Project Birdsong: Eco Build + Living

In this episode, I chat with Organic Garden Expert Melissa Cameron from The Good Seed on how to plant a garden that produces for a family of four and how to process and store this bounty. 

We talked about:

• Minimalist starting requirements for your organic garden
• What are raised garden beds and are they really necessary
• How to maximize growing produce in a small space
• Why growing your own food is the best way to have control over its safety (no mold) and nutritional profile, and taste!

P.S. I started Project Birdsong to share actionable conversations on eco building + living because there was no resource like this when I went looking for one! It is self-funded because I am that passionate about making this information available. So, if you are finding this podcast helpful, please do leave a review so it can reach more people.

If you have ever felt like your home is making you sick, you are not alone. 

My guest is Ashley Spanovish from Awakening Spaces. 

We discussed:

• The benefits of building and designing a healthy home
• What is healthy home design and what does it take into consideration (more than you'd think!)
• Our individual experiences of living in a space that impacts our wellbeing
• Sources and certifications for safe building materials
• Changes you can implement to improve the health of your own home even if you are not currently renovating or building!

Visit Ashley at:
https://awakeningspaces.com/
https://www.instagram.com/awakeningspaces/

If you're looking to buy land and build a home in Ontario this is a must-listen episode. 

My guest is mortgage broker Craig Fried from: https://financial-freedom.ca/

He walked me through what to expect when securing a construction loan down to a calculation of the monthly payments I can expect to make! We will definitely be using Craig to help us with the Project Birdsong build. 

We discussed: 

1. What is a home builder’s/construction loan
2. How does it differ from a standard mortgage
3. Are there additional risks
4. Any additional costs
5. Does it cover the land and construction
6. Is this sort of loan best secured through a bank or a brokerage
7. Breakdown:
   • Budget 500k.
   • Land 100K.
   • Construction: 400k
8. What amortization period is recommended

Note: My mic was not working properly so it is best to listen to this episode on lower volume and without earphones. My voice came through more chirp less song (get it?), but Craig does most of the talking and his voice sounds fine. Rest assured that I've learned my lesson and a mic has been ordered for future recordings!

Was this episode helpful? Find me on IG @projectbirdsong and let me know. 

In this episode, I share the journey that is prompting us to seek and build a life outside of the city.


Sources and Resources:

Allergies
Watch: Robyn O'Brien | TEDxAustin 2011

• The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention reports that the prevalence of food allergy in children increased by 50 percent between 1997 and 2011.
• Between 1997 and 2008, the prevalence of peanut or tree nut allergy appears to have more than tripled in U.S. children.

Source: https://www.foodallergy.org/resources/facts-and-statistics

It appears a shift towards an urbanized lifestyle, either as a result of rising economic growth or migration, is associated with development of food allergy. Studies on migration, in particular, highlight the important interplay of ethnicity and the environment.
Source: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6163515/

Researchers behind the study, published in the journal Thorax, evaluated data from more than 10,000 people living in 14 countries. Adults who grew up on farms were less likely to respond to allergens and have nasal symptoms of allergies, according to the study. These adults were also 54% less likely to have asthma or hayfever.

Researchers remain unsure what drives the correlation between spending childhood on a farm and the development of allergies, though they speculated that exposure to certain microbes, air pollution and physical activity could all play a role.
Source: https://time.com/4508613/farm-allergy-risk/

MCS
Listen: https://greenathome.ca/podcast/ep41-multiple-chemical-sensitivity-with-maria-rizzo/

Read: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK234795/

Probe the earth to see where your main roots run. - Henry David Thoreau

Hey, I’m Avigayil. I believe there is a way of life that combines modern science and ancient wisdom. Research, alongside deep awareness of self. With a goal not to live forever, or even a set number of years, but to live a meaningful and connected life. 

Living in a rental facing a main city street in Toronto, Canada, I am always struck by the fact that when I step out and walk for mere minutes, I can actually hear the birds sing. This is a stark contrast to the constant highway buzz, and a reminder that an urban oasis lifestyle is financially out of reach for our family. 

My husband and I have decided on a 3 year plan for leaving the city to create the life we want for ourselves, and our two young boys. We have never owned a home and my childhood vegetable garden yielded little more than a peapod, so I have my work cut out for me. 

Setting out to explore what this looks like, I invite you on our journey. I will be speaking with experts to understand every step from buying land, to constructing an eco build, and planting an organic garden. Welcome to Project Birdsong.

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