Tuesday 31 May 2016

EcoSask News, May 31, 2016

Mallard male

Upcoming Events
Book Launch, June 2 (Saskatoon)
Robin & Arlene Karpan will be launching their latest publication, Photographer's Guide to Saskatchewan, at 8 pm, June 2, at McNally Robinson Booksellers.

NE Swale Art Project, June 5 & 12 (Saskatoon)
Join Finding City Community Arts Inc. for a two-day participatory art project in Saskatoon’s Northeast Swale. June 5 will be spent collecting materials and taking photographs at the Swale. On June 12, participants will learn how to make relief prints using the materials they’ve collected.

Rain Barrel Workshop, June 8 (Saskatoon)
Shannon Dyck, City of Saskatoon, will show you how to make your own low-cost rain barrel at 6 pm, June 8, at the Garden Patch. You’ll have soft water for your plants, save money, and protect the river.

Victory Gardens for Bees, June 8 (Saskatoon)
Lori Weidenhammer, author of Victory Gardens for Bees: A DIY Guide to Saving the Bees will highlight key plants and community projects that can help save our ailing bees from 7-9 pm, June 8, at the Frances Morrison Library.

Mallard duck

Piping Plover Census, June 10 & 11 (SK)
Help the Nature Conservancy of Canada conduct a piping plover census at Mather Lake on June 10 and at Shoe Lake on June 11.

Urban Beekeeping, June 11 (Saskatoon)
Learn how to keep bees in an urban setting at a one-day workshop with Barry Brown on June 11.

Saskatchewan Solar Tour, June 18 (Regina)
The 7th annual Saskatchewan Solar Tour is on Saturday, June 18. They’ll be touring sites in and around Regina, including micro and macro wind generators, passive photovoltaic tracker, solar thermal/geothermal hybrid, and multi dwelling solar thermal.

Urban Canoe Camping for Beginners, June/Jul/Aug (Saskatoon)
CanoeSki Discovery offers an urban canoe camping program close to Saskatoon providing beginners with instruction on managing a self-supported, wilderness-style canoe trip close to home. Dates are June 18-19, July 30-31, Aug 27-28.

A full list of upcoming events can be found on the EcoFriendly Sask Calendar

Did You Know?
Saskatoon Pride Festival is going GREEN! There will be water bottle refill and waste recycling stations and all power will be supplied by Bullfrog Power/Biofuel. They're banning individual-serve condiments and styrofoam containers and reducing printing.

You can help by volunteering at a recycling station.

Saskatoon Cycles’ Bike Valet will be set up on June 10 & 11 for the community fair, parade, and mainstage entertainment (supported by a $550 EcoFriendly Action Grant).

CFCR Radio is looking for hosts for an environmental program. For more information, contact Jay Allan, Program Director, CFCR 90.5 FM.

Meewasin Valley Authority is planning upgrades to the trails from River Landing to the Weir. They will be starting with the heavily used section from the Mendel Art Gallery to the Weir. The Concept Plan and comments form are available online.

EcoSask News is a weekly round-up of local news and events. Email us if you have items you would like us to include. 

You can follow EcoFriendly Sask by liking us on Facebook, following us on Twitter, or by email (top right corner).

Tuesday 24 May 2016

EcoSask News, May 24, 2016

Canada geese and goslings

Upcoming Events
Climate Justice Primer, May 25 (Saskatoon)
Climate Justice Saskatoon is hosting a primer discussion before Saskatoon's Climate Change Town Hall Wednesday, May 25th, from 6:20-7:30pm. This is an opportunity to learn more about the People’s Climate Plan and get comfortable before the official Town Hall meeting. 

Perma Potluck Goes Wild, May 28 (Saskatoon)
As part of the Wild About Saskatoon NatureCity Festival, PermaSask is hosting its May 28 monthly gathering in the backyard of one of its 2015 permablitz hosts.

Energy Efficiency at Retail Co-ops, June 1 (Saskatoon)
Terry Nelson, Saskatoon Co-op, will discuss energy-efficiency initiatives at retail co-operatives in Western Canada at the June 1 breakfast meeting of the SK Energy Management Task Force.
See also: Federated Co-operatives Limited: Sustainable Business Practices

Alberta Saskatchewan Renewable Energy Finance Summit, June 2-3 (Calgary)
The two-day Renewable Energy Finance Summit will discuss realizing renewable energy project success under the Alberta and Saskatchewan competitive bids.

Grasslands National Park Volunteer Event, June 2-5 (Val Marie)
Help species at risk such as the Greater Sage-Grouse at Grasslands National Park’s volunteer event, June 2-5.

Petroglyph and Butterfly Habitat Tours, June 3-4 (St. Victor)
The Friends of St. Victor Petroglyphs are offering tours of the petroglyphs and Butterfly Habitat on June 3 and 4.

Canada geese goslings

Saskatoon Nature Society Field Trips
Golden Eagles 
June 3-5 – Shorebirds, Shorebirds, Shorebirds
June 9, 7:30 am – ‘Mara’, Eagle Creek Acreage
Retirees and partners who are interested in birds and the natural world are invited to participate in Golden Eagle field trips.

A full list of upcoming events can be found on the EcoFriendly Sask Calendar 

Photographer’s Guide to Saskatchewan
Robin and Arlene Karpan have just released their latest book, Photographer’s Guide To Saskatchewan. It includes the couple’s favourite photogenic haunts throughout the province as well as how-to details and 250 images.


Saskatchewan Snakes
Snakes Alive: Snakes of Saskatchewan is the latest exhibit at the Royal Saskatchewan Museum. Stephen Whitworth, Prairie Dog magazine, says:

“It promises to be an amazing exhibit, with interactive stations and informational displays. Poulin [Ray Poulin, the museum’s curator of zoology] sees it as a chance to get away from the sensationalism and macho posturing that often surrounds these reptiles. Instead of circus-sideshow shenanigans, museum visitors will learn about these misunderstood creatures through captive specimens and close-up photography that reveals an under-appreciated beauty.”

Urban Wonders
Meewasin Resource Management staff have discovered a Sharp-tailed Grouse lek on the Northeast Swale. A lek is the species’ ritual mating dancing grounds. The males dance in the centre of the lek while the females watch from the outside. The males puff out their tails, open their wings, and stomp the ground to attract the females: it’s an impressive sight. Meewasin staff have counted up to 26 males on the lek and a total of 40 birds in the area.

Here’s a video taken at the lek from a remote camera purchased by private donations from members of the Northeast Swale Watchers.

Sharp-tailed Grouse are an endangered species in Canada. Let’s hope that Meewasin Valley Authority and the City of Saskatoon  do all in their power to protect the birds and their lek from encroaching urban development.

EcoSask News is a weekly round-up of local news and events. Email us if you have items you would like us to include. 

You can follow EcoFriendly Sask by liking us on Facebook, following us on Twitter, or by email (top right corner).

Thursday 19 May 2016

Go Wild! NatureCity Festival 2016


It’s time to get wild! Saskatoon’s fourth annual NatureCity Festival runs from May 24 to 29 and there are over 50 activities to choose from. Here’s just a sampling of the fun to be had.

Explorers & Adventurers 
May 25 & 27 @ 7 pm, May 28 @ 10 am – Discover Montgomery Place’s forest, the Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area.

May 28 @ 1-2 pm – Do your kids know how to avoid getting lost in the woods? Saskatoon Search and Rescue will teach kids K-5 how to Hug-a-Tree and Survive. (A similar program is being offered on May 25 @ 7-8 pm.)

May 29 @ 9:30-11:30 am – Off limits! But not today. Take a walk among the wildflowers on the Kernen Prairie.

Starry Skies 
May 25 @ 7:30-8:30 pm – Join Elder Wilfred Buck, Manitoba First Nations, and gain a new appreciation for the energy ablaze in the night sky.

May 25 @ 9-11 pm – Gaze at the night sky through one of 7 telescopes provided by members of the Royal Astronomical Society.

May 25 @ 9-10:30 pm – Listen for the calls of the night birds at the Northeast Swale.

Creepy Crawlies 
May 25 @ 5:30-6:30 pm – Jeff Boone, City of Saskatoon entomologist, will help you identify the insects, birds, and mammals that may be living in your backyard.

May 28 @ 10 am – 2 pm – Meet Charlotte and Wiggles, two Saskatchewan snakes. They’re feeling misunderstood and need a little love.


Talk to the Trees 
May 26 @ 11 am – 12 pm – Take a walk among the trees on the U of S campus

May 27 @ 10-11:30 am and @ 1-3 pm – Alerces Spanish Preschool & Kindergarten invites you to look at the bushes with children’s eyes.

Green Thumbs & Dirty Fingernails 
May 26 @ 7-9 pm – Families with children are invited to plant their own flower – and maybe find out about bugs!

May 27 @ 6:30-8 pm – Turn compost into squash by building a squash grow pile at the Saskatoon Food Bank’s Garden Patch.

May 28 @ 1-4 pm – Take a herbal medicine plant walk at Wanuskewin.

Playgrounds, Bicycles & Beer 
May 25 @ 7 pm - Join Renny Grilz at Winston’s Pub for A Weed Warrior’s Rant: What May Be Your Pretty Backyard Plant May Be Someone Else’s Nightmare.

May 26 @ 10 am – 12 pm – Explore Saskatoon nature from the seat of a bicycle.

May 27 @ 5:30 pm – Raise a pint of beer at the Woods Alehouse with Green Drinks Saskatoon.

May 28 @ 2-7 pm, May 29 @ 10:30 am – 4:30 pm – Make your own fun at a loose parts pop-up playground organized by the Preston Early Learning Centre.

All NatureCity Festival events are listed on their website.

EcoFriendly Sask was pleased to support Wild About Saskatoon's 2016 NatureCity Festival with a $5,000 EcoFriendly Action Grant.



Tuesday 17 May 2016

EcoSask News, May 17, 2016

lilacs

Upcoming Events
Fair Trade: What’s In It For Me, May 19 (Saskatoon)
Enjoy a glass of fair trade wine and tasty local food while listening to presentations on fair trade from Sean McHugh (Canadian Fair Trade Network), George Fouffas (Consumer Services, U of S), and SCIC's Ethical Eats project at 7 pm, May 19, at The Stand.

NatureCity Festival, May 24-29 (Saskatoon)
Saskatoon’s fourth annual NatureCity Festival begins next week. Be sure to take a look at their calendar of events. There truly is something for everyone. (EcoFriendly Sask supported the Festival with a $5,000 Action Grant.)

Planning a Native Plant Garden, May 24 (Regina)
Learn how to plan a native plant garden at 7 pm, May 24, with the author of Natural Urban Landscapes: A Guide to Growing Native Plants in Saskatchewan.

Compost Field Day, May 25 (Saskatoon)
The Saskatchewan Waste Reduction Council will host a compost field day in Saskatoon on May 25.

Saskatoon Climate Change Town Hall, May 25 (Saskatoon)
The Saskatoon West federal government riding is hosting a climate change town hall in Saskatoon at 7:30 pm, May 25. Everyone is invited to come and share their ideas to help the Government of Canada develop a plan to address climate change.

Sustainable Energy Options for Saskatchewan, May 27 (Saskatoon)
The School of Environment and Sustainability, U of S, is hosting a one-day discussion of sustainable electricity mixes and infrastructure in Saskatchewan on May 27.

Energy Drinks, May 27 (Saskatoon)
GRIDS is hosting Energy Drinks, a chance for folks in the renewable energy industry and young people interested in joining the sector to meet and connect, at 7 pm, May 27, at Alexander’s.

Wings Over Wascana, May 28 (Regina)
Wings Over Wascana Public Open Day on May 28 offers wetland and wildlife activities and guided hikes for all ages.

Native Pollinators, May 28 (Regina)
Join Danae Frier, Royal Saskatchewan Museum, for a discussion about native pollinators and why they’re important to the persistence of native prairie (Wings Over Wascana, SK PCAP).

flowering trees

Wilderness Map & Compass Course, May 29 (Saskatoon)
CanoeSki Discovery Company is offering a wilderness navigation by map and compass course on May 29 for outdoor leaders, field workers, and anyone venturing off the beaten path.

Zoo Volunteer Info Session, May 25 (Saskatoon)
Find out more about becoming a volunteer interpreter with the Saskatoon Zoo Society this summer at an orientation session at 6 pm, May 25. Register online.

Coyote Families & Co-Existence, May 26 (webinar)
Lesley Sampson, Coyote Watch Canada, will present a webinar on coyote families and co-existence on May 26.

Chaplin Shorebird Festival, June 3 & 4 (SK)
The Chaplin Shorebird Festival & Fundraiser, June 3-4, will include tours, auctions, and a Penny Parade.

Old Man on His Back Nocturnal Preserve, June 18 (SK)
There will be a public ceremony and viewing to recognize Old Man on His Back’s designation as a Nocturnal Preserve on June 18.

A full list of upcoming events can be found on the EcoFriendly Sask Calendar

News
10 lessons from one family’s year without a trash can

Climate change shouldn’t be a taboo topic, Jordon Cooper

The online Prairie Climate Atlas is designed to map climate changes (temperature, precipitation, growing season) on the Canadian Prairies

EcoSask News is a weekly round-up of local news and events. Email us if you have items you would like us to include. 

You can follow EcoFriendly Sask by liking us on Facebook, following us on Twitter, or by email (top right corner).

Friday 13 May 2016

Spring/Summer Outdoor Explorations in Saskatchewan

sun dappled path

Spring and summer are the perfect time to get outside and explore Saskatchewan.

We’ve put together a sampling of outdoor activities from around the province. From admiring the view from a lookout tower in Prince Albert National Park to looking for cacti, learning to paddleboard, or ensuring your kids will be safe on their next outdoor adventure – there’s something for everyone in our list of Spring/Summer Outdoor Explorations in Saskatchewan.

Spring/Summer Outdoor Explorations in Saskatchewan

See also: Winter Outdoor Explorations in Saskatchewan

Tuesday 10 May 2016

EcoSask News, May 10, 2016

American Robin

Upcoming Events
Green Drinks Saskatoon, May 13 (Saskatoon) 
Join Green Drinks Saskatoon at 5:30 pm, May 13, at the Saskatoon Brewery (NE corner of the building).

Household Hazardous Waste Day, May 14 (Saskatoon)
You can dispose of household hazardous waste (e.g. light bulbs, aerosols, fuels) at the SaskTel Centre from 9 am – 3:30 pm, May 14.

Wildlife Rehab. Volunteer Orientation, May 14 (Moosomin)
Wildlife Rehabilitation Society of Saskatchewan is holding a volunteer orientation session in Moosomin from 1-3 pm, May 14. More are being planned for other communities. Check the WRSOS website for information.

Newcomers Bird Day Celebration, May 14 (Regina)
Nature Saskatchewan and the Regina Open Door Society are holding a day-long Bird Day Celebration on May 14 at Last Mountain Lake. The event gives newcomers a chance to learn about Saskatchewan birds and participate in a variety of different activities.

Permaculture Book Club, May 15 & June 19 (Regina)
Regina’s Permaculture Book Club will be discussing The One Straw Revolution at their meetings from 1-3 pm, May 15 and June 19, at the Atlantis Coffee House.

Chaplin Lake Presentation, May 16 (Regina)
The annual general meeting of Nature Regina will include a talk about the Chaplin Lake Hemispheric Shorebird Reserve.

Renewable Energy Co-ops, May 17 (Saskatoon)
Roger Peters will discuss how community ownership has been a key factor in the success of renewable energy developments in several jurisdictions at 7 pm, May 17, as part of the Sustainable Speaker series at the Frances Morrison Library.

CANCELLED Bidder 70, May 18 (Regina)
Cinema Politica Regina will be showing the film Bidder 70, about climate activist Tim DeChristopher, at 7 pm, May 18, at the Artful Dodger.



Saskatoon Nature Viewing Sites, May 18 (Saskatoon)
There will be a book launch at 7 pm, May 18, at McNally Robinson Booksellers for the Saskatoon Nature Society’s updated edition of Nature Viewing Sites In and Around Saskatoon.

The Saskatoon Nature Society received a $1,000 EcoFriendly Action Grant to ensure that the publication was affordable.

Congratulations to the authors and editor: Donna Bruce, Joan Feather, and Anna Leighton.


Passive House & Net Zero Meetup, May 19 (Saskatoon)
Passive house and net zero builders and designers are invited to attend a meetup at 5 pm, May 19, at the Congress Beer House.

Grasslands Star Night, May 28 (Grasslands National Park)
The Royal Astronomical Society of Canada will be hosting a public star night in the East Block of Grasslands National Park on May 28.

A full list of upcoming events can be found on the EcoFriendly Sask Calendar 

Did You Know?
The Saskatchewan Waste Reduction Council is now offering a waste assessment service to help businesses divert waste from the landfill

Think twice about buying new, buying virgin, buying something you don't need

Beyond Recycling is a solutions-focused sustainability education program in southwest British Columbia

EcoSask News is a weekly round-up of local news and events. Email us if you have items you would like us to include. 

You can follow EcoFriendly Sask by liking us on Facebook, following us on Twitter, or by email (top right corner).

Tuesday 3 May 2016

EcoSask News, May 3, 2016

new leaves

Upcoming Events
Green Burials, May 5
There will be a presentation on the alternatives, ecological impact, and legalities of green burial on May 5 at The Stand (615 Main Street).

Canadian Burrowing Owls, May 12 (Val Marie)
Dr. Geoff Holroyd, retired from Environment Canada, will talk about Canadian burrowing owl, why they’re declining and what can be done at 7:30 pm, May 12, in Val Marie.

Last Mountain Bird Observatory, May 14
In honour of International Migratory Birds Day, Nature Saskatchewan is hosting an event at Last Mountain Bird Observatory from 10 am to 3 pm, May 14. There will be activities, geocaching, and a free barbecue lunch.

Great Canadian Birdathon, May 14 (Regina)
Nature Saskatchewan will be hosting the Great Canadian Birdathon on May 14, starting in Regina and ending at Last Mountain Bird Observatory.

Storytelling for Wildlife Rehab, May 14
Living Sky Wildlife Rehabilitation is hosting a fundraising dinner with Bonnie Logan, storyteller, on May 14.

Wildlife Rehab Volunteer Orientation, May 15
The Wildlife Rehabilitation Society of Saskatchewan is offering a volunteer orientation session on May 15 from 1-3 pm in Saskatoon. Additional sessions are being planned for other centres around the province; check the WRSOS website for additional information.


new leaves

Native Prairie Appreciation Week Tour, June 16-17
Blues, Bats, and Blue Gramma on June 16-17 will be part of this year’s Native Prairie Appreciation Week. The two-day event will include a kids’ discovery tour, plant ID training and quiz, and a local producer tour.

Nature Saskatchewan Spring Meet, June 17-19
Nature Saskatchewan will hold their Spring Meet in Wolseley, June 17-19.

Native Prairie Appreciation Spring Camp, June 17-19
SaskOutdoors is partnering with PCAP to offer a Spring Camp from June 17-19 following Native Prairie Appreciation Week.

Saskatoon Nature Society Field Trips
Young Naturalists
June 1-30 – Bluebird Trail
Aug. 12 – Grasslands Field Trip
Space is limited; register early to avoid disappointment.

Golden Eagles
May 5, 8 am – Northeast Swale
May 12, 7:30 am – Cranberry Flats & Beaver Creek
May 19, 8 am – Warblers at the Forestry Farm Park
May 26, 8:30 am – Innovation Place, Nature in the City
Retirees and partners who are interested in birds and the natural world are invited to participate in Golden Eagle field trips.

Other Saskatoon Nature Society Field Trips
May 19, 5-7 pm – Picnic at Gabriel Dumont Park
May 21, 9 am-3 pm – Perdue Area Shorebirds
May 22, 2-10 pm – Sparrow and Marsh Birds Field Trip
May 23, 9-11 am – Holiday Park Birding
May 28 – Spring Bird Count
May 29, 1:30-4:30 pm – Butterfly Field Trip
Check the Saskatoon Nature Society’s website for full details and updated information.

Nature Regina Field Trips
May 25, 6:30-8:30 pm – A E Wilson Park
Check Nature Regina’s website for full details and updated information.

A full list of upcoming events can be found on the EcoFriendly Sask Calendar

new leaves

News
Beaver dams can help remove up to 45 percent of harmful nitrogen from streams and creeks

When will the trucking industry electrify?

Walking - a chance to enjoy and be a part of nature

EcoSask News is a weekly round-up of local news and events. Email us if you have items you would like us to include. 

You can follow EcoFriendly Sask by liking us on Facebook, following us on Twitter, or by email (top right corner).