Read with NCC this summer
Reading outdoors (Photo by Ed Yourdon/Wikimedia Commons)
You’re probably thinking that a summer reading list must contain light, beachy books. This list is different: there are no protagonists trying to fit their dream wedding dress into an overstuffed closet or to solve a murder in the English...
#HowToNature series: Hiking
Hikers in Happy Valley Forest, ON (Photo by NCC)
For thousands of years, humans have worked to find better ways to shelter ourselves from the elements. Huddled around an open-air fire, we probably saw owls or squirrels nestled in the hollow of a tree, and thought, “Doesn't that look cosy?...
How to bike in the winter: The gear you need to do it while staying warm and dry.
Twitter user @jsquaredink's first winter commuting by bike (Photo courtesy @jsquaredink)
I am a big proponent of the idea that for most of the year, you don’t need special clothing to ride a bike. You the need the bike, a lock, a light, a helmet depending on your preference and the laws where you are, and then you can ride to...
Why I bike to work in the winter (and how you can too)
Twitter user @cjhoylemusic posted this photo Jan 13, of his Toronto commute, “My first time riding below -20° C this winter!” (Photo courtesy @cjhoylemusic)
I know, you’re probably thinking, “Kyla, commuting by biking in winter sounds like a whole bunch of unpleasant things all put together.” And honestly, if you think biking to work is crazy, full stop, then maybe you can read this...
Dreaming of green holidays! Last-minute gifts for eco-friendly giving
Secret book safe (Photo courtesy of artofmanliness.com)
I know, you’re behind on your gifts! And of course you’re procrastinating, reading blog posts to delay making decisions about what to get folks (in the next five days — plenty of time!). You can stop worrying because I have some...
Giving green: A handmade how-to
Step 1: Start with a flyer (Photo by NCC)
Need something to put that upcycled gift in? Follow these easy step-by-step instructions to make a gift bag out of a paper flyer. (Note: A detailed slideshow with larger images is available at the bottom of this story.) You will need: A...
Giving green: Outdoor gifts from the heart
Tin can lantens (Photo by Grow Creative)
If you read my previous post, you’ll already know about my love for giving environmentally-friendly gifts. Anything I give someone that doesn’t create more waste or increase my footprint makes me a happy giver. And while today’s...
Giving green: Sustainable, upcycled (and sometimes handmade) gifts
Upcycled Pac-Man coffee mugs (Photo by Kyla Winchester)
December can be a very “stuff”-heavy month. Though many of us exchange gifts in and around this time of year, bestowing our loved ones with tokens of our affection can create a lot of garbage. We buy a brand-new item, usually wrapped...
