Presenting at School

On Thursday, I gave my presentation to my daughter's grade 3 class. Why was I nervous? Once I got in there and realized I had no control over what went on, things went well. Why did I think I could control the situation? I had a great time.

I started with the 3 R's thinking that was a good place to start. They could teach anyone about recycling. They knew all about reducing. I made the mistake of asking if anyone knew what a Navy shower was and when one innocent boy started telling the class about a lot of men showering on a boat I quickly diverted the conversation to reusing. Whew!

My assistant (my daughter) and I showed all the wonderful new uses for old things we had been busy making. The bracelet was a hit as were the wrist bands we made from old socks and the purse we made form an old pair of jeans. I showed them the many sorting uses an egg carton can be and they were more than enthusiastic in adding anything they thought I had forgotten. 

Sock wrist bands and jean purse

The cereal box magazine holder covered in old jeans received Ooo's and Ahh's as did the reusable shopping bag I made from one of her shirts right in front of them! I had to add "with your parents permission" and "have an adult help with scissors" since I don't know what they will do once they get home! We made a few new "guys" out of old gloves and mittens and we made a big stuffed pillow out of an old fuzzy sweater my daughter had out grown. They all yelled they remembered the sweater as soon as I pulled it out of the box.

Jean magazine holder

"Guy" made from an old glove

During question period, one boy asked when he could come over and make things with us and they all yelled "Yeah!". It felt good.

After being disappointed by the school's lack of Earth Day (it got worse, no litter picked up at the schoolthis year because some parents complained that they didn't want their kids picking up other people's garbage... Ahh. I was mad. I invited the class to help clean up the park down the street from my house on Saturday and several showed up) I am glad I went in and shared with the kids. I was really pleased by how many of them knew so much. All hands went up when I asked who shut the water off when they brush their teeth and all hands were up for reusable grocery bags. That is a start. I suppose Navy showers are next for some. haha

It was the colouring page they were given by the teacher that got them all excited. It was of a woman space/super hero recycling. They all thought it was me! Yes. I am finally a super hero.

I love my Coke.

I was afraid this day would come. I have feared it for years. I have been told by a medical doctor to stop drinking Coke. Yes, It is true. 

Anyone who knows me (even a little) knows that I love my Coke. That I wake up every morning and think about it and I go to bed looking forward to seeing my can in the morning. A few people remember in previous years my "quiting" Coke. It was short lived and proved harder to quit than cigarettes. (Some said just drink it and save us from this misery. I guess I get moody or something...) It is my only vice. I make excuses for it, I yearn for it, and I love it. I guess you could say I am addicted. 

I was told today, after painful chest pains, that the Coke had to go. I have been coming to terms with it all day knowing somewhere in my head that my drinking Coke days were too good to be true and that I would have to give it up someday. I am almost in a panic about it but know it will be alright because I have decided (don't tell my doctor) to still treat myself to the odd one every now and then. A special occasion thing. A treat. I will have that to look forward to. I need to have something to look forward to. Don't we all like to have something bad for us once in a while?

It is funny, every good moment in my life has been with a Coke in my hand. Coke is involved in so many of my stories. If I am reminiscing, I don't have to say I had a Coke in my hand, it is understood that I had one open or there was an empty one near by or I had one chilling. When I think back to my childhood or special event, the can is there right beside me. Did I get married with one or was it waiting in the car? Did I have one while in labor? No, I bet I made my husband get me one soon after. I seem to remember Coke in a paper cup with ice... How will I get through this? Are there support groups out there for Coke drinkers?

Sure, I put a funny spin on it but I am serious in my panic over it. If anyone has any advice, please tell me. And please don't let it have the words "Green Tea" in it like my doctor's suggestion of a "replacement" or I will not be responsible for my actions!

Pop Tab Art

What do I use everyday that might be used for a different use? What can children make and want to use that is recycled? These questions I asked myself and came up with this: pop can tabs.

I have been collecting pop can tabs for about a week now. I have enlisted the help of my daughter, my father-in-law, and the kids in the lunchroom. I thank you all. All your efforts have paid off and as of right now, I have made something from them. 

I started small (I wanted to make a belt first but decided to start small) and made a bracelet. Here are the pictures I took of my before and after shot. I did not make this craft up myself but followed the directions I found on another blog. I am so ashamed. 

 

                      Craft Items

                     Finished bracelet

I wanted to make something for the kids in my daughters class for my Earth Day presentation. I am doing well with lots of ideas borrowed from other sources and made into my own. Is there an original idea out there anymore, anyway? I hope so but until I find mine, I am borrowing someone else's.

I am off to try and make cardboard furniture for dolls...

Green Paint

In an earlier post I mentioned that the Sally Ann now sells recycled paint.  

Recycled paint, like the one at the Salvation Army called Boomerang, is paint that is reclaimed paint. Meaning they make their paint using the unused portions of "recovered domestic paint and stain remains" (to quote their site), to make their paints.

After reading about "eco paints", I realized there are more options out there.

There are paints that have low or no-VOCs - toxic chemicals and fumes that float into the air and you breath them in during and after you paint. Most brands now offer paints with no-VOC's.

There is also Milk Paint that apparently smells like cake batter and is apparently so non-toxic that you can eat it. (Could I be trusted to not lick my walls?) I am so sensitive to smells, I am sick when we paint so this option sounds like a dream to me! Check out this Milk Paint website.

I would avoid all oil based paints due to the high toxicity in them. If you have to paint with either laytex or recycled paint, open a window. I find adding vanilla to the paint also helps with the smell (even though you are still breathing in the fumes).

I am sure there are more options, I wanted to add some information that was helpful so I thank Rachel for asking the question she did as a comment on the Sally Ann blog entry. I sent her to a blog I found on-line on eco friendly paint. They then directed me to another great site called Eartheasy. Eartheasy lists companies that make low VOC paints. It is American but some can be found here in Canada too. 

I am thinking I need to paint something and try one out. Maybe my kitchen... Perfect for cake batter smelling paint, right?

I hope this helps. I am no expert on paint by any stretch. I am learning as I go. I find there is more and more information and products out there that are "Eco", you just have to ask, look, or read.

Earth Day

Okay. Tell me I am not overreacting here. April 22nd is Earth Day. I was interested in seeing what the school newsletter said about Earth Day and what they have planned. I was expecting a cute bubble with Earth Day marked on the calendar at the very least. What I saw was Happy Secretary's Day instead. No mention of Earth Day. I was shocked and then mad. Surely they will have something going on, right? 

My daughter who is strangely influenced by her mothers outbursts went to school and volunteered herself and I to make a presentation to her class on Earth Day. Good for her. I am proud of her. Not good for me. I do not enjoy speaking in front of people and can only hope 20 grade 3 students will be easier than a room full of adults. Gulp. What do I talk about? I was hoping to show them ways to reuse some things in their garbage and maybe play the ever popular prop game. How can I make it fun and inspiring? I started researching fun crafts and ideas that they might find interesting. 

When we were at EcoFest last week, I stopped at the DSBN booth and was happy to see all the schools that are involved with environmental clubs and who have "green" fund raisers at their schools. I am beginning to wonder if that is the next step for me. Did I mention a fund raiser in our school is selling wrapping paper, something I try hard to avoid? 

I guess my venting is over for now. I am hoping to receive a full newsletter dedicated to the events taking place on Earth Day where I will laugh at my overreacting and pitch in with my own ideas... 

Eco Fest Niagara

Last weekend I went to Eco Fest Niagara with my family. I was excited to pick up any information for what is offered here in Niagara.

I went to each booth with an open mind and managed to talk to many of the people there. It is great to be in a room where everyone is interested in the same thing.

First was the booth of a very passionate man from Heartland Forest in Niagara Falls. I was unaware of it being around here. I was delighted to meet someone who was so excited to share his ideas and passion. He told us of his dream of starting this project, how he funded it himself and bought up all kinds of land by Niagara Square so that kids could come and enjoy nature. He fought with the city who wanted the land for industrial land and won. He has a tree house, a frog pond, and a butterfly garden among other things. There are 2 trails through the 93 acres of forest containing 20 species of trees and 50 species of birds. He has won awards from the government and the area for excellence. It is fully wheelchair accessible, and he invites families, schools, and anyone interested in seeing nature up close to come and see him. I will be going to FrogFest on May 2nd for sure.

Next, I picked up a great booklet called Household Guide to Water Efficiency from the booth ran by the city. I am hoping to find out ways to save on water in my house. It has some great information in it.

At the region booth, I asked about rain barrels and how to get one. There will be a sale sometime in June at the 4 pad arena. They will be about $40. (I can't find anymore information on it and will let you know when I do. Why it is so hard to find is disturbing...)

I picked up a brochure at the booth for the Niagara Local Food Co-Op. Twice a month, the farmer will post what he has available on the co-op's website, then members will have a week to place their order on line and go and pick up their produce at a designated pick up place in the city. I love the idea of getting my produce right from the farmer and saving on packaging, transportation, plus supporting our local farmers. The fee is $50 a year. Check out their website for more information.

A man at the next booth spoke to my daughter only. He talked to her about trees in Niagara. He showed her on a map where his organization is planting trees. He gave us a website to go to where Land Care Niagara is given $2 each time someone goes to the site and clicks on the Plant a Tree button. The sponsors donate money and he plants trees. Each $2 is enough to purchase and grow a tree for 2 years. My daughter was thrilled she can help by just planning to visit a website each day and vowed to tell all her friends about it.

Of course my daughters favorite booth was Lip Balm Labz. It was fun and smelled great. The fellow working behind was kind enough to let me take he picture after he made a yummy concoction of chocolate and orange lip balm for my daughter who cannot have any colouring. Do you have any idea how hard it is to find colourless lip balm? It is better than the Bonnie Bell kind I had as a kid. You know the kind.. you lick it off more than you wear it. Mmmm.

Last on my booth tour was to Enjo where my good friend Erin was busy teaching a group all about the wonders of cleaning using Enjo. I agreed to host another Enjo party with friends because I love the product and want more people to stop using chemicals when they clean. Enjo is great because it uses only water. Yes, water. Let me know and I will give you Erin's info if you are interested in seeing it work. You will never go back to chemicals and chapped hands again.

All in all a great show with lots to see and lots to learn about. Too many to mention in this brief blog post. I might write more later about some of the other places I visited.

The countdown is on for The Green Living Show in Toronto. We went last year and had a great time sampling organic foods and picking up information on anything from clothing to beauty products to cars. See you at the show.