Hello – thanks for visiting!
I’m Hilary.
I’m a writer, cyclist, and explorer. I enjoy cooking, travelling to new places, and a variety of outdoor activities.
Hilary Makes started out as a food and DIY blog a few years back, and has since grown into something much more.
The most recent of my musings are related to something called planetary health. The term means a lot of things to a lot of different people, but basically it looks at how our health as humans is affected by all the stuff we’re doing to the Earth. Planetary health sees the Earth, and all the species that live and depend on it, as an interconnected system — something I’ve long valued, but never quite had the words to describe. I’m currently working for the Planetary Health Alliance in a dream job: producing a series of case studies about the worldwide solutions that are addressing what happens when we disrupt our planet’s natural systems. (Say what? More background information on this blog post.)
So welcome to the latest iteration of Hilary Makes: documenting future solutions for this beautiful, complex planet. And I’ll be sharing my own story along the way.
Want to talk? You can drop me a line at hilary.dot.duff@gmail.com.
Hilary Makes 
Yes, that Weber name is the same one that your room mate has. In fact, we are related.
You have an excellent blog Hilary. I am going to pimp it on my site for you.
Nice work.
Dave
Hi Dave, thanks for the plug on your blog, I love the title of the post! :) I just texted Alex about my appearance on her family blog…she seemed surprised!
Great blog!
Interested in doing a guest post on http://www.localtouristottawa.com?
Send us a note if you’d like to participate in our project. We’d love to have you.
Cheers,
Jessey
Hi Jessey,
I’d love to participate in your project, and I’m so glad you like my blog! Please feel free to email me at hilary.dot.duff@gmail.com with more details.
Thanks for the comment,
Hilary
Love your blog. My daughter is graduating this year from Carleton in Journalism.
Hi Helene – Thanks for the comment. What a small world, maybe I even know your daughter! I just checked out your blog as well, it’s great!
Hi, we looked at your picture and she said that she does not remember seeing you. We want to try your Spring Chicken Salad, it looks so yuummy!
just checking… by “instinctive kick when things are done in the oven”, do you mean, you pull them out every thirty seconds, so chances are, at one of the 30 second intervals, they will in fact be done? ;) Wuv you
Hardy, hardy har, everyone’s a comedian. So I get a tad jumpy when things are in the oven. You must admit, I developed quite the knack for conquering our deadly oven by the end – hopefully our FANTASTIC oven in THE GLORIOUS new home will be better. Positive: at least I’ve never been the cause of any stove fires.
I can totally make a veggie believer out of you my friend. Mmhmm. Love your blog! So cute :) I totally have vegan cafe envy when I look at your photos. Yum much?! I’m all about connecting with like-minded young people out on this big old web. I’m glad I stopped by!
Hi Kelsey, thanks for your comment. Hmm, me becoming a “veggie believer” might be a bit of a stretch, but at least I’m not a veggie hater anymore! Glad you like the blog – I’m going to go check out yours as soon as I post this comment. I hope you keep reading!
Hey Hilary,
Since I really like your blog, for all the beautiful things you showcase here, I’m so glad to nominate you for the Versatile Blogger Award
Please follow this Link:
http://modernalice.wordpress.com/2012/03/25/versatile-blogger-award/
Hi Sara,
My GOD, I am so honoured!!! Thank you so much! I am going to go comment on your actual blog post now :)
Thanks again for reading, it really means so, so, so much to me.
Thank you! You have such an unbelievable blog, and I so enjoy reading it:) You are an excellent writer and photographer too!
I’ve nominated you for the Versatile Blogger award. If you accept please click below. Congrats!!
http://findingannmacgregor.com/2012/06/22/may-we-have-the-envelope-please/
Nora, thank you so much! Your kind comments are so very appreciated :) Going to comment on that post now! (and to check out your sure-to-be-awesome blog)
You are going to find this hilarious.. So, I was on wordpress checking up what was ‘freshly pressed’ and came across this, and saw the name and the town and wondered if it might be the Hilary I took lifeguarding courses in Timmins with! Anyway, nice to see its you and glad you’re doing well!
-Steph Higgs
Hahaha, it is such a small world! I’m definitely going to check out your blog after this. I hope you’ve been well and I’m glad and we’ve been able to reconnect! Thanks for the comment!
Hey Hilary! I love your blog– you seem like such a creative person! I found you on freshly pressed- congrats on that!!
Kathryn, thank you so much! Being called creative is the absolute best compliment anyone can pay me, so I appreciate it! Bookmarking your blog for later, too. :)
Thanks so much Hilary, for your kind words! Looks like you’ve got a great blog here and I’m really looking forward to taking a closer look around.
Best-
~M
Hey,
Great blog! I’ve nominated you for the Liebster Blog Award!
The only requirements are:
1. posting a link to the nominator’s blog (http://theblend.tv)
2. answering the questions, nominating a few blogs for the award, and notifying your nominees with a comment.
*The questions are posted on my blog http://theblend.tv/2012/08/28/liebster-blog-award-nominee/
Best wishes & Continued Success!
Keyanna,
The Blend
Hi, having recentIy discovered your great blog, I have nominated you for a Family of Bloggers Award – you can check it out here: http://lovinghomemade.com/2012/10/24/family-of-bloggers-award/
Wow, nice blog. Almost like scanning through the pages of a home/cooking/lifestyle etc magazine. Love the pictures but your missing beer.lol
Haha, thanks so much! As for the beer – we’ll have to plan some sort of collaboration when you guys get up and running.
Hi Hilary,
I nominated you for the Versatile Blogger Award, I hope you will accept it!
See: http://inesepogagallery.com/2013/01/18/the-versatile-blogger-award/
Even though, everyone is busy and short of time, I think, it’s great to acknowledge other great bloggers and stay connected with them!
Hello Hilary! I’ve nominated you for a Super Sweet Blogger Award – you can find out more about it here: http://somanycraftssolittletime.com/2013/05/31/super-sweet-blogger-award/ There’s no obligation to accept, I just want you to know that I think your blog is great! Clare :-)
Love your blog! You are a very inspiring young woman :-) I’ve nominated you for the Shine On Award after checking out your posts. You’re awesome and deserve it.
Here’s the link to your nomination: http://lauralistardiaries.com/2013/06/17/shine-on-award/
I love the free-spirited attitude you embrace. I am looking forward to your adventures and musings. It’s great that you got a bucket list and from what I can tell I’m sure you will cross out each item on the list. Happy Blogging.
Hi Hilary! Just found your blog and love your writing! I love that you want to report from one or more of the Territories, I’m from the Northwest Territories and am a very proud northerner! If you’re ever up in Yellowknife, let me know, and if you’re looking for contacts in the media up there, I would be happy to help you out.
One of the (many) beautiful things about the north is that people can get extraordinary work experience in their chosen field for the simple reason that there aren’t all that many people applying for jobs.
Can’t wait to read more:)
I love your blog and the way you write. Wow ! it is superb.
Hi Hilary! I love your blog!! I wanted to let you know that I nominated you for the ‘Blog of the Year’ Award. Here’s the link if you are interesting in accepting it and passing it on: http://myyearofcupcakes.com/2013/12/14/blog-of-the-year-award/
I am a huge fan of your blog. So, I nominated you for the Dragon’s Loyalty Award. If you’re interested, check it out:
http://myyearofcupcakes.com/2014/01/11/dragons-loyalty-award/