We have a lot of people search our site for information about eco-audits, so EC decided to find out more about eco-audits and what you can expect during an eco-audit. Alexandra Henriques (AH), founder of ECO-Audit was kind enough to answer our questions.

EC: So I guess the first question is, what is an ECO-audit?

AH: An ECO-audit helps families and small businesses green their footprint, save money, but above all protect the health of their members. Why? Because almost everything in the average home is slowly poisoning us. Asthma, allergies, and cancer are rising worldwide at alarming rates. Children are the most vulnerable to this assault, but we can protect them. Through the home or business premises audits we do, we facilitate the adoption of sustainable, healthy, and cost-effective materials, products and practices.

EC: What is your background and how did you get into the business of ECO-audits?

AH: I have been a life-long environmentalist, with over 25 years of experience pursuing sustainable practices and applying them. My professional background is in education, which has come in very handy. I find there is a lot of education to do around mainstream products and practices which are no good for the environment — or us. ECO-audit also does sustainability education by providing workshops, and my experience developing learning materials for adults, and facilitating learning has been invaluable. I got into this business because I wanted to share all the environmental knowledge I had, and help others.

EC: What can I expect, when I get an ECO-audit?

AH: When you get an ECO-audit you can expect an appointment on a day and time that’s convenient for you, an interview to determine your concerns and objectives, and a thorough audit of the home or business premises. This will take from 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 hours. Within a week, you will receive by email the audit report, this will include all positive actions being taken presently, problem areas with concrete suggestions, a glossary of terms used, and a list of resources relevant to your issues and area. The second scheduled appointment will then take place to discuss the report, answer any questions, and help you on your way to healthier sustainability.
Ongoing support is included in an audit, anytime you hit a roadblock; help is just a phone call or email away.

EC: What types of eco-audits do you conduct?

AH: Besides the whole home or business premises audits, we have Focus Audits, featuring the BABY-audit - “peace of mind for expecting parents”, a very similar Pet-audit, a Diet-audit, which helps you become a locavore, green your diet, and avoid contaminants, especially important for children; we also have for D.I.Y.ers the Reno-audit, the Yard-audit, and the Move-audit; finally we have a Transportation-audit that helps those who want to drive less, but are not sure how to go about it.

EC: What are some of the things you might suggest new parents look for?

AH:To new parents I would suggest less is more, and go back to basics. What we see all around in our society is excess, but not necessarily quality, often just quantity. Go for the quality and protect your baby. For example, you say organic cotton is expensive, I say the baby doesn’t need 10 teething toys, a couple will do, get something healthy you don’t have to worry about. Go back to the basic toys all children enjoy, ones made by craftspeople out of solid wood for example, with healthy finishes, not plastic whose ingredients you can’t check and mass produced by exploited workers.

EC: When I took at look at your website, I was really interested in the Yard-audit. I have always thought we should rethink our yards to focus on native plants especially the plants that attract the birds, bees, butterflies and other animals. Our yards should really be part of the natural circle of life. Is that the focus of a Yard-audit?

AH: Yes, that is definitely part of a Yard-audit, we have strayed too far away from nature, by starting with only native plants and then the value-added of drought-resistance we get on the right path again. Choosing to attract birds, butterflies or bees gives even more value. We can go even further by incorporating in the yard bird feeders, baths, or bird houses, a rain barrel, a composting bin, a dog W.C., a laundry line, or games.

EC: Is there anything else that you would like to add?

AH: Check our website for our Spring workshops, and you can also sign up for our blog.

EC: In closing, I noticed that there are gift certificates on your site. What a great idea for a house warming gift or for a shower gift for new parents. Alexandra, thank you for your time.

A few years ago, I moved to a different neighbourhood and had to find a new source for healthy cat food and bio pet supplies within walking distance. The pickings were slim and I was relegated to checking the options at the grocery store. That’s where I found Iams. Okay, I thought; affordable food, close to home, and by a well-known, reliable pet food company that really loves my kitties. I knew this last part, of course, because that is what the Iams people have been telling me for years in their commercials. As it turns out, they might love my kitties but other cats and dogs… not so much.

By some bizarre coincidence – happenstance, perhaps, serendipity or divine intervention – I found myself researching something on PETA’s website mere days after my Iams discovery at the grocery store. There, on the home page, ready and waiting to capture my attention, a story about Iams’ “policy” of caging dogs and cats and turning them into guinea pigs (see www.iamscruelty.com). As it turns out, they are not the only ones. Pet food companies routinely use confined animals to test their products or lend them out to laboratories for experimentation. This discovery led me on a search for cat food that was not only healthy, but also cruelty-free.

Luckily, there is a growing market for ethical pet products, including a great find: Holistic Blend. A family-owned, Canadian company from Mississauga that set out to change the pet food industry 15 years ago, its motto is “If we can’t eat it, why should our pets?” They offer grain-free, wheat-free, low carb, high protein options for cats and dogs, as well as treats, supplements and alternative aids for a variety of pet-problems, such as hairballs, anxiety, diabetes and bad breath.

It is a sad fact that there has to be a distinction for cruelty-free animal products. Fortunately, Holistic Blend is just one of the many homegrown businesses that are striving to make our beloved pets as healthy as can be. Let us hope this will take a bite out of all the “Iamses” of the world.

About the writer: Sophie a freelance writer, proud mother of four exceptional cats and a strong believer in ethical consumerism, cannot claim any expertise (in ethical pet care or anything else) other than the knowledge she has acquired over the years, researching products and shopping for myself. She believes in buying fair trade products, supporting companies that do not test on animals, opting for the recycled-material options, encouraging independent retailers, and on, and on… In a nutshell, She’s just a girl trying to make the world a better place, one bag of cat food at a time.

Yesterday I highlighted three social entrepreneurs with links outside of Canada. Today I will focus on five social enterprises that are fully Canadian. There are so many social enterprises to choose from and it was incredibly difficult to narrow it down to five, but I think these five really show different types of businesses with a variety of goals all within the realm of social enterprise.

EthniCity Catering

Pure genius. It started out with a few requests for ethnic foods. Today EthnicCity Catering offers high quality, multi-ethnic food to Calgarians. It employs immigrant women in transition and breaks the cycle of “no Canadian work experience, no Canadian work.” I was amazed to learn that women are usually employed by EthniCity Catering for only three months before they find other work or pursue further education. Wow!

Away Courier

When I came across this business, I was amazed to find that they have been around for 22 years and have over 1,700 customers in the Toronto. They are pioneers in social enterprise.  Using public transit, Away Couriers delivers same day packages at a reasonable cost to a variety of businesses including lawyers,  medical services and government departments. Away Couriers was founded and is run by people with direct experience with the mental health system, which is an incredibly empowering and meaningful way to eliminate stereotypes.

The Cleaning Solution

The Cleaning Solution offers cleaning services to businesses, organizations such as schools and churches and government in the Greater Vancouver. They focus on quality, health and environmental safety. They also have a mandate to support individuals recovering from mental illness that are ready to enter the workforce and to combat widespread stereotypes regarding mental illness.

Youth Opportunities Unlimited: YOU

Based in Mississauga, YOU has several services, but the one I was most interested in was their three social enterprises that offer youth meaningful, hands-on job experience. In the kitchen, youth work one-on-one to create preserves that are then sold online. In the woodshop, an experienced carpenter trains youth in woodworking skills to produce exceptional furniture. Finally, at the recycling facility youth are trained in skills that will be valuable in the growing green economy.

Options Canada

Options Canada is a businesses service company that offers printing, photocopying, graphic design along with many other services. In offering these services, they also provide employment training to individuals who have an intellectual disability. The program is designed to help individuals integrate into the workforce and includes business etiquette and transferable skills. Part of the program includes a high school co-op where students can experience what it is like to work in a retail environment. As they say, “this helps them decided what path to choose after finishing school.”

Choice is important for all of us. These are great businesses to choose to work with.

Today is World Day of Social Justice so we thought we’d brag about some fabulous Canadian social entrepreneurs who are changing our world. A social entrepreneur identifies a social problem and uses business principles to solve that problem. Success is measured in terms of social impact. These entrepreneurs sell products or services that we can buy; and when we put our money into these products, we know that we are part of a sustainable and equitable economy rather than one driven solely by profit. Take a few minutes today and check out how we as consumers can support real change in our world.  Please note that each link will open in a new window.

Bazura Bags

Bazura Bags works closely with a women’s cooperative in the Philippines. Every day, children collect discarded juice boxes popular in the Philippines and sells them to the co-op. The women in the co-op then make beautiful bags. As much as they would like to see fewer juice boxes sold, for now they are pleased that they can divert them and create functional and fun bags. They are also starting to work with other discarded items such as billboards. In September 2009, the co-op was devastated by Typhoon Onday: homes were flooded, lives were lost and the headquarters damaged. After receiving many donations and hard work, they have rebuilt their lives and would like to see an increase in orders for their bags in order to have all members back at work.

OrangOrang Project

Sprouted in Canada and now based out of Indonesia, OrangOrang produces incredible and socially responsible fashion.  The fabrics are organic and fairly traded. The dyes are made from Indonesia’s rich vegetation and traditional knowledge. Ethical Consumer recently featured OrangOrang as part of Vancouver’s Fashion Week. The project provides transferrable skills, safe environments and fair wages to local women. They also work with YKPA to create opportunities for street children that have lasting economic and social benefits rather than short term handouts.

Jabu Bags

Jaju Bags is a small but growing social enterprise that offers more than just skills training to rural women in Swaziland. Jaju Bags not only produces beautiful and functional bags, it also empowers women through financial independence. Their current project is to build a new centre as the current one is cramped and dark. To do this they are working with the Raw Foundation to build a workshop/community centre that will provide a better working environment as well as school rooms for open use. The structure will be made from recycled and low carbon emissions material, and will be built by the community itself. My favourite bag is the Doron bag, which I have my eye on for my next laptop bag.

Word of mouth is the best advertising they always say. So, who do these social enterpreneurs recommend:

Ethical Ocean

Global Fair Trade

Recommend your favourite in our comments section.

No matter how easy a job may seem, if you want to do it right you will need to put some effort into it. The same goes for painting. The secret lies in good preparation. Make sure that you work with quality tools, starting with paint, brushes and sealants. (Bad quality material will make your job far more difficult and the end result may not be up to your standards). Also, don’t forget to take your time, work at your own leisure and most importantly have patience and have fun!

TIP: If you are a novice, chose a smaller project, like a simple chair, desk or a stool. The simpler the lines, the greater chance at success.

Before

For your painting job you will need the following supplies:
• Painter’s tape
• Sand paper
• Tack cloth
• Primer
• Paint
• Paint tray
• Rollers and brushes
• Sealant
• (Patience)

Make sure that the surface is well prepped. Remove all the hardware and if you won’t be putting it back then fill all the holes with the wood filler. Remove any dirt, tape off the areas that you wish to protect, sand the piece, then sand it some more and prime if necessary.

Sandpaper comes in different grit designations – the lower the designation the coarser the paper. For most jobs using 120 grit paper will do, but for surfaces that were covered with several coats of paint I would resort to 100 or 80 grit. For more info on grit sizing click here.

Priming is optional, but if the surface is stained or if you want to achieve even finish throughout, I certainly recommend it. Before priming or painting, make sure that all the dust has been removed and that the surface is clean and smooth. The best way to ensure that the surface is clean is to use a tack cloth that you can find at your local hardware store.

Your surface is ready to receive the first coat of paint now. I usually put two coats of indoor latex paint, but if you think you need one more, go for it. You can use a small foam roller or a variety of brushes for your job. While rollers do a great job on larger surfaces, the brushes are excellent for cutting in all the corners and crevices. When purchasing brushes, talk to the sales people, describe your project and they will be able to give you a good advice.

TIP: In my experience, foam brushes tend to leave less brush marks and cause less drips then their “hairy” alternatives.

Between coats I sand the surface lightly with a 120 grit paper to make sure that the next coat of paint adheres better. Wait for the paint to dry completely before applying the sealant. If you are going for the distressed vintage look, use the sand paper to distress the surface in places where it would get most wear. I would not use a mechanical sander at this point as it does not allow for much control. After you have achieved the desired look, you can proceed with protecting the surface.

There is a variety of options out there of which I use the following two:
1. Clear water-based polyurethane finish – it dries quickly and provides good durability
2. Paste finishing wax – protects and adds lustre to any stained or finished wood surface (using wax finish will give your furniture a much softer look)

Once the top coat is dry, clean the surface once more with a lint free rag, remove all the tape and add hardware.

TIP: Wash your brushes, paint trays and rollers thoroughly after use. It will save you some $$ and a trip to the hardware store.

Et Voilà!, this concludes our furniture painting tutorial.

After

If you still believe that this is more than you are willing to cope with, give me a call or send me an email. I will be happy to help you with your next painting job.

I can be reached at: Jelena [!at] poppyseedliving.com or by phone at 416-704-5367.

Have you thought about gardening yet this year? It might seem a bit early for some but this is really a good time to get the information and seeds you will need this year. The Toronto Community Garden Network is hosting another Seedy Saturday on Sunday (yes, on a Sunday) February 21st at Artscape Wychwood Barns.

There will be workshops and presentations, a kids zone, yummy food, exhibitors and, of course, seeds. You can learn about growing native plants that will attract birds and butterflies or find out about bee keeping. If you are interested in starting an organic garden, there is a workshop for you as well.

If the February date does not work for you, there is a Scarborough Seedy Saturday on March 6th from 12 to 4.

If you cant get enough this year, then you will also want to attend Canada Blooms from March 17 to 21st.  Five days of garden tours and flower competitions along with presentations, workshops, and demos will give you enough ideas to make your garden the feast of the neighbourhood.

I’ve read about it and written about it, but I think it can be said again: we should be as careful about what we put on our skin as what we put in our bodies. The other day I noticed a great blog post by Harnn & Thann on parabens.

Another great place for information on parabens is the EWG cosmetics database. See what they have to say about each of the parabens mentioned in the Harnn & Thann blog post.

-> Methylparaben

-> Propylparaben

-> Butylparaben

There are so many fabulous companies that use safe ingredients, we don’t need to use products that will eventually do us harm. You can find many great cosmetic and skin care companies in our directory. There are many, so try searching by city to narrow it down to your local area.

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Here are a few Valentine’s ideas that are gentle on the earth while still fun loving.

Treat your sweetheart to a bottle of organic ice wine from Summerhill Pyramid Winery. The grapes are left on the vines until the first frost after which they are picked and immediately crushed while the water is still frozen. This crushing results in a sweet concentrated juice from which to start the wine making process. The finished wine is refreshingly sweet which is balanced by its high acidity. Canada’s climate lends to some of the best icewines in the world.

Try the 2007 Riesling Icewine with the Robert Bateman label, pictured here. With every bottle sold there is a $1 donation to his not for profit society called ‘Get to Know Your Wild Neighbour’ which brings kids away from their computer screens, and our into nature.

Such a special wine deserves a beautiful earth-friendly wrapping. Try a wine bottle bag from eco-handbags.ca. They are made from discarded advertising billboards diverted from landfill. Not only that but they are made in Montreal by Petites-Mains, a non-profit organization that teaches industrial sewing as part of the fight against exclusion, poverty and violence.

If your sweetheart is gorgeous and green, you’ll want to check out these earrings. Made out of reclaimed purpleheart, these beautiful earrings are made here in Canada by Billy Would. Gorgeous and Green has many fabulous gift ideas for your sweetheart divided into categories such as Canadian-made or natural.

To set the mood, why not buys some soy wax candles with

When you come into my home, you need to walk up some stairs to get to my foyer. This foyer is about 3 metres by 2.5 metres and has no furniture in it - aside from a bookcase in a space built into the wall specifically for that purpose. Our foyer has a closet, stairs up to the next level and five doorways leading to other rooms. This space often has books, backpacks, lunch packs, gym bags and an assortment of similar items here and there. It also has the family calendar and a large white board for writing notes to ourselves and other family members.

We moved here last August because we all wanted more space. We have lots of places to sit, bookcases full of books, closets with plenty of space for clothing. A dining room with a table and chairs to enjoy a meal. Nothing is shiny and new (the house itself is about 100 years old) and no magazine would come knocking asking to showcase our home, but it is comfortable and we feel safe and warm and happy here. Does this sound something like your home?

Take a trip in your mind to a typical home in a developing nation. It is 3 metres by 3 metres. Wait. That’s the size of my foyer. That place with no furniture where we tend to dump things as we come and go. For some families that is their entire living space. I wonder what it would be like if my family had to live in our foyer? No bathroom, no fridge, no stove, no privacy, no beds.

Our homes are expensive, but then we tend to put a lot of money into making them big as well as showcase beautiful. We are all so lucky and spoiled, living in such big comfortable homes with more space than we really need. It is easy to forget and lose perspective and a reality check is a useful now and then. Maybe we need to change our perspective.

Build Direct posted a great blog today that will help us all gain a better perspective.