Brett Tryon
(She/Her)
As seen in:
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Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC),
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I write about sustainable living, wildlife conservation, food, health, home decor, and parenting.
Writer, photographer, artist, nature lover, mama. Words in @Chatelaine, @NOWToronto, @torontolife, @Todaysparent, @BroadviewMag, and @cottagelife. #binders
Articles by Brett Tryon
Meet the nine women-led startups scaling Canada’s cleantech solutions
The ventures in the latest RBC Women in Cleantech cohort are developing new battery storage solutions, building materials, lower carbon jet fuel and other technologies that can help tackle the climate crisis. We need more people deploying climate solutions in Canada — and that means supporting more women-led startups. According to the 2022 Cleantech Industry Survey by NRCAN, only 13 percent of cleantech firms are owned or managed by women. This gap reflects who gets funded, not who has the ideas.
6 Ways You Can Support Biodiversity
May 22 is the International Day for Biological Diversity. The holiday was established in 1993 by the United Nations to raise awareness of the vital role biodiversity plays in sustaining life on Earth. Biodiversity — the variety of life on Earth — is essential for healthy ecosystems, food security, clean water, medicine, and climate resilience. But it's under threat from habitat loss, pollution, invasive species, climate change, and overexploitation.
Good News: Issue 5
As I was curating this week’s good news stories, I noticed a trend: Most of the articles featured clean energy investments around the world, and how they are paying off. Where countries and communities are investing in solar, wind, and other renewables, emissions are decreasing significantly — even as the demand for electricity increases.
All The Spring Gardening Tips And Tools You Need To Get Your Garden Started - Chatelaine
The snow has finally melted, the robins are back, and the trees are starting to bud—and your garden awaits. Maybe you want to grow your own food, or you have visions of beautiful perennials. Perhaps you want to create a thriving habitat for birds and pollinators. The spring garden is like a blank canvas—and just as intimidating. Where to start? What goes where? Not to worry—with some imagination and the right gardening essentials, you will soon turn that canvas into a work of art.
No Mow May: Good Idea or Not?
Since today is May 1, this week’s edition of Good Ideas is all about the No Mow May campaign. As the name implies, No Mow May urges people to forego mowing their lawns until June, giving wildflowers a chance to bloom and support pollinators like butterflies and bees. It’s a buzzy term, but is it a good idea? Lawns do not exist in nature.
Greener Good News Issue #2
I took this photo of magnolia blossoms last evening when I was walking my girls home from swimming lessons. I had brought my camera and macro lens with me, knowing we’d be out during golden hour. Now that spring is finally here, I don’t want to miss an opportunity to capture the fleeting beauty of these early blooms. Macro photography invites me to slow down and look for beauty wherever I happen to be. In some places, beauty is everywhere around you; in others, you have to search for it.
Sustainable Mother's Day Gift Ideas
If you’re being inundated with Mother’s Day marketing, let me cut through the noise. I’ve curated a list of sustainable gifts and experiences to satisfy various tastes, and I’ve owned or used most of them. The rest come recommended by people I know and trust. I have no affiliation with these brands and don’t make a cent from promoting these products. I’m just happy to promote brands and products that are better for the planet.
I Got A Heat Pump Water Heater (And Got My Home Off Gas) - Chatelaine
Ryan and Tammy Jarymy knew for years they wanted to electrify their Calgary home. Both scuba divers, they worry about the impact of climate change on the oceans, and they wanted to shrink their carbon footprint. They had already reduced their fossil fuel consumption by driving electric vehicles, and they wanted to get their home off gas as well. Their vision was to replace their gas appliances with electric ones, disconnect from the gas line and install solar panels to generate clean electricity.
7 Reusable, Budget-Friendly Paper Towel Alternatives
(Photo: iStock) It may be hard to imagine your kitchen without paper towel. It’s ultra-convenient for cleaning, dusting, sopping up spills, and wiping dirty hands and faces. But while it is indeed handy, traditional paper towel isn’t exactly eco-friendly. It’s usually made with virgin lumber—often from Canada’s boreal forest, which plays a crucial role in locking away climate-change fuelling carbon dioxide—and it goes straight into the garbage when you’re done with it.
The Most Eco-Friendly Laundry Detergents
Laundry piles up so fast, it seems to have a life of its own. A towel here, an outfit there, and suddenly your hampers are overflowing. A 2008 Ipsos poll found that Canadians wash at least four loads of laundry each week. That’s 208 loads of laundry every year. And with approximately 15 million households in Canada, that’s more than 3 billion loads of laundry per year.
How To Find The Best Vacuum Cleaner For Your Home - Chatelaine
There are many things I’d rather be doing than vacuuming. Perhaps that’s why, until recently, I made do with a vintage ’70s upright model my mom gave me years ago. It worked fine—except that it was heavy, loud and somehowleft behind an odour reminiscent of yesterday’s breakfast. So finally, I decided it was time to bite the bullet and get a new vacuum. With so many different vacuum cleaners on the market, it was hard to decide on a style, let alone a brand.
These three saunas take winter warming to the next level
It’s one of those classic shoulder season days—when the fog is clinging to the water, it’s misty, maybe even raining a little bit, and the lake is flat, like glass. It’s the type of day that’s best enjoyed in the warmth of a sauna. Saunas aren’t a new cottage accessory, but they have evolved—ranging from traditional designs to sleeker, modern structures with big windows—yes, windows!—to showcase the view, whatever the weather.
Plastic-Free Dishwashing, From Dishwasher Detergents To Sponges
Next time you’re out grocery shopping, take a look at the home cleaning aisle. What you’ll see, for the most part, is a whole lot of plastic. Shelves upon shelves of plastic jugs, cartons and spray bottles—most of which will serve their purpose for a couple of months before they are pitched, likely ending up in a landfill or littering the environment.
The Best Eco-Friendly Plastic Wrap Alternatives
I try to avoid single-use packaging wherever I can, from food and to health and beauty products to household cleaning. But there’s one item that keeps clinging to me: plastic wrap. Most of the time I have no use for it—I keep leftovers, lunches and snacks in reusable containers and mason jars. But then I find myself faced with a piece of cheese or a cut avocado—something that needs to be tightly wrapped to avoid spoiling or drying out.
Réduire sa consommation d'essuie-tout : 7 solutions de rechange durables et économiques
Vie pratique Pour fabriquer des essuie-tout (qui finissent souvent à la poubelle), on rase des forêts… Pourtant, on peut s’en passer facilement. Voici sept chiffons réutilisables pour les remplacer une fois pour toutes. Une cuisine sans essuie-tout ? Difficile à imaginer pour la plupart d’entre nous. Ces rouleaux de papier absorbant sont si pratiques pour nettoyer les petits dégâts, épousseter, faire briller la robinetterie et les miroirs, essuyer les mains sales, etc.
3 Chefs On Why They Love Induction Cooking
The natural gas industry has pumped a lot of money into promoting cooking with gas. But as we continue to learn about the health and environmental impacts of gas stoves, their reputation is starting to go up in smoke. Gas stoves not only create greenhouse gas emissions but they pollute the air inside your home, emitting nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide, and twice the amount of particulate matter as electric or induction stoves.
The Cheapest, Most Eco-Friendly Way To Shave
Over the years, razors have taken various forms, from the solid gold and copper blades found in Egyptian tombs to the straight steel razors used in England in the 18th and 19th centuries. One thing they all had in common: An exposed blade that needed frequent sharpening. This all changed in 1847, with the invention of the safety razor. Engineered by William Henson in England, the T-shaped design had a steel blade with a guard along the edge.
Their Home Was a Gas Guzzler. Not Anymore.
How these climate activists got the gas out of their home. When Christine Boyle and Seth Klein purchased their Vancouver home, they had a problem. Although the 13-year-old house was well insulated and energy efficient, it was a gas guzzler. Many of the major appliances — the furnace, water heater, and stove — ran on gas, and there was a gas fireplace to boot. Many people wouldn’t see the issue, but Boyle and Klein are both climate activists.
How To Garden With Native Plants For Birds, Bees And The Climate
Lorraine Johnson is a community advocate and author who has written numerous books on gardening with native plants—species that occured naturally in North America prior to European colonization. Over thousands of years, these plants have co-evolved with other native flora and fauna, forming complex and symbiotic relationships. It’s been 30 years since Johnson created her first native plant garden, a block from the corner of Bathurst and Bloor in Toronto.
Making Cities Safe for Birds
Urban areas can be deathtraps for birds. A new certification aims to make them havens. When you think of bird habitat, what comes to mind? Perhaps a wetland teeming with waterfowl, or a woodland resounding with birdsong. But what about a city? Urban areas are home to a variety of species, from the finches at your feeder to the hawks circling overhead. In fact, 20% of the world’s bird species occur in cities.
How To Get Your Home Off Natural Gas
The emissions from your house may not be as obvious as the exhaust from a tailpipe, but they’re just as real. The good news? The latest electric options for heating, hot water and cooking are worth exploring—and there are financial incentives that make them even more appealing. (Illustration, Michael Byers) When my husband and I bought our century-old home, we needed to replace all the appliances.
The Environmental Impact Of Gas Stoves
Gas stoves are a source of GHG emissions, and they pollute the air inside your home. The good news is, there’s a cleaner and healthier way to cook your food. Brett Tryon Updated February 15, 2022 Last year my husband and I started transitioning our home off of fossil fuels, with the goal of making our home net zero. We got a heat pump to heat and cool our home, we replaced our gas water heater with a heat pump water heater, and we installed solar panels.
How To Get Hot Water Without Heating The Planet
© Provided by Chatelaine A steaming white claw-footed bathtub in a dark blue and yellow bathroom for a piece on how to heat hot water the environmentally friendly way (Photo: iStock) Canadians use a lot of hot water. Between bathing, showering, washing dishes and doing laundry, we each use an average of 75 litres of hot water every day. And it takes a lot of energy to heat that water. Water heaters account for nearly 20 percent of the energy used in the average Canadian home.
How To Get Hot Water Without Heating The Planet
Canadians use a lot of hot water. Between bathing, showering, washing dishes and doing laundry, we each use an average of 75 litres of hot water every day. And it takes a lot of energy to heat that water. Water heaters account for nearly 20 percent of the energy used in the average Canadian home.
Plastic-Free Laundry Strips Are Everywhere Right Now. We Tried Some Out
Plastic-free laundry strips may give you a clean conscience, but how well do they wash your laundry? We tested some popular brands to find out. Brett Tryon Updated September 9, 2021 Lately my social media feed has been awash with ads for laundry strips. It’s definitely not because I love laundry (who does?)—it’s because I’m always looking for ways to use less plastic.
Why Keeping Cats Inside Is Better For Them-And The Environment
When it comes to the question of keeping cats indoors or letting them roam, people tend to get their claws out. If you love cats, you want what is best for them—and if you love birds, you want what is best for them. As it happens, keeping cats indoors—or giving them supervised time outdoors—is the best thing for your fur baby and your feathered friends.
How To Keep Birds From Hitting Your Windows Original
It was 1990 and Michael Mesure was en route to a wildlife rehabilitation centre. One of his many passengers was a common yellowthroat, a tiny black and yellow warbler that had crashed into a window. As Mesure was driving, the bird escaped from its paper bag and perched on the rearview mirror. What happened next was even more astonishing: the bird began to sing. Mesure was enchanted. The yellowthroat continued to serenade him until the very moment it collapsed into his lap, dead.
Do Lash Serums *Really* Work? Experts Weigh In
© Provided by Chatelaine (Art: Aimee Nishitoba) If you weren’t born with fluttery lashes and don’t want the fuss of falsies or extensions, you may be tempted to try a lash serum. Designed to strengthen, lengthen and pump up the volume of lashes, serums are more popular than ever—especially now that face masks are part of our daily lives and beauty routines have shifted to be all about the eyes.
Do Lash Serums *Really* Work? Experts Weigh In
Want long, fluttery eyelashes? Here's what you should know before you shell out on a serum. If you weren’t born with fluttery lashes and don’t want the fuss of falsies or extensions, you may be tempted to try a lash serum. Designed to strengthen, lengthen and pump up the volume of lashes, serums are more popular than ever—especially now that face masks are part of our daily lives and beauty routines have shifted to be all about the eyes.
6 easy, eco-friendly alternatives to wrapping paper
Every December, when the radio starts playing “All I Want is You,” I’m overcome by the urge to craft, bake, plan the , and decorate the house just so. And despite Mariah Carey’s insistence that she doesn’t care about the presents underneath the Christmas tree, it seems imperative to wrap beautiful, Insta-worthy gifts. I know I’m not alone. It’s easy to get wrapped up in the fantasy of a perfect, magical Christmas and lose sight of the impact the holidays have on the planet.
15 Canadian-made beauty products for plastic-free gifts
Plastic pollution was a huge problem before the pandemic, and it hasn’t improved. So this year, I convinced my family to have a plastic-free Christmas. My husband, although fully on board, pointed out a serious wrinkle in my plan. “I hate to break it to you,” he said, “but you probably won’t be getting cocoa butter in your stocking this year.” This was grave news indeed. Lotions and lip balms are a stocking staple in my house, and my husband couldn’t find any that weren’t packaged in plastic.
7 Cute And Eco-friendly Alternatives To Wrapping Paper - Chatelaine Original
Every December, when the radio starts playing “All I Want For Christmas Is You,” I’m overcome by the urge to craft, bake, plan the perfect holiday meal and decorate the house just so. And despite Mariah Carey’s insistence that she doesn’t care about the presents underneath the Christmas tree, it seems imperative to wrap beautiful, Insta-worthy gifts. I know I’m not alone.
Why I’m Planning a Plastic-Free Christmas - and How You Can Too
Covid-19 has sidelined efforts to reduce plastic waste. So I’ve told Santa not to bring any down my chimney. Christmas brings plastic in so many forms, from decorations and gifts, to polyester bows and cellophane-wrapped candies. This year, I’m saying no to it all! (Photo by Laura Gomez via Unsplash) I’m always amazed at how much plastic invades my home on Christmas — especially since having kids. Some plastics sneak in, hiding in wrapping paper, cards, ribbons, and bows.
Why I’m Planning a Plastic-Free Christmas - and How You Can Too
Covid-19 has sidelined efforts to reduce plastic waste. So I’ve told Santa not to bring any down my chimney. Christmas brings plastic in so many forms, from decorations and gifts, to polyester bows and cellophane-wrapped candies. This year, I’m saying no to it all! (Photo by Laura Gomez via Unsplash) I’m always amazed at how much plastic invades my home on Christmas — especially since having kids. Some plastics sneak in, hiding in wrapping paper, cards, ribbons, and bows.
Is Making Homemade Yogurt *Really* Worth It? We Tried It
I’ve been making my own yogurt for a year. Here’s what I’ve learned. My family of four goes through a lot of yogurt. We have yogurt parfaits for breakfast, we use yogurt in marinades, we make frozen yogurt popsicles, and we put yogurt in smoothies. So, when our neighbours learned of our yogurt obsession, they gave us a package of yogurt starter and suggested we make our own. They said it tasted great, was easy to make, and saved money.
How AA is reinventing fellowship
Megan* is new to Alcoholics Anonymous (AA). A mother of two from Orillia, Ont., she recently escaped the sex trade and went to rehab for alcohol and cocaine addiction. She came out of treatment on January 23 and joined a local AA group for women. For Megan, regular meetings have been critical. “I’m currently in and out of sobriety,” she says. “If I don’t get to a meeting at least twice a day, then I’m drinking.” But just as Megan got her foot in the door of AA, COVID-19 slammed it shut.
Causes, symptoms, and treatment
Photo: iStock Photo Does your child have a circular, flaky rash with a raised, red border? There’s a good chance it’s ringworm. While the name is enough to make your skin crawl, ringworm isn’t as scary as it sounds. In fact, it isn’t even caused by a worm—it’s named after its raised, ring-like appearance. And the good news is, it’s treatable. Here’s everything you need to know about ringworm in kids. What is ringworm? Ringworm is a common fungal infection.
Is a keto diet safe for kids?
Photo: iStockphoto The keto diet is one of the biggest diet trends—thanks in part to celebrity proponents like Halle Berry, Gwyneth Paltrow, LeBron James, and Kourtney Kardashian. High in fat and extremely low in carbs, the diet promises rapid weight loss, improved mental acuity, and heart health. While it’s not surprising to see adults going on fad diets—especially to conquer new year’s resolutions—some parents are turning the keto diet into a family affair.
This eggplant parmesan recipe put me in labour-twice!
Photo: Courtesy of Brett Tryon When I was nearing the end of my first pregnancy, I tried just about everything to encourage labour and avoid being induced: I ate tons of pineapple and spicy food, went for long walks, bellydanced, and practiced yoga. I knew there was no guarantee, but I was confident labour would start on its own. Despite my best efforts, my due date came and went. And kept on going.
How one Toronto laneway became the home of an annual pepper-roasting party
How one Toronto laneway became the home of an annual pepper-roasting party By Brett Tryon | Photography By Gabby Frank | October 1, 2019 By Brett Tryon | Photography By Gabby Frank | 10/01/2019 Under a late September sun, more than 100 people are gathered in a laneway backing onto Bickford Park. A Calabrian folk trio fills the air with the sound of an accordion, as smoke from a wood-burning oven wafts from a neighbouring garage.
Move Over Matcha-There’s A New Tea In Town
A decade ago, moringa was virtually unheard of in North America. Now, moringa leaf powder is popping up in health food aisles everywhere. It was even named one of the top culinary trends to watch for last year. Marketed as the next big superfood, it’s often called “the new matcha” and “the new kale”—and it’s starting to make its way into energy bars and snack foods. But does it live up to the hype? Before you rush out and buy some, here’s everything you need to know about moringa. What is moringa?
Move Over Matcha-Moringa Is the Hot New Tea in Town
A decade ago, moringa was virtually unheard of in North America. Now, moringa leaf powder is popping up in health food aisles everywhere. It was even named one of the top culinary trends to watch for last year. Marketed as the next big superfood, it’s often called “the new matcha” and “the new kale”—and it’s starting to make its way into energy bars and snack foods. But does it live up to the hype? Before you rush out and buy some, here’s everything you need to know about moringa. What is moringa?
11 Home Decor Items You Won’t Believe Came From Canadian Tire
The trendy banana leaf gets a refresh with this outdoor toss cushion, in shades of indigo. It’s pretty enough to take indoors, and you’ll be able to—the polyester fill is made to keep its shape, and the fabric is treated to protect it from water, stains and fading. CANVAS Banana Leaf Toss Cushion, $15
11 Home Decor Items You Won’t Believe Came From Canadian Tire
Gallery Canadian Tire home decor Banana Leaf Toss Cushion The trendy banana leaf gets a refresh with this outdoor toss cushion, in shades of indigo. It’s pretty enough to take indoors, and you’ll be able to—the polyester fill is made to keep its shape, and the fabric is treated to protect it from water, stains and fading. CANVAS Banana Leaf Toss Cushion, $15
The 13 Best Home Décor And Furniture Finds At Costco Canada
Costco may be your go-to for food, cleaning supplies and other staples—but what about home décor? The bargain retailer sells some surprisingly beautiful furniture and accents. And in some cases, Costco carries the same items as designer stores—for hundreds of dollars less. Not in stock at your local warehouse? No bother—shipping and handling is free, whether you’re a member or not. Here are some furniture and home décor picks from Costco that would impress any designer.
The scary state of animal cruelty in Ontario
It seems that Ontario’s animal welfare system has become a stray that no one wants to take in. After 100 years of enforcing animal welfare law, the Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (OSPCA) is handing the reins over to the province – as of June 28, the organization will no longer investigate animal cruelty complaints. The OSPCA is the only charity in Ontario tasked with law enforcement, a responsibility it has carried out since the OSPCA Act was introduced in 1919.
The scary state of animal cruelty in Ontario
The Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals says it will no longer investigate complaints come June 28 It seems that Ontario’s animal welfare system has become a stray that no one wants to take in. After 100 years of enforcing animal welfare law, the Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (OSPCA) is handing the reins over to the province – as of June 28, the organization will no longer investigate animal cruelty complaints.
Filmmaker Attiya Khan Faces The Ex-Boyfriend Who Violently Abused Her | Faze
Old photos of Steve and Attiya Khan show the couple looking happy and in love. Attiya Khan was sixteen when she met Steve, and it was love at first sight. Steve was funny, stylish, interesting, and cool. He had an energy that drew people to him. What Attiya didn’t know was that he was also abusive. Steve assaulted Attiya every day for two years until she was finally able to escape. Twenty years later, Attiya was still dealing with the trauma.
Chevrolet Bolt Named North American Car of the Year > ENGINEERING.com
The Chevrolet Bolt EV may be whisper-quiet, but it made quite a noise blasting past the competition at the North American Car of the Year Awards (NACTOY). The awards, which recognize the most outstanding vehicles of the year, are given by an independent jury of automotive journalists from Canada and the United States. The jury awarded 364 points to the Bolt—putting it miles ahead of the Hyundai Genesis G90 sedan, which was awarded second place with 105 points.
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