Nature Challenge in Action

We're making simple changes in our lives in order to protect environment.  And it works. Here are some of your stories.

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November 5, 2007 We recently had a party that encouraged our guests to bring food with locally grown ingredients. In keeping with the book, “The 100-mile diet,” the party-goers had to make food with ingredients that were grown within a one hundred mile radius of Barrie. The party was a huge success. The food was fantastic. It looked very different from other parties where so much of the food gets defrosted. Everyone rose to the challenge and created tantalizing dishes that were sumptuous to the eyes and the taste buds. To encourage our guests not to cheat we required they pay a $5.00 penalty (donated to the Foundation) for each ingredient that came from out of bounds. We would like to challenge others to try a similar theme. Ines Enderlein (Barrie, ON)

November 1, 2007 In addition to helping protect the environment by taking the Nature Challenge, my husband and I are realizing significant economic benefits. Over the past five years, our equal billing for hydro and gas has dropped more than $30.00 a month each. This was achieved by dropping the temperature in our home by three degrees in the winter, cooling with ceiling fans, replacing our old fridge with one with an energy star rating, using compact fluorescent lights, sealing around doors and windows and using a clothesline, weather permitting. We've planted a tree, walk or bike more often, shop locally and are actively involved in making our community more ecologically sustainable. And of course, we support the David Suzuki Foundation monthly!! There's still a lot of room for improvement - we'll keep working at it. Janice Horgos

October 22, 2007 Last week I sat down to read the last chapter of the Suzuki autobiography.  When i turned on my lamp (with the environmentally friendly lightbulb), the lightbulb made a horrible buzzing sound then started smoking (just a bit).  Also there was an odd odour.  I unplugged the lamp and opened to the windows but i knew i would be okay.   Because of the email you sent a few weeks ago, I knew that the mercury content was lower than a watch battery - thus I never overreacted. Jeremey Ludwig

October 8, 2007 After taking the Nature Challenge I am happy to report that we have made some real changes in our household.  We equipped our flat with energy saving light bulbs and are now turning off the computer every night.  Also, we have taken our car off the road and purchased a second bicycle and a bike trailer, which converts to stroller, for our daughter.  We did not stop there.  We topped that off with renting a community garden lot and are now growing a portion of our own food. I feel much better about what we are doing and where we are. Veronika Polanska (Burnaby, BC)

September 24, 2007 I work in a call centre that employs about 1000 people and couldn’t believe that there were no recycling boxes anywhere. I wrote management and explained that if only half (500) of the employees threw 1 pop/juice/water can/bottle in the garbage 3 times a week we would be adding 780,000 cans to landfills every 10 years. That is just from one place of employment – unbelievable and unacceptable. With a couple of days the company  had recycling bins spread throughout the centre. This is a small thing, but if every business in North America did the same, we would be doing great things. -Kaluyuti Ninha

September 17, 2007 I realized early this year, after seeing my huge hydro bill for an almost all electric home, that that it doesn't matter how many light bulbs I replace in my home, or how many times I put my clothes out on the clothesline, or if I put six sweaters on to keep warm, I live in a house too large for two people. So the "for sale" sign has gone up on our lawn, and I've purchased a tiny condo close to my husband's work with a ludicrously low hydro bill. I realize that for me the Nature Challenge means more than driving the speed limit to get where I want to go, but rather "living real." I will not live to impress others with my excess. I sleep better in my small condo. And if I have learned anything from the Nature Challenge, it is that I can take ownership of how I live. -Gene Graham