Sometimes one pays most for the things one gets for nothing.
~Albert Einstein

On November 25 (and beyond) make change by doing nothing.

Apparently Albertans are in a holiday spending mood. This Friday, November 25, I will buy nothing—no gifts, no groceries, not even a coffee—in an effort to change the world.

Friday is Buy Nothing Day (BND) in North America (the rest of the world will celebrate nothing the following day). BND was created to increase awareness of over-consumption of consumer goods.

The Buy Nothing Day movement had its beginnings twenty years ago when Vancouver artist Ted Dave took a look at his own purchasing habits and created a day to bring awareness to over-consumption. Since 1997, Buy Nothing Day has been held on the third Thursday in November, coinciding with “Black Friday,” one of the busiest shopping days in the U.S.

So how about you? In this period of sales and frantic holiday shopping—will you buy nothing? And on that topic, how about choosing a Buy Nothing Christmas this year?

If you’ve ever driven a vehicle in Calgary, you’ve come across fast, aggressive drivers. You may be one of those drivers (I confess to sometimes being that driver). Many drivers may not be aware of how driving style and habits can affect fuel consumption as much as vehicle or fuel choice. Choosing an energy-efficient vehicle and regular maintenance help in reducing fuel consumption, but simply slowing down and driving carefully (e.g., coasting to a red light rather than speeding and breaking) are equally valuable ways to drive greener.

According to National Resources Canada’s Auto$mart Fuel-Efficient Driving Tips site:

• Decreasing your speed from 120 km/h to 100 km/h uses 20 percent less fuel. Follow the speed limit and use cruise control on flat highway terrain to prevent inadvertent speeding and, in many cases, help save fuel by keeping your speed constant.
• When combined, speeding, quick acceleration and hard stops—all considered aggressive driving—can increase fuel consumption by 25 percent. Driving smoothly is safer and more fuel-efficient.

The ecoENERGY for Personal Vehicles site is entirely devoted to personal transportation and the environment.

The Alberta Motor Association Guide to Green Driving also has information on how vehicle maintenance, fuel choices and driving habits can save on fuel.

Here are AMA’s suggestions for “10 easy ways to get more out of a tank of gas” (more detailed information is on their site):

1. Carpool
2. Park in the shade
3. Track your fuel consumption
4. Leave early
5. Reduce your speed
6. Don't drive aggressively
7. Cool it on the air conditioning
8. Lighten your load
9. Plan and combine trips
10. Reduce unnecessary idling

If you'd like to read more on driving and the environment, you may want to check out the following:

Green Transportation Basics: a green energy guide by Daniel D Chiras

75 ways to save gas: clean, green tips to cut your fuel bill by Jim Davidson
(also available to borrow in E-book format)

October 2011 was my tenth anniversary as a vegetarian. Wow – a whole decade without meat! I didn’t go “cold turkey”, but instead took about a year to wean myself off of flesh – first pork, then beef, then chicken. Several people have asked me why I became a vegetarian in the first place. Here’s the answer: I had a crush on a vegetarian. But, once the crush wore off, my motivation remained. I simply could not eat meat, knowing how it was produced.

I couldn’t be part of a system that profits while treating sentient beings as mere commodities. I couldn’t support an industry which produces so much waste and pollution. I simply couldn’t stomach the truth about the meat industry and the harm it causes – to animals, individuals and communities. There’s nothing delicious about animal cruelty, environmental degradation, and morbid obesity.

But last week, I hosted a party. And I ate chocolate covered bacon. And it was divine.

I made sure to source organic free-range bacon from a local farmer’s market, and I thought long and hard before my first bite. Could I still consider myself a vegetarian? Would I fall off the wagon and straight into a bacon addiction? It was time to find out. I watched the bacon sizzle until it started to char around the edges. I put a strip to my mouth. I bit in. It was astounding; long-forgotten childhood memories came flooding back to me! That salty, lip-smacking strip was all I needed to be transported back in time, to my father’s kitchen.

So, what now? Am I still a vegetarian? Sure. After 10 years of meat-free living, I’ve earned the right to follow the spirit, rather than the letter of the law. Being a vegetarian isn’t about scrutinizing every morsel; it’s about eating mindfully and with a focus on health. I know that despite my greasy indulgence, I’m still a vegetarian at heart - and I don’t need to cling to a “clean record” to prove it.

Vegetarianism doesn’t have to be an all-or-nothing affair. Try instituting a “Meatless Monday” into your routine, or replace beef with beans, in your next pot of chili. Cut out your least favourite kind of meat, and start to buy organic or ethically produced versions of the meat you do enjoy. Visit the produce section and make an effort to buy something new or strange – there’s more to life than apples and oranges! Make small steps; vegetarianism happens one meal at a time.

There are 9 years and 11 months until my next “bacondulgence”. In the mean time, here's the book that convinced me to go vegetarian, and not turn back. Well, at least no more than once a decade.

Diet for a New America, by John Robbins

If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need. ~Cicero

Soon, the Library will not only be growing minds and community, it will also be growing food.

In 2012, we are planning to launch two community gardens – one at Forest Lawn Library and one at Southwood Library.

Last week I had the pleasure of attending organizational meetings at both branches. The meeting rooms were packed with community members of all ages: young couples, babes in arms, children and seniors. Participants talked about their dreams for the gardens – to meet neighbours, to grow food, to garden with their children – mostly, to create a healthier, stronger community. Isn’t that what we all want?

As the Calgary Public Library launches its second century of service, I am so proud that as an organization we are supporting something as beautiful and basic as a community garden. It is a small act that will reap countless benefits, not least of which is turning a monoculture of grass into an animated community gathering place.

Check out Green Calgary's Upcoming Red Wine, Blue Cheese, Green Art Fundraising Gala and Art Market! Looking for a fun, green night out? This fundraising gala for Green Calgary looks great! Thursday, November 3, 2011 6:00 to 11:00 p.m. at Hotel Arts. Tickets are $100 per person or buy 9 and get one free. The dress code is "funky cocktail." It will feature "locally sourced organic menu, live and silent art auctions, and renowned musical and theatrical talent, all presented in an environmentally inspiring way." For tickets, go to www.greencalgary.org

The Green Art Market takes place on Friday, November 4th (5 p.m. to 9 p.m.) and Saturday November 5th (11 a.m. to 5 p.m.) at Hillhurst United Church. The market will feature art for sale: "Expect to see a broad range of environmentally themed work for sale just in time for the holidays!" as well as food and entertainment. Admission to the market is free with the Gala ticket purchases or $5 at the door. For tickets and details go to www.greencalgary.org