Honeybee problem nearing a ‘critical point’

http://grist.org/food/2012-01-13-honey-bees-problem-nearing-a-critical-point/?fb_ref=fbrw

Beekeepers have seen an average decline of 30% per year since 2006, thought to be due primarily to pesticides.  Here's an interesting article, courtesy of Claire Thompson, Grist.

The Science of Today's Spring Equinox

http://www.livescience.com/19172-science-date-spring-equinox.html

Today is the first day of spring in the Northern Hemisphere. Though no guarantee of gorgeous weather that's not too hot and not too cold, the Earth's position relative to the sun says it's officially time for the birds to start chirping.

The first day of spring arrives on varying dates (from March 19-21) in different years for two reasons: Our year is not exactly an even number of days; and Earth's slightly noncircular orbit, plus the gravitational tug of the other planets, constantly changes our planet's orientation to the sun from year to year.

This year, spring starts Tuesday, March 20, at 1:14 a.m EDT (05:14 Universal Time). That's when the so-called vernal equinox occurs. Equinoxes (which mark the onset of spring and autumn) and solstices (which mark when summer and winter begin) are points in time and space that mark a transition in our planet's annual trip around the sun.

At each equinox, the sun crosses Earth's equator, making night and day of approximately equal length on most of the planet. At the equator, the sun is directly overhead at noon on either equinox. However, day and night are not exactly equal on the date of the equinoxes. For instance, at higher latitudes in the Northern Hemisphere, the "equal day and night" occurs a few days before the spring equinox, while in the Southern Hemisphere that date comes after the March equinox, according to the National Weather Service. [Earth's Equinoxes & Solstices (Infographic)]     The rest of this article can be found at: 

http://www.livescience.com/19172-science-date-spring-equinox.html

6 Tips for Building Soil for Your Raised Garden Beds and Planters | Eartheasy Blog

6 Tips for Building Soil for Your Raised Garden Beds and Planters Eartheasy Blog

Here are some tips for building productive soil for your garden beds and planters – while there are some differences based on locale, these tips pretty much apply anywhere…

Associated Link:  https://robinsonloveplants.com/

AND THEN THERE WAS LIGHT

http://www.wimp.com/lightenup/

What to do with all those pesky plastic bottles we have become so attached to. . . well, someone found a use that not only provides a solution for the third world poor but also gives us safe, reliable method of reuse.  Watch this and see for yourself.  I think i just might try this at home. . .

Energize Alberta - Cow-pattie power

Energize Alberta - Cow-pattie power  -- Who could possibly NOT be interested in reading about a subject called 'Cow-pattie Power'?  On a cattle feedlot located outside  of Vegreville, Alta., cow manure may just be this province’s energy future.  Interest in this technology is, by no means new.

In Vermont, seven dairy farms are transforming millions of gallons of cow manure into electricity through the Cow Power project.  Converting farm manure to energy may also help alleviate a problem in some areas, where too much poultry and livestock waste is generated to be safely used as fertilizer on crop fields. A study presented by Chevron representatives showed that processing horse manure-to-energy could be worth roughly $7.3 million over the next two decades.  Guelph may lead North America but a village in India beat us by decades. Twenty years ago, methane collected from the village cow’s manure fuelled the simple oven that cooked delicious thalis in the south India village of Mitraniketan.

Resources:
http://www.energizealberta.com/index.php/energy-features/renewables/71-cow-pattie-power
http://www.good.is/post/cow-manure-and-other-waste-can-create-power/

http://www.pe.com/local-news/riverside-county/corona/corona-headlines-index/20120216-norco-city-moves-forward-with-manure-to-power-project.ece

http://www.guelphmercury.com/opinion/columns/article/670671--turning-methane-into-a-valuable-fuel

Updated: Shop At Walmart But Ashamed to Admit It? We Should Be

http://grist.org/business-technology/walmarts-biggest-green-feat-putting-sustainability-on-the-corporate-agenda/

so -- what do you REALLY think of Walmart?  personally, i was never much of a fan; the quality of food and clothing wasn't to my liking; the aisles narrow and often plugged with an irritating column that you can't quite manage to squeeze a cart around; while the staff are friendly enough, it's almost impossible to track one down when you really need one.  and we've all seen the emailed photos of the kind of people that shop at Walmart. . . . nobody wants to be one with that bunch!

and then one day, while i was having my car repaired in one of my favourite Central Alberta towns, i found myself in need of some supplies and Walmart was one of the few stores within easy walking distance (by 'easy' i mean close enough that i was willing to carry a few bag of groceries back from).

i'd heard about the new Walmart Supercentres but had yet to grace one with my presence.  but there it was, just a little west and north of where my car was being serviced.  so i thought, why not check it out?  i think it was 3 hours later when i finally made it back to the servic centre -- and not because it was a difficult distance to carry my bags.  this brand new store was nice and clean, with lots of room between the aisles for me and my cart, and man, the people were friendly.  i think the 'friendly' had more to do with the fact that i was in a smaller community but the fresh and clean appearance of the store and decent produce was pure Walmart.

i have to admit, somewhat shamefaced, there are times that i secretly adore Walmart.  i still don't shop there for clothing, or any quality purchases.  i still support my local farmers and try by best to stick to buying local, regional, or at least Canadian, but the attraction for me is that Walmart is a great place to one-stop shop -- and, since i hate shopping -- it fits me to a 't'. 

so it warms my heart to read about the successes Walmart is making in reducing its environmental footprint.  yes, Walmart has a L O N G ways to go to become the store i would be proud to admit i shopped at on a regular basis -- but at least now, i'll actually ADMIT that there is the occassional trip to town with the actual intention of going straight for Walmart. 

Am I The Only One?

Is Patrick Moore an Environmentalist or a Paid Lobbyist?

There seems to be much controversy around the man, Patrick Moore, perhaps, for good reason.  While he was clearly a strong environmentalist at one time -- he was an early member of the organization, Greenpeace, eventually rising to the station of President -- in later years, he has made his living primarily as a public relations consultant.   He seems to tirelessly lecture, lobby, provide professional opinions and participate on committees to government and industry on a wide range of environmental and sustainability issues. He is a frequent public speaker at meetings of industry associations, universities, and policy groups.

Of late, has taken a strong stance in several 'hot topic' environmental issues, not the least of which is the Albert Oilsands Project -- in case you're wondering, he's a supporter.  He is particularly well known for his support of nuclear energy.

While I don't  prescribe to all of Moore's opinions, you have to give the guy his credit due and we certainly can't write off anything he says simply because he might be paid to represent a cause we don't believe in.  He is clearly a well educated individual well versed in his subjects of choice.  Perhaps one needs to read between the lines a little but, isn't that the case with everything?  Isn't it our personal responsibility to undertake our own research and make our own determinations? 

Something none of us can deny is that Moore is certainly one of the most interesting, if not controversial, Canadians of our time.  Here are a few sites that might help YOU decide what side of the fence Moore stands on:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patrick_Moore_(environmentalist)

http://seeker401.wordpress.com/2012/01/12/greenpeace-founder-questions-windfarms-the-industry-is-a-destroyer-of-wealth-and-negative-to-the-economy/

http://www.greenpeace.org/international/en/about/history/Patrick-Moore-background-information/

So God Made a Farmer

Made In Alberta Food Sustainability Model

ARSAN (or Alberta Rural Sustainability Alternatives Network) is a non-profit grassroots organization with the purpose of demonstrating possibilities of a new sustainable way of life and a focus on the development of a sustainable local food system. ARSAN’s specific commitments, when combined together, make ARSAN unique in its exploration of sustainability.

ARSAN Key Commitments

Exploring alternatives
ARSAN is committed to exploring and building examples of new, sustainable alternatives that have the potential to contribute to the future wellbeing of our society. Being committed to alternatives means doing things differently from what is done now. The intent is to provide new perspectives and options for how things can be done in these changing and challenging times.
Education by demonstration
ARSAN’s has a fundamental commitment to education by creating examples of possible alternatives. This approach applies to everything we do: the food we promote, our projects, the organization’s structure and how we refer to our partners and supporters. This presents a challenge because providing practical examples requires a great and complex effort. At ARSAN we believe that such an effort, even on a small and imperfect scale, may have a highly educational value for many.
Principles of sustainability
ARSAN believes in the true, broad and deep meaning of sustainability. Sustainability is the capacity to endure. For that, we must find ways of living within the limits of Earth’s ecosystems today and for generations to come. Food is central to sustainability. How it is produced and what we eat has very strong links with the natural environment, use of energy and other natural resources, climate change, water availability, rural economic sustainability and most importantly, our health.
Authentic foods
Within the food system, sustainable food processing alternatives are equally important to farming alternatives but very seldom addressed. To understand what makes food processing sustainable we look for guidance in methods used in the pre-industrial times. For food to be sustainable, it must be locally produced. Since Canada is a young country with no preindustrial food history, ARSAN explores food traditions from countries with similar climatic and cultural zones and that is Europe and particularly its central, eastern and northern parts.
Wholistic approach
To understand the challenge of sustainability we need to learn and promote a different, wholistic (systemic) way of thinking and perceiving the world. Holistic farming and permaculture are examples known to many, particularly those interested in exploring sustainability and alternative agriculture. At ARSAN, we take this wholistic approach beyond farming and extend it to all other parts of our collective lives such as organizations, the food system, human health or any project that we are undertaking. All these represent different but interconnected systems when at the same time are also parts of the common wholistic concept of a new, sustainable way of life.
Building urban - rural connections
Development of a new, sustainable local food system must involve both urban and rural representations. Given that most food production occurs in the rural areas and that the majority of the population lives in cities, one cannot succeed without the other. In addition, urban communities offer capabilities and resources that may not be readily available in rural communities. However, there is a cultural gap between these two parts of our society; they may not understand or connect well one with another. To help bridge this gap ARSAN actively seeks involvement of both rural and particularly urban people in all aspects of our organizational activities. All projects, while primarily located in rural areas, are clearly focused on potential gains for urban people. ARSAN’s projects can only succeed by attracting their involvement, but this, in turn, will also be beneficial to rural participants and will support rural development.

-excerpt from the ARSAN website -http://arsan.ca/about-us/beginnings.html

Springbrook Community Centre Feasibility Study Open House

Date: Thursday January 26th, 2012

Time: 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Location: Springbrook Community Centre (3216A – 22nd Street, Springbrook)

Mintlaw Bridge Public Access and Preservation Strategy

http://rdcounty.ca/News/News-Releases/Mintlaw-Bridge-Public-Access-and-Preservation-Strategy-Open-House

The Mintlaw Bridge, also known as the old ACR bridge, located south of the City of Red Deer, is a significant historical landmark located in Red Deer County.  If you were unable to attend the January 25th Open House outlining possible strategies for the bridge, you can still share your opinion by completing the form available on this link.

If you want to learn more about the bridge, please follow this link:
http://www.forthjunction.com/dawe-mintlaw-bridge.htm