Due to climate change, we are experiencing extreme weather changes in Thunder Bay. This winter, we’ve had extreme temperatures and large amounts of snow. When all the snow melts, its going to swamp our stormwater management system and cause flooding to roads and homes.

Been planting on average 50 seedlings a year since 1995.

Due to the changing freeze-thaw cycles, concrete is being lifted, cracked and moved. At the rates they are occurring, it is difficult to keep up with continual concrete maintenance around the city.

What would you do without power for your clothes dryer?  Using a clothesline can save electricity or gas costs, as rates will continue to sharply rise. Even during wintertime clotheslines will partially dry laundry and help you to save electricity.

This week I learned how to compost. Turns out it’s really easy! This is what 3 days of composting looks like. Imagine what it will look like in one year… two years! I think I’m going to need a bigger bucket!
#composting#reducewaste

What would you do without power for your clothes dryer?  Using a clothesline can save electricity or gas costs, as rates will continue to sharply rise. Even during wintertime clotheslines will partially dry laundry and help you to save electricity.

A changing climate means that certain things that I enjoy about life in Thunder Bay will be seriously altered. Our quality of life is vulnerable, and that makes climate change an urgent issue. Increasing periods of drought and frequency of extreme heat events may leave our forests and grasslands dry and fire prone. Thunder Bay and area has already experienced periods of fire bans and burn permit suspensions. Without action for climate change mitigation, our campfires and backyard fire pits may become a thing of the past.

As any mother can attest, the first thing we worry about are our kids. Did I teach them enough? Show them enough of the world? Prepare them enough? And that last one is the one that worries me most. Will he be prepared to live in a world facing the pains and hardships of a changing climate? To be sure there will be hardship, no matter how privileged of a life he leads. This is an urgent issue to me because of my son. At the same time, he gives me hope. He is smart, sensitive, sympathetic, strong, and sweet. Perhaps he will be the next scientist who invents a new technology to help combat climate change? Perhaps he will be the next teacher to help students understand what climate change is? Perhaps he will be the next visionary that will lead a low-impact lifestyle that others will follow. Perhaps….

I have started being mindful of serving only as much I can eat. We can always go for some more in the second helping if need be. With climate change arises the problem of food insecurity. Crops are failing because of unusual changes in temperature. Save food for the hungry.

Earth is more than just a planet, it is our home. We need to change, and we need to change now. Do your part to change the conversation about climate change. We must stand together and play a part in protecting our home.