Tales of a Green City Racer

Tucked behind the the Great Northern Way campus, and the BCIT Green Roof Research Facility, you will find a new Evergreen project - an urban orchard!

 And here is where we began one of the most enjoyable and challenging family adventures ever!!

 I enlisted Mark and Sasha to join me on a team to compete in the inaugural Green City Race organized by Evergreen, which is one of my ultimate favourite environmental organizations that focuses on bringing all kinds of awesome greenery to cities and schools around Canada.

The little orchard just happened to have a small stage, so while we waited for the race to begin after registering, Sasha chose to pump us full of positive green energy with a spontaneous green song.




As the "Whittam Greens" our family joined 55 other racers (in teams of 2-3 people) on an Amazing Race style journey around Vancouver by foot and transit.

One of the organizers took to the stage next and shared a summary of the rules: After we complete the first challenge we will be given a bag full of clues, and other useful things we may need during the race - like a day pass for transit! Once you reach the destination of your first clue you will be able to answer the follow up question on the clue sheet. The answer to the question will some how reveal the number for your next clue. Keep going til you answer all your clues and make it to the finish line.

In between random clues there will be a couple of challenges for your team to complete before you can be given your next clue number.

There was a Hint Line we could call if we found ourselves stuck, but it costs you a few points. And we were not finished all of our clues by 2:30, we were to call this number for help to find our way to the finish line before time ran out.

Smart phones had been recommended because some clues would require internet access to solve, and the other option was to have someone you can call to help look things up for you. Our phones are pretty basic, so we went with option B and enlisted a few 'phone-a-friend' back up helpers for our team. (a couple of my Britannia co-workers and Marks library staff network)

With the race basics covered we were introduced to our very first challenge - plant an apple tree! As a team we had to dig a hole, plant the tree and make sure it was done right so when the volunteer checks your work the tree doesn't come out.
Done. Gravenstein now added to our list of apples to try. :)

Once we collected our bag of tricks we were on our way!

Another way of earning bonus points during the race was to capture a team member within a photo from a list of ideas they provided. The list included things like 'holding a reusable mug/drink container'. Have you ever seen this done with such pizazz?

Sasha earned us some extra funky points for poses like this one. ;)

We also captured 'using a cloth bag' and 'examples of recycling and garbage containers'. Yes, I actually had a reason to take pictures of these things this time! (unlike all the pics I've acquired over the years just because waste management and its various containers is a fascination of mine)

Our first clue was related to the number of goals in the Greenest City 2020 Action plan for Vancouver which I have read a bunch of times. If I had trusted my gut we could have saved a half hour of time getting to the destination pretty quick. However, once I second guessed myself we called for help and hearing conflicting info we took the Canada Line up to King Edward instead.

Another back up call ended up confirming my original instinct to the answer, and then we walked up Cambie back to where we should have been while enjoying the beautiful day and taking pics for bonus points as we strolled.

We found a coffee shop where we could get a pic of Sasha holding some 'fair trade coffee beans'  (sorry Kirsten! we didn't find any Cafe Etico while we raced around!)

More funky funk poses from Sasha with another garbage bin (I love these Big Belly solar compactors!), with an electric car power up station, and the food garden outside City Hall.

 

With this herb garden from the Green Streets program finally found, our next clue informed us we were up for a challenge on the lawn of City Hall. I wish I had a picture to show you from the water race we completed together as it was a lot of fun! Sasha and I first used our 4 hands to carry the bucket of water to the half way point of the field marked by flags to show the distances we had to travel. Once to the first flag I hopped on one foot with the bucket to the 2nd flag. Mark then ran around a tree with the bucket before all 3 of us ran back to the starting point.

(Update: my wish was granted by Evergreen who sent me pics of our family racing! yay! So here is your action shot!) 

Surprisingly, we barely lost any water and also earned a few points for funk and team spirit. Then they stamped our point collection sheet and gave us our next clue number. Our next clue took us to the Baxter House, a heritage house built in 1913 as the home for Truman S Baxter who was the mayor of Vancouver at that time.

This was when we ended up calling the hint line for help as we were having a difficult time finding the "sign of inspiration in the laneway" next to the heritage house that our clue eluded to. It didn't help that there was a garage sale going on before this door, as well as a construction fence. If we had walked further down the lane we eventually would have found this sign which says "Be the change you want to see in the world".(We did find it after we were told it was on a door a few garages in...oh. there it is!)

After a snack, some hydration and a few deep breaths to re-energize and get back into race mode we were on to solve the next clue which I figured would be found at the Neighbourhood Energy Utility serving Southeast False Creek down at the base of the Cambie Bridge.

As we made our way north it was awesome to stumble across a random flash mob practise by the latest artist installation by the Canada Line at Broadway.

The clue to find the energy station would have been tricky if I wasn't one of those people that actually explores the city web site in my spare time. (the site honestly has lots of interesting things to discover!) Especially around the time of the Olympics I was following development around Southeast False Creek (aka Olympic Village) so the energy plant was another thing I already investigated, and even visited on one of my walks along the sea wall. The little garden wasn't there when I check it out last time, and was a nice addition to the area.

 

Nearby we got this pic of Sasha pointing at an example of 'illegal dumping' off in the distance.

Here are 2 more of my fave bonus point photos we collected on our travels to the site of our next clue: 'gesture of thanks to a transit worker' and the 'random act of green kindness' we stumbled upon. Glad we were able to sign the petition from Youth for Climate Justice Now to stop the expansion of oil development on the coast, which is something we support completely.

Our next destination was the MOBY garden which I have been a fan of for years. Passing this garden once during a wave of negative emotion at the end of the civic strike (that had both Mark and I on the picket line for 3 months) re-inspired my hope that things can get better...even when it doesn't always feel like it. Genuine positive change is a generational struggle that will continue til we get it right, or we don't. Garden projects like MOBY are proof anything is possible when community organizes together, and provides plenty of reason for hope. And it has a cob building! C'mon. What's not to love about this place?

After the garden the next clue was to find out what kind of fruit Bandidas Taqueria has stopped serving because of its unsustainable food miles. I've yet to sample the food at this restaurant but have had it on my list of places to try for a long while as it is one of those places that emphasizes  local, organic, fair trade and every other ethical consideration we value when it comes to our food. And they support community groups and artists to boot. If you are curious about which fruit got the chop off their menu it is pineapple.

From there we were unable to decipher the next clue to find the spot for our last challenge of the race. Part of the clue we figured out was Germany with the help of two phone back ups (the question was to do with which country had the highest rate of solar energy per capita at 43%). But not even our super skilled librarian or community info staff contacts were able to figure out where in Vancouver we could find a plaza with connections to Germany and  'foursquare' based on the wording of the clue.

Thankfully for our intellectual egos, we found out at the end of the race that we were not the only ones who struggled with that one! Google really does work differently for everyone after all.

As it turns out there is a lovely garden by 29th Ave station called the German-Canadian Heritage Garden. One day we'll go check that out now that I know it exists. :)

So there was one clue and one challenge we didn't get done, but Mark quickly determined the solution to the final clue in our bag was the Woodwards building.

Back on the Skytrain and away we go to the finish line!

...and a final couple of bonus photos before we check in. "find a public water fountain' and 'leave a thank you note on the handlebar of a bicycle'. check and check. (Our note said "Thank you for riding your bicycle! Cheers to a greener world :D")

The Whittams Greens were not the first team in, but we also weren't the last!! Haza! Prizes were given for the team that brought the most funk to the race - undeniably the Loraxettes (we speak for the trees!)  and for the top 2 teams which scored insanely high points overall and mastered the race in every way.  I loved that the trophies were repurposed trinkets from thrift stores, while the prize gifts were things like eco spa packages. Quality where it matters ;)

After 3 1/2 hours as Green City Racers we were exhilerated and exhausted. The journey was intense yet totally wonder-full!! Our goal when we began was to simply enjoy the challenge, see how many clues we could solve before time was up, explore and learn some cool things about green initiatives in our great city. This mission was completed with gusto! We got to play in a friendly competition with passionate keen-to-be-green folks, put our critical thinking skills to work, visit some of the spots we already love, find many new things we didn't know about, got a dose of history and a dose of a visionary green future...and plenty of sunshine and exercise!

We learned more about how we work together as a team and are more aware of our strengths and weaknesses. (you'd think after all our years together that we would have figured out how to avoid getting cranky with each other under pressure...but we sure have gotten better at getting over it quickly, lol) Next year we will have a smart phone with us for sure, as I found there were a few things I could have easily found with internet at my fingertips. We are full of gratitude for all the help we did get by phone as it was nice of people to share their time to help the Whittam Greens make it to the next level of the race. (Sandy and Kia, you rock ladies!) It broadened our team and added to the overall race experience.

At the end of it all, the best part for Sasha was that they awarded her a small trophy for being the youngest racer (the only child actually) to complete the Green City Race! She was totally overjoyed! While waiting for the bus home she says "mommy please take a picture of me loving my trophy". ummm, ok.

 

We are totally looking forward to racing around town again next year in the 2nd Annual Green City Race, and hope you will join us for the fun. Gotta warn you though...the Whittam Greens will be upping the funk factor, and if we have our own smart phone (like everyone else)  we know we've actually got what it takes to win it next time! Win or not, it has proven to be a fabulous family fun adventure indeed! :D

Many thanks to all the great staff and volunteers at Evergreen for their hard work pulling off a terrific event! Cheers to all of you from the

family time unplugged

We had an absolutely fabulous family adventure time on Saltspring and Mayne islands...10 days unplugged and loving it!! :D

The trip began with some drama when we hit bumper to bumper traffic on Knight st due to a car collision on the bridge. We were at 42nd when we hit the traffic and had about an hour to get our ferry reservation on time! ack!

After plenty of anxiety on my part (breathe Kathy breathe), and an attempt to try a different route, I calmed myself down as we inched along by trying to create a plan B in case we missed the ferry. Once I was satisfied we could still have a good day if we missed it, of course the traffic started to ease...and we made it to the terminal just in the nick of time! Missed our reservation...but not the ferry! Yeepa! then we just had to wait to get on the boat to finally stretch our legs from 1 1/2 hours in the car. Freedom begins!

The 3 hour ferry ride was full of running around and around and up and down and around a number of times and then some lunch in the sun on the deck. For some reason Sasha decided to sit on the bench across from us. Does that "I'm too cool for my parents thing" start so early?? hehe

We were very happy to land on the island and made our way to our campsite to set up, let Sasha snooze and relax a bit before doing some exploring.

We stayed at Mowhinna Creek which was a pretty good campground only 3 years old. The host was a retired fellow named Gary. His wife decided he needed to go back to work as he was making her crazy after he retired. So now he hosts the campground for summers and they winter at their home in Arizona where he can ride his harley in the desert. He was funny always zipping around on his golf cart. The funniest story involving Gary was the night that the guy camping next to us gave him a good scare by jumping out in front of him while wearing a dark hoody in the total dark of night. fyi, Gary drives around at night while holding a flashlight out front as his headlight. safe right? Tho it was a prank that Gary enjoyed in the end, while he was still startled he told Dude (not his name, but he was just one of those guys you would call 'dude') "you're lucky I didn't have a gun on me or I would have blown your head off you scared me so good!" Nice.

We did luck out with a playground right beside our site which Sasha made great use of! Mark and I would take turns doing chores (clean up after meals, etc) while the other played on the swings. And we had games we could all enjoy -wheeeee!

Sasha's pic of our table during breaky prep.
oh the joys of camping with a potty trainer ;)

On both islands we explored bays and waterfronts plenty. Fulford was our first place to explore on Saltspring...

While we were at Drummond park (another of many playgrounds we played upon) a little boy who got a hold of my camera changed some settings on me...so the next pic I took of the llamas (named after the Beatles) was a black and white one that i liked. I didn't even know I could take black and white pics - thanks Matthew! Fulford is the original hippy harbour and it is colourful and full of character. Here we sampled some food at the Rock Salt cafe which made a very yummy roasted yam quesadilla.


A great highlight was the day we journeyed around visiting farms, bakeries and the Saltspring Cheese farm. All 3 of us were in heaven sampling their variety of cheeses and had fun exploring the property where you can learn the whole process they use for making their cheese. Hard choice to make for our picnic snacking treats purchase.

I played fetch wth this pooch while waiting for Sasha and Mark to finish playing with the chickens. One of three friendly dogs you'll meet.

We spent lots of time in Ganges as it was closest to our camp site. Playing at Centennial Park playground, the amazing farmers market, an afternoon swimming in the public pool (and having our first shower in days!), and ice cream were highlights of our many visits.



There was something interesting to see in this park every day (one day we saw a guy arrested, but then many of us at the playground became curious when they let him go and arrested him a few more times before we finally saw the cameras - "oh...they're filming!") and always someone for Sasha to play with. She is actually quite confident in walking up to other kids and saying "Hi, I'm Sasha. wanna play?" A little less so when there are LOTS of kids, especially if they are bigger. Then she hangs back a bit to take it all in before figuring out what she wants to do and how she wants to play. So very interesting to watch how she engages with people. Shy to start and then quick to become the leader of things.

The day we picked up treats from farms all over we had a picnic dinner on the beach and some swimming (well, Sasha walked in a fair ways and I enjoyed a nice swim myself) to finish the day off with a nice sunset. One of those 'its a rough life' moments ;)


Artistic expression is found everywhere on this island and one super place to visit is Hastings House. A great place to explore as they have a crazy variety of scupltures scattered throughout the property. Here is a sampling of my faves along with scenic beauty of the place.




my absolute fave is this one: "the gatherers"

On our last night we dined at the Tree House Cafe which is a space that has had many purposes, one of which was a much loved teahouse run by the grandmother of a woman I work with at the museum. I have enjoyed hearing her tales of what it was like to work their during her childhood summers on the island. Anyways, we played on the docks while waiting for a table and then had the treat of listening to Valdi tell stories and sing songs while enjoying another fine meal. Sasha loved him and got up and danced and thoroughly entertained the couple at the table beside us. I love that they have music every night through the summer and that you can just bring your own chair and sit outside to enjoy the music without dining in the restaurant! We need places like this everywhere!

Our last evening at our site was my ultimate moment of the whole trip. Every night Mark and I played scrabble and enjoyed reveling in the insane feeling of being surrounded by stars. So weird to camp without a fire every night, but after the first or second day I got used to it. Aside from one evening which was really cold (really...I had socks on and numerous layers on my body as well!) the weather was so beautiful we got by without flames just fine.

After getting Sasha to sleep, Mark and I were playing a final game when our neighbour to the other side of us (not the 'dude') began playing his guitar and singing some of the most beautiful music...it was perfect acoustic sound for the setting. We wrapped up the game, turned off the lamp and sat back to take in the stars one last time in the giant patch of sky we were under, while listening to his wonderful songs. At one point I saw a shooting star just as he was singing about dreams coming true and I said to Mark "this is such a ridiculously beautiful moment I can't believe it!"

how could we not have sweet dreams with an end to such a fabulous day as that? happy camper indeed!! :D
Sasha is a little blackberry monster and can spot a blackberry bush a mile away (almost literally). The campground of course had many bushes to graze upon, so the last day we had a blackberry pancake breaky before taking down the tent and packing up the car (beauty of no rain is no tarps!)

Before catching our ferry to Mayne island we went for a visit to the Saltspring Vineyards for a tasting and Raven Street Market Cafe for lunch. "Eartha" who is the feminin symbol seen all over the winery, and on the labels of their bottles of delight, represents the woman who lead the charge to protect a tremendously large chunk of the island that had been slated for clearcutting. From the vineyard you can see the hillside where the company had began its clearcuts before the women rallied, organized, fundraised by doing a tasteful nude calendar and other tactics and stopped the clearcutting of those lands. I really like how they honour everything they love about the island on their label, and while your are enjoying the tasting every story and food sample served to enhance the flavour is connected to local foods and culture. Sasha was remarkably patient so we could savour the experience, and the woman hosting the tasting included her by serving her 'wine' in a glass of her own, making it a truly family friendly treat.

The Raven Street Market and Cafe was our favorite food of all our dining out experiences. Certainly the best of the 3 we tried for the childrens options. perfect balance and portion and all of our meals were thoroughly enjoyed! mmmmmmm

A quick ferry ride and we were soon on Mayne island to visit our friends Jonny, Kristen and Jacob. What a fantastic time!! So nice to catch up as we haven't seen them since our visit to see them 2 years ago while they were living on Cortes Island. If they keep moving around we figure we'll eventually see all the islands in no time, hehe.

We made the most of our time with Jonny in the first couple of days as he had to head back to Pender Island for work during our stay. (looks like that will be our next island to explore once they move there) You won't be surprised to hear that my favorite place we visited was their community garden which was huge, had a great labyrinth and best of all a cob building to admire! Fab-u-lous!!!

cute tree frog

Sasha and Jacob spent time playing every day. Around the house, exploring the bay where the seals live (on that big rock...tho they look like rocks from a distance too) and wandering for blackberries anywhere they can find them.


"ooby scooby go!" A quick vid to show what they did back and forth on the porch for ages.



One night their friend came over with his son and we enjoyed a game nite, with kids dancing and playing in the living room while we grown up kids played Cranium. Awesome fun. And the funniest moment of all was when Sasha came into the kitchen and said "I really like the Riley boy. Is it ok if he sleeps with me in my bed tonight?" OMG!!! I still cry laughing every time I think of it. Or maybe I'm crying thinking about what we're in for when she REALLY gets into boys...oy. ;P


We had one day of exploration just the three of us and we chose to visit the Japanese garden as there is also a playgound and waterfront to enjoy all in the same area. Every art piece, bench, and many of the plants and trees in the garden are in memory of the many Japanese people that were an important part of the islands beginnings. During the war they were all sent to internment camps when governments rounded up all Japanese residents and stripped them of their land, but the islanders have never forgotten their important contributions.





Right outside their door...deer and beautiful scenery












More pics of Sasha at play.




Our journey to Mayne island would not be complete without a little sightseeing of one special thing - COB!!

Almost every book I've read on natural building alternatives, especially cob (usually a mix of mud and straw) has referenced properties on this island. And one building in particular that I was super keen to see up close was the Hobbit house.

Kristen checked in with the woman who is currently renting it and she was kind enough to let us in so we could marvel at the inner beauty too. You can see pics of the inside here, as I didn't want to invade her privacy by sharing pics of her stuff with the world. It is really amazing just how much bigger it is on the inside than it looks from photos. I'm very, very much in love with the idea of molding a home of our own out of cob and other materials...one day! Along with the Hobbit cottage there were 2 other cob homes we went to look at for further inspiration. We will be sure to sign up for some cob building projects happening in Vancouver full of renewed eagerness to do some hands on learning! :)




After the tour we shared some hugs of gratitude with our friends and went on our way to the ferry for our journey home.

back to the city...


Full of fond memories of 10 days well lived and enjoyed...and a deeper connection to the beauty of gulf island life. From the strong local currency supported on Saltspring, fantastic markets and farms, the creative and laid back energy on both islands, splurging on quality meals in unique restaurants (we dined out a couple of times on Mayne too!), time with friends, and grand family aventure full of fun and learning about positive alternatives and enjoying the simple things in life within rich natural environments. Every time I come back to urban life after time unplugged I am full of a deeper thirst and appreciation for the slow life! ;)