HOLIDAY BAKING | Conscious Creations

A box of chocolates, a bag of cookies, individually wrapped peppermint sticks. All kinds of sweets are bought, exchanged, and sprinkled around houses during the holidays. A little indulgence can be good for us in moderation, so we remember to let loose now and again. It is also a way we can show each other that we are keeping them in our thoughts. Exchanging sweets and sharing in the act of giving reminds us that we are all part of a bigger support system that keeps us going all year long!

Staying conscious of what we are offering as gifts is also important. Each plastic cookie tray that we bring home, even when it is recycled, is contributing to the negative repercussions caused by producing non-biodegradable plastic. That is just one small example of the kind of waste we produce all year long, and especially so during the holidays.

According to a 2013 stat from the B.C. Recycling Council, 545,000 tonnes of waste was the average annual amount created from gift wrapping and shopping bags in B.C. We imagine that number is higher now and is compounded this time of year. Let's do our part to turn it in the other direction!

Instead of picking up pre-packaged sweets, create nostalgic memories of decorating sugar cookies you baked with care. Or picking the perfect candies to line the walk or adorn the roof top of your homemade gingerbread house! Grabbing a template and baking your pieces from scratch will be a fun challenge for you and your family. 

Even baking at home creates an impact, and we can adjust the extent of ours based on what products we are supporting. Minimize your impact that much more by consciously sourcing your ingredients. Order your baking supplies from Spud and have them delivered right to your door. They create relationships with sustainably minded food producers to create a curated source of fresh, healthy produce and groceries. Anything you order through them will be humanely and environmentally produced and sourced as locally as possible. 

A few suggestions of local and organic must-haves for holiday baking:

• Anita's Flour: organic and sourced from nearby Chilliwack, BC 
• Organic Maple Syrup: Canadian made + so much yummier than refined sugar
• Organic Ginger: comes in a recyclable glass jar
• Organic Vanilla Extract: sourced from Kelowna, BC
• Avalon Butter: from a family owned dairy in Burnaby, BC
• Organic Icing Sugar: Fair trade!

Alternatively, you can seek out a zero waste grocery store in your area. For us Salt Spring Islanders, we are proud to have the GREEN Zero Waste Grocery store, the first of it's kind in Canada. In Vancouver, Nada Grocery is currently in a crowdfunding stage, hoping to open soon and in the meantime participating in markets and pop-ups. We bet they would have great resources on where to shop sustainably in the area! Victoria doesn't seem to have a location yet either, but the Burlap Shoe and ZERO Waste Victoria have collaborated to make this list to help you find zero waste options at various stores in and around Victoria.

Stocking your pantry with supplies you know are sustainably sourced will make everything taste that much more delightful! Creating handcrafted holiday treats will also add a festive touch to your home decor. How cute will it be to proudly display your homemade gingerbread house in the corner of your living room or kitchen? Plus, it could create a fun new household tradition for years to come.

Whether is it for gifting, decorating, or indulging in, it doesn't take much to be mindful of where our purchases come from. Apply this mindfullness to your gift giving and receiving as well by sourcing from sustainably conscious companies and asking the same of your relatives. We can lead by example by being a conscious consumer this time of year, and hopefully inspire those around us to do the same. Kindness is the theme of the season, and showing that same kindness to the Earth will ensure we have many more seasons to look forward to!

 

IMAGES + INSPIRATION FROM  |  FOODLOVIN.DE

from SALT Shop - Journal https://saltshop.ca/blogs/news/holiday-baking-healthy

HOLIDAY FORAGING

The twinkly lights, the carols, the holiday cheer, everything seems just a little more joyful, this time of year. The thing to avoid, and avoid it you can, is putting harmful and wasteful presents in hands. The thingers and gadgets, and do-dads galore, of plastics and synthetics that will last evermore! Turn to nature we say, with a wink and a grin, for we all know the best stuff, is found deep within.

There can be so much pressure with giving and gifting, decorating, baking, generally making the whole holiday season a big extravaganza. We say to heck with the pressure, and just enjoy the parts that you want to! For us, that is getting into the spirit with decor making using natural materials. Purchasing plastic decor, that you may use only once, perpetuates the annual increase in environmental impacts that come from seasonal consuming. We cringe when we think of the yards of crinkly tinsel and foil banners that get tossed at the end of the season. Why buy a mass-produced plastic wreath or garland when you can make a beautiful original using items from your backyard? And once the season is over, you can toss the greens on the compost pile and save the reuseable frame for next year! You will be happy to have less clutter, and the Earth will be happy with less seasonal trash. 

Deep in the forest, where the sycamores lie, there are pinecones and needles and leaves to be plucked. Supplies you'll want on hand: good walking shoes, hand shears, a basket, and a keen eye. Pick an already established trail and start searching!

Invite a friend to go with you and make a day of it. We can always use another reason to get outside and get moving in the colder months of the year. Pack a thermos full of a hot wintery beverage and a couple of enamel mugs to warm your hands on whilst you scour the woods for your favourite flora.

We are blessed in the Pacific Northwest with lush and varied forests. Grabbing branches from multiple kinds of trees will give your wreaths and decor depth. Evergreen comes in many shades, the needles varying in length, density, and shape. Seek out bushy pine, Douglas fir, dense balsam, and fragrant cedar. Dark holly and smooth salal leaves will both keep their colour long after they are pruned and add texture. If you can score some holly with bright red berries, even better!

Wreaths are a lot of fun, but not the only thing you can create with your collected abundance. You can make ornaments, garlands, table runners. It's amazing what you can pull together with a little twine, wire, and greenery. Pop a few pinecones and holly berries in there, maybe even some fairy lights, to give everything a festive glow. You will feel so accomplished doing everything yourself!

Working on these items as a family or with friends is a great holiday tradition to instate. It gets you outside, gets you creative. You never know, it may evolve into making your own wrapping paper with re-useable rubber stamps, learning new recipes, making your own cards. All fun ways to spend quality time with loved ones.

Not only are you working together, but you are creating a learning opportunity. You can make it a goal to look up the names of any trees or plants you can't identify. You are also leading by example by having a lower impact holiday season. Spread the message and spread the cheer! 

 Happy foraging! Send us pictures of your homemade creations! 

from SALT Shop - Journal https://saltshop.ca/blogs/news/holiday-foraging

STYLE FEATURE | FJORD TOP

You've got your fav basic tees for summer. You know the ones that you always end up wearing anyways after you have already tried on several other items. For us, that's our Ula and Nerio tees. As much as we love layering, there comes a time (or a temperature) when we really crave a chill-countering long sleeve fit. 

Our Fjord Box Top is just the ticket. Drop shoulder sleeves give you room to flap your wings and toss your hair up into a messy bun. The straight cut paired with a rounded hem and sneaky side slits lends itself to most body types, and allows you to combine with any bottoms, even skirts. A higher neckline offers versatile styling options so you can transition from work to evening without worrying about a wardrobe change.

We first patterned this top in our bamboo/cotton blend (seen here) for a comforting weight, with a little spandex added in for movement. Our newest addition is in a tencel/cotton blend, a more sustainably produced fabric that is just as soft. This light and airy option makes a great transition piece between seasons. The dusty purple of Flint reminds us of deep, Winter sunsets and Spring violets, making it a multi-season wardrobe piece. Both fabrics are breathable and move with you, making the Fjord top easy to layer and to wear outdoors.

With multiple neutrals, cozy fabrics, and the winds breathing goose bumps across our skin, we're feeling good about having this cozy covering in our closets!

Find all three colours in-store, or online!

Fjord Box Top | Flint

Fjord Box Top | Black

Fjord Box Top | Grey Microstripe

from SALT Shop - Journal https://saltshop.ca/blogs/news/style-feature-fjord-top

EXPLORE | What Way to Wander

"Do not go where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail". -Ralph Waldo Emerson

When we hear the word "explorer", we might think of the European men we learned about in our social studies classes who sailed across the oceans and "discovered" new lands. Let's leave the images of the cocked naval hats behind and reclaim the title for ourselves (or at least share it).

Setting aside time to stretch your legs and see new places shouldn't be as hard as we make it seem. We get that we don't all have the budget to go on a vacation every month (life goals!); there are other ways to go about it. You can walk the same streets or paths you have been on many times without really exploring. We need to get our noses out of our screens and take a look around. 

While we argue that there is oodles of space for adventure around us all the time, sometimes we do crave an excursion that shakes up our scenery. For those slightly longer travels, you don't have to go all out and cutting costs doesn't have to mean cutting down your enjoyment. You have to be prepared and get creative.

• Travel Fund: It is as easy as picking out a jar and putting your loose change in it. You could put away $500 without even thinking about it. Or, set up a monthly contribution to your TFSA, anything you can afford from as little as $25. It adds up quickly!
• Stay Nearby: Take out a map of your area, and pick a place that you have never been, (or even one you have) that is only a few hours away. Make your way there and really get to know it. 
• Free Activities: Always research the free activities that could be going on anywhere you travel. Live air concerts, free tours, flea markets. You never know!
• Save on Accommodations: Crash with friends, go in the off seasons, or stay at lesser known hotel chains or independent hotels.
• Pack Snacks: Eating out for every meal can be a big part of the cost of being away. Plan ahead with snacks that don't need to be refrigerated like mixed nuts, fruit, or power balls.
• Ask the Locals: This is a good strategy anywhere, but it can also be applied at home. Even when you think you have exhausted everything your home town has to offer, we're willing to bet there is a trail, a shop, an event you haven't uncovered yet. Ask your local friends, utilize their networks, and collect recommendations.

Exploring can mean something different to everyone. Visiting a new place every year. Getting outside with mud and rocks under our boots. Losing yourself in the twisting plot of a well written novel. What about self-exploration? The kind of exploring we can't see. Diving deep into our pool of self is not without it's harrowing challenges. Sometimes things have to break down a little bit to make way for better things. It is not an expedition that should be taken lightly. It is also one that is just as important, if not more, than our physical explorations, and should not be ignored. We commend all who dare to face their toughest critics: themselves

Whether it is through desert sands, forest floors, or sifting through your very own thoughts, never stop seeking.

Shop the look:

SALT Ula V-Neck tee | Black

Mother Co. Forge Backpack | Navy

from SALT Shop - Journal https://saltshop.ca/blogs/news/explore

FROM TREES TO TENCEL | A Sustainable Journey

You know how you sometimes avoid certain fabrics like silk or suede because they are so high maintenance and often expensive? What a lot of people may not yet know is that there is an Eco-friendly alternative that is lower maintenance and just as durable and fashionable. Spoiler alert: it's made from trees!

From labour to production to by-products, the buzz of sustainable fashion has been growing for decades. In the 1980s, the production of a fiber now known to us as Tencel began. Tencel is now a branded version of the fiber Lyocell, which is a type of Rayon. The most interesting property about these fibers is that they are made using regenerated cellulose fibers obtained from the bark, wood, or leaves of plants. How someone went from staring at a tree to figuring out a way to make it into a fashionable garment, we don't know, but it seems pretty impressive.

The production starts with chipping down the chosen cellulose source, usually full logs, until they are small enough to process. Eucalyptus trees are chosen often as they have a high rate of growth and can be maintained with a high level of consciousness given to the amount of chemicals and pesticides used.The chips are treated using a non-toxic and reusable solvent that softens the fibers into a pulp. The solvent used is designed to be recycled, with sometimes up to 99% of the solvent recovered for future use, decreasing the amount of water and chemicals used in the production process. After the pulp is treated and dried, it is next put through spinnerets, which is some type of machine that we imagine whirls like a tornado to create the strands that are sent off to be woven into fabrics.

So now we've got the fabric, what's so great about it? Being that it is made from a naturally occurring raw material, this fabric is an Eco-friendly, vegan option that can be substituted for many more labour intensive and non-vegan fabrics, like silk and suede. The production process is a closed-loop system as opposed to a linear system, meaning that all by-products created are useable. The trees are grown and processed, the solvent and water used is recycled, the fabrics created are biodegradable, and therefore will eventually return to the ground from whence they came. Linear production systems always have an end product that has no where to go. Many synthetic fibers are not biodegradable, and even if there was international  infrastructure in place to recycle the fibers, they will still never be able to return to the Earth naturally due to the chemical manipulation they have undergone. We hope this kind of mentality towards production continues to grow and revolutionize the textile industry. 

The first time you try on something made from Tencel, it is hard to believe that it is made from something that used to shade the forest floor. Depending on how the fabric is finished, it has the ability to imitate cotton, silk, suede, and even leather. It is an extremely durable fiber and unlike silk, Tencel is still just as strong when it is wet and garments can be washed or dry cleaned (some versions are dry clean only, so make sure you check the tag). It can shrink to around 3%, so be sure to keep that in mind before deciding on a size. It has a surprisingly smooth, soft feeling against your skin. It is also very absorbent and soaks up dyes faster, resulting in richer colors and less dye utilized. Also a very breathable fabric, it has anti-bacterial properties due to it's ability to deal with moisture, making it even more long lasting and ideal for use in hot climates.

SALT has made it our mission to be fully informed about the fabrics we are using in our garments, from roots to closet. As with our Fjord top, which we recently produced using a tencel/cotton blend, you might see some of our fabrics shift over the next year as we slowly move towards the most sustainable options we can find. We want our elevated basics to not only up your fashion game, but also your environmental one.

Our Tencel Products 

 

Sources

Lenzing Fibers

Lyocell

Eco-Market

Rayon 

Cellulose Fiber

from SALT Shop - Journal https://saltshop.ca/blogs/news/from-trees-to-tencel

FALL FROLICKS | Staying Outside

Even though our breaths have turned to fog, and the ground to frost, we can't let that stop us from taking to the outdoors. Bringing a flush to our cheeks from a venture into the brisk may chill our fingertips, but reminds us that despite the early dark dusks, we are not hibernators, we are seekers.

The easiest thing would be to succumb to the comfort of our homes this time of year. We have to continue putting one frigid foot in front of the other and keep our bodies moving. Our technology rich lifestyles encourage us to be sedentary enough as it is. Get out to connect with colour and with cold. Don't let it best you!

When the evening falls and the light fades from the trails, then comes a time to relax and to listen. Pull up a deck chair, a bench, a windowsill. Hear the falling leaves and the quiet calm of crisp air. Wrap your extremities in the comfort of wool socks and a cozy blanket, hands clasped around a steaming cup. Even better if you can kindle a fire to thaw your toes.

The simultaneous pull of a season of shift, and of slowing down. We need no reminder to let ourselves melt into comfort and complacency. We do however, need that wintery wind to wake us up every once in awhile to lean into newness.

Don't just toe the line, walk it, run it, cross it.

 

Fall is a great excuse for fun layers and warm beverages. Shop the look:

SALT Pacific Sweater | Black SALT

Mud Jeans Regular Swan | Strong Blue

Bonnetier Thermal Socks | Grey

Falcon Enamelware Mug | Pigeon Grey

Mt Maxwell Coffee | Winter Brew

Drizzle Honey | Summer Mini

from SALT Shop - Journal https://saltshop.ca/blogs/news/fall-frolicks-staying-outside

FALL FROLICKS | Staying Outside

Even though our breaths have turned to fog, and the ground to frost, we can't let that stop us from taking to the outdoors. Bringing a flush to our cheeks from a venture into the brisk may chill our fingertips, but reminds us that despite the early dark dusks, we are not hibernators, we are seekers.

The easiest thing would be to succumb to the comfort of our homes this time of year. We have to continue putting one frigid foot in front of the other and keep our bodies moving. Our technology rich lifestyles encourage us to be sedentary enough as it is. Get out to connect with colour and with cold. Don't let it best you!

When the evening falls and the light fades from the trails, then comes a time to relax and to listen. Pull up a deck chair, a bench, a windowsill. Hear the falling leaves and the quiet calm of crisp air. Wrap your extremities in the comfort of wool socks and a cozy blanket, hands clasped around a steaming cup. Even better if you can kindle a fire to thaw your toes.

The simultaneous pull of a season of shift, and of slowing down. We need no reminder to let ourselves melt into comfort and complacency. We do however, need that wintery wind to wake us up every once in awhile to lean into newness.

Don't just toe the line, walk it, run it, cross it.

 

Fall is a great excuse for fun layers and warm beverages. Shop the look:

SALT Pacific Sweater | Black SALT

Mud Jeans Regular Swan | Strong Blue

Bonnetier Thermal Socks | Grey

Falcon Enamelware Mug | Pigeon Grey

Mt Maxwell Coffee | Winter Brew

Drizzle Honey | Summer Mini

from SALT Shop - Journal https://saltshop.ca/blogs/news/cold-weather-exercise