HAPPY 2009 ~ What are YOUR New Year's Revolutions?

1. Upcoming Workshops and Events: DIY Natural Cleaning Party, Swap, Sniff and Shop, Natural Perfumes and more!

2. Specials for January, 2009: PWYW Wednesdays, Sliding Scale Hypnotherapy, Winter Cycling Bonus, and more!

3. Testimonial of The Month: Very impressed with all your services!

4. News: Anarres Shop at www.anarreshealth.ca, new hypnotherapy space, RAW Cacao Butter Cream in partnership with ChocoSol, Magical Incenses in partnership with The Hermit's Lamp, new ingredients and supplies, Anarres Now at Karma Coop and Good Catch!

5. Bonus Article: New Year's Revolutions!!!

6. Be the Change You Want To See in the World Action Alerts: Good News!!!

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1. Upcoming Workshops and Events

What: DIY Natural Cleaning Party!
When: Monday, January 12 from 6 to 8 pm
Where: Aangen Community Centre, 868 Dovercourt Road north of Bloor http://www.aangen.com/contact.asp Phone: 416.519.9800 E-mail: info@aangen.com
Cost: $20 plus $5 materials. Proceeds will be split between Aangen and Women's Voices for The Earth. Register at: http://www.aangen.com/workshops.asp

A Do-It-Yourself green cleaning party in partnership with Women's Voices for the Earth, an inspiring women's environmental health organization working to educate consumers about chemicals in cleaning products. You'll go home with your very own set of easy-to-make cleaning products (plus recipes) that have been tested for effectiveness and are good for your health and the environment! Bring empty spritzer and squeeze bottles for yourself and to share.

What: Swap, Sniff and Shop: Swap Your Unwanted Gifts and Get What You Want!
When: Wednesday, January 21st, 6 to 8 pm.
Where: Anarres Natural Health Clinic, College & Ossington
Cost: FREE, but RSVP and bring unwanted gifts to swap with others

Combat Post-Christmas Let-Down with a Swap, Sniff and Shop evening at Anarres Natural Health Clinic. Before my unwanted gifts get freecycled or posted on Craig's List, I thought I'd give us an opportunity to swap! Swap anything from stationery to sweaters, from short breads to socks. And if you didn't get what you wanted, or you got a little spending money, you can buy yourself tea lights or incense, or essential oils, or soaps, or custom shampoo or conditioner, or mouthwash, or toothpaste or...!!! I'll also have my newest ingredients out for you to try out and learn about: calamus essential oil, pumpkin seed carrier oil, flax seed oil, rice bran oil, cassia essential oil, Chinese and thuja cedarwood essential oils, ginger grass essential oil, French pink clay, bulk organic glycerine soap by the 100 g, raw (purple!) cacao butter, vanilla pods and roasted cocoa butter from local horizontal traders ChocoSol, magical incenses Psychic, Spirit, Power, Money and Clearance.

What: Make Your Own Natural Perfumes
When: Friday, January 30, 6 to 8 pm
Where: Anarres Natural Health Clinic, College & Ossington
Cost: $50, $30 pre registered, 2 for $25 each.
Contact: To RSVP, for address and other info 416.535.9620 or anarreshealth@gmail.com

Humankind has been developing the art and science of perfumery since the time of the Neanderthal. Learn the basics of the art of perfumery using life giving carrier oils, flower waters and extracts and luxurious essential oils. You'll learn about top, middle and base notes, select a perfume type, and concoct your own entrancing, energizing or therapeutic scent from a selection of dozens of pure essential oils. You'll come away with 10 ml of your custom perfume to keep or give as a gift, plus skills that can serve you for a lifetime for a fraction of the cost of a toxic commercial perfume.

What: Organic Glycerine Soap Workshop for Kids & Caregivers
When: Saturday, February 7 from 1 to 4 pm
Where: Aangen Community Centre, 868 Dovercourt Road north of Bloor http://www.aangen.com/contact.asp Phone: 416.519.9800 E-mail: info@aangen.com
Cost: $25 plus $5 materials. Register at: http://www.aangen.com/workshops.asp

Love to use or give those beautiful clear glycerine soaps with flowers, or toy spiders, photos, or secret messages inside? The vast majority of melt and pour soaps have preservatives and sodium laurel sulphates in them, but Anarres serves up healthful-ness in light amber coloured vegetable glycerine soap made with organically grown oils. You'll learn how to melt, pour, set, cut and package 6 soaps hand made by you. We'll experiment with adding goodies like natural clays for colour, butters such as cocoa and shea for skin benefits and flowers, messages or ornaments for fun. Best of all it's safe, fun and makes 6 great gifts for Valentine's Day... but you'll want to keep one for yourself!

What: The Love Lab: DIY Natural Lube & Mojo Massage Oils
When: Monday, February 9 from 6 to 8 pm
Where: Aangen Community Centre, 868 Dovercourt Road north of Bloor http://www.aangen.com/contact.asp Phone: 416.519.9800 E-mail: info@aangen.com
Cost: $25 plus $5 materials. Register at: http://www.aangen.com/workshops.asp

Come and get your customized Mojo Massage Oil and DIY with Tracey TieF, Certified Natural Health Practitioner. You'll learn about slippery, water-based, safe, tasty and healing ingredients, and make your own lube for the cost of half a tube! Get that petroleum off your crotch! PEG is NOT your friend! Neither is propylene glycol, glycerin, colouring, fragrances or any of those unreadable chemical ingredients that appear on the labels of commercial sexual lubricants, if they appear on the label at all. Aside from the harmful ingredients and punishing price tag, the lubes come in non refillable plastic, toxifying our planet a further 575 years after use! Make your own mojo to fit your mood. What a gift for you AND your beloved!

What: Mamalicious! Fun to Make, Safe Recipes for Mother and Baby Workshop
When: Monday, February 16 from 6 to 8 pm
Where: Aangen Community Centre, 868 Dovercourt Road north of Bloor http://www.aangen.com/contact.asp Phone: 416.519.9800 E-mail: info@aangen.com
Cost: $25 plus $5 materials. Register at: http://www.aangen.com/workshops.asp

This hands-on workshop will have you creating nourishing, delicious concoctions with natural ingredients that are safe for mother and baby! You'll be horrified to learn what ingredients are commonly found in baby oil, wipes, creams and soaps and learn how to find or make healthful alternatives. You'll go away with new-found knowledge and expertise, armed with recipes and sample goodies for the mamas and babes in your life.

Anarres in-Clinic Workshops are also offered by request, your space or mine:
BOOK A PARTY (5 friends!), CLASS OR WORKSHOP Call for more info: 416 535 9620

Anarres' workshops are relaxing and fun and take place at Anarres Natural Health Clinic, College & Ossington. Classes are limited to six participants so that everyone gets a semi private lesson experience. There's fruit, veggies and dip to snack on, and, as always,
a choice of cool crystal water or refreshing tea.
There are always goodies to take home,
as well as new found knowledge and skills.

2. Specials for January, 2009:

Pay What You Want Wednesdays

In January, book an appointment from 9 am through 5 pm on a Wednesday and pay what you want (normally $60 an hour!)

Full one and a half hour treatments: Aroma Facial, Aroma Bodywork, Customized (mix and match) Bodywork, Caregiver & baby/child Bodywork, Detox Treatment, Qi Stone Therapy (hot rocks are used to deeply massage the body, with layouts of hot and cold stones to relax and re-energize)

One Hour Treatments: Foot Spa (whirlpool and reflexology), Qi Drop Therapy (selected essential oils are dropped on the spine and shoulders combined with light massage to initiate healing), Customized Body and Energy Work, Chakra Workout (Meditation, Balancing and Oil Treatment)

Half Hour Treatments: Aroma Consultation, FAR Infra Red Sauna, Foot Whirlpool, Ion Cleansing Foot Detoxification, Neck and Shoulder Work, Polarity Therapy, Reflexology Session, Reiki Session, Chakra Balancing

Hypnotherapy for Healing ~ 30 minutes FREE and Sliding Scale:

Hypnotism is a state of attentive, receptive relaxation

in which we speak to our vast subconscious mind

without the interfering chatter of the conscious mind.

You design the session with me, build powerful suggestions,

remain conscious throughout the session and

learn to reinforce changes with exercises to do in daily life.

What is it worth to you to lose your cravings, give up unwanted habits with ease, improve your nutrition and build the body you want, overcome fears and barriers of every sort? Try one session ~ with a 30 minute consultation for FREE ~ and experience the effects unfold over the coming month, or book a 3, 6 or ten session change program at progressive discounts. I charge a unique sliding scale of $100 to $200 an hour in accordance with guild standards.
Feel free to forward this 30 minute free offer to your friends and colleagues.

Winter Cycling Bonus!

Ride your bicycle to Anarres for any treatment, and get a half hour bonus for FREE!
Why? Because you DESERVE it!
Let me know when you book your time so that I can extend your appointment.

New!!! Hypnotherapy CDs January Special: $45 Become a Client Magnet

One of the safest and fastest ways to change your life for the better is by using hypnosis. Whether you are healing your past or manifesting your future, hypnosis can definitely help create the results you desire effortlessly. The ever expanding collection of Life Changing Hypnosis CDs includes: Experiencing Joy, Body Image, Weight loss, Stop Smoking, Life Purpose, Past Life Regression, Become a Money Magnet, HIV/AIDS and Strengthening the Immune System, ADD, The Art of Listening: Communication in the Household, Asthma, Bed Wetting, Study Habits, Angel Guide Communication, Confidence, Anti-Aging, Phobias.
Customized CDs are also available.
Imagine having your mind powered for exactly everything you want!
Retail only: CD or mp3 $50 Full money back guarantee

New and Special!

New ingredients at Wholesale In Clinic prices:
* calamus essential oil $.67/ ml
* pumpkin seed carrier oil $4.65/100 ml
* flax seed oil $4.82/100 ml
* rice bran oil $.91/100 ml
* cassia essential oil $.35/ml
* Chinese $.05/ml and thuja $.58/ml cedarwood essential oils
* ginger grass essential oil $.13/ml
* French pink clay $5.48/100 ml
* bulk organic glycerine soap $1.09/100 g

Not New, but Still Very Special!

KRAFT PAPER PACKING TAPE: Want to pack parcels without horrifying amounts of smelly killer plastic tape? Go old school with me! I searched and searched and found a local supplier of this elusive kraft paper packing tape and now I want to share my case with you! It's 60 pound kraft paper (that natural brown) with water activated gummed adhesive. It's fun! It works! It looks fantastic! I am wholesaling each eco-friendliest 2 inch wide by 600 foot long roll for $10 Wholesale! I adore this stuff. Try it!

Poya Ayurvedic Dosha Massage Oils:
Therapeutic grade essential oils blended with almond oil.
Boxes include explanation of doshas, common uses and directions. Originating from the India 5000 years ago, Ayurveda consists of three main elements Vata, Pitta, and Kapha, making up the human body. Known as doshas, each dosha governs an essential structure of the human body. Choose Vata, Pitta or Kapha Oil. ON SALE: 2 for $28, Set of 3 for $40

Poya Essential Oils 19 varieties with instructions and descriptions:
anise star, basil, cinnamon leaf, clary sage, clove bud, eucalyptus radiata, fir needle, grapefruit, lemon cold pressed, lemongrass, lime, cold pressed orange, patchouli dark, sweet peppermint, Japanese peppermint, petitgrain, rosemary French, tangerine, tea tree
~ 15 ml in opaque white conical glass bottle with gold cap ON SALE: 5 for $40, 10 for $70

Reed Diffusers: diffuse gently and safely without a flame! Just add oil and essential oil...
ON SALE: $2 package of 10 $3 with an amber glass Nirvana bottle, $10 kit with essential oil

Zeolite: This supplement is a compound volcanic mineral, and safely yet powerfully detoxifies the body by attaching to, and shedding, harmful heavy metals and unhealthy, abnormal cells. SALE: $40 for two

Books:
The Creamy Craft of Cosmetic Making with Essential Oils and their Friends and
The Baby Boomers Beauty Bible by Jan Benham, shows you everything you need to know to make your own healthful aromatherapy bath and body products from scratch.
Buy both ON SALE for $36

MENTION THAT YOU READ IT IN THE ANARRES NEWSLETTER AND RECEIVE:

A Chico Reusable shopping bag that fits in a pocket: Buy $50 worth of Gifts, Products, Gift Certificates or Services and get one FREE: It's useful! It's colourful! It's pretty! It's strong!

FREE 30 minute consultation for your first appointment when you tell me you saw it here.
That's a $30 value!

Referrals: Refer a friend for body or energy work and you will both get 10% off any Anarres service. PLEASE REMIND ME!!! I forget!!!

3. Testimonial of The Month: Love on eBay!

Two of the nicest bits of feedback that I got in December were from the least likely places: relatives, and eBay. I heard through the grapevine that family members wanted things I had made for Christmas ~ I always assume that everyone is tired of receiving my handmade products ~ and even conveyed their wish lists through the grapevine. I have also had great feedback through eBay in selling the last of my Poya line of oils and reed diffusers.

Dear Tracey,

OMG, I loooove the oils! Thank you so much for your personalized customer service. It is outstanding! I was so pleased to see my package when I got home last night. Thank you so much for such a wonderful transaction. You have been so generous and kind.

I hope you have a great a safe holiday. Thank you again! Very impressed with all your services!

~ M.H. Lee, Toronto

I also had a great time doing my first workshop at Aangen Community Centre and enjoyed a wonderful community holiday party. Secret Santa gave me Aangen Tea!

4. News:

Anarres Shop at www.anarreshealth.ca
After two years of struggle to get my web site up and running the way I intended, my fabulous partner, Kris Coward, has revamped my site and created the online store I've always dreamed of! I'm excited every day to learn new tricks in building my site. Let me know what you think, warts and all! Not incidentally, Kris has a PHD in math and is looking for a job, so please pass on any leads you may have... kris@melon.org

New Hypnotherapy Space
By mid January, you'll be able to enjoy your hypnotherapy session with me in a peaceful upstairs room at Anarres Clinic. I'm looking forward to a new armoire desk!
Come and check it out at my Swap, Sniff and Shop January 21, 6 to 8 pm.

RAW Cacao Butter Cream in partnership with Choco Sol
I visited the delectable smelling Choco Loft at 6 St Joseph at Yonge Street and obtained samples of the most exquisite, horizontally traded raw cacao, cocoa butter and vanilla beans. I hope to offer Lotions, Potions and Creams workshops soon at Choco Sol www.chocosoltraders.com, and in the meantime, am busy creating new products and recipes using Choco Sol ingredients.

My first creation is Raw Cacoa Cream, in a beautiful 250 ml apothecary blue glass jar, for sale at Anarres for $21.50. Made with Choco Sol's raw cacao, this naturally nourishing, moisturizing and sunscreening (SPF 15) cream has been made with purple cacao horizontally traded with producers in Oaxaca, southern Mexico. www.anarreshealth.ca/node/164
Come by and try it at the free Swap, Sniff and Shop January 21, 6 to 8 pm.

Magical Incenses in partnership with The Hermit's Lamp

Made by hand in consultation with Andrew McGregor, Magickal practitioner, these sandalwood paste sticks and cones are infused for 24 hours in 100% essential oils, dried, and packaged in compost-able eucalyptus cellulose. Try these magickal purpose-made burn-for-an-hour incenses and you won't go back to synthetic kinds! Made with only pure essential oils, not fragrances, chemicals or DPG. Ingredients: (bamboo stick), wood powder, natural bond, and essential oils *Certified Organically Grown

Clearance: This handmade incense purifies and protects people and magical thingsCopal infused oil gently cleanses negative energy, eucalyptus radiata* dispells illness and conflict, while lime is personally purifying and protecting.
Money: This handmade incense inspires prosperity and abundance. Cinnamon bark strengthens money energy, basil draws business and good luck, while wintergreen manifests abundance painlessly.
Power: This handmade incense is affirming and empowering. Lemon stimulates physical and protective energies, clove strengthens consciousness and courage, while cedar instills self-control.
Psychic: This handmade incense is energizing and ecstatic. Cinnamon bark and ginger generate bio-electric power, clary sage induces euphoria and release, while ginger stimulates magickal and sexual energies.
Spirit: This handmade incense grounds, then expands awareness. Sandalwood infused in walnut oil promotes religious union, frankincense frereana unites mind and body for meditation and prayer, while myrrh awakens spiritual realities beyond the everyday.

The incense packs of 10, in sticks or cones, cost @$5 and are available at Anarres Clinic,
at www.anarreshealth.ca and
at The Hermits Lamp
Readings – Classes – Spiritual Work
Wed – Fri 12 – 7, Sat 12 – 6, Sun 12 - 4
647 286-8739 www.thehermitslamp.com
898 B St Clair Ave W (upstairs) 1 Block East of Oakwood

New Ingredients and Supplies

Wholesale prices at Anarres Clinic, bring-your-own-glass-bottle, or buy one for $1-$2:
* calamus essential oil $.67/ ml
* cassia essential oil $.35/ml
* Chinese $.05/ml and thuja $.58/ml cedarwood essential oils
* ginger grass essential oil $.13/ml
* pumpkin seed carrier oil $4.65/100 ml
* flax seed oil $4.82/100 ml
* rice bran oil $.91/100 ml
* French pink clay $5.48/100 ml
* bulk organic glycerine soap $1.09/100 g

Check out my new web store for details on each essential oil. www.anarreshealth.ca/catalog/3/essential_oils

Anarres Now at Karma Coop and Good Catch!

Selected Anarres products are now available at the incomparable Karma Food Cooperative, where members like me benefit from the lowest mark up because it's non profit.
Email orientation@karmacoop.org or call Susan Stewart at (416) 537-7076 if you are interested in attending an orientation session to become a member.
Karma Food Co-operative
739 Palmerston Avenue (2 blocks West of Bathurst, a few doors North of Barton)
(416) 534-1470
www.karmacoop.org

Having Anarres products at the pirate-themed, crafty, environmentally-friendly and passionately local Good Catch General Store is a dream come true for me!
1556 Queen Street West (at Sorauren)
416/533.4664
www.goodcatch.ca
Open 9:30 am to 10 pm, 7 days a week! Good Catch also delivers locally!

If you're as excited as I am to see Anarres products in stores, please let Karma and Good Catch know, and tell them what you'd like to buy there.

Local health food and boutique stores are filled to the rafters with plastic packaged, imported bath and body products. If you'd like to see local, environmentally-friendly, refillably packaged, fairly traded, healthy and organic products where you shop, please ask them to carry Anarres products. I will email them a wholesale/consignment catalogue!

5. Bonus Article: New Year's Revolutions!!!

The arbitrariness of kissing and hugging everyone in sight at midnight on New Year's Eve has never appealed to me. This year, however, my sentiments seem to have matured like fine wine; I am happy to usher 2009 in, relieved that 2008 is over, proud of my accomplishments and lessons learned, and ready to reach new heights of prudence and success in 2009.

Eco innovation of the year 2008: Pre-packing my cheques and cash in a reused envelope for deposit in the ATM. With this system, I can pre-sign all the cheques, count the cash, and list it all on the front of the envelope so that I don't have to muddle through once I get to the ATM.

Glad I did it, Glad it's over:
~ The Holistic World Expo. Thanks to my friends and family, I survived and gave a seminar.
~ The Green Living Show. Only possible with the generous volunteering of my clients!

Glad I did it, I'm looking forward to doing it again:
~ Big on Bloor. I love my neighbourhood, I loved the streets filled with people, not cars.
~ Spring and Holiday Shopping Shows at 69 Olive Gallery, home of Deb Wiles and the Marks of Perception Art School www. debwiles.com
~ The Toronto Island Christmas Bazaar on Algonquin Island– what a lot of fun that was!
~ The Sassy Little Craft Show at The Victory Cafe. Great crowd, great crafters, great barter!

Things I'm proud of from 2008:
~ All the hard work recovering from my injuries from being doored by a truck April 8. Blessings to my healers: Chris Malec, RMT www.spiralmassagetherapy.ca , Susanda Yee, Six Degrees Community Acupuncture www.pokeme.ca , and the Physio Plus Health Group www.physioplushealth.com .
~ Media coverage of Anarres:
Strange brew attracts consumers who want chemical-free homes, October 11, 2008, by Jennifer Wilson-Speedy http://www.yourhome.ca/homes/article/513664
It's a 'BYOJ' party — Bring Your Own Jars, July 21, 2008, by Nancy J. White
http://santaclausfund.ca/comment/columnists/article/463944
GREEN PLANET: Spring-friendly cleaning Tracey TieF is inviting chaos into her kitchen. April 13, 2008 by Vivian Song http://www.lfpress.ca/cgi-bin/publish.cgi?p=230808&s=societe
Entrepreneurship Boot Camp May 16, 2008 by Jamie Damaskinos
http://imprint.uwaterloo.ca/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=24...
The Business of Being Green, Part 3, March 4, 2008, by Beth Terry:
http://www.fakeplasticfish.com/2008/03/business-of-green-part-3-tracey-t...
Interview with Tracey TieF, November 7th, 2008, Interview by: Arthur Gron
http://www.learninginthecity.com/Interviews/index.php?InterviewID=19

New things I love from 2008:
~ My beautiful new cruiser bike, Savannah, with cargo baskets, a gift from Tracey Kolowska with handy gear from the fabulous Urbane Cyclist http://www.ucycle.com/
~ My new web site. Thanks to David Findlay for starting the adventure, and endless gratitude to Kris Coward for revamping it, installing the store and making all the bits work.
~ My rubber stamps, postcards, magnets and other promo items.
~ My high functioning new food processor ~ all the accessories fit underneath ~ through freecycling thanks to Angela Bischoff (Join her list at www.greenspiration.org) and Petra Hanzlik (Contact petrayogini@gmail.com for yoga classes), days after my 15 year old one died!
~ Hypnotherapy! I adore it! It's relaxing, and making changes in your heart and head with hypnotherapy is like having the wind at your back at all times. I'm having a great time helping my clients make the lifestyle, head and heart changes that I know will improve their health.

Things from 2007 that I'm still loving:
~ My first clients. Thank you for teaching me so much!
~ Freecycling. Every week, I find some object that's useful, but in my way, to give away, and there's always bubble wrap to freecycle! "freetoreuse" , , , "torontoreuseit" and http://toronto.en.craigslist.ca/tor/
~ Fake Plastic Fish. The only blog I subscribe to, Beth Terry inspirationally documents the trials and triumphs of a woman boycotting plastic. http://www.fakeplasticfish.com/

Results from the End of The World of Plastic Challenge:
~ Reusable bags became all the rage, from the questionable permanent plastic bags at the major grocer's for $.99, to my elegant happy-factory-made pocket Chico Bags $5, to jute bags at Karma, everyone seems to be switching away from disposable plastic bags.
~ Grocers have started charging for disposable bags. Some municipalities are enforcing this or banning disposable plastic bags entirely.
~ More and more products are appearing on health food store shelves packed in cardboard instead of plastic. Non plastic candles, soaps, bulk items and produce are becoming normal.
~ Brita has been forced by a consumer campaign to take their filtres back for recycling in the US and Canada. Better yet, I learned how to refill my charcoal filtres: http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-refill-a-disposable-Brita-brand-w...
~ Plastic water bottles are becoming passe as well. It's not difficult for me to convince clients to drink more water, and to switch from glass or metal bottles. Refillable bottles, from stylish to utilitarian, are everywhere! Stainless steel and glass baby bottles are available, too.
~ It's still difficult to avoid cleaning products packed in plastics, but Grassroots on Danforth has a large selection of bulk cleaners, bath and body products so you don't need to buy your products in new plastic containers. Grassroots on Bloor and Karma Food Coop have smaller selections. Better yet, make your own at my DIY Natural Cleaning Party on Monday, January 12 from 6 to 8 pm at Aangen Register at: http://www.aangen.com/workshops.asp

Among the things I changed this year, I now:

* buy all loose vegetables now (onions and carrots were my last frontier)
* buy bulk tofu (only Karma has plastic free bulk tofu as an option)
* take reused plastic bags to the bulk store for sugar (hooked on demerrara)
* carry reusable small bags and paper envelopes everywhere
* use reused envelopes in bank machines instead of the ones provided
* carry my Chico bag around with me (almost) always. Thank you, caribeener!
* found a way to reuse plastic bags my bottles come in as packaging for soaps and resins, and made stickers saying so. Not as pretty as my vegetable cellulose, though.
* got NO new plastic bags at stores this year – I'm snagging them for garbage from other people's excess, now.
* We ordered the smallest garbage bin from the city, so for a household of 6 plus Anarres, that's very little waste - and it's almost all plastics. Grrr.

End of the World of Plastic Challenge Participants changes included:

* I'm not buying those individually sized yogurt containers anymore - you can't recycle them. Now I'm buying the large container and portioning it out myself.
* I'm not buying granola bars anymore and instead am buying granola cereal and again, portioning it out myself.
* I'm not buying bottled water anymore and now carry my own bottle that I can properly wash out myself and reuse.
* I'm refusing plastic bags wherever possible when I shop and being mindful to keep a cloth/reusable bag on hand.
* I'm not buying sandwich bags and instead am using the produce bags I bring home for both food and my organics bin.
* I never take a plastic bag from a store. If I can't carry it, I don't buy it.
* I wash and reuse most food packaging, and try to buy things without packaging at all.
* I buy natural cleaners in bulk, reusing the same bottles I've had for more than 5 years.
* I bring my own containers, mugs and bags for take out food and drinks – and don't get any if I don't have one on me.
* I encourage my friends to do this too, giving them my bags, mugs or containers if nec.
* I bring my own plastic bags to put fruit and veg into – but enjoy putting a whole bunch of loose items on the counter at the store. Somehow I think people might notice that it's possible to buy a couple of apples and not put them in a bag. Sometimes if I don't have a paper bag to buy brown mushrooms with me, I'll buy a few portobellos instead.
* I only shop at large supermarket chains in emergency or if Fiesta Farms is closed.
* I make my own soap, and can and preserve excesses from the garden to reduce transportation and packaging.
* I grow lots of my own food, buy direct from farmers whenever possible, and teach others about local food and the food system.
* I have coffee mugs, plates and cutlery in my community gardens so we don't have to use disposables, and when we have a larger event, everything is compost-able from Green Shift.
* I make my own spiral notebooks out of recycled paper at copy centres.
* I dry and prepare my own camping foods and pack it into reused bags.
* I ride my bike all year round.
* I finally have my parents bringing their own bags to stores!
* I have been trying to encourage my favourite stores to carry more local/organic/healthy basics in bulk.
* I use waxed paper to wrap sandwiches and to cover things in the fridge & microwave.
* I switched from acrylic socks to wool socks.
* I bought stainless steel and glass containers at a discount store to replace plastic and to refill from bulk bins.
* I don't buy plastic water bottles anymore and filtre my water at home.

Finally, things I am looking forward to in 2009:
~ The inauguration of a democratic US President, who is also Black American
~ Learning to enhance and manage my new web site and store
~ Making delicious vanilla and cacao products from Choco Sol's ingredients
~ Giving workshops at more new venues such as stores, and community centres
~ Giving more private workshops... wanna DIY Natural Cleaning Party?
~ Approaching stores to carry Anarres products – please suggest some to me!
~ Building my Hypnotherapy for Health practice

6. Be the Change You Want To See in the World Action Alerts: Good News!!!

Green giant urges energy rethink

Calls combo of wind, hydroelectric power `absolutely perfect'
Toronto Star, Dec. 18

Ontario could power itself exclusively on renewable energy one day if it thought
differently about the operation and design of its entire electricity system,
says the chief architect of Germany's green-energy law.

German legislator Hermann Scheer, largely credited for pushing through the
policies that have turned his country into a renewable-energy powerhouse, said
the biggest challenge is overcoming the belief that large, centralized power
plants based on nuclear fission and fossil fuels are necessary for an
electricity system to operate reliably.

Full article: http://www.thestar.com/Business/article/555638

Toronto stood up to bottled water industry

Dec 11, 2008
TONY CLARKE - Polaris Institute

Toronto's decision last week to ban the sale and distribution of bottled water on city premises was a watershed moment for water justice advocates the world over. What was truly significant about Toronto's action was not that it banned an environmentally destructive product, but that it included a commitment to ensuring access to tap water in all city facilities...

It's becoming clear that the recent love affair with bottled water has reached its limits. Bottled water's 15 minutes are up, the marketing scam is out of the closet and the tap is back. The simple fact is that there is no "green" solution to bottled water. While it might serve a function during natural disasters or other contingencies, it is no alternative to the tap.

Full article: http://www.thestar.com/comment/article/551909
--
Tracey TieF Certified Natural Health Practitioner 416.535.9620 or
anarreshealth@gmail.com www.anarreshealth.ca

If you have been a client of Anarres, please fill out my survey and get a free gift for your efforts!
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