Category: The Green Home
Ten Simple Things to do for Earth Day
It’s Earth Day and we all hear a lot about the very important details like recycling, planting trees, turning off water faucets and using less electricity. But, helping care for the Earth can extend to parts of life that are – dare we say – a bit unexpected, full of joy and changing in ways [...]
Act For The Planet – Making Green Fun With Earth Day Canada
It’s April, which means flowers blooming, rain falling and – of course – time to be a part of learning how to live lighter on the Earth as annual Earth Day celebrations begin. We here at Ourbigearth.com have long been lending a hand in that department and are super excited to Earth Day Canada’s new [...]
SPROUTS – Early Spring Kid Gardening Fun
Brrr, it’s chilly. On those afternoons when the bright sun makes it tolerable, I stroll aimlessly around my garden with hopeful ideas of planting. My daughter and I sample a bite from a patch of oregano as it pokes its head out of one of my veggie gardens. In the front yard we marvel over [...]
The Green Family – Making Cleaning The Fridge Nutritious
The chill of winter is duking it out with the warming sunshine of spring right now. It even looks that way in our refrigerators. All of that winter veg that we have been whipping up cozy meals with for the last few months is starting to give way to a few more spring-like items. But, [...]
The Green Family – Organizing Kid Chaos
The snow and cold of a hearty Canadian winter often brings on one thing – the need to get organized at home. We don’t know if it’s that the family spends so much time around the kitchen table or packed into the living room that the chaos finally goes to the next level, or the [...]
The Green Home – Winter Skin Care and Homemade Remedies
Canadian winters can be crazy on skin – especially the delicate skin of tiny people and the sensitive skin of busy moms. Here in Halifax, the freezing temperatures and icy winds of January have left their mark on our faces in the form of dry, dull skin as well as rough red patches and chapped [...]
Earth Day in the Bag – When Reusable Bags Aren’t So Green
Recently my son’s Kindergarten teacher asked parents if we had any plastic grocery bags we could bring to the class. Art projects were having a hard time surviving the trip from the classroom to the car. A recent soggy, wind-blown, tissue-paper flower garden project came to mind as he spoke. “And my wife and I only [...]
Home Helpers – Easy Solutions to Everyday Problems
Editor’s Note: This morning we have DIY guru Jeremy of www.easyppliancesparts.com EasyApplianceParts.com, an online resource for the DIY repair market and appliance parts retailer. I particularly appreciate Jeremy Godfrey jumping in today as I’ve been dealing with a couple of these daily monsters myself and now feel armed for success. Enjoy. For every problem there [...]
The Inspiring Value of Natural Toys
Depending on what parenting circles you roll in or the parenting theories you subscribe to, there has been a lot of talk the last couple of years of getting back to basics with toys, especially for younger kids. Most of the time the votes for such gear include non-toxic, safer, better for the environment – [...]
Spend An Hour In The Dark This Saturday
If there’s one thing most of us can admit about daily life, it’s ruled by energy. Turn the lights on to see, the computer to learn or play, the heat to keep warm. It’s time again to take an hour off from being totally plugged in and honor the planet this weekend as a part [...]
Planning for Spring – Get Your Seeds Started
Editor’s Note: Today Comox mom Kirra Gullickson has dropped by to get us all in the mood for Spring – even with this frosty weather. There’s no better time to be thinking about your garden than right now and she’s walking you through the process of seed starting with kids. Enjoy. There is something so [...]
Holidays 2010 – Awesome Alternatives to Wrapping Paper
Editor’s Note: While we are all bustling around getting ready for the big day, local entrepreneur Heidi Fuerste from First Curb Recycling is here this morning to talk shop about giving a gift to the environment this holiday season in the form of rethinking what you wrap gifts in. With the Christmas Season in full [...]
The Techno Family – Technology's Christmas Past
It was Christmas time 1977. I remember my mother’s family coming in from Ottawa, driving past mountains of snow piled up on the sides of the roads. That was the year my brother and I had to jump out of our second floor windows so we could shovel the snow away from the front door [...]
Upcycling Kids Costumes
We often giggle at our house that we are like the drop-off point for all things strange, weird and probably usable in a costume a some point. So, when Halloween comes around, it has been a darn long time since we hit the costume rack at London Drugs. Some years, the get-ups have been crazy [...]
The Techno Family – A Walk Through The Digital Graveyard
The digital graveyard. Every town, city and country has one and they’re growing. Electronics probably have the highest turnover rates of any consumer products and yet are some of the hardest items to recycle properly. That is until recently, as a host of options are opening up. If someone were to ask you how many [...]
Ease the Wallet with Consignment
When it comes to heading back to school, one of the fun annual rituals that gets the whole family out of the house is scoring some great clothes for the school year. New clothes are so much fun. Just the sight of something fresh and unfamiliar in the closet can inspire. But, the bill for [...]
Crush Of The Month – EcoFan Pro
It’s funny the things you fall in love with. In our house, finding ways to make work life a bit more lovely, a bit more eco and a bit more soothing rate very, very high. There’s too much sharing of life and work space to have it any other way. A while back I got [...]
Product Review – Tazzy Totes Produce Storage Bags
Happy Monday. Remember a couple of years ago when the Comox Valley Chamber of Commerce first launched their Grab Your Bag Campaign? I wanted to go plastic-free. But, I kept forgetting my shopping bags at home and then would have to turn around after I got all the way to the store – at least [...]
Crush of the Month – RW Knudsen Spritzers
Happy Monday! Do you ever go through deep and meaningful love phases with things in your life? I get some very serious crushes. Just ask Ken who has seen me watch the same movie every day for two weeks straight, eat the same thing for lunch for a month or fall head over heals for [...]
The Green Wallet – Too Much Stuff Requires Responsible Choices
Editor’s Note: If you missed the scoop on how you can get involved in tomorrow’s annual Mile of Flowers Plant In, you can get all the information HERE. Now, here’s Anthony Edwards with a look at all that stuff we take, make and waste. Here he is: I remember the conversation as if it were [...]
Rethink May Be Better than Recycle
Editor’s Note: Good morning. Today Gayle Bates in on site with a look at how rethinking the way you use things can be even more powerful than recycling. Here she is: I have the privilege of working a contract with the Comox Valley Regional District, as a Waste Reduction Educator. The CVRD Waste Reduction Program [...]
Getting Kids Excited About Earth Day
“You must be the change you wish to see in this world.” – Mahatma Ghandi April is fast approaching, and with it comes Earth Day. April 22 marks the annual celebration of our planet. It’s a time to reflect upon our individual and collective impact, and learn about a sustainable future. The first ever Earth [...]
Zac Whyte's Lunatic Disposable Cups
I‘ve been hearing whisperings around town for a while about a film being made right here in the Comox Valley. Today, Zac Whyte and his crew released the trailer for Disposable – The Billion-Cup Blood Bath featuring local stars like Maya from Freakin’ Coffee. Check it out: Disposable – The Billion Cup Blood Bath from [...]
Holiday Recycling – Shrinking the Mountain of Merry Waste
Out of bed at the crack of dawn, my brother and I would eagerly creep our way towards the living room where Santa had left his mark, the stockings were stuffed full and the space beneath the tree was piled high with presents. We were always astounded by the sight. Santa’s gifts were almost always [...]
Monday Morning Moms – Green Stocking Stuffers
Usually, right around Dec. 15 every year, I realize that Christmas is in 10 days and I have nothing for anyone. I vowed that would not be the case this season and actually got the bulk of the Santa Clausing wrapped up this weekend. The big stuff is, for me, the easiest to knock off [...]
A Mom's Guide to Greener Holidays
Tis the season to consume. The holidays are all about stuff. Why is it that this time of year brings out the worst in spending? People go crazy with trend and forget all about tradition. The season is supposed to be about joy, gratitude, family and friends. But this appears to be lacking, at least [...]
Sprouts – Discovering A Garden
Editor’s Note: This morning we have local garden enthusiast Kendra Quince discovering the treasures within her new garden and giving us a helping hand with identifying unknown plants and flowers. Here she is: Well, I have to admit, I’m not sure where to start. This new garden is throwing me off. Suddenly my yard is [...]
Green-e-ology – Conserving The Heat
Old Man Winter is sneaking up on us – making his way through fallen leaves, rain puddles and dark skies. The days are shorter and the nights are colder. I’ve officially been moved out of flip-flops and tank-tops and pushed towards a cold weather wardrobe. I love the seasonal change – the falling leaves, cold [...]
Think Green for Halloween
Editor’s note: Today we have the fantastic and energetic Gayle Bates and the debut of her green education column. She’ll be here once a month to talk shop about how families can walk more gently on the Earth by reducing, reusing and recycling. Tips and tricks abound! Here she is: Oh Halloween and the thrill [...]
Leaving Your Garden Behind
Editor’s Note: Happy Friday. This morning we have gardening goddess Kendra Quince taking us through the steps of moving a garden from one home to another. Here she is: Every year at this time, I begin to feel a little sad. Pulling out the plants and harvesting what remains of the garden reminds me that [...]
Creating An Idle-Free Zone
It began with a pet peeve and some serious evaluation. Oh, that drive-thru line-up with its length of vehicles and thick haze of exhaust. Oh, the strong smell of exhaust as you and your child walk beside a parked car, its engine running and the driver nowhere in sight. What’s the point of unnecessary idling? [...]
SPROUTS – Fall Flowers and Garden Chores
Editor’s Note: Kendra Quince is with us this morning. She’s got some serious fall gardening fever and has been busy harvesting, cleaning up and preparing for next year. Plus she has a fabulous way to make good use of fallen flower petals. Here she is: Ah, September. I get that back-to-school feel even though my children are [...]
The Green Kid Party In Action
Editor’s Note: Bevin Clempson is here today letting us take a peek into her son’s very cool green birthday bash and her adventures in planning. This whole green thing is complicated some days. Have a great Friday! Last month my wee dude turned 3. It was the first ever kiddo-centric party I had ever thrown. [...]
Twitter About #Realfood to Help Evergreen
Editor’s Note: First, the bad news. As Environment Canada is predicting a temp of 35 degrees today, we have decided to CANCEL our NeighbourWood Eats program. I can’t imagine learning how to can in this weather and we really don’t want to have kiddos getting sick out in the blistering sun. So, we’ll get something [...]
Green-e-ology – Mis-Adventures In Canning
Editor’s Note: Good Morning! Thinking local grains today? Check out the Brambles Demo with True Grains Bakery at 11 a.m. But, really, the big event of the week is tomorrow when Royston’s ASH Berry Farm hosts the final Farm Event of the 30-Day Challenge. It’s going to be hot. So, what better way to cool [...]
SPROUTS – Build A Family Greenhouse
Editor’s Note: Good morning. Thinking local food today is all about date night. Get on the horn to grandma or the babysitter and plan for a great evening of local food at Bisque, Anderton Bistro-Pub, The Great Escape (I am so in the mood for Indian food) or Locals-Food From the Heart of the Island [...]
SPROUTS – Get the Low Down on Good Garden Bugs
Editor’s Note: I am loving all of this time in the garden this time of year. My mother-in-law might wonder “What time in the garden is she talking about? I never see her in the backyard.” It’s true. It seems that most of my time is spent out at the Comox Valley Regional District Compost [...]
Green-e-ology – Green Your Kid's Birthday Party
Editor’s Note: Today Suzanne Corrin, owner of Green Planet Parties in Port Moody has dropped by to give us some seriously great tips on how to green our kids birthday parties. I have to say that I personally love the Suzanne’s (both owners are named Suzanne) and their products. After searching high and low for [...]
Register Today for Family Community Garden Plots
I have a huge confession to make. My thumb, it’s brown. I’ve perfected the art of picking and eating veggies, am a big fan of the farmer’s market and all things farm stand related. But, please, don’t give me something and ask me to make it grow. The chance of seeds actually becoming veggies is [...]
Earth Day Family Fest is All About Community
Right around Noon yesterday I looked across Simms Park from where I was guiding folks to art making, terrarium construction, binocular building and wool felting and spotted my childhood. There stood about 15 or 20 kiddos, potato sacks pulled up to their waists, waiting, waiting, waiting – GO! Down the field hopped smiling faces, laughing, [...]
Lower Grocery Bills with Smart Food Planning
Editor’s Note: Sarah Stromquist is here this morning with her supermom advice (she’s amazing) on how to shop, cook and plan smart while keeping to a strict grocery budget. That leads me to our Earth Day thought for the day. Think local. I know, I know. It’s all the rage. But there’s a good reason [...]
SPROUTS – Composting, Family-Style
Editor’s Note: Good Morning. SPROUTS gardening goddess Kendra Quince is here to kick off our Earth Month goodness with a quick lesson in composting. While I’ve got you thinking gardening, this gives me the chance to announce some big news here at Our Big Earth. On Monday morning (April 6), if you wake up bright [...]
Green-e-ology: Hanging Laundry = Big Savings
Showing up at my house unannounced on a laundry day during Winter months has people wondering if they’ve entered some type of laundry house. Clothes are hanging to dry ALL over. Shirts, jeans, socks and underwear are in plain view. [that’s right, even underwear] I make good use of my wooden drying rack and the [...]
Local Youth, Helen Austin Create "Island Home"
So, a while back the Shape The Future Comox Valley folks invited me to give a quick talk to the crew at their meeting of local residents focused on developing a sustainability plan for the Valley. While I was there to talk to the adults, I was totally wowed by a crew of Huband Park [...]
Green-e-ology – Save Money, Unplugged
Not so long ago I was searching online for power saving ideas (no gigantic bill this time, just pure curiosity). I came across information about power usage for electronic devises that are not in use and was amazed to learn that many electronic devices continue to use power when switched off, or in stand-by mode. [...]
Monday Morning Mom Poll – Green Laundry Soap
Welcome to Monday. If yours is anything like our house, one of the biggest challenges we have with being more eco-minded is the constant din of the washer and/or dryer. We hang clothes year-around and try like heck to keep the laundry low. But, it seems like someone is always down in the basement throwing [...]
SPROUTS – Plan Your Family Garden
I’m getting excited! The odd peek at sunshine and warmer afternoons means Spring is on its way! I may have a few months to go before I can even plant outside, but I can already taste the sweet harvest… that means its time for me and the kids to start planning our family garden After [...]
Win Kids Gear with the Click of the Camera
M and I just spent an hour or so watching the gorgeous sunrise this morning and, while we were busy telling stories about unicorns in the clouds and watching them change lovely, mid-Winter shades of pink and orange, she belted out “This needs a picture mommy. Go get the camera.” While I passed, wanting more [...]
Paper or Plastic? Cloth Bags are the Only Eco Option
Editor’s Note: 2009 in the Comox Valley is, when it comes to basic steps for greening your daily lives, poised to be the year of the reusable bag. As the Comox Valley Chamber continues to gear up with its bag-less Comox Valley initiative (local businesses are being asked to only offer reusable bag options starting [...]
Presenting Our 2008 Holiday Green Guide
Good morning. As we are just about to head off to a very soggy Santa Claus Parade today I am getting more and more into the holiday spirit. There’s lots of creating going on around our house – our first batch of almond toffee appeared a few days ago, sparkling walnut ornaments, homemade pompom bows [...]
A Sustainable Partnership
Last Wednesday, as our daughter and I were headed off to the NeighbourWood Walk out at Lazo Marsh, we drove along the dyke road in the gleaming sunshine and she made an announcement. “Look at the magic, mommy?” I had no idea what she was talking about. “Look, out on the ocean, it’s like magic [...]
Get Water Wise, Turn the Tap Off on Your Hydro Bill
Editor’s Note: I very much believe that it is up to us to make sure our children’s Earth is alive and well. We are the keepers of the future. If we live for today, that’s not good enough. I could, and often consider, going on a mad tirade about it all. But, we all know [...]
Turn Your Halloween Green with Free Gear
If I was talking to our daughter, she’d be hoping I was bringing up the green chatter about the spooky monster costume her daddy is concocting for her this year. It’s between that and a spooky ghost. Somehow, if daddy is in charge, the green monster will definitely win. The tiny person may think green [...]
Putting The Garden to Sleep
So, here we are with the cooler nights and still the hot sun during the day. Ah, Fall. Time to harvest the rewards after a long season of gardening. Seems a shame to put the garden to bed with the weather we’ve been having, but alas it must be done before we are caught off [...]
Preschool Books About Being Green
Hi. My name is Robin…and I’m a book-a-holic. It doesn’t matter, really, what kind of book it is. I more than likely get an e-mail newsletter about it. I love to look through lists, check out what’s new – and I love kids books most of all at my current place in life. The only [...]
Kid-Friendly Garden Parties
Rain, rain go away…. But, on the other hand, a cooler day makes it easier to get out into that garden to investigate. Suddenly treasures are popping up everywhere! One by one our tomatoes are turning red, the peas are plump and sweet. Then, we find something new in the garden – a gnome hiding [...]
The Path to Edible Plants
Editor’s Note: The relationship between me and gardening is a little too green for me to think that sharing my experiences with you are something useful, although they may be mildly entertaining in a Ben Stiller embarrassing sort of way. But, I am not without hope that gardening will grow on me, and the tiny [...]
Build A Pollinator Garden
The first year we lived in our house, the bees were everywhere and our apple trees rewarded us with the biggest, juiciest apples I’ve ever had the pleasure of biting into. Last year, for some reason, the bees came in much smaller waves, and our apples were nearly non-existent. It was sad and a bit [...]
When Preschool Gardening Gives Way to Absentmindedness
Bad news first: I have no brain. It has been missing since about six months into pregnancy…and it is now becoming painfully apparent that its continued decline is starting to effect our day-to-day well being. …at least when it comes to gardening. After our unfortunate leaving-outside-overnight incident last week, I lovingly put the sprouts back [...]
Recycled Easter Crafts
Today’s comment challenge: What is your favourite part of Easter? What events do you try to hit or traditions do you have? Bonus points for craft and food ideas:) I’ve got a Super Scrapbooking Kit for one random commenter. There are times, on those days when I have to fight through the gigantic pile of [...]
Our First Preschool Garden Casualty
The whole gardening-for-the-first time is bound to have some seedling drama. Today, we had to officially say goodbye to our lettuce, which struggled long and hard after the transplant (note to self: plant lettuce directly into the ground) It was a sad, solemn day as we had hoped that somehow by magic everything we planted [...]
The Preschool Garden Replant
Today’s comment challenge: What were your favourite childhood family projects? Do you build those into your family life today? Reesh, you definitely score in the comment department. A Log’s Life is yours! Today, I’ve got a cool dinosaur puzzle for one random commenter. So, jump in and win! There’s nothing like digging in the dirt. [...]
Sprouts – Mid-Week Update
As part of the gardening journal, we’ll be doing short, periodic updates about what’s growing (lots of photos) in addition to the bi-montly write-up. We have Sprouts! Here are some from Day 3: Lettuce and radishes just popping up. Zucchini nearly sprouting. Here’s from last night: The zucchini and marigolds have sprouted and the radishes [...]
Recycle Your Christmas Tree
I have decided that the most depressing day of Winter is the day that the family takes the Christmas tree down. It’s no wonder some folks leave their lights up until February. Once the twinkle of the holidays gets packed away, waiting for the weather to warm up and the sun to come out makes [...]
Homemade Wrapping Paper
I am not going to try today, in any way, to lead us all down the path of making our own paper in a by-hand, from-scratch sort of way. If I had infinite hours in the day and unholy amounts of patience, I might personally go that route of fiber, water and binding agents. But, [...]
Holiday Green Guide 2007
Pulling the trappings of the holiday season together and getting them ready for the big day is where you can really make a difference environmentally this year. Millions of rolls of wrapping and tissue paper will end up decorating presents in the next few weeks – and I was seriously shocked to learn that not [...]
Nature Crafts – Pine Cone Creatures
There is a pile of pine cones around our house that was becoming rather unwieldy. Lately, the big thrill of a walk in the woods is the collection of anything cool that has fallen onto the trail – leaves from the trees, seed pods, acorns and one thing in particular – pine cones. Knowing that [...]
Park the Car, Grab the Kids, Ride the Bus
CVK mom Christa Herrling is back here today talking about something she is most definitely an expert on – making excellent use of the Valley transit system. Avid bus riders, Christa and her tiny person clue us all in today on the nuances and benefits of leaving the car parked in the driveway and heading [...]
The Snack-O-Lantern
Halloween is gone. But, those gooey pumpkins remain. So. we decided to wow you with a super cool eco-minded idea from one of our very favourite family-friendly get-your-kiddos-outside sites Green Hour. We carved five pumpkins this year. They kept showing up around our house and, eventually, we thought we ought to get on the festive [...]
Green Living – Hit the Library
When it comes to the collective environmental conscience, using the library on a regular basis never really crossed my mind as Eco until recently. Around here, we are big fans of the thrift store book. I selfishly refuse to share where the best second-hand children’s books are in town simply because I want them all [...]
Creative Parenting – Growing Up Green
In our every deliberation we must consider the impact of our decisions on the next seven generations. – Iroquois invocation While our tiny people aren’t often privy to the details now being revealed in the news about a planet in ecological crisis, they somehow inherently understand their role in the future of the Earth. My [...]
Egg Carton Tulips and, well, Bats
Egg cartons are one of those things that I never know what to do with. The styrofoam ones are just plain landfill rubbish, the cardboard ones just beg to be reused. But, no matter what, I always end up with a stack of them cluttering up a corner of the kitchen (we are major egg [...]
Homemade Playdough Recipe
I don’t know how anyone else is managing this week’s worth of rain-filled, unscheduled free time. But, when we stumbled into the kitchen, peeked out the window and found rain again this morning I seriously wondered how today could possibly not involve many, many hours of Bob The Builder and Little Bear. Hesitant to log [...]
