In a Town where so many of us are rural or village residents, its not surprising that we end up driving to get anything done.  We drive to work, to visits, and to shop.  Same goes for medical appointments and almost all forms of entertainment.  Its a reality of our lives.  When it comes to water use... we wash ourselves, our clothing, our dishes, our cars, our pets... we cook with water, we use it when we paint, we fill our pools and hot-tubs with it.  And of course we drink it.  Every part of our lives depends on - and is touched by - water.

 

Those of us who care about our eco/carbon footprint (and who doesn't these days) wince each time we "jump in the car" or see someone "wash down the driveway".

 

What is the answer?   Do we all move to within walking distance of work and never wash the car?  Not terribly practical.  It would be lovely if we could all buy a hybrid vehicle or smart car... but although that would certainly help, it isn't always a clear solution in the here and now. Not everyone's budget stretches to a new car right now, for one thing.  Also, imagine fitting 2 kids, book bags, hockey equipment and a family sized grocery order into a smart car (creates an interesting mental image, doesnt it!?).  I guess we could all buy a horse and buggy... and who knows, maybe we're all circling back in that direction!

 

In the meantime, we obviously need to find small ways of answering that question, until the big ways are more accessible to all of us.

 

Little things like planning your route so you make each car trip count, avoiding drive-throughs, and not idling in them if you do use them, keeping up-to-date on your vehicle maintenance, using a reusable takeout mug.  When it comes to water - empty dishwater, un-consumed drinking water, cold tea or coffee (no milk please) into plants or outside gardens, shut off the tap while brushing teeth, don't buy plastic drinking bottles - use one that is going to last - stainless steel or aluminum.  A moment of forethought saves a lot of waste.

You'll be happy to know that a lot is going on in our community on the Green front;  Green T is working successfully to become an information sharing forum for the green movement;  There are alternative wind, solar and geo-solar optons springing up all over for heating our homes, and powering our lives.  Organizations like Palgrave United Church are holding Alternative Gift Festivals (give someone a gift that benefits someone else without using the planets resources); Local businesses (notably Soup du Jour and their re-useable takeout soup bowls & "lunch boxes") are using creative loyalty programs to lower "take-out" waste.

 

If you need help finding solutions to your "green" issues, Radio Caledon would like to help as well.  And we've found two ways to do that right now:

 

 

Host Mannie Di Giovanni has developed a mission statement for the show that states - in part - "That Eco Radio Show's Mission is to inform, update, interact and engage with environmental, profit, non-profit, and governmental organizations both large and small and communicate their messages to the eco-conscious consumer residing in Caledon".  

 

We hope you will join Mannie for her 2nd episode, The Green Home, which will air tonight - Sunday October 26th at 7pm.  She will have a phone in interview with Trevor Barton, Supervisor of Waste Management Program Planning of the Region of Peel,  discussing "Trash Talk": home recycling and current recycling news and updates.  She'll aslo be unveiling a new contest!

 

Learn more about That Eco Radio Show at

 

Second, Radio Caledon recently introduced a new e-newsletter called Caledon Today.  From local weather to bus cancellations, municipal meetings to the day's events - Caledon Today can keep you updated quickly and efficiently.  We deliver Caledon Today to our subscriber's inboxes twice each week.  We feature local, timely info and events in a format that is straightforward and easy to follow - without creating any paper waste or burning gas to deliver it. 

 

You can subscribe for free at www.caledontoday.com.

 

Lets continue working on our Eco/Carbon footprints by sharing our resources and ideas.... and lets all begin walking softly upon our lovely Caledon landscape.