Operations in the UK and Republic of Ireland will be carbon neutral
Stop sending waste to landfill eg., Instead, reuse food scraps to create green energy
Selling only free-range poultry products
Converting key clothing ranges to 100% fair trade cotton
Increasing nutritionally balanced food to 50% of all foods sold
I’m so pleased to see large businesses step up to the plate like this. And here’s some even better news – their initiatives have now become cost-positive. If you want their 1/2 way point progress report, you can find it on their website.
Readers, Are any stores near you clearly holding themselves to sustainability standards?
A week ago I accepted a challenge from the Cdn Chiropracters’ Association to find 15 minutes in my day, every day, to get active. Having successfully completed the challenge, I’m in a draw for an iPod Touch and I have an iPod Shuffle and $20 iTunes card to give away!
Some people are into fitness. They love their workouts, or going for runs, or playing squash. Me? Meh. Not so much. (a fact I find woeful, but what can you do?) But 15 minutes every day? This I could do. But I knew I had to do stuff that didn’t feel like exercise. Also, since it’s Summer In Yellowknife, I’d be crazy to spend the time inside (plenty of inside time coming up starting in October). So I decided to make a bit of an adventure for myself.
Day 1:I dug up half my garden with the help of my trusty daschund. It’s my first garden ever! The permafrost is gone as of a couple weeks ago, but with the long hours of daylight, a good garden crop is still possible.
Day 2:I went for a Geology 101 walk on some billion year-old precambrian shield with my loyal companion.
Day 3: Hiked to the top of Bush Pilots Monument (sans hounds) and was rewarded with this view:
Day Four: I wound down at the day’s end with some free Yoga (thanks, iTunes!)
Day Five: I danced like no one was watching! And I sure hope no-one was – it was my first drum dance, and it was about midnight on Solstice in the north, and Aboriginal Day (ahem, judges, is that not the Ultimate Canadian Fit in 15?) Again – I’m no videographer – for heavens sake I was dancing while I was recording – this is just evidence I was there!
Day 6: I finished the second half of my garden
and Day 7 - alas! I had hoped to culminate my week with a swim in the Great Slave Lake but since it was POURING RAIN (a rare occurrence up here – we have the sunniest summers in Canada) , and only about 15C, if that, I opted out of that particular adventure for now. Instead, I Unpacked a Very Large Box which I hadn’t yet opened since my move. It involved hauling the box around, moving furniture, and working up a bit of a sweat, and took me well over 15 minutes so I figure that counts!
Mission accomplished! It was a lot of fun. I was active and I accomplished a lot while I was at it. I got to know my new home better, I pushed myself out of my comfort zone with the dance, my garden is ready for plants and I made further progress in unpacking! Not bad for just 15 a day, eh?
The ‘hounds thought it was marvellous too.
Thanks, Canadian Chiropracters! (here’s lookin’ at you, Michael)
AND THE WINNER IS…
Thanks so much to everyone who popped by to encourage and make suggestions this past week.
The winner, who got 2 points for doing an activity and leaving a comment, is BRAD!
Brad, to collect your prize, please leave a comment below and include your e-mail address. NO ONE will see your address but me. Then I’ll e-mail you back so I can get your mailing address. Congrats!
One of the pleasant surprises in Yellowknife is the commitment to gardening! The Arctic Farmer (which has a little stream and goats! Perhaps you need to live here to understand how unexpected goats are!) and The Garden of Eden provide all manner of delightful garden tools and rubber boots, and the first truckloads of fresh plants are a community joy.
There’s a real commitment to gardening up here, and a little known fact is that while we have a short growing season, it’s possible to grow almost anything up here because of our extended daylight hours. So when I attended a talk about food security by Ecology North, I determined to grow some of my own food.
Yesterday for my Fit in 15, I finished digging up my plot that I began last week. I work up a sweat, I’ll tell you! And those darn mosquitoes! But when I start to enjoy the carrots, peas, and rhubarb, I’m sure it will be all worthwhile.
How’s that for the circle of life – I get fit in 15 by planting food!
Readers: The contest for the iPod shuffle (4G) and $20 iTunes card is almost done! If you’ve ever grown your own food, let me know in the comments, and it’s a point to you!
This isn’t my garden, but it’s in Yellowknife. It captures the spirit of living and gardening in Yellowknife! Photo Credit: FranH
FULL DISCLAIMER – this post is *not* about Nancy’s non-existent skills as a videographer (I only got my canon camera last weekend!).
It *is* about getting Fit in 15 in a way that is CANADIAN, fun, and also helps me get reaquainted with my hometown of Yellowknife, NWT (I just moved back after 20 years in Vancouver)
So, my fellow Fit-in-15ers, what’ve you got that can beat 15 minutes dancing at a Dene Drum Dance in Ndilo, Yellowknife, at midnight on summer soltice, on National Aboriginal Day!
And if anyone doubts that this dancing is exercise, you just try it. Just try it. Find a drum dance, and try it.
Readers: 1 point given if you describe a cultural event you’ve participated in that took you out of your comfort zone and gave you some exercise!
I did a lot of free activity today – gardening, walking around town, chores — but for my fit in 15, I wound down for the day with some yoga in the privacy of my own home, for free, thanks to iTunes vidcast of YogaToday. (free always pleases this money coach, naturally)
It felt soooo good. (and no that’s not me in the photo)
Readers: a point to you in the iPod shuffle giveaway if you can recommend other free exercise sites online – stipulation: they need to have vidcasts. And be reasonably female friendly.
