While ‘going green’ is all the rage. Living green has been the way of those of us who’ve grown up on the Islands of the West Coast of Canada.

When there’s no garbage pickup you deal with what you create … recycling, reusing and generally finding ways to reduce the amount of rubbish. Backyard composts and burners dealt with most things, well until plastic came along.

Born and raised on Vancouver Island, with stints on Gabriola and Mudge, one learns lots about being self-sufficient.