Everything is Connected
Over the years I’ve shared articles, community projects, rainwater systems, Repair Café stories, renewable energy ideas, and sustainability initiatives through Sustainable Life. Many people have suggested that I start sharing some of these projects on video as well. Well, I’ve finally done it. The new Sustainable Life YouTube channel will document practical projects, experiments, and […]
Sustainable Life is now on YouTube! Read More »
A look at how patience, public education, and long-term sustainability work are becoming part of Diamond Valley’s civic conversation through Council, water, and infrastructure planning
When Patience Pays Off: Quiet Signals from Council and the Long View on Sustainability Read More »
Sustainability doesn’t always announce itself. It doesn’t arrive with a ribbon-cutting or a headline. More often, it shows up quietly — when someone stays a little longer than planned, when a broken object is opened instead of thrown away, or when a skill learned long ago is shared across a table. These moments don’t look
The Quiet Work of Sustainability: How Community Shapes Resilience Read More »
Sustainability often sounds like something distant — a future goal, a policy decision, or a technical conversation meant for experts. But in daily life, it’s far more ordinary than that. It shows up in the choices households make when something breaks, when water becomes scarce, or when monthly bills start to feel less predictable. In
When Sustainability Becomes Practical Read More »
In most recycling systems, glass gets a rough deal. It’s heavy, expensive to transport, and often down-cycled into low-value uses — or worse, it ends up in the landfill. But in communities like Diamond Valley, Alberta, that weight becomes an advantage when we rethink glass as a local resource, not waste. Right now, municipalities and
From Waste to Weight-Bearing: How Glass Can Build a Local Circular Economy Read More »
If you’ve ever heard the term LEED and wondered “Is that just an environmental label?” or “Does that affect me at all?” — you’re not alone. LEED shows up in conversations about new buildings, municipal projects, schools, and even housing developments. Yet for something that quietly influences how our communities are built, it’s often poorly
What Is LEED — and Why It Matters to Everyday Life Read More »
Understanding your water meter can prevent surprises on your bill — and small conservation steps at home make a real difference for our whole community
Understanding Your Water Meter & Saving Water at Home Read More »
A public-facing review of how Council’s decisions align with sustainability, community resilience, and long-term stewardship.Based on the December 3, 2025 Regular Meeting Agenda Package 1. Overview The December 3 Council Meeting focused heavily on financial housekeeping, governance, and core municipal services—with several items that connect directly to Diamond Valley’s sustainability trajectory. Although no major environmental
Council Meeting Sustainability Analysis – December 3, 2025 Read More »
The post discusses the complexities of recycling in small communities, emphasizing that merely placing items in green bins doesn’t ensure sustainability. It presents the idea of transforming waste into local resources through initiatives like the Sustainable Living Centre, which fosters innovation and job creation while encouraging a circular economy.
From Recycling Myths to Local Solutions Read More »
Waste to Local Businesses Series Reclaiming Value From the Construction Stream Every renovation skip bin and job-site dumpster hides a forgotten resource. Dimensional lumber, plywood off-cuts, shipping pallets, and broken fences—most of it ends up burned or buried. Yet each cubic metre of wood waste embodies both stored carbon and embodied energy. With simple sorting,
From Waste Wood to Living Soil: Biochar and Beyond Read More »