Green Houses — Resources

December 2020 — We recorded episode 8 of Climate Action Muskoka’s Muskoka Drawdown—Green Houses just before Christmas.

Green Houses — Intro

What climate action enthusiast doesn’t fantasize about designing, building and living in an energy efficient, environmentally friendly house? In this episode we speak with Paul Ecclestone and Scott Young, two Muskoka residents who tell us about their innovative homes (each of which is a “mosaic of separate solutions”, built approximately 15 years ago); what they did, what they thought about doing but didn’t, what has worked out and what hasn’t. We’ll also get some tips, for those of you thinking of taking the plunge.

Air Date

The episode aired on Hunters Bay Radio, Saturday December 26, 2021 at 7:30am. Thanks for sharing your knowledge and experience, Paul and Scott! #greenhouses#strawbale#climateactionmuskoka#climatesolutions 

Here’s the link to Hunters Bay Radio → https://muskokaradio.com/

Podcast

In case you missed it live, listen to the Green Houses Podcast (opens in a new browser tab.)

More Resources

Interested in learning more? Scott Young shared this in a follow-up email.

Evolve Builders Group is an Ontario based green builder. Evolve was best I was able to find when we built our straw bale home in 2006, and I believe they are still the best in Ontario, probably the best in Canada. https://evolvebuilders.ca

Straw Bale Building, How to plan, design & build with straw by Chris Magwood & Peter Mack. This book was essential reading back in 2000 when I started seriously thinking about building an alternative home.

BUCKY WORKS: BUCKMINSTER FULLER’S IDEAS FOR TODAY by J. Baldwin. To live differently we must think differently, and reading anything by or about Buckminster Fuller changed my thinking, opening a world of possibilities.

Update, January 16, 2020

Group that gathered for January 12 meeting

This is a reminder that we are climate striking tomorrow, Friday January 17, 11:30am to 12:30pm at Memorial Park in Bracebridge. We hope you can join us! Dress warmly! #fridaysforfuture


Objectives & Sub-Committees, Oh My!

Group that gathered for January 12 meeting

Do we call ourselves a steering committee? A lot of expertise and passion in the room on January 12, as this group sat down to talk about the shape we’d like to see Climate Action Muskoka take. So much to do, and Muskoka, we know this community is up for the challenge. We’re creating sub-committees. We’re developing our short- and long-term objectives. We’re working toward weekly climate strikes in other Muskoka communities. United in our mission to work together to face climate change. Contact us for meeting notes. ❤️ ? #climateactionmuskoka. #drawdown #climateaction #resilience #recovery #Muskoka


Muskoka Drawdown — The Radio Show

Organizer Tamsen Tillson (speaking of myself in the third person) was approached by Jeff Carter of Hunters Bay Radio to put together a monthly 22-minute radio show about climate activism on behalf of Climate Action Muskoka.

We’re planning to call it Muskoka Drawdown. Based on the Project Drawdown premise and applying it to Muskoka, it will be a solutions-based exploration of what is being done, who is doing it and how we can all work together to reverse global warming in Muskoka.

I’ll be looking for lots of help! If you are on this mission personally and/or professionally, or you know of someone else who is, and especially if you have radio experience, please contact me. Launch date to be confirmed. Please stay tuned…


Recommended Read

How to Stop Freaking Out and Tackle Climate Change: A five-step plan to deal with the stress and become part of the solution. From the New York Times.


Remember: We Climate Strike Every Friday

Rome wasn’t built in a day. We climate strike at Memorial Park in Bracebridge every Friday from 11:30 am to 12:30 pm. All are welcome. If you don’t have a sign, we’ll try to find you one. (If you’re making one, “Honk for Climate Action” has been very popular with passers-by!) Bring your family and friends. We hope to see you there!

Carpooling

If you live outside of Bracebridge, please consider carpooling. You can either post on the Climate Action Muskoka Facebook page, or email us at climateactionmuskoka@gmail.com and we’ll see about making some introductions.

Climate Strike Gravenhurst, Huntsville, Dorset….?

All it takes to start a weekly climate strike is for a few passionate people to agree to come together and, as Nike says, Just Do It. If you are from another town in Muskoka and would like to help organize and support a weekly climate strike closer to home, let’s talk! Again, Facebook or email, or heck, face-to-face any Friday.


Inspirational Quote of the Week

“What great thing would you attempt if you knew you could not fail?” ~Robert H. Schuller

Honk for hope!

CAM Update — January 9, 2020

Young climate striker in Bracebridge

Hi everyone, This is a reminder that we are climate striking tomorrow, Friday January 10, 11:30am to 12:30pm at Memorial Park in Bracebridge. We hope you can join us!

Carpooling

If you live outside of Bracebridge, please consider carpooling. You can either post on the Climate Action Muskoka Facebook group, or email us at climateactionmuskoka@gmail.com.

Climate Strike Gravenhurst, Huntsville, Dorset….?

All it takes to start a weekly climate strike is for a few passionate people to agree to come together and, as Nike says, Just Do It. If you are from another town in Muskoka and would like to help organize and support a weekly climate strike closer to home, let’s talk! Again, Facebook or email, or heck, face-to-face any Friday.

Recommended Read of the Week

Drawdown: The Most Comprehensive Plan Ever Proposed to Reverse Global Warming. This book is not about stopping global warming. It’s about reversing it.

Audacious, comprehensive and accessible, this explanation and ranking of the top 100 solutions to reverse climate change is a must-read. You can get it at the Bracebridge Library (though not at the moment as yours truly has it out). There is also a Drawdown website, which is up-to-date. (The book was published in 2017.)

Remember: We Climate Strike Every Friday

Rome wasn’t built in a day. We climate strike at Memorial Park in Bracebridge every Friday from 11:30 am to 12:30 pm. All are welcome. If you don’t have a sign, we’ll try to find you one. (If you’re making one, “Honk for Climate Action” has been very popular with passers-by!) Bring your family and friends. We hope to see you there!

Inspirational Quote of the Week

“We convince with our presence.” – Walt Whitman

Young climate striker in Bracebridge