A minimum of one percent of your time and your gross income is enough to make a difference between being just another consumer, and being a conserver.

Conservation is that little cost that means the difference between buying the cheapest and often the most disposable, energy-inefficient and toxic product, or buying the conservation alternative.  And it is a total of 3 days a year spent in conservation activities, or in that little extra effort it takes to think of the right thing to do when you are presented with a choice.

Let's say you make $50,000.

I want you to keep a mental budget of at least $500 in mind as the added cost you might pay to purchase the conservation alternative.  It may be $50 for ten compact fluorescent lightbulbs, $200 more a year for local or organic food, $100 for native species to create a more natural yard, $200 more for the more efficient and durable appliance, or $100 for organic cotton or hemp clothes. And when you are truly committed to conservation, you will be prepared to invest in increased home efficiency or in a hybrid engine for your next car (in which case you should start calculating the savings in gas and look at your contribution over the life of the car) -- assuming you've already looked into other transportation options.

And if conservation saves you money on your utility bill, your transportation costs, or your grocery bill, then consider reinvesting those savings in even more conservation activities.

What about Donations?
Frankly, the first priority is to invest in becoming a better conserver.

You could give me $50, and I would use it to design a campaign to get you to spend $50 on compact fluorescent lightbulbs.  Eliminate me as the middle-man, and we will both be happy.

That said, we desperately need and accept all donations.  With your help, we can help build the conservation movement in communities across Ontario and Canada.