When I first began writing articles about ecology nearly two decades ago, I used the term “sustainability” quite  frequently. But I am beginning to think that the term “transformation” would be a better one to focus on.  In a recent lecture presented at Providence University College, Mark A. Burch, author of “Stepping Lightly:  Simplicity for People and the Planet,” suggested that the concept of “sustainability” has been high-jacked in recent  years by those who suggest that we can maintain our current levels of consumption, only find sustainable ways to do  so. Such thinking, says Burch, must be replaced with the concept of “transformation,” which he suggests will call for  significant adjustments to status quo lifestyle expectations. Things are moving more quickly than anticipated. From 1970 to 2010 half of all living species on the planet have  been depleted. Temperatures are rising more quickly than anticipated as ice packs are disappearing....

  If you were given a choice of a new colleague, who would you prefer to work with?  Option 1: A quick learner, hardworking, energetic, and efficient with resources and time. However, they  look and act a little different and at times their personality is prickly.  Option 2: A high maintenance colleague who takes a lot more management, uses more resources to get the  job done, but is still relatively competent. They do fit nicely into the landscape though, most people enjoy  their aesthetic, and many appreciate their company.  Who is your choice? Depending on the work, the choice might not be unanimous, but I think most would  agree that the first option would be a solid choice.  You may have gathered by this point that I’m not talking about people, but plants. Option 1 is what we  call a weed and Option 2 is lawn .  Well, that changes everything then, right!? Don’t worry, I’m not here to argue that weeds are great, and  lawns...

  We are all long overdue for some parties and celebrations. So many anniversaries, birthdays, weddings,  retirements and other milestones passed us by without being able to properly mark their importance. But  now that we’re starting to be able to do some party-planning once again, we wanted to offer some tips for  how to do so without creating a whole pile of waste at the end. Gift Wrapping. Fabric is perfect for gift wrapping. At the thrift shop, scarves are the easiest way to  find beautiful fabric with finished edges in various sizes. Then do an Internet search of “furoshiki”  for easy and unique ways to use fabric for gift wrapping, no tape required. Newspaper or old maps  also work great. Thrift shops often have a large assortment of gift bags too. Use Reusable Dishes. What’s a party without great food? Inevitably, this requires dishes. It can be  tempting to buy disposable and I often hear the argument, “but plastic is recyclable and pap...

Years ago, my husband and I read a book by a Danish author, Meik Wiking, that changed our lives and how we think  about happiness. Wiking is CEO of the Happiness Research Institute in Copenhagen, Denmark. Apparently, there are  few better places to research happiness since Denmark consistently rates in the top three countries on the U.N.’s  World Happiness Report. His book is called The Little Book of Hygge , and it explains why Danes are so happy. In  contrast to our North American view of happiness, which tends to revolve around a future that never quite arrives:  “ I’ll be happy when…. (I get a raise… I get the RV/boat/car I want… I quit my job… I make six figures… I go on a  trip/cruise… I lose 20 pounds… ), Hygge (HOO-GUH) is the Danish art of creating happiness by savouring  the small  pleasures of life in the company of people you care about. Hygge is about being in the NOW and being fully present. Danes put their phones away when they sit...