Earth Day is here again, and I’ve got a few words for the faint of heart. We can all agree that there’s much to love about this planet, and we know how threatened it is by forces seemingly beyond our control. People can almost be divided into two camps: those who believe that we can ameliorate the dangers, and those who feel helpless. Without offering some grandiose vision full of unrealistic hopes, I’d like to say a few personal words to the latter group about “meaningful agency”. [Read more…]
Rites of Spring: the wildlife-friendly garden
The vernal equinox has just passed, and now it’s time to think about the garden in earnest. As we draw plans, dig the soil and pat seedlings into place, how many of us stop to think about the implications of how we garden, how we interact with nature? [Read more…]
Design for the 95%
I often talk about “building small” as a good strategy for sustainable living. But what does “small” mean? These days, the average new Canadian home, built for 2-3 people, measures 2,000 square feet. I define a small house as one that minimizes space per person while allowing a comfortable lifestyle for its occupants. About 1,200 square feet or less for a couple, or under 1,500 square feet for a family with kids, would fit this criterion. [Read more…]
The ‘Dinosaur Home’: heading for extinction
One of our oldest human institutions is the home. For as long as our species has existed, we’ve occupied spaces and made them our own. As we’ve evolved, so have the form and concept of “home,” giving rise to the detached, single-family dwelling that eventually became normative for many people. [Read more…]
Suburban lawns: adrift on a sea of green
Have you ever stopped in a street full of big, green, perfectly groomed lawns and wondered, “WHY”? As places to socialize or grow food, backyards really have primacy in North America. Those seas of green in front of our houses are mostly unjustified by any human activity. [Read more…]
The Sustainable Commute
I spent the past weekend “winterizing my commute”. This didn’t mean putting on my snow tires; rather, I made sure that the trail I walk to work (and home for lunch) each day will be passable in the rainy, snowy months to come. A pair of tree loppers, a bit of scrap wood, and an investment of some spare time were all it took. Now a couple of bridges get me across the creek behind our office; bark mulch keeps the mud at bay. [Read more…]
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