Sustainable Living
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9 surprising ways everyday life impacts the environment
We all like to think we’ve got a pretty good handle on how our everyday choices affect the environment. It often feels simple: some things are “good,” others are “bad.” Reusable bags? Good. Plastic? Bad. Eating plant-based? Better. Driving? Worse. But it’s not always that straightforward. Some choices that feel eco-friendly can come with hidden environmental costs, while other small, overlooked actions can actually make a bigger difference than we realize. That gap between what we think helps and what actually does is worth investigating so that we can continue to positively impact the world around us. Surprising things that may have a net harmful effect on the environment Surprising…
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What you need to know about World Water Day and how to participate
Every year on March 22, people around the world mark World Water Day—a day dedicated to recognizing the value of freshwater and the challenges surrounding access to it. With World Water Day just around the corner, I am exploring what it is and which theme the UN has chosen for 2026. What is World Water Day? World Water Day is observed every year on March 22 and has been recognized as a United Nations observance since 1993. The annual event highlights the importance of freshwater and raises awareness about global water challenges. Each year, UN-Water selects a theme and leads the global campaign, coordinating a task force that helps plan…
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World Wildlife Day 2026: Simple ways to support conservation
Every year on March 3, the world observes World Wildlife Day, a day to remind us that wild animals and plants quietly sustain life as we know it. Established by the United Nations, the date marks the anniversary of the signing of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) in 1973. That agreement was created to ensure international trade does not push species toward extinction. This year’s theme is “Medicinal and Aromatic Plants: Conserving Health, Heritage and Livelihoods”. Medicinal and aromatic plant cultivation and harvest practices are a source of resources for many households around the world, who rely on wild plants, algae…
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How Olympic Athletes Are Advocating for Climate Action
With the Winter Olympics in full swing, it’s an interesting time to think about how climate change might be impacting the future of winter sports. When the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics were in our backyards, we saw the need to truck in dozens of loads of snow to build up the venues as warm weather caused snow to melt. This year at the Milano Cortina games, we’ve been hearing the complaints of warm weather heating up the ice tracks for luge and skeleton. With such weather dependent sports and the clear impacts changing climate is having on them, many Winter Olympic athletes are using their platforms to join the climate…
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Sustainable gardening for beginners
There’s something wonderful about starting a garden in the spring. It’s that feeling of reconnecting with nature, welcoming a new year, and knowing that warmer days are just around the corner — along with fresh, delicious fruits and veggies (without the grocery store price tag!). If you’ve ever felt intimidated by the idea of gardening or assumed you’d need a backyard, fancy tools, or a big budget, good news: you don’t. Gardening can be simple, accessible, and surprisingly affordable. In this post, I want to inspire you to start a small, sustainable garden on a budget – easy, low-maintenance plants that thrive in containers and give you the biggest return…
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How plastic enters our lives and practical ways to reduce it
Years ago, I did a big plastic purge. I cleared out containers, swapped materials, and felt confident that I had reduced the amount of plastic in our home. But lately, I’ve noticed some of it creeping back in. As life got busier, convenience started to take over. Kids grew, routines changed, and plastic slowly found its way back — not always as bags or bottles, but as wrappers, lids, toys, and everyday items I hadn’t questioned in a long time. Going against the grain — like trying to find food without plastic when almost everything is packaged in it — takes time, energy, and often extra money. And for a…
