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Discovering Vancouver’s Zero Waste Ambassador Program
On my walks around Vancouver I had been seeing advertisements for becoming a Zero Waste Ambassador. It took a few weeks of walking by the same sign for me to be curious enough, but eventually I went to the website to see what it was all about. I think my initial thought when I saw the signage that it was going to be a meaningless promotion where you commit to doing a weekly zero waste task with no accountability or something like that. Instead, it is quite an intensive program designed as a way to divert waste to reusable and recyclable streams. What is Vancouver’s Zero Waste Ambassador Program? Vancouver’s…
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Fall kitchen reset: Save money and reduce food waste
Fall is a time when we start spending less time outside and I start looking around the house and making plans to declutter and reset. Settling into routines often involves spending more time cooking at home as we get ready for the colder months ahead. While a kitchen clear-out sounds more like something to be procrastinated than planned for, it’s one of those jobs that can have surprisingly useful results such as getting organized, rediscovering forgotten food, and saving money on groceries. It’s not necessary to spend the weekend on clearing out the kitchen – a few simple steps can make a big difference! Start with the pantry Begin with…
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Discovering Vancouver’s Tool Library and Where you can Find Your Own Local Tool Library
I was recently out for lunch in a new-to-me neighbourhood and stumbled across the Vancouver Tool Library. As I’d just been talking about some DIY renovations and tasks that would involve tools I don’t own, this was quite a welcome find! I wrote a couple of weeks ago about how my life has become more sustainable by moving to the city and a find like the Vancouver Tool Library is definitely another thing to add to that list. What is a Tool Library? A tool library is a similar concept to the book libraries we are familiar with. It is a place where you can borrow tools with a membership.…
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Spend once, replace hundreds: Simple reusable swaps
Making the switch to reusable products doesn’t have to mean replacing everything overnight or spending a fortune. In my experience, the best swaps are often the simplest ones—the items you use every single day. Many of them pay for themselves surprisingly quickly, all while helping reduce household waste and the number of single-use plastics you bring into your home. If you’re taking part in Plastic Free July, or you’re simply looking for practical ways to live a little more sustainably, starting with a handful of reusable essentials is a great place to begin. There’s no need to aim for perfection. Swapping out just a few simple disposable items can have…
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Easy, healthy and budget-friendly meals for when life gets busy
As we near the end of the school year, calendars quickly fill with concerts, sports tournaments, field trips and end-of-year celebrations, making life feel especially busy. The next couple of weeks are absolutely jam-packed for me, and I know I’m not alone in feeling like normal routines and schedules often fall by the wayside during this time of year. I’ve been trying to spend less this June, so I’m being more intentional about my spending than usual. But when schedules are packed and energy is low, the temptation to grab takeout or rely on convenience foods can be hard to resist. Not only do these last-minute purchases work against my…
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Preparing for Plastic Free July 2026
Plastic Free July 2026 is only a few weeks away! It’s a great time to start thinking about not only how you want to participate this year but also about the plastic that keeps sneaking back into our lives. What is Plastic Free July? Plastic Free July is a global environmental campaign that encourages people to reduce their use of single-use plastics during the month of July and beyond. It began in 2011 in Western Australia and has since grown into one of the world’s largest plastic waste reduction movements, inspiring millions of participants across nearly 190 countries. Plastic Free July is a chance for people to learn practical ideas…
