I offered one early bird pass last week to a subscriber. Here's our first winning entry: Once you read it, you'll know why I appreciate Wynette's voice so much!

I can teach what I have learned from my experience.

The most interesting thing I've learned was the process I had to go through of re-learning myself and what is important in life; that is our connection with family, people, our environment that got lost in just two generations, my own and my parents. In the name of progress we consume, inevitably destroying the earth that sustains us. So it made me think about what progress really means to me.

It started a year ago when I wanted to eat healthy, along the way I learned just how bad our food policy is and wondered about everything else that I consumed. I wanted to be able to make good choices. Some people say ignorance is bliss so that it's easier not to do anything about it, but all it took was learning about what goes in our food, beauty and household products and knowing that there are good options.

I've since then stopped eating gmo foods, visit local farmers markets, use and waste less, keep a worm compost bin, attend workshops & lectures on sustainable initiatives, learned basic gardening skills with GTGK, volunteer with Evergreen, and buy organic products form you!

Going forward, I want to start doing something in my own community where I can teach what I have learned from my experience.

Take care,
Wynette

Today the last pass goes to this touching entry from Stephanie Kittell.

Once I went down that road, there was no turning back.

In answer to your question; the most important thing I've learned in my efforts to reduce waste is the importance of planning ahead. A little planning ahead is easy once you make it a habit, and it can prevent a lot of unnecessary consumption. For example, I bring the following with me almost everywhere I go: some reusable bags of various sizes, a travel mug/ reusable water bottle, a few compact containers, my bamboo cutlery set, and a handkerchief. This prevents a lot of unnecessary on-the-go waste and is no skin off my back.

Becoming vegan definitely expanded my awareness and consciousness of all the other areas in my life where I was directly or indirectly causing harm (to animals, to others, or to the environment). Once I went down that road, there was no turning back.

:)

Stephanie Kittell
Executive Producer
VERACITY FILMS www.veracityfilms.com

HONOURABLE MENTION

The more we care for oursleves the more we can care about our planet.

Good on you girl! I was amazed that almost everything that i was buying had a more earth friendly option for packaging and switched to that and 95% of the items i use are now natural. But i love that its by no coincidense that the more we care for oursleves the more we can care about our planet.

And when u love yourself you start to invest in products that don't harm you and in my life they are also products that don't harm the planet. I'm glad the movemenet is spreading slowly but surely and everyone will one day be on board or can sink in a pile of their own shit, metaphoricaly speaking. :)

Tarek Bibi
Transformation Healing Inspiration
www.tarekbibi.com

You really need to get your community on board with you.

The most interesting thing I've learned in trying to reduce my own waste? The most important thing that comes to mind is that you really need to get your community on board with you - at least in some ways. Waste is a collective burden - and so, understandably, it's hard to tackle on your own. I live in a communal house so while I can control what I buy for the house, my roommates may not be as careful and it's a challenge to translate my own efforts to a larger collective effort. Same goes if you live with a family, or even have close friends with whom you share a lot.

Thanks for the opportunity to enter and to share my experience!

Emily
Feel Good Food
www.feelgoodfood.net

Road salt is the single largest industrial contaminant used in North America!

That road salt, a common household product that was declared as TOXIC by both Health Canada and Environment Canada at 40,000,000 tons per year is the single largest industrial contaminant used in North America.
View this short video.... www.youtube.com/thetruthaboutsalt

Mark Watson CEO Earth Innovations Inc.
Exclusive manufacturers of EcoTRACTION and EcoCOMPO

Fill up re-usable containters instead of disposable plastic bottles.

i've learned that i can use body care products so natural i could eat them! and they feel great. i've started buying bulk basic ingredients like almond and grape seed oil, and essential oils, and fill up re-usable containters instead of disposable plastic bottles of creams and cosmetics.
Thanks!
kristen howe

I appreciate what I have, and not look to update according to changing fashion.

What I have learned is to appreciate what I have, and not look to update according to changing fashion. For example, buying basics in terms of clothing that I can wear for years, solid colours in simple, classic styles never go out of style. And exchanging clothing with friends who wear the same size. Also, keeping the furniture I have, like my grandparents' solid wood dining room set, instead of discarding it and getting modern furniture. Adding small inexpensive updates to jazz up what I have, like new toss cushions on the sofa, or a potted plant, or a new accessory for my clothes, like a scarf or funky piece of jewellry, to create some needed change when I need a lift.

Suzanne Miller

Compostables are a large part of our waste stream!

That compostables are such a large part of our waste stream, like 50%!

Angela Bischoff, Outreach Director, Ontario Clean Air Alliance
www.cleanairalliance.org

I use less plastic.

I have tried to use less plastic for my garbage,
I am using biodagradeable type plastic.
blessings,

iola