Andrea's Everything Eco Exploration

So my family has a property in the Nicola Valley in British Columbia, and it's basically off the grid. we only have a large propane tank that powers the lights the stove and the fridge. We have running water using a gravity system and we heat water on the stove. We have a pot belly stove to warm the cabin up, and that's  all. I really love it up there because it's an escape from the constant consumption of city life. We actually have two plots of property, but only one is developed. My dream is to build an eco-home on the property, with wind turbines and solar panels, because up  there it is either sunny or windy. It could be sourced from nearby resources, perhaps naturally felled trees from the forest  on the other side of the dirt road. I just found this great article on how to make your own wind turbine! I thinking the next summer or two I'll get all the skilled men in my life to help put it together, and start making a little dream home! It could have a greenhous...

I found this incredible video on upworthy.com which really explains the process and the problems with fracking. I suggest you take a look if you've ever wondered what fracking really is. The video tells us that the hydraulic fluid used is full of chemicals that energy companies don't need to disclose on the basis of trade secrets. And this fluid is sent gushing into newly fractured rock, does it's job then get's sucked out. Fine, if only they did something responsible with that liquid after, since it contains so much water and so much hazardous materials.  But they stick it back in the ground! Sending it down into bedrock that is becoming increasingly compromised by the fine fissures from fracking. We don't know what will happen to these materials, if they will mingle with ground water, if they will travel to areas where residential wells have been constructed. Over time contamination will find its way through every little crack. This does not bode well.

Hello! I am now finished my work term with the Recycling Council of Alberta, and I'm feeling great. The final presentations went well, our work was well received and maybe event helped! But I have learned an amazing amount about the world of recycling, and for that I couldn't be happier. Everyone at the RCA is great, and I like them so much I'm going to volunteer at their yearly conference here in Calgary in October! So I'm excited to have made such a great contact at a wonderful Non-Profit Organization. And of course becoming Mr. Oil Drop was an experience I will never forget...

I've been browsing a lot of environmentally themed pages on Facebook and they have some amazing stuff on there. I'll share some with you, because they're really smart, and I just want a record of it so I can put them into use later! this is a link to an aqua-ponic system that works in conjunction with your fresh water aquarium. It uses the fish waste to promote healthy plant growth in a plot on top of the aquarium. Genius. http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/975759058/the-blue-green-box s: And also this: Those were both from Trust me I'm an Eco-designer at https://www.facebook.com/GreenSetGo which is a great page for cool ideas and thoughts. Give a Shit About Nature (GASAN) is also sweet. I bought a shirt from them, and twenty trees were planted because of it! (the white is a bit see-through though) But really soft!

For those who support pipelines because it would create jobs, the truth is that there are more jobs in the recycling industry than the auto or oil industry. These jobs are permanent, secure and environmentally conscious, unlike those of the oil industry which harm the environment, deplete resources and cause health issues across the province. Harper is gung-ho for stimulating the economy, but sometimes stopping destruction of the ecosystem and nature might be more important than creating jobs. In my opinion that would garner a more important longer term environmental security in North America. This is what Harper said recently in response to Obama's reluctance to build the Keystone Pipeline. "The perspective of this government is very clear, it is very well-known by everyone in Washington, I think. And that is — first of all, our number 1 priority in Canada is the creation of jobs — this is a project that will create jobs on both sides of the border, and it...

So it's week three of plastic free July. I admit I tried hard, but still could not avoid plastic completely. Though being so aware definitely made me cut back a lot, and realize how prevalent plastic really is. It's tough, but we can all make small steps to be more plastic free. A lot of it as refusing the convenience items we are so used to, and it's not always easy, but it's not impossible!

This video is so powerful. I watched it and cried, even. David Suzuki is my role model, and he just has a way of explaining things so eloquently. I would strongly suggest you watch this video, and rethink the way things have to be. Personally, my goal in life is to be removed from the grid, self sustaining and working with and alongside nature to create my own healthy ecosystem. It'll take a while to get there, as I have been born into this capitalist society, which has me following their rules. But every day I am making choices that bring my future closer. And you can too. Remember to think about the bigger picture, all the other organisms involved in each action. Buying disposable items, for instance, is dangerous; the waste may not be disposed of properly, ending up in the environment and into animals' paths. Countless animals have been hindered hurt and killed by the packaging we use for simple convenience. The price is too high, as plastic is so foreign nature can't...