Author Archives: Lisa Vanlint

Can We Talk?

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Can We Talk?

On this sweltering September day, with Florence and Mangkhut lashing their paths of destruction, I can’t help but think about the hot and steamy elephant in the room … climate change. The scary thing we all talked about “in the future” is here, clearly. There are so many ways I could do something about it, but sometimes I don’t know where to start.

I am not alone, and as luck would have it, neither are you.

We are incredibly psyched and proud to bring Carbon Conversations TO to UHN!

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What’s it all about? Taking Climate Action this Fall

If you feel overwhelmed, stressed and unable to take action when you think about climate change, Carbon Conversations TO gets it. They are here to help.

We have asked Carbon Conversations TO to host a weekly series of 2 hour conversations, 6 sessions in total. This will give us the tools, support and motivation so we can take action in our own way. Even better, they’ll do two “taster sessions“ so we can sample it before committing to 6 weeks.

Get a taste of what we’re all about. Join our interactive information session.

Pick either date and time that works for you…

  1. Thurs, Sep 20: 5:30 – 7:00 pm, Toronto General Hospital, Room 1NU168
  2. Thurs, Sep 27: 6:00 – 7:30 pm, Toronto General Hospital, Room 1NU168

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Interested in joining the Fall series? (I know I am). The sessions will run Thursday evenings. We are ironing out a few details, but likely from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm on October 11, 18, 25 and November 1, 8, 15. Though the taster sessions are free, the 6-week program costs $60. The small fee of $10/session will not only cover costs, it helps ensure people attend :).

Are you ready to join us for 6 weeks? Simply complete this brief application form.

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Can’t wait to chat with you soon!

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Questions? Reach out to the Carbon Conversations TO team.

carbonconversationsto@gmail.com
www.carbonconversationsto.com

 

Can U Dig it?

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In the lush and earthy corners of UHN, we find some spectacular gardens.

Let’s start in the west with GROW at Bickle Centre, aka, Garden Rehab on Wheels, or Garden of Eatin’. Thanks so much to Amanda Beales for leading this team through it’s 3rd fantastic season. Each year, it expands and improves.

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Staff Salad Potluck 2018

This season, the team built a second in-ground patch for plants too big for the boxes. They grew a watermelon  … a huge hit with the patient garden group … and are growing some pumpkins (carving contest tba)! A patient’s family member walked by all the burgeoning veggies the other day and commented “this is better than Longos”.

Patients at Bickle Centre tend to the garden as part of their therapy. According to one patient, “I love being part of the garden group. I get to get outside, see plants, and taste some fresh vegetables…. What more could I want?”. Another noted honestly that “It helps fight the boredom” (I hear you). One +80 year old patient remarked with deep surprise:

“I never knew that’s how that grew!”.

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Cucamelon

This year, the GROW team decided to get creative and tried growing a cucamelon. No, I’ve never heard of that either, but apparently it’s the size of a grape, looks like a watermelon, and tastes like a cucumber!!

We’ll travel east to get the The UHN Real Food Garden, right near Toronto Western Hospital. Here, Sophia, Jim, Geremy, Rachel and Elise have been sowing and growing as a mini but mighty team. Jim reported that after he cut through the jungle of weeds, “there are some nice tomatoes and basil plants under there … for a nice sandwich on Portuguese buns for one of the Dundas St. bakeries.”garden-1

Now we’ll travel northeast to get to Lyndhurst, where they have had a raised-bed garden for many years. Their focus in more on flowers and herbs over food, but these gorgeous marigolds look good enough to eat! Note the special long-handled tools perfect for using from a wheelchair!garden-lyndhurst 2018

Thanks Nicole Leung, recreation therapist for bringing her patients outside for the best kind of therapy (IMHO) and for sending these beautiful and lucious photos from Lyndhurst…

If this is your jam (or jelly), you may be interested in 2 events by our friends at NOURISH, both on Monday September 10th:

  1. Connecting Food & Health Care: Lessons From Canada, US & Denmark: 12 – 1:30 pm, LKSKI-SMH, 209 Victoria St. room 211
  2. Food on the Public Plate: Lessons from Canada, US & Denmark: 4:30-6:30 pm, MaRS 101 College St. room CR2

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It’s easy and free registration (and they had me at “light refreshments will be served”).

For more about Gardens at UHN, see

https://talkintrashwithuhn.com/2017/07/21/garden-of-eatin/

https://talkintrashwithuhn.com/2017/09/19/in-respect-of-farmers/

https://talkintrashwithuhn.com/2015/08/20/uhn-gardens-2015/

https://talkintrashwithuhn.com/2018/05/03/re-using-virox-containers-to-grow-plants/

https://talkintrashwithuhn.com/2017/08/31/hey-food-lover-youll-dig-torontos-brand-new-holiday/

 

 

 

The “Mug-nificent” DMOH Green Squad!

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DMOH Green Squad L – R : Theresa Moonsammy; Katty MacLean; Nancy Vukovic; Jennifer Ryan; Erin Grissman; Helen Borowski; James Austin (Manager DMOH)

Not to worry our friends in Infection Prevention and Control, but Continue reading →

Deeply Cool

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Deeply Cool

During these dog days of summer, it’s more important than ever to stay cool. If you’ve followed this blog, you know air conditioning is one of the most energy-intense parts of a building, with lighting paling (dimming?) by comparison. Continue reading →

4 wheels or 2? We’ve got something for you…

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Now that the weather is warming up, it’s a great time to dust off your bike and ride. For many of our readers, there’s never not a good time to ride, even on the chilliest winter day. Good for you if you fall in that category. Continue reading →

Green Teams, part 2 … where sustainability is contagious (in a good way)

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Though we in healthcare usually try to avoid contagion, this is the positive kind, where 1 good thing begets another. Following last week’s theme featuring 5 UHN green teams, we have even more to showcase. Speaking of showcases, check out the Earth Week photos on our Facebook page! Points if you can find 1 picture of Mike without his trademark thumbs-up.

Meanwhile, back to the green team. This entry just missed the Earth Week display, but I’m thrilled to feature it here! As always, REUSE is even better than recycling, and a lot, a lot, a lot better than landfill. Stick a fork in that.

Continue reading →

Green Teams … where sustainability is contagious (in a good way)

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Hands down, the best part of my job is working with the UHN Green Team. The +700 staff across UHN volunteer their time to make their areas more sustainable. Sometimes they lead quietly by example, nudging their colleagues into eco-friendly ways. Other times, they make a big ol’ green splash! I could lavish many flowery paragraphs of praise but better yet, let’s show you … starting with the first 5 (more next week).

We’ll start with the ABI team getting rid of expanded polystyrene (aka Styrofoam). At UHN, Styrofoam is not recyclable (though it might be in your municipal collection … see why here).  Studies also show Styrofoam is “reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen“. ABI now uses a recyclable paper cup … I’ll drink to that!

 

Christine in the GIM team has also Continue reading →