IX

What I'm Building
How to Make Your Conscious Closet
Thanks to brightly.eco for sharing 7 ways to build a more sustainable closet.

1) Find contentment with your current items. The most sustainable clothing you can own is what's already in your closet!

2) Every time you wear an item, flip the hanger around when you hang it back up. At the end of the season, you have a visual audit of what you have and have not worn.

3) Find your personal style before buying. Look for styles you can see yourself in for years to come instead of what's trendy right now.

4) Start repairing damaged clothing before tossing. Picking up how to do a simple stitch is just one YouTube video tutorial away! According to Yelp HEREare the best 10 sewing and alterations businesses in Calgary. Do you have a favourite place for this? Let me know!

5) Search secondhand first. If you can't find great things near you checkout thereadUP or Poshmark. Great thrift shops to support in Calgary are the WINSstores operated by the Women In Need Society. They even have a More Store where everything in the store is only $1!

6) Buy sustainably made clothing from slow fashion brands for investment pieces that will stick with you for years to come. Like Patagonia.

7) Choose organic and eco-friendly materials to avoid the release of microplastics when washing. If you currently have clothes that are shedding microplastics, make sure you're washing them in a GUPPYFRIEND washing bag this will collect the plastics in the bag and ensure they end up in any water supply.

What I'm Watching—
My Octopus Teacher
I really want to meet and swim with an Octopus after watching watching this film. I would say this is one of my favourite nature documentaries I've seen in a while. In this doc, a filmmaker forges an unusual friendship with an octopus living in a South African kelp forest, learning as the animal shares the mysteries of her world.

One Less Thing I'm Doing —
Keeping The Leaves On the Lawn
The Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) suggests keeping leaves on your lawn this fall. Leaves release chemicals like carbon when broken down. Keeping them on the lawn to decompose into the ground acts as a natural fertilizer and prevents the chemicals from being released into the atmosphere. Piles of leaves can also protect critters that don’t migrate and need cover in the winter months.

What I'm Eating —
Buffalo Cauliflower Bites
Those of you that know me well know I love my spice! This is a delicious healthy alternative to those hot wings you love. This is great vegetarian substitute to factory farmed meat.

Quote that makes so much sense —
Plans to protect air and water, wilderness and wildlife are in fact plans to protect man. – Stewart Udall

November's Tip —
Turn down the thermostat when you're cooking in the oven & don't open the oven during this process as doing so could lead to a 25 degree temperature drop. Instead, turn on the oven light to check out the goods. If you have multiple dishes to cook try cooking them all at once.

That's about it for me. If you have any feedback, a favourite part or suggestion to share about the above please let me know. Also, if you have any suggestions for future "What I'm Budding About" newsletters I'd love to hear them. Have a wonderful week and let's keep creating a green future together!

The future is bright,

~Kristin