Brummet's Conscious Blog

-- Quote of the Day --    "Have you ever observed a humming-bird moving about in an aerial dance among the flowers - a living prismatic gem.... it is a creature of such fairy-like loveliness as to mock all description."  ~ W.H. Hudson -- Of Gardens and Green -- You've likely heard me talk about greening buildings, yards, balconies etc. on the radio show, or read posts about it here or in our Trash Talk book series... Today I'd like to share a few thoughts on how planting a little green can save you a lot of green - cold hard cash.  First - landscaping can increase the value of your home by 15-20%! This works best when you are considering curb appeal, planting for privacy and also diversity. Mature landscapes or those a few years old are much more likely to drive up the value of your home. Simply installing a patio area and entrance area with interesting plants can increase the value of your home by 4-12%! It really is tha...

-- Quote of the Day --  "Change your thoughts and you change your world."  ~ Norman Vincent Peale -- Fun Resource -- Check out this wonderful, brief, video when you get a chance: http://www.bbncommunity.com/3-minute-video-will-make-problem-seem-astonishingly-trivial/ Talk about putting our lives in perspective!      Find Dave and Lillian Brummet, excerpts from their books, their radio program, blog, and more at: http://brummet.ca * Support the Brummets by telling your friends, clicking those social networking buttons, or visiting the Brummet's Store - and help raise funds for charity as well! --  

-- Quote of the Day --    "Frugality is one of the most beautiful and joyful words in the English language, and yet one that we are culturally cut off from understanding and enjoying. The consumption society has made us feel that happiness lies in having things, and has failed to teach us the happiness of not having things." ~ Elise Boulding -- Chatter --  I'd like to open a discussion here today about living with less... Dave and I - for instance - have been living with one vehicle since '95. At times it has been difficult to simply schedule shopping and outings around each other. When I was working outside of the home, one of us would get up early to drive the other to work in the morning and then either he or I would walk, bicycle or take a bus home if the person with the vehicle was unable to pick us up from work. We managed to do this fairly well with few if any conflict of need. And all those years we paid one insura...

 -- Poetry --  Occasionally, I like to share excerpts from our published books of poetry. Today I'd like to share 2 from the Rhythm and Rhyme book: Rhythm & Rhyme: http://brummet.ca/store.html I chose this first poem based on a recent interview where the host and I were discussing the tendency for women to refer to themselves as "just" this or that. I wrote this poem tongue in cheek but with a powerful message.  Women - Know Your Place Women - know your place! How DARE you go beyond Where you are MEANT to be? It is NOT your place  To feel criticized or downsized Or set standards no other can meet. It is NOT your place To fulfill your mother's dream Or your father's expectation. It is NOT your place  To meet the ideals set by the masses Or to reach without your "Self".  You are NOT "only" wives You are parnters, supporters You are friends and lovers. You are NOT "only" mothers You are educators, n...

-- Chatter -- I wanted to take the opportunity today to encourage our readers to browse the blog pages via the tabs on the top of the screen there, below the blog name. You'll find a media page that lists the most recent 50 or so interviews and media appearances that I've done (in the order of oldest on the top of the page to newest at the bottom).  By doing so you'll find interesting discussions, learn more from us and about us, but also discover wonderful informative resources (sites, blogs, talk radio, etc.) that you may want to follow regularly. For those of you looking for media exposure for your product, business or service - these resources might prove to be marketing opportunities for you as well. Feel free to share whatever links on the media page with your social networking circles as well. It is a great way to show support for our work, the media member, and to also spread the information around. You'll also find a section that refers to product revie...

-- Quote of the Day -- "No power in society, no hardship in your condition can depress you, keep you down, in knowledge, power, virtue, influence, but by your own consent. " ~ William Ellery Channing -- Positive News --  Kudo's to Austria Glass Recycling (a non-profit organization based in Australia) who recycled more glass in 2013 than any other year since the country began glass recycling more than 35 years ago.  More than 234,000 tons of glass was collected for recycling, an increase of more than 3,500 tons from the previous year (2012)... which averages out to about 26.8 kg per person.  It is encouraging to see the incredible support people give the recycling industry and proves that with education we become more willing to participate religiously. Advances in technology, efficiency, staffing and location of collection sites also plays a role in the increased participation.  Success breeds success, they say - ...

-- Quote of the Day --  "The only disability in life is a bad attitude."  ~ Scott Hamilton -- Positive Living --  I've often heard people stating that there is little hope for humans - but I beg to differ. I have taken the other view. I believe that change is already happening and I see it every day. Take for instance the fact that no one even heard of recycling anything beyond newspapers, glass and returnable beer and wine containers when I was growing up and very few people actually did it. Today recycling, reuse, repurpose, rent, reduce, and so on are common language and are being enacted by a growing number of people every single day. It is a part of life now. Cities are getting greener, there are green living initiatives and rebates available, new technologies are being invented, greener cars, greener buildings... knowledge abound. There are huge movements going beyond organic into sustainable, and beyond sustainable to reg...