EcoSask News, February 25, 2020

Upcoming Events
Wildlife Health Co-operative, Feb. 28 (Saskatoon)
Find out about the work of the Canadian Wildlife Health Co-operative at 3:30 pm, Feb. 28, at the U of S.

Cougars, Feb. 29 (Fort Qu’Appelle)
Tanya Lawson will discuss Saskatchewan cougars at the 7 pm, Feb. 29, meeting of the Fort Qu’Appelle Nature Society.

100% Renewable, Feb. 29 (Regina)
Collectively imagine your community’s future at the 100% Renewable Regina Forum, to be held from 1-4:30 pm, Feb. 29. Register youth participants for facilitated groups for 6-10 and 11-15 year olds.

Public Pastures AGM, Feb. 29 (Regina)
Public Pastures – Public Interest will host its annual meeting from 1-5 pm, Feb. 29.

Greater Sage-Grouse, Mar. 4 (McCord)
Maggi Sliwinski, Grasslands National Park, will discuss greater sage-grouse at 7 pm, Mar. 4, in McCord.

Resilient Land & Water, Mar. 4 (Regina)
There will be a forum exploring the impacts and relationships between weather and climate variations from 5:30-7:30 pm, March 4.

Losing Faith in Science, Mar. 4 (Saskatoon)
Peggy Schmeiser will discuss how beliefs and uncertainty impact the use of evidence in decision-making from 12-1 pm, Mar. 4, at the U of S.

Water Conservation, Mar. 4 (Saskatoon) 
Darin Qualman will discuss the City of Saskatoon’s water conservation strategy at the Mar. 4 breakfast meeting of the Saskatchewan Energy Management Task Force.

Looking Ahead
SaskOutdoors AGM, Mar. 14 (Redberry Lake)
SaskOutdoors is holding its annual general meeting including outdoor family play time from 10 am-3 pm, Mar. 14.

Youth Songwriting for Nature, May 28-31 (Last Mountain Lake)
Grade 9-12 students who love nature and music are invited to sign up for Songwriting for Nature, May 28-31. Register early as the camp will probably fill up quickly.

Invasive Species Workshop, Mar. 24 (Saskatoon)
The Saskatchewan Invasive Species Council is hosting a Mar. 24 workshop to discuss invasive insects, animals, and plants.

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

Saskatchewan News Stories
The U of S and the City of Saskatoon are collaborating on a number of research projects, including one measuring pharmaceuticals in wastewater.

A Grasslands National Park bat inventory has confirmed the presence of seven bat species, four of which breed in the park.

The City of Saskatoon has undertaken a comprehensive review and redesign of its Official Community Plan.

From Information to Action
Living less than 50 metres from a major road or less than 150 metres from a highway is associated with a 14% increased risk for non-Alzheimer’s dementia and a 7% increased risk for Parkinson’s disease.

What if we as a society “prioritized care over consumption, repair over disposal, experience over efficiency?”

Four steps to help parents raise climate-resilient kids.

Time to Act: A Resource Book from the Christians in Extinction Rebellion reflects on Christian traditions of direct action and its relevance to the climate crisis.

Extinction Rebellion UK’s 2020 strategy pivots from protest to collaboration and building the alternative.

Good News Stories
A new Indigenous Guardians program will monitor six at-risk caribou herds in BC leading to the eventual creation of a new provincial park.

Cleaner engines and minor changes to the flight paths of just a few airplanes could cut the climate impact of flying immediately.

Dozens of public libraries have incorporated Libraries of Things, which “reduce the environmental impact of manufacturing and transporting underused goods” into their catalogues.

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).

EcoSask News, February 18, 2020

Upcoming Events
Permaculture AGM, Feb. 22 (Regina)
Permaculture Regina is holding its annual general meeting from 1-3 pm, Feb. 22.

Winter Fun Day, Feb. 23 (Elbow) 
Enjoy snowshoe treks and sleigh rides at Douglas Provincial Park from 1-4 pm, Feb. 23.

EnviroCollective, Feb. 24 (Regina)
There will be a presentation on RCE Saskatchewan at the 7-9 pm, Feb. 24, meeting of EnviroCollective.

Cultures of Sustainability, Feb. 25 (Regina)
There will be a talk on fostering cultures of sustainability at noon, Feb. 25, at Innovation Place Regina.

Learn to Camp, Feb. 25 (Saskatoon)
Parks Canada will provide an introduction to basic camping skills from 6:30-8:30 pm, Feb. 25.

Sharing Circle on EcoDistress, Feb. 26 (North Battleford)
Battlefords Climate Action is hosting a sharing circle on eco distress, eco anxiety, and eco grief from 6-8 pm, Feb. 26.

The Plastics Puzzle, Feb. 26 (Saskatoon)
The College of Engineering, U of S, is hosting a conversation about the plastics challenge, the impact on the environment, and where we go from here from 4:30-6 pm, Feb. 26.

Freeway Update, Feb. 26 (Saskatoon)
Learn about updates to the Saskatoon Freeway plan from 4-8 pm, Feb. 26.

Renewable City, Feb. 27 (Regina)
Emily Eaton will discuss how Regina’s renewable city motion can benefit diverse communities from 7-9 pm, Feb. 27.

Beginner Bird Id, Feb. 28 (Lloydminster)
The Saskatchewan Breeding Bird Atlas is offering a beginner bird Id workshop in Lloydminster from 7-9 pm, Feb. 28.

Alternative Grazing, Feb. 28 (webinar)
There will be a webinar on how alternative grazing practices affect the diversity and abundance of grassland birds at noon, Feb. 28.

Looking Ahead
Compost Matters, Mar. 12 & 13 (Saskatoon)
A compost facility operator workshop hosted by the Saskatchewan Waste Reduction Council on Mar. 12 is a useful overview for those currently managing or interested in managing organics recycling facilities.

A 3-hour intensive workshop on Mar. 13 will uncover the fundamentals of soil productivity, covering soil structure, compost, and climate change.

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

In the News
A new company with Saskatoon links aims to replace plastic with natural materials that will quickly decompose in a backyard compost. Cogomelo’s “products are made from mycelium-based composites, where we use a substrate – in our case, agricultural waste – that is partially replaced as the fungal biomass grows and consumes it.” Their first product is a lint roller. You can help by participating in the company’s crowdfunding campaign.

Light pollution from oil and gas production, warehouse hubs, and greenhouses is threatening the rural night sky.

Hunters exert a disproportionate influence on wildlife management policy, especially when “more than a third of all Americans now participate in activities like bird watching, wildlife photography, or visiting parks for the purpose of observing animals.”

Ontario Nature’s Best Practices Guide to Natural Heritage Systems Planning is designed to assist with policy development as municipalities review and update their official community plans. While based on Ontario best practices, the principles can be applied universally.

The Delta Naturalists’ Society motivated their municipality to develop a birds and biodiversity conservation strategy and continue to work with the municipality on implementation.

Port O’Bristol’s organic, biodynamic wine is produced in Portugal. The wine barrels are shipped to the UK on sail-driven cargo ships where the wine is bottled in reclaimed bottles. Waste cooking oil fuels the delivery vehicles and the company uses and buys no plastic.

A bibliography of articles about “trash animals” (gulls, pigeons, rats).

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).

EcoSask News, February 11, 2020

Upcoming Events
Repair Café, Feb. 15 (Prince Albert)
Celebrate and share maintenance and repair skills from 1-4 pm, Jan. 18, at Repair Café Prince Albert.

Cold Blooded, Feb. 15 (Saskatoon)
Find out more about our cold-blooded neighbours on a nature walk offered by Lichen Nature from 1-3:30 pm, Feb. 15.

Saskatchewan’s Largest Snake, Feb. 17 (Regina) 
Find out about bull snakes at the 7:30 pm, Feb. 17, meeting of Nature Regina.

Grassland Restoration, Feb. 18 (Prince Albert) 
Join Nature Prince Albert for a talk on grassland restoration from 7-9 pm, Feb. 18.

Accelerating Adoption of Solar Power, Feb. 18 (Saskatoon) 
Peter Prebble and Michael Nemeth, SES Solar Co-op, will talk about the lessons learned from numerous solar installations and how adoption of solar power in the Saskatoon region can be accelerated at 7 pm, Feb. 18.

What People Believe, Feb. 19 (Regina) 
Gordon Pennycook will discuss why people believe what they believe about climate change from 7-9 pm, Feb. 19.

SK Conservation 101, Feb. 20 (Moose Jaw)
Find out what a day in the life of a Saskatchewan Conservation Officer entails at 2:30 pm, Feb. 20.

Breeding Bird Atlas, Feb. 20 (Saskatoon) 
Birds Canada staff will review the first 3 years of the SK Breeding Bird Atlas at the 7:30 pm, Feb. 20, meeting of the Saskatoon Nature Society.

Looking Ahead
Winterful Adventures for Little Learners, Feb. 29 (Saskatoon) 
Join SaskOutdoors at 1 pm, Feb. 29, for a workshop on overcoming barriers to winter outdoor activities for young children.

Project Wild/Below Zero, Mar. 7 (Saskatoon) 
SaskOutdoors is offering a Project Wild/Below Zero workshop from 9:30 am-4 pm, Mar. 7, in Saskatoon.

Wilderness Safety & Survival, Mar. 7-8 (Moose Mountain) 
The Saskatchewan chapter of The Wildlife Society is helping to coordinate a wilderness safety and survival training course in Moose Mountain Provincial Park Mar. 7-8.

Compost Coach Training, Mar. 7 & 8 (Saskatoon) 
Compost coach training is a free, 2-day workshop on Mar. 7 & 8 to learn all about composting and join Saskatoon’s team of volunteer compost coaches.

Projet Wet, Mar. 14 (Regina)
SaskOutdoors offre un atelier sur Projet Wet en français de 13 à 16 heures, le 14 mars, à Régina.

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

Saskatchewan News
Saskatoon’s Green Infrastructure Strategy, outlining 15 actions that are intended to provide a sustainable habitat for people and nature, was presented to the Standing Policy Committee on Environment, Utilities and Corporate Services on Feb. 10. The Committee’s agenda package includes an executive summary of the strategy, a presentation from the Meewasin Valley Authority, as well as letters of support from Friends of the Saskatoon Afforestation Areas, Joanne Blythe, and Branimir Gjetvaj.

The City of Saskatoon will be testing an electric bus as part of its public transit fleet.

Government of Saskatchewan will consider investing in pipeline projects: “The reality is that unless governments are involved in energy infrastructure projects, they’re not going to get built.”

That’s Interesting!
Bristol, UK, has declared an ecological emergency over loss of wildlife. The mayor says, “It is not too late to start the recovery of our wildlife. We must work together to grasp this last chance and put things right for nature and wildlife in our city.”

Can we have prosperity without growth? “Reversing consumerism’s financial and cultural dominance in public and private life is set to be one of the twenty-first century’s most gripping psychological dramas.”

Climate change, pollution, and urbanization threaten water in Canada.

“A carbon-offset project developed specifically to fund the protection of the Great Bear Rainforest is struggling to find buyers.”

Wasps are fascinatingly complex. [comic]

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).

Seedy Saskatchewan 2020

It’s never too soon to start planning ahead for spring planting. Below are upcoming Seedy Saturday and Sunday events across Saskatchewan as well as a list of organizations hosting plant-related events. Do let us know if we have missed any events or organizations.

Seedy Saturday/Sunday
Yorkton, February 22 
Yorkton Seedy Saturday will be held from 11 am-4 pm, Feb. 22, at 345 Broadway Street. Buy or swap seeds, chat with local vendors, and more.

Prince Albert, February 23 
Prince Albert Seedy Sunday will be held from 1-5 pm, Feb. 23, at the John M. Cuelenaere Library

Regina, March 7
The theme for Regina’s Seedy Saturday on March 7 from 10 am-3 pm at St. Paul’s Anglican Church is Sustainability in the Home, Garden, and Yard and will include a garden tool exchange.

Moose Jaw, March 8 
Moose Jaw Seedy Sunday will be held from 10 am-2 pm, Mar. 8, at the Moose Jaw Public Library.

Saskatoon, March 14
Celebrate Seedy Saturday seed exchange and eco-fair from 10 am-3 pm, Mar. 14, at Station 20 West.

Indian Head, March 15 
Indian Head Seedy Sunday will be held from 1-4 pm, Mar. 15, at the Heritage Club (505 Otterloo Street).

Battlefords, March 28
Battlefords Seedy Saturday will be held from 12-4 pm, Mar. 23, in the Don Ross Centre Craft Room.

Meadow Lake, March 29
Meadow Lake Seedy Sunday will be held from 12-4 pm, Mar. 29, at the Meadow Lake Senior Citizens Activity Centre. This year’s theme is Grow Your Own with seminars starting at 1 pm on topics such as starting your own bedding plants, garden planning, and crop rotation.

For information about Seedy Saturday events across Canada, check the Seeds of Diversity website or Prairie Garden Seeds.

Green Thumb Organizations
Blazing Star Wildflower Seed Company 
Blazing Star Wildflower Seed Company supplies native wildflower and heirloom vegetable seeds and plants for gardens and restoration projects.

Compost Coach Training (Saskatoon) 
The Saskatchewan Waste Reduction Council offers a two-day training in late February/early March for individuals interested in joining Saskatoon’s team of compost coaches. Email compost@swrc.ca for more details.

Edible Landscapes Permaculture Design and Consulting (Regina) 
Edible Landscapes is offering a course on edible and medicinal plants from July 17-19. The registration deadline is June 15.

Horticultural Societies (Regina, Saskatoon) 
The Regina Horticultural Society holds monthly educational events.
The Saskatoon Horticultural Society offers a quarterly newsletter as well as various events.

Lichen Nature (Saskatoon) 
Lichen Nature offers ecological garden services as well as ecological literacy walks and workshops.

Native Plant Society of Saskatchewan 
The Native Plant Society of Saskatchewan offers workshops, tours, conferences, and other learning events throughout the year as well as a wide variety of educational resources.

Permaculture (Prince Albert, Regina, Saskatoon) 
Join your local permaculture association:
     Prince Albert Parkland Permaculture Guild
     Permaculture Regina
     Permaculture Research Institute of Saskatchewan (Saskatoon)

Prairie Habitat Garden (Saskatoon) 
The Prairie Habitat Garden is located beside the College of Education, University of Saskatchewan.

Prairie Garden Seeds 
Prairie Garden Seeds has been encouraging home gardening and seed saving since 1986.

Seed Libraries (Prince Albert, Saskatoon) 
Seed libraries provide free access to viable native open-pollinated seeds.
     Prince Albert Seed Library
     Saskatoon Seed Library

The Garden Patch (Saskatoon) 
The Saskatoon Food Bank and Learning Centre’s Garden Patch offers a wide variety of workshops throughout the gardening season. Check their Facebook page for details.

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

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

EcoSask News, February 4, 2020

Upcoming Events
Sask Snakes, Feb. 8 (Regina) 
Learn about and handle snakes with the Wildlife Rehabilitation Society of Saskatchewan from 2:30-4 pm, Feb. 8, at the Prince of Wales Branch Library.

Green Labs, Feb. 11 (Saskatoon) 
Learn more about Work Green Labs from 3-4:15 pm, Feb. 11, at the U of S.

Climate Change, Feb. 13 (Regina) 
Margot Hurlbert will present recent findings of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and discuss climate change scenarios and pathways into the future from 7-9 pm, Feb. 13, in Regina.

Candlelit Ski, Feb. 14 (Moose Mountain) 
Enjoy cross-country skiing and snowshoeing at Moose Mountain Provincial Park from 7-9 pm, Feb. 1.

Looking Ahead 
Duck Mountain Loppet, Feb. 29 (Kamsack) 
Participate in the 40th annual Duck Mountain cross-country ski loppet from 8:30 am-6 pm, Feb. 29.

Intermediate Bird Id, Feb. 29/Mar. 7 (Battlefords) 
The Saskatchewan Breeding Bird Atlas is offering a two-part intermediate bird Id workshop from 10 am-3 pm, Feb. 29 and Mar. 7 in the Battlefords.

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

SK News 
The City of Regina is defending its decision to hire a well-known climate change denier to speak at its upcoming sustainability conference. Many local residents disagree and believe the conference needs to be reimagined.

The City of Prince Albert, however, is leading the way as the first city in Saskatchewan to ban plastic check out bags.

Ideas & Resources
“I want to live in a world where we are conscious of the environmental impact of what we design, build and consume, where we make things that last, fix them when they break, and design them to be modularly upgraded, where we empower people to explore how their devices work, identify weaknesses, and develop ways to improve them, where access to information encourages dialogue so that innovations come from every corner of our society.”

“When local people take control of their own energy, emissions go down and opportunities go up. . . . It’s time to get to work rewiring our communities so we can free ourselves from fossil fuels and strengthen our communities for what’s to come.”

Tipping points: six systems where a small change could make a big difference in addressing the climate crisis.

"Though studies show that over their lifetime EVs produce fewer emissions than gas guzzlers, EVs generate considerably more CO2 than a gas car on the assembly line, making renewably sourced energy a key factor for an EV to break even with a gas car.

Now that’s interesting!
The default condition in plants is immortality.

In an effort to cut vehicle emissions and boost public transportation, Austria’s capital will reward car-free travel with free access to museums and concerts.

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).