EcoSask News, August 4, 2020

Upcoming Events
Outdoor Adventures (Regina)
Nature Regina has begun rescheduling field trips, keeping it safe through masking, physically distancing, and hand sanitizing.

Outdoor Observations, Aug. 13 & 27 (Regina)
The Saskatchewan Science Centre’s day camps are back in operation. 3-12 year olds are invited to join them from 9 am-4 pm, Aug. 13, to learn about science outdoors. A second camp will be held from 9 am-4 pm, Aug. 27.

Looking Ahead
Net Zero Conference, Sept. 15-16 (online)
The Net Zero Conference & Expo, to be held online Sept. 15-16, bills itself as a hub for thought leaders and industry-shapers in climate, carbon, energy, water, waste, and transit.

Wilderness First Aid, Sept. 19-20 (Meadow Lake)
SaskOutdoors is offering a 20-hour basic wilderness first aid course on Sept. 19-20 in Meadow Lake Provincial Park.

Canoe Certification, Sept. 19-20 (Lumsden Beach)
SaskOutdoors is offering a Paddle Canada Lake Canoe Skills (flat water) Certification Course on Sept. 19-20 at Lumsden Beach.

Saskatoon Nature Society
Saskatoon Young Naturalists
Sept. 19, 9:30 am-1:30 pm – Sandhill Cranes Field Trip
Oct. 2, 7-10 pm (tentative date) – Northern Saw-whet Owl Field Trip
Space is limited; register early to avoid disappointment.

A full list of upcoming events (online and in person) can be found on the EcoFriendly Sask Calendar 

Local News
National Farmers Union: “The question is not whether irrigation expansion is good or bad, but rather how best to responsibly expand irrigation and how best to spend billions of dollars so that farmers and all citizens receive maximum benefit.”

Saskatchewan Environmental Society says government should do its homework before committing a massive amount of money to an irrigation project that will put the environment at risk

Nature-based art therapy: an interview with Saskatoon’s Emily Hammer.

Meet the people saving Canada’s native grasslands.

From Information to Action
“There aren’t enough batteries to electrify all cars – focus on trucks and buses instead”

A safe street is not one where safety is determined by how fast someone can comfortably drive, but rather one where a person can comfortably walk, ride a bike, and cross the street using a wheelchair."

“The less government policy does, the more we, as citizens have to do on our own. With climate change, the burden of action has fallen, unevenly, to individuals. This, when simple mechanisms such as a price on carbon, better public transit, and the incentivizing of deep home retrofits and EV purchases would dramatically reduce consumer burden, and mental fatigue.”

Redesigning democracy for future generations: “Especially in wealthy nations, we treat it [the future] as a dumping ground for ecological degradation, technological risk and nuclear waste – as if there is nobody there.”

Conservation easements on private land could make all the difference in protecting endangered species.

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Nature’s Wonders
BirdNote – for bird lovers of all ages – short videos (under 2 minutes), photos, bird calls, and educational resources. Did you know that the Ruddy Turnstone really can turn stones?

“It is crucial that we learn to appreciate parasites . . . . Without them, there are no healthy ecosystems.”

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). 

Check out EcoFriendly Sask’s Nature Companion, a free nature app for Canada’s four western provinces

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, December 17, 2019

Upcoming Events
Zero-Waste Gift Wrapping, Dec. 21 (Saskatoon) 
Wrap your gifts with used gift wrap or cloth from 10 am-5:30 pm, Dec. 21.

Science Experiments, Dec. 27 (North Battleford) 
Children ages 5-12 are invited to play with science from 2-3 pm, Dec. 27, in North Battleford.

Mindfulness Cross-Country Ski, Dec. 28 (Macdowall) 
Enjoy a cross-country ski with the 306 Outdoor Tribe at Eb’s Trails from 1-4 pm, Dec. 28.

Promoting Energy Efficiency, Jan. 8 (Saskatoon) 
Dave Stevenson, Ministry of Environment, will discuss energy efficiency promotion in Saskatchewan at the Jan. 8 breakfast meeting of the Saskatchewan Energy Management Task Force.

Meadow Lake Tracks & Crafts, Jan. 11 (Meadow Lake) 
Enjoy a guided snowshoe hike and craft from 1-3:30 pm, Jan. 11, at Meadow Lake Provincial Park.

Saskatoon Nature Society Field Trips 
Saskatoon Young Naturalists 
Jan. 18, 1-3 pm – Tracks & Scats
Feb. 8, 1-2:30 pm – Chickadee Pishing
Space is limited; register early to avoid disappointment.

Other Saskatoon Nature Society Field Trips 
Jan. 12, 2-3:30 pm – Sanatorium Site Birding
Everyone is welcome. Check the Saskatoon Nature Society’s website for full details and updated information.

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

In the News
Wetland / Waste Land: A Conservation of Change is a 25-minute documentary looking at the emerging conflicts in the Canadian prairies over the apparently conflicting needs of wetlands and agriculture.

Researchers have found toxic chemicals used in smartphones, televisions, computer displays, and solar panels in nearly half of dozens of samples of household dust. “These chemicals are semi-liquid and can get into the environment at any time during manufacturing and recycling, and they are vaporized during burning. Now we also know that these chemicals are being released by products just by using them,” said Giesy, Canada Research Chair in Environmental Toxicology, University of Saskatchewan.

The National Farmers Union’s report on Tackling the Farm Crisis and the Climate Crisis: A Transformative Strategy for Canadian Farmers and Food Systems examines the impacts of climate change on agriculture in Canada as well as the opportunities that agriculture provides to become part of the solution.

The City of New York has passed a bill “that will update the building code with design and construction requirements aimed at making buildings safer for migratory birds. It will require exteriors on the lowest 75 feet of new buildings, and on any structure above a green roof, to have avian-friendly materials such as patterned glass that make transparent surfaces more visible to birds flying at full speed. The bill doesn’t include a mandate to retrofit existing buildings, but requires any future renovations to comply with the standards, which are set to take effect in December 2020.”

Alberta is building a wildlife overpass east of Canmore, the first outside Banff National Park, and adding an underpass in the Crowsnest Pass. The locations were chosen as being hot spots for collisions.

Boston plans to build a bridge that will ban single-occupancy cars and favour pedestrians and cyclists.

“Wildlife biologist and science communicator David Steen has taken the most common snake myths, tall tales and snake safety rules and applied real science to them in his wildly entertaining Secrets of Snakes: The Science Beyond the Myths.” [book review]

This is the last issue of EcoSask News for 2019. We’ll be in holiday mode for the next two weeks with Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve Specials - interesting and unexpected items for you to enjoy over the holidays. 

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 Saturday/Sunday & Other Green Thumb Activities in Saskatchewan

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 garden-related events.

Seedy Saturday/Sunday 
Yorkton, February 23 
Yorkton Seedy Saturday will be held from 11 am-4:30 pm, Feb. 23, at SIGN on Broadway. Buy or swap seeds, local crafters/homesteading/canning, and more.

Prince Albert, February 24 
Prince Albert Seedy Sunday will be held from 1-5 pm, Feb. 24, at the John M. Cuelenaere Library. Exchange seeds, buy heirloom seeds, learn about the importance of healthy soil, and kids can make seed bombs.

Lanigan, February 28 
Lanigan Seedy Thursday will be held from 5:30-8:30 pm, Feb. 28, at the Lanigan Branch Library. There will be a small garden talk and question and answer at 6:30 pm.

Regina, March 2
Regina Seedy Saturday will be held from 10 am-3 pm, Mar. 2, at St. Paul’s Anglican Cathedral (1861 McIntyre Street). Talk gardening, buy seeds, enjoy the kids’ area, and get advice on how to plan your garden.

Moose Jaw, March 3
Moose Jaw Seedy Sunday will be held from 10 am-2 pm, Mar. 3, at the Moose Jaw Public Library.

Saskatoon, March 9 
Saskatoon Seedy Saturday will be held from 10 am-3 pm, Mar. 9 at Station 20 West.

Indian Head, March 10
Indian Head Seedy Sunday will be held from 1-4 pm, Mar. 10 at the Indian Head Heritage Club (505 Otterloo Street).

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

Meadow Lake, March 24
Meadow Lake Seedy Sunday will be held the afternoon of Mar. 24 at the Meadow Lake Senior Citizens Activity Centre.

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

Additional Green Thumb Activities/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.

Saskatchewan Waste Reduction Council (Saskatoon) 
The Saskatchewan Waste Reduction Council is offering a two-day training for individuals interested in joining Saskatoon’s team of compost coaches on March 2 and 3. Email compost@swrc.ca for more details.

Edible Landscapes Permaculture Design and Consulting (Regina) 
Over the next few months, Edible Landscapes Permaculture Design and Consulting will be offering urban/edible perennial plant walks and foraging tours, an 18-hour course on edible and medicinal plants, and an introduction to permaculture.

Immersed in Nature (Saskatoon) 
Immersed in Nature Photography will be offering nature immersion walks this spring and summer. Check their Facebook page for details.

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

Regina Horticultural Society (Regina) 
The Regina Horticultural Society holds monthly educational events.

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

Nature Activities for Kids

We've pulled together a list of environmental programs and camps for kids in Regina and Saskatoon.

Take a look and see if there is something that would be of interest to your family.

Do let us know if we've missed activities in other parts of the province.

Nature Activities for Kids

Wildlife 911

Spring means new life with baby birds and animals in our gardens, parks, and rural areas. If we see a baby bird on the ground or a tiny fawn all alone, our first impulse is to rescue it. But hold on a moment and make sure that they really do need to be rescued.

What Should I Do?
The Wildlife Rehabilitation Society of Saskatchewan (WRSOS) has a very informative webpage listing what to do if you find a bird, mammal, or reptile in distress. Here are a few key points to keep in mind before heading over to the WRSOS website for further instruction.

• Be patient and watch the animal for several hours, from a distance so as not to scare the mother away. Some animal parents leave their babies alone for extended periods for their own protection or while the parent feeds. Unless the baby is in immediate danger, contact the WRSOS before removing them from the wild. 
• Make sure the animal is in need of help before intervening. The WRSOS website lists signs of normal behaviour as well as signs of distress. 
• A baby animal's best chance for survival is to be raised by its natural parents. Be very sure it’s necessary before removing an animal from the wild. 

Wildlife Hotline
If you’ve been observing an animal for a while and you really do think it needs help, it’s time to call the WRSOS Wildlife Hotline – 306-242-7177.

WRSOS operates a Wildlife Hotline 12 hours a day, 365 days a year. Volunteers respond to public inquiries about injured and orphaned wildlife and assess the situations by asking a series of questions designed to determine if the animals are in need or exhibiting natural behaviours.

WRSOS receives over 2,000 calls per year. They provide the initial triage, assessment, and vet care (if needed) so that the wildlife rehabilitators can focus directly on the animals.

In cases that do require intervention, WRSOS has approximately 70 volunteers around the province who help transport injured wildlife to one of the province’s 20 licensed rehabilitators or to one of the veterinary clinics that support the work of WRSOS.

Spring Baby Boom
May to July are exceptionally busy months for wildlife rehabilitators and WRSOS is always looking for volunteers to help feed injured animals, answer the wildlife hotline, provide transportation, or help with duck rescue.

WRSOS provides volunteer training sessions. You can also contact a wildlife rehabilitation centre in your area.
     Healing Haven Wildlife Rescue, Meadow Lake
     Wild and Cared Free Wildlife Rehabilitation Inc., Moose Jaw
     Salthaven West, Regina
     Living Sky Wildlife Rehabilitation, Saskatoon

Additional Information
Wildlife 911 – always make sure an animal is actually in need before intervening
Volunteer Opportunities 
Wildlife Rehabilitation Internship Opportunity
Wildlife Rehabilitation: Knowledge, Expertise, Hard Work – and Love
Wildlife Hotline - 306-242-7177