Wednesday 22 June 2011

Going Green

Genesis 1:26. Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth and over all the creatures that move along the ground."

Over the last few months, I have been thinking about environmentalism, recycling and our impact as man kind on the earth, the more I think on this the more I am convicted as a Christian that this should be one of my priorities.  Shouldn't we who believe that God gave us to rule over the earth be leading the way in being good stewards?
Well what better way then by example, so as a family this year we have decided to try and make some significant changes to reduce our "foot print".  
Some of those changes include, making our own cleaners, thus reducing waste from product packaging while using environmentally friendly chemical free cleaners.  Eating locally, to reduce emissions and refusing to buy products with excess packaging, such as boxed cereal.
Our hope as a family is that by next year we will be canning from May-Oct and only eating "clean food".  Alberta is one of the best places to do this as we grow almost everything here and have lot's of local meat and dairy.
If you'd like to join us on this quest you can, we'd love to do this with a bunch of you.
Also  you can check out this really neat documentary of a couple who went completely green.  It's called 'No Impact Man'.  They didn't use toilet paper for a year, no electricity and all sort of other things, perhaps a bit extreme but definitely interesting and informative.  Makes you think for sure about what else you could be doing.  
You can also check out all sorts of books about eating locally, and here is a list of our local farmers markets, I hope this post will inspire you to change even one thing in your home to make it a little greener.  Also stay tuned for updates on our changes and how life looks with four green kids.

Airdrie Farmer’s Market

June 2 to September 30, Wednesdays 3:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Royal Canadian Legion, 3 Ave. S.E., Airdrie,            403-948-2760      airdriefarmersmarket.com

Bearspaw Lions Farmers’ Market

June 6 to October 3, Sundays 10 a.m.to 2 p.m.
Lions Clubhouse, RR 4,             403-239-0201      bearspawlions.com

Blackfoot Market

May 21 to October 31, Fridays noon to 7 p.m., Saturdays 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sundays 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
5600 11 St. S.E.,                   blackfootmarket.ca

Calgary Farmers’ Market

Year round, Fridays and Saturdays 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sundays 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Currie Barracks, 4421 Quesnay Wood Dr. S.W.,                   (until November); 510 77 Ave. S.E. (as of February),
calgaryfarmersmarket.ca

Hillhurst Sunnyside Farmers Market

June 2 to October 6, Wednesdays 3:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Hillhurst Sunnyside Community Centre, 1320 5 Ave. N.W.,farmersmarket.hillhurstsunnyside.org

Kingsland Farmers’ Market

Year round. Outdoor market open July 7 to mid-October, Wednesdays to Fridays noon to 6:30 p.m, Saturdays 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Indoor market opens  mid-October Thursday to Saturdays 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sundays 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
7711 Macleod Tr. S.,             403-217-2343      

Millarville Farmer’s Market

June 12 to October 9, 8:30 a.m. to noon Millarville Race Track,
20 minutes S.W. of Calgary off Hwy. 22,                   ,millarville-ab.com

Okotoks Farmers’ Market

July 2 to September 24, Fridays 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Okotoks Country Living, southwest corner of Hwy. 7 and
Southridge Dr.,             403-938-1516      

South Calgary Public Farmers’ Market

June 17 to September 30, Thursdays 3:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Grey Eagle Casino, 3777 Grey Eagle Dr. S.W. (near Glenmore Trail and 37th Street S.W.), southcalgarymarket.com

South Fish Creek Recreation Association Farmers’ Market

June 11 to September 24, Fridays 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. South Arena parking lot, 100, 333 Shawville Blvd. S.E., sfcra.com

Triwood-Mountain View Lions Farmers’ Market

June 3 to September 30, Thursdays3:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Triwood
Community Centre, 2244 Chicoutimi Dr. N.W.,            403-282-8061