smart living

Slow Living In
The Great Outdoors
Nine “Eco-Campy” Ideas
By Lisa Borden

D 
o you dream about sleeping
under the stars and taking deep
breaths of fresh air? Spending a
night outdoors shouldn’t be a lofty goal,
but a priority. No phones, no black-
berry, no facebook or twitter, no light
pollution and less air pollution. We’ve
all heard of Slow Food, but we should
also start embracing a more ‘slow liv-
ing.’ (NB: I’m convincing myself as I
write this.)
The privilege of sleeping out-
doors, whether in the wilderness, a
campground, in your own backyard or
napping on the edge of a dock, carries
responsibility. The fact that the earth is
fighting for its life due to our uncon-
scious activities should make us aware
that we need to tread lightly, so genera-
tions to come won’t despise us.
Disconnecting from your city
routine and enjoying what’s actually
in front of you over what’s virtually in
front of you is wonderful. The ‘ecofica-
tion’ of your outdoor vacation is not
complicated. It’s not even more expen-
sive. It is just a shift in thinking from
‘anything goes’ to ‘my actions impact
everything.’
Here are some firestarters to en-
sure you’ll be a happy camper:
1. Blow up and slow down - Since
there’s a good chance that you’ll be
using a car to get out of the city, make
sure your tires are inflated, slow down
and take the country roads if you need
to avoid heavy traffic (or want to enjoy
a more scenic route) - you’ll get better
mileage overall, cut down on emissions
and even save some money. If you are
renting a car, avoid falling for that “free”
upgrade; a bigger car will cost more in
gas, and take a toll on our air too.
2. Be a turn-off (to mosquitoes) -
Mosquitoes are (unfortunately for us)
well-equipped to track you down. Don’t
help them out more by wearing any-
thing with synthetic “fragrance” (read:
toxic) – that includes ALL personal care
items. They are drawn to contrast, so
avoid dark clothing as best you can. Eat
lots of garlic too – it really does help!
Although the little buzzers are labeled
as dangerous by many, insect repellants
are sadly not given the same courtesy.
There are many natural, DEET and
chemical-insecticide-free solutions. (My
kids use Outdoor Joose by All Things Jill, a
Canadian company.)
3. Cover up and clean up - Wear a
hat, and when wearing sunscreen, say
no-no to all things nano. It’s tragic for
us as consumers, that nothing stops
companies from manufacturing and sell-
ing dangerous personal care products. 
Educate yourself on nano-materials,
sunscreen safety and soaps and sham-
poos so that you can avoid toxic stuff
being rubbed into your skin and going
into our water. If it’s on you, it’s IN you,
and then in all of us. The Environmental
Working Group runs www.cosmeticsdata-
base.com - a great place to start.

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4. Get off the bottle - Buying vitamins
is expensive, so go as natural as you
can… soaking up the sun in moderation
helps your body manufacture vitamin
D, which we know is essential to our
wellbeing. Tanning (not burning) is
a healthy response, and some studies
show that those who expose themselves
to the sun in moderation, actually lower
their skin cancer risk.
5. Re-fuse and re-use - Foam plates
and cups, paper towel and napkins,
plastic cutlery and straws are single-use
earth-wreckers. Refuse all and invest
in safe reusables – they will reduce the
trash you produce and save you lots of
money over time. And, always be sure
to have your reusable water bottle with
you. Fill. Drink. Repeat often.
6. Feel the power - Powering up all
those gadgets with conventional bat-
teries then dumping them in landfills
creates a toxic mess. Instead, try
rechargeables, or better yet, take a look
at wind powered, solar powered or
hand crank eco-gadgets coming on the
44 | Summer 2010 | tonic
market with great force. Choose LED
flashlight/lanterns, as they are a much
more energy-efficient alternative.
7. Get lots of ‘free’ gear – PVC-free,
phthalate-free, BPA-free and lead-free
are just a few of the FREE things to
look for when shopping for goods like
tents, sleeping bags, water bottles and
clothing. Remember to ask salespeople
for ‘responsible’ items at the store - you
may get a confused look in return, but
where there is demand, there will be
supply. Mountain Equipment Co-op is
one of the better bets in Toronto, from
informed staff to a wider selection of
safer products.
8. All fired up - Build your campfire to
the size you need, as unnecessarily big,
roaring fires burn more resources (and
increase hazards). Use only fallen twigs
and branches for firewood - the live
trees are working hard for us, please
don’t disrupt them. Your fire also offers
a more eco-friendly cooking option
than a gas or coal grill. And please, nev-
er burn your trash - you certainly don’t
want to inhale burning plastic, metal or
wood (many of which are treated with
chemicals), do you?
9. Come with it, leave with it - You re-
cycle at home, so, you should continue
that eco-conscious practice when away,
regardless of whether or not there are
recycling bins on your site. And, be
sure to use polyethylene-free com-
postable and biodegradable gar­bage
bags. Leave with everything you came
with to ensure all is clean and ready for
the next lucky city escapees.
Spending time outdoors provides health
benefits for the body and the mind:
fresher air, unplugged time with those
you adore, inspiring vistas and calm
quietude. Enjoy every moment, bring
home lots of memories and do your best
to make sure the only marks you leave
behind are your (light) footprints.
Lisa Borden
~ is an eco-advocate, whose marketing business,
Borden Communications + Design is a direct
reflection of her commitment to better, more
responsible living. lisa@bordencom.com