Lighter living doesn’t mean sacrifice. It’s about making thoughtful choices, small, practical actions that add up to meaningful change. And those changes grow even more powerful when we share them with our neighbours.
Here on Salt Spring Island, we often take pride in being a progressive, environmentally conscious community. But the truth is, we’re not doing nearly enough to meet the climate action targets set out in our 2021 Climate Action Plan 2.0. There’s more to do and a greater opportunity for impact and success when we do it together.
The way we move, eat, shop, repair, and relax all shape our impact on the planet. These everyday decisions and choices influence the health of our community and the ecosystems we depend on. Most of us want the same things: clean air and water, thriving forests, birdsong, pollinators, and resilient local food systems. Protecting what we love means stepping forward not perfectly, but collectively.
Lighter living isn’t about going zero waste; you can, but the point is not to get everything right, rather each of us making small intentional changes that add up to big impacts where we are, and supporting each other along the way to allow everyone the opportunity to thrive fairly within our sustainable ecological footprint.
Clift Herbal Plant Walk with Jasmyn | Photo: Salt Spring Island Foundation
Turn Ideas into Action (with a Little Help)
Now through April 15, the Salt Spring Island Foundation is offering Neighbourhood Small Grants of up to $500 to help bring community ideas to life. These grants are designed to spark connection, supporting projects that share skills, build local knowledge, and bring neighbours together.
On a rural island, we know how important those connections are. When storms hit, power goes out, roads close, or emergencies arise, it’s our neighbours who show up first, and sometimes they are the only ones who can.
Building resilience starts with simply getting to know one another.
So whether you’re a homeowner, renter, farmer, business owner, or community organizer, this is your moment. That idea you’ve been sitting on? It’s time! Think of these grants as the sunlight and water to help it grow.
Lighter Living: Ideas to Get You Started Inspired by One Earth Living (Planet BC., 2021).”
FOOD (50% of our footprint)
● Start a shared garden or seed exchange
● Host a plant-based cooking night
● Set up neighbourhood composting or food-sharing systems
● Organize native planting or pollinator-friendly garden days
● Bulk-buy soil, compost, or seeds together
STUFF (10% of our footprint)
● Create a neighbourhood tool library or sharing network
● Map local skills and resources
● Host a clothing or household item swap
● Offer hands-on repair or skill-sharing workshops
MOBILITY (25% of our footprint)
● Build or improve a local bus stop shelter
● Organize bike repair events
● Start a neighbourhood rideshare group for regular trips to town
● Promote walking and cycling routes and safety
BUILDINGS & LAND (15% of our footprint)
● Share tools and tips for home energy efficiency
● Host clean-up or invasive species removal
● Plant native species and pollinator gardens together
LEISURE & CONNECTION
● Organize a street or cul-de-sac party! (go low-waste or zero-waste!)
● Create a shared greenspace or walking trail
● Come together around a local issue or shared vision
● Volunteer as a group for a meaningful cause
Ready to Grow Something Good? Visit the Salt Spring Island Foundation’s Neighbourhood Small Grants page to learn more and apply. For more information on email Ceridwen Ross Collins: nsg@ssifoundation.ca
Brought to you by: Salt Spring Island Foundation, Island Community Services, Victoria Foundation and Vancouver Foundation. We invite you to sign up for more FREE access to Lighter Living content at https://tinyurl.com/Lighter-Living. Learn how to take low-effort actions that feel good, benefit our community, and help the planet.
Poland Hilltop Neighbourhood Garden | Photo: Salt Spring Island Foundation