your clothing, save a little cash and avoid the environmental damage caused by crafting clothes anew. You can also make clothing repair fun, by enlisting friends with sewing skills or enrolling as a gang in sewing classes at a nearby studio. (Vancouver’s Spool and Thread sewing studio reports that 10 percent of its clientele is men, meaning there’s hope for a man behind a sewing machine becoming cool and, dare we say, even sexy?) Take these tips in stride and you’ll make granny proud.
SHARE, REPAIR OR TAKE CAREInvest a few dollars in a cheap sewing kit and a bottle of shoe polish. You can quickly extend the life of your clothes and shoes by showing them some attention.Learn how to darn! All you’ll need is a darning needle, door knob (or something similarly pear-shaped) and wool thread and you’ll be repairing pesky toe holes in no time.Sewing studios are popping up in Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal. Check the resource guide to find a sewing space near you.If knitting is your thing, organize a regular knitting group or search out a knit-friendly café in your community.
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Living Me To We | Morning
MORNING
Wake Me Up
7:45 a.m.
RE-USE AN OLD SHIRT
You already know about all the chemicals and water used to make a T-shirt from scratch, so how about remaking that old sleeping shirt into a reusable shopping bag?
GO TO PAGE 154 FOR MORE TIPS AND INFORMATION
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Morning | Living Me To We
GET TO KNOW
USE WHAT YOU GOT
The Buried Life
Meet Duncan, Johnnie, Ben and Dave, the four childhood-buds-turned-superstars of MTV’s The Buried Life. Growing up in Victoria, British Columbia these boys were taught to reuse and repurpose whatever they had. Back then it wasn’t called “socially conscious living” – just life.
THE MOMENT: “None of us were pampered growing up,” says Ben. “So, we learned to be resourceful. I was almost shocked by what my mom would do. She never threw away Christmas wrapping paper. Never. So, we’d be wrapping presents in the same paper for 10 years.” Brothers Johnnie and Duncan remember that food waste didn’t exist in their house: “Our mom made one big meal on Monday. Whatever wasn’t finished would go into a new meal on Tuesday and then whatever wasn’t finished that night went into a new meal on Wednesday. Everything was used.”THE MISSION: From B.C. to L.A., the life-time pals made a big jump when they moved south for the small screen. “Growing up on the West Coast, we all have an appreciation for the outdoors and the environment. The differences between Victoria and Los Angeles hit us the most when we saw that recycling doesn’t happen much here,” says Ben. “I was always impressed by Steve Nash, who’s from our hometown. He moved to Dallas where they don’t have a recycling program and set one up in the schools there. That’s what we want to do: lead by example when we can.”THE HABIT: Day to day, The Buried Life stars try to keep connected to their roots in Victoria. Either they’re driving across the country in a repurposed purple bus called Penelope, or skateboarding across town wearing second-hand clothing. Even the bunk bed sheets on Penelope are passed down from Dave and his brothers. It’s a nice blast from the past, as each bed is outfitted with sheets of each cast member’s childhood heroes and hobbies. (Johnnie has Hercules, Duncun has He-Man, Dave has Smurfs and Ben has planets.) “You can take the guys out of Canada, but you can’t take the Canada out of the guys” is their motto.
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Living Me To We | Morning
“But often, in the world’s most crowded streets,
But often, in the din of strife,
There rises an unspeakable desire
After the knowledge of our buried life.”
MATTHEW ARNOLD
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Morning | Living Me To We
BEFORE
YOU
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MORNING
Before You Go Go
8:05 a.m.
The Omnivore’s Way
Eat Less Meat
SOME PEOPLE TELL STORIES OF HORRIBLE DATES. Us? We can regale you with tales of woe about going vegetarian. Like the times we burnt that lentil chili or singed the barbequed tempeh and had dinner guests sneaking bits into their napkins. Or the countless times Craig’s resolve has crumbled, after back-to-back overseas flights, where the vegetarian option consists of cold tofu and mystery sauce or the meat-free airport offering is white bread and cheese. And then there is that tiny crustacean, the shrimp, which keeps tempting us away from the vegetarian lifestyle, but harvesting shrimp creates serious environmental damage to our ocean floors. We could go on, but we’ll spare you. Eating meat packs a powerful punch to the environment and our health. Our carnivorous ways far outweigh the pollution caused by driving – one kilo of beef equals 20 kg of pollution-causing emissions – but we doubt that chowing down on steak ’n’ eggs will ever attract the same derision as, say, driving an SUV. Meat tastes too good, even though in excess, it’s bad for us. A meat-heavy diet boosts our cholesterol and chances of heart disease, cancer and diabetes. A U.K. study estimated that trimming meat to just three meals a week could save the nation 45,000 lives and over $1 billion in health care costs every year.And yet, after all the very good arguments for going vegan or vegetarian, only 4 percent of Canadians do so. There has to be a better, more guilt-free solution to minimizing meat consumption. You can become a part-time vegetarian or follow the Meatless Monday trend or the “vegan-before-six” approach. Or simply evaluate your diet and figure out what works best for you on the path to the good life.
SOCIALLY CONSCIOUS CUISINEHey meat-lover! Try turning meat into the supporting player of your meal, rather than the main attraction, such as a massive salad with a side of grilled fish or a veggie stir-fry with tofu and chicken.Fake meat has come a long way: try the fake duck à l’orange or tempeh pate. It might not taste like the real thing; it might taste a whole lot better!Try the veggie option on the menu at your next meal out.Pick up a vegetarian cookbook from the library.Host a vegetarian- or vegan-friendly potluck and see what your friends cook up.Have a vegetarian or vegan pal? Ask for favourite recipes, tips and tricks for upping vegetable and bean protein every day.The key to vegetarian delight is in the sauce. From Thai and Indian curries to Italian pesto, simple tamari or black bean sauce — all can be found in the grocery store aisle near you.
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Living Me To We | Morning