Two more sleeps to TEDxToronto and I must say I'm still stoked to have been invited to attend. And what exactly does TEDx have to do with maintaining an organic lifestyle for my family while on a cozy budget? Not much my friends - except for the fact that there... Continue reading

I've been trying lots of earth friendly household cleaning products over the past two years with the prices ranging from jaw-dropping to too good to be true. I have to admit their ability to clean dishes (in particular) varied just as much. I was looking for clean dishes and a... Continue reading

Believe it or not, we are quickly moving into apple harvesting season. Having grown up in a 60's subdivision build on an old apple orchard. I know a thing or two about apples. With a fist full of apple trees in our suburban back yard we were always pruning, foraging,... Continue reading

Now that local produce availability is at its peak, here's a handy reference for typical produce availability in Ontario. This digital magazine is made available by Harvest Ontario, the largest and most comprehensive source for local including on-farm markets, pick-your-own, farmers' markets, farmgate honey producers, local meats, wineries, craft breweres,... Continue reading

This is an easy and extreemly tasty salad to pull together when you have fresh tomatoes handy. I came back from the organic market this morning with my CSA order in hand. Oh, the amazing produce I received! The jewel of the crop were the sweet and perfectly ripe baby... Continue reading

There are few things more enjoyable than visiting a local farmers market. Here are some snaps from my trip to the Oakville Organic Farmers Market on June 16th. Many thanks to all of the generous people who told me about their farms and the wonderful produce they grow. Kindness abounds... Continue reading

After volunteering at the Green Living Show this year and seeing a demo of the mother of all blenders - the Vitamix - I've been obsessed with getting one. Oh, the smoothies, frozen (yes frozen) deserts and the soups (yes soups) I could make with this bad ass blender. Check... Continue reading

Although summer is just around the corner the rainy weather and cooler temperature has given me the craving for something cozy to eat tonight. Looks like sauteed red cabbage with garlic, organic red potatoes and organic roma beans will hit the spot. Since we last spoke, lots has happened... Before... Continue reading

Yesterday was a dreary day and a cozy supper was just what the family needed. Problem was; it was 4 o'clock and everyone was already grumbling about being hungry. No worries, we'll pulled together a quick curried beef, chick peas (for the Vegetarian), sauted up some swiss chard with cabbage... Continue reading

So even though I'm not buying any clothing or fashion accessories for a YEAR (only 9 months left to go) here's a great list of fashion leaders who design with a bigger purpose. Enjoy. The Ultimate List of Conscious Fashion Designers (From A-Z) via ecosalon.com Continue reading

I'm always trying to find new ways to work vegetables into our family diet. The Husband and Vegetarian are no problem but the Picky Eater (my 18 year-old) is another matter. Okay, she's legally an adult but I'm still trying to teach core cooking and (frankly) eating skills to her.... Continue reading

Here's a link to a short smart article from Grist with some considerations for which drink packaging has less impact on the environment. In the “organic” aisle I see many juices and other liquids in plastic containers. I’d like to think packaging that had its origin in paper would be... Continue reading

Last week I watched the online premier of the documentary film Hungry for Change. In the film they talked a lot about juicing. It got me wanting to give it a try. We always have loads of fresh organic vegetables and fruit in the house and juicing sounded like a... Continue reading

A good friend of ours always brings oatcakes to our home when they visit. He brings a double batch and we (well mostly me) savor them until they are gone. Simple, hearty and natural - oatcakes are great with sweet and savory accompaniments alike. I particularly love them with a... Continue reading

Since lentils are going to be a recurring theme around here for a while I thought some extra information might be helpful. Here's an interesting article I found on the Canadian Lentils website. I had no idea lentils were not beans! Did you know that? Lentils are a type of... Continue reading

On January 10, 2012 I signed up for an amazing challenge; I would not purchase any clothing or fashion accessories for 1 year. I committed to the Free Fashion Challenge. I am a self confessed fashion junkie. I have a huge wardrobe and this seemed like a great way to... Continue reading

So there I was on Saturday buying groceries when I spied a honkin' 25 pound bag of organic green lentils for a mere $29. Dubious of our ability to consume 25 pounds of lentils within a reasonable amount of time I walked away from the deal. Of course, I went... Continue reading

Photo: Martha Stewart Having a teenage vegetarian in the house is not without it's challenges. The menu is constantly rotating to avoid boredom and to ensure she is getting all of the right nutrients. We were doing pretty good until the announcement at Christmas that fish was off the menu.... Continue reading