Good families go green

My son who is only 5 years old lives and breaths recycling. He is so passionate on the subject. He has many passions but this is one he loves to talk about all the time. He wants to save the earth one piece of trash at a time. I would love to give my son the gift of knowledge on being more green. Myself and my husband really don't know how to be more green beyond using some products that are more earth friend, using our recycle bins and doing bottles. My son would like a compost in the worst way and we have been planning on doing that for him for awhile. I can only imagine the impact it would have on my son if he was apart of this. It would truly be an magical experience for him and our family.
Many thanks Shell Raham

Being a Green Living Coach sounds like an ideal job. I just participated in Zero Waste Week Sept 3-9 and signed The Compact pledging to not buy anything "new" for a year. After a week of producing near-zero waste I realized that changing my habits really wasn't that hard. Once I set up the systems in my home, turning these actions into habits became easy. Its exciting to read so much all over the internet about others who are making similar changes. (I just have to stay away from my local Safeway where EVERYONE uses plastic bags. I end up leaving depressed.)

I would love to participate! I'm in Toronto.

I started to become more aware of toxins in personal body products a few years ago when I found the "toxic twenty". When I got married last year, I only bought "green" cleaning products and personal products, and as time goes on I am learning more and more, especially from the Queen of Green! I started composting too. It's fun and rewarding!

I think that these coaching sessions are brilliant. I believe that apathy is one of the largest factors affecting environmental concerns right now — people are aware that there is a problem but they either don't care or don't know how to make a difference as an individual or individual family. Getting out there, right into these people's homes is the single best way to show them that they can, in fact, make a difference and it's actually quite simple, contrary to popular belief. I have taken on the role of unofficial (and sometimes subliminal) green coach many times and that moment when a person realises that something as simple as air-drying clothes or switching from single-use to reusable materials can actually make an impact is a wonderful thing to see. Knowing that I helped that person to reach that conclusion either through advice or leading by example is a remarkable feeling. Communications/education/public outreach (apathy-fighting!), especially with children, is an area of the environmental industry in which I'm working toward a career. It's something I'm incredibly passionate about and I think is so important for both the planet and for ourselves. The people that get the opportunity to participate in something like this (the Princes and Princesses of Green, perhaps?) are so lucky because they've also been given the opportunity to make a huge and positive difference by being a role model and improving the lives of the people around them — everyday heroes.

Jess — Whitby, ON

I do feel the apathy and also the coach in me. I feel I am not doing enough, I feel powerless. And then I hand out a copy of the dirty dozen, encourage people to avoid nasty chemicals and to clean with baking soda and vinegar. It cheers me up:) Please green queen coach me! My compost did not thrive this summer, but I did get lost of great veggies from the farmers market….

I would love a chance to be more green. I've always admired many others but get stuck knowing how to make the leap!

I'm an ex-pat living in Stockholm, Sweden. What a fantastic, and encouraging way to make greener lives actually happen! Do you do distance coaching?

Yes! Green living coaching is a crucial piece of the puzzle towards community sustainability. So glad to see that it is producing results! Kudos to the Queen of Green. I am looking forward to hearing about how to become a green living coach and inspiring others towards accomplishing their green goals.

I would L-O-V-E to do this! I already have done this at my work places and would love to do this with neighbors in my building or in the Vancouver area :)

I commented above but did not give my name or where I live.

I would love to either be trained as a coach or be a family involved in this wonderful opportunity!

Christy Rollo Richmond BC

What a great idea — the green movement is, at it's core, about helping each other help the environment. I would be thrilled to participate in a future training session!!

I am an eco coach in Calgary- both with my business, Conscious Home (www.conscioushome.ca) and through Green Calgary's (local non-profit) Healthy Homes program http://www.greencalgary.org/your-home-and-community/. I'd be interested in learning more about this opportunity. Thanks for all your good work Lindsay!

I forgot to mention that I live in Didsbury, Alberta!

Oh. Wow! I love this idea! I already do a lot of these things, leading by example how to reduce waste and be more "green". I try to share with friends

My hubby and I would love to know more about your coaching sessions. We live in Iowa! :)

Great to hear that people are still interested in making our community a better place! Thanks for the great ideas :) Chantelle Lethbridge, Alberta

Would love to help people go greener in Toronto!

Great article to keep me on my toes! Looking forward to putting sime of these great ideas to the test. Let the planning begin:)

Hi Lindsay

What an exciting opportunity. I would love to help some families in London, ON to strive for a greener lifestyle and make healthier choices. You have certainly helped me along the way. Thanks.

As a family we have attempted a backyard veggie garden, we belong to a local CSA (Richmond's Terra Nova Sharing Farm), we use only vinegar

My name is Kimiko Foster, and I am very interested in this opportunity. I am from Victoria BC. Thanks

What an exciting opportunity! I love to guide people to make greener choices in the small things they do each day. Being able to learn from you and coach others would be amazing.

I'm definitely interested… could I get get more details?

With a comment here, I'll have your email to contact you with more information. Please add your name and where you live within your comment and I'll be in touch soon! Lindsay

This sounds great! I've considered getting into some sort of consulting role to help people with going eco-friendly! I'm already doing workshops at festivals and conferences on making your home plastic-free, and I blog about my homesteading efforts at: http://dukestdiggers.wordpress.com/

Lindsay, this sounds right up my alley! I'd be so interested.

I've already started independently, so why not learn from the best and do it better? :o)

How does one become a one of them?