Fresh & Local

Having moved to Kitchener-Waterloo at the end of August I had no idea I was about to stumble upon something magnificent. 


I grew up going to the local Brantford Farmers Market, I had no idea that there was any other way to go about it. I assumed everyone went to the market to get their Thanksgiving turkey, to the apple orchard to pick their fall apples, and to the pumpkin patch to pick up the biggest pumpkin they could carry. 


Naturally I got older and realized that some people grew up on hot dogs, microwavable dinners and high fructose corn syrup drinks. "You mean there are cereals out there that contain sugar?!"

I had the great privilege two summers ago to spend 3 weeks at my Grandparent's place in Stratford, eating almost completely locally for the entire time. I was in heaven. Have you ever tried black currant ice cream made from scratch with real vanilla beans? It quickly became my favourite thing, especially in the 35+ degree heat. However I learned very quickly that good wholesome food takes time, preparation and energy. Things that one doesn't always have if they aren't retired, or a stay at home mom. Nonetheless I was convinced that I could make the changes I had observed in Stratford. 

Thus came my move, the end of August was a complete bounty of food at the markets. Have you ever seen a purple pepper? I have now, they're beautiful! How about a wintermelon? These are just some of the neat things I've discovered at my local market.

Luke and I were on our way back from the Georgian Bay when we decided that we should probably pick up some produce before we got to our bare fridge at home. On the outskirts of our town there are probably over 100 farms within 45 kilometres. We literally could pick up anything we needed from eggs, to potatoes, apples, meats, even fresh baking within a couple minutes drive from our house. 

So we stopped at one farm that had a sign for veggies, and came upon a barn with no one inside that had a note taped to it that if no one was there help yourself and a pot of money on the table surrounding all of the produce. We picked up some apples, and a Buy Fresh, Buy Local map and went on our merry little way. 


The next farm we came to was closer to Conestogo, we were in Mennonite country now. The bounty the farm we stopped at next was one I'd never witnessed before. They literally had a fresh and local grocery store on their property. Anything we could possibly need was there, home made with care. 


For the longest time I was plagued with stomach aches, I got them as a child, in highschool and university. I've learned since moving to Waterloo that I don't have to live with them. If you eat fresh, local Ontario (or wherever you're from) you'll feel great. You'll have energy you never imagined and you'll feel different. 


Our lives are so full of processed things, we live so fast, so controlled and so programmed that it isn't until something snaps us out of that routine that we realize that our habits aren't necessarily healthy. 


I fall victim to these things as well, no one is perfect. Halloween is upon us and my house like many others across North America is full of chocolate. Luke and I had to pick up some things from Walmart the other night and he grabbed a bag of chips. Let me tell you- two things that do not go well together in my system are definitely: chips and chocolate. But once you stop eating those things, you don't crave them, after a while chips do actually taste like some abnormal flavoured over salted crunchy thing, chocolate does taste overly sweet. 


When we force ourselves to eat what's available to us from the land, and not whats been modified in a factory and sent to us via who knows where it came from or by who's hand. You learn to respect the things you put in your body, and that your body will respect you back. Try it, you'll see. 

Make Peace with the Crickets

I have to admit, I hate sleeping in the heat. But really, how many summer nights are too hot to sleep if you have the right amount of covers and the least amount of clothing? (Sleeping naked is green!) 


So my green challenge is to strip off the down duvets if you're hot instead of turning the AC down in the house. We've only turned it on for two days this year and its almost July, think of how much that is saving us in electricity costs and more importantly in efficiency. 


There's nothing I love more than to feel the cool breeze on my skin floating in the window. The rustling of the leaves, or grass depending on the season. 

It's pretty magical to lay in bed and hear nothing. Then the slow steady hum of June bugs, crickets or whatever magic creature may lay perched outside my window. 


We're cooped up in our houses from November until it all melts away in April, why not enjoy the summer and soak up whatever mother nature throws at us. 


So make peace with your crickets, and if not I've learned from my Mexican friends they are delicious when covered in chocolate! YUM!

Red, White and Recyclable

Little well known fact about me, I'm crazy about Lululemon. 

Me and My Lulu playing Settlers of Catan

My step-mom once put me on a lulu-restriction because I was well into $2000 worth of gear and really was just wearing it to class. 


I wear them as pajamas, as running clothes, as yoga clothes, as clothes to wear to class, as clothes to go to work in. They are just so multifaceted. But a bit pricey if your wardrobe solely consists of them. 


Nevertheless they last! My step-mom Marissa is now the owner of my first pair of lulus that I bought in 2005. And they're still in good shape! Talk about investing in a good pair of pants. 

Aside from the cool clothes. They also have a green side to them. There are many "green" things about Lululemon but in particular their lululemon bags that they give you your purchased goods in are my favourite green thing about them. Except they're red, and white, and recyclable when you're done. 


They're big enough to carry all my gym gear, with yoga mat. It carries my groceries, my newly purchased goods from any store and has withstood a tug-of-war with my dog Mackenzie who apparently also is a fan of them. 


They're made of 100% polypropylene, are durable, and waterproof. What more could you want? Oh did I mention that they're a 5 plastic for the recycling? Which means when one of them gets old and tired you just put it out in your blue bin and the recycling Gods will make it into something fabulously new. 


Now that's green! 

Back to Nature

It's coming. The May Long Weekend. 

Known to Canadians loving referred to as "two fer". For my non-Canadian friends that roughly translates into May 24. It's rarely actually on May 24th but we're slow learners up here. 

Craigleith Provincial Park

Last year a bunch of us headed down to Port Burwell for some wet weekend fun. While it only rained for 5 hours, it was enough to create puddles in everyone (except for Luke and I's) tents. This year we go back armed, just to a different park. Craigleith is located at the bottom of Blue Mountain and guarantees to have new experiences waiting for us. And really can you argue with a sunset like this?

Two MEC tents. Four MEC sleeping bags. WE ARE READY, bring on the rain! 

The great thing about camping (yes! there are great things) is the smell. 

How much time have you spent outside in the rain? Most people would frown, curl up their nose and respond, "Not much". 

One of my favourite smells is 100% natural, rain. 

Sure its wet, makes you cold and want a nice big cup of tea. But that damp earthy smell has got to be the best smell ever. 

Camping is a great way to take a vacation but in an eco-friendly way. With the right gear you can have an awesome vacation for not only a fraction of the cost but opportunities to unplug, disconnect, go out of coverage and listen to the crickets sing. 

The 100 Mile Diet

I realize this post may come with a bit of a somber tone. 
And I fully expect criticism from  it. 


On that note, I'm half way through Alisa Smith and James MacKinnon's 100 Mile Diet. My interest was first sparked when I saw the Food Network's series based on the book. 


The series was intriguing. The food looked amazing! 
The one problem with applying it to my life? I live in Southwestern Ontario. 


Not exactly British Columbia. Not exactly horn of plenty when it comes to fresh local food. Especially in the winter! 


It's not impossible, but in this case I think (for the time being atleast) its best to do what you can to eat off the land that once was rich with Aboriginal tribes fishing, hunting, growing corn and plenty of other long lost fruits and vegetables. 


A story published in the Brantford Expositor reveals that the challenge has been attempted in our little city. 


The 100 Mile Diet- Branford Edition

And while it may be nearly impossible to go 100% local, there are incredible resources available in Branford. The Buy Local, Buy Fresh initiative ignited a few years ago sparking an interest in locals who were seeking the goods but didn't know where to find them. 


My Chiropractor, Shaelyn Osborn is a huge advocate for organic eating and constantly has information regarding it in her office. Her recommendation is Oakridge Acres farm just outside of Ayr, Ontario. From what I've eaten so far their food, meats, and baking are heavenly! Oakridge Acres has a website where you can peruse the goods and their contact info for where to find them! 


So my parting note to you is, think about what you eat. An apple is sweeter fresh off the tree than it is out of the grocery store. We are surrounded by an abundance of fresh things to eat, and people who harvest them for us. Why not support our local farmers, producers and manufacturers instead of taking the easy way out and piling our cart high with highly processed, highly modified food from the grocery store. 

What's A Little Rain in Your Bucket?

There are umpteen ways to save the planet and be green as illustrated in a wonderful book I managed to lose a few weeks ago in the Dominican Republic.

Vanessa Farquharson's amazing book available on her blog... http://greenasathistle.com/sleeping-naked-is-green/

I hadn't had the chance to read it all yet before it got swept into the abyss that is Excellence Resort. However she did an amazing green challenge for a year, one change per day for a year.


I'm not able to do quite that. Though I have frequented the Big Carrot to check it out and witnessed in person that Vegan Dental Floss does actually exist.


However my green post for today has to do with the sky.
Sure its pretty, gives us our dose of vitamin D, if we get out enough.
However, the easiest green change you can do is collect what the sky gives you.


I'm talking about rain barrels!


This is a cost effective and earth effective change that doesn't really take a lot of work.

You buy it (well unless you want to make one, which is possible too but takes a bit more work), place it under one of the drain pipes around your house and voila!


Rain water watered just about 75% of our gardens last year. Which if you think about saves a lot of water to be used for other things! Like lemonade :)