TheGreenGazetteFebMarch2015

06/ Earth Hour With our help, the World Wildlife Federation's (WWF) Earth Hour has become the largest grassroots act in history, engaging millions of people worldwide to flick off the lights for one hour in March, reflect on the possibilities of collective action, and envision a future without climate change. - by Jessica Kirby 07/ Lived Experience Literary Journal Shortly before Christmas, 2014, Van Andruss released the latest volume of his annual literary magazine, Lived Experience Number Fourteen, Stories and Poety from BC and Beyond.

- by Sage Birchwater 09/ Explore the Dark Side, You Must As I write this, it is well past Winter Solstice, and the return of the light is noticeable. In the hectic preparations for Christmas, solstice is often forgotten, but it is an important part of many people‘s spirituality. - by Margaret-Anne Enders 10/ Encounters with the Unknown I was fortunate enough to be able to spend this past December in the southern hemisphere, exploring the city and jungle wilds of Peru and Bolivia with a good friend.

- by Ciel Patenaude 18/ Successful Seed Starting Tips for the 2015 Growing Season It‘s always fun to start thinking about gardening this time of year: our energy returns as we think of new beginnings and yet another season of growth.

- by Brianna van de Wijngaard 21/ Love Note: A Valentine’s Invitation Romantic love, as marked by the celebration of Valentine‘s Day, is a small part of the whole of love, and certainly has its pitfalls, as we all know. - by Jack Adam Weber 28/ Building an Affordable High-performance Home: It's not rocket science I had always wanted to build an off-grid, high-performance home, so we started researching and sketching ideas. We came up with a fairly simple plan. - by Paul Hearsey

Publisher / Editor-in-Chief Lisa Bland lisa@thegreengazette.ca Senior Editor Jessica Kirby Contributors David Suzuki, LeRae Haynes, Margaret-Anne Enders, Brianna van de Wijngaard, Ciel Patenaude, Sam Delacherois, Lisa Bland, Van Andruss, Devon Chappell, Jenny Howell, Jessica Knodel, Ron Young, Jasmin Schellenberg, Terri Smith, Jessica Kirby, Maggie Pyper, Ray Grigg, Sage Birchwater, Adam McLeod, Paul Hearsey, Jack Adam Weber, Pat Teti Advertising Lisa Bland Creative Directors Lisa Bland / Teena Clipston Ad Design Teena Clipston, Rebecca Patenaude, Leah Selk Published by Earthwild Consulting Printing Black Press Ltd. Cover Copyright: Valentina Razumova Index Photo Copyright: Torian

PO Box 164 Horsefly, BC, V0L 1L0 250-620-3419 www.thegreengazette.ca info@thegreengazette.ca TheGreenGazette is published by Earthwild Consulting. To subscribe call (250) 620-3419. To view the webs i t e and onl i ne fl i pbook, vi s it www.thegreengazette.ca © 2015 all rights reserved. Opinions and perspectives expressed in the magazine are those of authors, and do not necessarily represent the views of the ownership or management. Reproduction in whole or part without the publisher‘s consent is strictly prohibited.

08/ Water Footprints Williams Lake has done well with ‗direct‘ water conservation over the last few years. Water consumption is now 20 per cent lower than pre-2006 levels; people understand the need to have short showers, turn off taps, and start planting drought hardy garden species to preserve our finite aquifer. To celebrate 2015 World Water Day, the Cariboo-

Chilcotin Conservation Society is sponsoring a FREE swim at the Cariboo Memorial Recreation Centre on Sunday, March 22 from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Display and draw prize on location. - by Jenny Howell, CCCS

04 Self Care, Health, and Wellness in Williams Lake - by LeRae Haynes 04/ Letter from the Publisher: Thoughts on Self Care - by Lisa Bland 06/ Strength in Superfoods: Maca - by Devon Chappell 09/ Raising Amadeus - by Terri Smith 11/ Science Matters: Energy shift requires shift in conversation - by David Suzuki 11/ Youth Perspectives: 5.6 billion haters - by Sam Delacherois 12/ Cariboo Regional District: The Williams Lake and Area Landfill 14/ Mount Polley Mine Update - by Sage Birchwater 15/ Pat’s No-knead, No-oven, Skillet bread - by Pat Teti 17/ BC Family Day: Face time trumps screen time - by LeRae Haynes 19 / We All Love Food - by Jessica Knodel

19/ Food Waste Film Comes to the Cariboo 22/ Book Review: Talk About Books - by Van Andruss 23/ Green Business Feature: Green and natural balance at Zirnhelt Timber Frames - by LeRae Haynes 23/ The Dangers of DHEA - by Adam McLeod 24/ The Itsy Bitsy Bikini and International Women’s Day - by Maggie Pyper 24/ Water Gratitude Concert with Danielea Castell 25/ Confessions of a Farmer: The seed cataglogue quandary - by Terri Smith 25/ Doctors Call for Protection from Radiofrequency Radiation 26/ Letters: Resource Extraction: Giving Back 27/ The Carbon Year: The Building Pressure - by Ray Grigg 27/ The Rocketship of Your Mind - by Ron Young 30/ Nourishing our Children - by Jasmin Schellenberg 30/ Calendar of Events

“

You need to take care of yourself” can be easier said than done, and it means something different to everyone. From professionals offering shiatsu to nail care and waxing to orthotics, there are caring service experts in Williams Lake to help you find the answers you need and the personalized treatments that will work best for you.

Integrated Elements Wellness Clinic (Williams Lake and 100 Mile House) offers Cariboo team-based, patient-centered healthcare options including chiropractic, massage therapy, acupuncture, shiatsu, reflexology, and orthotics. The clinic's practitioners have a combined 38 years of natural healthcare experience addressing a variety of issues such as neck and back pain, headaches, sports injuries, work ergonomics, sleep/anxiety/depression issues, arthritis and mobility issues, and prenatal care. They encourage patients to work on making healthier lifestyle choices regarding exercise, nutrition, sleep, stress management, and injury prevention. Phone (778) 4121441 at 29D Third Ave S. Adorn and Beauty Naturally, where health and beauty treatments go hand in hand with protecting the environment, of-

By LeRae Haynes fers pedicures, manicures, facials, waxing, reflexology, a range of massage treatments, eyelash and eyebrow tinting, gel nails and polish, and more. The owners and staff are committed to high-quality ‗green‘ Canadian products with no preservatives, toxins, or harmful additives. Attuned to each client, they are dedicated to making every experience a special one. Phone (250) 392-2889 at 240 Oliver Street.

Organic skincare facials, advanced pedicure services, waxing, and tinting are available to you at Spa Bella, where you find quality care in an elegant relaxing atmosphere. All your aesthetic needs are looked after with aestheticians who are certified and licensed podologists. Your health, safety, and comfort are the highest priority, and your best well-being is taken to heart.

Phone (250) 392-5833 at 118B First Ave N. Body Connection by Joe is a source of a wide range of healing treatments. Joe Amaral is a healing facilitator, offering individualized combinations of massage, shiatsu, healing touch, lymph drainage, trigger point therapy, and Reiki. With a very high success rate, he helps you with whatever your body needs to get back into health and

alignment. Phone (250) 392-2600 at #146A N1st Avenue.

Tammy Lee Isnardy at Helping You Heal Bodywork is a registered body worker, offering deep tissue therapeutic massage and making custom orthotics.

Knowledge is important to Tammy Lee and she spends time helping her clients figure out how to manage pain and find tools to help themselves, and will recommend other practitioners to increase healing options.

Atwood Medical Clinic (250) 392-3353 at #102 143 S 4th Ave. The Hobbit House is a collection of healers who come together to share a space and a wellness philosophy that has served the community for 15 years, and is reflective of what people want and what they need. Owner Leanne Kunka said what people seem to need right now is spiritual healing. There is a high level of demand on and success with the store's card readers, shamans, and intuitives. The Hobbit House's upcoming 4th annual Psychic Fair on February 27 and 28 is expected to be busy. Last year‘s fair saw readers booked solid for a month in advance. The store also has a juice and smoothie coffee bar with organic, healthy alternatives and a shop where products are local, organic, and Fair Trade.

There is something good behind everything in the store. Phone (250) 392-7599 at 71 1st Avenue S. Ellen Paynton at Life Pilates is a therapeu-

tic movement practitioner with a degree in kinesiology who focuses on balance, movement, health, and wellness. She offers group or individual sessions that include yoga, pilates, rehabilitation, and breath awareness.

Using modalities and techniques tailored to her clients, she helps them ‗get out of their heads and into their bodies,‘ giving people a perspective on what‘s most important right now, and a holistic approach to getting through their day. Phone (250) 305-5119 at #3 150 Oliver Street or visit www.lifepilates.ca.

Foster Holistic Harmony is a one-stop online resource for wellness and sustainable living with a list of local businesses and organizations, articles, and events. Attractive, interactive, and informative, the site is owned and operated by Laura Purdy and covers Williams Lake, 100 Mile House, Quesnel, and soon, Kamloops. It has been in operation, thanks to Laura and her mom, since 2010. ―My mom and I are both interested in wellness, and helping to connect people who offer holistic healing services to people who need them,‖ says Purdy, adding she knows first-hand what it's like to face a health obstacle and search for a natural alternatives to make your life better. ―Response has been positive, and we are continuing to grow and expand‖ she says.

Find this resource at www.fosterholisticharmony.ca.

Lisa Bland Publisher/ Editor-in-Chief

D

ear readers, As we journey around the sun and emerge from the depths of winter, it‟s comforting to know that green life will soon be stirring. In a land where half our year is spent in winter, and the months of January and February statistically can be the most challenging to us northerners in terms of mental health, good self-care can be a way to get through the slog of winter and prepare for the new energy of spring.

For some, this may be a season to be immersed in creative pursuits: dreaming, reading, sleeping, enjoying winter sports, and gathering socially. For others, this time of year is a struggle. For the elderly and those who live alone or struggle with Seasonal Affective Disorder or depression, life can be even more isolating during short dark days as physical challenges add up when dealing winter conditions. Many of us are flat out busy, and the demands of modern life give us no chance to pause and rest with the season.

Our society‘s modern systems are designed for efficiency and productivity.

They don‘t take the weather and winter roads into account, the lack of sunshine, if you felt like sleeping in, and how your body and mind are dealing with being cooped up inside sitting all day or constricted in layers of winter clothes.

When February comes around, the indulgence of the holiday season is behind us and January‘s inspired resolve has given way to more realistic plans. By this point maybe we are ready for some adamant self care and to reclaim the parts of self that have been under external pressures for so long.

I must admit, I am not a great example of living a balanced life as I struggle to balance work with play and time for exercise and rejuvenation. I continuously pile too much into my day, carve at my sleep time, sit for hours in front of the computer, eat chocolate for dinner sometimes, and miss out on walks or yoga because I just can‘t seem fit it all in.

But more importantly, I‘m aware when I‘m out of balance. I care, and I try. For many of us, there was a time when life was simpler, when our technology hadn‘t taken over, when distractions weren‘t continual, and people just went visiting or checked in on their neighbours for no reason. Or we just wandered off into nature. I remember loving stormy days growing up on Haida Gwaii, and it brought great excitement if the power went out and suddenly we were left in the raw elements. Even when I was young, I celebrated un-plugging and knew there was something special about it. Each time it left me with the peaceful feeling that my body was resetting to something more enduring and comfortable. It felt right.

It‘s easy to forget that humans evolved most of their time in nature and we are

designed to be a part of it. We have simple needs for sunlight, water, food, shelter, and love. The effects of sitting all day, sensory over-stimulation, food ingredients our bodies don‘t recognize, medications that cause impacts to our organs and nervous systems, loud and constant noise, fast moving vehicles, synthesized chemicals in our food, on our skin and breathed into our lungs, electromagnetic radiation all around—these must certainly have an impact. Just looking back at the last century, it‘s really strange that we consider this normal.

I find these days that the word busy, or extremely busy is how I describe my life.

As I hear myself say the words, another part of me sees a hamster going around on a wheel and keeps whispering quietly to find a slower track, and gently take a detour off the whirling, spinning, light-show carnival of modern life. No sooner do I listen to that voice, I find solutions to the stress and overload. They aren‘t a long way off in the future. They‘re right here and now.

So I leave you with a list of things that bring me comfort and healing when I feel overwhelmed and off kilter. When life is just too busy and complicated or it‘s dark and a struggle and you‘re feeling alone, there is always a light somewhere, in something. Hang in there—spring is just around the bend!

1. Find a quiet place. Sing or hum a favourite song, feeling the soothing vibration of your voice in your body. Look at the sky, watch the trees in the wind.

Breathe. Think of something you‘re grateful for. Think of a person who is struggling and send them a loving thought. Think of those whose lives are torn by war or abuse or disaster, and resolve to make the most of your freedom of choice and the privilege you were born into.

2. Call or visit a friend or family member and share some of the joy, laughter, and pain of living. Try to listen as much as speak and understand the feeling or need behind the words. It doesn‘t matter whose turn it is sometimes. Resolve to be a better listener and show more gratitude. Try not to grasp at outcomes.

3. Make soup. Lately I‘ve been making bone broth out of organic beef or chicken, loaded with onions, garlic, celery, carrots, and whatever else needs rescuing from the fridge. It‘s easy to put into jars in the fridge and on days when I have no time to prepare anything I can warm it up and sip it and know I‘m being nourished.

4. Try not to eat chocolate for dinner.

Fruit is a better option. Soup is the best.

5. Jump at every opportunity to do yoga, go for a walk, get outside in the fresh air. It‘s the place where space is created and new patterns are formed. It‘s the reset button.

6. Turn it all OFF. Unplug everything— the noise, computers, phone. Flip the breaker switch off in your house for an hour. Light a candle if it‘s dark and be inside without the buzz. Write in your journal about how you‘re feeling, what you‘re glad about in your day, and what bothered you. Go a little deeper and don‘t be afraid of the sadness—it can

A frosty winter’s day, waiting for signs of spring. Photo: Lisa Bland

show you the way through to a clear heart and untroubled mind but first you may have to look at it. It‘s your story, don‘t be afraid of it—you can change it.

7. Talk to people. Our stories and experiences are rich. Many are craving connection. Say something real rather than the expected response. There may be a hug or a smile waiting.

8. Make a plan to do something that pleases your spirit. It can be simple.

9. Working hard at and sacrificing yourself for something you love and have passion for is much easier than putting your time in for a paycheck. The feeling of using creative energy in the direction you want to go, though it may be a heavy burden, is ultimately work that is fuelled by the fire of your spirit

and will lead to good results. Balance can be figured out along the way, and saying yes truthfully with your heart to something is worth the effort.

10. You are worth it. If you can afford it, give yourself the gift of healing touch—bodywork, massage, or acupuncture can really help if you feel constricted or trapped in a tired or sore body and we have some great local options.

11. Health is wealth. No matter what is happening in your life, you probably still have a lot of control over what you choose to eat and how you treat your body. Make yourself a beautiful salad.

Your cells will thank you.

12. Be kind to yourself and others and savour the sweet moments in your life.

By Jessica Kirby, Senior Editor of TheGreenGazette

F

or eight years now, Canadians have been part of an international movement to celebrate the Earth with A Moment of Darkness. With our help, the World Wildlife Federation's (WWF) Earth Hour has become the largest grassroots act in history, engaging millions of people worldwide to flick off the lights for one hour in March, reflect on the possibilities of collective action, and envision a future without climate change.

Earth Hour kicked off as a lights-out event in Sydney, Australia in March, 2007.

Seven months later San Francisco ran its own ―Lights Out‖ event, inspiring global engagement the following year. On its first anniversary in March, 2008, 35 countries representing 400 cities participated in Earth Hour and turned off their non-essential lights from 8-9 p.m. local time. The result?

A full-scale, collective act of empowerment and hope that has since spawned a global rash of exciting Earth-friendly projects that are having an impacting influence on the state of the planet.

Reduced energy use has been one obvious benefit—even if it is largely symbolic.

After the 2008 campaign, WWF Thailand reported a 73.34-megawatt decrease in en-

By Devon Chappell

“

When maca is consumed the spirits are close. Maca draws in spirits to be birthed.”

-- Traditional Andean shamans

(pacos) Individuals seeking zest and craving an active attitude towards life often swear by the power of food to guide their well-being nutritionally, medicinally, and religiously.

No matter the situation, obstacles, or challenges life tosses up, I believe that, other than music, nothing but food has the ability to promote healthy happiness, focus, and physical drive.

Have you found yourself in midst of a cold climate or high above the sea where the air is thin and vegetation scarce? Been pushed to the peak of exhaustion barefoot and hard knuckled with nothing but true grit to pull through? It might be mental preparation, physical endurance, or struggle from lack of libido and swimmers in the reproduction pool. If you didn't already know, there‘s a superb plant arsenal laying in the frosty, sandy soil of a desolate mountain range high in the Peruvian Andes of South America.

Amid the barren, treeless, turbulent wind patterned land of intense sunlight days and freezing nights lies underground a legendary root vegetable known as Maca.

This vigorous plant's root is inspiring. Not only does it outlast the inhospitable region of poor, rocky soil, but it actually thrives on it. Incredibly, daily temperatures of a beautiful, sunny, 18 degrees C (64 degrees F) day can fall rapidly after dusk to a freezing level of -10 degrees C (14 degrees F) giving maca one of the highest frost tolerances as a native cultivated species. Because of its amazing ability to withstand the harsh elements in the natural altitude, which is

ergy use in Bangkok. In the Philippines, power consumption dropped by 78.63 megawatts in Metro Manila, and up to 102.2 megawatts in Luzon. Ontario saw a 900-megawatt-hour reduction and Toronto alone, at one point, saw an 8.7 per cent drop in consumption compared to a typical Saturday night in March. Ireland, Dubai, and Christchurch, New Zealand experienced 1.5%, 2.4%, and 13% reductions, respectively.

In 2012, important global monuments began taking the pledge to turn off the lights in observance of Earth Hour and in 2013, the Tokyo Tower, the Kremlin, St. Basil's Cathedral and Red Square in Russia, the Palace of Westminster and Big Ben in London, the Eiffel Tower in Paris, the Grand Palace and Wat Arun in Bangkok, Thailand, and the Jubilee Lights at the Parliament Buildings in Victoria clicked off for the hour.

Most importantly, Earth Hour 2014 connected a record 162 countries and territories and more than 7,000 cities and towns.

Eighteen crowdfunding projects were launched from February to June of that year, including WWF-Philippines' Bancas for the Philippines, which builds fiberglass boats to help typhoon-affected communities and reduce reliance on wood; and, WWFSingapore's Stop the Killing, a project that reduces wildlife crimes in Southeast Asia.

These campaigns and others have been successful thanks to Earth Hour Blue—a crowdsourcing and crowdfunding platform

from 9,000 - 10,000 feet above sea level and as high as 14,000 feet, this crop wins as the highest-altitude crop on earth.

The Andes aphrodisiac, also known as maca root, Peruvian ginseng, and Lepidium meyenii, has been used medicinally for hundreds of years in South America to enhance fertility in humans and animals.

Maca is grown for its nutrient-rich root and is a member of the cruciferous family of plants such as kale, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, radish, rutabaga, and turnips. It isn't surprising it resembles a radish, only slightly larger on average in diameter which can typically be two to three inches.

The root is off-white, yellow, or purple or has purple bands streaking through. It's typical that members of the cruciferous families plant above ground to produce an off-white to yellow four-petal flower. Maca plant is quite smaller than its relatives.

In his book, Superfoods: The food and medicine of the future, David Wolfe says being an adaptogen, maca has the ability to balance and stabilize the body's glandularhormonal system, cardiovascular system, nervous system, and musculature. It's rich in calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, sulphur, sodium, and iron. Trace minerals include zinc, iodine, copper, selenium, bismuth, manganese, tin, and silicon along with vitamins B1, B2, C, and E. He adds, one can benefit from maca with an increase of energy, endurance, oxygen to the blood, physical strength, neurotransmitter production, and libido. Maca is also known to improve conditions such as anemia, fatigue, depression, malnutrition, menopausal symptoms, menstrual discomforts and disorders, poor memory, stomach cancer, stress tension, and tuberculosis, and provides thyroid support, says Wolfe.

An absolute worthy attribute of maca's is its fertility-enhancing constituents and the support to the endocrine system which is deeply correlated with the function of the immune system. Peruvian biologist Gloria

meant to take Earth Hour beyond the hour to engage global participants in positive, tangible projects that benefit the environmental health of communities around the world.

In Canada, approximately 16 million people dim the lights during Earth Hour each year, and Canadian cities have done a great job of putting forward environmental initiatives to help mitigate climate change year round.

According to WWF-Canada, ―80% of the Canadian population lives in cities, where more than 70% of the world‘s CO2 emissions are generated.‖ Aided by trillions of investment dollars earmarked for infrastructure, urban populations are skyrocketing. ―This funding can and should be invested in the creation of sustainable cities,‖ says WWF-Canada.

The Earth Hour City Challenge, now known as the We Love Cities campaign, champions municipal environmental initiatives relating to transportation, green building, waste reduction, and reduced power consumption. In 2013, Vancouver was named Earth Hour's Capital City and this year it remains in the top three finalists. In fact, three Canadian cities have been named finalists: Vancouver, North Vancouver, and Edmonton, each brimming with environmental initiatives Canadians can be proud of.

Despite its popularity, Earth Hour has its share of nay-sayers. Critics say the event gives individuals a false sense of accomplishment in reducing greenhouse gases, since the correlation between GHGs and turning out the lights is only significant if the power behind the lights is generated by coal-burning sources. Another complaint is Chacon de Popovici, PhD, suggests maca acts on the hypothalamus and pituitary glands as well the adrenals, and activating these glands increases energy, vitality, and libido. Also, maca works on the master gland of the brain, the hypothalamus, generally considered the sex-hormone of the brain. I've personally tested maca with noticeable, positive effects throughout the body, but of course, having a healthy lifestyle will help flourish the nutrients you soulfully need.

Maca powder is an emulsifier, meaning it draws fats/oils together with sugars/starches improving the consistency and overall flavour in beverages or foods. Cacao and maca, for instance, have a unique and wealthy history when mixed together. Remind yourself when indulging in these types of foods, you're richer than you think. Any food that holds its own nutritionally and has the ability to balance or stabilize the ―body-go-round‖ should be taken seriously, with love and affection.

Recipes I've never been one to measure. I am more of a ―by feel and taste‖ kind of guy so choose and measure whatever ingredients you prefer.

Balls of Bliss Ingredients 1 Tbsp maca powder 1 Tbsp cacao powder cacao nibs 2 Tbsp goji berries handful of coconut shreds 1 Tbsp coconut oil, melted (or more to taste) hemp seeds, chia seeds, pumpkin seeds, and / or sunflower seeds slivered almonds, crushed cashews, and / or flaxmeal 4 – 6 Medjool dates, pitted pinch sea salt These ingredients are for you to play with. Pick a seed to go with a nut, or choose neither. Have fun with it.

Tools Hands Vitamix / blender Directions Place ingredients into a blender or Vi-

the amount of energy saved in an hour doesn't really have a tremendous impact on a long-lasting, big picture scale, but according to WWF, that isn't really the point. ―Earth hour does not claim that the event is an energy or carbon reduction exercise—it is a symbolic action,‖ says the WWF website. ―Therefore, we do not engage in the measurement of energy or carbon reduction levels.‖ The point, says the organization, is to ―encourage individuals, businesses, and governments around the world to take accountability for their ecological footprint and engage in dialogue and resource exchange that provides real solutions to our environmental challenges. ―Participation in Earth Hour symbolizes a commitment to change beyond the hour,‖ says WWF. The best part of Earth Hour is its simplicity. Individuals can click off the lights and all non-essential sources of power from 8:30 – 9:30 p.m. on March 28, 2015 and make a meaningful difference—meaningful because it engages conversation, awareness, and action. Meaningful because it brings us much closer to long-term, year-round initiatives in communities experiencing change every day. And meaningful because there is nothing brighter than a cleaner future.

Visit WWF-Canada online at http://www.wwf.ca/, Like World Wildlife Fund on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ worldwildlifefund, or Like Earth Hour Canada at https://www.facebook.com/ earthhourcanada. Follow Earth Hour on Twitter @earthhourcanada and be sure to post your Earth Hour activities at #momentofdarkness.

Maca Root and powder Photo: www.gaiahealthblog.com

tamix and mix on low, adding melted coconut oil. Leave a good consistency to roll the mixture into balls. Add hemp seeds to thicken, if necessary.

Begin rolling the mixture into balls.

Roll the balls in coconut shreds or crushed nuts / or seeds. If you like an extra crunch, add cacao nibs to your ball mixture after its been blended. Place on parchment paper or plate. Let those little lovelies harden in the freezer for an hour. So perfect you'll never want any tailored sweets from the store again! Enjoy.

Remember: Anything taken in large quantities can have upsetting results. When using something from the Earth to better your well-being, it's best to treat it with respect rather than indulge in an attempt to speed the nourishing effects. Just because a superfood / herb works wonders on a person doesn't necessarily mean its right for you. Always take caution when introducing a new element to your temple.

Devon Chappell is something of an impressionist with therapeutic hands. He holds a focus on what is real when it comes to food. He has a personal interest in nutrition and art and when he is in his element, Devon brings nature to the kitchen.

By Sage Birchwater hortly before Christmas, 2014, Van Andruss released the latest volume of his annual literary magazine, Lived Experience Number Fourteen, Stories and Poety from BC and Beyond.

When the journal had its beginnings in 2001, it was only 28 pages and contained the prose and poetry of 11 writers. Fourteen years later, LE14 has mushroomed to 156 pages, heralding the work of 25 writers.

The annual journal published in Yalakom Valley near Lillooet has come a long way since Van and his poet neighbour Jonathan “Swamp” Kerslake brought the first volume to print.

“We wanted to give voice to people’s firsthand, tangible, somatic, personal experience,” Van wrote in the introduction. “To provide reading that grabbed you and got down to the heart of things.”

A journal may be expected to reflect the tastes and preference of its editors. “We live in a bush hippy’s paradise in the mountains of BC,” he continued. “The wild beauty of this region exerts a primary influence on us.”

In his introduction to the magazine, Swamp described how people left mainstream society to live off the beaten path because they were sickened by the speed at which thought and culture were being corporatized. “People started making their own words to describe what was happening in their lives,” he said. “Collecting and publishing their words is like fishing. You bait your hook, throw it overboard, and wait. If you’re lucky you drag up something you had nothing to do with until that moment. It’s an act of culture.”

Van said the journal is like a boat waiting at dock the entire year for its cargo to come aboard.

“Passengers become familiar to us,” he said. “There are matters to work out, opinions to exchange, and collaboration that must occur. At a certain point we are ready and we sail from the bay into the wider world where anything can happen.”

After they published the second volume of Lived Experience (LE2), Swamp left the community for a while and Van soldiered on alone—not completely alone, mind you. He had the support and expertise of his partner, Eleanor Wright, who took an active role as assistant editor, and together they continued to publish the magazine each year without fail.

Fourteen volumes later, a broad swath has been carved in BC’s literary landscape.

More than 100 writers have had their work published in Lived Experience, preserving a valuable cultural record.

As the magazine evolved, the focus expanded beyond the bioregion of the BC interior. Readers were invited into such diverse landscapes as Hei Tse Shan in Tibet where writer Rachel Reimer went bouldering (LE12) and across the Sahara desert where Caterina Geuer explored in 1974. (LE13).

One of the gems of the magazine is the artwork of Luther Brigman who graced several covers with his spectacular drawings and provided stunning illustrations for specific themes or subject matter.

I first learned of Lived Experience 10 years ago when Eleanor Wright handed me a

S

Left: Sage Birchwater holding Pogie in front of the Belfrey Theatre in Victoria. Photo: Caterina Geuer. Right: Van Andruss and Lorne Dufour discuss poetry and other matters on Lorne’s front porch near McLeese Lake. Photo: Sage Birchwater

copy of LE4 at Jerry LeBourdais’ funeral at Lone Butte. It was January, 2005, and Eleanor encouraged me to contact Van and submit an article for consideration.

I had known Van and the folks from Yalakom for more than 20 years, from the Hat Creek Survival Gatherings of the early 1980s, when people came from far and wide to strategize against a gigantic coal-fired power plant planned for Upper Hat Creek Valley. The ill-fated project was eventually scrapped by government, but the gatherings continued and we intermittently stayed in touch.

I was impressed with Lived Experience, and Van was delighted when I sent him my tribute to Jerry LeBourdais, who had been our mutual friend from the early back-to-the -land days.

Van seemed pleased to have one more writer in his stable, and from my point it was exciting to have the unique opportunity to share matters of the heart. Then Van convinced me to start telling details of my life journey in the magazine.

More important, Van, Eleanor, and I grew to become close friends as well as writing associates. Soon I took an active role in promoting the magazine and encouraging other writers like Gloria Atamanenko, John Schreiber, Sally Bland, Barb Coupe, and Christine Peters to come on board. Each year my composition for Lived Experience became a pinnacle of my writing focus.

One of the joys of Lived Experience is following various writers throughout the different volumes. Only Van Andruss and Swamp have contributed to every issue, but others like Lorne Dufour, Doug Dobyns, Alan Twigg, Brian Hayden, Bob Sarti, Tim McNulty, Lisa Enquist, Edye Hayden, David Bouvier, John Schreiber, Joram Piatigorsky, Caterina Geuer, and Julie Andres have their work in multiple volumes.

I’ve had the privilege of seeing my work in 10 issues. The seed idea for my LE14 article came from a short encounter at the Belfrey Theatre in Victoria one Saturday morning last fall. My family had gathered to celebrate my mother’s 90th birthday, and I wandered off to check out my old haunts where a group of us in 1971 converted Emmanuel Baptist Church into a youth hostel.

My story leapfrogs to the Cariboo, where I

lived communally on the Borland Meadow near Miocene, before fleeing to my trapline in the West Chilcotin.

John Schreiber, who is published in seven volumes of the magazine, shares a delightful tribute in LE14 to his dad, Pat Schreiber with The Legacy of a Woodsman.

Joram Piatigorsky grew up with Van Andruss in Los Angeles. They lost touch for many years but reconnected through the Internet. Joram, the son of world-renowned cellist, Gregor Piatigorsky, had a successful career as a research scientist before retiring to take up writing. In LE14 he tells how his father escaped the pogroms (Jewish persecution) in the Ukraine, then supported his family with his cello by playing in silent movies and restaurants in Moscow, before making his way to the west and coming to America.

Likely poet, Sally Bland, made her foray into Lived Experience with a tribute to her sister, Linda Ellen Bland in LE8. ThreePenny Opera still sends tingles up my spine. After a brief hiatus Sally returns with a short essay and three poems in LE14.

JoAnne Kimmel has lived a long time on Chilko Lake near Nemiah Valley. She told an intriguing story in LE2 about traveling by horseback across southern British Columbia with her family. In LE14, she lends her poetic voice in telling “The Mystery of a Heart.”

Lisa Enquist lived at the Borland Meadow when I was there, and for a time was Jerry LeBourdais’ partner. Now a nurse

in North Vancouver, her two poems in LE14 convey profound thoughts, simply and directly.

New to Lived Experience is Doug Saba.

A farrier by trade, he is an old friend of Lorne Dufour from the Caravan Stage Company. In LE14 he tells about his apprenticeship as a cowboy at the Flying U Guest Ranch on Green Lake.

Lorne Dufour has published both prose and poetry in 12 different issues of Lived Experience. He consistently takes you to the edge with his verse. A proofreader for LE14 commented how Lornie’s poetry makes the hair stand up on her arms. “What higher compliment can a poet hope for?” Van states.

Lornie says the magazine gives him optimism. “It’s difficult to express deep feelings, but all these voices coming together in Lived Experience signify positive change—proof that evolution is taking place.”

You’ll have to see for yourself.

All volumes of Lived Experience are available at the Open Book or Station House Gallery in Williams Lake, or KC Health & Gifts in Lillooet. They can also be borrowed from the library. Ask your librarian.

Sage Birchwater moved to the CaribooChilcotin in 1973. He spends his time freelancing, authoring books, and with Caterina, hanging out with their dog and cat, gardening, and

being part of the rich cultural life that is the

By Jenny Howell Cariboo Chilcotin Conservation Society

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illiams Lake has done well with „direct‟ water conservation over the last few years. Water consumption is now 20 per cent lower than pre-2006 levels; people understand the need to have short showers, turn off taps, and start planting drought hardy garden species to preserve our finite aquifer.

So for this article I wanted to look more at our ‗indirect‘ or ‗virtual‘ water consumption—the water you don‘t even know you are using. In fact, only 5 per cent of the water used to support our lives is direct or coming through the taps; the other 95 per cent is hidden in the food, energy, products, and services we use, with 90 per cent of our overall water footprint embedded in our food choices alone. The Water Footprint Network compares average water footprints for citizens of different countries; maybe not surprisingly, Canadians have high water footprints. To compare: the global average is 1385 cubic metres a year. Canadians use 2333 cubic metres, Americans 2842, Australians 2315, United Kingdom residents 1258, and folks in India 1089.

And now to make things more complicated… our footprint can be further divided into the proportion of water derived from Canada (internal footprint) to support our lives and the water used from other countries (external footprint). On average, almost 21 per cent of our footprint is external, or made with another country‘s water.

In fact, there is massive global movement of water use in this way, with waterstressed countries importing more water in the form of products made in more waterrich countries. Canada is, predictably, a big exporter of water to other countries—think agricultural products, oil, timber. If your brain isn‘t aching yet, we can add yet another layer, subdividing further into blue, green, and grey footprints, depending on whether the water originates from surface water or rainwater, or is used to dilute pollutants.

Canada is lucky to have about 20 per cent of the world‘s freshwater supply. Locally, we‘ve been cutting back on our direct consumption to maintain the Williams Lake water source, so why does the rest of our footprint really matter?

The answer to that depends on where the water making up the rest of our footprint comes from. It could be another country that is draining aquifers or rivers to grow the cotton for our clothes, contributing to our blue or green water footprint.

It could be here in BC or in another region of Canada where surface and groundwater is becoming polluted with agricultural chemicals or industrial waste for our food and energy demands, contributing to our grey water footprints. Realistically, each of our water footprints will be a combination of low impact water use mixed with some having much more global detrimental ef-

fects. If you are feeling energetic, there are tools available to look at your individual footprint more closely and figure this out more specifically (see links below).

However, if you know you will never go to the effort of working out your own footprint, then the easiest approach is to come back once again to the most basic rules of any sustainability message— reduce, reuse, recycle. Fewer products made means less water used and polluted.

For help making food choices to reduce your water footprint, the Water Footprint network goes into the details of the water used to grow/produce many common foods—a couple of examples include: one apple-25 litres, 1 kg of wheat-1500 litres, 1 pizza-1260 litres,1 kg pork-5990 litres.

Again, to simplify, eating more vegetarian meals, growing your own garden, and buying from local growers will all help. There are calls to label foods with their water footprint to help consumers.

(While an interesting idea, the thought of having to consider the nutritional content, type of packaging, carbon footprint, food miles, water footprint, fair trade issues, price, seasonality, and what everyone at home will actually eat could quickly leave grocery shoppers screaming with frustration in the aisles.)

So while the water footprint is a useful concept for individuals, it is perhaps even more essential to understand it on a national level, as more countries start to face severe water shortages and import water through goods and services that they can no longer produce domestically. Understanding the movements of this ‗hidden‘ water can be used to inform both individual and national choices; given our water wealth, Canada will inevitably play a significant role as we face a planet of rising population, changing climate, and the inevitable accompanying geopolitical tensions.

To celebrate 2015 World Water Day, CCCS is sponsoring a FREE swim at the Cariboo Rec Centre on Sunday, March 22 from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Display and draw prize on location.

For more information on this event or any Water Wise or Waste Wise school and community programs, contact the CaribooChilcotin Conservation Society at sustain@ccconserv.org or visit the website at www.cconserv.org.

Water Footprint Network Local, National, and Global Calculator: http://www.waterfootprint.org/index.php? page=cal/WaterFootprintCalculator National Geographic Water Footprint Calculator: http:// environment.nationalgeographic.com/ environment/freshwater/change-thecourse/water-footprint-calculator/ What is the water footprint of your food?

Find out here: http://www.waterfootprint.org/? page=files/productgallery

Pie chart - This chart shows the litres of indirect agriculture-based water consumption per person, per day, per product. Meat, for example, takes up more than 50% of the agricultural water footprint (based on EU data).

Image: PEER: www.peer.eu/news-events/detail/?tx_list_pi1

Right graphic: The Water Footprint Assessment Manual presents a global standard for water use, in an effort to conserve water resources across borders and industries

The three types of water summarized in the above diagram make up your water footprint: rain and surface water for production, and fresh water for disposal.

Image: www.farmageddon.co

By Margaret-Anne Enders

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s I write this, it is well past Winter Solstice, and the return of the light is noticeable. In the hectic preparations for Christmas, solstice is often forgotten, but it is an important part of many people‟s spirituality. The Multiculturalism Program and the Women‟s Spirituality Circle celebrated the Solstice with the community with food, music, reflection, and creativity. We wrapped up the event with a lantern parade through the edge of the forest. A trail of tiny lights scattered through the darkness. It was dark and it was beautiful.

Nevertheless, I feel gratitude for the return of the light deep in my soul, and I know I am not alone. The tangible growing of the hours of daylight provides welcome relief for those who suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder as well as those who simply feel cooped up and suppressed by the darkness. The waning of daylight coincides with holiday time, which can be a difficult time for many people. Darkness has a reputation in our society with ―badness‖—things that are unsafe, unsavoury— and is generally avoided.

Just as darkness is shunned in the physical realm, so too in the spiritual realm. There is much in spiritual literature, traditions, and practices that urge people to go towards the light, live in the light, grow in the light. Light is revered and darkness is spurned. In some spiritual traditions people are taught not just to avoid the darkness, but to fear it and the evil it is said to harbour. Those who have questions or crises about their faith are sometimes accused of not having enough faith, which then adds to the pressure to get back into the safety of the light.

It is consistent with our present day society that we only want the light. We are sold comfort and happiness at every turn.

Hardships are seen as a sign of weakness.

When unwelcome feelings, thoughts, or questions surface, we do our utmost to push them aside. We avoid any kind of discomfort with any number of quick solutions—chocolate, TV, Facebook, prayers with bargains —the list goes on.

I, too, yearn for the light and I love songs and spiritual practices that focus on the light, yet I often feel that the darkness is under-rated, or more, perhaps, misunderstood. In our quest for light, it is easy to forget that, in a climate with four seasons such as ours, there is a great purpose for the hours of darkness. Darkness provides the Earth and its creatures with muchneeded time for rest and rejuvenation. It helps bodies to slow down, hunker down, and survive the colder temperatures.

Barbara Brown Taylor, in her book ―Learning to Walk in the Dark,‖ explores the concept of lunar spirituality. She critiques what she calls ―full solar spirituality,‖ which urges people to only go toward the light. With lunar spirituality, one takes the light and the dark and treasures them each for the gifts they offer.

So what might the gifts of darkness be?

One gift is to able to see a different perspective. Here‘s an experiment: look at an object in full sun. Take the time to observe details—the texture, the way the light interacts, what light it picks up, the shading and consistency of colour. Look at the same object at dusk. You will notice different qualities. Wait a few hours and explore that same object in complete darkness. You must use different senses. Your tactile senses are awakened, you feel temperatures, textures, forms. It is a new way of seeing.

By Terri Smith

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Studies show: goats dressed up in dapper little caps can help fight depression. Photo: Terri Smith

t‟s taken me longer than usual to write this article. It just seems that life is a bit tougher than usual at the moment. I‟m guessing many of you may be feeling the same sort of “winter blues.”

Christmas month, while a wonderful time of family, friends, and food can also be a bit of a shock to the system and can cause us to spiral down into some pretty dark times if we‟re not careful to keep our balance.

And then January arrives and cabin fever can start to set in. The dark days and long nights make for lower energy overall and with so many people around during the holidays we usually find that we have neglected to take the time to take care of ourselves.

So what does all of this have to do with Amadeus? For me, Amadeus has been a part of what has kept me grounded during the harder moments. I'd already made a habit of going down to the propagation greenhouse each night to say goodnight to him before I went to bed, but I really noticed how much better it always

Another gift is patience. In the darkness, we must move slower. It takes longer to find our footing. We can allow ourselves the time to rest and be quiet.

A further gift of submitting to the darkness for a time is relief. When there are certain places we can‘t go, certain things we can‘t think about, we end up spending a lot of energy pushing down, pushing away.

It can be a great relief to stop resisting. We can muster the courage and look inward.

Just as the shell of an agate looks dull on the outside but contains beautiful crystals inside, so too do we harbour great treasures inside.

In my own spiritual journey, I have encountered the darkness many times. As often happens in early adulthood, questions about my faith and the beliefs I absorbed growing up needed to be updated and made into mine. The dark times of questioning and doubting became opportunities to grow in my faith and to gain a deeper understanding of myself and my place in the world. Being in the darkness has given me the gift of presence and awareness. It is impossible to sleepwalk through life during times of challenge. And living through dark times has shown me the strength that I possess, that I can survive and even thrive during tough times.

It can be scary to step into the darkness, so remember this: first, darkness does not always mean despair. There is a continuum.

Despair is far to one side of that continuum, and understandably, it is hard to appreciate despair. Second, exploring the darkness also does not mean being overcome by the Dark Side. Looking at the darker emotions of fear, anger, jealousy does not mean succumbing to urges to harm others or take off to Mexico and never come back. It is merely acknowledging these feelings we all have, which are made me feel if I‘ve had a difficult day.

And then I came across an article about self -care that talked about some of the ways we can help ourselves to have more energy and it listed: ―snuggle with a pet or a loved one,‖ and I thought, ―ah-ha!‖ (Though I‘m not entirely sure whether he falls under the category of pet or loved one). Just sitting beside him as he happily eats his breakfast makes me feel happy. It‘s such a small thing, but wouldn‘t the world be a wonderful place if everyone had some sort of Amadeus in their life?

At the end of one particularly hard day in December when I‘d been working too many hours, eating too many rich foods at unnatural times, not getting enough exercise, and not taking any time for myself, I went downstairs to put wood in the fire and say goodnight to Amadeus. I must admit that I was so tired I kind of wished I could just skip these two ―chores,‖ and go straight to bed. But when I opened the door to the propagation greenhouse and breathed in the smell of good hay and saw the warm, fuzzy, fat, happy ball of goat that is Amadeus, I felt all my stress just melt away. I knelt down beside him, and this time, rather than get up as he would usually do when I came in, he just lifted his head and

Photo: Darksyd by Dave O part of our humanity. Just as with the experiment with the object in the dark, we can just be curious So during this time of the growing of the light, I invite you to reflect on the growth that happens in the dark times. Who knows? Maybe you‘ll even see darkness in a new light.

In her work with the Multicultural Program at Cariboo Mental Health Association, as well as in her life as a parent, partner, faithful seeker, left-leaning Christian, paddler, and gardener, Margaret-Anne Enders is thrilled to catch glimpses of the Divine in both the ordinary and the extraordinary.

To find out more about the Women‟s Spirituality Circle, call her at (250) 305-4426 or visit www.womenspiritualitycircle.wordpress.com or on Facebook at Women‟s Spirituality Circle in Williams Lake. placed it in my lap. He hadn‘t actually been a cuddly goat since the last time that he was sick, which now has been over a year ago. I felt like the mother of a teenage boy who after not wanting hugs from mom for over a year, suddenly gives her a great big hug!

I stroked his soft white muzzle and smiled down at his peaceful, sleeping face.

I noted the way his closed eyes made perfect crescent-moon shapes, and how his little goat mouth turns up at the ends in such a perfect smile shape. He happily nestled his head into my arms while I petted him and whispered the few lines I have always whispered to him since he was baby, ―Meine kleine ziege, ma petite chèvre, my little goat.‖ (That‘s ―my little goat,‖ in German and in French as we had helpers from Germany and France at the time of Amadeus‘ first summer). Looking down at him I felt such an upwelling of love for this beautiful little creature that it brought tears to my eyes. I am so happy to have this little goat in my life.

Terri Smith is an organic vegetable farmer in the Cariboo with Road‟s End Vegetable Company. She has a Bachelor‟s degree in Literature and a diploma in Art.

By Ciel Patenaude

Left: Salt mines in the sacred valley, Peru. Photo: Molly Krimmer. Middle photo: Isla de Sol, Bolivia. Photo: Molly Krimmer.

Right: Three days in, trapped in Dallas, my friend succumbed to her inner hobo. This is where the real growth began. Photo: Ciel Patenaude

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happy new year to you all! I hope that the holidays were a peaceful yet transformative time.

I was fortunate enough to be able to spend this past December in the southern hemisphere, exploring the city and jungle wilds of Peru and Bolivia with a good friend. The trip served as both a respite from work and winter—a rather wonderful way to break up the seasons—and a personal healing journey. The adventure effectively served as a 30-day intensive exploration into my process in a new environment and without work schedules and other commitments, and offered a particular kind of magic.

Travel is an incredible opportunity for self-reflection and growth, if approached with that intent in mind. When we are removed from our regular routines and challenged in ways we‘re unfamiliar with, explorations of other cultures and areas soulfully stir and shake us. We become aware of the stuck parts of our being where we judge or restrict possibility. Lacking the regularity and stress of everyday life there is a greater potential for seeing that which may consistently go unseen (or be intentionally ignored) and for opening ourselves to the beauty and wonder that surrounds us.

There was a lot of time for writing on this adventure, and many 20+ hour bus rides to reflect and consider my experience and the state of the world. I came to realize that there‘s nothing quite like knowing you can‘t escape where you‘re at—there was no getting off that bus, nor any possibility of distracting myself with Facebook or the fridge or television—to force a very particular and beautiful form of consideration.

It is my intention to stay focused and clear on the outcomes of that consideration, and to incorporate some key reminders I encountered while traversing the winding

encountered while traversing the winding roads of the Andes in my daily life back here, for I know my experience will be better for it: If you’re not in awe, you’re not paying attention.

We all lead pretty busy lives in the dayto-day, and within those schedules and constant distractions it is extremely easy to lose sight of the beauty of life. I imagine most of us have had the experience of going somewhere new and having our eyes wide open to the wonder around us, as we choose to focus our attention on what is amazing about our surroundings in those moments. But is it only possible and reasonable to do this when our environment changes? When we are seeing llamas and cacti instead of cows and fir trees? There are always countless things to be blown away by in every moment. It is just up to us to choose to focus on them.

Discomfort is born of attachment and expectation.

On the tail end of our trip we ended up stuck in the airport for a few days, lost to the whims of a standby itinerary from Lima to Vancouver. After 28 days away we were so looking forward to getting home—our own beds, friends, and personal space seemed almost unimaginable—and so to be informed multiple times that we would not be getting on the plane was some kinda defeating.

However, there is a beautiful kind of logic and mental calm that comes about when plans are squashed in such a way— when the outcome you had expected just isn‘t going to be at all, and you‘re forced to sit with a situation that is entirely not what you want. You can spend the time resisting the reality of your circumstance, or you can trust and relax. It makes sense, doesn‘t it?

We all know that being pissed at sleeping on a bench and eating crabcakes and frozen yogurt in Dallas airport for two days isn‘t going to change anything, right? And yet, how often do we all engage in wasting our energy and mental space by resisting things that are occurring, wishing they were a different way?

People are amazing, even when you smell.

After a 23-hour bus ride, a couple days in airports, and a few weeks before that of wearing relatively the same clothes, by the time we were almost home there was a fairly distinct odour following my travelling companion.

But even given how bad she smelled (and it was bad, friends) and how homeless she looked, it was amazing how many beautiful and engaging encounters were had with strangers along our path. People were interested in her—I suppose that certainly she had that ‗look‘ about her that suggests she had been through some adventures—and genuinely curious about what she was up to, even as she smelled so bad.

To see people want to spend time with my tumaceous friend was really confirming of the goodness of humanity, and it brought a kind of faith in our possibility of a species back to me, something that can be hard to contact when we‘re all running around with so much to do and so much on our minds.

Make friends with the unknown.

The first two weeks of the trip were all about control: a defined plan of where we should be and for how long we should stay there, resulting in an abject lack of attention to the place we were at the moment. At half way through there was a kind of calm that seemed to come over us, however, an acceptance and even delight at the unknown qual-

ity of our travels and what they would present. That which we had previously attempted to control became loose and free, and, as probably to be expected, our minds went along with that.

We spend a lot of our time attempting to find certainty in this human existence, trying to control the way things are or the way things will be in the future so that we don‘t have to come into contact with the great unknown.

And yet, the great unknown is where spirit resides, and where the true wonder of living is to be experienced. As the Buddha said, it is our struggle with impermanence— our constant neurotic want to make things be or stay a certain way—that is the true source of all our of our pain, not the circumstances that we find ourselves in. If we can choose to be alright with the mystery of our existence, taking responsibility for all that we can take responsibility for and then releasing the rest, then we can find happiness.

I know that we all have the capacity to bring mindfulness and presence into our daily lives if we remind ourselves to do so, and I know that all of our lives would be much better for it. Perhaps instead of waiting for your next escape, your next trip to another world, you might be inclined to think about these reflections and how they apply to your daily life now. I know that such work—as it has done for me—will bring nothing but greater happiness, and I wish only that for us all.

Ciel Patenaude is an Integrative Health & Shamanic Practitioner based in Williams Lake, BC. A highly trained and naturally gifted intuitive healer, Ciel holds a BSc in Biology, an MA in Integrative Healing, and is a certified yoga Teacher & wellness coach.

Science Matters:

By Sam Delacherois

By David Suzuki

photo: Mike Bitzenhofer

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bundant, cheap fossil fuels have driven explosive technological, industrial, and economic expansion for more than a century.

The pervasive infrastructure developed to accommodate this growth makes it difficult to contemplate rapidly shifting away from coal, oil, and gas, which creates a psychological barrier to rational discourse on energy issues.

The ecological and true economic costs of energy use force us to scrutinize our way of living. And because our infrastructure doesn‘t allow us to entirely avoid fossil fuels, we must face the contradiction between how we should live and constraints against doing so.

Canada has no national energy plan, other than governmental desire to be a fossil -fuelled energy-export superpower. Given the consequences of human-induced climate change already hitting home, you‘d think the highest priority of governments at all levels would be to decide on the lowestemission energy path. But politicians focused on election intervals have difficulty dealing with generational issues.

Real, important conversations and decisions are instead delayed by diversionary and often irrational arguments and tactics: accusing critics of being hypocrites, claiming foreign money drives environmental agendas, and labelling activists as ecoterrorists or enemies of Canada among them. In place of true progress, we get consolidated political power and greater corporate profit and control. Enough already!

Sustainability requires conservation and abundant energy employed with minimal ecological upset. Yet the inability to consider the need to shift quickly from fossil fuels means governments and industry look to mega-technologies like carbon capture and storage to justify inaction on reducing greenhouse gas emissions, while dismissing solar and wind as impractical, too expensive, or unable to meet energy needs. Nuclear power may be an alternative to GHGemitting fossil fuels, but it‘s extremely expensive and would not be online were it not for enormous subsidies. Nuclear fuel is also finite, so costs will rise while the problem of radioactive-waste disposal remains unsolved.

As a northern country, Canada is especially vulnerable to climate change. Polar regions heat faster than temperate and tropical zones—Inuit have noticed the growing impacts for decades. With the longest marine coastline of any country, we‘re also subject to sea-level rise. And our economy relies on climate-dependent activities such

as agriculture, forestry, fisheries, tourism, and winter sports, all of which are already feeling climate change impacts.

Where is the political leadership and will to confront climate change? We‘re seeing some from individuals, grassroots organizations, and municipalities. But what about our provinces? Just as the catastrophic loss of Northern cod off of Newfoundland warned against unsustainable practices, the destruction of $65 billion worth of B.C. trees by mountain pine beetles – once kept under control by winters with temperatures below -30 C for a week or more – should make the province take notice.

Where‘s the leadership? Once lauded for policies such as the carbon tax and energy agreements with California, B.C.‘s political leaders have now embraced liquefied natural gas, claiming industry expansion will create hundreds of thousands of jobs and add billions of dollars to provincial coffers—never mind that no one in power now will be held accountable for these promises because they‘re several elections from being realized.

LNG should be labelled LFG: liquefied fracked gas. Hydraulic fracturing – fracking – requires pumping millions of litres of chemical-laced water deep underground to shatter shale and liberate embedded gas. It‘s a short-term way to get energy with longterm ecological impacts on water and whatever organisms might be down there. (It was once thought life disappeared at bedrock, but we now know bacteria are found at least 10 kilometres down.)

Fracked gas is mostly methane, a greenhouse gas more than 30 times as potent as carbon dioxide. Studies reveal leakage around fracking sites may be high enough to affect climate change more than coal. Calling it a ―transition fuel‖ between coal or oil and renewables is nonsense. And fracking is known to cause seismic activity.

B.C. is also planning the Peace River Site C dam, yet a report by the Canadian Geothermal Energy Association claims geothermal could generate similar amounts of power at a much lower cost.

If our leaders are serious about longterm health and prosperity, they need to stop focusing on short-term profits from rapid fossil fuel development and export and start engaging in serious conversations about our energy future.

Written with contributions from David Suzuki Foundation senior editor Ian Hanington. Learn more at www.davidsuzuki.org.

photo: bejealousofme/flickr/commons

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When did loving yourself become so rare that it is revolutionary to do so?”- unknown It started when humanity decided to pluck the line between Confidence and Arrogance and relocate it; so instead, Confidence is struck by that line and omitted from our vocabulary, leaving behind Arrogance as the sole trait for self-description.

It continued when we were trained that our fingers may only count our flaws and that compliments are the only acceptable proof that your eyes are gorgeous or your wit admirable—as if laws constrained this applause to endorse oneself.

It becomes unavoidable when the thesaurus insists synonyms for ―selflove‖ should belittle us. We are bombarded with ―narcissism,‖ ―exaggerated s e l f- op i n i on , ‖ ― c on c ei t e dn e s s, ‖ ―egotism,‖ ―selfishness,‖ and ―vanity.‖ Mumbling at the bottom of where it started only one synonym of recognition—ONE. ―Gratification.‖ We are a generation of self-haters: where clothing labels character, where teens are drinking to forget, as if simply surviving makes them a victor, where we insult others behind cowardly screens, where boys are made womanizers—trained that the ―friend-zone‖ threatens their manhood because they are taught to believe that the only reason to be friends with a girl is for sexual ―benefits‖ as routines, where billiondollar industries advocate girls to hate their bodies, where girls hate each other, where internal pain leaves scars that are covered by bracelets and long-sleeved sweaters, where kids are taking their own lives before their 16th birthdays, where depression, self-harm, and suicide are a romanticized trend considered ―tragically beautiful.‖ This is NOT beautiful.

It wasn‘t beautiful when a human

being decided to grab a gun, take a knife, spill the pills, and hang a rope. It wasn‘t beautiful when they scribbled a love note. It was not beautiful when their family screamed and howled through the night, when the neighbours lost sleep, when the town wondered what could have (should have) been different: all asking why.

It‘s no wonder over 80 per cent of the population has low self-esteem; more than 5.6 billion people on this planet are not content in their own dream. Loving yourself is rare because only the idea has been promoted. We, as a society, seemed to have voted against practicing this self justice. I see humans, but no humanity.

I want to be part of a generation of self-lovers. The line between Confidence and Arrogance must be replaced, captivating descriptors need to become a natural stance that no one ignores, beauty needs to become as broad as the sea. I‘m not talking about the beauty in the colour of your eyes, but the beauty in the passions that light them on fire; I‘m not talking about the beauty in the size of your stomach, but the beauty in the buzz that unleashes a parade of butterflies; I‘m not talking about the beauty of your body, but the beauty of your soul.

Don‘t you think those 5.6 billion people deserve to feel beautiful?

Don‘t you think you do?

Sam Delacherois is a grade 12 student enrolled in Lake City Secondary. She is mainly (but not explicitly) interested in soccer, medical science, and poetry. She hopes to change the world one day—or at least change a few people‟s worlds along the way.

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he garbage from Williams Lake and area, including 150 Mile House, Horsefly, Wildwood, McLeese, Frost Creek, Chimney Lake, Alexis Creek, and Riske Creek, is disposed of at the Cariboo Regional District's (CRD) Gibraltar Landfill. Two to four loads of waste are transported to the landfill in 53-foot walking floor trailers five days a week, each weighing approximately 19 tonnes. Annually there are between 12,000 and 13,000 tonnes of waste disposed of at the landfill.

The landfill is fully engineered, meaning its base is lined with an impermeable plastic that collects any landfill leachate and diverts it to an on-site treatment system, consisting of an aeration pond, a settling pond, and three wetland systems. Once a section or phase of the landfill is completed it is closed and reclaimed by placing the same impermeable plastic liner over the top of the waste to prevent any infiltration of precipitation. The top is capped with soil and seeded with grasses.

The landfill is not located in one of Gibraltar's empty pits, as many assume. Its permitted footprint is located on the outside edge and top of one of Gibraltar's waste rock disposal sites. Landfill construction has been focused on filling beside and against the outside edge of the rock dump slope to reach the same elevation as the rock dump's top plateau. Since 2003 several phases of expansion and reclamation have been completed and in 2014 the first expansion occurred on the top of the plateau, which will allow for several years of landfilling without expansion construction.

The landfill costs amount to well over a million dollars annually or approximately

$100 per tonne of waste. These costs are shared by the City of Williams Lake and the CRD, and can be reduced through waste reduction and diversion. The Conference Board of Canada recently compared the amount of municipal waste generated per capita, measured in kilograms between 17 countries, and Canada ranked last place, meaning per capita Canadians produce more waste (777 kg per capita per year) than any of its peer countries. Since 1990, Canada's waste generation per capita has been steadily increasing causing us to fall behind the US and Australia. This is disturbing news, but understandable when we look at how many disposable and poorly made goods we purchase yearly.

Waste wise education is delivered to students in the Cariboo Regional District; however, the CRD would like to make waste education available to everyone, as we all have the ability to change our waste handling habits for the better. For more info on Waste Wise call (250) 398-7929 or find details on Waste Wise activities and events at ccconserv.org.

Join the Cariboo Regional District this year to become waste wise and make a difference. For direct access to our monthly topics ―Like‖ us on Facebook at facebook.com/caribooregion, visit us online at cariboord.ca, or look for our articles in your local paper.

By Sage Birchwater

T

he water flowing out of Quesnel Lake under the bridge at Likely is murky six months after the Mount Polley Mine disaster sent millions of tons of mining effluent down Hazeltine Creek and into Quesnel Lake on August 4, 2014. Historically, the water in Quesnel River is clear at this time of year.

In mid-January, 2015, the Xat‘sull/ Soda Creek First Nation, Williams Lake First Nations, and the Northern Secwepemc Tribal Council (NStQ) hosted a community information meeting in Likely to bring people up to date on their response the mine disaster, and to ask for local concerns.

NStQ mining co-oordinator Jacinda Mack introduced the team of experts hired by the Tribal Council to assess the breach and help devise a plan to clean up the contamination.

The team includes: Brian Olding, head of environmental planning; Ernest Kroeker and Richard Holmes advising on fisheries; Amy Crook of the Fair Mining Collaborative to develop mining policy; and, mining engineer, Jim Kuipers, hired to review all aspects of the investigation into the breach and to review any work that needs to be done on the dam and tailings facility. He will also be looking at any new permits submitted by Imperial Metals to reopen the mine.

Mack said the team also includes natural resources and economic development staff from both First Nation communities.

Chief Ann Louie of Williams Lake First Nation said the team has been actively engaged in reviewing all the material gathered by Imperial Metals and the government. ―We also want to support the residents of Likely,‖ she said.

Xat‘sull Chief Bev Sellars said the NStQ received funding to hire its own reputable consultants separate from government and industry. ―It‘s important to have that information too,‖ she said.

Sellars acknowledged the contamination of Quesnel Lake and the Fraser River watershed is a concern to people all over, not just First Nations. ―We‘re looking forward to working with you,‖ she told Likely residents. ―We want to share our experts with you.‖ Jacinda Mack said the team is seeking input from the people of Likely to bring to the government to government discussions between Secwepemc chiefs and the provincial ministries. ―We are looking into the cause of the breach and struggling to understand the ongoing impact on the environment,‖ said Mack. ―With our own experts, we‘re working as equals, not just reviewing government and Mount Polley reports.‖ Brian Olding said there is still huge uncertainty on how long-lasting the effects of the breach will be. He said it is unknown how tightly the metals are attached to the particles in the tailings material along Hazeltine Creek and Quesnel Lake.

Olding credits Mount Polley Mine for responding quickly to stop the sedimentation into Quesnel Lake. ―We want the restoration along Hazeltine Creek done to the

reasonably highest standard possible,‖ he said.

He also said the fate of Quesnel Lake is harder to predict. ―There‘s still a lot we don‘t know about the long-term impact on the water quality. It is very complex and needs to be done independently from the mine and government.‖ With Imperial Metals making application to reopen the mine at half-capacity using the vacant Springer pit to hold the tailings, Olding said studies are needed to determine at what point the Springer Pit will start spilling effluent into the ground water.

Ernest Kroeker, fisheries manager for NStQ, said the spill is affecting two kinds of fish: migratory salmon and resident Quesnel Lake Rainbow trout. He said the four migratory species of salmon: Chinook, Coho, Sockeye, and Pinks, occupy the watershed for a relatively short period of time. The main spawning site for Coho is McKinley Creek up the Horsefly River; Chinooks spawn at the Likely Bridge; and, the Sockeye spawn up the Horsefly and Mitchell Rivers.

Kroeker said the biggest concern for the Sockeye isn‘t the spawning grounds; it‘s the rearing grounds. ―Quesnel Lake is the nursery where juvenile sockeye feed for a whole year,‖ he said. ―If toxins are mobile and bio-available, it‘s going to be a big problem.‖ He said Sockeye contaminated with toxins will have a far-ranging effect on the Lower Fraser and the coast.

He said resident Rainbow trout that live up to 20 years in Quesnel Lake are in the most danger of being affected in a negative way. ―Bio-accumulation works from the bottom up,‖ he said. ―It takes a while for bio-organisms to pick up toxins, but with each step you magnify the accumulations.

It won‘t happen in one year or three or four. It‘s going to take some time to figure out how serious a problem it will be.‖ Kroeker said ever since the breach, a lot of questions have been raised. ―The most important thing is to keep asking the right questions, and work at getting the answers,‖ he said.

He adds it was fortunate the Quesnel River Research Station was operating when the breach occurred. The crew there began working immediately. The same can‘t be said for government. ―Most government agencies didn‘t send their best people to work on this,‖ he said. ―It is ridiculous. The Department of Fisheries and Oceans no longer deals with fish habitat. There was an inadequate response from every government ministry. It‘s absolutely shocking.‖ Jacinda Mack said the NStQ sent a formal request to the federal government asking why the Department of Fisheries and Oceans failed to respond immediately to the breach. ―We don‘t know what DFO‘s role is,‖ she said. ―It‘s very unclear.

That‘s why we formally submitted a question paper. They are required by law to answer what their involvement has been and what they‘ve done to date.‖ Amy Crook said she had some good news to bring the meeting. For the past four years she has been doing exhaustive research putting a mining policy together

L to R: Celine Lee, assistant mining co-ordinator for the Northern Secwepemc Tribal Council (NStQ), Amy Crook of Fair Mining Collaborative, Jacinda Mack, mining co-ordinator for NStQ, Brian Olding, environmental planner, and Ernest Kroeker, fisheries manager for NStQ. Photo: Sage Birchwater for the NStQ of the best mining practices around the world. Since the 400-page document was released on the NStQ website it has received a thousand downloads from all over the world.

Chief Bev Sellars said the NStQ was in the process of putting the mining policy in place when the breach occurred. ―The more people who use this policy the better it will be for everybody,‖ she said.

Like everyone else, the NStQ and their team of experts are anxiously awaiting the release of the independent panel hired by the province to report on the Mount Polley breach. ―We have a lot of really good people who are highly respected who have expertise at least equal to the mine and government,‖ said Jacinda Mack. ―We will go over the report and see what the recommendations are and continue being proactive in making sure all our expertise is fully utilized.‖ On January 30, the province‘s independent review panel released its engineering investigation report, identifying the physical cause of the Mount Polley breach.

The 147-page document plus appendices, determined that the breach occurred because a continuous layer of glacial silt, known as glaciolacustrine (GLU), below the tailings storage facility (TSF), caused a weakness in the foundation of the dam.

The three-person Panel of Norbert Morgenster, Dirk van Zyl and Steven G. Vick, shadowed by NStQ‘s Jim Kuipers, concluded that this fatal construction flaw led to the breach.

The Panel also observed that if the steep downstream slope of the TSF embankment had been flattened by adding more rock buttressing material to the perimeter, the breach would not have occurred. ―The slope was in the process of being flattened to meet its ultimate design criteria at the time of the accident,‖ the Panel stated.

When asked if the Panel looked into the unheeded warnings by KnightsPiesold, the original engineering firm that designed the TSF, and safety concerns expressed by mine employees, van Zyl said these were outside the terms of reference of the Panel. ―Our mandate was to determine the physical cause of the breach.

Other investigations by the Ministry of Mines and the Conservation Service will look into these other matters.‖ Jacinda Mack said the NStQ is reserving comment on the Panel report until its members have read it. ―Our experts are reviewing it in detail,‖ she said.

Lori Halls, assistant deputy minister for the Ministry of Environment said her staff will devour the report. ―It has substantial information for us to look at. It won‘t just inform decisions on Mount Polley; it will inform mining practice across the board.‖ Sage Birchwater arrived in the Cariboo as a back-to-the-lander in 1973. After 24 years in the Chilcotin he returned to Williams Lake as a freelancer and author of books.

He enjoys his time with Caterina, gardening and participating in the rich cultural life of the Cariboo-Chilcotin Coast.

By Pat Teti

D

o you like the idea of homemade yeasted bread but think kneading is too much trouble? Maybe you are physically unable or simply don‟t want to knead dough.

Maybe you have a stand mixer or bread machine that‟s not working. Whatever your reason, no-knead bread recipes give you an option by removing a major step in the process. If that helps motivate you, they‟re a good idea!

Because I enjoy kneading, I dismissed no-knead recipes for years. However, I was curious about the popularity of this bread style so I tried Mark Bittman‘s video recipe on a New York Times website. Just search for ―Bittman no knead.‖ The revelation for me was that this recipe calls for doing the baking in a preheated cast iron Dutch oven.

If you want a gorgeous, rustic-looking, homemade white bread I recommend this recipe because the Dutch oven method creates an excellent crispy crust. Similar recipes are available by searching for ―no knead Dutch oven.‖ I prefer bread with some whole grains and I wanted to create a no-knead recipe with multi-day proofing to give the bread more flavour. Meanwhile, my oven wasn‘t working, which inspired another variation—oven optional!

You can make this bread on top of a range, on a wood stove, or over a campfire. You will need a cast iron skillet around 9 inches in diameter with matching lid (or aluminum foil) and a mixing bowl of at least 6 quarts. There are lots of no-knead recipes online but this one is grainier than any others I‘ve seen. If you‘re in a hurry you‘ll have to look elsewhere. This one takes a few days but in doing so, it develops an incredible flavour.

No-knead skillet bread. Oven optional.

Makes one or two loaves.

Ingredients  3 cups water  1 cup whole cracked grain, for example, bulk seven grain cereal or Red River cereal  1 cup whole grain flour  a pinch of any type of dry bread yeast. The amount you can easily pinch between two fingers is enough  1 tsp. salt  ½ cup flax seed  ½ cup pumpkin or sunflower seeds  ½ teaspoon turmeric, 1 Tbsp. dried rosemary, or up to 1 Tbsp. chili power, optional  3 cups all-purpose flour or bread flour Directions 1. Put everything except the white flour in the bowl and mix thoroughly. Add the white flour a cup at a time, continuing to mix. A good tool helps a lot. You can use a wooden spoon but my favourite tool for this is a heavy duty Mario Batali silicone spatula that I got at the Bay some years ago. Canadian Tire had something similar when I looked in early January.

If you‘re able, mix in another ¼ cup or so of white flour. That will make it easier to handle later.

2. Cover and let sit for two to four days. I usually let it go for three days at room temperature in winter and two days in summer. Have a peek and sniff every day.

It should have a lovely fermented aroma after three days.

3. Preheat a large cast iron skillet (approximately 9 inch bottom) on medium heat and sprinkle the bottom with cornmeal or flour.

4. The dough will probably be well-stuck to the bowl and the objective is to get in onto a floured surface without tearing it up too much. Sprinkle the top of the

Top: Skillet bread after flipping. Bottom: Skillet bread with pumpkin seeds, turmeric and rosemary. Photos: Pat Teti

dough with flour. Tilt the bowl and start working the dough away with a spatula. You can toss some flour in there to keep it from re-sticking. Rotate the tilted bowl and continue working the spatula in to release the dough. Keep dusting the sticky parts and when you‘re able, pour the dough out onto a well-floured surface.

Dust it with flour where it‘s sticky.

5. Cut the dough in two, dust the freshly cut surfaces, and slide one piece out of the way.

6. Make sure all of the outside of the dough is wellfloured by dusting it and gently rolling it in flour. Roll it onto a thin plate and drop it into the preheated skillet.

You can press it out a bit but not all the way to the sides of the skillet because that will make it harder to flip.

7. Cover and let ―bake‖ for about 8 minutes.

8. Sprinkle the top with a little more cornmeal or flour and flip it with a metal spatula.

9. Cook on the second side for another 8 minutes.

10. Remove to cool on a rack, wrapped in cloth, or in a paper bag.

11. Repeat with the other half of dough.

The finished bread should be about ¾ inch thick. To serve, I sliced it through its thickness, toasted it, drizzled it with olive oil, and lightly salted it.

If you want to bake this bread in the oven, you can make one big loaf. Preheat oven to 450 degrees F while warming the skillet on medium heat. Then at step 4 above, don‘t cut the dough in two. Just work with the whole dough and continue as described in step 5. Score the top with an ―X‖ and bake for 35 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 200 degrees F on an instant read thermometer. Cool it on a rack, wrapped in cloth, or in a paper bag.

If you like to experiment, you can try turning any yeasted bread recipe into no-knead skillet bread. Just use less yeast and less flour. Mix, but don‘t knead it.

Let it proof for a few days and then follow the above procedure—or your instincts!

Pat Teti was a research scientist with the BC government for 18 years and has always enjoyed making things.

The Gendun Drubpa Buddhist Centre is a teaching and meditation centre in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition of the Dalai Lama in Williams Lake.

Our goal is to provide a welcoming and contemplative environment where everyone can experience the teachings of the Buddha, and we can all deepen our understanding of the Buddhist spiritual path. ―When we study Buddhism, we are studying ourselves, the nature of our own minds. Buddhism emphasizes practical matters such as how to lead our lives, how to integrate our minds, and how to keep our everyday lives peaceful and healthy. In other words, Buddhism always accentuates experiential knowledge -wisdom rather than some dogmatic view.‖ —Lama Thubten Yeshe, Founder We are extremely fortunate to have as our resident teacher, Venerable Tenzin Chogkyi, an ordained Buddhist nun who has been studying and practicing Buddhism for over 30 years. She is held in high regard all over the world for her clear and engaging teaching style. With her depth of knowledge and insight, she presents the Buddha's teachings in a way we can all relate to.

Weekly Guided Meditations Mondays 7:00 to 7:45 p.m.

A guided meditation session, lasting about 30 minutes, with a brief follow-up discussion. Beginners are welcome.

Sharing the Dharma Day Sundays 10:00 to 11:30 a.m. A morning of teachings, meditation, and discussion, and an opportunity to explore the Buddha's teachings.

All drop-in programs are offered by donation. Please see our ad below for our contact information and spring and summer 2015 programs.

By LeRae Haynes

M

ary Forbes, teacher naturalist at Scout Island and mother of two, says it‟s great that B.C. has declared Family Day a holiday, but that every day‟s a good day to „unplug‟ your kids from electronics and technology and get them outside to play. ―February is a great time of the year to spend time with your kids outdoors,‖ she says. ―If you feel overwhelmed by the slush go outside and make a Quincy hut in the snow with a shovel. You just dig a tunnel inside a big mound of snow and have a tea party inside. It‘s warm and fun, and you‘re outside in the fresh air—and boy, do the kids ever sleep that night!‖ She adds that one of the things she likes doing outdoors with her kids is hooking 8-Ball the family Basset hound up to an old family heirloom dogsled and letting him pull the kids around in the snow while she runs alongside to keep up. ―We recently took the kids to Bif‘s pond at Val and Wayne Biffert‘s house to go fishing,‖ she says. ―It was all about getting a fishing rod in your kid‘s hand and having fun with them. Other great options are Bull Mountain and Scout Island—lots of fun for kids.‖ Forbes says every day is family day, even if it‘s after work. ―You can go for a moonlight walk and look at the stars; bring flashlights for the kids and find a place to read a story,‖ she says. ―We also love to follow animal footprints—animals like dogs, moose, and deer. We find out where they went and where they‘ve nibbled on plants.‖ Unplugging your children and interacting with them is so important, she explains. ―Our babies need us to look in their faces. It‘s up to us to teach the next generation and let them know that they are loved,‖ she says. ―Your children‘s childhood goes by so fast: there‘s only now.‖ Limiting children‘s exposure to ‗screen‘ technology like cellphones, computers, tablets, TV, and electronic games is strongly suggested by the Canadian Society of Pediatrics and the American Academy of Pediatrics.

In a recent article by renowned BC occupational therapist Cris Rowan, posted on www.movingtolearn.ca, it was stated that infants ages 0-2 should have no exposure to ‗screen‘ technology and children 3-5 should be restricted to one hour per day. Children 6-18 should be limited to two hours a day. Rowan notes that delayed development, epidemic obesity, sleep deprivation, mental illness, aggression, addictions, and radiation emissions have been linked to excessive technology exposure. ―Activities that require interaction are far more beneficial than those snuggle times in front of the TV. Those times can be lovely and cuddles are great, but it‘s the face-to-face interactions that help develop selfawareness, empathy, communication abilities, and so many other life-enriching skills,‖ says Beulah Munson, manager of children‘s services for Women‘s Contact Society. ―A great place to spend face-to-face time with your kids is at the pool or the skating rink,‖ she says. ―There‘s always sledding, building a snowman, staying home doing a craft, reading a good book, or baking cookies. One of my children‘s favourite things to do from the time they were little is playing board games— sitting around laughing, joking, and telling stories.‖ She adds that even something as simple as inviting friends over for a bonfire and a wiener roast or going for a night walk with glow sticks can enhance your family unit. ―Looking back when my own children were young, I am very grateful that I valued a trip to the park far more than I valued a freshly-vacuumed living room,‖ she says. ―My children, who are now adults, have such great memories of play dates. Those are the memories they recall with fondness—none of them ever mention that I didn‘t vacuum every single day.‖

Mary Forbes enjoys 'face time' with daughters Phaedra, 2 3/4 years, and Abigael, 11 months, at the historic Potato House in Williams Lake. Photo: Leslie Rowse Photography

She says there are wonderful opportunities for families to have fun and interact in the Cariboo, like Family Fest, National Aboriginal Day, National Children‘s Day, the Winter Carnival, and Children‘s Festival in Boitanio Park. ―We‘re lucky to live in a province that supports Family Day on February 9 and recognizes the importance of face time with your children,‖ says Beulah. ―Every kid needs a champion in their life. Champions are created in face-to-face moments, or bonding moments, like when you‘re playing Chutes and Ladders and Daddy just slid all the way to the bottom. Or when you‘re sledding and you slide the furthest into the trees.

These moments shared with your children are the ones where you capture their hearts and become their champion.‖ For more information about programs and events for children and parents, including a free, fun literacy workshop for parents and care providers on February 18, phone Women‘s Contact Society at (250) 392-4118 or visit www.womenscontact.org. To find out more about free family activities at Scout Island go to www.scoutislandnaturecentre.ca or phone (250) 3988532.

“Cleaning and scrubbing can wait „til tomorrow For babies grow up we‟ve learned to our sorrow; So quiet down cobwebs and dust go to sleep I‟m rocking my baby and babies don‟t keep.”

----origin unknown “Texting and blogging can wait 'til tomorrow For babies grow up we've learned to our sorrow; So quiet down Facebook and Tweets go to sleep I'm rocking my baby and babies don't keep.”

---my version LeRae Haynes is a freelance writer, song writer, community co-ordinator for Success by 6, member of Perfect Match dance band, and instigator of lots of music with kids.

A March Against Monsanto will take place in Williams Lake this May. Erin Hitchcock, organizer of the local march, said she hopes the event will raise awareness about genetically modified foods (commonly called GMOs) and the impact they may be having on our health and the environment around the globe. ―Monsanto owns the majority of GMO seeds around the world, though there are other big corporations believed to be harming our health and environment due to their GMO seeds and accompanying herbicides and insecticides that may be making their way into the food chain and ultimately into the foods we consume,‖ Hitchcock said. She added there are many people concerned that some of these products are contributing to Colony Collapse Disorder in bees as well.

While Hitchcock would like to see an outright ban on GMOs as well as on herbicides and insecticides, at minimum, foods containing GMOs should be labelled. Numerous countries have such labelling or even bans in place, but Canada, the U.S., and Mexico don't.

The march is scheduled to take place Saturday, May 23 at a time and location still to be determined. Costumes and placards are encouraged but not mandatory.

For more information and updates visit: https:// facebook.com/MarchAgainstMonsantoWilliamsLake.

By Brianna van de Wijngaard

I

t‟s always fun to start thinking about gardening this time of year: our energy returns as we think of new beginnings and yet another season of growth. By the time March rolls around, it will be time to start thinking about planting. And that isn‟t too far away! So here are some tips for growing strong, successful seedlings that will thrive in the right conditions.

9 Steps to Starting Successful Seeds: Proper Containers Seedlings need adequate space to grow roots. They will spend a minimum of 3 – 4 weeks in that wee space, sometimes more, so this will determine the container you use.

No matter the size, however, containers need to have a depth of at least 2‖ – 3‖, and must have drainage holes. Veggie transplants that will require containers larger than a 1020 flat of 72 cells include: cucumbers, melons, tomatoes, corn, eggplant, peppers, and squash.

Good Growing Medium The proper growing medium can determine whether or not your seedlings survive beyond germination. There are a number of recipes out there, but a very common question is whether or not to use garden soil in your seed starting mix. I know a number of growers that do, and haven‘t had problems—one recipe consists of leaf mold, garden soil, and green sand. But if you really don‘t want to lose any seedlings to damping off it‘s advised you use a sterile mix. You can sterilize garden soil if you want, but it‘s laborious. This requires heating it to a certain temperature, for a certain amount of time.

Otherwise, common sterile seed starting ingredients include peat moss, vermiculite, perlite, sand, and coir.

Perlite and vermiculite are different substances, but have similar characteristics—similar being moisture retention and sterility, and different being drainage ability and nutrient-holding capacity. Perlite is made from super-heated volcanic glass, and is the one that looks like Styrofoam. The small holes created by the resulting expansion trap and hold moisture, and the light pellets prevent the rest of the mix from compacting. Vermiculite is super-heated mica. It still traps and holds moisture and air, but does not drain as much as perlite, and holds nutrients better. It also has a lower pH than perlite. It won‘t make a huge difference to most vegetable seedlings, but if you‘re planting pH-sensitive varieties, or heavy feeders that will stay in a pot for more than a few weeks, like tomatoes, this will make a difference. Cuttings will prefer quick-draining perlite.

The coir I‘ve trialed stunts seedling growth 2 – 3 weeks after germination, so I don‘t use it. This may be due simply to the variety of coir I used, as they all vary in salinity, acidity, and macronutrient levels, so it may be worth trying with some of your seedlings. It would be mixed with other ingredients, just as you would peat.

Timing This is most important in the beginning of the season because outdoor temps will affect when you plant your seedlings. If they are planted indoors too soon, and cannot go outside because soil temps are not yet high enough, they will be in their seed container too long unless they can be potted up. If temperatures are increasing, subtract days from your planting date to account for the increasing growth rate.

Temperature I would argue this is the most crucial step to seed germination. The required temperature you find on each seed packet is for soil temp, so investing in a small soil thermometer is advised. Each seed type has an ideal range, but somewhere between 18 – 25 degrees C will cover most. If it‘s any colder than 10 degrees C, they will take longer, or not germinate at all. Heat mats, coils, or tubing help immensely in this regard.

Once planted and moistened with a light watering tool, cover to retain heat but check regularly for germination and uncover promptly for light. If you don‘t they will get leggy really quickly. After germination, most seedlings like a temperature range between 20 and 21 degrees C, but 18 – 20 degrees C is usually fine. Heat lovers, such as tomatoes, will need more.

Light Most seeds can germinate with or without light—this is why, after you plant and moisten, you can use another black 1020 tray to cover until germination. Some seeds, however, especially small annuals like lettuce, require light to germinate. Most seedlings need around 8 – 12 hours of light per day, after germination. If you‘re using fluorescent lights, they need to be placed no more than 3‖ above plants to prevent legginess.

Moisture Germination requires consistent, but not heavy, surface moisture. It is worth it to invest in a good pump sprayer as they water the surface lightly and evenly and do not displace seeds. It is best to water from above until your seedlings have adequately germinated and roots are established. Then you water from below to prevent the mix from getting to soggy. Once they have established, letting the mix dry out a bit be-

Pea seedlings. These can be carefully transplanted to avoid early-season rot in soggy soils.

Photo: Brianna van de Wijngaard

tween waterings prevents molds and fungus if you‘re using soil, and is better than overwatering: in most cases, you can save a dried out seedling before you can save an over-watered one. Water softener is also not good for seedlings, so use an alternative if you can.

Air/Humidity Most seedlings prefer a humidity level between 50 – 70%, so it‘s useful to have a thermometer that also has a humidity gauge.

If levels get too high, use an upright fan, or – if it‘s really humid – a dehumidifier. But an upright fan for garden seedlings is most often enough in our climate.

Air space within the seed starting mix is also very important, so make sure your recipe has adequate ratios.

Photo: www.heritageharvestseed.com

day for two weeks and they still haven‘t germinated, this is super disappointing.

The first things you should check, in order of importance, are: 

Transplanting When it is time to transplant your seedlings, stems and roots are easier to separate when the soil is dry, but if you‘re transplanting plugs, I prefer them to be moistened. They should be transplanted at the same depth or a little deeper, but do not bury the stem too much in the soil, other than for tomato plants. Water them well, fertilize, and let them rest. It is best to transplant on overcast days with no wind because little seedlings get stressed out when they‘re transplanted, and too much heat makes this experience worse.

Hardening off will mitigate transplant shock. Do this about three days prior: set them outside for a few hours in the day, and bring in at night. If it‘s really hot, lessen their exposure to an hour.

Feeding Seeds are amazing little things: they contain enough nutrients to keep the plant going for the first two weeks of its life, or until the first set of true leaves appear. After this, they need to be fed, but only a little bit.

Feed them a half dose of fertilizer – I like to use a liquid kelp – until they are 3 – 4 weeks old. After this, fertilize once per week at full strength if they are not yet transplanted into the garden.

Troubleshooting: Why Seeds Don’t Germinate If you check on your seedlings every

 

Temperature Moisture Seed viability

They are the most common factors in germination success. Ensure the temps are in the proper range, surface is kept consistently moist, (if it dries before a seedling has established, this will kill any emerging roots), and that the seed is viable: check the shelf life of your seeds.

A Note on Planting Depth Most seed packets include recommended planting depths, but the reason I haven‘t included them here is because I have found it often doesn‘t really matter, unless there is a huge difference (for instance, if you plant a lettuce seed 2‖ into the mix, instead of just pressed into the surface). In addition to my own experience, most farming and gardening books focus more on spacing, and don‘t even mention depth, because it is way more important to your overall yield. General rule of thumb: plant as deep as the seed‘s diameter.

Brianna is a certified organic gardener from Victoria, BC, living in Williams Lake.

She operates Puddle Produce Urban Farms, growing vegetables in city backyards and lots. If you‟re interested in the 2015 box-a-week program, email her at puddleproduce@gmail.com or call (778) 961-0600.

I

By Jessica Knodel

L

ove is in the air and we love food at the Co-op. We also love Terri's goat Amadeus, from Road‟s End Vegetable Company, and he will be visiting Cariboo Growers this February to pose for Valentine's day photos by donation. We are so excited for his visit!

We are also excited about how much food is available at the Co-op over wintertime. At Cariboo Growers right now there is local, non-GMO organic (and sustainably grown) crunchy carrots, cabbage, onions, garlic, potatoes, beets, micro-greens, parsnips, rutabaga, leeks, shallots, hubbard squash, juice, apples, frozen blueberries, raspberries, black currants, and flavourful frozen tomatoes for your cooking needs.

But did you know we have more than just fruit and vegetables?

At the Co-op there is locally born and raised meat including chicken and turkey (whole and pieces), beef (ground, assorted steaks and roasts, and stew beef), salmon (Sockeye fillets, candied and retort), pork (chops, bacon, sausages, ground, ham, and roasts) and lamb (ground, stew, chops, and roasts) when available. Ask us how the animals are raised: without antibiotics or added hormones, grazing and foraging in fields (not lots), and treated humanely and with respect.

We also sell Lac La Hache Bakery breads at low prices, local Hay Meadow honey, chocolates by Kim Judd, 100% pure juices, locally roasted coffee, wild tea blends from Maggie Ranger, birch syrup from Quesnel, dried fruits from Fraserbanch Farms, BC hazelnuts (and butters), canned salmon from the Fishery, baked

Newborn calf at San Jose Cattle Co. Photo Karen Thompson

snacks from Cookie Break & New World, raspberry syrup from Sweet Tree Ventures, granola from Smashin' Smoothies, antipasto from Bluespoon Catering, and more.

Everything in the store is clearly labelled so you know where your food comes from.

This past summer, we took a survey asking residents if they wanted us to bring in other organic products that are not local, but still healthy and organic foods. Customers answered yes so we now have a few more grocery items you asked for.

And please ask about our bulk ordering program for wholesale pricing on lots of items (not just Co-op items).

Your local Farmers & Ranchers thank you for your continued support and invite you to visit Cariboo Growers this winter, spring, summer, and fall because all year round they bring food to their downtown non-profit Williams Lake Farmers' Co-op at the corner of 3rd & Oliver Streets.

Visit www.cariboogrowers.ca or stop by the store open Tuesday, Wednesday, & Fridays from 11 a.m. - 6 p.m., and on Saturdays from 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. ... see you at the Co-op!

t is with great pleasure that the Cariboo-Chilcotin Conservation Society, through its Waste Wise program, announce that Jenny Rustemeyer, producer and co-star of the award-winning film, “The Clean Bin,” will be touring the Cariboo region with a new release Peg Leg Film “Just Eat It; A Food Waste Story” exploring the issues of food ending up in the garbage rather than in needy stomachs.

In the film, filmmakers and food lovers Jenny and Grant Baldwin dive into the issue of food waste from farm, through retail, all the way to the back of their own fridge. After catching a glimpse of the billions of dollars of good food that is tossed each year in North America, they pledge to quit grocery shopping and survive only on discarded food. In a nation where one in ten people is food insecure, the images they capture of squandered groceries are both shocking and strangely compelling. ―Just Eat It‖ brings farmers, retailers, inspiring organizations, and consumers to the table in a cinematic story that is equal parts education and delicious entertainment.

On the film festival circuit, this Canadian-made film has already won awards for Best Canadian Feature at the Planet in Focus festival and Edmonton International Film Festival, and Must See BC and Most Popular Documentary at the Vancouver International Film Festival, among others.

The tour will take place over the week of March 2 to 6 with evening showings in 100 Mile House (March 3), Williams Lake (March 4), Quesnel (March 5), and Wells (March 6). Jen‘s team will screen the film

followed by a discussion. Jen requests if snacks or drinks are provided, that there is no food wastage and cups and plates are of the reusable variety. During the daytime, in -school showings will be hosted in 100 Mile House, Williams Lake, and Quesnel as a part of the Waste Wise program.

Times and locations will vary, so please contact the Cariboo Chilcotin Conservation Society in Williams Lake at (250) 398.7929 or wastewise@ccconserv.org for details.

For 100 Mile House, contact the Cariboo Sustainability Society at (250) 7917284, bandp2@shaw.ca, or www.southcariboosustainability.com

To join this group, come about 10:30 a.m. to the Cariboo Memorial Complex on a Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday. We always begin our outings from there, so you can fill out a membership form and pay your $10 annual fee. We leave at 10:45 a.m. Once you're a member, you will receive emails with schedules and schedule changes. Schedules and updates are also on Facebook.

Whether we walk or snowshoe will depend on the amount of snow at the time, so, perhaps bring snowshoes along if in doubt.

February 3 – Twizzler Trail walk/snowshoe (Dog Creek Road) February 4 – Scout Island walk (Coffee social after at Alley Katz) February 5 – Doc English Lake hike/snowshoe (Beecher's Prairie) February 10 – Friesen Road snowshoe/walk (Fox Mountain) February 11 – Anderson Road walk/snowshoe (Dog Creek Road) February 12/13 – Gavin Lake ski /snowshoe (Stay overnight if enough interested) February 17 – SPCA snowshoe/walk (Highway 20) February 18 – Old Cabin snowshoe/walk (Esler) February 19 – Cow Trail meadow ski (Esler) February 24 – Mission Road walk (150 Mile) February 25 – Anderson Road ski (Dog Creek Road) February 26 – Fox Mountain rim walk All activities are subject to change according to weather conditions, so keep an eye on your email/Facebook.

In March come about 9:15 a.m. to the Cariboo Memorial Complex on a Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday. We leave at 9:30 a.m. By the middle of the month, we have scheduled only walking/hiking in anticipation of spring. Check your schedule daily.

March 3 – English Road walk (Highway 20) March 4 – Bull Mountain ski March 5 – Moon Road walk (Highway 20) March 10 – Dairy Fields walk/snowshoe March 11 – Bull Mountain ski March 12 – Borland Creek walk (150 Mile) March 17 – River Valley walk March 18 – Bond Lake snowshoe/walk March 19 – Gunanoot Trails walk/snowshoe (Dog Creek Road) March 24 – Snakes & Ladders walk (Esler) March 25 – Scout Island walk March 26 – Signal Point walk (Coffee Social after at Dog & Suds) March 31 – Mission Road walk

By Jack Adam Weber

S

ome months ago a friend sought my support for her relationship heartbreak, and during that conversation a voice in my head said, “We should be putting all this love energy into our relationship with the natural world and the condition of the biosphere, not into our private love affairs.”

If you think this is a reasonable proposal, at least in part, you can let this be a seed for inspiring a shift from personal and insular love towards a more global love.

While this voice spoke in hyperbole, we don‘t have to consider it in either-or terms, but on a spectrum for whatever feels like our natural next step into caring more for our world.

Romantic love, as marked by the celebration of Valentine‘s Day, is a small part of the whole of love, and certainly has its pitfalls, as we all know. According to legend, Valentine‘s Day is named after Saint Valentine, a Roman priest who became famous and was eventually executed for marrying young men and women in the Christian church. He was punished for his acts because then-Emperor Claudius, banned marriage among youth, believing family ties made weaker soldiers. Eventually, Saint Valentine disobeyed the mandate of Emperor Claudius, was caught, and was sentenced to a brutal execution. For this, Saint Valentine has remained a hero of romantic love.

In parallel, we discover that romantic love has its origins with the Troubadours.

They invented romantic love, also referred to as courtly love, which is where we get the expression of ―courting.‖ Despite this invention, what remains a reality of romantic love today is that first phase of falling in love with another person marked by hormone chaos and cloud-nine feelings, all of which have also been shown to mimic the experience of being on cocaine. This is why it‘s tough to think rationally and break the addiction-like desire while in love. But wisdom tells us that if we can harness this power and use it as a practice to bring out something better in ourselves for the betterment of a greater good, the rewards stand to be even greater. This brings us to the genius of the Troubadours and the wisdom of romance.

Dicentra Formosa, or Pacific bleeding heart, is a species of flowering plant in the Poppy Family. Photo: nutsiam The Troubadours made a name for themselves not only through their poetry, but through their attempts to transcend romantic love. Their modus operandi was to fall in love with married women, yet demand nothing of them. This way they could enhance their feeling of unrequited love and their pathos of longing, which they devoted to God. This was the Troubadour‘s psychic technology for moving beyond the small container of romantic love (so revered during modern Valentine‘s Day) yet not denying it. They used romantic love as a practice to fall in love with something greater than themselves and one other person. This begs the question: how can we employ Troubadour‘s way of loving for a modern world crying out for our participation?

Nowadays we don‘t have to fall in love with married women or men to burn for God and the grail of unconditional love.

But we can learn from the Troubadours of old insofar as not limiting the longing in our hearts to the whims of romance. Just like the Troubadour‘s heart that filled with unrequited love, we might consciously choose to experience a little of this sacred burning, which feels like deprivation, for the sake of something more. Certainly it

could serve as a welcome reprieve from the rollercoaster of romantic love, as well as a modest consolation for the collective burning we have done on Earth. Apart from holy penitence, though, such withholding of desire fulfillment can be a more mature and worthwhile use of our energy, time, and other resources, especially because our dear Earth needs as much love as we can give her.

For those of us who understand ―God‖ to be all of creation, we might consider shifting our love towards the earthy realms of divinity. The good news, however, is that we get to see our Earthly love requited before our eyes, not just behind them, as was the case with the Troubadours. Our giving comes back to us in the form of satisfaction for the results of our actions, or knowing we acted with justice. We also gain respect from those who care and appreciate our efforts. We also make good friends in the process, and benefit our communities. So, just like the Troubadours we can embrace the love in our hearts and channel some of that care to the plants, animals, waterways, air, and soils of our beloved biosphere.

We can all strengthen our vows with the beloved beneath our very feet, who com-

poses and daily nourishes our very bodies.

Indeed, the passion of romantic love and the commitment of marriage can extend to our relationship with the natural world.

Frank O'Gara, a priest from Ireland says of Saint Valentine: ―If Valentine were here today, he would say to married couples that there comes a time where you're going to have to suffer. It's not going to be easy to maintain your commitment and your vows in marriage. Don't be surprised if the 'gushing' love that you have for someone changes to something less 'gushing' but maybe much more mature. And the question is, is that young person ready for that?‖ So, as we approach Valentine‘s Day and celebrate love, we can sanctify this largely superficial and unsustainable holiday to look more deeply into how and what we love to what degree and ask if this is where we want our love-energy to go. Devoting more of our energy to something larger than our personal love affairs is a noble endeavour because it means that we will likely feel the loss of immediate pleasure for delayed gratification and deeper fulfillment. This is what Father O‘Gara refers to when he says, ―Don't be surprised if the 'gushing' love that you have for someone changes to something less 'gushing' but maybe much more mature.‖ To devote more of our love towards the Earth, no matter our age, requires our bigger selves. This is maturity and responsibility, passion, and compassion, for which Father wonders, ―…is that young person ready for that?‖ And this is the question I leave with you this Valentine‘s Day, for no matter your age, there is youthful vigour in your heart that burns for something greater.

Jack Adam Weber is an author, celebrated poet, organic farmer, and activist for Earth-centered spirituality. His books, artwork, and provocative poems can be found at his website PoeticHealing.com.

He is also the creator of The Nourish Practice, an Earth-based rejuvenation meditation, found at www.thenourishpractice.com Many of Jack‟s articles and essays can be found at www.wakeup-world.com.

BOOK REVIEW:

By Van Andruss

E

very now and then a book comes along that seems meant for me. Such a book is James B. MacKinnon's “The Once and Future World: Nature as it was, as it is, as it could be” (Random House, 2013).

James MacKinnon is a gifted writer already known for the previous best-seller, ―100-Mile Diet.‖ He was brought up on the bunch grass prairie around Kamloops.

In his wanderings as a boy, he believed he was surveying a wilderness. It was only later in life that he came to discover how much his native landscape had changed over time, and not only by human settlement. A deepening interest in these changes sent him down the path of ecological research.

The overall theme of ―The Once and Future World‖ could justly be called Historical Ecology. While MacKinnon's manner of writing has genuine educational value, it is by no means academic. The style remains personal, communicative, and friendly. Among the 13 chapters, we learn of the fantastic richness and diversity of life in the deep past. We may have heard these tales of abundance before, but they never cease to astonish. The book is full of life-histories of place: Easter Island, Hawaii, the Wadden Sea off the coast of the Netherlands, the savannas of Africa, including a neat summary of ecological developments in MacKinnon's own prairie home place.

Hearing of what we have lost of Earth's abundance can be depressing, but the author keeps the narrative moving. We are led onward to questions of conservation and of ―re-wilding.‖ We might wish to restore an area to its pristine condition, but what we find is that the ―baseline‖ of wilderness is illusive. Landscapes, even landscapes in the recent past, keep changing, often in surprising ways. As a long-time teacher I reserve space in my mind for ―The Once and Future World,‖ which occupies a category of books that I would

love to see offered as part of the curriculum in high schools. (I count in the same category Bill Bryson's ―Brief History of Nearly Everything,‖ Wade Davis's ―The Wayfinders,‖ and Ronald Wright's ―A Short History of Progress.‖) Founder of 350.org, Bill McKibben is one the most outstanding leaders in the consciousness-raising campaign around global warming. The number 350 stands for 350 parts per million of carbon in the atmosphere. Bill's latest book, ―Oil and Honey; the education of an unlikely activis‖ (Henry Holt and Company, 2013), traces the progress of his career from writer and college professor to tireless activist. The ―Oil and Honey‖ story centers on the movement against Big Oil and the corporate giants who have dominated U.S. politics for at least the past 20 years. It was 350.org that stirred opposition to the proposed Keystone XL pipeline, culminating in the largest environmental rally ever assembled at Washington, D.C., in February of 2013 (only to be surpassed in Sept.14 by 400,000 people in New York). The book's parallel theme, honey, takes place on a local scene in Vermont where the author makes his home. Here, we become acquainted with an ingenious beekeeper finding ways to husband his charges organically. Bill McKibben is an exceptional speaker and writer of 13 books, one of those Americans remarkable for clarity of vision grounded in common sense. ―Oil and Honey‖ includes a set of facts about global warming guaranteed to surprise you.

In a less urgent vein, let us consider Wade Davis's latest effort, ―Into the Silence: the great war, Mallory, and the conquest of Everest‖ (Vintage Canada, 2012).

The inexhaustible Wade Davis is an ethnobotanist, explorer, and world traveller, and unquestionably one of Canada‘s most outstanding lecturers and writers. ―One River‖ was an earlier, unforgettable account of Davis‘s researches into hallucinogenic

plants in the Amazon Basin. It seemed puzzling, therefore, that the author had chosen to write about climbing Mt. Everest in the 20s of the last century.

I don‘t know for sure but I‘m supposing it was the adventure of the undertaking that fascinated the man, as well as its location in Tibet—in the 20s a territory truly unexplored and unmapped by Westerners.

The principal characters in this story are meticulously portrayed, with of course special attention to George Mallory, who had the best hope of reaching the summit.

The British expedition was initiated soon after the First World War in hopes of raising the spirits of a morally depressed England. The book is long and detailed. There were moments when I didn‘t think I was going to make it to the end, but then I kept returning to find out if Mallory actually reached the summit. In the end, despite continued reservations, I read every page and the tale made an indelible impression on me. So if you feel like being distracted from your habitual occupations during your winter hibernation, no more effective contrivance exists.

The reader has likely heard of Nelson Mandela's ―Long Walk to Freedom‖ (Back Bay Books/Little, Brown and Company, 1994). In these pages the author recounts his political career as a member of the African National Congress (ANC) standing in opposition to Apartheid in South Africa.

Included is a portrayal of his 20-some years locked up in prison. He concludes that the worst of that experience was being separated from his family and the joys of ordinary life. A true martyr, like Leonard Peltier, in the cause of social justice, he was eventually freed and honoured, if not worshipped, for his accomplishments. Besides the appeal of keeping company with a person of outstanding character, I seemed to learn a lesson in this book as to what it takes to bring about basic changes in the social/political structure of the nation state.

I think of Canada in this regard and won-

der, would it take the same sort of struggle here to move this society away from a condition equally fundamental, to wit, the Fossil Fuel Economy? What sort of effort do we imagine is required to achieve environmental sanity in Canada?

I can't leave this article without mention of Elizabeth May's recent ―Who We Are: reflections on my life in Canada.‖ Elizabeth May is one of the two Green Party MPs in Canada at this time. No one better understands the ills of the nation.

Although the book starts out with autobiographical chapters—her mother's deep political convictions, Elizabeth's years of work with the Sierra Club—the subject matter soon expands into the plural ―We‖ of her broader identity as a Canadian. I think of this book as principally educational. Again, it falls into my category of books ideal for young people who need to consider where they stand in relation to their provincial and federal governments.

Included are first rate essays on the history of the environmental movement in Canada, the corporate betrayal of Canadian institutions, global warming, the exclusion of science from policy-making, and our lamentable descent into a species of Petrostate. Serious business, yes, but in the hands of a thoroughly creative and optimistic thinker, more illuminating than depressing. I can't recommend the book more highly.

'Tis a pleasure to offer this brief list of titles both thoughtful and entertaining. All are easily found at your local library.

Van Andruss is editor of the magazine Lived Experience. He enjoys the bioregional life and community in historic Moha outside of Lillooet, B.C.

“The Once and Future World: Nature as it was, as it is, as it could be” - James B. MacKinnon, “Into the Silence: The Great War, Mallory, and the Conquest of Everest” Wade Davis, Nelson Mandela's, “Long Walk to Freedom,” and “Who We Are: Reflections on my life in Canada” - Elizabeth May.

Green Business Feature:

By LeRae Haynes

Z

irnhelt Timber Frames designs, engineers, and builds sustainable hand-crafted timber frame homes, cottages, and commercial buildings, achieving balance between natural products and energy efficiency. The company's staff builds complete homes from foundations through to finished cabinetry, or supply custom timber work and lock-up packages.

Zirnhelt Timber Frames is newly located at 150 Mile House next to Chemo RV and is owned by brothers Damon and Sam Zirnhelt, who grew up in Beaver Valley. The business was launched when Damon and Sam bought a portable sawmill to pay for their university degrees 21 years ago. ―We really like our new location,‖ says Sam Zirnhelt. ―One of the greatest improvements is that it‘s made life significantly easier for our employees and exceptionally convenient for our customers.‖ ―There is a sense of ‗home‘ here for us,‖ he says. ―My grandfather built Marshall‘s store, and there is a pond out back where he lost his 22 rifle. My dad was born and raised right across the road and when we look over at the hayfield we see a timber hay stacker built by my great-grandfather.‖ To date, Zirnhelt has built over 100 timber frame structures, the majority being custom homes. The brothers do everything from foundations to finished cabinets and tile work and have built in Alberta and throughout BC, the Gulf Islands, and in the Yukon. They also built a home in New Zealand, which resulted in a New Zealand carpenter moving to Williams Lake to join their team. ―Besides urban projects, we do a lot of remote building, including replacing the shel-

ters and cabins on the Bowron Lakes canoe circuit and the new airport terminal at Anahim Lake, in partnership with the Cariboo Regional District,‖ says Sam Zirnhelt. ―The terminal incorporates as many locallymade wood products as we could use. The insulated foundation forms are made in Canada with Woodcrete, which is very durable and has been used in Europe for many years.

We‘d love to introduce it here. We used every local species of tree for the panelling, the floors, and the cabinetry. The building looks like an old Hudson‘s Bay fort, but it‘s very energy-efficient. It has 15-inch thick walls that incorporate cross-laminated timber panels, cellulose and wood fibre insulation, and solid timber siding. They basically heat it with two baseboard heaters,‖ he said.

Environmentally sound construction is important at Zirnhelt Timber, according to Sam, who said he main object of green building is reducing energy consumption while maintaining exceptional durability and a healthy indoor environment. ―The wall and roof systems in the past few years have become much more complex,‖ he says. ―We‘re using multiple layers in the walls that act as moisture retarders, thermal breaks and air barriers; conventional poly vapour barrier is no longer required. Many of our wall designs are consistent with the passiv haus standards, leading to very low energy use for heating and cooling,‖ he explains. ―‘Natural‘ and ‗green‘ are not necessarily the same thing,‖ he adds. ―What we‘re trying to do is find the best combination of natural building products while still achieving a high level of energy efficiency and durability.‖ He says they‘re flexible with customers, balancing cost with energy efficiency. ―We look at their location, environmental consid-

By Adam McLeod, ND, BSc

D

HEA is often described as a wonder drug that is used by patients interested in its anti-aging effects. As we age the levels of DHEA in the blood start to decrease so the logic was that if patients were given this hormone then they would be able to partially reverse the aging process. There is evidence to suggest that indeed it improves many of the characteristics that we associate with aging.

Supplementation with DHEA is not safe for everyone as it is strongly associated with an increased risk of developing breast cancer.

In response to this risk, supplement companies began to produce a molecule called 7keto DHEA, which is a metabolite of DHEA. This was considered a safer alternative to DHEA because it does not break down into estrogen or testos-terone. It is true that when patients take 7-keto DHEA there is no statis-

tically significant increase in hormone levels, but this does not make it safe to use with breast cancer.

I have personally seen several patients with active estrogen positive breast cancer who were prescribed 7-keto DHEA by a medical doctor. This is a dangerous combination and it is reckless to prescribe this medication in this clinical situation. 7-keto DHEA is not safe for any patient with estrogen positive breast cancer. There are a number of obvious biochemical reasons for this contraindication. First of all, there are absolutely no studies which indicate that this is safe with estrogen positive breast cancer.

Secondly, just because the estrogen levels are not elevated does not mean that the estrogen receptor is not being stimulated.

Normally, the receptors on the surface of a cell are only stimulated by a few specific molecules. The estrogen receptors are notori-

Damon and Sam Zirnhelt get ready to ship a custom home to Canim Lake from Zirnhelt Timber Frames' new location in 150 Mile House. Photo: LeRae Haynes erations, their budget, local energy costs, and what they‘re going to use the building for. We find what‘s optimal for them.‖ People‘s expectations about what goes into a building have gone up a lot in the past 10 years, and so has the response from building manufacturers, he adds. ―We‘ve also seen a steady movement toward more natural building products. ―One of the biggest challenges we have in sustainability is the availability of costeffective materials. I would really like to see a significant increase in products manufactured here that now come from Europe, such as thermally-efficient windows and wood fibre insulation,‖ he says.

Zirnhelt Timber does a lot of building in the north and in the interior—they understand it. ―Which way the snow comes off the roof matters,‖ Sam explains, adding that they do a ‗sunlight analysis‘ so the building is oriented in the right direction and win-

dows with the appropriate glazing and shading are in the ideal location to take advantage of the sun‘s location in each season. ―We want every construction project to end with a great relationship between us and the client,‖ he says. ―The size of our company gives us the opportunity to get to know each client and follow through from the beginning.‖ For more information about Zirnhelt Timber Frames visit www.ZTFrames.com, email info@ZTFrames.com, or give the company a call at (250) 296-3499.

ously promiscuous. What this means is that they are stimulated by many different molecules other than estrogen. One of those molecules is 7-keto DHEA. In other words, even though patients do not have elevations in estrogen levels, the estrogen receptors are being directly stimulated by the 7-keto DHEA. So as far as the cancer cells are concerned, they will act as if they are being stimulated by estrogen even though the actual levels of estrogen remain unchanged.

In one study it was conclusively shown that 7-keto DHEA (aka 7-oxo DHEA) is a low affinity ligand activator of estrogen receptors. The estrogen activity in these cancer cell lines were significantly elevated compared to the controls. In this same study, the cancer cells (MCF-7 breast cancer cells) that were treated with 7-keto DHEA grew much faster than the controls.

This simple study certainly raises concern about the use of this supplement in cancer patients. It is clearly misleading to state that 7-keto DHEA has all the positive effects of DHEA without any of the negative effects.

This is simply not how our cells operate on the biochemical level.

Another obvious concern is that 7-keto DHEA is essentially structurally identical to DHEA. This means that its overall shape is so similar that it will stimulate estrogen receptors the same as if it was DHEA. The estrogen receptors on cancer cells cannot tell the difference between 7-keto DHEA and DHEA. As far as the cancer is con-

cerned it is the same thing. Of course, the DHEA will not stimulate these receptors as strongly as estrogen but they still increase the activity which is the complete opposite of what you want to do with estrogen positive breast cancer. Conventional cancer therapies work very hard to reduce estrogen activity as much as possible because this activity acts as a signal for these cancer cells to grow.

It is important that more patients become aware of this serious concern because it is difficult to sift through the mountains of information on the web. Unfortunately, there are still doctors that are prescribing this medication to estrogen positive breast cancer patients. The simple explanation that estrogen levels are unaffected does not mean that it is safe. Biology is much more complex than simply monitoring the level of a few arbitrary hormones in the blood.

There is significant crosstalk between these different pathways in cells and this wellunderstood biological concept also applies to the clinical setting.

LeRae Haynes is a freelance writer, songwriter, co-producer of “Pursicles,” and the community co-ordinator for Success by 6.

She is also the instigator of a lot of musical shenanigans in Williams Lake including “Borderband” with kids and is a member of the “Perfect Match” dance band.

Dr. Adam McLeod is a naturopathic doctor (ND), BSc. (Hon) molecular biology, First Nations healer, motivational speaker, and international best selling author http://www.dreamhealer.com.

He currently practices at his clinic, Yaletown Naturopathic Clinic, in Vancouver, BC where he focuses on integrative oncology. http://www.yaletownnaturopathic.com

By Maggie Pyper

I

recently watched a presentation by fashion entrepreneur (and former White Power Ranger) Jessica Rey about the bikini, and how it affects men‟s brains. Rey quoted a Princeton study to suggest men can‟t help but objectify women wearing bikinis. I was shocked. Apparently, when a man looks at a scantily-clad woman, the region of the brain associated with tool use is activated, suggesting that women are perceived as something to use. To counteract this, Rey argues, we (women) need to don more modest attire.

Well, that just didn‘t sit right with the feminist in me, and I was definitely a little angry with Ms. Rey for shaming me out of my bikini. After doing a bit of research, I realized that I got into this debate a little late in the game—this video is about two years old, and Rey‘s representation of the study is more than a tad skewed. In her defense she is not the only one to sensationalize the results.

National Geographic does the same.

The study was actually intended to examine the relationship between participants‘ pre-existing level of sexism, and neural activity upon exposure to images of sexualized women (as well as other images).

Importantly, the study showed women were more likely to be perceived as objects among men in whom ―hostile sexism‖ was already present; the women‘s attire was secondary. Rey‘s misrepresentation of the study served her purposes well though, upselling her own line of swimsuits, with the tag line ―Who says it has to be itsy bitsy?‖ The swimsuits are really quite adorable, and I might actually think of buying one if I wasn‘t so upset with her for making me feel like I am inviting men to treat me like an object because I like my two-piece swimsuit and feel beautiful when I wear it.

Rey‘s misreading of the Princeton study did, however, give me reason to pause. March 8 is fast approaching, and is a day I keep prodigious track of, in part because I have to buy a birthday present and procure a cake, and because it is International Women‘s Day (IWD).

IWD has been officially celebrated on March 8 since 1975, but it has roots in the suffrage movement, with the first International Day celebrated in 1911. As women's suffrage spread, so too did adop-

Kaleo and I visiting ohana in Hawaii, Autumn 2013. Photo Kristi Scharsch

Loving my six-months-pregnant bikini body. Photo: Kaiulani Pyper

tion of IWD, and it has since become a global day with commemoration events taking place in more than 100 countries. It is a day to honor the work of suffragettes, to celebrate the acts of courage and determination of women from all walks of life, and a day to remind us of inequities still to be redressed.

To me, the acts of courage I saw recently, are words coming from women who are speaking out against the ―hostile sexist‖ attitudes that are present in our society which enable the objectification of women.

The idea, as Rey incorrectly implies, that men just can‘t help themselves when they see a woman in a bikini so therefore we must change how we dress, is far too simplistic. Changing from my favourite bikini into a one-piece bathing suit is not going to stop someone from objectifying me, nor is it going to make the sexist attitudes that enable objectification disappear. The attitude needs to be addressed. I have no recipe for this. I only know that it will take intense dedication, determination, humility, and love.

Maggie Pyper is grateful to be present each day with her partner, son, and everyone else who shares this amazing world we call home.

***

When singer Danielea Castell took home a mason jar of Water from Fraser River in Prince George on August 31, 2012 it changed her life, work, and art.

Danielea is performing music and stories celebrating Water and its connection to the Canada Winter Games Feb. 6-8 in Williams Lake, Quesnel and Prince George. Tickets at eventbrite.ca. All proceeds benefit thebankofgratitude.net.

Photo: bobbicarpinophotography.com

WATER gives us life, food, shelter, clothing, electronics, gas, transportation, recreational fun, and the Canada Winter Games. Join sacred singer Danielea Castell for an inspiring evening of original music, stories, and poetry honouring Water for its gifts and teachings. All proceeds benefit the Water Gratitude Society, presenter of 2015 Bank of Gratitude Rivers Day event. www.thebankofgratitude.net.

Friday, February 6 – Satya Yoga Studio, Williams Lake Saturday, February 7 – Shiraroi House, Quesnel Sunday, February 8 – Knox United Church, Prince George Doors 7:00 p.m. Show: 7:30-9:00 p.m.

Tickets: $20 eventbrite.ca $25 at the door Check website for start times in each location.

Fundraiser for The Bank of Gratitude, 2015 Rivers Day event Water Gratitude tools and art available for purchase. thebankofgratitude.net danieleacastell.ca Also see events on Facebook *Come at 6:30 to make a Water Heart to take home for a place and form of Water you love, eg. liquid, mist, snow, or ice. _____________________________________________________________ ―Danielea's singing is magical. When my eyes were closed her voice produced images of colour. And when the colours started to fade I felt like I was looking down from a great height over a flowing river. Very powerful.

THANK YOU.‖ Sharon MacDonald ―It is a profound connection to the Earth that allows Danielea to create such magic. She can feel and hear the rivers and the trees. I have never known anyone quite like he; she is a gift and a treasure.‖ Doug Koyama, Vancouver _____________________________________________________________ Danielea Castell is a sacred singer, social artist, and facilitator specializing in creative community Water engagement. Danielea is the creator of the award-nominated Bank of Gratitude event and the co-founder of the Water Gratitude Society. Danielea has a unique spiritual and emotional relationship with Water bringing a fresh perspective to human/Water relations and stewardship. www.thebankofgratitude.net www.danieleacastell.ca

By Terri Smith

J

anuary 2009 was my first January back in Williams Lake and I was so excited and eager to be a farmer. I had behind me a whole five months experience living in a camper van on various farms around the province, as well as the time that went into the 1/3 of an acre we‟d managed to prepare for the garden before the snow hit the previous fall. I had spent the winter talking to anyone who would listen (and probably many who were just being polite) about my new-found passion for vegetable farming. And then at the end of January I attended my initial Food Policy Council meeting and had my first realization that I didn‟t know even the tiniest fraction of what I was getting into or what I was talking about. The topic of the meeting was the future opening of the Cariboo Growers‟ Co-op, still in the planning stages at this time. I sat there all perky and proud to be a member of the group: listening, contributing when I felt I had something to add, and just generally basking in the camaraderie of my fellow farmers. I then had my first of many humbling experiences.

Producers in the room had various questions about logistics. I distinctly remember one farmer asking about how the Co-op was going to arrange its ordering from the veggie producers, not because it was a question I would have even thought of at the time, but because she began by stating, ―Most farmers have already ordered their seeds by December or January…‖ I don‘t think I managed to hear the rest of the meeting. I remember fidgeting in my chair, all illusions that I knew what I was doing having vanished, thinking, ―I need to go home now, there‘s something I have to do.‖ And it was all I could do to not run out of that meeting, find a phone, and call home to tell my farming partner that we had to get that seed order in NOW as we were already almost two months behind. Ordering seeds had, quite frankly, not actually occurred to me yet.

Since then I‘ve laughed at myself for this moment every year when I first receive my seed catalogues. Seed ordering doesn‘t stress me out anymore; it is one of my favourite things. That moment each January when I open the mailbox to find the first seed catalogues of the year always feels like Christmas and I can hardly wait to get home and open them. I have multiple copies of the same catalogues and for the next few months, even after I‘ve or-

Over the years I have also discovered which varieties grow best in my particular microclimate and I have begun to cut back on the ridiculous number of other varieties I try to grow. Do I really need to grow eight varieties of peas when I know the three that do best here? Is it necessary to try five different types of romaine when I know the two that my customers prefer?

And must I really order those new broccoli seeds in the Johnny‘s catalogue just So many seed catalogues, so little time! because they‘re called, Photo credit: Curtis Seeger ―Amadeus?‖ (Actually the answer to that last question dered all of my seeds, they can be found in is probably: yes, I do need broccoli named both bathrooms, next to the bed, in the of- Amadeus, obviously). I always justify my fice, downstairs beside the fire, and even in overzealous ordering with the fact that I‘m my purse. I spend hours poring over the against monocultures and we are losing all pages, gazing at the beautiful pictures and sorts of varieties of plants because of comfantasizing about the incredibly beautiful, mercial farms growing only one or two valush, weed-free, pest-free garden I just rieties that grow best and ship well. Even know I‘m going to have this year. Every moderating my seed ordering, though, I still gardener does this, I‘m sure. We have to. grew over 50 varieties last year.

I also make an effort to grow an openEach year we tell ourselves that this year will be the year of our best garden ever. pollinated or heritage variety for every hySometimes it‘s true; sometimes it isn‘t, but brid I use. Hybrid seeds are bred to grow uniform plants that perform well, and have it‘s the dream that keeps us going.

I have become better at ordering each high yields. They are not to be confused year too. I have a better understanding now with GMO seeds. They are bred, not engiof what is actually possible, especially for neered, but you cannot save seed from them our short and unpredictable growing sea- because they are all genetically identical. son. Sometimes I actually tear out the pages Heritage varieties are often more finicky, for melons or winter squash just so I won‘t with smaller yields, but they have wonderbe tempted. We often get frost every month ful flavours, interesting colours and shapes, of the year at Road‘s End, and anything and their seed, which has been cared for that has a growing season of more than 90 and propagated for at least a century, can be days that isn‘t incredibly cold tolerant is saved. It is important to me to grow these seeds and to try to save them, too. And even really not worth the effort.

The limited greenhouse space I do have though they are more expensive, I usually is prime real estate and I must use it spar- choose organic seed. This is partly because ingly. It‘s devastating to baby a plant for I want to support the growth of organic months only to have it freeze to death just seed, but also because if you are growing before it reaches fruition. But even without organically, you want seed from the plants the warmer weather crops, there are still that stood up the best to disease, pests, and hundreds of options and way too much weed competition. They will be stronger plants. scope for imagination.

Oh the possibilities! I could write about One year, looking through the catalogues, the myriad purple vegetables avail- this for hours, and my garden knowledge is able intrigued me. I began imagining a pur- still so very limited. Good luck with your ple section for the garden and for market. seed ordering, everyone. And don‘t worry; Just think how interesting a display I could you still have lots of time. Don‘t tell anycome up with for market with purple cauli- one, but I never do get my order in until flower, purple kohlrabi, purple carrots, pur- February. ple peppers, purple eggplant, purple potatoes, purple beans purple kale… I‘m still Terri Smith is an organic vegetable farmer thinking about it, but perhaps this is just too in the Cariboo with Road‟s End Vegetable much of an example of playing with my Company. She has a Bachelor‟s degree in Literature and a diploma in Art. food.

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ireless safety standards that are more protective of the health of Canadians; and Guidelines and resources to assist Canadian physicians in assessing and managing health problems related to microwave radiation.

There is considerable evidence and research from various scientific experts that exposure to microwave radiation from wireless devices, Wi-Fi, smart meters, and cell towers can have an adverse impact on human physiological function. Many recent and emerging studies from university departments and scientific sources throughout the world support the assertion that energy from wireless devices may be causatively linked to various health problems including reproductive compromise, developmental impacts, hormonal disregulation, and cancer.

In fact, in 2011 the World Health Organization listed microwave radiation as a Class 2B possible carcinogen and subsequent research strengthened the evidence that a stronger designation may be justified.

Out of sincere concern for the health of Canadians at all stages of life – from the developing fetus through childhood and into adulthood – we respectfully request that: i) Health Canada develop and support strategies to raise awareness about microwave radiation impacts and to minimize prolonged exposure to microwave radiation in schools and other places where children are regularly exposed. ii) As Health Canada has acknowledged that a full literature review was not part of its latest update of Safety Code 6 (the safety guideline for wireless exposure pertaining to thermal effects on the tissue of adult males) we request a comprehensive literature review for all age ranges with less reliance on industry-funded studies.

Health Canada provide guidelines and resources to assist Canadian physicians in becoming apprised of microwave exposure and related health problems and clinical presentations that may be associated with over-exposure or sensitivity (similar to the 2012, ―Guideline of the Austrian Medical Association for the diagnosis and treatment of EMF related health problems and illnesses.‖) (Note: this guideline is under review with an update expected.)

For the complete list of doctors who signed this declaration please visit http://goo.gl/j3HJvv Cordless phones, baby monitors, cell towers, cellphones, wireless tablets and computers, Wi-Fi routers, and smart meters all emit pulsed radiofrequency microwave radiation. Health Canada's exposure guidelines are considered inadequate and outdated by many doctors and scientists. Photo: SafeinSchool.Org

Letters:

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am writing to express my concerns with regards to the Mount Polley tailings pond breach. The scale of the incident is so immense that it is difficult to write about it succinctly. It is now thought that this is the largest tailings pond breach in history.

This incident happened in a political environment that is pro-industry and that puts environmental concerns below economic concerns.

In Canada, proponents of industrial projects use terminology like ―world class technology,‖ ―highest standards,‖ and ―exceeding guidelines,‖ etc. to describe the way projects are implemented. Then something like this happens, and you think, is this the best we can do? With the best technologies, highest standards, exceeding guidelines, this is what we get?

I think it is obvious that we need to rethink the way we do business. For our leaders in charge in BC and Canada, this incident happened under your watch. In the minds of the people, you are the ones charged with protecting us and our lifestyles and livelihood. There were failures all the way up the chain of command, and the two big issues I can see are lack of government oversight and enforcement, and cost cutting on behalf of the company.

Looking backwards, I hope that we can see clearly the steps that need to be taken to

make sure this never happens again. The cost of doing business needs to be more realistic, less profit driven, and more focused on integrity and well-being of the land and its inhabitants.

Big picture issues aside, another area of concern is the social impact on the citizens of Likely. When the mine was applying for its initial permits, the promise was that there would be abundant jobs and that people would move there with their families, the school would be full, and Likely would be a prosperous town. The town was facing the end of the logging boom in the area and people were in need of good paying jobs and a hope for the future. Imperial Metals fuelled this hope, but this promise was not quite realized. Few families moved to Likely, and school enrollment plummeted, as mine workers chose to live elsewhere and commute to work at the mine. The school was nearly shut down a few years ago, only a decade after Imperial Metals projected these inspiring dreams for Likely, and was kept open due to the passion of the residents for keeping families there. The closing of the school would symbolize the death of the town, as few families would ever consider moving there without a school.

I grew up in Likely and went to school there for 10 years of my primary educa-

tion. For most of that time there were over 100 children in the school. Now there are less than 20. This was before the accident.

There is now a huge stain on the town, and it is world famous for being the site of a mining disaster. There are many things that the Likely area has in abundance, including minerals, forests, salmon, water, and natural beauty. The forestry in the area has slowed down, leaving mining and the environmental aspects as the remaining draws to the area. Many people choose to live in Likely for the raw natural beauty of the place. Clean waters, beautiful forests, and abundant wildlife make it a draw for tourists around the world. Now those things are all imperiled by this disaster. The mine has a remaining life of about a decade or so, so what is going to happen to the town then?

I would like to propose that, as part of Imperial Metals' rehabilitation efforts, there be a social component that will help to maintain the longevity of the town after the mine is gone. This could be in the form of scholarships for students, investments in tourism infrastructure and marketing, and donations to community groups, such as the school, community hall, and fire and rescue services, as well as to individuals whose lives have been most compromised.

A committee could be drawn together to come up with ideas that would help the community with a long-term vision for surviving in the coming decades, and I would suggest that we look beyond the unsustainable resource extraction sectors, and into areas like eco-tourism that draw in the other ―natural resources‖ of the area.

There are few areas of the world with the raw beauty of the Likely area, and with the right packaging and marketing, a thriving tourist economy could sustain the community indefinitely.

The cost of these kinds of investments in the community would likely be minuscule in comparison with the costs of the cleanup, but the payoff for the company, and the mining industry in general, would be huge in terms of public perception and support of industrial projects.

There is a huge divide in Canada now, because of the perception that pro-industry governments support mega-industrial projects, who in turn provide funding for election campaigns, while disregarding environmental concerns and local populace and sucking wealth out of the area. It is hard to argue against this view and there needs to be a massive reorientation in public policy to bridge this divide. The gap has grown so wide that people who demand clean air and water are being labelled eco-terrorists and

surveilled by the government. Other potential projects such as Prosperity Mine already face an uphill battle for public support, with many people not trusting the companies or the government to protect their land. Who can blame them? This recent incident has cast doubt on the entire mining industry in Canada. It appears to citizens that the land is being pillaged and the government is complicit in allowing it to happen.

We need to start looking at what should be put back into the land, when so much is taken out of it. There are hundreds of millions of dollars worth of minerals that were taken out of Mount Polley, so what is the compensation from the company back to the land? What are the benefits to the land and it‘s people? It‘s not enough to just provide a few years of jobs for people when the impacts are this high and futures after the mine are uncertain. Most of these companies are owned by shareholders who have no ties to the places where their wealth is extracted, and so have little knowledge or interest in the people who actually live there.

If you want public perception to shift on resource development, then there need to be long-term benefits to the region and more focus on the residents of an area whose lives you are impacting. If the wealth that is extracted from the land is shared more equally with those who live there and deal with the consequences, these types of big projects would not be so controversial. Perhaps landowners should also become share-holders when industrial projects move in.

An interesting final note is that Likely has a Community Forest whose mandate is to provide forestry employment to locals while putting a portion of profits back into the community. Imagine a future with ―Community Mines,‖ where profits from the industry are put directly into the communities in the local area. With good planning and a slower approach, a mine like Mount Polley could sustain a community like Likely for many decades. If social investments were the norm, rather than the exception, the divide between industry proponents and local citizens might not be so great.

Jordan Holmes Quesnel, BC.

By Ron Young

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tep back for a moment from the madness, frenzy, and oft seeming futility of day-to-day life.

Step way back. Enter the cartoon world of the not-too-distant past— the middle of the 20th century. Remember a Popular Mechanics magazine issue that showed a suburbanite stuffing a big yellow personal helicopter into his garage? Didn‟t happen. In an earlier edition of that magazine, you see a prediction of clean car emissions in the odourless city of the future. Sort of happened, sometimes, some places. Another confident scientist in days of yore talks about heating and cooking by solar power and while that is definitely possible, it is not really a good use of the technology for the average western home.

While some visions of the future espoused by the magazine have come to pass, there are many others that have been sidelined by reality such as the claim in 1929 that we would all wear clothing made of a material with amazing

By Ray Grigg

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he pressure is building to reduce global carbon emissions.

At each meeting of the United Nations' Conference of the Parties (COP), the urgency becomes more palpable.

The Lima meeting of COP 20 in December, 2014, failed to reach the preliminary commitments necessary for the binding international agreements expected at the COP 21 meeting in Paris in December, 2015. France is getting nervous because its reputation will be sullied if the Paris COP is a failure—French President Francois Holland made this very clear to Prime Minister Stephen Harper during an autumn 2014 visit to Ottawa.

With the Kyoto Protocol expired and without a binding replacement agreement from subsequent COP meetings in Cancun, Copenhagen, and Durban, the default position has been for individual countries, provinces, and communities to do the best they can to reduce emissions. This approach has been helpful but not sufficient. Almost all of Canada's reduced emissions have come from provincial initiatives, not federal.

Most other countries have been unable to meet their voluntary reduction targets.

Meanwhile, international agencies have been carefully charting carbon emissions for hopeful signs. But these signs are rare.

In 2012, for example, the increase in carbon

properties called asbestos. Throwing your asbestos clothes into a fire would suffice for cleaning, claimed this pundit; but, as we all know now, although asbestos has some amazing properties it is extremely hazardous to human health.

A 1950 issue stated smugly that people would soon live in houses with waterproof plastic furnishings including floors, upholstery, and draperies. Housecleaning would consist of turning a hose on everything to wash it down with the water going down a central drain, cleverly concealed by a synthetic carpet; blow-drying your home with a big hair dryer would follow. My personal favourite is mail delivery by parachute. The mail by parachute prediction was confidently made in 1921, not long after the dawn of flight. In fact, it says two speed parachutes were being developed that would allow ―airmen‖ to drop mail within a few feet of the intended recipient.

Doesn‘t that remind you of a recent Amazon marketing promotion saying your orders would soon be delivered directly to you via miniature helicopters?

A 1966 vision of the future stated that some exotic new compound would power cars in 2016 and gasoline ―will have gone the way of the buggy whip.‖ Given the recent precipitous drop in gas prices, some might think that is about to happen and the oil producing countries of the Middle East are having a big clearance sale, cashing in while they can. We can only hope.

In these modern days of the 21 st century, our predictions for the future are no less stunning, but if we learn one thing

emissions of 1.4% was less than the increase in GDP of 3.4%, indicating that the world economy is beginning to decouple from fossil fuels by becoming more efficient. In 2013, carbon emissions crept up by 2.3% while GDP rose by 3.3%. In 2014, emissions rose by 2.5% while GDP increased by 3.3%. If climate change is going to be slowed and reversed, however, total global emissions must not just trail GDP but must be reduced by a yearly average of at least 2.5% until all emissions reach zero on or before 2100. Any delays now will mean steeper future reductions.

Two lessons are to be learned from these statistics. First, efficiency alone in a world of expanding GDP is unlikely to bring about sufficient carbon emission reductions. And second, although the accomplishments of efficiency are mostly symbolic, they are nonetheless important. Every factory that uses less energy reduces emissions. The same is true for every new car that burns less fuel, and for every LED bulb that replaces an incandescent one. Statistics confirm that every individual choice, no matter how small, contributes to measurable environmental benefits.

Another development is promising. The prestigious journal, Natural Geoscience, recently reported that more than half of all known fossil fuel reserves on the planet will have to remain unburned if we are to avoid dire climate change. With this realization, hundreds of the world's financial institutions, foundations, and universities are beginning to transfer billions of dollars of

subsidized solar panels that have been sold at unrealistically low prices.

Unrealistically low prices are great for consumers but really hard on legitimate manufacturers and many well known established companies have gone under in recent from our years due to lack of profitability. If the Capast atnadian government follows the lead of the tempts at U.S. Commerce Department, which has crystal ball recently imposed strong countervailing gazing it duties from 30 – 250% on Chinese manushould be factured solar panels, then expect a possible that all predramatic increase in the price. What I‘m dictions Photo: James Vaughan seeing in my crystal ball is a potential 50 have an per cent increase and that‘s not pocket element of truth and—oh, just a sec. I have change. a call coming in on my iWatch. it‘s from If I really want to get spaced out on the Dick Tracy—Hey, Dick. I‟m busy. I‟ll get future without taking drugs or anything, all back to you.

I have to do is think about what futurists Where was I? Oh yeah, I was talking are calling ―technological singularity.‖ The about quantum entanglement and the possi- ―singularity‖ hypothesis is that our combility of parallel worlds that exist alongside puters will become so good at thinking for our world. In the ―many-worlds‖ interpreta- themselves they‘ll be capable of building tion of quantum mechanics all possible even smarter computers that will then build worlds actually exist in parallel universes. even smarter computers and so on. Once That just about means that anything is pos- this happens, it‘s game over for us dumb sible. Wait. No, it was in the other universe humans. Break out the popcorn because we where I was talking about that. In this one I will be sidelined as …well, dumb humans. was talking about Popular Mechanics not Maybe really lucky ones will have their quantum mechanics. Geez, the future is consciousness absorbed into bionic mareally complicated. chines and live forever—only the mulWhat I know for sure about the future is tiverse knows for sure. this: solar panel prices are going up. I can (If you think I‘m joking, it‘s been confionly predict near field future and it‘s not dently stated by someone who predicts the based on quantum or popular mechanics future that incomprehensibly fast quantum but on the sad fact that the Canadian Border computers and a quantum Internet are just Services Agency is investigating a com- around the corner.) plaint that certain Asian countries are dumping low-priced solar panels into the Ron Young is a renewable energy profesNorth American market, creating unfair sional that designs and sells solar, wind, competition in the market place. While and micro-hydro systems. He operates the increased adoption of solar technology has earthRight store in Williams Lake, BC and brought about a great price reduction, the can be reached at info@solareagle.com. other factor has been Chinese government-

investments from coal, oil, and gas to renewable energies.

But time is crucial and the numbers are daunting. Global yearly carbon dioxide emissions are now, as of the beginning of 2015, about 37 gigatonnes. To translate this number into slightly more approachable terms, this is 37,000 million tonnes. The wisps of smoke drifting up from a huntergatherer's cooking fire or from a solitary country cottage makes our planet seem very large. But 37,000,000,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide is a declaration that our fires have grown sufficiently large to influence the planet we occupy. So we should not be surprised if our emissions are changing climate, acidifying oceans, melting ice caps, raising sea levels, and driving species to extinction.

These consequences are being confirmed with sobering statistics: • Six months ago, the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration measured the world's average temperature at a new record of 16.2°C, 1.3°C higher than than the 20th century average. The 10 hottest years since 1880 occurred in the 15 years between 1998 and 2013.

• The pre-human extinction rate for species was 0.1 per million per annum; the present rate is somewhere between 100 and 1,000, a rate that is 1,000 to 10,000 times normal.

• For centuries prior to 1800, sea level rise was essentially zero; from 1900 to 2000 it was 1.7 mm per year; from 1990 to 2013 it increased to 3 mm. The total sea level rise

by 2100 is expected to be about 0.5 m. But many variables could increase this number.

Earth's average atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations are expected to reach 400 ppm sometime in 2015. The last time concentrations were this high, about 3 million years ago, sea levels stabilized at about 10 metres above present levels. This suggests sea level rise will be continuous for centuries, presenting colossal challenges for coastal cities, settlements, and agriculture.

The importance of reducing carbon dioxide emissions continues to increase exponentially. This means that 2015 will be an even more crucial year for taking corrective action. The longer we procrastinate, the more radical and difficult must be our future reduction measures.

If our inclination to inaction continues, we may reach a time when the problem of climate change is unstoppable and unsolvable. Unfortunately, we don't know when this time will occur. We may have already reached and passed it. But we can be virtually certain that continued delays will only make the challenges and the consequences increasingly difficult—for our climate, for our oceans, for innumerable species, and for civilization as we know it. Whether 2015 becomes a year for optimism remains uncertain.

Ray Grigg is a weekly environmental columnist for the Campbell River CourierIslander. He is the author of seven internationally published books on Oriental philosophy, specifically Zen and Taoism.

By Paul Hearsey

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ell, we've been here in Horsefly for seven years this month already. How time really does fly! In the June/July issue of TheGreenGazette we told readers all about our gardens, greenhouse, and root cellar. Today, we'll talk about the house we have been building in our spare time.

Never again. That's what we said to each other when we first arrived in Horsefly. Building a house on the coast over six years was a tough thing to do, while we both worked full time and raised kids. But while we now owned forty acres (of scrubby, weedy, marginal farmland) our little log cabin was just a few feet from the road. Heavy truck traffic was waking us up at night and making us crazy. So ... within months we started looking for a new building site.

I had always wanted to build an offgrid, high-performance home, so we started researching and sketching ideas.

We came up with a fairly simple plan, just—1,080 square feet on one level, facing south on an almost unobstructed ridge.

Since our funds were limited we had to be smart about this. We designed it in multiples of two feet, so that drywall, siding, and roofing waste was minimal. Simple also meant less labour.

In Canada we build some pretty poor homes. They may cost $400 or more a square foot, with granite countertops and hot-tubs, but they are very, very low performance homes. Energy costs in this country are still too modest. I'm serious: we really don't pay enough for energy (or water!) to want to try harder. And our ―leaders‖ in Ottawa are so lacking in vision and so focused on themselves, they cannot see that conservation and renewables are vitally important. So we need to take the lead.

We took our inspiration from the Passivhaus program in Germany, where physicist Wolfgang Feist took crude 1970s Canadian ideas about high performance and elevated them to a science. So, since energy conservation must come before fancy high-tech gadgets we designed a home with double wall construction. An outer wall of two by fours would support the roof and ceiling joists, while an inner wall would support the drywall. A space of five inches between inner and outer walls would give us a twelve-inch wall thickness and R38 when insulated with blow-in cellulose. Compare that to standard two by four construction, where thermal bridging and sloppy insulation practices typically result in an R12 wall. Even two by six construction is only slightly better.

Access to our site was not great so after much thought we settled on a shallow frost -protected pier foundation, to avoid the need for concrete deliveries. Ah, the joys of hand-digging hard clay. Twenty-four pressure-treated posts sit on concrete pads just three feet below the surface, and built-

Left: Installing the solar hot water panels. Right: A view of the new home from the west. Photos: Sandy McNie up wood beams sit on those posts. A conventional wood framed floor was assembled on top of that. A frost protected foundation uses foam board insulation below the surface to hold both ground warmth and ―lost‖ heat from the house and prevent freezing. No freezing, no frost heaving. No heaving, no cracked drywall. The foamboard was armoured with galvalume metal roofing, which looks far better than it sounds here. Ten inches of Roxul mineral wool insulation minimizes heat loss through the floor, at R36.

Today, a well-designed home uses ―smart framing.‖ This requires thinking.

Everything is on two-foot centers and aligned top to bottom, so that loads are transmitted from roof rafters directly to wall studs to the foundation and from there to the ground. This requires less lumber, and allows for more insulation. Many times I've seen three to five wall studs in a cluster, just because a builder didn't know what else to do. Dumb—a permanent cold area in your wall. And what's with full-size headers over doors and windows in nonload-bearing walls? Is this the 1960s? It's important to remember that good design doesn't need to cost extra, and your own research is essentially free. Start by reading Fine Homebuilding magazine at the Williams Lake library.

Our home is a passive solar home, with generous south-facing windows and substantial roof overhangs. Since we put so much effort into superinsulating the walls, floor, and ceiling, we installed triple glazed, low-e, argon-filled windows from All Weather Windows in Edmonton. Both Central Builders Supply and Wise Windows are local dealers. Our windows are vinyl framed. Aluminum is far too cold and wood too high-maintenance, and we couldn't argue with the energy efficiency of these frames so vinyl it was. We installed standard units on the east and south sides, where the higher solar transmittance would ensure maximum solar gain and Sunstop units on the west and north sides where little sun lands. These have a slightly higher R value.

Only three of the 11 windows open, because fixed windows are tighter windows. Although it was a lot of trouble, we

splayed the sides of the window openings outward 30 degrees so they felt larger and admitted more light. After much research we settled on 42-inch overhangs to prevent full summer sun from turning our home into an oven.

Lots of thermal mass, typically concrete, can really minimize temperature swings too, but we don't like living on a concrete floor, even if tiled. Too solid and unforgiving, quite hard on the body. The 7,000 pounds of cellulose surrounding us provide some thermal mass and the drywall provides some too; the house has always remained cool in the hottest summer weather. We installed common galvalume metal roofing up top. Inexpensive, highly reflective in the sun, easy to work with, it was a great choice for a house that would not be getting air conditioning.

Although we used ordinary half-inch drywall on the walls we used five-eighths firestop drywall on the ceilings. The standard drywall would have eventually sagged under the weight of all that insulation (18 inches and R68). Those sheets were about 90 pounds each, so we splurged and bought a drywall lift to make overhead work do-able. We employed the airtight drywall method, with every sheet carefully glued to the framing, and every perforation (electrical boxes, mostly) sealed and re-sealed. Sealing is possibly the most important part of a highperformance project because all the insulation in the world cannot make up for infiltration losses. We caulked and taped and triple-checked every inch afterwards. This was tedious but necessary. Twin four-inch earth pipes some 70 feet away bring fresh air underground to the center of the house.

The pipes rise up to the kitchen and bedroom, and because they are buried deep they warm incoming air in winter and cool it in the summer. This is a sort of poorman's heat-recovery ventilator, without the power consumption.

For the exterior we went with four-byeight-foot sheets of HardiePanel, a wood and cement composite product that is insect and rodent proof, and very fire resistant. I like the fact that paint goes further and goes on faster, and should last longer than paint on wood because seasonal

movement is almost nil. Vertical battens every two feet will give us a board and batten look while hiding the nails.

Space limitations force me to mention only in passing that we have local wideplank aspen flooring, no formaldehydespewing plywood, particleboard, or MDF, only non-toxic low VOC glues and finishes, fire sprinklers, and LED lighting throughout.

So, we have followed all the modern home-building rules: modest size, heavy insulation, very tight envelope, and passive solar. Total material costs will reach $45,000 or $42 per square foot when we're finished. In this world of high-tech it's nice to know that these simple, affordable ideas still make the largest impact when aiming to build a high-performance, low operating -cost home.

In a future issue of The Green Gazette we'll talk about the off-grid photovoltaic system, our solar hot water, rainwater catchment, and water-conserving appliances.

Paul Hearsey and Sandy McNie live in beautiful, snowy Horsefly. Their interests range from farming and gardening to building design and all things solar. They welcome feedback, questions, and visits.

Email them at parsleybed@netbistro.com.

By Jasmin Schellenberg HEALTHY SNACKS AND WHY Power Smoothie Ingredients  4 cups kefir  1/2 cup raw cultured cream  2 Tbsp coconut oil, melted  2 eggs  2 Tbsp honey  1 tsp cold-pressed flax oil  1 banana  1/2 cup raspberries or other frozen fruits  1 tsp vanilla extract Directions Mix well in a blender. Serves 4.

This nutrient-dense smoothie is full of fat -soluble vitamins, enzymes, probiotics, and omega 3s. Remember using organic ingredients whenever possible insures you to get the most nutrition for your children.

NUTRIENT DENSE MEAL French Stew Ingredients  300 g pork neck  300 g lamb shoulder  300 g beef brisket  2 cups beef broth  3 cloves of garlic, sliced  800 g potatoes  300 g carrots  3 leek  1 onion  sea salt, pepper  2 cups white wine Directions Cube all meat into bite-size pieces.

Cover with beef broth, add sliced garlic, and leave over night. Place into a crock pot layers of meat, sliced potatoes, carrots, leek, and onion, adding salt and pepper to taste.

Add the wine and top up with beef broth to cover 2/3 of the crock pot. Cook on low for 8 hours. Serves 6-8. Enjoy.

When the French farm women went to work in the fields in the morning they would bring their casseroles to the local baker as he was finished with his bread making for the day. They used to put a bead of bread dough around the lid to keep the juices in and the baker‘s snitching fingers out.

MYTHS UNVEILED Why caffeine-containing beverages rob our children (and us) of proper brain functions. A cup of coffee contains about 80 milligrams of caffeine and a cup of tea or soda has about 50 milligrams. Caffeine further dehydrates the body by 40%, meaning a person will pass 1.4 cups of urine after consuming 1 cup of caffeine beverage. Caffeine inhibits brain enzyme PDE (phosphodiesterase), which is essential for learning and memory development.

In his book, ―Water for Health, for Healing, for Life,‖ Dr Batmanghelidj suggests caffeine may cause ADD and delayed brain response, hence e x -

haustion and irritation in young children who consume too much soda. Adding artificial sweetener to the soda (especially if it is Aspartame) throws another detrimental affect on the brain, says Dr Batmanghelidj, also claiming that, too frequently used, Aspartame can cause increased brain tumours, seizures, and eye problems. It has been shown that people who consume artificial sweeteners seek food and eat again within 90 minutes after the intake of the sweetener, resulting in weight gain and high risk of diabetes. On average, 64 gallons of sodas per person per year is consumed. Largely (sadly) our children are all part of this.

Spare our children from diabetes and ADD by simply giving them more water and limiting their soda intake. Water increases energy and is a better pick-me-up than anything you can imagine.

Water is important but so is salt—good quality sea salt; not the white table salt.

Salt is an essential ingredient of the body. In their order of importance, oxygen, water, salt, and potassium are the primary elements for the survival of the human body. Salt is absolutely vital for making the structure of bones firm. Osteoporosis and osteoarthritis are the result of salt and water shortage in the body. Twenty-seven per cent of the bone structure is salt. Salt acts as a natural sleeping medication. You need water and salt to flush toxins out of the cells; otherwise, the body becomes acidic and makes room for many diseases to take over.

Cancer will establish best in an acidic body.

A good salt/water balance will keep your body alkaline. An acidic environment will also make room to change the DNA. Salt is also important for balancing blood sugar and proper absorption of essential minerals.

A low salt diet will eventually cause mineral deficiency in the body. If you feel tired, flushed, irritable, anxious, dejected, depressed, inadequate, heavy headed, or have cravings you are dehydrated. Also, dizziness and feeling faint might be indicators of salt and water shortage in the body. If such occasions arise, you should also begin to increase your vitamin and mineral intake, including vegetables and fruits for their water-soluble vitamin and mineral content.

As a rule of thumb for daily salt intake: for every ten glasses of water (about two quarts), one should add to the diet about half a teaspoon of salt per day. An average teaspoon can contain six grams of salt.

A WALK THROUGH YOUR PANTRY: GET RID OF: Caffeine-containing beverages.

REPLACE WITH: Choose to drink water instead; water increases energy, increases learning abilities and memory, flushes out toxins, and boosts the immune system. (www.watercure.com) Brought to you by Jasmin Schellenberg. Inspired by and resourced from Dr. Batmanghelidj‘s books and www.watercure.com For ―Nourishing our Children‖ newsletters of the past visit: www.thegreengazette.ca

February 6: Join us for the CaribooChilcotin Coast Invasive Plant Committee AGM 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. at Alley Katz Bistro located at 525 Borland St. in Williams Lake (across the street from the courthouse). Email info@cccipc.ca or call (250) 398-7929 or (250) 243-2126 for more information. Lunch will be provided and everyone is welcome to attend.

Feb 6 – 8: Water Gratitude Concert with Danielea Castell. Music and Stories Celebrating Water and its Connection to the Canada Winter Games. Fundraiser for The Bank of Gratitude, 2015 Rivers Day event.

February 6 at Satya Yoga Studio, Williams Lake, February 7 at Shiraroi House, Quesnel, and February 8 at Knox United Church, Prince George. Doors 7:00 p.m.

Show: 7:30 – 9:00 p.m. Tickets: $20 at www.eventbrite.ca. $25 at the door. Water Gratitude tools and art available for purch as e. For more i n fo v is it www. the b a nkofgr a titude . ne t or www.danieleacastell.ca Also see events on Facebook. Come at 6:30 to make a Water Heart to take home for a place and form of water you love.

February 6 – 28: The Station House Gallery in Williams Lake presents ―Four from 100 Group Show: Tom Godin, Lianne Heales, Kathy Crawshay, and Susan Kruse.‖ Four artists from 100 Mile House share a body of work representing the heart of BC‘s interior. Call (250) 392-6113 or visit www.stationhousegallery.com for more info.

February 14: Valentine‘s Dinner at Kinikinik Restaurant, Redstone, BC. 6 p.m., February 14. RSVP. Call (250) 394-6000 or email kinikinik@pasturetoplate.ca to reserve your spot.

February 18: ―In Food We Trust… But What Food Can We Trust?‖ The Williams Lake Veterinary Hospital invites you to attend an informative talk about food safety, animal welfare, and animal health management with Dr. Melodie Chan, head of Zoetis Canada Veterinary Services Team for cattle, horses, and genetics. February 18, 7 p.m. at the Gibraltar Room in Williams Lake.

February 25: Larry Davis will present recent research on the Least Weasel at 7 p.m. at the Scout Island Nature House in Williams Lake. Free public event. Phone (250) 398-8532 for more info.

February 26: The South Cariboo Sustainability Society winter film, ―Clean Bin Project: Minimizing waste to the extreme.‖ Community Employment Centre 808 Alpine, 100 Mile House. 7:00 p.m. Admission is free.

Contact www.southcariboosustainability.com or call (250) 791-7284 for more info.

February 27 & 28: Psychic and Wellness Fair at The Hobbit House. Oracle cards, crystals, psychics, intuitive guidance, workshops, and more. 72 1st Ave. South, Williams Lake. Call (250) 392-7599 for more info or visit www.merlynslist.com.

March (date TBA): Sam Albers of the Quesnel River Research Centre will speak at Scout Island Nature House in Williams Lake on their monitoring of the effects of the Mount Polley tailings pond failure of August 2014. Free public event. Phone (250) 398-8532 for more info.

March (dates TBA): Children's Spring Break program at Scout Island, Williams Lake. Phone (250) 398-8532 for more info. Watch our facebook page for further details as they become available.

March 2 – 6: Cariboo-Chilcotin Conservation Society Waste Wise Program presents: ―Just Eat It: A food waste story‖ premier film screening with host Jenny Rustemeyer, producer and film co -star. Dive into the issue of food waste from the farm, through retail, and all the way to the fridge with this cinematic story that is equal parts education and delicious entertainment. During March 2 – 6 the tour visits Williams Lake (March 4 @ 7 p.m., location TBA), Quesnel, 100 Mile House, and Wells with screenings and discussion in schools and for the general public. For more information contact the Cariboo-Chilcotin Conservation Society (Williams Lake) at (250) 398-7929 or www.ccconserv.org or South Cariboo Sustainability Society at (250) 791-7284, bandp2@shaw.ca or www.southcariboosustainability.com.

March 6 – 28: The Station House Gallery in Williams Lake presents: ―Bill Edmonds Questions Anonymity.‖ Mixed media artist Bill Edmonds raises issues of anonymity and the release of personal information in the digital age. Upper Gallery: David J Harder: ―(Un)tamed and (Un)earthed.‖ Paintings and sculptures inspired by the natural world taking back what we have appropriated. Call (250) 392-6113 or visit www.stationhousegallery.com for more info.

March 7: Open house and info session at Chickadee Early Childhood and Learning Centre, Miocene Community Hall (3511 Horsefly Rd.) 1 to 3 p.m., to inquire about this and the programs and events inspired by Waldorf education please call (250) 296-3265.

March 7 & 8: Celebrating International Women‘s Day at Kinikinik, Redstone, BC. Viewing DVDs on women‘s health.

(Men are welcome). Call (250) 394-6000 or email kinikinik@pasturetoplate.ca for more info.

March 22: The South Cariboo Sustainability Society winter film, ―Bringing it Home‖: Exploring the green uses of hemp. Community Employment Centre, 808 Alpine, 100 Mile House, 7:00 p.m.

A d m i s s i o n i s fr e e . C o n t a c t www.southcariboosustainability.com or call (250) 791-7284 for more info.

March 22: Free swim to celebrate World Water Day. Join us on Sunday, March 22 from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Cariboo Memorial Recreation Centre in Williams Lake. Our Water Wise display will be there with tons of fun conservation facts, tips, and draw prizes. For more info, contact CCCS at (250) 398-7929 or wastewise@ccconserv.org.

March 28: Small-Plot Garden Workshop at the Station House Gallery, Williams Lake. Learn how to test your own soil texture, keep weeds at bay, irrigation, and how much to plant for great yields out of your garden plot. Contact Brianna (778) 961-0600 or puddleproduce@gmail.com with questions, or the Station House Gallery to book (250) 392 -6113.

Your Green Shopping Directory

Distribution Details

Green Locations TheGreenGazette can be found in print at the fine locations below, as well as online, or by subscription .

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Bean Counter Bistro & Coffee Bar, 250 305-2326 180B 3rd Ave. North, Williams Lake Organic Coffee, Fair Trade, Local Foods Canadian Tire, 250 392-3303 1050 South Lakeside Dr., Williams Lake Recycling Initiatives, Renewable Energy Solutions, Organic Cleaning Products: Blue Planet, Green Works, Method, Nature Clean, Seventh Generation Cariboo Growers Coop, 778 412-2667 3rd & Oliver St., Williams Lake. 100% Natural & Organic Foods, Non-Profit Farmer‟s Coop Cleanway Supply, 1-800-663-5181 275 South MacKenzie Ave., Williams Lake Organic Cleaning Products Dandelion Living, 778-412-9100 271 Oliver St., Williams Lake Local & Original, Reclaimed & Repurposed, Natural & Organic Products Day Spa Champagne, 250 305-1249 124A North Second Ave., Williams Lake Quiet, relaxing, personalized atmosphere. A Zen experience. Four Types Massage, Reflexology, Manicures/Pedicures & More.

Debbie Irvine B.Sc. (Agr.) RHN Registered Holistic Nutritionist 250-392-9418 or dirvine@thelakebc.ca SPRINGHOUSE GARDENS - Organically grown market garden veggies; Grass fed/finished beef - no hormones, no GMOs. Enquiries welcome. earthRight Solar, 1 877 925-2929 3rd & Borland, Williams Lake Renewable Energy Solutions, Eco-Friendly Products, Composting Toilets Flying Coyote Ranch, 250 296-4755 Ingrid Kallman and Troy Forcier Grass-fed Angus beef No shots, no hormones, organic fertilizer By the quarter or side, hamburger .

The Gecko Tree, 250 398-8983 54 N. MacKenzie Ave. Williams Lake Serving healthy, local foods Halls Organics, 250 398-2899 107 Falcon Rd. (North Lakeside), Williams Lake Indoor and Outdoor Organic Gardening Products, Alternative Traditional Products, Teas anHerbs, Hemp Body Products The Hobbit House, 250 392-7599 71 First Ave. South, Williams Lake Juice Bar, Natural Products, Essential Oils, Teas, Crystals, Gemstones, and more.

Potato House Sustainable Community Society 250 855-8443 or spuds@potatohouseproject.com In an age of apathy and a sense that change is all talk and no action, The Potato House Project is a friendly bastion of doing, sharing, learning and playing. Call us with your ideas and to find out ways to get involved.

Rona Home Centre, 250 392-7767 298 Proctor Street, Williams Lake "ECO" cleaning & gardening products, LED bulbs & energy-efficient building products. Responsible disposal available for recycling of paint, stain, CFLs, batteries, saw blades & more.

San Jose Cattle Company, 250 296-4592 Clint and Karen Thompson Sustainable Agriculture, Raised Naturally/Local Beef, No antibiotics, hormones, chemical fertilizers or herbicides.

Scout Island Nature Centre & Williams Lake Field Naturalists, 250 398-8532 www.scoutislandnaturecentre.ca www.williamslakefieldnaturalists.ca 1305A Borland Rd, Williams Lake Nature on the city‟s doorstep. Bird sanctuary, arboretum, trails, Nature House, natural history programs for children and adults.

Smashin’ Smoothies, 778-412-2112 102-41, 7th Ave North, Williams Lake Juice, Smoothies & Expresso Bar Fresh, Organic, Whole Food.

Sta-Well Health Foods, 250 392-7022 79D 3rd Ave. North, Williams Lake Organic Foods, Water Distillers, Natural Medicines, Emergency Freeze Dried Foods.

Williams Lake Food Policy Council 250-302-5010 GROWING THE SEEDS OF CHANGE! www.facebook.com/WLFPC foodpolicycouncil@hotmail.com. Building a strong local food economy and promoting a healthy and sustainable community Williams Lake Water Factory, 250 398-5201 Pure Bottled Water. Home & Office Delivery.

955 S. Mackenzie Ave, Williams Lake, BC. Come see us on Toonie Tuesday!

Zed-Tech Electric, 250-267-4868 For all your residential and commercial needs.

Joe Zombori zedtechelectric26@gmail.com Zirnhelt Ranch, 250 243-2243 www.zirnheltranch.ca or susanzirnhelt@yahoo.com Producers of Grassfed/Finished Beef. Pasture Raised Pork.

Contact us today to list your Green business - info@thegreengazette.ca or 250 620-3419

100 Mile House Donex Canadian 2 for 1 Pizza Chartreuse Moose Higher Ground Nat. Foods KFC Nuthatch Books One Another Coffee House Safeway Save-On-Foods A&W 108 Mile House 108 Mile Esso 108 Mile Mall 108 Mile Supermarket Hills Health & Guest Ranch 150 Mile House 150 Mile Mall Husky Station Marshall‘s 150 Mile Store Alexis Creek Alexis Creek General Store Anahim Lake Anahim Lake Trading Mclean Trading Bella Coola Coast Mountain Lodge Kopas Store Moore‘s Organic Market Valley Inn & Restaurant Big Lake Big Lake General Store Clinton Clinton Coffee House Dog Creek Mount View Handy Mart Red Dog Pub/Liquor Store Hanceville Lee‘s Corner Store Horsefly Clarke‘s General Store Post Office Horsefly Hardware Horsefly Service Station LacLaHache Race Trac Gas Lac La Hache Bakery Red Crow Cafe McLeese Lake Deep Creek Service Station The Oasis Motel Cafe Nimpo Lake Nimpo Lake General Store Prince George Ava Maria Gifts and Health Foods Books and Co. University of Northern BC College of New Caledonia Quesnel The Green Tree Barkerville Brewing Bliss Cafe Booster Juice Carryall Books Holistic Health Care Clinic Karin‘s European Deli Granville‘s Coffee Shop Quesnel Bakery Quiznos Safeway Save On Foods Tourism Info Center

Redstone Kinikinik Williams Lake Adorn Naturally A&W All-ways Travel Amanda Enterprises Barking Spider Mtn. Bikes Bean Counter Bistro Beaver Valley Feeds CanWest Propane Cariboo Growers Coop Cariboo Ski Concrete Fitness Conservation Society CJ‘s Restaurant CRD Library Creative Scissor Dairy Queen Dandelion Living Day Spa Champagne earthRight Elaine‘s Natural Foods 4 Sure Bistro Factory Direct Furniture Flavours & More Good Guys Gardening Greyhound Bus Stop Haines Office World Handi-Mart Joey‘s Grill KFC Halls Organics The Hobbit House Husky Restaurant Karamia‘s Donairs Kornak & Hamm Pharmacy

The Laughing Loon The Legion Manna Cafe Margetts Meats McDonalds New World Coffee Oliver‘s Bar & Grill Porky‘s Deli Quality Tax Solutions Red Shred‘s Bike & Board Shed Rona Home Centre Safeway Save-on-Foods SBL Liquor Store Scout Island Nature Center Senior Citizens ActivityCenter

Shopper‘s Drug Mart Spa Bella Station House Gallery Sta-Well Health Foods Subway Sutton Cariboo Realty Taylor Made Cakes The Gecko Tree The Open Book Tim Hortons Tourism Info Center Trattoria Pasta Shoppe TRU Tsilhqot'in National Gov`t Walmart Williams Lake Physio WL Veterinary Hospital Williams Lake Water Factory *please note that we are in the process of revamping our distribution process to better serve our clients. If TheGreenGazette is not being displayed at any of the above locations give us a call so that we may rectify the situation.

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