                                  Cloth gift bag/newspaper  
Gift cards                                              Email/call/visit                
Paper decorations                               Newspaper
Meat paper (at  the butcher/meat counter)            Reusable containers
Cupcake liners                                     Butter/Oil
Kleenex                                                  Hanky

Buy Recycled Products

Can't live without the disposable versions? Buy the 'Eco' version. Look for 100% post consumer content. If we don't buy products made out of recycled content we have no recycling system. Here is some common things that have 'made from recycled' options (less rain forest killy effects)

Toilette Paper

Paper Towels

Kleenex

Copy Paper

Paper Plates

Go Paperless

Here are some things you can do on-line instead of in print...

Bills Most companies have paperless billing available. You can go paperless with your CKL tax bill and Hydro One here

Magazines Read them on-line, typically an on-line subscription is cheaper too.

411 Do you ever use the print version any more? Cancel your Yellow Pages phone book delivery here

Use Scrap Paper/ Print on Both Sides

Pretty self explanatory!

Recycle Paper (properly)

Make sure what you recycle is actually getting recycled by making sure you are doing it properly. Check your municipal website for details. In CKL? click here

If you are thinking that just you doing this stuff will not make a difference- YOU ARE WRONG! You are that one person, that change that the whole world needs, 

your efforts do count!

Thanks for reading my blog!

Julia Taylor

@sogreenithurts

on Facebook

It's Easy Being Green- unedited; Don't Feed The Ducks

My whole life I have enjoyed the lakes

The old L dock at the Fenelon beach, boating, and wakeboarding, fishing, and kayaking. Snowmobiling and ice fishing in the winter, soaking in the breeze and cooling off in the summer. 

Never did I feel a responsibility to take care of the lake...until one sunny day a few years ago.

*Cue violin dream music*

It was a Sunday afternoon, and my husband and I were out fishing on our old tin boat in the south end of Sturgeon Lake near the floating cottages. On this day a family of ducks came to say hello and as we watched the baby ducks we noticed one scoop up a cigarette but into his mouth. Oh no, what will happen to that baby duck after eating a butt? Will he die? Then the baby spit the butt out- phew.

I wondered- why is there a cigarette butt floating in our lake?

Then it dawned on me.

Me- that's how!

I have been an on and off smoker since I was a teenager, a terribly hard habit to kick, and even though I would never litter and cared about the environment I threw my butts out the window of my truck. Maybe because my truck didn’t come with an ashtray? Maybe because the butt is so small that I didn’t think it was litter? I don’t know why.

At that moment I visualized the butt landing on the shoulder, eventually making its way to the ditch, that then flowing into the lake that I love so much.

From that day on I had an ashtray in my truck and if I was out and there was no ashtray I put it out and put it in my pocket- from that day on it was my garbage and my responsibility.

1 cigarette butt contaminates 1 litre of water- our lake water, and one cigarette butt is enough to poison an animal. 

Our Kawartha lakes give so much to us- let's give back by taking care of them and keeping litter out of them.

Did you know terracycle.ca recycles cigarette butts and gives a charity of your choice money for them? agreenerfuture.ca also gives out pocket ashtray's for free to help you keep your butts off the ground and out of our lake. Check them out!

Pocket ashtray

Thanks for reading my blog!

Julia Taylor

My 'No Poo' Experience

Blow dried curly, brushed out, and then curled with wand

Lot's of people are asking about it- let me tell you it is one of the biggest changes I have made on my green journey. It is weird, it is completely different, and it gets lots of compliments.











I have not shampoo'd my hair in a 5 months and it looks beautiful. In the years since I switched to natural/organic body care I have searched for the best shampoo and conditioner for my hair, never realizing that the packaging of these products effects the health of the environment and in turn my health- so I set out to reduce my packaging waste and the 'no poo' method fit in perfectly (and did not require me to start up a shampoo lab in my house.)


http://www.nopoomethod.com/

Frequently asked questions...

Do you need exlax?
No, not that kind of poo,

Does it stink?
No, actually the baking soda has a nice fresh smell.

How did you do it?
I started washing my hair with baking soda and apple cider vinegar every other day. 1/4 cup of baking soda to a 1 cup of water. 1 teaspoon of apple cider vinegar to 1 cup of water.

How long did it take before worked?
Solidly- 2 months. The transition period is a bit painful but once you get used to it (if it works for you) it has great results. I had to mess around with the solution a bit to get it right.

Washed and blown out straight, touched with straitner 

Is you hair greasy?
When it gets greasy it needs to be washed.

Con's

• Your hair literally feels like grease all the way to the tips when it is wet- it is a very different washing and brushing experience and it completely transforms the texture of your hair.
• You will have to get used to the way it holds different styles.
• Your brush is pretty much disgusting, washing it doesn't help.
• Have you ever pet a dog and have a dirty hand after, that is almost what happens when you brush dry hair daily.
• It is not sudsy washing so you just have to put the mixture in and smush it around.

Pro's (in my experience)

• No split ends..
• Looks amazing.
• Does eventually get soft.
• Holds styles very well.
• Eventually you only need to wash it once a week.
• Saves money not having to buy products. (ps I still use hair spray if I need to- just leave it in there after)
• Saves the lakes (no toxic by products from shampoos going down the drain)
• Did I say it looks amazing??

Conclusion
This is not for the faint of heart and does not work for everybody. It is something you have to see through and it is a big change to adjust to. If you commit to this process and it works for your hair type you will love it.

washed and air dried

Tips and tricks

• Use apple cider vinegar every other wash (my hairdresser warned me it could dry out my hair, also she want grossed out or put off by me doing this- she had heard of it)
• Brush your hair everyday
• Make sure you ad warm water or add the water in the shower when you mix your solution- or you could be cold shocked!
• When you tell people don't just tell them you have "no poo for 6 weeks" like I did- give them some pre context or you will get some funny looks

Side note- I do not colour my hair, results could be different for regular colourers.

Thanks for reading my blog! I would love to hear your experiences with 'no poo'!
Julia Taylor

Washed, air dried, hot rollers- on day 2

@sogreenithurts
Facebook

Learn to Read Music for Free in Lindsay

How To Read Music

Wednesday nights 

Sept 23 to October 26 2015

6 pm  

Kawartha Lakes Free University

(The Lindsay Library)

How to Read Music (for beginners and experienced musicians who skipped that step). 

Instructed by Wendy Mortimer

Musicians communicate precisely how to play a song by writing notes in a way that is a “code” that can be learned by anyone.

Over six weeks we will develop your knowledge of that code by building an understanding of musical notation, writing that notation, and playing what’s written. People of all musical backgrounds are welcome.

We will use various instruments (quietly – we’re in the library!) to illustrate what we are learning to write and to read.

*Rhythm. Time value of notes and rests, time signatures. Practice playing various rhythms using claps, slaps and drumsticks.
*Pitch. Treble and bass clef, names of notes. Practice naming notes and combining pitch and rhythm. Whole tones and semitones. Accidentals. Ledger lines.
*Scales and Intervals. Key signatures and octaves. Practice.
*Musical Terms and Signs. Practice, and more practice!

For more info email kawarthalakesfreeu@gmail.com

 or On Facebook and Twitter

Rochelle's Glorious Garbage Journey- Guest post

Changing the World One Piece at a Time

When I think back to a year ago, I certainly didn’t expect my life to have turned out the way it is today. I pick up litter almost on a daily basis and it is the most rewarding thing I’ve done with my life so far. 

After graduating from an environmental science program I leapt around from contract to contract without finding any solid work, which is the case for many graduates in my field. I felt the need to have something more stable in my life, but what? I started doing litter cleanups everywhere I went and documented the results through social media, my friends and followers loved this. There’s something very gratifying about seeing a mess, cleaning it up, and leaving the space better than it was before. After a few weeks of litter cleanups I was hooked. I couldn’t wait to see what I’d find the next time I went out. I travelled around from place to place with a garbage bag and a clipboard, taking note of each item collected. It’s been a year now and this glorious garbage journey has flourished into a non-profit organization that focuses on raising awareness about the issues surrounding litter around the globe.

When people ask me what I do and I tell them about “A Greener Future” they’re usually surprised that I started and run the organization all on my own. It wasn’t very long after I started picking up litter that I realized that I was doing something that I loved and cared about and I decided why not take it to the next level? It is a lot of work but even if A Greener Future hadn’t come to be I’d probably still be out there picking up litter. Is it worth it to put so much time into something without being paid? Yes, if it’s something you love. I couldn’t imagine my life without A Greener Future. It’s my voice, my inspiration, my community, and a way to help improve the future by bringing like-minded people together. 

Once you’ve taken part in litter cleanups regularly your eyes become more focused on seeing every little piece. You wouldn’t believe how much litter you pass on a daily basis and probably don’t notice, especially cigarette butts. It’s literally everywhere, even in places you wouldn’t think it could end up. While the issue of litter can be depressing I do my best to keep posts positive, lighthearted, educational, and even mix a bit of humour in there should I pick up something particularly interesting. Being an advocate for the environment definitely has it’s ups and downs. I love making an impact and seeing positive change, but you would not believe the number of people who actually stand up for litter. I’ve heard every excuse in the book: there aren’t enough trash bins around, my litter creates employment, or it’s just going back to nature. The thing is litter affects everyone in one way or another. It has negative health impacts especially when it contaminates our water sources, it depreciates property values, increases pest infestations, reduces tourism, harms wildlife, imbalances ecosystems, destroys natural beauty, and even promotes crime.…..You know littering is a crime, right?

I am completely overwhelmed with the amount of support I have received over the past year from friends and strangers alike. After a full year of collecting trashy treasures on my own and with the help of some fabulous volunteers the litter total has reached over 150,000 pieces. I have cleaned up litter in Canada, the US, The Bahamas, Spain and Portugal. And I have reached millions through social media. I couldn’t be happier with the way things have turned out and I encourage others to follow their hearts and do what matters to them. I hope if I put in enough time and passion I can grow this non-profit into a global movement that is sustainable and gives people something to talk about. The environment affects everyone, and I’m going to do my part to help create A Greener Future for generations to come, even if it is just one piece at a time.

Rochelle Archibald
Founder/Executive Director
A Greener Future 

David Suzuki's Queen of Green program comes to Kawartha Lakes again, but with a twist...

Last spring with David Suzuki's Queen of Green I green coached 8 families in their homes- this fall I'm taking it to the class room...


Please join me for this FREE course and challenge at the new Free University of Kawartha Lakes





Green Living 101

Starting Tuesday's on September 22 at 6pm for 6 weeks

At the Free U (Lindsay Public Library)

“We stuck with everything that we tried out in this challenge because it saved us money and it’s good for the lakes- the city’s biggest asset. That makes sense. I encourage anybody that wants to discover easy at home ways to ‘go green’ to join Julia for the Green Living Challenge”

- Tammy and Andy Letham

Week 1- Chemical Free House (Sept 22)
Discover how to reduce your exposure to toxins in your household in a simple, inexpensive way that will improve your health. Try out new green habits with the rest of the class and learn what works for you.

Week 2- Chemical Free Body (Sept 29)

Gain valuable insights into eliminating chemicals in self care practices. Master label reading and attempt a toxic free living challenge alongside the whole class.

Week 3- Clean Eating (Oct 6)

Pick up healthy eating habits and help the environment after learning about whole foods, ingredient reading, and food waste prevention. Save green and eat green in this clean eating class challenge.

Week 4- Clean Environment (Oct 13)

Get the hang of lowering your carbon footprint by learning how to manage energy and water consumption to reduce pollution. Pick easy real life goals with your classmates and discover what works your shade of green.

Week 5- Recycle Reduce Reuse (Oct 20)

Major in recycling and minor in zero waste living with this goal oriented waste reduction course and challenge designed to have a huge impact on your wallet and our landfill.

Week 6- Creating Community (Oct 27)

Learn how to create a green community and get involved at a level that suites you. Find purpose in bettering your community by being your true self. This final chapter will also include hands on tutorial chosen by students.


A message from the Queen of Green herself...


Welcome to the David Suzuki’s Queen of Green Coaches project.
Your dedicated coach is a David Suzuki Foundation volunteer who will work closely with the Queen of Green, to help you tackle green living themes.

Each course will help fire up your commitment to green living practices you already have in place and establish new ones, too. Not only is it easy and fun, what's certain is that once you've taken that first step, you're going to take another.

To date more than 250 families across the country have participated and it works. For example, last session 75 per cent of families felt that having a coach helped inspire change their home. Plus it’s free of judgment and guilt.

To begin this journey, consider:

• What are you already doing to lower your footprint on the planet?
• What are some of the biggest obstacles to a greener lifestyle?
• How can your coach help you reach those goals?

Please share stories throughout your adventure—challenges and successes— with your coach AND your networks, too.

What can you do today?
Join the Queen of Green Coaches Facebook Group

• Subscribe to the Queen of Green monthly digest
• Follow @QueenofGreen on Twitter
• Tell your coach you’re ready to become a Queen (or King) of Green in your own right!

Warning: be prepared to become an inspiration!
Lindsay Coulter
David Suzuki's Queen of Green

Spaces are limited so please register in advance by calling 

705-201-1120 

or emailing 

kawarthalakesfreeu@gmail.com

Look forward to meeting you, and as always thanks for reading my blog- I appreciate your support!

Julia Taylor
@sogreenithurts
Facebook