March 21

Surrey has finally figured it out! To rebute the 'nay sayers' regarding the reuse/recycle weekend sidewalk piles - they've gone electronic. Check it out - www.surreyreuses.com

I'm not a huge coffee drinker, but when I do partake in the 'experience' I appreciate that Bean Around the World sponsors local sporting events (ie. mountain biking, trail running) and they serve fair trade and some organic coffees. I am not sure of their accounting practices and they haven't been in business all that long (compared to companies like Ford or Labatt's), so I cannot really say whether they are economically sustainable. I suppose one could hold the same praise for Starbucks these days (sponsoring Seek the Peak, serving fair trade coffees). I do like using the various bottle depots on the Shore too, which seem inherently sustainable.

When I decide that I really need to own a book, I choose to buy it from an independent bookstore like Banyen Books, Duthie's or Kidsbooks.

The Business Alliance for Local Living Economies (BALLE BC) has inspired me to continue my quest for local, sustainable businesses. Learn more about them at http://www.ballebc.com/

Stongs is a local business that delivers a large range of grocery options (lots of organic choices) to your kitchen. They have friendly staff, you can order online and Stongs are great supporters of community activities. www.stongs.com

Small Potatoes Urban Delivery really does a great job of sourcing locally-grown food. If customers want something organic that's grown more exotically, SPUD will deliver, but they still remind customers that they're choosing food that comes from a long way off, and that comes with an environmental price. They reuse a lot of packaging (bins, ice packs) and they do right by the East Van neighbourhood where they're based.

Though not a Vancouver business (I'm not a Vancouver guy) Elite Cleaners in Victoria is a great local business. Victoria's first green "wet" cleaners, walking into Elite is a breath of freash air. The palce smells great, unlike most cleaners that smell like a chemical factory. And they do great work. I'm a fan.

UsedVancouver.com promotes recycling by providing free ads that make it convenient to rehome those inexpensive (dollar wise) used goods. And the best part is that no trees were felled because UsedVancouver.com is completely electronic!

Boy oh Boy! When there's a price drop I rush through there like I'm on a shopping spree!

great restaurant, if you can afford it!
chef carlson has a mandate of eating in a 100 mile radius. nothing she orders comes from outside that sphere.
pretty cool.

Very frequently I could be seen

at the corner of Main and Fourteen  

with a slight buzz, induced by caffiene

poured for me by my friend JJ Bean