It's Our Birthday! Let's Celebrate!

Take a Hike! 
Five years ago, Andrew McKinlay and his wife went on a long hike. Andrew wanted to do something to help the environment but wasn’t quite sure how he could best use his skills and talents. As he walked, he came up with an idea.

As an avid reader, writer, and photographer, as well as a software programmer, he felt that he could help by compiling and sharing information from all the different groups and individuals who were involved in local environmental issues. He enlisted his sister, Penny McKinlay, a writer and editor, to help.

By sharing information about everything from prairie birds and plants to renewable energy and passive housing, we hoped that we could inform and unite people who shared a common appreciation for our natural environment while still maintaining a very local focus.

A year later, EcoFriendly Sask went one step further and started offering small EcoFriendly Action Grants to support local projects that will improve the environment.

Evolution 
It’s been a learning experience as EcoFriendly Sask grew and evolved. Here are just a few numbers that help to tell the story:

10,000 tweets @EcoFriendlySask

650 likes on Facebook – we’d love to hit 1,000 – can you help?

400 articles posted on our website, including EcoSask News, which has been published every single week with very few exceptions.

We’ve also expanded our website to include lists of books about nature in Saskatchewan, environmental organizations, and summer and winter outdoor explorations. Our Calendar lists events around the province – everything from films and book launches to field trips and volunteer opportunities.

But the number that means the most to us is also the smallest. We’ve provided 103 EcoFriendly Action Grants to groups and individuals from La Ronge and Buffalo Narrows to Estevan and Moose Jaw. That money has been used to plant trees, support school trips and alternate forms of transportation, promote solar-powered carsharing, and so much more.

What’s Next? 
Andrew went on another long hike this spring and came back with another big idea. Penny is already hard at work!

Curious? If you or your organization has received an Action Grant, been profiled on our website, or is a friend of EcoFriendly Sask, please join us in Saskatoon on September 14 for the EcoFriendly Sask Happy Hour as we celebrate past accomplishments and look ahead to the future.

RSVP to ecofriendlysask@gmail.com by Sept. 9 so we can order sufficient food and beverages.

EcoSask News, August 6, 2013

Film Night, Aug. 7
Is there too much plastic in your life? Join the Saskatchewan Eco Network and Plastic Smart Saskatoon for a screening of the movie Bag It and a panel discussion on Wednesday, August 7, at 7 pm, at the Frances Morrison Library.

Volunteer at the Fringe, Aug. 5-10
We Are Many Saskatoon is looking for volunteers for their Hydration Station from August 5 to 10 at the Fringe Festival.

Young Naturalists’ Grasslands Hike, Aug. 23
Join Saskatoon’s Young Naturalists for a hike around the Northeast Swale on August 23. Registration is limited, so sign up early.

Upcoming trips for 5-11 year olds include a Sandhill Crane field trip on September 28, a Northern Saw-whet Owl trip on October 4, and a Whooping Crane field trip on October 5.

Nature Saskatchewan Fall Meet, Sept. 20-21
Nature Saskatchewan will be holding its Fall Meet on September 20 and 21 in Meadow Lake. The event is hosted by the Meadow Lake branch of the Junior Forest Wardens.

Sustainable Gourmet, Sept. 21
We’re looking forward to attending the Sustainable Gourmet dinner hosted by the Saskatchewan Environmental Society on September 21. Local food prepared by local chefs – delicious!

Next Up Saskatchewan
Applications are now being accepted for Next Up Saskatchewan, a leadership program for young people committed to social and environmental justice. The application deadline is September 13. Application forms and more information can be found at http://www.nextup.ca/how-to-apply/

Feral, George Monbiot
Have you read Feral by George Monbiot? What do you think of his statement on CBC's Sunday Edition: “One of our tendencies,” Monbiot told Sunday Edition guest host Laura Lynch, “is to try to manage and control and see ourselves as stewards of the land, and to take an Old Testament view of dominion that we’re responsible for all the animals and plants. Well, nature did pretty well for the three billion years before we turned up, and it could do pretty well again if we learned to interfere less.”

Interesting Reading
Photos of beautiful and amazing spiders

5 tips for a more sustainable home

15 seed saving initiatives around the globe

Rising temperatures signal a coming food crisis – Gary Nabhan suggests solutions

Biofuel expansion in the US Midwest is destroying wildlife habitat

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

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

EcoSask News, July 30, 2013

Butterflies, Shorebirds & Wildflowers
Join the Saskatoon Nature Society on their frequent field trips. Additional information is available on their website.
August 4 – Butterflies IV
August 5 – Lucky Lake Shorebirding (bring a lunch and rubber boots)
August 10 – Cranberry Flat Wildflowers

Food Preservation, August
CHEP Good Food Inc. is sponsoring canning workshops and demos on August 7, 14, and 21.

On August 10 and 24, from 10 am to 4 pm, the kitchen at Station 20 West will be available for 5 people who are experienced in food preservation.

Phone 306.655.4575 to register and for information about additional workshops that are in the planning stage.

The Better Good Yard & Home Walking Tour, Aug. 18
The Better Good is organizing a yard + home walking tour to look at ways of living green and providing for yourself in Saskatoon – backyard chickens, intensive gardens, solar homes, permaculture.

SWRC Fall Workshops, Sept. 24-26
The Saskatchewan Waste Reduction Council is holding fall workshops in Yorkton, Melfort, and Swift Current on September 24, 25, 26. Topics will include multi-material recycling, hazardous waste, composting, and agricultural plastic.

Below Your Watershed, Oct. 21-23
Below Your Watershed: Your Connection to the River and Groundwater conference will be held in Medicine Hat from October 21-23. The conference will explore topics such as extreme weather, sustainable economic development, unregulated constituents and their impact on water quality.

New! Kids in Nature Grants
The Saskatoon Nature Society (SNS) has established a grant program called Kids in Nature to strengthen existing programs and encourage new ones that reconnect kids with nature. Each spring SNS will invite applications from existing or new programs and select one or more for financial support. More details about the grant process will be announced in the fall.

You’re invited to contribute to the program and help it grow.

Volunteers Wanted: Fruit Harvesting
Out Of Your Tree is looking for neighbourhood coordinators and volunteers to cooperatively harvest local fruit trees, putting the fruit to good use rather than leaving it to go to waste.

Environmental Education
Orion has added a new title to its Nature Literacy series of environmental education books. Place-Based Education emphasizes connections among schools, community, and the environment.

Interesting Reading
BC’s carbon tax is reducing fossil fuel use while the economy thrives

Can mining be sustainable - yes or no?

Is the future of conservation about managing change rather than stopping it?

Protecting Saskatoon’s urban forest - SNS position paper on clear cutting in Cosmopolitan Park

Top 10 iPhone apps to access on your nature walk

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

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

EcoSask News, July 2, 2013

Radiance Cohousing BBQ/Potluck, July 6
Radiance Cohousing is holding a BBQ/Potluck at 5 pm on July 6 to share their progress in building a green community. RSVP so they know how many burgers to make.

Summer Star Party, Aug. 8-11
Join the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada, Saskatoon branch, for their annual summer star party at Cypress Hills Provincial Park from August 8 to 11.

Environmental Education Conference, Oct. 4
Land, Place, and Environment: Advanced Learning and Practice Toward a Sustainable Future is a full-day conference on October 4 to share knowledge and best practices in environmental education.

The conference is hosted by the Sustainability Education Research Institute in partnership with the Saskatchewan Outdoor Environmental Education Association. It will be held at the College of Education in Saskatoon and will offer three concurrent workshop strands focusing on Early Childhood to Grade 12 Education, Post-Secondary Education, and Community-Based Education.

Interesting Reading
Will Calgary’s flood be a climate change wake-up call for Alberta and Canada?

Prairie Pastures – listening to stories of native grass, wildlife, birds and ranchers

Steps towards sustainable fashion and recycling textiles

Climate change is a wicked problem - it requires us to change how we live

Living differently with water – reimagining urban infrastructure

Business innovators tackle environmental and social challenges

High-tech eco designs promote neighbourhood safety (e.g. living walls to deter graffiti)

Summer Break
Penny is heading for the Kootenays for a couple of weeks, so we’re taking a break from our weekly postings. EcoSask News will be back again on July 30.

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

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

EcoSask News, June 4, 2013

Congratulations!
Over 70 organizations participated in Wild About Saskatoon’s NatureCity Festival, putting on a wide variety of different activities that were enjoyed by many, many residents of Saskatoon. Congratulations to all the organizers – and we hope there will be a festival again next year!

Regina Benefit Concert, June 21
A benefit concert for Public Pastures-Public Interests is being held on June 21 at the Artesian in Regina. Tickets can be purchased in Regina at Fresh Air Experience and Mysteria Gallery.

Native Seeds and Seedlings, June
Blazing Star Wildflower Seed Company will be selling native prairie seeds and seedlings at the River Landing Market around the corner from the Saskatoon Farmers’ Market until the end of June.

Student Video Contest, July 31
K-12 students are invited to create a short video showing why they think Canada has the best ‘backyard’ in the world. Prizes are from Mountain Equipment Co-op and finalists will have their video screened at the 2013 Banff Mountain Film and Book Festival. Deadline is July 31.

Saskatchewan Park Trails
Our provincial parks offer a multitude of different trails and paths. There’s the Marean Lake Birding Interpretive Trail in Greenwater Provincial Park, sand dunes in Good Spirit Lake Provincial Park, and barrier-free trails for people with limited mobility in Duck Mountain and Pike Lake Provincial Parks. The Boreal Trail stretches for 120 km.

Interesting Reading
Adventures in sustainability – the biggest collective challenge we’ve ever faced

Don’t overestimate the potential of energy efficiency; we need to move towards cleaner sources of energy

Health care is one of the top consumers of energy in the US, but that picture is beginning to change

There are some surprising sources of BPA, including thermal paper receipts and plastic kettles

Humane approaches to co-existing with urban wildlife

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

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

EcoSask News, May 28, 2013

NatureCity Festival
The NatureCity Festival is on until Friday, May 31, and there are so many great events:

Tuesday, May 28 - Chappell Marsh tours, wild bees on the Prairies

Wednesday, May 29 – Meet a burrowing owl, look for wildflowers in Peturrson’s Ravine, go for a walking tour of the Patterson Garden Arboretum, find out about wolves, or learn to make compost

Thursday, May 30 – Lakewood Park bird walk, urban herbin’ on Avenue P, revolutionary tea party, natural grassland walk

Friday, May 31 – Medicine walk with Joseph Naytowhow, birding at Idylwyld sloughs, school garden events, Festival finale

Tiger Hunting, June 8
The Saskatoon Nature Society will be hunting for tigers in the Tiger Hills on June 8. Tigers – that’s tiger beetles, tiger lilies, tiger swallowtails, tiger moths, tiger salamanders, and water tigers. Sounds like fun!

Butterflies, June 9
Learn how to identify butterflies with the Saskatoon Nature Society. The trip will be cancelled if weather is poor.

Summer Field Trips
Both the Native Plant Society of Saskatchewan and the Nature Conservancy of Canada offer wonderful opportunities to explore Saskatchewan nature. Don’t miss these fun outdoor opportunities.

Native Plant Society of Saskatchewan Summer Field Tours

Nature Conservancy of Canada (Saskatchewan) – Volunteer Opportunities

Plastic Smart Saskatoon
Plastic Smart Saskatoon was in the news. Check it out.

Campus Composting
Three universities in Ontario are taking different approaches to collecting organic waste on campus. One will be run by students; one is handled by a private company; and the third is completely in-house.

Business Goes Green
TreeHouse, a green hardware store in Austin, Texas, is earning a reputation as the “Whole Foods version of Home Depot.”

Amsterdam
Can you imagine a city ruled by cyclists not car owners? No? Then be sure to read In the City of Bikes: An American Discovers Amsterdam by Pete Jordan. Jordan takes us through the decades recounting everything from dinking and bike fishermen to the German Occupation.

Green Building Practices
How to buy an energy-efficient hot-water heater (infographic)

UK’s green building hub will test building fabrics

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

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

EcoSask News, April 9, 2013

Birdwatching
Spring Gull Viewing, Apr.10 - Look for interesting species of migrating gulls on the sandbars along the river

Sharp-tailed Grouse Dance, Apr. 20 – Get up early (4:30 am) to see this prairie spectacle

Crocus Hike to Peturrson Ravine, Apr. 21 – Hike may be postponed due to a late flowering season

Further information is available on the Saskatoon Nature Society’s website.

The Amazing Lives of Tree Swallows, Apr. 18
Join the Saskatoon Nature Society at 7:30 pm, April 18, in Room 106 of the Biology Building, U of S, to hear Vanessa Harriman speak about the “lab mice” of avian studies – the Tree Swallow.

CISV Spring Camp, May 24-26
CISV Saskatoon is holding a Back to Basics Mini Camp for young people ages 8 to 21 from May 24-26. The camp will be held at the Shekinah Retreat Centre in Waldheim and will focus on learning how to live the green life and “Think, Choose and Do” things the eco-friendly way.

Saskatoon Celebrates Earth Day/Week
Now here’s something to squawk about! There are so many ways to celebrate Earth Day/Week in Saskatoon.

Star Party – Apr. 20, 8 pm
Join the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada at Beaver Creek. Star gazing with telescopes will follow a presentation by Ron Waldron.

Zoo Run – Apr. 21, 9 am
Run 5 km or walk 2.5 km through the Forestry Farm and past the animals and support the Saskatoon Zoo Society's educational programming.

SES Earth Day Celebration  – Apr. 22, 3:30-9:00
The Saskatchewan Environmental Society and Essence Choir are celebrating Earth Day at the Saskatoon Farmers’ Market. There will be food, music, and lots of indoor and outdoor activities.

Birdwatching  –  Apr. 22, 4:15-5:45
Celebrate Earth Day activities at the Farmers’ Market and then walk to the river to look for early spring birds with members of the Saskatoon Nature Society.

SENS Earth Day Lecture – April 25, 7 pm
The School of Environment and Sustainability is hosting a talk by Dr. JoAnn Carmin, MIT, on Planning Climate-Resilient Cities at Station 20 West.

Collectively Green Sale, Apr. 27, 10 am – 5 pm
All the products will be planet friendly – organic, natural, reclaimed, recycled, upcycled, or used – at the Collectively Green Sale & Celebration at Grace-Westminster United Church. There will be food and music as well.

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

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

EcoSask News, March 12, 2013

Wild Birds Unlimited, Mar. 16 

Wild Birds Unlimited (330A-2600 8th St. E) is holding their grand opening on March 16 (10-5:30) and 17 (10-4). There will be lots of special guests on March 16 including an Arctic wolf, a burrowing owl, and a Swainson’s Hawk. The full schedule of events is available online.

CurioCity, Mar. 22 & 23

Don’t miss CurioCity, a two-day, community-focused urban planning conference to be held at the University of Saskatchewan on March 22 and 23. The keynote speaker is Larry Beasley, the retired Chief Planner for the City of Vancouver. Professionals, community leaders, and students will share their ideas on everything from infill projects to food security.

Larry Beasley will also be speaking at 7 pm on Wednesday, March 20, at the Roxy Theatre. His topic is “Sustainable and Healthy New Neighbourhoods: The Fundamental Building Blocks of Tomorrow’s Saskatoon.”

Cities & the Environment

More than half the world’s population lives in cities. But is that good or bad for the environment? Here are just a sampling of the environmental issues that cities need to address:

Natural gas garbage trucks - quieter, about 20% cleaner, 30% savings on fuel costs

The dos and don’ts of safe urban cycling

Free public transit has led to less congestion in Europe but increased vandalism in the US – why?

Bikes are good for business – retailers snap up storefronts along bikeways

Combatting residential sprawl and ever-increasing infrastructure requires regional planning

Detailed advice on increasing walkability in Western Canadian cities

Joel Salatin – Beyond Organic Farming, Mar. 20-22
The Permaculture Research Institute of Saskatchewan and Cool Springs Ranch are hosting a three-day, live streaming of a workshop by Joel Salatin on March 20, 21, and 22. The first day will provide practical advice on sustainable urban farming. The second day will cover building a poultry farm from scratch, while the third day will discuss managing livestock.

To register for the Saskatoon PRI event, email info@permasask.ca and ask for a registration form. To attend in Endeavour at Cool Springs Ranch, call 306-547-4252 or eatreal@coolspringsranch.ca.

Gardening

Gardening is a hot topic at the moment.

Gardening with Native Plants - If you’re in Regina, don’t miss hearing Dr. Fidji Gendron, FNUC, and Sarah Vinge-Mazer, Nature Saskatchewan, speak on Gardening with Native Plants on March 28 at the George Bothwell Branch of the Regina Public Library. (SK PCAP Native Prairie Speaker Series)

Backyard Garden Sharing Program - EcoFriendly Sask is pleased to support CHEP Good Food Inc.’s backyard garden sharing program. If you have backyard garden space that you are not using, or if you are looking for space to grow your own food, contact Gord Androsoff (gord@chep.org, 655-4575 ext. 229). 

Advocacy & Change
What is the best way to change people’s behaviour? Here are some suggestions:

Can gamification encourage us to lead more sustainable lives – some encouraging examples

Harnessing narrative and emotion to build public support for environmental solutions

Hedonistic sustainability – a waste-to-energy plant that is also a ski slope

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

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

EcoSask News, November 13, 2013

NE Swale Management Plan, Nov. 14
The North East Swale is wild and wonderful - and part of it is within City boundaries. Meewasin is holding an Open House on Wednesday, November 14, from 6-8 pm to present the proposed resource management plan - a great opportunity to ask questions and provide feedback.

Permaculture Potluck, Nov. 15
The Permaculture Research Institute of Saskatchewan is holding its monthly potluck at 6pm on Thursday, November 15, at the Unitarian Congregation of Saskatoon (213 – 2nd Street East). Alana Krug-MacLeod will show a video about her recent trip to the Arctic with Students on Ice.

Astronomers without Borders, Nov. 19
Mike Simmons, founder and president of Astronomers without Borders, will be talking live via Skype at the Saskatoon Royal Astronomical Society’s meeting on November 19 from 7:30-9:30 pm in Room 175 of the Physics Building, University of Saskatchewan.

Energy Efficiency, Nov. 1-30
SaskPower is offering instant rebates on a variety of energy-efficient light bulbs at all Saskatchewan Home Depot stores during November.

You can pick up a free block heater timer from SaskPower at Peavey Mart, Saskatoon Co-op Home Centres, and Sears on November 24 and 25.

Public Pastures, Public Interests, Nov. 22 & 23
The Regina Public Interest Group is hosting two events to highlight the importance of the PFRA Community Pastures. On November 22 at 7 pm, Candace Savage, author of Prairie: A Natural History, will speak on Grasslands in Peril, emphasizing their importance to Saskatchewan.

There will be a public forum on the Privatization of Community Pasture Lands from 8:30-4:30 on November 23. An information session in the morning will be followed by a noon panel discussion featuring key stakeholders. The afternoon session will outline the First Nations Joint Venture Proposal, followed by a discussion of public policy and development of resolutions.

Winter Camping, Dec. 15
Contact the SK Outdoor and Environmental Education Association if you are interesting in winter camping at Craik on December 15.

Volunteer Opportunities
The Saskatchewan Eco Network is looking for volunteers. Email them at info@econet.sk.ca or call 306.652.1275 for more information.

A Geography of Blood
Congratulations to Candace Savage for winning the Hilary Weston Writers' Trust Prize for Nonfiction for A Geography of Blood: Unearthing Memory from a Prairie Landscape.

Restoring Prairie Ecosystems
Chris Helzer, ecologist and program director for The Nature Conservancy’s land in central and eastern Nebraska, recently posted an article on prairie restoration that may be relevant for Saskatchewan:

“…prairie restoration projects should not be aimed at recreating something exactly as it existed long ago. Instead, effective prairie restoration should be like rebuilding a city after large portions of it are destroyed in a major disaster. When reconstructing a metropolitan area, replicating individual structures is much less important than restoring the processes the inhabitants of the city rely on. The people living and working in a city depend upon the restoration of power, transportation, communication, and other similar functions. Those people don’t care whether roads, power lines, or communication towers are put back exactly as they were before – they just want to be able to get the supplies and information they need, and to travel around so they can to do their jobs and survive. Restoration success is not measured by how much the rebuilt areas resemble the preexisting areas, but by whether or not the city and its citizens can survive and thrive again.”

Solar Power at the U of S
The University of Saskatchewan has undertaken a solar energy pilot project at their horticultural facility on 14th Street. They hope that the 96 solar panels will produce up to 70% of the building’s energy needs.

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

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

EcoSask News, January 3, 2012

Don Kerr Reading, January 12
Don Kerr will be reading from his latest book, The Wind Thrashing Your Heart, at McNally Robinson Booksellers on January 12 at 7:30 pm. The book of poetry is described as a passionate, thoughtful, and humorous look at love, landscape, and the people of the prairies.

Canticle to the Cosmos, January 17
The Queen’s House Retreat & Renewal Centre is offering a four-part video series, starting January 17, from 7-9 pm. The session is entitled Care of Earth: A Christian Response and will be lead by Judy Schactel who holds an MA in Culture and Spirituality and offers workshops and retreats in Ecological Spirituality.

Native Prairie Speaker Series, January 18
Rob Wright will provide a technical presentation on Protecting Native Grasslands from Smooth Brome Invasion from 12:10 to 12:50 pm on January 18.

From 7-8 pm in the evening, Sarah Vinge of Nature Saskatchewan will provide a public presentation on the Stewards of Saskatchewan program.

Both presentations are sponsored by the Saskatchewan Prairie Conservation Action Plan and will be held in the Royal Saskatchewan Museum auditorium in Regina. Presentations are also streamed live at www.ustream.tv/channel/native-prairie-speaker-series

Forensic Tools in Wildlife Research, January 19
Keith Hobson will speak on Forensic Tools in Wildlife Research at the January 19 meeting of the Saskatoon Nature Society. The presentation will begin at 7:30 pm in Room 106 of the Biology Building, University of Saskatchewan.

Making Tracks, Young Naturalists, January 27
Saskatoon Young Naturalists will meet at 1 pm on Friday, January 27 to look at the basic animal track patterns for some of the common animals found around Saskatoon. Participants will make a plaster track craft to take home and, if weather permits, will look for animal tracks in the snow. Enrolment is limited. Pre-register by calling 975-3042 or e-mail saskatoonnaturekids@gmail.com

Saskatoon Community Foundation Quality of Life Grants, February 1
Registered charities are invited to apply for the Saskatoon Community Foundation’s Quality of Life Grants program. The Quality of Life grants have seven key areas of focus: family and community; education; human development; health; arts and culture; environment; and research, strategy and capacity building.

The deadline for submitting Letters of Intent is February 1.

Native Plant Society of Saskatchewan Conference, February 17 & 18
The Native Plant Society of Saskatchewan will hold its annual AGM and conference in Regina on February 17 and 18. This year’s theme is Balancing Conservation and Profit and will discuss ecotourism in Saskatchewan and the delicate balance that it must maintain regarding other environmental and societal aspects.

The Society is looking for individuals and organizations to sponsor the event.

Permaculture Enthusiasts, Moose Jaw & Swift Current
Rob Avis of Calgary-based Verge Permaculture will be touring Saskatchewan from February 15 to 28 and would like to offer a 3-hour or 1-day presentation in Moose Jaw and/or Swift Current. If you are interested, contact Jessie (j.best@gmail.com).

EcoSask News is a weekly Tuesday feature. Email ecofriendlysask@gmail.com if you have news or events that you would like us to include.

Visit EcoFriendly Sask's Calendar page for a more complete list of upcoming events.

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

EcoSask News, December 20, 2011

Sanatorium and Riverbank Hike, January 8
You are invited to join the Saskatoon Nature Society as they look for winter songbirds on the old sanatorium grounds and waterfowl along the river bank from 2 to 4 pm on January 8. For further information, contact the trip leader at 652-5975.

Redberry Lake Winter Workshop, January 10
The Redberry Lake Watershed will be hosting its 5th annual winter workshop from 10 am to 4 pm on Tuesday, January 10 in the Ukrainian National Hall, Hafford. The theme is Real Results: The Benefits of Implementing Best Management Practices on your Farm.

Saskatchewan Environmental Society, January 11
Amy Jo Ehman, author of Prairie Feast: A Writer’s Journey Home for Dinner, will discuss her year of eating local in the Canadian prairies at 7 pm on January 11 at the Cliff Wright Library Auditorium. The event is co-sponsored by the Saskatoon Public Library and the Saskatchewan Environmental Society.

Outdoor & Environmental Education Association, January 21
The Saskatchewan Outdoor and Environmental Education Association will hold their annual general meeting on Saturday, January 21 in Moose Jaw. Shelley Scheibel will speak on Going Nowhere: A Journey to Antarctica.

Effective Commissioning of Existing Buildings, January 25
The Saskatchewan Chapter of the Canada Green Building Council is offering a workshop for building managers and operators to help them get the most out of re-commissioned buildings on January 25 from 9 am to 1:30 pm. Participants will learn how to define their scope, incorporate LEED credit requirements, select the right service provider, evaluate the quality of service provided and avoid common pitfalls. The event will be held in the Candle Room, Atrium Building, Innovation Place, Saskatoon.

First Place, WeLoveBirds
Congratulations to Nick Saunders, Saskatchewan Birds, Nature and Scenery, for winning first place in the WeLoveBirds Winter 2011 photo competition. The winning image of six saw-whet owl chicks can be seen on WeLoveBirds’ website.

Redberry Lake Biosphere Reserve
Redberry Lake Biosphere Reserve has a new website where you can sign up to receive their newsletter. You can also follow them on Facebook or Twitter.

Cameco Meewasin Skating Rink
The Cameco Meewasin Skating Rink opened on December 17. The rink is open daily from 12 noon to 9 pm (11 am to 9 pm on Sundays). Ice skates are provided free of charge, and group rentals are available after hours.

EcoSask News is a weekly Tuesday feature; however, we will not be posting on December 27. We’ll be back again on January 3.

Email ecofriendlysask@gmail.com if you have news or events that you would like us to include.

Visit EcoFriendly Sask's Calendar page for a more complete list of upcoming events.

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

EcoSask News, November 1, 2011

U of S Hosts Northern Elder, October 21 to November 12
The School of Environment and Sustainability (SENS), has invited a First Nations Elder, traditional healer and teacher from the Yukon, to share knowledge with U of S students, faculty and staff as part of the School's Northern Elder-in-Residence program.

Elder Randall Tetlichi will host a public presentation on Human-Animal Relations from a First Nations Perspective on Wednesday, November 2 from 12:30-1:30 pm in Room 2115, Veterinary Medicine. He will speak on Traditional Knowledge Teachings: Working together for a sustainable future on Friday, November 4, from 1:30-4:30 pm in Room 144, Kirk Hall.

There will also be informal brown bag lunches on November 3 and 10 from 11 am to 3 pm in the 3rd floor lounge of Kirk Hall and on November 4 from 11 am to 3 pm in Room 305 of the Education Building.

"I am really looking forward to teaching the U of S community how people communicate in the North and the different ways of knowing about the environment, climate change, ecosystems and sustainability," says Tetlichi. "I am also going to talk about the individual and how each of us can make a difference by paying attention to the way we think, see, listen and talk with ourselves and each other. Instead of just co-existing, it is now time for all nations to exist with each other and depend on each other."

Blessed Blue Book Launch, November 10
Carol Kavanagh will be reading from her latest book, Blessed Blue: Our planet, earth, air and water, at 7:30 pm on November 10 at McNally Robinson Booksellers. Kavanagh is a Saskatoon author. Blessed Blue combines poetry and photographs, leading readers to a greater appreciation of earth, air and water.

Carol Kavanagh’s first book, Anciently Prairie, illustrates the Saskatchewan seasons through poetry and photography.

Zoo Crew PD Day Camp, November 10 & 14
The Saskatoon Zoo Society is offering PD Day Camps on Thursday, November 10 (Catholic schools) or Monday, November 14 (public schools) from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm.

SK Outdoor and Environmental Education Association Winter Camp, December 3-4
The Saskatchewan Outdoor and Environmental Education Association will be holding a winter camp at Echo Valley Provincial Park on December 3 and 4. The camp includes initiative games, outdoor cooking, winter survival, wide games, a hike, kite flying and more. The registration deadline is November 29. You can register online; more information is available from soeea.sk@gmail.com

2012 Saskatchewan Birds Calendar
The 2012 Saskatchewan Birds Calendar is now ready to order. Professionally coil-bound and printed on high-quality photo paper, the calendar is 11x17 inches, with a full-colour, full-page photo for each month. The price is $20.00, and there is no order limit. For a preview of the pages and for shipping costs (if needed), email nikovich@gmail.com

Wanuskewin Heritage Park
Wanuskewin Heritage Park is open all year round. Their fall and winter hours (September 6 to May 23) are 9 am to 4:30 pm, and they are closed on statutory holidays during the winter.

There is a traditional dance presentation at 2 pm on Saturdays and Sundays.

EcoSask News is a weekly Tuesday feature. Email ecofriendlysask@gmail.com if you have news or events that you would like us to include.

Visit EcoFriendly Sask's Calendar page for a more complete list of upcoming events.

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

EcoSask News, October 25, 2011

Saskatoon Nature Society, October 30, November 5
The Saskatoon Nature Society has two upcoming events:

1:30 to 4:00 pm, Sunday, October 30: Identify weeds and seeds at Chief Whitecap Park (meet at the Co-op Service Station south of Stonebridge Mall on Clarence Avenue; leader is Anna Leighton, 665-6074)

9 am to 3 pm, Saturday, November 5: Search for Barrow’s Goldeneye, Long-tailed Duck, Pacific Loon, and other late migrating rarities at Blackstrap (bring a lunch and meet at the NW corner of the parking lot for the Centre at Circle and 8th; leader is Gord Crockford, 955-5028)

Ghoulish Fun at Beaver Creek, October 30
Bring your goblins and witches to Beaver Creek for some ghoulish fun on Sunday, October 30 from 1 to 4 pm. Unearth myth and mystery about some of Beaver Creek’s creatures like spiders, snakes, frogs, owls, crows, and coyote howls. This is a come-and-go event so you can plan your stay if you’re scared or brave.

SWWA Conference 2011, November 16-18
The Saskatchewan Water and Wastewater Association conference will be held at the Hilton Garden Inn, Saskatoon, November 16-18.

Black-Footed Ferrets released in Grasslands National Park
For the third year in a row, 15 captive bred black-footed ferrets, some born and raised at the Toronto Zoo, were released in the wilds of Grasslands National Park.

This year, Grassland ferret trackers had the unique experience of spotting three new ferret families on three different prairie dog colonies. The discovery of new families is confirming how quickly the ferrets are adapting to their new home on the Canadian prairie.

Free Parks Access for New Citizens
The Cultural Access Pass gives new Canadian citizens free admission to more than 100 of Parks Canada’s places for a year.

Prepare your Bicycle for Winter Riding
Check out this useful article from the Saskatchewan Environmental Society about how to prepare your bicycle for the winter. The article also considers winter clothing and riding style.

Kinsmen Fishing Platform
The Meewasin Valley Authority has received the Saskatchewan Parks & Recreation Cecil Nobes Facility Award of Excellence 2011 for the construction of the wheelchair-accessible Kinsmen Fishing Platform (accessible from the Meewasin Trail at 33rd Street E and Spadina Crescent). The Kinsmen Club of Saskatoon contributed over one third of the total cost.

Building Low Car(bon) Communities
Building Low Car(bon) Communities describes eight European communities that have designed new neighbourhoods with lower car ownership rates through a combination of measures that discourage private car use and improve walking, cycling, transit and various forms of shared vehicle use.

EcoSask News is a weekly Tuesday feature. Email ecofriendlysask@gmail.com if you have news or events that you would like us to include.

Visit EcoFriendly Sask's Calendar page for a more complete list of upcoming events.

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

EcoSask News, September 13, 2011

Bicycles for Humanity, September 17
Local representatives of Bicycles for Humanity will be collecting used mountain bicycles to send to Uganda on Saturday, September 17 from 9 am to 3 pm in the lot at the corner of 20th Street and Avenue B (former Barry Hotel). A bicycle pickup service is available, and they welcome cash donations to cover shipping costs.

Since 2006, Bicycles for Humanity chapters across Canada have sent over 40 containers full of bicycles to Africa. For Africans, a bicycle increases access to water, jobs, school, or medical help.

Songbird Migration, September 17
Join the Saskatoon Nature Society for a stroll about the Forestry Farm on Saturday, September 17 from 9-11 am to look for migrant songbirds. The group will meet near the south end of the main parking lot. Contact Robert Johanson (653-2610) for additional information.

Nature Saskatchewan Fall Meet, October 7-8
Nature Saskatchewan will hold its fall meet on October 7 and 8 in Cypress Hills Provincial Park. Activities will include a moonlit walk on the highland interpretive trail, an early-morning walk to find bugling elk, and a variety of mild to strenuous walks. Registration information is available on Nature Saskatchewan’s website.

Tour de Jour, Beaver Creek
Explore nature with specialists from the Beaver Creek Conservation Area every Sunday in September from 2-3 pm.

Partners FOR the Saskatchewan River Basin Annual Conference, November 16-18
Partners FOR the Saskatchewan River Basin will hold their annual conference from November 16 to 18 at the Saskatoon Inn. The theme is Planning for Extremes. The purpose of the conference is to bring researchers, natural resource managers, policy makers and local stakeholders together to heighten awareness and share information on planning for either too much or too little water in the Saskatchewan River Basin and is designed to stimulate communication and idea exchange.

The cut-off date for registrations is 4:30 pm on Thursday, November 10, 2011. Early bird registration fees (prior to September 30) are $200 for members of Partners FOR the Saskatchewan River Basin and $225 for non-members.

Education Consultant, Prairie Conservation Action Plan
SK PCAP plans to develop and pilot a new two-year (2011-2013) interactive, action-orientated, environmental education program targeted towards Grades 6-8 students and their teachers called Taking Action For Prairie. PCAP plans to hire an Education Consultant to develop student action-oriented programming, a teacher workshop, curriculum-based resources for teachers, and a program evaluation for Year One (2011-2012) of TAFP. Details are available on their website. Deadline is Wednesday, September 14, 2011.

Dakota Skipper and Snapping Turtle Photos Wanted
Nature Saskatchewan is looking for photographs of the Dakota Skipper, a threatened butterfly, and the Snapping Turtle, a species of special concern, for their 2012 Stewards of Saskatchewan Species at Risk calendar. If you or anyone you know has photos of these species, please contact Sarah Vinge at Nature Saskatchewan.

World Rivers Day, September 25
September 25 is World Rivers Day and people across Saskatoon and Saskatchewan will be celebrating. To get an advance peek at what is planned, take a look at the EcoFriendly Sask’s EcoFriendly Sask's Calendar page.

Next week’s edition of EcoSask News will provide more details of all the activities.

EcoSask News is a weekly Tuesday feature. Email ecofriendlysask@gmail.com if you have news or events that you would like us to include.

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

EcoSask News, September 6, 2011

Fall Bird Count, September 10
Join the Saskatoon Nature Society as they survey the birds in the Saskatoon District for their Fall Bird Count on Saturday, September 10. Novice birders will be assigned to an experienced leader. Contact Michael Williams (242-5383) by September 8 for additional information.

Salt Cedar Surveys, September 8 & 15
Help the Saskatchewan Invasive Species Council and the Native Plant Society of Saskatchewan search for invasive salt cedar:

Findlater, SK - Thursday, September 8, 10 am to 4 pm (meet at the junction of Highway #2 and #11 just northwest of Findlater)

Cadillac, SK - Thursday, September 15, 10 am to 4 pm (meet at the junction of Highway #4 and #43 just north of Cadillac)

To register for either of these events, please contact Chet Neufeld at (306) 668-3940 or e-mail info@npss.sk.ca

Saskatoon Nature Society, September 15
The Saskatoon Nature Society’s meeting on Thursday, September 15 at 7:30 pm features a presentation by Kathleen and Michael Pitt on their 950 km. canoe journey down the Thelon River from Great Slave Lake to Hudson Bay.

All the Society’s meetings are open to the public and are held in Room 106 of the Biology Building, University of Saskatchewan.

Rio+20 Workshop
The Saskatchewan Environmental Society is hosting one of ten Rio+20 Summit Civil Society Workshops on Saturday, September 17, 2011 from 1-4 pm in Room 45, Edwards School of Business, University of Saskatchewan.

The workshops will influence the 2012 UN Conference on Sustainable Development, which will focus on two themes: (a) a green economy in the context of sustainable development and poverty eradication, and (b) the institutional framework for sustainable development.

If you would like to attend, send an email to pesticidefree@environmentalsociety.ca.

Background reading:
A Green Economy for Canada: Consulting with Canadians
Towards a Green Economy: Pathways to sustainable development and poverty eradication - a synthesis for policy makers
Sustainable Development: Governance towards Rio+20: Framing the debate

Western Mining Action Network Conference, September 23-25
The Western Mining Action Network (WMAN) supports a network to protect communities, land, water, air, and wildlife by reforming mining practices and holding government and corporations accountable. Their eighth biennial gathering, Working Together as One: Sustainable Water, Culture and Healthy Communities, will be held in Prince Albert from September 23-25.

Topics will include uranium mining, protecting water resources, and indigenous/cultural issues associated with mineral resource extraction. There will be a special activities track for young people and other newcomers to mining issues. WMAN prioritizes applicants who are directly affected by mining, who live in communities dealing with mining-related issues, or who work on issues related to mining.

Net Metering Program Extended
The provincial Net Metering Program provides rebates of up to $35,000 to people who wish to install small wind, solar or other green power generation equipment and connect to the province’s electricity system (excess electricity is fed back into the grid, and the customer receives a credit on their power bill).

The province’s Go Green Fund has committed an additional $2 million to extend the program for another year to March 30, 2012. Additional information and a list of vendors is available from Saskatchewan’s Green Directory.

Contact the Saskatchewan Research Council to apply.

Saskatoon Neighbourhood Carshare
If you are interested in becoming a member of the Saskatoon Neighbourhood Carshare, go to their Facebook event page and indicate that you plan to attend. The project is a joint initiative of the University of Saskatoon and We Are Many and is currently in the feasibility stage.

The Saskatoon car sharing co-op would operate as an extension of the Regina Car Share (RCS), which has successfully provided the service over the past four years. Joining with the RCS would allow Saskatoon residents to begin carsharing as soon as possible and would provide Saskatoon members with access to the vehicles in Regina.

For more information, contact Rebecca Anderson at anderson.rebecca.jane@gmail.com

Wascana Creek One of the Most Polluted in Canada
Regina’s Wascana Creek is almost entirely fed by treated sewage, and recent studies show that it is one of the most polluted creeks in the country. Personal care products have been found as far as 60 kilometres away from the city. The studies indicate that residents can help by following proper disposal methods for pharmaceuticals and personal care products, but the city needs to fully upgrade its waste water plant to remove nitrogen completely from the waste stream.

EcoSask News is a weekly Tuesday feature. Email ecofriendlysask@gmail.com if you have news or events that you would like us to include.

Visit EcoFriendly Sask's Calendar page for a more complete list of upcoming events.

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

EcoSask News, August 30, 2011

Salt Cedar Surveys, September 8 & 15

Help the Saskatchewan Invasive Species Council and the Native Plant Society of Saskatchewan search for invasive salt cedar at two different sites on two different dates.

Findlater, SK - Thursday, September 8, 10 am to 4 pm (meet at the junction of Highway #2 and #11 just northwest of Findlater)

Cadillac, SK - Thursday, September 15, 10 am to 4 pm (meet at the junction of Highway #4 and #43 just north of Cadillac)

To register for either of these events, please contact Chet Neufeld at (306) 668-3940 or e-mail info@npss.sk.ca

Saskatoon Green Energy Park, 7 pm, September 14
Kevin Hudson, Alternative Energy Engineer, will speak at 7 pm on Wednesday, September 14 at the Saskatchewan Environmental Society meeting (Cliff Wright Library). Hudson will discuss the City of Saskatoon’s plans to develop a world-class energy park at the landfill with the potential to power over 5,000 homes using only local renewable energy supplies and to reduce greenhouse gas emissions for the City by over 115,000 tonnes CO2.

The green energy projects feature renewable power generation technologies using landfill gas, a turbo-expander pressure reduction application with SaskEnergy, a tall wind turbine on top of the landfill, with possible future consideration of utility-scale solar and heat recovery applications. A five-minute video on the Green Energy Park is available on YouTube.

SK Waste Reduction Council Forum, September 15 & 16

The Saskatchewan Waste Reduction Council Forum to be held on September 15 and 16 in Swift Current will look at recycling and waste reduction from various different angles: art and culture, lifestyle changes and curbside recycling, phasing out incandescent lights, markets and end uses for recycled materials, wind power, and lessons from local communities.

Eco-Pirate: The Story of Paul Watson
Eco-Pirate, the story of a man on a mission to save the planet and its oceans is being shown at the Roxy Theatre on 20th Street from August 26 to September 1.

Outter Limits Fun Run
Participate in the Outter Limits Fun Run (10 km run or 5 km walk/run) at Elk Ridge Resort on Saturday, October 1, 2011. The money raised at this year’s event will be given to the Saskatchewan Environmental Society and Scholarships for Students in Need. The entry deadline is September 1, 2011.

Local Food at Local Events
The municipality of Saanich on Vancouver Island plans to serve local food at all its events, eventually moving toward having local food in all its food services. What a great way to support local farmers.

This follows the example of the University of Victoria whose Green Purchasing Policy estimates that 46% of their produce comes from Vancouver Island farms and 36% of the meat and poultry comes from BC producers. All the baked goods and pizza come from bakeries in southern Vancouver Island.

Choices Cafeteria in St. Thomas More College, University of Saskatchewan, serves local organic meats, vegetables, breads and free trade coffee.

Pocket Mulch
Tune in at 6:30 pm every Wednesday to 90.5 FM CFCR Community Radio for news on environmental happenings around the world and in Saskatoon.

David Suzuki Foundation Book Club

Did you know that the David Suzuki Foundation website includes a book club? The book club site includes a reading guide, video and comments from the author, related news story, and online discussion.

The book club site includes a reading guide, video and comments from the author, related news stories, and online discussion. The book club is currently discussing Last Child in the Woods: Saving our children from nature-deficit disorder by Richard Louv and includes an excerpt from Louv’s latest book, The Nature Principle.

EcoSask News is a weekly Tuesday feature. Email ecofriendlysask@gmail.com if you have news or events that you would like us to include.

EcoFriendly Sask's Calendar page provides a complete listing of all upcoming events.

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