The Green Room

Marta from Toronto writes:

I am the creator of a newly launched and one-of-a-kind Canadian bartering community for individuals and groups. Our community encourages a greener lifestyle as well as curbing consumerism through bartering.

SwapSity users can swap a combination of items and skills with the option to balance uneven swap transactions with cash. For example, you can offer books that you have read and in exchange receive help with computer repair. Any uneven swaps can be equalized with cash. SwapSity is also a useful parent resource for exchanging kids’ outgrown gear, toys, games and clothes with other parents and de-cluttering your living space.

Like-minded individuals can also create customized swap groups. One of our most recent groups is a residential recycling project within a downtown apartment complex in Toronto. The group was created to encourage reusing discarded items as well as skill-swapping between neighbours living in the building. The goal of the group is to reduce the impact on the environment as well as build a sense of community among the residents.

SwapSity is free and it offers a full spectrum of user tools to help our swappers communicate with other members and negotiate mutually agreeable swaps. Once you agree to an exchange, you can just meet in person or ship locally. There is a lot of room for creative and green swaps. I invite you all to check it out!

Hi everyone, it’s exciting to be in the Green Room! I’m Elizabeth, a volunteer with the David Suzuki Foundation helping sift through the amazing amounts of email we’re receiving every day. I’ll be sharing hosting duties and look forward to reading what you have to say.

I aim to live as green as possible in Toronto, which looks pretty green this summer thanks to all the Vancouver-like weather we’ve had — although, I’d still like to see less traffic and cigarette butts on our streets, among other things! I’m in the heart of downtown and walk, bike, cab it or take public transit nearly everywhere. When I’m not producing television or writing for magazines, I’m shopping local at the St. Lawrence farmer’s market and the Healthy Butcher, checking out music festivals, and enjoying the outdoors like busing to Muskoka with a big group of friends for a canoe-camping trip on Moon River.

I grew up just outside of the city with a big backyard and vegetable garden where subdivisions today used to be huge pepper fields and horseback riding trails. Almost every summer weekend was spent camping in Haliburton, Ontario. After an exciting and memorable time at Carleton University in Ottawa, I completed my journalism degree at Ryerson in Toronto and have since worked in television for several years.

One of the turning points for wholeheartedly taking on eco-living unfolded for me two summers ago while I co-produced a half-hour documentary special on climate change. After listening to great thinkers and writers on the subject, including Tim Flannery, Al Gore, and our very own David Suzuki, I became determined to help make a difference for our precious planet Earth. It’s often challenging (especially living in a condo without green composting), but my husband and I do our best and participate in groups and the community to build positive and long-lasting change. The Green Room is a great opportunity to connect across the country, and I look forward to sharing and learning from you!