Franke James: Toronto's Great Green Driveway Pioneer

Bothered By My Green Conscience Book Launch at ROOTS Flagship

alt Do you feel guilty if you throw paper in the trash instead of recycling it? Do you turn off lights to save energy? Do you sometimes feel guilty for driving a gas guzzler?

If you answered “yes” to any of the above questions, you possess a “green conscience.” That’s according to Toronto-based artist and author Franke (pronounced Frank-ee) James, who says you may even find that your green conscience nags at you daily. Franke’s new illustrated book “Bothered by my Green Conscience – how an SUV-driving, imported-strawberry-eating urban dweller can “go green” offers inspiration and insight to any woman who is environmentally aware but not sure what to do next.

(Photo: Author and artist Franke James stands in front of framed pages of the illustrations featured in her new book "Bothered By My Green Conscience" at the Roots store on Bloor Street in Toronto)

It goes beyond changing a lightbulb, says Franke. In a non-preachy and humourous fashion, Franke’s book explains how she made big decisions that were suitable to her lifestyle and in turn significantly reduced her personal contribution to environmental waste and damage.

Franke’s advice: “do the hardest thing first.”

In one of five colourful and pictorial essays (distinct images that remind me of another pictorial artist and author, SARK www.sark.com), Franke documents her first big decision: to sell the family’s SUV. Franke admits she was scared by the idea at first, but the choice was made easier with her grown children out of the house and no longer needing her to drive them around town. She also says her home’s location makes it easy to do most of her errands by foot.

Franke’s next big decision was to transform the family’s asphalt driveway into an asphalt-free, foliage-covered driveway made with Permaturf lawn panels – interlocking recycled plastic cells filled with grass seed and sand/loam mix. The eco-friendly driveway cut down the property’s stormwater runoff and therefore reduced her family’s contribution to lake pollution. The project was not only a physical challenge for her and her husband - it was also a political challenge. An outdated bylaw initially prevented the project from starting. You can find out how Franke became North York’s pioneer in green driveway creation – and the steps to create your own – by visiting Franke’s website: (http://www.frankejames.com).

alt I think all Canadians have a green conscience. Our society's environmental oblivion balloon was pierced years ago when acid rain reports dominated news broadcasts, when recycling bins were introduced to neighbourhoods and when the “Three R’s” became a commonly understood phrase. So the awareness is here. It’s now the action part. As educated mothers, sisters, friends, partners, wives… what can we do with this knowledge?

(Image: The book is filled with illustrations such as this one, which document Franke James' eco-conscious lifestyle choices and changes)

Franke’s main message: think creatively about how you can go green. Make it a family affair. Analyze your lifestyle choices and then decide which aspects of your life can you alter. Be proud of your choices, and imagine bragging to your grandkids in 2020 that THIS is what you did to nurture the environment. Think beyond lightbulbs - that may be the scariest part, but it may also be the most fun.

Want to meet Franke and grab a copy of her book? She will be signing books at the launch of “Bothered By My Green Conscience” at the Roots store on 100 Bloor Street West, Toronto, on July 18th from 3pm to 4pm.

By Tania Leah Haas

Tania Leah Haas
		About the author:
		Born with a nomadic gene and a propensity for talking to strangers, Tania has spent the last three years working as a photojournalist and reporter. Most recently, Tania worked as a writer for Bloomberg Radio in NYC - and covered financial news in the eye of the economic storm. Tania's column will cover health, green-living and other topics that tickle her fancy. She served as a volunteer teacher in Nepal and Tibet after completing her undergraduate degree at Queen's University, and she earned an M.S. from Columbia University's Graduate School of Journalism.
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