Upcycling: An Introduction

The resources we have at our fingertips here at The WCSS Re-Use-It Centre in Whistler are seemingly endless. We re-sell lightly used clothing, housewares, electronics, books, movies, sports equipment and so much more. It is awesome to give items a second life, to follow our mantra of goods out of landfill, but it always seems we could be doing more.

On a recent investigation into recycling possibilities, we have put some more time into researching the concept of "Upcycling", Recycling's sister concept. Upcycling is the process of converting waste materials or useless products into new materials or products of better quality or higher environmental value.

Where recycling breaks items down, upcycling remakes and constructs. Sound crazy?

Imagine you have a pile of scratched LPs. Instead of throwing them away, why not make them into a bowl? Scratched records can be made into bookends or bags or even a cake stand. A leaky rubber boot might make a great planter just by adding a few more holes.

There is an amazing online culture surrounding upcycling. Any make-it-yourself tutorial you care to think of as videos, step-by-step photos and how-to blogs.

We're excited about it. In the next months we will be showing you all a bunch of projects for those upcoming rainy spring days. We'll help you find the bits and pieces you need to make awesome additions to your home and a sustainable addition to your life!

We are all Whistler (Bears too)!!

Living in such a tight-knit community, we share many of Whistler’s jewels with the melting pot of people. As we saw during the Olympic period, rubbing shoulders with celebrities, athletes, weasel workers and locals. Whether standing in line for Peak Chair to open with Ashley McIvor, sitting in a coffee shop next to the Mayor, sharing a hiking trail with Arthur Dejong, or giving a cheers to Ray from the Husky at ‘A Whole Lotta Led’ show, you are as likely to see and know such people during your lives in Whistler as you are to see a bear in the summer.

Living in Whistler you follow aspects of the lives of these people and the causes they support. And that’s the nature of the town we live in is that it’s success and compassionate vibes comes from the joy of sharing the same things. The love of wilderness and its animals; the fruits of the seasons and community spirit that exists but it is especially prevalent through hard and good times.

The Re-Use-It Centre loves being part of the lives of all our awesome community. After receiving a bear hide through the Re-Use-It Centre last month and feeling uneasy about selling it, I contacted Michael Allen, the corridor’s Bear Researcher, who also happens to be an avid thrifter and Re-Use-It Center donor, to see if this majestic creature could go to some use within his programs.

He jumped upon the idea; the Bear hide would be used within Michael’s ‘Student and Visitor Bear Outreach Program’ where he visits schools and educates on reducing human/bear conflict and the wonders of their existence showing a wide selection of resources, beautiful photography, videos and now a hide.

As we approach spring and as the Bears start to show themselves a little more, here are some tips and useful advice Michael has put together for us.

Tell us a little about yourself, where you live and how long you've been in the area?

This is my 19th year doing research on Whistler black bears. I live with 2 dogs, 2 cats, and 7 chickens in Paradise Valley north of Squamish.

I came to Whistler in 1993 because my sister (Susan), who is a school teacher here, said there were lots of bears. She was right.

How did you find yourself as the number one  'Bear Researcher/Guide' of the Sea to Sky corridor?

I don't know about number one...but I guess I have put in the time. I'm not a biologist (many people think I am) and even though I've spent close to 30 years following black bears around, I don't consider myself an expert...I'm constantly learning...a "student of bears". I began guiding bear viewing in 2000 for Arthur DeJong at Whistler-Blackcomb. Its a great program that allows visitors to see the "real-time" life of bears that have learned to adapt to life in BC's largest recreational environment – vital to understanding the future of black bear conservation.

What is the kids education program that the hide will be a part of all about ?

I started doing talks on bears for kids at Whistler schools in 1997 despite my overwhelming shyness. This will be the 16th year elementary students will listen to my never-ending adventures with the larger, furry locals. Each spring and fall, I give an update on the personal lives of resident bears by showing photos, video, maps, and physical artifacts: skulls, claws, and hides. Hides are important because kids can feel a bears coat and claws. From that feeling, kids understand how a bear is designed and has adapted to living in the forest and more recently, out of the forest. The head-mounted bear hide donated by the Re-Use-It Centre is a useful addition because it represents another age-size of bear and with the head mounted with the hide, gives a more realistic perception of head shape because my other hides don’t have this. 

Can you remember the coolest item that you have found at the Re-Use-It Centre, or best item you've dropped off for donation?

I found a great desk which in the Whistler area is pretty much impossible to find. Mostly, I have dropped off lots of stuff ranging from DVD's to snow boots to computer screens.  

 

What tips can you give the community coming in to bear season?

The best way to help bears is by keeping "your space" in Whistler's environment clean. That's all bears really ask...an environment to share without

temptations of human food...that's what kills bears...sooner or later. We're likely in for a milder spring than last year and because of 2011's poorest berry crop on record, we may have a few early bears in March. When bears emerge and there's just snow, some head directly to backyards and birdfeeders.  So you should have your bird and squirrel feeders down by mid-March and start getting into the habit of keeping anything food or garbage related securely inside. Remember, recycling is bear food. Make sure you clean recycled containers with soap.  

 
How do you envisage the co-habitation between residents and Bears moving forward over the next few years?

This is the best question anyone's ever asked. The last 2 years saw alot of bears die in the Whistler area...over 50...mostly due to being destroyed as conflict bears from garbage-feeding leading to breaking into homes and bears being struck by vehicles on Highway 99. Bears also died from old age, malnutrition, and injuries from other bears. Having 2 bad berry crops back to back (2010-11) didn't help. Its important to understand that the bear population is cyclic. When we experience balanced, seasonal weather, bear survival is higher. When we have unseasonal, extreme weather, bear survival is lower. Extreme scales of snowfall, rain, and/or temperature reduces the availability of huckleberries and blueberries, the bear's most important food. These cycles in the bear population will always occur...so we will have good years and bad years. This year, we will have less bears around because 2010-11 were bad for berries and bear survival was low.  This year, a base population of at least 45 bears (that I know) could grow to 60+ bears depending on how many cubs are produced. In the WB ski area, there are 17 female bears and 16 of them are due to have cubs. They all won't produce cubs but we should have more cubs this year than the 7 cubs in 2011. When the bear population does drop, competition between bears goes down and some bear survival increases because there are less bears looking for food. And please don't hind behind Whistler's BearSmart Status...last summer the berries failed and bears tested the system and accessed garbage everywhere. So bear proof containment continues to be a progressive challenge each year.

Thanks to Michael for giving this Bear a new life and with his commitment to learning and promoting ‘considerate and bear smart’ behavior, so we can live in harmony with Whistler’s bear population.

For more information on how to be bear smart you can participate in Bear viewing and ecology tours through Whistler/Blackcomb by calling 1-800-766-0449 or read more on their site at http://www.whistlerblackcomb.com/todo/summer/bears/index.htm?aheading=0, read about more ways to behave responsibly with Whistler’s bears at http://www.bearsmart.com/, or contact your municipality for more information at http://www.whistler.ca/residents/sustainability-environmental-protection/bears , 

Sarah Walters

Assistant Manager The Re-Use-It Centre

Ten Indications You May Be a Thrift Store Addict (or, alternatively, a Dedicated Sustainable Shoppper)

1. You walk into your local Thrift Store, the staff greets you by name and lets you know that a big donation of owls/masks/brass elephants just came in and they've been put aside for you.

2. You bring your own recyclable bags when thrifting, intending to fill them all with treasure.

3. The only way your Significant Other will allow you to even enter a Thrift Store is if you first donate several bags of items back.When you donate items back to a Thrift Store, some of them still have Thrift Store price tags attached.

4. You have at least 3 half-sets of dishes that you slowly add to over years and years of searching for and collecting.

5.You buy items for other people when thrifting, because when you see that particular item, you know so-and-so will love it.

6.You notice when your local Thrift Store moves items around, and are completely disoriented.

7. When thrifting, you purchase "unique pieces" that you intend to match with other items in your wardrobe. These items, when worn, embarrass your family and friends, but you still love them (the items and the family members).


8. Sometimes you are forced, uneasily, leave your basket(/s) aside with the Cashier so you have your hands free to continue shopping. You check back regularly to the front counter to be sure all your treasures are still yours, safely in the basket(/s).

9. You run into fellow Dedicated Sustainable Shoppers who you know solely because you see them every week in your local/favorite Thrift Store. You start to organize regular trips with them, stopping for coffee and eventually making a weekly afternoon ritual of it. You love these folk, but also remain slightly suspicious that they will beat you to the treasure, and only half-credibly swallow your jealousy when they inevitably do pick up those moose antlers before you get a chance to swoop in on them.



10. You've found so much treasure over the years that when people ask you what your best thrifting find is, you can't choose an item (unless you were the lucky one who scored the child-sized Pink Panther recently, and then your answer is obvious)!

Please note that this list was put together by a self-confessed Thrift Store Addict. I love thrifting; even working at The Re-Use-It Centre hasn't spoiled it for me! Just don't ask me what my best find has been... there are way too many to count!


Helen, Manager at The WCSS Re-Use-It Centre