Sustainability, From the Inside Out
When I first arrived at Clear Sky, there were already some great recycling and sustainability practices in place. But I soon sensed there was room to go deeper—more streams we could sort, more items we could save from the landfill, and more ways to bring care and consciousness into how we lived and consumed.
I’ve always had a mind that wants to understand how things are made, where they go, and how systems work. So, I began exploring. What started as a few basic recycling bins evolved into a complex, yet beautifully coordinated, system of over 20 different waste streams. Batteries, light bulbs, scrap metal, soft plastics, electronics, clothing, Styrofoam—you name it. It might sound overwhelming, but to me, it was thrilling. It meant less waste, more intention, and a stronger connection to the planet.
One milestone I’m really proud of is reducing our garbage output from one large bag per week to one per month—that’s for both the 10–15 residents and karma yogas living here full-time and all of our guests who come for retreats and Clear Sky offerings. That shift didn’t happen overnight. It took years of refining, educating, and organizing. But seeing that single garbage bag each month—not even 100% full most of the time—feels like a quiet victory every time.
And it’s not just about what we throw away. A big part of the work is finding new lives for the things we no longer need. We’ve rehomed old irrigation pipes, railway ties, and even our vintage mobile home, which is now serving as a hockey change room. We’ve given giant old farm equipment and tractor tires to DIY-ers, and donated clothing and fabrics through our wider sangha network—items that otherwise would have gone to landfill now get another round of purpose and care, or are sent to one of the region’s few textile recycling facilities.
That kind of upcycling effort goes hand-in-hand with rethinking what we buy in the first place. I remember, back when I first came to Clear Sky, feeling uneasy about our petroleum-based candles we used in the shrine room. Years later, as a resident, one of my first initiatives was switching to local beeswax candles.
Image: Chris, Ava and Cara salvaging reusable material from the mobile home that already existed on the property when we purchased Clear Sky.
It was a small change, but it felt powerful—and everyone was on board. Since then, we’ve prioritized durable, higher-quality items: furniture that lasts, appliances that are energy efficient, and cleaning products with minimal packaging. Sometimes it requires some upfront financial investment, and that’s perfectly in-line with our quadruple bottom line! It’s part of a broader shift away from a “scarcity mindset” to something more generative, more long-term.
And of course, there’s the green building. Some projects, like Sky Roots, pre-date my time, but I’ve been closely involved in others—like the Oasis building, which uses bamboo floors, organic carpets, and a metal roof. We even replaced our old oil furnace with a high-efficiency heat pump. These are long-haul changes. But they’re the kind that serve both people and planet, now and into the future.
Image: Year after year, Catherine Sensei inspires the team to get more connected with the land and in growing our own food.
This work isn’t something I do instead of my spiritual practice—it’s deeply informed by it. One teaching I return to often is from Namgyal Rinpoche: “What’s the most beautiful for the least effort?”
That simple line is like a compass. It reminds me to work smart, not just hard. We could spend all day driving to various local vendors to source the absolute most local, artisanal foods and household products—but if the fuel and effort required outweigh the benefit, we’ve missed the point. The middle way means finding a balance between intention and practicality.
There’s also a deeper layer—what I call the “sustainable mind.” I remember once, walking between buildings here, caught in a loop of negativity. My thoughts were spinning, and it struck me—this is energy waste too. Just like burning fossil fuels or tossing things in the trash, a restless mind depletes its own resources. That moment helped me see how inner sustainability—calm, clarity, awareness—supports and is supported by our outer efforts. If our actions are driven by eco-anxiety or guilt, they might still have good outcomes, but they won’t be joyful or sustainable in the long term.
Image: Qapel, Sensei and Dave with the Recycling Council of BC’s 2024 Non Profit Award for demonstrating excellence and leadership in environmental protection and stewardship.
That’s part of what I love about doing this work here, in a spiritual community. The support from our teachers has been a huge encouragement. Both Qapel and Sensei recognize and promote the importance of this work, and they’ve challenged me—in good ways—to keep going, to not settle into complacency. Sensei in particular pushes me to explore the edge: how much greener can we go? Where’s the next opportunity to align more deeply with our values?
One of the proudest moments for me was when Clear Sky won the Recycling Council of BC’s Environmental Award for non-profits.
The award was recognition not just for our recycling program, but for twenty years of environmental stewardship—from our food forest and native grasslands restoration to our fire-smart forestry efforts and green construction practices. The council seemed genuinely amazed at the breadth of what we were doing.
I think what excites me most about the pursuit of zero-waste living is the interconnectedness. Everything is linked. What we grow, what we buy, what we throw away, what we teach—these are all threads in the same web. Sometimes, this interconnectivity can be stressful and lead to confusion, because it is not clear where to apply effort and move forward. Working in sustainability here at Clear Sky lets me channel the wisdom of the confused mind, and to live in that web of interconnectedness in a conscious, joyful way.
If I had one message for people reading this, it would be: celebrate your efforts, however small. And don’t stop there. Ask, “What’s next?” Invite curiosity, not guilt. Invite connection, not overwhelm. The planet needs your attention, yes—but more than anything, it needs your love.
And that, to me, is where sustainability begins.
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Love the connection between a green, sustainable environment with sustainable, healthy mental wellbeing . Thank you for the blog Dave. 💐💕