HOW TO BUILD A GEODESIC DOME ~ ORGANIC SUSTAINABLE LIVING

I  have this re-occurring dream where I see myself strolling out to our backyard and picking the best tasting, fresh, organic, nutritious, chemical free, non GMO fruit, vegetables and herbs all year-round. 

Then....... I wake up. !!

As you know, my husband and I live in Pickering, just outside of Toronto, Ontario, Canada which translates weather-wise into a climate of months and months of cold weather and snow, making our growing season quite short.

Sustainable Living by growing your own food has so many incredible benefits. The following are just a few........... 

• It is a wonderful way to support the environment. So much of the food that we eat has had to travel long distances to get to our supermarkets.  Just think about all those carbon emissions  as a result of their transport and how that negatively contributes to climate change.  
• It is a wonderful way to support your well-being - Freshly harvested food grown in nutrient-rich soil in your own backyard means that you are consuming more vitamins, minerals and enzymes which means better health for you. Food which has traveled long distances to get to us loses so many of these vital nutrients.
• It has therapeutic advantages; Gardening is relaxing to the mind, requires some physical exercise and the entire process of growing your own food is pleasurable and fulfilling. 
• It reduces your monthly food bill 

So, in an attempt to support our goals of living a truly healthy and sustainable life, I have been researching for quite some time now, a manufacturer/supplier or instructions on how to build a geodesic dome greenhouse  for our backyard. There are many manufacturers out there, but not all have a quality dome structure which will withstand our Canadian winters and snow. You will also come across loads of websites with instructions on how to build one from scratch.

Now you know we love a DIY project and will attempt to build anything ourselves if  at all possible, but sometimes as they say, "you have to know when to HOLD THEM AND KNOW WHEN TO FOLD THEM!"

We decided that we did not want to go the DIY route with this project, by following some obscure directions found on the internet. Our greenhouse will have some DIY elements for sure as we will be constructing it, but from a purchased kit which includes all the necessary materials for a perfect result. 

We want to build this correctly the first time as there really is quite a science to the Geodesic Dome Greenhouse design. 

Firstly let me tell you a bit about a Geodesic Dome Greenhouse as most people have never heard of them. It is a spherically designed greenhouse structure as opposed to the typical rectangular shape like most greenhouses. A Geodesic Dome Greenhouse is constructed from a number of triangular forms made from wood struts and metal hubs and covered by polycarbonate glazing panels which fit together to create the dome shape. The beauty and benefits of this shape are many; the dome can withstand very high winds, the snow slides right off, they are extremely energy efficient and requires little or no heat.

During my research,  I found this incredible company in Colorado called Growing Spaces who have been designing/producing Geodesic Dome Greenhouses for about 25 years.  There are many, many geodesic dome greenhouse manufacturers but in my opinion they pale in comparison to the Growing Spaces dome.

They have a variety of sizes and packages to suit your particular needs. Their smallest greenhouse kit is 15 ft. which includes a covering of UV resistant, shatter-proof polycarbonate glazing panels, a set of pre-cut, color-coded struts and framing. Features like automatic opening vents, solar powered undersoil heating/cooling system, Reflectix insulation, materials for the pond and a shade cloth are included.

Plus ~ for climates such as ours there is a a snowshed entryway that has a door with a window, all hardware, and a 24" foundation wall with structural siding. 

 Here are a few other pics all courtesy of Growing Spaces.

Pretty incredible, don't you think?

Can you see yourself building a Geodesic Dome Greenhouse? 

Can you imagine having your own abundant supply of organic, fresh produce just steps away, in your backyard all year long, even in the winter months?

Can you imagine being truly sustainable and enjoying greater health and wellness?

We surely can!!

Please visit Growing Spaces for more information.

Soulier Design Studio specializes in Sustainability, Eco Friendly Design, Products and Lifestyle.

http://www.soulierdesignstudio.com

YOUR PLASTICS HAVE A BAD WRAP! PART I | SUSTAINABLE LIVING |

 I have been on a serious mission to remove all the plastic in my home.

Actually, I have to admit, it is really quite a challenge as you have to find alternative ways to wrap, store and bag your food etc.  As a society we have become so dependent on plastic.  Plastic water bottles, sandwich and freezer bags, storage containers, milk jugs, milk bags, grocery bags, produce bags, plastic cutlery, plastic storage containers, plastic children's toys. Plastic this, plastic that. It's crazy!

What the heck did we do/use before plastic?

Okay, now I am going to be dating myself a little here but I vaguely, I repeat vaguely, recall the milkman delivering lovely glass milk bottles to our home.  Such fond memories peeling back the cardboard seal to find that the creme had risen to the top. 

Yummy!! Probably why I like creme in my coffee!!

There are several places that now sell organic milk in glass bottles. My questions is; why did we ever stop?  Glass is hygienic, recyclable and things seem to taste so much better in glass than in plastic.  Our food is in constant contact with plastic from production to the preparing of our foods. 

There are so many reasons to eliminate as much plastic from our lives as possible. Besides the fact that plastic is made from petroleum, from a health perspective, plastics have dangerous chemicals that leach into our foods. For example; off you go to the market with ALL good intentions of buying healthy organic greens for your family but guess what? they are packaged in plastic which is leaching toxic chemicals into those organic greens. (kinda defeats the purpose, wouldn't you say?)  BPA, a synthetic estrogen and plastics component, found in canned food, plastic water bottles, plastics and liquid infant formula containers is a chemical that has been associated with many health problems, including breast cancer, prostate cancer, insulin resistance, reproductive defects, diabetes and miscarriages to name just a few! This estrogen mimicking chemical can disrupt your hormones and alter your cells. Heating your food in plastic in the microwave, which so many people still do unbelievably, amplifies the leaching.  

.... Now From an environmental perspective ....

Oh my goodness, where do we begin? Plastic is devastating our wildlife, wildlife habitat, polluting our waterways, oceans and lands.

Photos - Courtesy of Google

Milk isn't the only item of food in your kitchen/pantry that lives better in glass. All of your pantry items will thank you for putting them into glass containers and you will definitely notice that these items will retain their freshness for longer as well.

Because I do canning each year, I have accumulated quite a collection of jars to choose from: Mason, Le Parfait and various others that I have picked up at garage sales.  It doesn't really matter as long as they are glass.  The other thing great about storing in glass is that it makes it easy to take inventory of what you are getting low on when making your shopping list.

Here are a few examples of my favourite jars and what I store in them.

These smaller ones are great for storing everything from baking supplies; baking soda and powder, sugars, nuts, spices, chia seeds, raisins, dates, jams, leftovers in the fridge ..... 

to storing homemade soups in the freezer. (Just don't overfill leave some expansion room)

These tall jars are terrific for pastas, homemade cookies, biscotti and oatmeal, crackers, breadcrumbs, flours, rice, coffee, loose tea, tea bags. I just add a label to the top.

Ok, so now we have most of the stuff in the kitchen covered, let's move on.... 

Do you pack a lunch for yourself, your children?  I would guess that you are wrapping that sandwich in either plastic cling wrap or putting it in a plastic zip lock bag.  Thought so!!  I would also like to guess that leftovers from last nights dinner are going in some plastic container with a plastic lid. Am I right? Don't feel bad, so many of us are doing just that, I mean what else is there? 

Well, there actually are safe and healthy alternatives for packing your lunch.  I love ECO LUNCH BOXES. This line is a plastic-free, waste-free lunchbox solution without any vinyl, plastic, lead or aluminum. 

There is a large assortment of sandwich boxes, snack containers, 

organic cotton lunch bags and bento boxes all machine washable 

Now, let's move on to your beverages? 

There is this amazing, amazing product called the S'well Bottle.  They are made of non-leaching 18/8 stainless steel, are a reusable bottle will keep your cold drinks cold for 24 hours and hot for 12, are sold worldwide and they give back to people in need.  S'well is a charitable company and was founded in 2010 with a passion to get rid of all plastic bottles. 

Did you know that over 200 billion plastic bottles are discarded/dumped globally each year?

S'well has a bottle for everyone, with a multitude of gorgeous colours and finishes.  I want them all .  

Here are just a few.

and a few more ....

Please check out S'wells amazing website for more information and where to purchase.

I know this post was insanely long but it is really important information that I wanted to share with you.  Not only does the use of plastic have a HUGE negative impact on your health, it has an ENORMOUS, impact on our environment.  

We have only touched the tip of the plastic-berg in this post and it will take some time and effort to eliminate most of the plastic from your life. 

Please stay tuned for Part ll of YOUR PLASTICS HAVE A BAD WRAP where we will explore other places where plastics exist that you may have not even thought about and how to rid them from your life.

Soulier Design Studio would love to hear your thoughts on this post.  Don't be shy!!

I wish you a Happy and Plastic Free Week.

Soulier Design Studio specializes in Sustainability, Eco-Friendly Design, Products and Lifestyle.

Please visit us at 

https://www.soulierdesignstudio.com

"SLOW LIFE" IN THE MALDIVES | KICKING BACK ON THE WEEKEND | MAY 27

I have connected with so many exciting, interesting, creative and like-minded people these last few years since I have been actively engaged on LinkedIn.  These new friends have truly enriched my life!!

One lovely friend that I have started to chat with regularly, introduced me to ECO TOURISM.  Eco Tourism is defined as, "responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment and improves the well-being of local people." according to (TIES, 1990) The International Eco Tourism Society.

My friend wrote to me to tell me a little bit about herself and her role as a design intern at this resort in the Maldives of which she provided a link. I had no idea that what was in store for me on the other side of that link was this incredibly beautiful world known as Soneva.

Everyone's vision of paradise is individually unique but this is definitely mine. Everything about Soneva is mind-blowing. I mean everything.  All I can say is Wow, Wow, Wow!! 

On this kinda chilly, rainy May weekend, I would certainly prefer to be Kicking Back at Soneva for sure.

In 1995, on the deserted island of Kunfunadhoo in the Maldives, Eva and Sonu Shivdasani built their home and Soneva Fushi. Living an environmentally responsible lifestyle and building a small villa here, became the foundation of a very successful business model of resorts, spas and world-class hotels. As their website states, "Soneva was the first 'castaway' resort in the Maldives, pioneering a trend for back-to-nature luxury holidays."

I love their philosophy (Slow Life) and their passion for the Environment.  SLOW LIFE" stands for (Sustainable-Local-Organic-Wellness Learning-Inspiring-Fun-Experiences). Soneva's resorts are responsibly constructed by the use of sustainable materials,  recycled waste materials while consciously conserving water or preserving ecosystems; doing their part to reduce their Carbon Footprint. Soneva, hires the local people, buys local products and utilizes sustainable business practices to support the local community.

I could go on and on about this wonderful place but I really must show you some pictures so that you can see what I am raving about.            

Without further ado ...  

Photos - all courtesy of Soneva

I wasn't kidding was I??

Wouldn't you love to be KICKING BACK ON THE WEEKEND and living the "Slow Life" at Soneva Fushi too?

Soulier Design Studio specializes in Sustainability, Eco-Friendly Design, Products and Lifestyle.

Please visit us at https://www.soulierdesignstudio.com

WALTER WHITE ~ FROM BREAKING BAD TO BREAKING GOOD!

WHO KNEW???? 

Who knew that Walter White a chemist and drug lord, who cooked crystal meth on the hit TV series Breaking Bad cared about the environment????

After doing some research, I found an article on Treehugger which states the following, 

" Methamphetamines a Clear Danger to the Environment Illicit methamphetamine dumping has killed livestock.  A group of forestry workers were taken ill when they came in contact with a meth dump. A meth lab that had been operating for several years produced so many toxic fumes that the surrounding trees, 150-year-old ponderosa pines, had died. Tree kills around meth labs are not rare occurrences. In fact, 26,000 acres of Tahoma State Forest were closed because of meth pollution. "

A little background info for those of you not familiar with the series; "Walt" found out he had terminal lung cancer and started manufacturing meth to help pay for his Cancer treatments and to provide for his wife and children should he die.  He made quite a lot of money.

Now Walt aka Bryan Cranston is living responsibly and saving fists full of dollars with his Eco-Friendly, Platinum LEED certified and very green beach house just outside of Los Angeles California. This home is truly gentle on the environment.

LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. 

There are four levels of certification - Platinum is the highest level that can be achieved. 

Some of the Eco Friendly features that this home is equipped with are photovoltaic and water heating solar panels, rain water collection, recycled materials, LED lighting,  Energy Star appliances, radiant floor heating, triple pane windows, ceiling fans to circulate the air. The list is endless!! 

This home is also the first Passive home to be built in the county. Passive solar homes do not use active mechanical systems/ furnaces, but instead are constructed to allow sunlight to be absorbed by windows and stored in walls and floors to be distributed in the form of usable heat in the winter and to reflect or reject solar heat in the summer.

I would like to share a few photos of this amazing home with you

Enjoy!

  Photos - Courtesy of Dwell

This home is an inspiration example for anyone interested in green building or living an eco-friendly, and sustainable lifestyle.

Soulier Design Studio specializes in Sustainability, Eco-Friendly Design, Products and Lifestyle.

Please visit us at 

https://www.soulierdesignstudio.com

E i E i OO ! | SLO MO SUNDAY SERIES | JULY 28

Happy, Happy Sunday!!

Here's hoping that your Slo Mo Sunday has been amazing so far and that you are basking in this glorious summer season. 

If you have been following my posts, you know that I relentlessly post about making sure that you include relaxation in your schedule regularly and that it is paramount to living a healthy and sustainable life. Everyone's idea of relaxing is very different; some like to listen to music, some like to spend the day in the kitchen baking, maybe it is going for a nice long walk or watching a movie, or maybe it is a leisurely game of golf.

Whatever it is just make sure that you fit it it somehow! 

As you know, hubby and I love our drives out into the country.  We find that it is a way for us to reduce our stress levels, it calms our minds and gives us such an invigorating feeling. Today, we left our home quite early, we packed up some fruit snacks and water and headed out to an area about a half hour north of us which is primarily farmlands. We prefer to cut through all the sidelines that are off the beaten paths while exploring all the country roads looking for historic buildings, interesting shops and of course local produce from the farmers. 

Our drive this morning was simply tremendous, the weather was just what the Doctor ordered and we snapped all kinds of pictures. We would love to own a hobby farm someday as we are absolutely crazy about farm animals, particularly cows and we certainly saw our share of them today as well.  Here are a couple of pics from our scenic drive this morning.  

Enjoy!

gorgeous field of wheat

here a soy farm (growing in the foreground) has grown a tree fence to separate land from the adjacent farm.

yellow, lavender and green of nature - it's a lovey colour scheme!

one of those sidelines off the beaten path - wow look at that corn

he doesn't look too impressed with us does he? But he sure is cute!

this might be the brother telling us to beat it!

not really feeling the love from this guy either

this turret was in the middle of no where - love the wrought iron piece beside it  

would have loved it for a DIY project and now that I think about it, why didn't I just take it??

great windows in this lovely church

and this is the stately entrance to Hanover Farm - can you imagine the house at the end of this driveway?

this is not my preferred style of home; my husband would move in, in a heartbeat.
as a designer I can certainly appreciate the workmanship in this Heritage Home. 

these last three pics are from the beach (Lake Ontario) just behind our home

We thought this would be a fabulous way to conclude our amazing drive in the country and it surely was.  We just sat for a while on the stone ruins, chatted about our road trip and how we might spend the balance of our Slo Mo Sunday.

How did you spend your day??

Soulier Design Studio specializes in Sustainability, Eco-Friendly Design, Products and Lifestyle.

Please visit us at https://www.soulierdesignstudio.com