AJ Update: Greening our Buildings and Festivals

Picking up where we left off with our last issue on Green Buildings, Alternatives is looking to explore how far we’ve come and to predict where we’re headed when it comes to environmentally friendly design. We want to know about new laws and regulations governing the design and construction of buildings, and hope to have space to profile a few of the best examples of green buildings from Canada and beyond. We’re also interested in who is leading the charge to greener buildings. Continue reading AJ Update: Greening our Buildings and Festivals

Not Your Typical Book About The Environment

With the children’s title Not Your Typical Book About The Environment, author Elin Kelsey has crafted a breezy yet densely informative volume that maintains a positive outlook throughout its 64 pages. In chapters covering the clothes we wear, the food we eat and the toys we play with, Kelsey reveals the many ways we interact with our planet and some of the innovative ideas people are employing to improve our world. Clayton Hanmer’s layouts and illustrations beautifully complement the text, making each page a vast repository of fun facts and surprising trivia. Click through for our full review… Continue reading Not Your Typical Book About The Environment

Urban Homesteading

Concerns for our unsustainable, fossil-fuelled lifestyle underlie Rachel Kaplan and K. Ruby Blume’s book, Urban Homesteading: Heirloom Skills for Sustainable Living. The book provides a colourful overview of what each of us can do to build a more self-sufficient future. It explains the principles of homesteading and permaculture, and provides a wide range of ideas and how-to projects for the urban dweller. Presented in a straightforward and accessible manner, skills depicted range from growing and preserving your own food – both plant and animal – to natural building and grey water recycling. The authors explain how even small changes we make will benefit our communities, our environment and ourselves. is a revised edition of a book that addresses the common feeling that the planet is in trouble and we have little control over the outcome. Author Frances Moore Lappé tackles the issues of the world by acknowledging the problems and the overwhelming task of dealing with them, and then doesn’t waste any time offering up solutions.Click through for our full review… Continue reading Urban Homesteading

BC’S First Truly ‘Green’ Music Festival – July 22-24

Vancouver, BC/ July 6, 2011 – The land in Nahatlatch Valley has been carefully curated, and is ready to host the inaugural year for a truly sustainable music festival in BC. Towards Eden will incorporate innovative techniques for a responsible, socially conscious gathering, and showcase local/international live and electronic world music. Located just about an hour outside of Hope BC, the festival will be held at the Sandy Pines Campgrounds from July 22-24. Continue reading BC’S First Truly ‘Green’ Music Festival – July 22-24

BC’S First Truly ‘Green’ Music Festival – July 22-24

Vancouver, BC/ July 6, 2011 – The land in Nahatlatch Valley has been carefully curated, and is ready to host the inaugural year for a truly sustainable music festival in BC. Towards Eden will incorporate innovative techniques for a responsible, socially conscious gathering, and showcase local/international live and electronic world music. Located just about an hour outside of Hope BC, the festival will be held at the Sandy Pines Campgrounds from July 22-24. Continue reading BC’S First Truly ‘Green’ Music Festival – July 22-24