Whole Life Magazine

April / May 2016

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30 wholelifetimes.com ing on. "Some of our activities result in giving back to local communities," says Heather Pelletier, director of marketing and sales. Conference attendees o en build mud pie kitchens or play structures for daycare centers. "People don't need building skills," says Pelletier. "We creat- ed a format where it's kind of like putting together Ikea furniture. ey follow the diagrams and end up totally surprising themselves by becoming carpenters and building this kitchen." Engagement Unlimited has already shipped 25 play structures to cash-strapped area daycare centers. "A large majority of daycares in East Vancouver now have mud pie kitchens," Pel- letier says. Conference participants enjoy this un- usual way of networking. "And people feel so good for giving back." Most people interested in sustainable living al- ready value supporting small farmers and small businesspeople. Social enterprise is a way to take spending choices deeper, and help those who are harder to reach with travel dollars. And Pelletier is right—it feels so good giving back. right—it feels so good giving back. THE WEST COAST GREEN HIGHWAY Vancouver is a quick plane hop from L.A., but the West Coast Green Highway, also called the Electric Vehicle (EV) Highway, allows you to drive your EV of choice (there are now 33 to choose from, ranging in price from about $8,000 to $135,000) all the way up the west coast . Fast charging stations (20 to 30 minutes for an 80 percent charge) are especially concentrated in Washington and Oregon, where they're spaced every 25 to 50 miles along I-5. Charging stations are usually situated within a mile of exits. Fees may be pay-per-use or by subscription. To ensure your battery never wears down, visit westcoastgreenhighway.com. e route-planning tool lets you plug in your origin, destination and type of alternative fuel: biodiesel, compressed natural gas, electric, ethanol, hydrogen, LNG or propane. For example, route yourself from L.A. to Vancouver in an electric car and it displays 846 electric stations along the way. Photo: courtesy YWCA Hotel Vancouver

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