Category Archives: Sustainability

Japan, Society, Sustainability, Travel

Air Travel Piling Up this Year, Guilty Feelings, Too

We’ve kept our air travel down for many years, as it’s one of the most carbon-intensive ways to move around our suffering planet.

But we’ve got several trips lined up this year, and while I’m excited, I’m also feeling guilty.

We haven’t visited Yumi’s parents in Japan for many years, so that’s on the agenda.

We have a friend in the UK who will be travelling later in the year and who says we’re welcome to use her apartment. Wow.

And there’s a bunch of us in-laws hitting our sixties this year, so there’s another travel-intensive gathering planned. .  .

And we have not one, but two, family weddings this year in eastern Canada, which shall require travel from here on the west coast.

I have an aunt who often laments the days of family all living in one village, within steps of each other.

Yup.

Yeah, there are carbon offsets. And yeah, we are probably one of the most enviro-friendly families around.

But still . . . We’re gonna have a huge carbon smack this year. Sigh. . .

Streamkeeping, Sustainability

Productive SEHAB Meetings in Vancouver

Just got home from three days of SEHAB (Salmon Enhancement & Habitat Advisory Board) meetings.

We had several excellent presentations from both federal and provincial staff, and a renewed sense of optimism that DFO and the province are making progress toward working together to build momentum on some longstanding fish and habitat issues.

It was also great to hear from SEHAB members from across BC who represent their DFO Community Advisors’ geographical areas, and collate reports from stewardship groups to take to DFO Regional Headquarters in Vancouver.

SEHAB is an amazing crew with a wealth of knowledge and experience, and it’s been a privilege and a huge learning experience being on the board.

I’m exhausted, but it’s a satisfying exhaustion .

sehab meeting vancouver


Ya gotta eat, and a lot of discussion and knowledge sharing continues over meals

Business, Photography, Sustainability

Single-Serve Soy Sauce Silliness

I was cleaning the fridge today and found we’d accumulated enough single-serve packs of soy sauce over the last year or so to amount to a full measuring cup.

Seems like such wasteful packaging. I try to remember when ordering Chinese takeout to tell them not to include any, but forget now and then. And often sushi comes in sets prepackaged with single serves. . .

single serve soy sauce

Nature, Streamkeeping, Sustainability

Pitt River Stream of Dreams

I spent an intensive three days this week at École Pitt River Middle School doing the Stream of Dreams Murals Society environmental education and community art project.

Years ago I was on the Stream of Dreams board for about seven years, and now I’m back in training to do some PT gigs helping out with delivering the program.

Thanks to Krystal and Cass of Echo Ecological for their guidance, patience, and good humour.

And thanks to all the students, teachers, and staff who participated! What a great bunch!

Stream of Dreams Program Pitt River Middle School

Nature, Society, Sustainability

Temperature Perceptions Shift as Autumn Approaches

Funny how a usually comfortable temp on the rising side can make me feel hot, and the same temp on the falling side can make me feel cold.

I’m in that awkward “summer is ending fall is approaching what to wear” phase .

Even contemplated lighting the pilot light in the high-efficiency gas fireplace/heater on the main floor, but will hold off for another week or two, unless the usually colder females in the house want to.

The long-anticipated and much appreciated rain has also likely affected temperature perception. Here on the wet temperate west coast we never heat 24/7 even in the depths of winter. Usually an hour or so a few times a day to take the chill and dampness out of the air suffices.

Ha, threw on a long-sleeved sweatshirt, had a mug of coffee, and now I’m starting to sweat in my basement office .

Nature, Photography, Sustainability

Invasive Species Council of Metro Vancouver Spring Forum 2018

The 2018 Spring Forum of the Invasive Species Council of Metro Vancouver today at Mundy Park in Coquitlam, BC, was lots of fun and with educational presentations and a walk in the park to boot.

I joined the board of directors about a year ago, and greatly enjoy opportunities to hang out with this dedicated group that has such a breadth of knowledge and experience.


Beautiful location in Mundy Park

ISCMV Spring Forum
Good turnout


Pamela Zevit of the South Coast Conservation Program leads a walk in the park

Hmm. . .

Nature, Photography, Streamkeeping, Sustainability

Don’t Step in the Poop, Dear, People Want to Look at It

Don’t step in the poop, dear, people want to look at it. 🙂

Overheard today from a parent to a young child during a tracks and scat talk ‘n walk at the Kanaka Creek Stewardship Centre in Maple Ridge, BC.

Super event, great fun and educational to boot.


Folks taking turns observing raccoon tracks


Lovely Kanaka Creek


Scat with bones in it


Claw marks


The lovely stewardship centre


A cool bug

Kanaka Creek Tracks Scat
Yumi on the bridge


Moi enjoying the creek and forest