Tuesday 1 May 2012

EcoSask News, May 1, 2012

Environmental news and events from Saskatoon and area - local food, community gardens, Hafford farmers’ market, birdwatching for beginners, Jane’s Walks, and more 


Urban Life
Varsity View Garden Work Bee, May 5 
One of Saskatoon’s newest community gardens hosts 60 gardening families as well as four educational groups. Varsity View is holding a work bee on May 5 from 9 am-3:30 pm. Come out and play in the dirt.

 Jane’s Walk Saskatoon, May 5 & 6 
 Don’t miss the opportunity to participate in Jane’s Walk Saskatoon on May 5 and 6. Cross the city by bicycle, talk to refugee and immigrant youth, explore the Trans Canada Trail, discuss what the future has in store for Broadway Avenue, and more.

Sustainability Success Stories, May 9 
Ewen Coxworth will share stories about how Walmart, Canadian Tire, and the Empire State Building have retrofitted their existing facilities or built new facilities to be energy and water efficient at 7 pm on Wednesday, May 9 at the Cliff Wright Library. (sponsored by the Saskatchewan Environmental Society and the Saskatoon Public Library)

Confederation Inn 
The Confederation Inn has been nominated for a Saskatoon Awards for Business Excellence (SABEX) in the Environmental Sustainability category. Hotel owner Brian Sawatzky has done much to reduce the hotel’s carbon footprint – from installing solar panels to recycling kitchen waste. The awards ceremony is May 17.

Birds & Wildlife
Saskatoon Nature Society Field Trips, May 1-15
The following outings are hosted by the Saskatoon Nature Society. Meeting locations and telephone contact information are available on their website.
MVA Trail Bird Walks, Sundays 
Beginner birdwatchers are invited to participate in a bird walk along the Meewasin trail every Sunday in May from 7-9:30 am.
Duck ID Field Trip, May 7
Beginner birdwatchers will appreciate the opportunity to identify ducks in breeding plumage on the ponds at the Northeast Swale on May 7 from 7-9 pm.
Early Migrant Drive About, May 12 
Bring a lunch and look for migrant birds in the countryside around Saskatoon from 8 am to 4:30 pm on May 12.
Butterflies 1, May 13 
Catch and release butterflies for a close view on May 13 from 1:30-4:30 pm. This trip may be cancelled if weather is poor. (665-6074)

Young Naturalists Owl Field Trip, May 11 
There are still a few spots open on the Young Naturalists Owl Field Trip on May 11. Call or email the Young Naturalists' program at 975-3042 or saskatoonnaturekids@gmail.com to register or for more information.

Native Prairie Speaker Series, May 12 
David Halstead will be talking about Dragonflies at 1 pm on May 12 in the SaskEnergy tent as part of Wings over Wascana, Regina.

Water 
Tools for Water Management, May 10 
The Lower Souris Watershed is offering a workshop on May 10 in Redvers on accessing new data sources for southeast Saskatchewan, including new software for managing vegetation data. Contact Sheldon Kyle at (306) 452-3292 or info@lowersourisriverwatershed.com for additional information.

Food 
Hafford Farmers’ Market 
The Redberry Lake Biosphere Reserve is organizing a weekly community farmers’ market at the Ukrainian National Hall in Hafford. It will be held one Saturday a month from 10 am to 5 pm (June 9, July 7, August 18, September 8, October 6).

Everybody is invited to participate with fresh garden produce, jams and preserves, eggs, honey, baked goods, or art. Contact Rachel to register (549-4060, rturnquist@redberrylake.ca).

Foodshed, May 3 & 10
If you’re interested in local food and the issues faced by farmers today, don’t miss the launch of dee Hobsbawn-Smith’s book, Foodshed: An Edible Alberta Alphabet.

dee Hobsbawn-Smith and Dave Margoshes will be reading from their newest books on Thursday, May 3 at 7:30 pm at Atlantis Coffee, Regina, and on Thursday, May 10 at 7:30 pm at McNally Robinson in Saskatoon.

Slow Food 
Penny McKinlay, EcoFriendly Sask’s writer/editor, will be attending the Slow Food Canada national meeting in Edmonton next week. Penny will be posting updates from the meeting on Wanderlust and Words’ Facebook page.

EcoSask News is a weekly round-up of local news and events. Email us if you have items you would like us to include. A complete listing of all upcoming events can be found on our Calendar.

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