TheGreenGazetteOctNov2014

TheGreenGazette

October/November 2014

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October/November 2014

TheGreenGazette

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Contents

Issue # 29

October / November 2014

Features:

04/ The Culture of Tea: Elixirs of life My familiarity with the ritual of tea drinking began early.

Throughout my life my dad, true to his English heritage, consumed what seemed like a cup of tea every couple of hours in a day. - by Lisa Bland

05/ Endangered Animals: Our choices make a difference According to a report authored by Rodolfo Dirzo, Hillary S. Young, et al, called “Defaunation in the Anthropocene,” the world is right in the middle of its sixth extinction.

- by Jessica Kirby 06/ Mount Polley: Two months later It’s been a long two months since August 4 when a breach of Mount Polley Mine’s tailings storage facility near Likely dumped 17 million cubic meters of effluent and eight million cubic meters of mine tailings solids into the pristine, salmon-bearing waters of Quesnel Lake.

- by Sage Birchwater 11/ Halloween vs The Day of the Dead I grew up celebrating Halloween, and, like many other children, never understanding the meaning of the day. All I knew was I was getting candy, and if I had the stamina to walk for blocks in the cold, it could very well mean lots of candy. - by Teena Clipston 15/ Dark Days and Cold 'ights: Prepping for garden hibernation As winter approaches, it is a good idea to prepare your garden for the harsh weather ahead, to ensure it is healthy and vigorous in the early spring. - by Brianna van de Wijngaard 27/ Reconciliation: Joining hearts, stepping forward This is an article about relationships and about our personal and collective work of building, maintaining, repairing, and honouring relationships.

- by Margaret-Anne Enders

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Publisher / Editor-in-Chief Lisa Bland lisa@thegreengazette.ca Senior Editor Jessica Kirby Contributors David Suzuki, LeRae Haynes, Margaret-Anne Enders, Sage Birchwater, Pat Teti, Brianna van de Wijngaard, Teena Clipston, Ciel Patenaude, Beatrix Linde, Lisa Bland, Maureen LeBourdais, Van Andruss, Ron Young, Jasmin Schellenberg, Terri Smith, Susan Tritt, Jessica Kirby, Ray Grigg, Vera Lehar, Adam McLeod 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 California Bighorn Ram Photo: Copyright: Tom Reichner Index Photo Poet Place property from the air in the Klinaklini Valley Photo: Tom Swann

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 web s ite an d on lin e f lipb oo k, v i s it www.thegreengazette.ca © 2014 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.

October/November 2014

19/ Poet Place in the Klinaklini Valley Expands 'ature Conservancy Footprint

Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) made a key acquisition in the Chilcotin this spring, with the purchase of the picturesque 470-acre Poet Place in the Klinaklini Valley. by Sage Birchwater

Also in this Issue: 07/ Adventures in Spanish Kitchens - by Peti Teti 08/ World Animal Day: Loving our Furred and Feathered Friends - by Beatrix Linde 08/ Too Many Bugs Getting Drugs - by Susan Tritt 09/ Science Matters: Blue Dot Movement Rolls Across Canada - by David Suzuki 10/ Local Art on the Menu at Gecko Tree - by LeRae Haynes 12/ Confessions of a Farmer: The Reluctant Riser - by Terri Smith 12/ Green Business Feature: Red Shreds Bike and Board Shed - by LeRae Haynes 14/ Amadeus, Raised - by Terri Smith 17/ Celebrating Children at Sacred Heart - by LeRae Haynes 18/ Cariboo Regional District Solid Waste Info Series: Becoming Waste Wise 18/ Bill-24: Disabling the Agriculture Land Reserve - by Van Andruss 26/ The Tools and Possibilities of Shamanic Practice - by Ciel Patenaude 20/ 'atural Dyes: Lasting beauty - by Maureen LeBourdais 20/ Starwatch with Bill Irwin 21/ Fermenting Vegetables - by Vera Lehar 22/ E.E.K. 'ot this Again - by Ron Young 23/ Medieval Market Moves to Williams Lake Campus 24/ Turkey Talk: What does all that ‘gobble’ mean? - by Jessica Knodel 24/ Agriculture Bill (C-18) will Undermine Canada’s Food Sovereignty 25/ Exercise and Cancer - by Adam McLeod, .D, BSc 25/ Political Economics - by Ray Grigg 27/ World to Governments: It’s your turn to lead on climate change.

28/ Making More out of Christmas with the 2014 Earth Friendly Holiday Event - by Brianna van de Wijngaard 30/ 'ourishing our Children - by Jasmin Schellenberg 30/ Calendar of Events 31/ The Green Collective

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TheGreenGazette

Letter from the Publisher

The Culture of Tea: Elixirs of life Lisa Bland Publisher/ Editor-in-Chief

D

ear Readers, As the fallen leaves of October decay into the Earth and we move into the cold mists of ovember, the pace of summer harvest season slows and we turn towards more reflective or indoor pursuits. This is my favourite time of year for cooking rich vegetable soups, preparing apple and berry sauces, and enjoying harvest recipes with friends. With the darkening of the days, I also begin rummaging in my tea cupboard for the perfect brew to warm my body and spirit. Boxes and bags of tea mixtures of all types and flavours tumble out of my overstuffed cupboard. The contents of little bags, boxes, jars, and pressed cakes are a form of currency in my life, and no matter how busy I am, a steaming cup of tea on the table is a reminder that the simple, peaceful moments in life are treasures.

My familiarity with the ritual of tea drinking began early. Throughout my life my dad, true to his English heritage, consumed what seemed like a cup of tea every couple of hours in a day. He was continuously busy working at something and rarely stopped to rest. When he did, his short breaks were punctuated by a cup of orange pekoe, milk, and copious amounts of sugar or honey. I often joined him and remember fondly the conversation and connection that happened over those steaming cups.

History also tells the story of how valuable and culturally significant teas are worldwide. There is something in the mystery of tea drinking that draws us in—a ritual that has been part of human culture and community for thousands of years. As each handful of tea leaves unfurl into steaming hot water, essential properties are released. The five distinctive categories of tea: white, green, oolong, black, and postfermented originate from different processing techniques and varieties of the evergreen shrub, Camellia sinensis, and are known as “true tea.” These teas have been consumed as nourishment, rejuvenating tonics, and medicine across China, Japan, India, and Europe for centuries.

In China, where the mother of all ancient tea trees originated, tea drinking is not a frivolous pastime; it’s a daily necessity. Modern Chinese in the Sichuan province consume up to four litres of tea a day.

According to old texts, Chinese royalty and aristocrats began drinking tea before the Han Dynasty in 200 BC, and it became popular among commoners by 600 AD. In approximately 550 BC, the classical Chinese philosopher Laozi named tea an indispensable ingredient to the elixir of life. In 1191, in the oldest tea drinking book in Japan, How to Stay Healthy by Drinking Tea, Esai says, “Tea is the ultimate mental

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and medical remedy and has the ability to make one's life more full and complete.”

Pu’er City, in the Yunnan province of China, is home to the prized and economically significant Pu’er fermented tea and is the origin of the Ancient Tea Horse Caravan Road (a treacherous 5,000 km mountain trail) linking tea trade by foot or mule from Yunnan to India, Tibet, and central China.

Of Pu’er’s 26 ethnic groups, each has its own tea God. The Hani people of Pu’er, worship a 1,000-year-old tea tree still alive today and believe tea leaves are a gift from this God who has sustained them for millennia. During the Tang Dynasty tea bricks were often used as currency, especially beyond the center of the empire where coins lost their value. Wanshoulongtuan, a Pu’er tea from Yunnan once offered to the Qing emperor, is the oldest surviving tea in China at 150 years old. The price of this imperial drink is estimated at $500,000.

Of the five varieties of tea, all originate from the same Camellia sinensis plant, but undergo different methods of processing.

White tea is made from buds and young leaves, steamed or fired and then dried. Due to minimal oxidation, white tea retains the freshest green colour. Green tea is made from more mature tea leaves than white, and leaves may be withered prior to steaming or firing. Oolong tea leaves are “bruised” and oxidized more than white or green teas before they are heated and dried. Black tea leaves are rolled or broken with maximized oxidization before drying. Pu-er or fermented tea is produced in both ripened and aged forms and undergoes secondary oxidization and fermentation caused by organisms growing in the tea and free-radical oxidation. This results in a unique chemical makeup and flavor and texture that becomes more savory and fragrant over time. The Chinese call Pu’er tea the “living antique” or “drinkable relic,” and it is believed to aid digestion, assist in weight loss, and invigorate the spleen.

Numerous studies in humans and animals suggest health benefits from consuming of all forms of tea include the prevention of cancer and heart disease. These benefits are attributed to their polyphenolic constituents. Some of these include Catechins, antioxidants associated with tea’s anticarcinogenic, anti-inflammatory, thermogenic, and antimicrobial properties.

Herbal teas, also called tisanes, are infusions of single herbs or mixtures composed of bark, roots, flowers, spices, and/or leaves and are considered milder, more benign beverages than true tea due to the absence of caffeine or the presence of fewer antioxidants. However, the significant benefits of drinking herbal teas cannot be underestimated and countless studies show antioxidant and health benefits rivaling those of true tea. Some of my favourite herbal infusions include locally harvested nettles, smooth and nourishing Hawaiian Mamaki tea, bittersweet immune boosting Jiaogulan tea from Thailand, and a smoky blend of Yerba mate tea from Uruguay. Many herbal teas can be sourced in our own backyards or gardens—the least impactful choice to our planet in terms of eco-footprint. Tea mixes can be harvested locally from ingredients

Top: Teas for sale at an Istanbul market. Photo: Mars Karochkin L. bottom: Pu’er tea discs. Photo: Dave O Mid bottom: A Pu’er in the pour. Photo: Stephanie R. bottom: Tea harvesting. Photo: Seven Cups

such as spruce tips, nettles, horsetail, chickweed, lungwort lichen, rose hips, and mint.

Today, a niche tea culture runs counter to the high octane modern coffee culture.

Coffee could be compared as a crass country cousin to the more sophisticated and delicately refined tea. Where coffee takes you by the ears and gives you a good shake, tea is gentler and hits your system slowly.

Digestive difficulties or jangled nerves experienced by coffee drinkers are nonexistent among calm tea sippers.

Tea shops, as opposed to the noise and hustle of coffee shops, are oases from the frantic pace of life. Once inside, the calming, meditative quality of aesthetic sensibilities takes over. The harmony and beauty of clay vessels for steeping tea, Yixing clay pots with ornamental flowers, and delightful packages of aromatic wrapped tea leaves invite us into the subtleties of the palate and curiosity of this mysterious world.

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Whatever culture you encounter, each has its variation of tea or herbal blends.

Whether you sip on tea made from tea leaves and herbs and poured from a selfheating silver urn called a samovar in Russia, partake in a reverent Japanese tea ceremony, or receive a refreshing blend of green tea, mint leaves, and sugar poured from standing height into small glasses in Morocco, each tea ritual brings insight to the cultural stories, history, and customs of a region.

Among modern tea connoisseurs and serious collectors, tea is indeed a currency.

You might pay anywhere from $20 to 12,000 for a 357g brick of pressed Pu’erh tea, the longer the vintage, the steeper the price. A brick produced in the 1950s sells for about $30,000.

Variation in the world of teas is vast, and once the doors of your curiosity are piqued, you may decide to ditch that crass coffee cousin for a delightful exploration into the subtle, life-giving realms of tea.

October/November 2014

TheGreenGazette

Endangered Animals: Our choices make a difference EcoWatch: Half the Worlds Animal Population Gone Since

By Jessica Kirby, Senior Editor of TheGreenGazette

1970

A

ccording to a report authored by Rodolfo Dirzo, Hillary S. Y o u n g , et a l , c al le d “Defaunation in the Anthropocene,” the world is right in the middle of its sixth extinction. We owe the last and most famous extinction to the asteroid that took out the dinosaurs, but we have no naturally disastrous phenomenon to blame for the current state of affairs. Over the past 200,000 years humans have roamed the Earth, more than 1,000 species have gone extinct, so there is no real way to shake off responsibility for this tragedy.

The Wilderness Committee, Canada's largest membership-based citizen-funded wilderness protection group, says Canada does very little at the federal level to protect endangered animals. Although we became the first western industrialized nation to ratify the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity in 1992, it took more than 10 years for Canada to enact the federal Species at Risk Act which, according to the Wilderness Committee, is a “paper tiger reliant on political will, discretionary wording, and largely unenforceable habitat provisions.”

It seems impossible, but British Columbia, along with Alberta, is one of the only two provinces in Canada that does not have stand-alone legislation to protect endangered species. The biodiversity in BC surpasses that in the rest of the country and yet the 1,900 species and subspecies at risk of disappearing do not have adequate protection. This, despite support from 85 percent of the population to enact strong legislation of this kind.

Some of our most iconic animals are endangered or at risk, their populations falling well below the 1,000 threshold that define species at risk. Grizzly bears, which used to range from Alaska to Mexico and as far east as Manitoba are largely nonexistent in Canada's southern provinces outside of BC and Alberta. A handful of grizzly populations that straddle the Canada-US border are in serious trouble, the main problems being back-country development for resorts and transportation, conflict with humans, and oil and gas and logging activity. In the north, grizzly populations sit somewhere between 6,000 and 17,000, and are listed a species of concern. In the southern part of the province, the populations sit at fewer than 100 each, making them threatened or endangered.

Southern resident Orca whales found in international waters between BC and Washington state are threatened by chemical toxins, a lacking food supply, and acoustic disturbances. Over-fishing, salmon farming, climate change, and the effects of industry on habitat have extinguished more than 100 salmon stocks, leaving 700 at risk in BC. Spotted owl, found only in the southwestern corner of BC, numbers less than a dozen, thanks to old growth forest logging. And on Vancouver Island, only 70 marmots were recorded in the wild in 1998, and though a

October/November 2014

Grizzy bear in the Khutzeymateen Grizzly Bear Sanctuary, on the northwest coast of BC. This Provincial Park is Canada’s only grizzly bear sanctuary under the joint management of the province of British Columbia and the Tsimshian 'ation. Photo: Lisa Bland

diligent campaign has increased this rare population, Vancouver Island marmots are still one of the world's most threatened species. Sea otters, Cougars, Bowhead whales, Western toad—the list goes on, and although it is hard to feel powerful among seven billion other world inhabitants, there are solid actions we can take.

One Green Planet, a website dedicated to “unleashing your Green monster,” says there are at least three significant ways the human species is driving the sixth extinction and optimistically suggests there is still time to turn things around. But like any significant movement forward, it is going to take effort, commitment, thoughtfulness, and sacrifice. Are you ready?

This is going to seem unnecessarily obvious, but the first way you can avoid contributing to species' extinction is to stop buying endangered species products. Seems like a no-brainer, right? Unfortunately, the US is the world's second largest market for illegal ivory, which is the reason 30,000 elephants are killed each year. At this rate, give it a decade and elephants will be extinct in some parts of Africa—a far greater loss than doing without the piano keys, trinkets, name plates, and jewellery that fuels the demand for illegal ivory.

Tiger skins, shark cartilage, and rhino horns are in the same boat. Thanks to consumer demand for these items and their derivatives, the Western Black Rhino is already extinct, and with wild tiger population is down to about 3,000, with more living in captivity than in the wild. Sharks are no one's friends, it seems, with 100 million of them killed each year for their fins, Chinese and American medicine, over-fishing, and out of fear. The math here is clear: if we want to make a difference we need to refuse these products, plain and simple.

Besides that, diet is the most important way to shape the Earth's future. Consider that livestock production is the primary cause of global climate change and animal agriculture is responsible for 51 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions. We tend to forget that meat, eggs, and dairy have traditionally been associated with wealth and high status, and have come to take up more of our plates in direct correlation with affluence becoming a common social objective.

Consumption of these items is on the rise in developing nations like China and

India, and as that happens, the need for land to support animal production also rises. The land, of course, comes from deforestation and, according to One Green Planet, every hectare of rainforest we lose can release 200 tons of GHGs. Add this with the annual production of 8,769 million tons of GHGs from livestock respiration – just one way livestock produce carbon emissions – and it's easy to see how eliminating or reducing meat, eggs, and dairy from one's diet can make an important difference in the world's future. Naturally, veganism isn't for everyone, so consider supporting your local farmers with the most eco-friendly animal products around.

Speaking of deforestation, habitat loss and degradation is a big problem on several fronts, and one we can address to make serious impact. Choose wisely when selecting products and make an effort to know about ingredients and their far-reaching impacts on the world. Take palm oil, for instance. According to One Green Planet, that one ingredient can be found in 40-50 percent of consumer goods an is the reason three football fields of forest are levelled every hour in Indonesia. Because of this activity, orangutan populations in Indonesia and Malaysia are down 50 per cent in a decade, and orangutans in general have lost 80 per cent of their habitat over the past 20 years. Because 98 per cent of the palm oil used in the US comes from these regions, we are having a direct impact on this situation. The decision today to walk away from palm oil can affect orangutan and other critters all over the world, and that is just one ingredient of thousands that are having a negative effect on world habitats and ecosystems. What are you waiting for?

Red and Blue Listed Species of the Cariboo-Chilcotin Region Along with 20 Red- and Blue-listed bird species, animal species at risk in the Cariboo-Chilcotin region include the Red-listed or endangered Mountain caribou, Badger, Common pika, Southern red-backed vole, and the Blue-listed or of special concern, Boreal caribou, California big horn sheep, fisher, grizzly bear, and wolverine. For a comprehensive overview of Species-at-Risk in our region visit: www.ccconserv.org/ species.html

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The World Wildlife Fund recently released its “10th Biennial Edition of the Living Planet” report which states that between habitat destruction, hunting, environmental degradation, and climate change, the world's animal population has dropped by 52 per cent since 1970.

With only 10,000 species recorded, the world has suffered the worst loss in fresh water species, populations of which have declined by 72 per cent. Overfishing is proving detrimental to tropical marine animals and sea-faring birds like petrels and albatross, and rhinoceros in Africa are being poached to dangerous levels.

“We are using nature’s gifts as if we had more than just one Earth at our disposal,” says WWF International general director, Marco Lambertini in the report.

“By taking more from our ecosystems and natural processes than can be replenished, we are jeopardizing our very future.

“Nature conservation and sustainable development go hand-in-hand. They are not only about preserving biodiversity and wild places, but just as much about safeguarding the future of humanity— our well-being, economy, food security and social stability—indeed, our very survival.”

The report addresses important limitations on the Earth's resources, called “planetary boundaries” and how social, political, and economic factors must align to stop this destruction before it is too late for humanity and the planet.

“This damage is not inevitable but a consequence of the way we choose to live,” says professor Ken Norris, director of science at the Zoological Society of London. “Although the report shows the situation is critical, there is still hope.

Protecting nature needs focused conservation action, political will, and support from businesses.”

Read the report and more commentary at www.ecowatch.com.

Take Action Campaigns for habitat protection, animal population restoration, and clear, enforceable, stand-alone legislation are underway at dozens of organizations in Canada and across the world. Just a few include: World Wildlife Fund: www.wwf.ca Wilderness Committee: www.wildernesscommittee.org Canadian Wildlife Federation: www.cwf-fcf.org EcoWatch: www.ecowatch.com ********

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TheGreenGazette

Mount Polley: Two months later

By Sage Birchwater

I

t’s been a long two months since August 4 when a breach of Mount Polley Mine’s tailings storage facility near Likely dumped 17 million cubic meters of effluent and eight million cubic meters of mine tailings solids into the pristine, salmon-bearing waters of Quesnel Lake.

In a matter of hours one of the deepest and purest freshwater lakes in the world became contaminated with mine waste that will likely be there forever. The trail of the breach left a 10-kilometre-long, 50-metrewide toxic moonscape replacing Hazeltine Creek, once a one-metre-wide Coho spawning stream meandering through the interior rainforest.

Put at risk is the long-term viability of a quarter of the Fraser River’s Sockeye salmon that depend on the untainted water of Quesnel Lake for a nursery during the first year of their lives.

People in Likely were fearful and angry. Interior Health Authority immediately imposed a water-use ban on Quesnel Lake and Quesnel River, which most people in the community depend on for drinking, bathing, and recreation.

People up and down the Fraser River and throughout the province were also in shock. There was widespread outrage that one of the treasured jewels of “Super, Natural” British Columbia had been desecrated. People worried that the health of the Fraser River, full of spawning salmon at the time, was in jeopardy. There were other questions about mine safety and the ability of the provincial government to properly look after the public's interests.

Despite detailed film footage of the devastation posted by the Cariboo Regional District, the scale of the breach and the immensity of the job to clean it up were difficult to comprehend.

Adding to the frustration were delays in the cleanup brought on by safety concerns.

To the uninformed it seemed a simple matter of getting to work and hauling as much of the toxic mining sludge back into the tailings storage facility as soon as possible.

There was an urgency to get it done before the fall rains washed more tailings into Quesnel Lake.

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Engineers warned that a second breach was possible in Hazeltine Creek because the water level of Polley Lake, at its source, had risen two metres when the tailings dam burst and debris plugged the outlet of the lake. They said lives of people would be at risk if they were sent in to start cleaning up the Hazeltine drainage before Polley Lake was lowered.

On August 18 Energy & Mines Minister Bill Bennett announced that an independent panel of mining engineers would examine the Mount Polley breach and have a report to government by January 2015.

He also ordered independent third-party reviews of the safety of all other mine tailings facilities in the province.

Two other investigations were also started that day. The Chief Inspector of Mines started his own investigation into Mount Polley, and the Conservation Officers Service began assessing the breach for violations under the Environmental Management Act. On August 18, Kanahus Manuel of the Secwepemc Women Warriors Society lit her sacred fire at the foot of the road into Mount Polley Mine and set up an information camp there.

Kanahus has her own fight with Imperial Metals back in her home community of Neskonlith near Chase, where the company is proposing a zinc-lead mine at Ruddock Creek in the headwaters of the Adams River.

Kanahus pulls no punches in calling for a moratorium of mining in British Columbia. She said the purpose of the sacred fire was to gather grassroots information about the Mount Polley breach. “We need our own independent body to assess what’s going on,” she said.

Kanahus’s frustrations reflect a widespread distrust toward the government and the mining industry. During the first few weeks after the breach, many groups began taking their own water samples of Quesnel Lake and the tailings effluent.

Jacinda Mack, natural resources manager for Xat’sull First Nation, stresses the importance of becoming as informed as possible.

“Quesnel Lake is part of traditional Secwepemc territory that Xat’sull shares with T’exelc [Williams Lake Indian Band],” she says. “Lots of foods and medicines are not found anywhere else in our territory.”

After her initial shock and anger, Mack says she has cooled off a bit and is now focusing on solutions.

“Despite speculative talk that the mine had been doing nothing about the spill, this is not true,” she says. “Imperial Metals has been working 24 hours a day since the disaster occurred. They’ve been spending most of their time rebuilding the dikes within the tailings facility to ensure that more tailings aren’t released into the environment.”

Mack is at a loss for words to describe the immensity of the work ahead. She says a lot of people’s impatience and misunderstanding comes from not knowing how big an undertaking the cleanup will be.

View of Mt. Polley Mine spill and contaminated slurry filling the once 2m-wide Hazeltine Creek and flowing into Quesnel Lake.

Photo: Courtesy of Jamie Heath, Terrasaurus Ltd. “It’s so much bigger than you can even imagine. Rebuilding the tailings dam is a huge amount of work. Those haul trucks carry 250 tonnes of material in one load.

One load dumps out and it looks like a tiny teaspoon full.”

Lori Halls, assistant deputy minister to the Minister of Environment, says the cleanup won’t happen overnight. “It won’t happen in weeks or months; it’s going to take years,” she says. “We’re in this for the long haul.”

Halls says the Ministry will be working with Mount Polley on phase one of the long-term monitoring and remediation plan from October to the end of June.

“After June the long phase plan will begin,” she says. “We need to find out what happened, why it happened, and what we can learn from it.”

With a dark cloud there is often a silver lining. The calamity at the Mount Polley may be the trigger to bring about longanticipated changes to the Mining Act and mining-related regulations, and improved government-to-government relations with First Nations.

That’s the hope of Amy Crook, executive director of Fair Mining Collaborative, and a consultant with Xat’sull First Nation.

She describes the agreements reached between Xat’sull and T’exelc and the provincial government since the spill as, “farreaching” and “cutting edge.”

“Chiefs Bev Sellars and Anne Louie have negotiated a very tough agreement with the government that opens the door to government-to-government relations,” she says, adding that the province’s promise to do a large, comprehensive review of existing mining policy and regulations will hopefully result in changes to archaic mining laws.

“Out of a very disastrous situation some good can come from this,” she says.

Mack agrees. She says Xat’sull has developed a mining policy that contains all the highest mining standards in the world.

“It’s really good timing to be releasing our policy when mining reform will be looked at,” she says.

The province also agreed with Xat’sull having a liaison representative work with the independent panel assessing the Mount Polley breach.

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“We hired Jim Kuipers, a mining engineer from Montana,” says Mack. “He will be our eyes and ears to scrutinize the work being done.”

Steve Robertson, vice-president of corporate affairs for Imperial Metals, says there are several investigations studying the breach at the same time.

“We were just counting it up the other day,” he says. “By the time all the investigations are done, Mount Polley Mine will be the most studied dam in Canadian history.”

According to Doug Gook, an environmental activist and former Green Party candidate in the Cariboo, that’s exactly how it should be.

“This has to be a model restoration project,” says Gook. “Damage has been done to an amazing pristine system that has no possibility of ever being that pristine again.”

Ramsey Hart of MiningWatch Canada, says it is important to keep up the pressure for a thorough cleanup and not let if fade from public attention.

“It’s hard to sustain media attention,” says Hart. “People need to continue asking questions and follow the work of the independent panel.”

And will Mount Polley Mine reopen any time soon?

“We have to wait and see what the regulatory regime says,” offers Cariboo Chilcotin MLA Donna Barnett. “It’s a huge, massive issue and you can’t just clean these things up overnight.”

Halls says she wouldn’t want to speculate when the mine might reopen.

“Certainly we need to know as part of the investigations why the breach happened,” she says. “We're not going to know from the independent panel until the end of January at the earliest. You don't want it to happen again.”

Sage Birchwater moved to the CaribooChilcotin in 1973. He spends his time freelancing and authoring books, hanging out with his dog, gardening, and being part of the rich cultural life that is the CaribooChilcotin Coast.

October/November 2014

Adventures in Spanish Kitchens

TheGreenGazette

By Pat Teti

“

Pat, could you sing Happy Birth- kitchens while being linguistically chalday to my mother”? Pep asked lenged. The excitement and tension infrom the other end of the large creased when I learned that the pizza was dinner table. to be served at another family gathering at It was two hours into a long afternoo n the farm the next day and that I would meal with an extended family near Barce- have a chance to use their outdoor woodlona. I was in a soporific state after sev- fired oven. eral courses of alcohol, delicious food, Volunteer travel is a wonderful way to and listening to incomprehensible Catalán. experience another culture for an extended The sudden query in English was so period of time at minimal cost. However, unexpected, all I could you might wonder why I do at first was gasp, was turned loose on car“Excuse me”? pentry and baking projects Two weeks living and working on my first day of volunHow did I get into with a middle-aged couple in a teering. The main reason is this?

Two months earlier, small town in northeastern that my hosts were very I had responded to a trusting people but I had Spain sounded like a great p o s t i n g o n told them in advance that I way to sample a distinctive workaway.info that a could do those things. It all Spa ni s h ho us e ho l d worked out but should be a culture outside the normal would like to host a volreminder to the would-be tourism envelope. unteer worker in return volunteer to not overstate for room and board. Pep one’s capabilities. (a ni c k n a me fo r One of the most inter“Guiseppe”) said that Catalán and esting food experiences with my hosts Spanish were their first two languages was a simple dish of fire-roasted spring with English a distant fourth. Two weeks onions, or calçots (pronounced CAL-sots), living and working with a middle-aged which includes the exuberant ritual in this couple in a small town in northeastern part of Spain known as la calçotada Spain sounded like a great way to sample (pronounced la cal-so-TA-da). a distinctive culture outside the normal My first clue something unusual was tourism envelope. happening for this meal was the old newsMy first day with hosts Pep and Dolors papers spread all over the dining table. was typical. After a late and light break- The cooking was being done over an open fast, the only Spanish eating habit to fire but I couldn’t tell what would emerge which I didn’t easily adjust, the day was from the fireplace until the first course of full of activity until bedtime. First, we appetizers and drinking was over and the drove to the beautiful old farm belonging main course was presented. Out came fireto Dolors’ parents where my job was help- blackened onions, like our green onions, ing prune olive trees. It was a lovely brought from the hearth on more newspaspring day and the almond trees were in pers. full bloom while winter dragged on in the I was challenged to figure out how to Cariboo. No olive trees were damaged by eat them before finally being shown. It’s a my lack of knowledge because all I did two-handed operation which, if done was carry and pile branches. properly, leaves charred onion skins on We were called inside to the main the newspaper and the inner, edible pormeal of the day (la comida) and gathered tion hanging from a closed fist. The trick around a large table in the old stone farm- is to hold an onion by its top with one house. From the point of view of my two hand and slip off the outer burnt skin with hosts, we had two sets of parents, a son, a the other. The white core is eaten after daughter, a sister, a son-in-law, a couple dipping it in a delicious red sauce (salsa friends, and the Canadian volunteer romesco) made with roasted peppers, tohelper. The meal consisted of wine, beer, matoes, ground nuts, and other ingrediprocessed snack food, vegetables, sau- ents. Also served at our calçotada were sage, bread, olive oil, sweets, and fruit. fire roasted sausages and artichokes. What Yes, the snack food seemed out of place a sight: three generations of a family to me, too. laughing and eating messy, delicious, and I was lucky to be seated next to Maria, healthy food with their bare hands. I was Pep’s loud and cheerful mother who made so fortunate to be able to experience this me feel like part of the family even though traditional and fun meal with a boistrous she was unilingual in Catalán. The social- Catalán family. izing among the extended family was conI’ll never forget how loving and weltinuous, energetic, and entertaining even coming my hosts were. My pizza and with the language barrier, but I received bread turned out quite well, there were no occasional translations with the help of injuries, and I only trashed one pair of Pep and Dolors’ two kids. pants. My only regret was not having We were back at Pep’s house in late taken a Spanish course before I went. afternoon where he gave me some tools Compared with the daily anxiety of the and lumber and turned me loose on an communication barrier, singing “Happy outdoor repair project. A tour of the coun- Birthday, Maria” was easy! tryside and a monastery followed, finishing at sunset. After a light dinner around Pat Teti was a research scientist with the 10 p.m, my last project was to start two BC government for 18 years and has albatches of dough—one for pizza and one ways enjoyed making things. for bread. I was delighted but a little anxious to start baking projects in unfamiliar

October/November 2014

Almond trees at my hosts’ farm house on March 15. Photo: Pat Teti

Our calçotada (eating spring onions). Photo: Pat Teti

Fire-roasted artichokes, also served at our calçotada. Photo: Pat Teti

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Page 7

TheGreenGazette

World Animal Day: Loving our furred and feathered friends

“...our standard donkey was so sad and neglected I burst into tears when I met her.”

By Beatrix Linde

W

orld Animal Day was on October 4 and countries all over the world held events to honour, remember, and pay tribute to animals. World Animal Day came into existence at a convention of ecologists in Florence, Italy in 1931. The idea was a way of highlighting the plight of endangered species. This year over 500 events are being planned globally to bring awareness to the treatment of animals. Spelling bees and poetry contests in Africa, treks in South America, and marches in Jakarta are just a few gatherings that will occur.

In my own life, I have some of these beautiful creatures. My husband Howard and I have five donkeys, three horses, a pony, a llama, a dog, a cat, and seven chickens. There isn’t a day that goes by that we aren’t entertained. All of these animals were forsaken. No one wanted them—but we did. The donkeys in particular came to us struggling. Jenny, our standard donkey, was so sad and neglected I burst into tears when I met her. Chico the Genius, one of our minis, was so scared that when any man came near him he would run or tremble with fear. I am happy to say that four years later with the help of classical homeopathy, the Feldenkrais Method, and lots of love, gentleness, patience, hugs, and kisses they are themselves.

Chico the Clever, Ashley, and Clover came next. Yes, we have two Chicos and I distinguish them as clever and genius because they are. When Chico the Genius first came, I could not call him cute or sweet, or he would literally turn and walk away. If I whispered that he was brilliant, smart, and handsome, he rewarded me by putting his head against my body as a hug, or tug on my clothes to get more attention.

Who says animals are dumb? Quite the contrary, and donkeys in particular get a bad rap for being stubborn. The stubbornness is curiosity and self-care. They want to observe everything and will stop and smell the roses, so to speak. Donkeys will not hurt themselves. They will pick their way through the best path that they can find and will not move if they are being put in a dangerous situation. This is something we should learn as humans.

Our other adventures with this group include family walks. We put Jenny on lead

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and the rest follow. There is nothing cuter than a little train of donkeys heading down a forested trail one right after the other. I like to break out in song to the Seven Dwarves' jingle, “HI-HO, HI-HO, it’s off to work we go!”

Speaking of songs, everyone’s favourite is Happy Birthday. How can I tell? Their eyes soften, they blow gently out their nostrils, they turn their heads more towards me, and they relax their bodies. They sing to us as well. I don’t even have to look and I know who is braying. Clover the littlest and the loudest with her Model-T Ford , Arugggaaa, Arugggaa! Jenny is like a balloon that you slowly let the air out of to make a high pitched squeak. Chico the Genius sounds like a lonely foghorn. Chico the Clever is deep and breathy, and Ashley’s is truly, a ‘hee haw, hee haw.’

Angel, the llama, used to like that 80s song, which I only know one line to, “Just call me angel in the morning, baby!” Now he likes, “ Hark the herald angels sing!”

When we rescued him, we had no idea how to look after a member of the camel family, but we quickly learned how well he took care of everyone else. First, he bonded with Milk and Honey, the pony he came with, and then he began taking care of the donkeys. Llamas are known as the Silent Brother by the Incans for their calm and quiet companionship. Our Angel is that and more with his distinct call warning of something unusual in the yard, or when he has a dust bath in the woodshed and the dust that comes out of there looks like a tornado, or when he decides to gallop and swing his long neck from side to side.

Once in awhile we get what we call little donkey rodeos. Frisky and feisty, the donkeys charge around each other and through the trees with the occasional fart, all so funny and delightful to see them happy and healthy.

It is a blessing and an honour to be with and look after these animal beings every day. I have the love and capacity to welcome more, any day. People have asked me, “What do you do with them?” My answer: “Love them.”

Beatrix Linde is an artist, farmer, teacher, and stay at home mom to many animals, somewhere between Springhouse and Alkali Lake, BC. Contact hblinde@live.com or (250) 440-5759.

Too Many Bugs Getting Drugs

By Susan Tritt

I

Drug free flock, Funky Fowl Farm. Photo: Susan Tritt

n the new and exciting world of backyard and small flock chickens, many new enthusiasts turn to social media for all their necessary poultry husbandry needs. Facebook pages are one of the top rated places to gather information from people with years of hands-on experience with everything from commercial birds to the more specialized smaller heritage flocks. And these vary in species including quail, chickens, ducks, peacocks, geese, pheasants, and other small livestock birds that have been historically farmed all over the world.

The big difference now is most people are no longer considering them livestock, but rather, pets. Many of these birds have taken the place of the family dog. They have names and birthdays, and when they get sick they are treated like a member of the family. Some small flock keepers are getting into chickens because they like the idea of providing fresh eggs for their families. They also love the idea of the children learning where their food is coming from, and the additional responsibility the kids learn in caring for their chickens. If the kids are lucky enough and have a small flock and are able to sell some eggs they are also gaining the knowledge of commerce.

But if those chickens get sick, there is the tendency to treat them like family members and not livestock. On a number of the Facebook forums there are desperate pleas from from people wanting to know how to deal with sick birds. In response, several people recommended restricted antibiotics and the dosages for those antibiotics based on a photo or a description of an illness posted to the page. No one answering these pleas was a veterinarian, and when I suggest that the birds be tested by a veterinarian, people produce a range of replies including, “It’s too expensive to see a vet” to “I live too far from a vet.”

Several large and current studies indicate that the use of antibiotics in poultry is a contributing factor in creating superbugs. People sometimes reach for antibiotics and treat the entire flock before fully understanding what they are treating. If they don't see results, they choose another antibiotic, therefore creating a resistance.

The medical profession is encour-

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aged to refrain from using antibiotics when treating anyone fighting a common cold or an infection they've had for less than three weeks; yet, people are treating poultry flocks at the first sign of a symptom and then feeding the eggs to their families. It is questionable whether they follow the suggested withdrawal times or not.

Where do these people get restricted antibiotics? Apparently, it is as easy as ordering anything online, as there are a couple of veterinary websites south of the border that will ship into Canada and don't require medical verification. There is also an American poultry veterinarian who will consult with you online and prescribe and sell medications over the Internet. Again, he is diagnosing without testing.

Clearly, buying restricted veterinary antibiotics online completely negates safety regulations put in place by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA).

Who is tracking use, duration, and safety?

Because importing restricted medications of any kind is illegal and clandestine, says the CFIA, that agency has little information about how often it happens or even how prevalent antibiotic use is in small flock poultry. I also spoke with the Williams Lake, BC CFIA office and Interior Health, but this information is not collected or otherwise available. Most importantly, no one I spoke to was aware of the regular importation of restricted antibiotics, and Interior Health appeared to feel its antibiotic awareness program was sufficient in addressing antibiotic overuse in BC. Susan and her husband Rudy have shared a passion for hobby farming since they met almost 30 years ago. “Our goal at Funky Fowl Farm is to grow everything we need to live, and to grow as naturally as possible.”

October/November 2014

TheGreenGazette

Blue Dot Movement Rolls Across Canada

Science Matters

By David Suzuki

A

s an elder, I’ve watched Canada and the world change in many ways, for better and worse.

Thanks in part to cheap energy and technological growth, the human population has more than tripled, from 2.2 billion in 1936 when I was born to about seven billion today. As a boy, I could drink from streams and lakes without worrying about getting sick. My father took me fishing for halibut, sturgeon, and salmon on the Vancouver waterfront. Pretty much all food was organic.

Although my parents were born and raised in Canada, our family was incarcerated in the B.C. Interior during the Second World War. Like other people of colour, my parents didn’t have the right to vote until 1948. First Nations people living on reserves didn’t have voting rights until 1960.

And, until 1969, homosexuality was a criminal offence, often leading to prison—now same-sex couples in Canada can marry.

Without a health care system, my parents had to worry far more about illness than Canadians today.

Although we’ve degraded our natural environment since my childhood, we’ve made great strides in human rights and social programs. But those advances didn’t come without struggle. It’s important to protect and improve the hard-won rights and social safety net that make Canada one of the best countries for citizens and visitors alike—but it’s crucial to protect the natural systems that make it all possible.

We’re too often asked to choose between a healthy environment and a healthy economy, between health care and environmental protection. But these are false choices. Long-term prosperity and good health absolutely depend on conserving and using our resources wisely and on ensuring our air is pure enough to breathe, our water clean enough to drink, and our food nutritious and plentiful enough to keep us alive and healthy. Protecting the environment is good for human and economic health.

Consider water. We can’t survive without it. Most Canadians take our abundant fresh water for granted. But according to the recent Ecojustice report, “Waterproof: Standards, 'Canada’s drinking water standards continue to lag behind international benchmarks and are at risk of falling even farther behind,'” at any time, more than 1,000 drinking water advisories are in effect across the country, many in First Nations communities. Canada doesn’t even have a national water policy. Nor do we have legally binding national air quality standards.

October/November 2014

People died in Walkerton, Ontario, because of E. coli in the water. Grassy Narrows residents are being poisoned by waterborne mercury. Toxins in the air and water are affecting people’s health in Sarnia’s Chemical Valley, as are a deadly mix of oil sands chemicals in Fort Chipewyan, Alberta.

This is clearly unacceptable in prosperous, resource-rich Canada. So how do we ensure that all Canadians have the right to enjoy clean air and water and healthy food?

We could follow the lead of more than half the world’s nations and enshrine the right to a healthy environment in our Constitution’s Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

That’s one of the goals of the Blue Dot Tour I’ve embarked on with the David Suzuki Foundation and friends, supporters and, I hope, you. It’s a testament to the importance of this tour and the movement it intends to spark that so many musicians, artists, and thinkers have volunteered their time to get the word out, including Shane Koyczan, Neil Young, Tanya Tagaq, Feist, Blue Rodeo members, Margaret Atwood, Hey Ocean, Bruce Cockburn, Joel Plaskett, Roy Henry Vickers, Whitehorse, Barenaked Ladies, Danny Michel, Kinnie Starr, Stephen Lewis, Ovide Mercredi, and many more.

The events, in 20 cities across Canada, promise to be fun and entertaining, but there’s a serious purpose: To start a national conversation and movement to make sure we all look after this land that gives us so much.

History shows that informed individuals who come together to build a groundswell of opinion and pressure are a powerful force for positive change. We hope this tour will inspire Canadians to take action in their communities, that those communities will in turn inspire provinces to get on board, and that ultimately, our right to a healthy environment will be recognized at the national level.

It’s a long road, but together, we can get there. Are you in?

The Blue Dot Tour travels across Canada throughout October and .ovember. For a complete list of venues across the Provinces and specific locations in BC visit http:// bluedot.ca/. The Blue Dot Tour visits Prince George, BC on Saturday, .ov 1.

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

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Page 9

TheGreenGazette

Local Art on the Menu at Gecko Tree

By LeRae Haynes

Beverly Butcher, Sharon Cousins, Gwen Dachsel, Jean Reid, Susan Zanette and, Lorene Walsh, me mbers of a water colour group at the Seniors Activity Centre, are featured artists at the current art show and sale at the Gecko Tree restaurant. Photo: LeRae Haynes

G

reat food and local art are on the table and on the walls at Gecko Tree in Williams Lake— a flavourful blend designed to delight and inspire both the palette and the palate. From October 6 to ovember 15 the restaurant will host a show and sale by the Wednesday Water Colour group at the Seniors Activity Centre.

Gecko Tree art co-ordinator and local artist Beatrix Linde says her ongoing search for artists led her to contact the group. Art shows at the Gecko Tree have included photography, painting, sketching, fiber, oil, quilting, acrylic, and felting. “We’ve had things like quilt art with rust, framed pieces with pressed seaweed, and photographs on canvas,” she says. “This is a great partnership between local business and local artists.

“The Gecko Tree is a unique space and art just belongs there.” she adds. “Owner Crystal Baba is so supportive of her community.”

The water colour group at the Seniors Activity Centre is self-directed. You don’t have to be an artist to join—any level of skill or experience is welcome. Some of the members have been members of the Arts Society for many years.

“Camaraderie and motivation are why this group works for me,” says group member, Susie Zanette. “A friend got me involved when I retired a few years ago. You have to bring something to work on; you get ideas and suggestions from the others and try new things.”

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Beverly Butcher agrees.“I’ve been inspired to try different techniques; you learn from everyone,” she explains.

“For me, it makes me keep my art alive,” adds Lorene Walsh. “There’s always something else to do at home, and coming here really makes you keep working on your art.”

Sharon Cousins says the group keeps her going. “It keeps you from putting off your art—it motivates you,” she says.“I really enjoy sharing ideas and seeing what other people are doing.”

“I taught primary school for many years and found that teaching art put me off from doing art, but once I retired I joined this group,” says Gwen Dachsel. “I do a lot of pen and ink sketching. I’ve learned to enjoy painting, too, but I really love sketching. It’s what I did as a child.”

Beverly Butcher has already had a solo show at the Gecko Tree, and says it was a very positive experience for her. “I was so pleased that they invited me there to show my work,” she explains. “The young people who work there became my friends; they see me coming now and know I want a soy chai with two honeys in it to go.”

Gwen Dachsel has had a solo show at New World Coffee, and several other group members have been part of shows at the Station House Gallery.

Beatrix says her search for artists to present at the Gecko Tree is ongoing, and that all artists are welcome to do a six-week show. She can be reached at (250) 440-5759 or hblinde@live.com.

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October/November 2014

TheGreenGazette

Halloween vs The Day of the Dead

By Teena Clipston

I

grew up celebrating Halloween, and, like many other children, never understanding the meaning of the day. All I knew was I was getting candy, and if I had the stamina to walk for blocks in the cold, it could very well mean lots of candy. ow in those days, we kept things rather simple: with an old, white sheet we could be a ghost or a mummy… with old tattered clothes we could be a hobo… a cardboard box and we could be a walking TV. We would carve a pumpkin and stick a candle in it, and use an old pillow case to collect our loot. Simple. Profitable. And lots of fun.

But as I grew older, Halloween began to change and so did my views on it. I didn’t understand the concept, or the worship of evil dead things, and I thought perhaps the whole affair was some type of devilish trick to entice innocent children into wickedness. In addition, the whole commercialism of the festivity seemed to be intensifying. I just could not justify spending large amounts of hard-earned dollars on plastic horrors… plastic spiders, plastic headless dead things, plastic skeletons, plastic tombstones, plastic masks, plastic costumes, and the worst—plastic pumpkins— all of which, I could probably guess were made in China. My green personality cringed at the thought of someone cramming all that plastic into an attic every year. And the vision of the dead plastic beings squeezed up against a plastic Christmas tree, a plastic baby Jesus, and a plastic Virgin Mary sent chills down my spine. Now that was scary. And, of course, ironic.

In walks Hollywood, promoting horror flicks prior and during Halloween observations, with countless of slasher films and monster mania. The most successful of the movies to promote Halloween terror is the American horror franchise, Halloween, consisting of 10 slasher films, and novels and comic books. The fictional character of Michael Myers stalks and kills people during the Halloween holiday. With the abundance of receiving treats and the overtone of slashers, devils, and monsters, how could the coming generation see Halloween as anything other than a time of want and fear?

Now don’t get me wrong: I was not about to deprive my children of the Halloween experience. They enjoyed the celebration in the same manner I did as a child, with home made costumes and a real pumpkin. Begrudgingly, I went along with it, cursing my own self for part taking in the paganistic ritual, until I learned the true meaning of why Halloween is celebrated.

The word Halloween means “Holy Evening.” It comes from the Scottish term, All Hallows’ Eve. Halloween falls on the evening before the Christian holy days of All Saints (Nov. 1) and All Souls’ Day (Nov. 2). These three days are collectively referred to as Hallowtide. It was a time meant for honoring the saints and praying for recently departed souls. By the end of the 12th century the church began new traditions. The town criers would set afoot empty streets, dressed in black and ringing bells to call upon Christians to remember

October/November 2014

the deceased. It was also folklore that the souls of the departed would wander the earth during Hallowtide for one last chance to gain vengeance on their enemies before moving to the afterworld. However, this was not instituted until around 750 AD, in Europe. Before then, Halloween came from a pre-Christian Celtic festival known as Samhain. The pagan rite was dedicated to the harvest. It was said during Samhain banshees and witches were known to steal children and destroy crops, bringing terror to the population.

And yet, it wasn’t until the 1940s that the practice of “trick or treating” came to North America. The tradition already existed in Scotland, Great Britain, and Ireland during Hallows’ Eve in the form of “souling” where children and the poor would sing for the dead in return for sweets or coins. The celebration in the west, morphed into a “trick or treat”—give me a treat or I will play a trick on you— sacrament that brought with it a taste of paganistic terror.

Immigration to North America may have brought these trick or treat traditions with them. However it is not to say that the practice of honoring the dead did not exist prior to these settlements in the continent.

In fact, Dia de los Muertos (the Day of the Dead), is a common holiday celebrated in many countries across the globe that existed in North America before European immigration. It is similar to All Hallows’ Eve; however, it is more of a happy celebration than a sad mourning. Mexico, for instance, joyously celebrates the holiday by remembering friends and family members who have passed on. It is believed that the deceased loved ones are given back to families and friends during this time—they are sometimes even set a place at the dinner table and parties are thrown with a great feast, drinking, and dancing. It is traditional for people to build private altars in their homes honouring the deceased.

These may include photos of the dead, sugar skulls or similar treats, flowers, favorite foods, of the deceased, crafts, and more.

And yet, even in Mexico, Dia de los Muertos has become a melting pot of traditional rite. Before the Spanish invasion of 1519, the Aztecs held a festival for at least 3,000 years celebrating the death of their ancestors. They honoured the goddess of the underworld, Mictecacihuatl, and would celebrate for 20 days during the corn harvests for the entire ninth month of the Aztec calendar, which begins at the end of July. The Spanish conquerors, wishing to eradicate any and all of the rituals of the Aztec people, failed at wiping out the festival all together. They succeeded, however, in shortening the length of the celebration and adjusted the time of celebration to align with their own Catholic holidays of All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day. So, apart from the “scare the wits out of people” ritual we see today in Canada and the US, history shows the holiday is deeply rooted in the celebration of the past lives of our loved ones, and how we celebrate the time is a personal one. I, for one, will be celebrating the lives of family members

Canadian house ready for trick or treat—decorated with a witch, black cat, and spiders. Photo: Sameer Vasta

Traditional Mexican ‘Day of the Dead’ altar for family me mber, Playa del Carmen, Mexico. Photo: Laura Winfree that have passed, with perhaps a bowl of candy and chocolate.

Teena Clipston is a published writer, with 100’s of articles on the internet, in news

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papers, and in magazines. Clipston obtained her journalism diploma in 1995, and has worked in publishing and as a journalist for over 20 years.

Page 11

TheGreenGazette

Confessions of a Farmer: The reluctant riser

Green Business Feature:

Red Shreds Bike and Board Shed: Plugging you in to the great outdoors

By Terri Smith

T

By LeRae Haynes

oday we are enjoying yet another beautiful, sunny, September day. I was worried for awhile that the weather was going to skip September altogether and move right on into October. It’s nice to see the sun again, but I’ve got to admit, I’m not sad to be entering fall. It’s a relief to see the sun setting noticeably earlier each night and rising noticeably later each morning.

The record-breaking frosts we had all last week have meant that the summer crops in both greenhouses have all been killed off. We replanted one with fall salad greens, but with temperatures so cool at night now I often don’t open the greenhouse till 9 or 10 a.m. and close it again at about 5 p.m.

It’s sad to say goodbye to all the tomatoes and cucumbers, but nice to not "I'm much more cheerful after morning coffee, especially when the sun is shining." have to rush outside at 6 a.m. to open Photo: Curtis Seeger greenhouses. about it. This is the part of the country On harvest days we can’t actually start where you’re no one if you’re not happily working before nine o'clock as there is up before the sun. I used to feel tremenstill just too much frost on the plants. This dously guilty for not enjoying the sound means we have more humane working of the alarm going off at 6 a.m. I have hours in the garden now. We work somealso noticed over the years that it’s a matthing like nine-to-five, like normal people. ter of pride around here to relate to everyWe have longer, more leisurely breakfasts one casually in conversation just how now, and sometimes even a second coffee early you get up. before we go out to work.

“The dogs were making a hell of I have a confession I feel I must make racket at about 5:30 this morning,” one here: I’m not a morning person. neighbour related over coffee at another Farmers are supposed to be morning neighbour’s place. “Would’ve been pretty people. They’re supposed to love jumping annoying if I hadn’t already been up for out of bed to greet the day before the sun an hour.” has risen. I always enjoy such experiences It’s taken me awhile to figure it out, when they have to happen. Nothing combut I’ve also noticed that up-every-daypares to a sunrise. But in the heat of sumat-the-crack-of-dawn stories tend to not mer when we start work at 6 a.m., I must be true. I know there are farmers, ranchadmit that I drag myself out of bed all ers, and others out there who love early grumbly and prickly, only after Curtis has mornings, but they aren’t usually the put on the coffee. ones bragging about being up at such Everyone just laughs at me when ungodly hours. As for the rest, well, after I’m grumpy; I guess I’m an amiable hearing such stories for so many years grump, but no matter how much I try or growing up here and believing them, I how early I go to bed, I’m just not a mornstarting doing a bit of investigative reing person. I’m fine after the first hour search and dropped by to visit or phoned (and second coffee), but really, I prefer a few friends or family members before evenings. I always have a creative surge seven, and you know what I found? Eiof energy at about nine o’clock at night. ther blurry-eyed people still robed in This is when I like to write or read or housecoats, sometimes even still in bed, paint or clean the house. or phones being answered in that raspy It took a long time, but I’ve made my morning voice we all have when we peace with being a reluctant riser. It’s a haven’t used our vocal cords all night. It shocking truth, I know, but not every made me happy, and I must admit, a little farmer loves mornings. I should maybe smug, to be up before the so-called earlyhave just let you hold onto your illusions; risers. the idyllic image of the cheerful farmer So as fall turns to winter and we hoeing with a smile at the crack of dawn, move into the dark time of the year, let’s but I think it’s important to be honest. I’m enjoy getting up with the sun at a more not saying I don’t get up early when the reasonable time. season calls for it. And I don’t like to sleep past nine o’clock, even on weekTerri Smith is an organic vegetable ends, but I think seven is a sensible time farmer in the Cariboo with Road’s End get out of bed. Six is pushing it, and five Vegetable Company. She has a Bacheis getting close to cruel and unusual. Belor’s degree in Literature and a diploma fore five isn’t even something I want to in Art. talk about!

This is a tough confession to make in the Cariboo. I’m sure I’m going to hear

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F

or 27 years Red Shreds Bike and Board Shed has been a source of outdoor gear for all ages in a wide range of activities.

But besides bikes and boards, owner Mark Savard and his staff also provide information and inspiration to the community when it comes to getting out and connecting to the wilderness.

Red Shreds sells skateboards, long boards, mountain bikes, road bikes, kayaks, paddle and wake boards, rock climbing gear, back country camping equipment, alpine and back country skis, snow boards, and skate skis. They also have Red Shreds Bike and Board Shed owner and father Mark gear for mountaineering and Savard loves spending time outdoors with his children, incamping, and provide things cluding his three-year-old daughter Uvilla. like first aid supplies, shoes, Photo courtesy of Boys and Girls Club Williams Lake boots, clothing, and backpacks. didn’t have distractions like the Internet Savard started the bike club in Wil- and video games: we went out and liams Lake in 1990. He is also key to the climbed trees. Schools used to do more local mountain bike consortium. He is in- outdoor stuff with kids, but there’s more volved with the bike club every day, devel- paranoia and liability and kids miss out,” oping, expanding, and maintaining moun- he adds. tain bike trails including those at Fox “My kids love to be outside. This Mountain, the River Valley, and the bike summer was hot so I spent a lot of time in area in Boitanio Park. the water on the paddle board with my Mountain bike trails are accessible by daughter going up and down the lake. all levels of skill and experience, he says. They like to just play in the dirt, on the “We have trails where kids ages three, swings, and in the garden.” four, and five are out riding with Mom and He said parents lead by example. “If Dad, and trails for those who want some- we enjoy the outdoors our kids will too. thing extreme. There’s the Boitanio bike Monkey see, monkey do. If you’re sitting park, too. It’s got many levels and we’re on the computer it’s pretty hard to tell always adding to it when we have time and your kids to get outside,” he explains. budget.”

“Being outdoors is the best for kids.

Red Shreds shoppers range in age from Tired kids don’t get into as much troubabies to 80 and everybody in between.“I ble.” have lots of five-year-old customers,” says The most important thing about kids Savard. “It’s so exciting for kids to get being outside is developing inner awaretheir first skis, their first board, their first ness and appreciation, says Savard, addbike—especially bikes. They get to pick. ing that in places like Syria, kids don’t It’s transportation and it’s freedom.” have that option. “Here, kids have fresh The store offers new and used bikes air and fresh water and non-toxic dirt in and bike repair to accommodate kids who most of the Cariboo. They use their outgrow their bikes and need an upgrade. imagination and don’t have everything Savard says customer service is 500% im- fed to them via WiFi.” portant. “You can buy anything online,” he When it comes to finding outdoor gear says. “Good customers are your best am- at Red Shreds for you and your family, bassadors.” you can be as extreme as you want.

A father with a 10-month-old son and a “There are no limits: climbing waterthree-year-old daughter, Savard says a falls, winter camping, riding a bike child is never too young to take outside. “I around the world,” he said.“Whatever you started out in Burnaby as a kid and every need, we can hook you up.” time I got a chance I wanted to play in the woods, not on concrete,” he says. “I was Red Shreds is located at 95 South 1st Avemore of a build-a-tree-fort guy than a play- nue. For more information phone (250) street-hockey guy.

398-7873 or visit www.redshreds.com.

“Things have changed a lot since I moved here as a kid. People appreciated To find out more about the bike club and the outdoors more then. I tended to go trails visit www.ridethecariboo.ca. camping and fishing every weekend and not too many kids do that anymore. We

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October/November 2014

TheGreenGazette

October/November 2014

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TheGreenGazette

Amadeus, Raised

By Terri Smith

Go green today!

An afternoon chat with Amade us, no longer inside the house.

Photo: Curtis Seeger

A

s Amadeus has gotten older, he has filled out somewhat.

He’s looking much more like just another member of the herd now. But I hadn’t really realized that his looking like one of the herd would also lead to him to actually becoming one of the herd.

You see, now that he’s (just about) a proper goat, he can no longer safely negotiate getting down the balcony stairs. His rear end is just too big and his little goat legs are just too skinny. I’m sure some goats could manage without problem, but Amadeus seems to be lacking the gene that has led to expressions such as, “surefooted as a mountain goat.”

He falls down while walking—on flat ground. Balcony stairs are not something most goats have to worry about anyway, but until a few weeks ago we still let Amadeus in every day to have a drink of water and a lick of baking soda, and then a handful of sunflower seeds to lure him back outside.

Most evenings, on coming in from the garden, Ahmie would meet us before we reached the house, then trot happily along beside us until I would stop him at the door.

“Do you need to poop?” I would ask him before opening the door. This never struck me as an odd thing to say in this moment, as I wanted him to associate the sound of the question with the pause for

him to go before entering the house. Goats are such creatures of habit, and he had gotten into the habit of leaving goat droppings across the basement floor and up the stairs until I started stopping him at the door to change the habit so that he would relieve himself before entering the house.

(It didn’t strike me as odd—since nothing about Amadeus is odd to me anymore—until one day I had a new helper walking out of the garden with me. She looked more than a little concerned when we reached the house and I stopped suddenly, turned around, and demanded, “Do you need to poop?” She was greatly relieved when she realized I was talking to the goat.

Going up the stairs never seems to be a problem for Amadeus. But going down the stairs has become too difficult for him. He has a tendency to lose his balance and try to topple over. If someone is right beside him he’s sometimes okay, but he has scared himself too many times now and often tries to leap from the middle of the stairway to miss the rest. This usually means he ends up belly-flopping onto the bottom few steps. I tried carpeting the stairs with upholstery fabric to give him more traction, and I’ve tried every method of holding onto him and helping him down, but all to no avail. To save him from breaking a leg or worse, we have had to make a decision not to let him in the house anymore. My kid has finally left home.

And he doesn’t mind a bit!

Terri Smith is an orga n i c veg etable farmer in the Cariboo with Road’s End Vegetable Company.

She has a Bachelor’s degree in literature and a diploma in art.

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October/November 2014

TheGreenGazette

Dark Days and Cold Nights: Prepping for garden hibernation

By Brianna van de Wijngaard

A

s winter approaches, it is a good idea to prepare your garden for the harsh weather ahead, to ensure it is healthy and vigorous in the early spring. Low temperatures are hard on sensitive soil organisms, and adding certain nutrients, amendments, and protection now can give those populations the food and shelter they need to survive the winter. This will also give you just a little bit of a head start next season.

This article is geared primarily towards vegetable and herb gardens, but many of the steps remain the same for any type of garden.

Overwintering Despite the harsh winter temperatures in our region, many vegetable crops can be successfully harvested into the winter, or overwintered with the right protection.

These include carrots, parsnips, turnips, potatoes, spinach, Asian greens, lettuce, and radishes. If you have some of these crops in your garden and wish to harvest them after frost, use a floating row cover, and/or a low tunnel (plastic) for leafy greens. For root crops, add a heavy layer of leaf mulch.

Some herbs are tougher than others when it comes to overwintering and flourishing again in the spring. Sage, chives, and thyme are good examples. Typically, they do not require any extra protection and are perennials that will lie dormant for the winter. You can transplant a clump of chives into a small pot and keep them indoors for harvesting all winter. More sensitive herbs, however, such as rosemary and parsley, require extra protection in anything colder than a zone 5. Cover parsley with row cover or heavy mulch. Rosemary, a tender evergreen perennial, should be potted so you can bring it indoors during the winter.

Bed Prep In many cases, it is fine and beneficial to leave plant debris where it is for the winter; gardens do not, and should not, need to be completely free of spent plant matter, unless it has the potential for disease. Tomatoes, beans, and squash, are good examples. Not only are these plants prone to harbour disease that can overwinter in your garden, their stalks are fibrous and unlikely to decompose in your garden anyway. It is best to remove these plants and compost them if they are free of disease or burn them otherwise. Other, generally safe plant matter, such as lettuces, spinach, and beet greens can be left in your garden bed. If you are going to do this, lightly work any plant debris into the soil surface to expose any harbouring pests and to increase contact with soil microbes.

In addition, it is wise to also clean accompanying garden pieces such as tomato cages or supports with a 2:1 solution of water and bleach.

Weeds Be sure to remove any weeds. If your garden bed is particularly weedy, you can smother the bed with black plastic to weaken overwintering, and kill any emerging weed seedlings in the early spring.

October/November 2014

Cover Crops Even the smallest of gardening spaces can be cover cropped with a green manure, and there are many to choose from. If your season is approaching cold temperatures, fall or winter rye is your best option, as this seed can germinate even after a frost. Fall rye is a soil builder. This cereal grain grows quickly in the fall and survives winter weather even in zone 3 (Williams Lake is a zone 4b). It bursts into growth in the spring, so try to turn under or cut back before it reaches 30 cm (12 inches). It is harder to turn under when it is 1 m (3 feet) tall. Extensive roots loosen topsoil and improve drainage. Plant in mid-September for best results, but fall rye will germinate as late as mid-October.

(From West Coast Seeds. See cover crop listing for further options and growing info: http://www.westcoastseeds.com/ product/Vegetable-Seeds/Cover-Crops/ #sthash.NxLTKZe6.dpbs) Mulching One cannot stress enough the utility of mulching. As noted earlier, winter temperatures are hard on soil micro and macroorganisms, but mulching can greatly reduce this pressure by providing habitat and a protective layer from frost, as well as a source of organic matter in the spring. It will also allow you to work the soil earlier in spring, retaining more heat and moisture than bare soil, and suppressing emerging weed growth. Simply put, mulching soil is preparing it for winter just as nature would, providing nutrients and shelter. This is arguably your most important fall-prep task in the garden.

Leaf litter is your best option, as it is a free and abundant resource in the fall, breaks down quickly, adds a medium-rich carbon source to your soil, and is a favourite among many soil-dwelling organisms such as worms. It can be worked in during the spring if it is sufficiently decomposed (ie: a light, crumbly texture), but allow 2-3 weeks before planting seeds or transplants.

If it isn’t broken down, simply remove it and add it to your compost bin. Straw is also another great mulch that may be readily available to you, but it is not recommended you work this into the soil. It has a higher carbon to nitrogen ratio than leaves and will rob the soil of a higher amount of nitrogen to break down. Simply remove it and use it to compost in the spring. Otherwise, straw does break down very quickly and will provide an ideal habitat for beneficial organisms in your soil over the winter.

A cover crop, as described above, will also act as a great mulch.

Fertilizing Green manures are a great option for nutrition because of their other benefits to the soil, such as organic matter, weed suppression, and erosion protection, but they’re not a comprehensive fertilizer, especially if you garden intensively. Fertilizing and cover cropping is a good combination, or fertilizing alone if you cannot plant a green manure in time. Adding organic, granular fertilizers now, such as meals, (alfalfa, bone, blood, fish, etc.) or kelp, will allow it time to break down and become more available to plants in the early spring,

This mini greenhouse or low tunnel on a raised garden bed is a very effective and easy method of extending your gardening season into the fall. One can have fresh greens into the winter, or even all year, depending on your climate.

Photo: www.onehundreddollarsamonth.com/how-to-build-a-small-poly-tunnel/ as this is a very slow process over the winter. If you have a finished compost pile, it is better to wait until spring to work this in, as microbes will be slightly more protected in a warm compost pile than they are spread out in a garden bed, especially if the pile is at least 1 cubic metre or bigger, and insulated with leaves, straw, or other dense material (such as snow!). If you are buying compost, however, work this in now, and mulch. Your soil will be that much further ahead in the spring, for planting.

Brianna van de Wijngaard is the assistant food action co-ordinator for the Williams Lake Food Policy Council, a certified organic master gardener, and owner/operator of Puddle Produce Urban Farms. If you are interested in becoming more involved with the WL Food Policy Council, or in signing up for a community garden bed, contact us at foodpolicycouncil@hotmail.com.

Williams Lake Wanderers Fall and Winter Schedule Changes From the last week of October on through the winter, the Wednesday activities will no longer be an extended amount of time. And, we are planning to be hiking/ walking each day then, until we have enough snow to extend the activities to snowshoeing and cross-country skiing as well.

We will leave the Sam Ketcham Complex at 9:00 a.m., so come around 8:45 a.m. to get organized. We always begin our outings from there on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, so you can fill out a membership form and pay your $10 annual

fee if you wish to become a member. Once you're a member, you will receive emails with schedules and schedule changes.

Schedules and updates are also on Facebook.

Members' Monthly Coffee Social Our no host coffee get together for conversation and new ideas for outings will be Thursday, October 16, at Thyme for Tea after the UBC Forestry walk.

All of these activities are subject to change according to weather conditions, so keep an eye on your email/Facebook daily.

October Schedule Wednesday,October 1: Springhouse bike – on paved road/trails Thursday, October 2: Fox Mountain rim walk Tuesday, October 7: Friesen Road bike – on gravel road Wednesday,October 8: Farwell Canyon dunes hike Thursday, October 9: Bull Mountain Forestry Trail hike Tuesday, October 14: Anderson Road grasslands bike – dirt road/trails Wednesday,October 15: Felker Lake kayak Thursday, October 16: UBC Forestry walk Tuesday, October 21: A&P Jeep Trail bike – dirt road/trails Wednesday,October 22: 108 Mile bike – gravel/dirt trails Thursday, October 23: Sawmill Lake walk Tuesday, October 28: Eagleview walk Wednesday,October 29: Box Trail walk Thursday, October 30: Pulver Meadow walk

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TheGreenGazette

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October/November 2014

Celebrating Children at Sacred Heart

TheGreenGazette

By LeRae Haynes

C

anada celebrates ational Child Day on ovember 20 in recognition of the United ations Declaration on the Rights of the Child. One place in Williams Lake where children are celebrated year round is Sacred Heart Preschool where 47 kids are currently enrolled in various sessions throughout the week.

Sacred Heart Preschool and daycare manager Tina Weber, who has been at the school for over 10 years, says working with young kids is satisfying and refreshing. “Children are genuine,” she explains.

“They say it as it is and their hearts are true. They can say, ‘I love you’ and they The Monday, Wednesday, Friday morning class at Sacred truly do.

Heart Preschool is a group of three- and four-year-old children “I think they’re like precious little taught by Tina Weber, preschool and day care manager (left) and sponges, and when your heart is in the early childhood educator assistant 'orma Schindle (right). 'ove mright place you have so much to teach ber 20 is 'ational Child Day, but Weber says that children should be them. You see the progress from when celebrated every day. Photo: LeRae Haynes they start a school year, learning to do things like use a pair of scissors or put the right arms into the right sleeves of their coat—a real one of his favourite things to do is make a craft. “I like to milestone. It’s such a rewarding feeling to be part of make paint and paper campfires the best. I really like to go camping: it’s fun to go the playground, sleep in a 5th that.”

She says each month they do a learning theme with wheel and go swimming and go in a boat.”

Weber says when you instill positive self-esteem and the kids. “This month we started with space, and then respect for others you help create a good environment. decided to go with camping and summer fun—what the “Empathy is important,” he says. “When you see kids did over the summer. ‘Did you go camping? Did something going on you take time to talk it through, askyou sleep in a tent? What kinds of things did you and ing things like, ‘How would you feel?’ We really try to your family get to do this summer?’

“Being outdoors is important for kids; weather per- have everyone belong. We are all friends here. We strive for a very comfortable, respectful, nurturing environment mitting we take them outside every day.”

Staff also get the kids connected to what’s going on where everyone is kind to each other and is aware of in the community. “For example, if it’s fire safety week other people’s feelings.

“I think it’s important for kids to be in a group and we arrange a tour of the local fire station, or if there’s a learn to get along with other kids, be an individual and western theme, we take them to the cowboy museum,” get used to another adult in their lives,” she adds. “Once says Weber.

“I’ve been here more than 10 years; I love it here. I they hit kindergarten it’s a whole new world, and things like preschool and StrongStart gives them a great prepareally love the kids, but I think what really makes us unique is the staff. Everybody’s amazing and always ration.”

Weber adds there are advantages for kids who come willing to help out. Even when the daycare side is really busy, the staff will step in to help where they’re needed to preschool and stay for kindergarten. “They start kindergarten knowing the school, the playground, the gym, and vise versa. We mesh really well—that’s huge,” she the teachers, and many of the other kids,” she says. “The says.

“Our responsibility as teachers is to impart a positive school is small and people are friendly and caring – evesense of self-worth. Everybody may not be the best at rybody knows everybody else. It’s like a great big family everything, but everyone is good at something and has and I think that’s important.” something to offer. We need to teach them to be respectLeRae Haynes is a freelance writer, songwriter, coful and thankful for the things that we have.”

“I love having snacks at school,” says four-year-old producer of “Pursicles,” and the community coDeneige Hogg.“Today I had Goldfish and an orange that ordinator for Success by 6. She is also the instigator of a I opened up myself. It’s fun playing outside, having sto- lot of musical shenanigans in Williams Lake including “Borderband” with kids and is a member of the “Perfect ries, and it’s a good place to make friends.”

Kayden Trott, also four years old, agrees, adding that Match” dance band.

October/November 2014

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TheGreenGazette

Bill-24: Disabling the Agricultural Land Reserve

Reuse, Redesign and Repair - Part of the Cariboo Regional District’s Solid Waste Info Series: Becoming Waste Wise

E

ver feel like there just isn’t enough time in the day? Life is so busy for so many people that finding the time to deal with waste can be a challenge. Day-today waste that is generated in the kitchen must be dealt with weekly, but unwanted items such as clothing, furniture, toys, and kitchen/household items can easily pile up over the years. Some individuals find disposing of these items in the garbage the easiest way to manage them.

Others can’t bring themselves to part with the items as they might still have a use for them one day, or they are keeping them until they have the time to repair or redesign the items.

Rather than a landfill destination or perpetual accumulation in your home, consider taking unwanted items to a local charity, outreach program, share shed, or thrift store on a monthly basis. There are always those in need who can benefit from these unwanted items.

Charity organizations often have garage sales for fundraising and outreach programs provide items to those in need.

There are over 25 share sheds located throughout the Cariboo Regional District, providing opportunities for residents to drop off unwanted items and to “shop” for free. And thrift stores are often run in conjunction with a charity, providing affordable shopping and job opportunities.

Many individuals who frequent garage sales, share sheds, and thrift stores are looking for items to reuse or to redesign and have the time it takes to repair or the creativity to redesign.

Alternately, you can sell or give away

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items yourself. There are many online opportunities to give away or sell unwanted items or you could have a yard/ garage sale. Kids clothing and toys are popular items to re-sell, as they are often in good condition due to the short period of use. Selling online or in your yard can put some money back in your pocket and items can be picked up at your door step.

If you happen to have time and the interest to reuse or redesign items, there are endless articles and “how to” websites online or books at your local library to provide you with creative ideas and methodologies for how to turn one item into another. Used clothing can be transformed into trendy shopping bags, purses, or wallets; bicycle wheel rims into circular table tops; end tables into brightly coloured patio furniture; old wood into bird houses or picture frames; meat grinders or colanders into lamps; doors into headboards… the list goes on and on.

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 WasteWise 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, or online at cariboord.ca, or look for our articles in your local paper.

By Van Andruss

T

he original ALR, or Agricultural Land Reserve, came into effect in 1973 under the influence of Dave Barrett and the DP government. It was obvious to the Barrett government that prime farmland in BC was vanishing at an alarming rate under the pressure of “development,” for instance, 6,000 hectares per year in the Okanagan and the Lower Mainland.

The ALR altogether only amounts to 5% of BC’s land base, covering approximately 4.7 million hectares (47,000 sq. km) on both private and public lands.

Some contain thousands of hectares; some are quite small.

ALR parcels could be withdrawn by application to the governing Agricultural Land Commission, and since the original setting aside, 40,000 applications have been made and another 40,000 hectares have been lost.

On May 29 of this year, the BC legislature pushed through Bill-24, amending the Agricultural Land Commission Act with the intent of easing the rules, changing its structure and governance, and opening it up for uses other than farming, ranching, and fruit growing. These changes were supervised, we are told, by Bill Bennett and its outlines are summarized below.

The Land Reserve is divided into two Zones. Zone 1 is comprised of southwest BC (Fraser Valley, Fraser River Delta), the Okanagan, and Vancouver Island, where existing regulations will remain in place, though under unrelenting pressure from Vancouver area’s suburban sprawl.

Zone 2 includes the rest of BC’s Reserves in the north and in the interior of BC, regarded by Bill Bennett as less productive and therefore to be treated more “flexibly.”

Zone 2 amounts to 90% of the total Reserve, while Zone 1 is only 10% of the total.

Incidentally, the original setting aside was executed coarsely and in haste from topographical maps according to elevation. The intent was to make a more finegrained inquiry as time went on, but the work never took place.

The quality of agricultural land is classified by numbers, the highest quality being the smallest number. Bill Bennett’s assessments to the contrary, the land in Zone 2 is not predominantly poor agricultural land. In fact, according to an agricultural committee struck in 1978, there is more 1 to 4 class land in Zone 2 than in Zone 1; that is, 85% of the land in Zone 2 is class 1 to 4 (2 million hectares) compared to only 15% in Zone 1 (350, 000 hectares).

Under the new legislation, the six designated regions are to be governed, not by an Agricultural Land Commission, but by panels consisting of at least two persons, so that each region will be treated individually.

The original Bill changing the rules caused a furor, particularly

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among those concerned with food production. Subsequently, the Bill was somewhat amended, yet remains very different from its original intent under the Barrett government, and is anything but consensual.

The majority of people in BC were attached to the nonrevised ALR. As with the recent Bill-38 and Bill-45, sweeping aside environmental inquiry and regulations, this present Bill was rammed through without formal public assessment and without a proper scientific basis.

We might reasonably wonder why such haste to change the ground-rules.

One likely reason is to clear away obstacles to the proposed Site C dam, the third dam on the Peace River that the NeoLiberal government is ambitious to build.

Bill-24 appears to legitimize the flooding of a considerable portion of the Peace River Valley, an estimated 9, 897 acres of class l, 2, and 3 ALR land.

For a Bill touted as opening up new opportunities for farmers, this kind of project isn’t much help.

Perhaps an even weightier reason for Bill-24 is Christie Clark and the federal government’s commitment to pipelines— pipelines that must inevitably cross ALR boundaries. In fact, the Bill clearly states that the building of pipelines across ALR is to be permitted (see Appendix B3l of the government’s “Consultation on Potential Changes to the Agricultural Land Commission Act”).

Again, in what way does this prospect enrich farmers or address our public concern over food security in a world threatened by global warming?

The obvious motive of the pipeline stipulation is to line up one more duck for Christie Clark’s fracked natural gas industry.

Food is more important to the welfare of British Columbians than money or natural gas. The government should be increasing or at least refining its ALR designations to ensure we have enough to eat as the century progresses.

The above mentioned “Consultation on Potential Changes to the Agricultural Land Commission Act,” an outline of Bill-24’s contents, is posted on the 'Net, inviting i n p u t .

F i n d i t a t ALCA_feedback@gov.bc.ca. Elsewhere on the Net, the entire Bill is available for review.

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

October/November 2014

The Poet Place in the Klinaklini Valley Expands Nature Conservancy Footprint

TheGreenGazette

By Sage Birchwater

ature Conservancy of Canada ( CC) made a key acquisition in the Chilcotin this spring, with the purchase of the picturesque 470-acre Poet Place in the Klinaklini Valley.

The property, located 250 km west of Williams Lake and a dozen kilometres down the Klinaklini Valley from Highway 20, is book-ended by two waterfalls in the Klinaklini River.

Poet Place is the second property in the Klinaklini Valley obtained by the NCC in the past two years. In 2012, the Conservancy purchased a 160-acre parcel at Wheeler Bottom, 20 kilometres beyond the Poet Place, and named it Dalton’s Hideaway. Local lore inspired the name after a trapper who lived in the valley for many decades was reputed to be a member of the notorious Dalton Gang of train and bank robbers in the 1890s.

NCC now has nine properties and four covenants preserving wilderness and conservation values in the Chilcotin. The heart of the Chilcotin project area is Tatlayoko Valley, where the majority of the properties are located. The organization has more than 80 projects in British Columbia, protecting more than one million acres of the province’s most ecologically significant land.

Poet Place and Dalton’s Hideaway are two of only three deeded properties along a 38-kilometre stretch of river, says Peter Shaughnessy, manager of NCC lands in the Chilcotin.

“That’s a big chunk of wilderness,” he says.

He says securing both properties is a big step toward securing this intact wilderness from development and safeguarding the wild nature of the valley.

Shaughnessy says the Conservancy would ultimately like to acquire the last remaining deeded parcel along this stretch of river if a deal can be reached with the landowner.

What makes Poet Place so special?

The property straddles the Klinaklini River and is prime habitat for grizzly bear, moose, mule deer, wolf, and bull trout, as well as giant old-growth aspen and cottonwood trees. The valley is also home to cougars, black bear, trumpeter swans, wolverine, and a host of other furbearers like marten, fisher, otter, muskrat, and beaver.

NCC’s management plan is to allow Nature to reclaim the once vibrant homestead that has a rich and colourful past.

The property was originally pre-empted

by Jim Brown, trapper, in the early 1900s.

Brown built a small cabin and fenced the natural meadows for his horses. The only other occupants in the valley at that time were trappers George Turner and Baptiste Dester and their families.

The Great Depression brought an influx of people into the valley hoping to scratch out a living during the 1930s. At Wheeler Bottom the Klinaklini River meanders through a rich riparian area of hay meadows and lush growth, and the moderate climate is conducive for fruit trees and

October/November 2014

Left: The Poet Place property from the air. The pointy peak is called Finger Peak, an obvious landmark at Kleena Kleene.

Photo: Tom Swann. Right: A wintertime shot of the Poet Place cabin that burned down in the 1980s. This was the cabin where the McDonough family and Bookmyer/Dowd family lived back in the day. It was built by Dick Poet and the people he hired in the 1950s. Image: Larry Lovering gardens. But deep snow in winter, horrendous mosquitoes and high water in summer, and the difficult access and isolation convinced most people not to stay very long.

Despite its romantic inference, Poet Place got its name from crop-duster pilot, Dick Poet, who purchased the property from Jim Brown in 1956. Poet first visited the Chilcotin six years earlier with his wife Helen, and Bob and Ginny Stewart. Dick was looking for a small ranch and the opportunity to run a game guiding business.

Bob’s dream was to own a fishing lodge.

On that initial journey Bob bought 40 acres on Nimpo Lake and hired a local man, Sam Sulin, to build a log cabin for him. The following summer he and Ginny started Stewart’s Resort, and hired Dick Poet to fly their guests into remote fishing lakes around the country. The venture proved very successful.

Dick and Helen’s daughter, Nancy Hodson, was 13 years old when her family bought the property in the Klinaklini Valley.

“There was nothing there except for an old trapping cabin,” she remembers.

Dick hired locals, Terry Nicholson and Billy Woods, to build log cabins and a barn and get the hunting area started down at Wheeler Bottom. Land was cleared and fences were built, and Dick and Helen named the place, Hidden Valley Ranch.

“I remember us coming up and living in the log cabins and working and washing clothes in the river,” Nancy recalls. “We didn’t have running water or anything like that. Every summer we’d come up and just thoroughly enjoy ourselves as a family.

Dad would be flying for the Stewarts; then he got busier and busier and busier.”

At first Dick figured he could develop the ranch in his spare time while flying fishermen for the resort. He would land his plane at Big Stick Lake for the night and built a jeep road down the steep slope to the ranch. After a couple of years Dick realized he couldn’t do both, so he relocated his family to Nimpo Lake during the summer.

In October, 1964, the dreams the Poet

family had for Hidden Valley Ranch were shattered when Dick crashed his plane into Fenton Lake in Tweedsmuir Park and was killed. Helen eventually sold the property and moved back to Oregon.

Poet Place sat dormant for five years until Mike and Kate McDonough discovered the wilderness Shangri-la in the summer of 1969. They got permission to look after the property from the new owners and lived there for seven years.

“We put in a garden, cleaned up the cabins and took the boards off the windows of the barn,” Mike recalls. “During the winter we were snowed in and I travelled by snowshoe the 12-mile round trip to Kleena Kleene Store for mail and supplies.”

The McDonoughs put in a large market garden for a couple of years to supply the West Chilcotin with fresh produce. One year they raised butcher lambs.

The 1970s ushered in a lively and colourful era for the Upper Klinaklini Valley.

The historic back-to-the-land movement had begun and Kate says every summer a steady stream of people came down the road and invited themselves to stay.

Several other households got established in the valley and Poet Place served as the nerve centre for families seeking an alternative way of life. At least two babies were born at Poet Place.

In 1976 the McDonoughs moved out of the valley, after getting concerned about the fire hazard brought about by the mountain pine beetle.

Pete Bookmyer and Ginger Dowd took over Poet Place, and continued its tradition of being a social centre. Their daughter Snow Dowd grew up there and her most vivid memories are the long treks in and out of the valley.

“You got to know every single landmark along the way, on foot or by horseback.”

The old homesteads further down the valley had local names like Tipi Place, the Turner Place, and Baptiste’s Cabin.

“Even though it was wilderness, it felt like people had been there lots,” Snow remembers.

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She says her parents were in the valley for 20 years and never once had an incident with a bear.

“Bears would graze with the horses, and we never thought to carry a gun. There was enough room for everybody.”

When she was 10 years old Snow and her brother Andy attended public school for the first time by riding their horses from Poet Place the six miles to the little one-room school at Kleena Kleene.

“We only went to school for three months,” she says. “In November it rained then it froze so we couldn’t use the horses.”

Snow is thrilled with NCC’s purchase of Poet Place and Dalton’s Hideaway.

“How wonderful that those special places will be preserved for creatures big and small,” she says.

Like Dalton’s Hideaway, Poet Place will have unrestricted access, says Peter Shaughnessy.

“We might put up a sign asking people to respect it; otherwise it will be unchanged.”

He says both Poet Place and Dalton’s Hideaway were purchased by NCC with funding from the estate of Duncan Donald McGeachy.

McGeachy briefly passed through the Klinaklini many years ago with his family, and was awestruck by this place, so he created a foundation, Shaughnessy says.

“Donald was ahead of his time in recognizing that Canadians need to be conservationists. During his life and upon his death, he gave generously to protect and preserve special properties in Canada.”

Sage Birchwater moved to the CaribooChilcotin in 1973. He spends his time freelancing and authoring books, hanging out with his dog, gardening, and being part of the rich cultural life that is the CaribooChilcotin Coast.

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TheGreenGazette

Natural Dyes: Lasting beauty

By Maureen LeBourdais

S

ince antiquity, fabrics have been dyed with extracts from minerals, plants, and animals.

In fact, historically, dyeing was a secretive art form. The most beautiful and exotic pigments were reserved for those who had the status to wear them.

Things began to change around 1856 when scientists discovered how to make synthetic dyes. Cheaper to produce, brighter, more colour-fast, and easy to apply to fabric, these new dyes changed the playing field. Scientists raced to formulate gorgeous new colours and before long, dyed fabric was available to all and natural dyes had become obsolete for most applications.

This brightly coloured, changed new world was not without a down side, however. Dyes are so problematic because the families of chemical compounds that make good dyes are frequently toxic to humans. The chemicals used to produce dyes today are often highly toxic, carcinogenic, or even explosive. Each new synthetic dye developed is a brand new compound, and because it’s new, no one knows its risks to humans.

What does a fibre artist to do?

It is sometimes suggested that making dyes fro m scratch belongs more in the realm of the textile purist than in that of the contemporary fibre artist and craftsperson—likened to the earnest gourmet who grinds his or her own flour for bread. Increasingly, modern craftspersons are turning to natural dyes as a logical extension of their aesthetic concerns in weaving, spinning, knitting, crocheting, and stitchery. Furthermore, it is encouraging to see that plant dyes are now as often made by schoolchildren in their classrooms as by folklorists and devotees intent on relearning ancient skills.

Making dyes from plants can expand the whole concept of fiber and its contemporary application. On a personal level, plant dyeing greatly affects my response to colour. No two dye baths are ever exactly the same. Plant dyed fibers and the dyeing process itself are stimulants to the nuances of colour that can lead me to consider new

combinations and unexplored juxtapositions. Their natural harmony is a special kind of perfection that appeals to those who learn to trust their senses.

Natural dyes produce an extraordinary diversity of rich and complex colours, making them exciting to use.

Natural colours are great motivators and easy to design with. It can also be very satisfying to grow your own dye plants and produce your own colours.

Dyers who love their craft frequently become gardeners. Some actually start out as avid gardeners, and dyeing is taken up as another aspect of their initial interest in plants. Most of us grow some flowers and vegetables without consciously thinking specific species that will yield a dye. Marigolds, chamomile, calendula, cornflower, daisies, chard, onion, and parsley are all fair game for the dyer's craft. Going for a walk? Take along a basket, for horsetail, dandelion, fern, clover, burdock, and mullein are all common and easy to use dye plants.

Natural dyes create the most beautiful colours, while creating no harm to the earth and all of life. A full rainbow of colours can be achieved without using harmful chemicals. Working with natural dyes is pleasant and the dyestuffs lend creativity and inspiration to the process. I love growing and gathering the dye plants. I love preparing the dye bath and smelling the earthy aromas. When I look at a skein of yarn or fabric that I have dyed, the delightful memory of the process is always there, from gathering goldenrod blossoms in the warm sun on a late summer day to meal preparations from which onion skins are saved for the dye pot. The eyes do not tire of gazing upon colours from nature, just as they do not tire of gazing upon a sunlit field of flowers in bloom. The process of collecting and dyeing with bits of earth, and in the process doing no harm to the earth, nourishes my soul.

Maureen LeBourdais with handspun wool skeins fresh from the dyepot. From top to bottom: yellow from golden marguerites, blue from indigo, and green from the yellow skein dyed with indigo. Photo: Liliana Dragowska

Maureen LeBourdais is a fibre artist who grows much of her own dyestuffs in her beautiful garden in Beaver Valley, near Horsefly. She is also the owner of MamaQuilla Textiles, an import business with a mission to celebrate the art of handmade cloth from around the world. www.mamaquillatextiles.com

Starwatch with Bill Irwin As this edition of TheGreenGazette hits the streets, we are due for our second lunar eclipse of the year. This will be in the early morning hours of October 8. Mid eclipse is 3.55 a.m. PDT, which puts the first sign of the partial phase at 2:15 a.m. This is when the dragon first starts to eat the moon.

We will be hosting a star party here at the Bells Lake Observatory for any interested parties. We have the heated star-camp tent and observatory warm room at the site as it will likely be cold if it is clear.

The moon and sun are lining up quite well this month. On the afternoon of Oct 23 there will be a partial eclipse of the sun. From Williams Lake we can expect nearly 70% obscuration of the sun's disc. Mid-eclipse is 3:32 p.m. PDT. You will need a safe solar filter to view. See skypub.com/observing/celestial.objects.to.watch/eclipses for suggestions.

If you’d like to come by the Bells Lake Observatory or have any questions about the night sky, contact Bill or Maggie at irwin8sound@gmail.com or (250)620-0596.

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October/November 2014

TheGreenGazette

Fermenting Vegetables

By Vera Lehar

P

eople in Europe and all over the world have fermented vegetables for millennia, as it was and still is one of the best ways to preserve food for winter. Sauerkraut from Europe and kimchi from Korea are two common examples of traditional fermented cabbage that are still very popular today.

Fermenting, however, is not limited to just cabbage.

Practically any vegetables you can think of can be combined in a jar and left to ferment, only to create a superfood that can be used in countless numbers of ways. But not everybody’s taste buds may agree with the sour taste of fermented vegetables. And depending on what vegetables and vegetable combination it is, it may take some courage to put it in the mouth, not to mention find it pleasurable. Done the right way, however, fermented vegetables become a wonderful experience, not only in taste and health, but in the connection to the good bacteria that is constantly at work to keep us alive and healthy.

Now is the time when the summer/fall harvest is at its peak, so why not make the best of it? Eating fresh vegetables at this time is perfect but with the abundance of food being harvested, much of it needs to be processed and preserved so it can be used later and there is no better way to do so than fermenting it.

This process only requires two ingredients: local grown—if not your own—vegetables and salt, in this case Himalayan salt or Celtic sea salt with all the trace minerals. Herbs and spices may be added and experimented with in small amounts to create different flavours. My personal favourite is caraway seed. There is no need for preservatives or additional wine or vinegar as found in many different kinds of commercial sauerkraut.

Fermented foods in general are detoxifiers containing much higher levels of probiotic then probiotic supplements. Because fermented food regulates many functions of digestion, assimilation, and excretion, it impacts our overall health, including immunity, brain function, bowel health, and, therefore, skin health. It optimizes gut flora, breaks down and eliminates toxins and heavy metals from the body, lowers the risk for cancer, regulates dietary fat absorption, stimulates production nutrients such as B vitamins and vitamin K2, and helps prevent obesity. It is truly a superfood!

Pathogens and harmful bacteria in the gut are killed by cultivated bacteria—probiotics—in fermented vegetables. This might cause flatulence and belching because pathogens and harmful fungi release strong toxins in the process of dying. Cabbage has the strongest tendencies to stir the toxins. Therefore, the caraway spices are very helpful to ease the process.

If fermented food is new to you, it is suggested you start with small portions. The more pathogens in the gut, the harder the detoxification process; therefore, a slow introduction of fermented vegetable is recommended.

I suggest searching Donna Gate’s website. She reintroduced fermented foods to the United States using terms such as “inner ecosystem” to describe the network of microbes that maintain our basic physiological proce ss, fr o m di ges ti o n to i mmuni ty. Vi si t www.bodyecology.com As a key figure in the autism movement, Donna works with top doctors in the field who view her diet as instrumental in changing the theory behind and treatment of the disorder. She founded Body Ecology Diet Recovering Our Kids (BEDROCK), and an active online community of over 2,000 parents, many of whom have seen their children in full recovery. See www.bedrokcommunity.com.

A few delicious ideas on how to use fermented vegetables on a daily basis, besides using them as sauerkraut

October/November 2014

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Photo: Anna Verdina Karnova with meat, potatoes, rice, and quinoa, etc. include the following: 1. Dressing: 1 or 2 tablespoons yogurt or kefir- Homemade is best!

• 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar • 1 to 2 tablespoons honey, Stevia, or maple syrup • 1 to 2 garlic cloves • Bragg, soy sauce, or sea salt, according to taste • handful of cucumber or zucchini, chopped • ½ to 1 avocado • 2-3 tbsp fermented vegetable of choice • dry herbs, such as dill, oregano, or basil Liquefy all ingredients except the dry herbs in a blender. Add dry dill, oregano, or basil to taste. Pour over lettuce or vegetable salad.

How to make your own yogurt or kefir: Purchase organic yogurt or kefir. (Kefir works best). Place one tablespoon into a glass jar and fill it with organic half and half cream. Cover it loosely, so the air can escape, and leave it in a warm place—the kitchen counter is perfect. After 2–3 days, it will be solid. Then, cover it and place it in the fridge. Use 1 tablespoon of this kefir to start another batch. Repeat the process over and over again, to keep clean, healthy yogurt in your home.

2. Olive oil or hemp oil can be used with honey, garlic, and blended vegetables.

3. Place fermented vegetables—cabbage, kale, or any mix—into a bowl. Add a little honey, if it is too sour.

Add Grape Seed Oil Veganaise (from a health food store), or any mayonnaise of your liking. Mix it and add spices, or crushed garlic according to your taste.

4. Dip for chips, crackers, or veggie snacks: 2 Tbsp fermented vegetable (kale is excellent), 2 Tbsp cream cheese, yogurt, avocado, 1 to 2 Tbsp honey, 2 garlic cloves, and salt if desired. Liquefy ingredients in a blender. Add basil and / or oregano to taste.

5. Great breakfast: Slowly pan-fry sprouted grain bread in coconut oil, on both sides. Rub garlic on the toast, if you wish. Spread miso in a very thin layer, and add thinly sliced avocado. Use Grape Seed Oil Vegenaise, or mayonnaise of your choice. Add fermented vegetables, tomato, green onion, or chives – finish it as you wish (cheese, ham...)

I am sure, we can come up with many different ideas about how to use fermented vegetables for our health and enjoyment at the same time.

Vera Lehar – Old Country Cottage oldcountrycottage@gmail.com (250) 296-9160 www.oldcountrycottage.ca

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TheGreenGazette

E.E.K. Not This Again By Ron Young

W

hile attempting to navigate the shoals of life’s challenges, when you find yourself out of your depth on a particular matter and need to call in an expert, you’re going to encounter three types of people. It doesn’t seem to matter whether it’s a problem related to a mechanical or electronic device or a medical problem or a relationship problem.

There is the garden variety, “never found a problem I couldn’t make worse by making you feel worse” type of person. The proffered solution consists of admonitions about why you shouldn’t have the problem in the first place and then grave pronouncements about what you need to do to make sure it never happens again. An actual solution never materializes and if you press for an answer you get more admonitions and more pronouncements from this well-meaning but helpless IRK. Then there’s the person who has some knowledge on a subject but has embellished it with a lot of bull hockey; you know, the sport for bovines on ice. In this scenario if you are naive you can easily have the wool pulled over your eyes, as apparently that’s what bulls do when they play hockey. Not sure why; it’s some kind of farm animal thing. I call these people BULHPS. Finally there is the person who has actual Experience, Expertise, and Knowledge. You’re going to pay for this person to provide their E.E.K. and, of course, that’s where the slang term “eek” came from as that’s one’s typical reaction to encountering a situation that you instinctively know is going to lead to the $udden employment of an E.E.K. In the financial world there is a well-known phrase that says your first loss is your best loss. I understand that to mean that if you encounter a situation where you need an E.E.K. it’s best not to go fumbling around talking to IRKs or bull hockey players. IRKs are generally pretty easy to recognize but BULHPs have a highly developed gift of gab and often an accompanying charm factor that makes it very difficult to find out if they really know what they’re talking about. They will surround a kernel of knowledge with layers of highly technical sounding gabble that sounds convincing but is actually just distracting nonsense.

Using the E.E.K. formula to determine a person's suitability to perform a particular task works pretty well. You aren’t putting all your eggs into one basket, for example, relying on knowledge (education) as the

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sole determining factor or relying on experience, which can often be faked or be irrelevant. I have worked with some individuals whose past experience is impressive but totally unrelated to the task at hand. When you are dealing with cutting edge, rapidly evolving technologies like we have in the renewable energy field, experience that is several years old or from an unrelated field is not useful at all.

Expertise, as an additional measuring stick in the E.E.K. formula, is impossible to determine by just having an interview with the individual. You can’t see expertise unless it is employed and that is after you have hired the individual. But expertise can be determined by speaking with others who have used their service in the past and for that reason word of mouth recommendations are pure gold.

On a different subject, I would like to debunk a few myths about solar energy in the next few paragraphs. For example, one common misconception is that solar panels stop working in the winter or during cloudy weather. Solar power can actually increase in colder temperatures, as solar panels are better able to conduct electricity when they are cold. Reflected light from snow can further increase power output. Germany, a country that ranks low in sun hours per year, is considered the solar energy capital of the world.

Another misconception is that because solar panels are made of glass they are easily broken. The tempered glass used to cover the solar cells is highly impact resistant and is designed to withstand a hit from a oneinch hailstone at 60 mph. I have seen solar panels with bullet holes in them out in the wild west Chilcotin and they are still functioning, albeit at a lower output.

Myth: Solar panels wear out in a few years. Fact: Commercial grade solar panels like the ones you would put on your home or cabin are guaranteed to operate to at least 90 percent of their rated output for 10 years and at to least 80 percent for 25 years. After that they still work just fine, just at lower efficiency, usually caused by etching on the glass from environmental factors. On the other hand, consumer grade solar panels like the ones sold by many big box stores for camping and RVs often use a different technology known as thin film. These panels will degrade in power output much more quickly.

Until next time, if the sun stops shining in your world, try to avoid the IRKs and BULHPs and go straight for the E.E.K. Please feel free to email me with questions at info@solareagle.com. The complete series of articles is available at our website: www.solareagle.com.

Ron Young is a Renewable Energy professional operating the earthRight store in Williams Lake, BC selling and installing RE systems.

October/November 2014

TheGreenGazette

Medieval Market Moves to Williams Lake Campus

Debra Watson of Cottage Confections at the 2013 Medieval Market. Photo: Pat Teti

C

ome one, come all to the Me- struments, photography, hand-tooled dieval Market in Williams leather products, wooden pens, leather Lake, ovember 22 and 23. cuffs, wood carvings, cribbage boards and The Medieval Market is a pegs, herbal products, furniture, baskets, unique event where you can buy hand- olive oil products, and draw knives, we are crafted gifts from artisans hailing from all happy to include many new vendors. New around British Columbia, as well as fresh vendors include James Savage fine art, produce from local growers.

Paper Airplane baby accesLive entertainment all day sories, Helmcken ChocoAll of this for $3 lates, Liliana Dragowska and a full concession round out the event to make it a admission fee, and kids and Callie Borkowski’s feltfamily-friendly community under 12 are free. It’s ing and teas, Born a Gypsy 'ovember 22 and 23 at the jewelry, Two with Nature party.

The big change this year Williams Lake Campus of organic gourmet food, Meja is we will be moving back to Lake City Secondary on jewelry, headbands, and the Williams Lake Campus Carson Drive. If you prefer scarves, Eclectic Fabrics of Lake City Secondary on to shop at a quieter time, we recycled fabrics and handCarson Drive, after about 15 suggest coming on Sunday painted scarves, Fiber Magic years at Columneetza. This afternoon. knitting, weaving, and feltnew venue will provide ing, Monika Rogge-Annen more space (it was a little knitting, Buckridge Ranch crowded last year), multiple venues for and Gardens meats and produce, and music, and interesting opportunities for Robyn Mumford’s Horse Oracle Cards. ‘street theatre’ in the alcoves, alleyways, Entertainment includes a variety of loand balconies. cal musicians including Big Lake SymThe Medieval Market is organized en- phony Orchestra, Oren Barter, Carmen and tirely by volunteers so all profits go to Lake Dena, Quintet Plus, Youth Fiddlers, ChrisCity Secondary Students. Students working tine Constabel, and several more acts to be throughout the weekend earn money to- announced. The entertainment schedule wards team sports, leadership, drama, mu- will be posted in local newspapers prior to sic, and the science trip. The recently estab- the market. lished Emerging Artist Awards provide two The concession features hearty soups $750 bursaries for students in financial and wraps, smokies, treats, and Uncle need who are pursuing a future in the arts. Paul’s coffee.

Assistance is provided for busing students So make a day of it. Come and peruse to Scout Island Nature Centre and teacher the market stalls, buy a few Christmas prevolunteers earn money towards extracur- sents, enjoy a hearty lunch, have your forricular programs of their choosing. tune told, and listen to the talented enterAll wares for sale at the market are tainers. Maybe you’ll even win one of the handmade by the artisans. When you pur- many door prizes donated by the vendors. chase something at the market, you are Random tickets are marked as door prize buying something unique and beautiful and winners. If you receive one of these on you know your dollars will stay in the com- your way in, you will be able to select one munity. Along with returning favourite of the door prizes in the display case. vendors selling pottery, weaving, jewelry, All of this for $3 admission fee, and original art, clothing, books, hand-carved kids under 12 are free. It’s November 22 old-fashioned Santas, children’s toys, bees- and 23 at the Williams Lake Campus of wax products, wreaths and garlands, hats Lake City Secondary on Carson Drive. If and mitts, quilting, blacksmithing, glass- you prefer to shop at a quieter time, we ware, wood products, felting, musical in- suggest coming on Sunday afternoon.

October/November 2014

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TheGreenGazette

Turkey Talk: Agriculture Bill (C-18) will What does all the “gobble” mean? Undermine Canada’s Food Sovereignty

By Jessica Knodel

F

I

t's almost Thanksgiving and many people will be looking for the perfect turkey to share over dinner. Reading food labels can be confusing and often tiresome when trying to decipher all the “gobble talk.”

Here is some information to make poultry easier to understand.

There is often a big difference between free range, pasture raised, and organic that is somewhat misleading when you go to buy poultry or eggs.

Free range tells the consumer that the animal was given access to the outdoors for a portion of each 24-hour period. It doesn't, however, guarantee they have been outside or are not kept in cages for the majority of their lives. They are also given feed, of which the ingredients may vary. It sounds vague, because it is... but there is no other legal definition or regulations in Canada.

Pasture raised is just as unclear from a legal perspective in Canada, but it does guarantee that the animals have been outside for the majority of the day foraging as nature intended. They are never kept in cages, but likely housed at night to keep them safe from predators. These animals are likely to eat some feed when they are not outside, again with ingredients that will vary.

Organic guarantees the animals have only been fed 100% certified organic ingredients. It does not, however, mean the animals have been kept cage-free.

I reco mme nd visiting http:// l o ca l fo od s .a b o ut. c o m/ o d / localfoodsglossary/, which is a good place to find out more information on what food term means.

In summary, please remember there are varying extremes. A farm who raises “free range” poultry might feed organic feed and allow the animals to forage from dawn to dusk... or they could just open up the cages, open the barn door for an hour and call them free range. As a consumer, the choice is yours. If you ask questions, look at pictures, visit the farm or ranch, or call up the producer directly you should be able to get all the information you are looking for. Ask how they have been raised, what they have been eating, and any other questions you may have.

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Turkeys at Family Tree Farms in Quesnel. Photo: Family Tree Farm On another subject, something else that is not currently regulated is saving seeds... thank goodness. But this could change in Canada with the proposed Bill C-18.

You are encouraged to find out more information on the proposed Bill C-18 because this is a very real and serious proposal with far-reaching implications that will affect you, me, them, he, she, her, him... everyone! Keeping food security in the hands of the people is vital to our survival as human beings.

For more information you can check out: http://www.parl.gc.ca/About/Parliament/ LegislativeSummaries/bills_ls.asp? source=library_prb&ls=C18&Parl=41&S es=2&Language=E&Mode=1 http://www.nfu.ca/issues/save-our-seed http://www.nfu.ca/issue/stop-bill-c-18 Until next time... see you at the Coop. And if you are wondering... this year we have certified organic, pasture raised turkeys from Quesnel and the family that raised them would be happy to to answer any questions you may have.

ood Secure Canada (FSC) is expressing strong concern about the orientation of Bill C18, the Agriculture Growth Act. Introduced by Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz, Bill C-18 is a wide-ranging piece of legislation that would modify many other laws. Overall, the proposed changes would further undermine the resilience of our farming sector and entrench corporate control over vital elements of our food supply, namely, seeds.

FSC is particularly concerned with the proposed changes to the Plant Breeders’ Rights Act. These changes, if passed, would commit Canada to the 1991 Act of the International Convention for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV ‘91). UPOV ‘91, which is not obligatory under international trade rules, would put even more control into the hands of multinational corporations when the top three seed companies already control over half of the global seed market.

“For millennia, farmers have saved and exchanged seeds, a practice that has produced the agricultural biodiversity upon which Canada and the world rely for food,” says Terry Boehm, past-president of the National Farmers Union. “Under UPOV ‘91 and this Act, seed saving becomes a 'farmer’s privilege' that can be taken away by the government of the day without due public process.”

The National Farmers Union is campaigning against the Bill, which is expected to be passed before the House of Commons breaks for the summer.

“This is not the right direction for Canadian agricultural policy,” notes Diana Bronson, executive director of Food Secure Canada. “It is essential that we move in the direction of food sovereignty, which will lead to a healthier, more sustainable, and equitable food system.”

Food Secure Canada has sent a letter to Minister Ritz, asking him to instead put in place national food and agricultural policies that support sustainable livelihoods for farmers, including the restoration of public research and extension services to farmers, and a commitment to UPOV ‘78, the foundation for the Plant Breeders Rights Act. The letter is open for endorsement until June 16. These and many other policy proposals are tabled in FSC’s platform, “Resetting the Table: A People’s Food Policy for Canada.”

Food Secure Canada is a national membership based organization working towards zero hunger, healthy and safe food, and sustainable food systems in a perspective of food sovereignty. Find out more at foodsecurecanada.org.

Follow us on Twitter @foodsecureCA.

***

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October/November 2014

Exercise and Cancer By Adam McLeod, ND, BSc

E

veryone has heard that exercise is good for your well being. Exercise has been shown to boost mood and increase energy levels. Patients who regularly exercise are statistically less likely to develop a number of very serious health conditions. The effectiveness of exercise is not debated in the medical community, yet when it comes to cancer care, patients often forget about the benefits of exercise as they focus their attention on more exotic treatment plans. Exercise is not a cure for cancer but it is certainly an important part of an integrative cancer program.

How does exercise benefit cancer patients? It turns out there are a number of different reasons exercise has such a positive impact on cancer patients. The immune system becomes more activated during exercise as the monocytes increase the concentration of specific receptors on their surface. Exercise also helps patients significantly with their sleep and it is well documented that the majority of your healing takes place during your sleep.

When you get better quality sleep, your cells will be less stressed and this will significantly boost the strength of your immune system. There are numerous physiological and psychological changes that occur with regular exercise that are very beneficial to cancer patients.

Several studies clearly demonstrate that patients undergoing chemotherapy or radiation do much better if they are exercising regularly. Exercise is well documented to improve energy levels in patients and this is especially important for patients undergoing cancer treatment. One of the biggest challenges with patients undergoing cancer treatment is fatigue and a sense of decreased vitality. Exercise can certainly help to improve this common side effect. Patients who regularly exercise during these therapies have better clinical outcomes and significantly improved quality of life. Although this is well established in the medical community, it is rarely suggested by medical oncologists. This attitude needs to change because when the body is being exposed to toxic treatments it is essential to use every tool at our disposal to help the body adapt to this stress. Exercise is certainly one of many effective basic tools that can help patients deal with the stress of chemotherapy and radiation.

Not only is exercise important during cancer therapies, it is also effective at preventing cancer recurrence. Although some researchers dispute the significance of recurrence prevention, no one disputes that regular exercise decreases overall mortality in cancer survivors. After a successful surgery, women with estrogen positive breast cancer will be put on tamoxifen for five years minimum to reduce

October/November 2014

the risk of recurrence by only a few percentage points. In a prospective observational study of almost 3000 RNs with a history of breast cancer, it showed that women who walked three to five hours per week were 43% less likely to develop recurrent breast cancer and 50% less likely to die from breast cancer than women who engaged in less than one hour of physical activity per week. I find it amazing that some patients will readily adhere to taking a drug for 5-10 years; yet, they are resistant to exercising.

The exercise program does not need to be an extreme and rigorous routine. It does not have to be a specific activity, just as long as it gives your cardiovascular system a good workout. Patients simply need to engage in regular aerobic activity.

Even a moderate cardio workout for less than 30 minutes, five days per week can be helpful. Make the time for this activity because it can make a significant difference in the patient's response to treatment.

The bottom line is, at every phase in cancer therapy, regular exercise is a powerful adjunct to conventional cancer therapy. It helps to prevent the development of cancer. It helps patients get through the aggressive cancer therapies necessary to kill the cancer. Regular exercise also helps to prevent the recurrence of cancer after a successfully eliminating the cancerous cells. More cancer patients need to be aware of the simple fact that regular exercise makes a big difference when fighting cancer. Exercise is a simple yet effective adjunctive therapy that should be actively encouraged to every patient that is capable of regular exercise.

A naturopathic doctor that works with oncology will take the time to look at your case and help you effectively integrate exercise into your program.

Dr. Adam McLeod is a naturopathic doctor (.D), BSc. (Hon) molecular biology, First .ations healer, motivational speaker, and international best selling author. He currently practices at his clinic in Vancouver, British Columbia where he focuses on integrative oncology. www.yaletownnaturopathic.com

TheGreenGazette

Political Economics

By Ray Grigg

M

ost economists like to think that economics is a science.

So they advance economic theories, governments confidently design economic policies, politicians vigorously justify their economic action plans, and the lives of countless people are guided by strategies that are presented as necessities. Success is guaranteed by assiduously following the rules.

This, unfortunately, misrepresents the reality of economics.

The Great Recession of 2008, an event that was not supposed to happen, sent shockwaves throughout the science of economics. By the time thoughtful economists, psychologists, sociologists, philosophers, archaeologists, and historians finished their analysis of economic theories, little remained to argue that economics is a science.

Historians, for example, have noticed that almost any economic system works relatively well, and that modern free-market capitalism is just today's preference. Its enchanting spell is cultivated by those who most benefit from its particular attributes.

Or to phrase this conclusion differently, economics is political.

Benjamin Kunkel in Paupers and Richlings, a review of Thomas Piketty's seminal book, Capital in the Twenty-First Century, notes that Piketty “is one of the few contemporary economists eager to revive the oldfashioned spirit of political economy. The story of modern economic thought,” Kunkel writes, “can after all be told as the shift from political economy, as its practitioners thought of it, to the discipline now simply called economics.”

The separation of “political” from its association with economics gives the impression that economics is a science, that it functions in compliance with some unquestionable force similar to natural law and is therefore unassailable by those who are abused, exploited, or offended by what it does to themselves, to others, or to the planet. “Political” puts it in its place. Economics is political. The two are inseparable.

Examine any economic theory, practice, or strategy and a political philosophy is exposed.

This is no small matter. The notion of a “resource economy” reveals a whole set of assumptions and values about our relationship to nature, to each other, to priorities, to wealth, and to the source of wealth. The notion of an “oil economy” reveals a related set of assumptions and values. Mines, tailing ponds, coal trains, refineries, pipelines, and tankers are only mandatory within that political framework. The notion of a “consumer economy” or a “carbon economy” each entails its own set of political beliefs. Change the notion to a “solar economy” or an “information economy” and a whole new set of options arise. Economies are essentially political. And political attitudes are rooted deeply in the irrational.

This idea is explored more fully in Economics: A User's Guide by Ha-Joon Chang.

He, too, endorses the conclusion that every economic system is workable, that no absolute truth exists in economics, and that economics can never be a science. And he, too, argues that economics is political, and that

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“politics is creating, shaping, and reshaping markets before any transaction can begin.”

According to Zoe Williams in, “Out of the Marketplace and on to the Hustings,” which appeared in Guardian Weekly, June 20, 2014 an economic system only fails to the extent that it doesn't do what it purports to be able to do; it's only successful to the extent that it expresses the needs, “beliefs, impulses, and feeling that are deeper than money.” Money is only the surface expression of economics. What we really want from economics are other things: selfesteem, security, comfort, friendship, respect, belonging, acceptance. We are, after all, essentially social and communal beings, not monetary and consuming beings.

Reuniting politics with economics provides perspective and insights. Consider the so-called “carbon economy,” a system of wealth production that now causes an estimated $1.2 trillion per year in costs from environmental damage and climate change, according to the CCPA Monitor, July/ August, 2014. Germany, one of the most industrialized countries in the world, is moving away from the carbon economy by using political measures to go solar. On June 9, 2014, it produced a peak of 23.1 GW hours of electrical power from the sun, an amazing 50.6% of its total energy needs, illustrating dramatically that global climate change is more a political problem than a technological one.

Or consider Norway and its response to the ephemerality of its oil and gas supplies.

Instead of luring corporate investment with low royalties and distorting its economy with a flood of wealth from these resources, Norway chose to levy high royalties and invest the profits in a legacy fund that has reached nearly $1 trillion for future Norwegian use.

By doing so, it avoided the inflation, and economic and social disruption caused by the so-called “Dutch Disease,” a process in which a sudden surge in resource revenues raises the value of the currency, inflates the cost of exports, and hollows out local industries.

Or consider Canada and the economic policy of its government since 2005. According to the Parliamentary Budget Office, it has reduced its annual revenue by $17.1 billion from income tax, $13.3 billion from GST/HST, and an estimated $13 billion from corporate taxes. This total of $43.4 billion, had it been spent on social services, could have eliminated all university tuition ($5.9 billion), instituted a national pharmacare system ($4.5 billion), and provided an affordable national childcare plan ($6 billion), with another $27 billion left over for various other programs. The country we get is determined by the economic policy we select through political processes. This makes economics political.

Governments, according to Thomas Piketty, Benjamin Kunkel, Ha-Joon Chang, and a growing list of other prominent thinkers, choose the economics that suit their political philosophies. Economics is not a science but a service that is adjusted to fit the results we ask of it. So changing our economics is as simple as changing our politics.

Ray Grigg is the author of seven books on Eastern philosophy and has been publishing a weekly environmental newspaper column, Shades of Green, since 2002.

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TheGreenGazette

The Tools and Possibilities of Shamanic Practice

By Ciel Patenaude

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hamanism is the oldest known system of healing practice on Earth, and yet it offers great wisdom to our contemporary challenges. Deeply connected to and reflective of nature and the oneness of all things, this practice seeks to reconnect an individual with their spiritual path within the context of the whole. It views illness of mind and body as, ultimately, illness of spirit first, and views illness of spirit as springing primarily from the misinformed view that one is separate from the rest of existence.

The Shaman (or Shamanic Practitioner, depending upon their level of initiation and training) serves as a kind of intermediary in this process, conversing in their particular way with spiritual forces that may be acting within and upon an individual’s life. Although the scope of their practices is relatively unlimited, the Shamanic healer may utilize herbal medicine, energy work, ceremony, ritual, guidance from animal and elemental spirits, prayer, movement, and creative expression to facilitate awareness and healing. Ideally, the client or patient is asked to be engaged in most of the work being done—allowing them to not “get” healing so much as to heal themselves in a lasting manner—though some practices involve a direct transmission of healing and balance from the Shaman to the other.

The word shaman comes from a Siberian Tunguska word that means ‘to know.’

Shamans are those who have a direct experience of their own individual truth— sometimes called their ‘knowing’—and this allows them to step beyond their limited egoic perception of life and become connected to non-dual universal truth. (This is often achieved through trance-like states, though each Practitioner has a unique manner of connecting to Source). The Practitioner serves to translate this truth to assist those who have forgotten their own connection. Sickness results when we live without alignment to our truth, and healing results when we come back into contact with it.

Within shamanic practice there are several tools that may be employed by any individuals for the process of healing, regardless of whether they are working directly with a Practitioner. These tools serve as a kind of ‘reset’ and training for spiritual and (resulting) physical illnesses, shaking us out of habitual responses to life that may not be serving our best interests. They are simple and direct, and yet can be both profoundly difficult and effective when we

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Bear Spirit - Nadia Duvan, last shaman of the Ultchi people of Siberia, communicating with a bear spirit. Photo: Kiliii Fish www.flickr.com/photos/kiliii/ have forgotten the perfection of our own existence, and find ourselves separate from the whole.

The three main tools that we work with in practice, and which I would offer as a tool for your own healing and path are as follows: 1. Gratitude.

Everything that we mentally and emotionally focus upon can only become larger in our lives. Should we choose to see only the bad and the negative aspects of our experience, our brains will become trained to only notice and seek out those things, further confirming that life truly is as terrible as we expect. The brain then overrides the spiritual truth that is available to us all—that we are experiencing a perfection in process and experience, and always have been—and we become ill.

The mind is like a machine. We give it far more power than it deserves in modern society, for it is a processing unit, and not the true source of wisdom. The extent to which we associate ourselves with the chatter of the mind will determine exactly how much neurosis and pain we experience.

Training the mind—as we would a muscle group at the gym—to think good, supportive, and loving thoughts is essential, and gratitude practice achieves this. By intentionally focusing on what is good and right in our worlds we naturally begin to see more of the same, and open up to the possibility that we increasingly deserve such goodness.

2. Blessing There is a kind of karmic law in shamanic practice which states that everything you wish upon someone else will come back to you seven times over. Both the “good” and the “bad” wishes you make for another being will, at some point, in some lifetime, come back to you in this way. Knowing this means we must commit to constant diligence in our thoughts (for it is ever so easy to become jealous and spiteful in a culture that feeds directly off of us feeling like less than and competing with everyone), and deliberately engage in wishing the best for people. This is blessing. There are many ways that one can do blessing—countless, really—but just the simple act of sending good thoughts to another being shifts us out of the spiritual illness and separation to be found in competition and comparison, and into a sense of unified experience that is reflective of true reality.

3. Seeing This is the last and seemingly most complicated of the tools here, and yet the sim-

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plest when it is understood.

The Buddha has been quoted, “When you realize how perfect everything is, you will tilt your head back and laugh at the sky.” This idea of perfection might seem like a far-fetched idea in a world where we are so often focused on what is wrong and bad both within ourselves and in our surrounding environments, but this is where ultimate truth is. This is seeing: all things are and always have been perfect.

Seeing is the act of really understanding and trusting that there is a beauty and perfection to your existence beyond all your judgments and chaos; that you have done your best at every turn in your life, and that you need not judge yourself (or any other) for choices made. It does not come immediately (unless you happen to be one of those chosen few destined for spontaneous realization), but we may dedicate ourselves to the seeking of it, and life will respond in kind to our dedication. Seeing is ultimate compassion, unshakable self-confidence, and unwavering faith.

Utilized consistently, these tools have the capacity to shift every part of our experience. Especially when we are lost in self-loathing, judgment, or depression or embittered by the experiences that have presented themselves, shamanic tools may change the course of our path entirely.

Real healing must be accompanied by a realignment of the heart and mind to universal truths and individual spiritual awareness, otherwise it is just a temporary abatement of physical symptoms (which will come back later in some other form). Shamanic practice offers this kind of healing, and as such is the most potent form of practice available to us today. I urge you to try these tools for 40 days as an experiment: what have you got to lose? I’m quite certain you will be convinced.

If you have interest in shamanic practice or the current re-emergence of shamanic medicine all around the world, I encourage you to have a look at online photographic essays of this summer’s “Call of 13 S h a ma n s ” i n Si be r i a . h t t p : / / w ww . d a il y ma i l . c o . u k/ ne w s / a r ti c l e 2751139/Summo ning-spirits-ancestorsShamans-world-gather-Siberia-ceremonytimed-coincide-cosmic-cycles.html An incredible gathering of some of the most powerful medicine people from around the globe, the intent of this festival was to bring dedicated attention and awareness to the need for great healing on the planet and within our collective hearts. I would think it is a near impossible thing to look at these photos and not be moved by the practice and the ecstasy that it evokes in those involved.

As well, if you are interested in first hand experience in shamanic practice I will be offering an eight-week course on Living Self Aware (working with the Ego) beginning this October. This is the first of three courses aimed at invigorating and uncovering the potential for self-realization inherent within us all. Please email or call for more information.

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.

October/November 2014

TheGreenGazette

Reconciliation: Joining hearts, stepping forward

By Margaret-Anne Enders

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his is an article about relationships and about our personal and collective work of building, maintaining, repairing, and honouring relationships. As one of the co-ordinators of the Women’s Spirituality Circle, I am blessed to have a job where relationships are the cornerstone of my work. Our Circle was formed just over a year ago when the Multiculturalism Program at the Canadian Mental Health Association worked together with Gendun Drubpa Buddhist Centre, St. Peter’s Anglican Church, the Women’s Contact Society, and the Immigrant and Multicultural Services Society to secure funding to do interfaith work in Williams Lake.

Our initial meetings saw a range of women—Buddhist, Christian, Muslim, First Nations, and spiritual seekers— joining to learn about one another’s traditions and to plan a large, multi-faith gathering. The Circle has grown to incorporate women of many other faiths and spiritual paths. The numbers are amazing for a community this size. At our gathering last March, 120 women came to learn, share, and be nurtured. Many commented on how much they appreciated the connection they felt with the other women over those two days. Relationships in the Circle are key.

We focus on respectful listening and dialogue. We spend a great deal of time in gatherings sharing our experiences and learning about the experiences of others, their faith journeys, their histories, their “mountain-top” moments, and their times of darkness.

It is in this spirit of openness, curiosity, and caring that we recently approached the theme of reconciliation with First Nations people. It is timely. Last year the Truth and Reconciliation Commission held a weeklong event in Williams Lake, offering First Nations people the opportunity to share their experiences of the Indian residential school system and be supported in the healing process. It also offered those of us who did not attend the schools an opportunity to listen to the stories, to catch a glimpse of the destruction wrought by the schools and the government’s policies, and to broaden our understanding of the many implications of such damage. However, not only did we see suffering, we saw

Felted mural created at the Women's Spirituality Circle gathering in March, 2014.

Photo: Liliana Dragowska courage and resilience in the face of great obstacles. They were difficult stories to listen to, but it is so essential that we listen.

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission brought these experiences and issues into the mainstream consciousness, where they need to be. There is still a great deal of entrenched racism, both built into public and political systems, but also lodged in people’s hearts. One had only read the comments under Facebook posts and articles to see bitterness and blame towards First Nations people after the Fish Lake mine failed the environmental review and even after the Mt. Polley spill. Such comments often arise from the misconceptions that people have about First Nations people and the entitlements that they supposedly have. It is these misconceptions that get in the way of relationships. These are hard to change and hard to challenge.

For one thing, it feels unsettling. It is uncomfortable. Just hearing the stories of pain, suffering, isolation, helplessness, and hopelessness is difficult in itself, but there is the further step of taking responsibility.

Setting aside the debate about how much responsibility we should or should not take for the law generations back that required all First Nations children to attend residential schools, we can look at our responsi-

World to governments: It’s your turn to lead on climate change World Wildlife Fund Head of Delegation Samantha Smith issued the following statement Tuesday, September 23 about the U Climate Summit in ew York City: “Every part of society showed up and delivered here at the Summit, with the exception of world leaders who still have a lot of work to do. Make no mistake—this was a historic moment, with 120 heads of state, 400,000 citizens taking to the streets, sector-busting corporate commitments, and inspiring leadership from cities and the faith community.

October/November 2014

“But we’re still waiting for governments to ratchet up their ambition and deliver global, system-wide change on the scale needed to solve the climate crisis. A laundry list of modest country actions is not an effective strategy to fight runaway carbon pollution.

“All the while, the atmospheric news is only getting worse. Emissions are rising faster than ever—global emissions rose 2.3 percent in 2013 alone.

“Despite the smog, the message is clear: we desperately need action on climate

bility for going forward as a just society from now on. That is a responsibility that each of us needs to claim. That will only happen through relationships. And we cannot build those relationships if we don’t listen.

For non-First Nations to shift their views of the history and experiences of First Nations people requires first an opening of the ears. “Yes, but” is a common response to the topic of residential schools anthe ongoing intergenerational impacts (“Yes, but those schools closed long ago,” “Yes, but many First Nations are thankful for the good education they received,” “Yes, but bad things have happened to me too”). It is those “yes, buts” that stop the stories before they can sink down to the heart, where they can really upset that apple cart that believes that Canada is a country where there is fairness and justice for all. And once the cart starts to teeter and those beliefs are questioned, it is difficult to find solid ground. It is uncomfortable and unsettling because the question then arises: how do we fix this problem?

The discomfort continues as there is no right answer and no easy answer, and no answer that we can come up with on our own.

change. The historic crowds in the streets of New York City—and similar actions in other cities around the world this week – demonstrate the rising tide of public support for ambitious action.

“That rallying cry was amplified by many other groups, from faith leaders to youth groups to civil society, and even big business. We saw critical corporate leadership—from company actions to tri-sector coalitions—on issues like deforestation and 100% renewable energy. Even the finance community made unprecedented commitments to pull money out of polluting investments.

“This summit was world leaders’ turn to start matching those commitments, and for the most part, they have yet to deliver,” says Smith.

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The answer is in the process of building and maintaining, nurturing, and appreciating relationships with First Nations people. The answer is in continuing to listen to the difficult stories and the uplifting stories; the answer is in sitting with and being honest about the discomfort; the answer is in advocating for change in policies and attitudes; and, the answer is in healing the rifts and pain that we find in our own hearts.

The Women’s Spirituality Circle chose this theme because the journey of reconciliation with First Nations people is a spiritual issue. Wholeness within and wholeness without are inextricably linked.

Our society will not thrive until we all can thrive. Our spirits cannot be whole until there is justice and healing for all spirits.

Let’s set aside those “yes, buts,” embrace the discomfort, and enter into the richness of relationship. It is time.

The Women’s Spirituality Circle is a group of women in and around Williams Lake that are engaged in respectful dialogue and learning about the spiritual traditions and practices that offer us meaning, direction, and hope.

• We come from different backgrounds and find spiritual nurture in various places, such as temples, churches, nature, and through community.

• We are supported by many faith organizations and community agencies.

• We seek to create a safe and welcoming place for sharing our own journeys, for learning about the spiritual journeys of others.

• We aspire to build a movement that reduces attitudes and incidences of racism, violence, and intolerance in our world by nurturing and supporting peaceful relationships in our community.

In her work with the Multicultural Program at CMHA, as well as in her life as a parent, partner, faithful seeker, leftleaning 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 (2 50)3 05-4 426 or visit www.womenspiritualitycircle.wordpress.co m. We’re also on Facebook at Women’s Spirituality Circle in Williams Lake.

“One bright spot was Latin America, whose leaders came prepared to give us their vision of a low-carbon future. Their pledges focused on actions to be taken now, in the critical years when emissions need to start coming down. Countries like Mexico, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Colombia, Chile, and Peru put forth commitments to power their economies through renewables and to curb deforestation. This Latin American leadership sets the stage for strong progress at the negotiations in Peru later this fall—and we’ll be counting on those countries to help ramp up the ambition of the talks on the road to Paris next year,” says Smith.

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TheGreenGazette

Spending Less and Making More out of Christmas with the 2014 Earth Friendly Holiday Event

By Brianna van de Wijngaard Cariboo Chilcotin Conservation Society

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e say this every year, but when you return from a busy summer, frolicking at the beach, avoiding work, and barbequing the 20 pounds of zucchini squash that your garden manages to dump on you every week, it’s amazing how quickly the Christmas holidays can creep up on us. Especially when you’re writing about them in September.

And, depending on how we typically spend the holidays, this can be exciting or kind of terrifying; despite encouragement in recent years to scale down the St. Nick festivities, our shopping habits have changed only slightly around this time of year.

On average, we spend the most money during the holidays on presents and travel: The Globe and Mail reports that we will spend around $816 on travel and $520 in gifts in BC, with a remaining $147 going to miscellaneous items, such as decorations. While increased spending on gifts has slowed in recent years, travel costs during the holidays have not, and were projected to increase by 22%. One reason could be that interest in purchasing highcost gifts, or gifts for a lot of people, is waning, while the value of time with loved ones is still perceived a worthy expense.

And also, travel in Canada is not cheap.

Whatever the reasons, we need to be careful with our spending habits this time of year, because, according to a TD Canada Trust survey, “nearly one in four will end up financing [holiday] purchases on credit cards.”

Adopting a simplified holiday season is encouraged more every year, even if we don’t all necessarily heed that advice. This is because it does not have to mean foregoing what we love most about it: good food, time with those we love, and giving people

awesome presents. The main differences between the two are time, planning, and creativity. Leaving yourself enough time to plan, develop a holiday budget, and get creative around gift alternatives is important; a lot of unplanned spending can come from last-minute purchases. It is good to draw up a list of who you want to buy for, what you want to do, how much you can afford to spend, and allocate from there. If you do this early enough, you can get great deals on gifts and travel, or put the time into creating some of your own.

While this may not be the primary motive behind the Earth Friendly Holiday Event, it’s certainly one of many great reasons to join us on Friday, November 28 (6–9 p.m.) and Saturday, November 29 (11 a.m.–2 p.m.) Not only can you save a little extra cash on holiday decorations (did we mention it’s FREE?!), it is an amazing way to spend time with family, friends, and volunteers. Every year the Conservation Society and Scout Island have co-hosted the Earth Friendly Holiday Event, it has become only more popular. Last year, we moved the event to the Cariboo Arts & Culture Centre (CCACS) to accommodate more attendees, and, in partnership with the Community Arts Council of Williams Lake and CCACS, you can find us there again this year, along with all our amazing partners and supporters, such as the Cariboo Potters, Spinners, Weavers & Fibre artists, Cariboo Arts Society, First Nations groups, Scout Island Nature Centre, Potato House, Quilters, and more, as well as the many CCCS volunteers that make it happen. We will be crafting up bird houses, popcorn garlands, holiday gift cards, and the popular bike wheel wreaths, with snacks and music in between. All supplies (except for the snacks) are recycled or recovered. There will also be an arts and crafts shop again this year, where you can purchase locally made gifts for

Festive hand-made holiday decoration.

Photo: Cariboo Chilcotin Conservation Society. friends and family, at great prices (cash or cheque only). If you have been to an Earth Friendly Holiday Event in the past, you also know it can get very busy, especially on the first night (Friday). If you would like more quiet time at the event, remember there are crafts on the lower level of the building that tend to be quieter. The second day of the event, (Saturday) also tends to be less busy.

Lastly, we have added one more special feature to the event this year. There will be a membership and donation table set up where you can either purchase a membership or donate in the name of a loved one. Simply provide a recipient name and address, and we will send their new membership card or donation certificate before the holidays. The funds will go to the organization of your choice that has helped make this event possible. This is yet another great gift idea for all you savvy

eco-shoppers. If you cannot make the event, but would still like to donate in someone’s name, please feel free to contact the Conservation Society directly at wastewise@ccconserv.org or (250) 3987929.

So join us for some low-impact, frugal holiday fun this year, and have a blast with your family and friends at the same time.

No credit card required! We hope to see you there.

Before Brianna moved to the Cariboo in March, 2013, she lived on and off Vancouver Island for 20 years. She attended Vancouver Island University, where she graduated with a BA in global Studies and geography, and now works as the Community Liaison for the Cariboo-Chilcotin Conservation Society as well as operates Puddle Produce Urban Farms in Williams Lake.

CALL TO ARTISTS AND ARTISANS Holiday Treasures ‘The Fine Art of Gift Giving’ The Station House Gallery is pleased to present our traditional Christmas Market during the month of December. We invite you to submit your fine arts and crafts suitable for gift giving or Christmas display. Preference will be given to works in a variety of price ranges up to $400.

Holiday Treasures is a ‘buy and go’ market and artists are encouraged to replace works.

Message manager@stationhousegallery.com or call Diane 250250-392392-6113 for more information

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October/November 2014

TheGreenGazette

October/November 2014

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TheGreenGazette

Calendar of Events October / November

NOURISHING OUR CHILDREN

By Jasmin Schellenberg HEALTHY S'ACKS A'D WHY Popcorn (makes 8 cups) • ¼ cup organic popcorn • 2 Tbsp coconut oil • ¼ - ½ cup melted butter or coconut oil • sea salt, to taste In a skillet, heat the oil and popcorn over medium heat shaking constantly until popping starts. On lower heat, cook, shaking, until the popping dies away. Add butter or coconut oil and season with sea salt. Enjoy.

'UTRIE'T DE'SE MEAL Spicy Stew (serves 4) • 3 lb cubed beef (any cut), marinated overnight in the juice of 2 lemons • 1 lb cubed tomatoes • 2 Tbsp tomato paste • 2 medium onions, chopped • 3 cups beef stock • ¼ tsp ground coriander • 4 cloves garlic, chopped • ½ tsp crushed green peppercorns • ½ tsp ground allspice • 2 tsp chili powder • ¼ tsp cayenne powder • sea salt to taste Put all ingredients in a crockpot or casserole dish and cook gently at 250 degrees F for 12 hours. Enjoy.

MYTHS U'VEILED: Why Butter, Fat, and Cheese Belong in a Healthy Diet Fats from animal and vegetable sources provide a concentrated source of energy in the diet. They also provide the building blocks for cell membranes and a variety of hormones and hormone-like substances. Fats as part of a meal slow down nutrient absorption so we can go longer without feeling hungry. In addition, they act as carriers for important fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E, and K. Dietary fats are needed for the conversion of carotene to vitamin A, for mineral absorption, and for a host of other processes. Animal fats and some tropical oils are saturated fats. Mother’s milk contains over 50% of its calories as fat, and much of it is saturated.

When science confirmed the fact that industrial oils—whether liquids or hardened— are bad news, the bureaucrats switched gears and told us not to eat any fats at all.

In Nina Teicholz’s book, The Big Fat Surprise, she researches new evidences. Gerald McNeill told her in an interview that the vegetable oils fast food chains are using create toxic oxidative products when heated. One of them is called aldehyde, which interferes with DNA and RNA, and another is formaldehyde, which is extremely toxic. One of the most oxidated products, called 4-hydroxynonenal (HNE), is one of the most toxic ones. Another biochemist, Hermann Esterbauer, discovered the evidence that aldehydes are highly chemically reactive, causing free radicals, which promote premature aging. Other researchers found that HNE causes LDL-colesterol to oxidize, which makes that kind of cholesterol dangerous. They have also linked HNEs to the development of neurodegenerative diseases.

The solution may be a return to stable, solid, animal fats like lard and butter, which will have no mystery isomers nor clog up cell membranes, as trans fats do. They also do not oxidize, as liquids do.

Read more in Wise Traditions journal, summer 2014 issue www.westonaprice.org.

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A WALK THROUGH YOUR PA'TRY: GET RID OF: Hydrogenated fats This is the process that turns polyunsaturates, normally liquid at room temperature, into fats that are solid at room temperature— margarine and shortening. To produce them, manufacturers begin with the cheapest oils— soy, corn, cottonseed, or canola, already rancid from the extraction process—and mix them with tiny metal particles—usually nickel oxide. The oil with its nickel catalyst is then subjected to hydrogen gas in a high-pressure, high-temperature reactor. Next, soap-like emulsifiers and starch are squeezed into the mixture to give it a better consistency; and, the oil is yet again subjected to high temperatures when it is steam-cleaned. This removes its unpleasant odor. Margarine’s natural colour, an unappetizing grey, is removed by bleach. Dyes and strong flavors must then be added to make it resemble butter. Finally, the mixture is compressed and packaged in blocks or tubs and sold as a health food.

Partially hydrogenated margarine and shortening are even worse for you than the highly refined vegetable oils from which they are made because of chemical changes that occur during the hydrogenation process. Under high temperatures, the nickel catalyst causes the hydrogen atoms to change position on the fatty acid chain. Before hydrogenation, pairs of hydrogen atoms occur together on the chain, causing the chain to bend slightly and creating a concentration of electrons at the site of the double bond. This is called the cis formation—the configuration most commonly found in nature.

With hydrogenation, one hydrogen atom of the pair is moved to the other side so that the molecule straightens. This is called the trans formation, rarely found in nature. Most of these human-made trans fats are toxins to the body, but unfortunately your digestive system does not recognize them as such. Instead of eliminating them, your body incorporates trans fats into the cell membranes as though they were cis fats and your cells actually become partially hydrogenated. Once in place, trans fatty acids wreak havoc with cell metabolism because chemical reactions can take place only when electrons in the cell membranes are in certain arrangements or patterns, which the hydrogenation process has disturbed.

Altered partially hydrogenated fats made from vegetable oils actually block utilization of essential fatty acids, causing many deleterious effects including sexual dysfunction, increased blood cholesterol, and paralysis of the immune system. Consumption of hydrogenated fats is associated with a host of other serious diseases, including cancer atherosclerosis, diabetes, obesity, immune system dysfunction, low-birth-weight babies, birth defects, decreased visual acuity, sterility, difficulty in lactation, and problems with bones and tendons. Yet, hydrogenated fats continue to be promoted as health foods. The popularity of margarine and shortening over butter represents a triumph of advertising duplicity over common sense. Your best defense is to avoid them like the plague.

REPLACE WITH: Animal fats Use fats such as butter, tallow, lard, olive oil, and coconut oil.

Brought to you by Jasmin Schellenberg Inspired by and resourced from “.ourishing Traditions” by Sally Fallon; and www.westonaprice.org For “.ourishing our Children” newsletters of the past visit www.thegreengazette.ca.

September 29 - StrongStart centres at Marie Sharpe, Mountview, and Cataline schools reopen. Children 0-5 and their parent/caregiver are invited to drop in for free early learning activities. For more info call (250) 398-3839 or go to www.sd27.bc.ca.

September 29–October 1 - Outreach StrongStart centres reopen September 29 at Alexis Creek; September 30 at 150 Mile House; and October 1 at Horsefly.

Children 0-5 and their parent/caregiver are invited to drop in for free early learning activities. For more info call (250) 398-3839 or go to www.sd27.bc.ca.

October 17–18 - Psychic and Wellness Fair at The Hobbit House. Friday 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Oracle cards, crystals, psychics, intuitive guidance, workshops, and more. 72 1st Ave. South, Williams Lake. Call (250) 392-7599 for more info.

October 18, 'ove mber 1 & 15 - Cultivating Emotional Balance: Basic Training. Learn how to balance your emotions using a combination of contemplative techniques and psychological methods.

Gendun Drubpa Buddhist Center, 212 South 3rd Ave., Williams Lake. For more information or to register call (778) 4127780 or at www.gendundrubpa.org.

October 19 - Naturalists Hike: Junction Sheep Range. Meet at Scout Island, Williams Lake at 8 a.m. Bring lunch, water bottle, and binoculars. This is the peak of the California Big-horned sheep rut so look forward to seeing sheep. For insurance reasons, you must be a member to participate in the hike. Options to buy one day ($5) or yearly memberships available.

Call leader Fred McMechan (250) 3927680 for more info.

October 20 & 23 - Citizenship preparation sessions for permanent residents applying for citizenship or preparing for the citizenship test at the Immigrant and Multicultural Services Society, 118C N. 1st Ave, Williams Lake (corner of First and Borland). Mondays at 9:30 a.m. and Thursdays at 6:30 p.m. Contact info.wl@imss.ca or (778) 412-2999 for pre-registration.

October 22 - Diving with Sharks. Free Naturalists talk at Scout Island Nature House, Williams Lake. 7 p.m. Susan will share photos and stories from her adventures diving in the Eastern Tropical Marine Corridor, including renowned sites such as Islas del Coco, Galapagos, Malpelo, Coiba, and Gorgona. Enjoy pictures of whale sharks, dolphins, hammerheads, Galapagos sharks, bat fish, frog fish, jawfish, and nudibranchs. Call (250) 3988532 for more info.

October 24 & 25 - Boys and Girls Club 8th Annual Haunted House, Williams Lake. Abandoned Hospital theme, at the Boys and Girls Club, 17 4th Ave. S, 7-10 p.m. Contact linda@bgcwilliamslake.com or (250) 392-5730 for more info. Find this

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and other events on our Facebook page.

This event is intended to scare; please leave the littlest ones at home.

October 25 - Family Activity Day at Scout Island Nature House. Learn to identify seven kinds of spiders. Do we have poisonous spiders? What about Black widows, Brown recluses and Hobo spiders? Hear all the amazing facts and meet some local spiders. 12 – 2 p.m., for families and their kids ages 5-14. Call (250) 398-8532 for more info.

October 31 - Zombie Walk in Williams Lake. All ages. All brains. Meet at Herb Gardner Park 4:30 p.m. then trudge and lumber to the Potato House for a ghastly haunted house 5-9 p.m. 'ovember 2 - Boys and Girls Club Annual Pumpkin Chucking. Williams Lake. Launch your Halloween pumpkins and jack-o-lanterns with a trebuchet, location TBA. 11 a.m. Contact execdir@bgcwilliamslake.com or (250) 392-5730 for more info. Find this and other events on our Facebook page. 'ovember 7 & 8 - Earlybird Christmas Craft Fair at the Elks Hall, Williams Lake. Friday 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Many vendors. Free Admission. Concession. Call Carmen at (250) 296-3590 for more info. 'ovember 17 & 20 - Citizenship preparation sessions for permanent residents applying for citizenship or preparing for the citizenship test at the Immigrant and Multicultural Services Society, 118C N. 1st Ave, Williams Lake (corner of First and Borland). Mondays at 9:30 a.m.; Thursdays at 6:30 p.m.

Contact info.wl@imss.ca or (778) 4122999 for pre-registration. 'ovember 20–22 - Ten Thousand Villages Craft Sale, Cariboo Bethel Church Hall, Williams Lake. Thursday and Friday 3 to 8 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Fair-trade handicrafts from over 25 countries. 833 Western Ave. Call (250) 398-6731 for more info. 'ovember 22 & 23 - Medieval Market.

New location at the Williams Lake Campus of Lake City Secondary, 640 Carson Drive. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day. Local craft fair featuring quality handmade gifts, farmers market, live entertainment all weekend. Concession and door prizes. Proceeds go to School District 27 students and programs. $3 Admission. Come one, come all. 'ovember 28 & 29 - 4th Annual Earth Friendly Holiday Event at the Central Cariboo Arts and Culture Center, Williams Lake. Friday 6 to 9 p.m., Saturday 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Corner of 4th Ave. and Borland. Create natural wreaths, bark art, clay ornaments, and more.

Joyful arts, crafts, and music with a Healthy by Nature focus. Free. All ages.

Contact (250) 392-5671 or (250) 398-

October/November 2014

TheGreenGazette

Your Green Shopping Directory

Distribution Details

The Green Collective “Thinks, Creates, or Sells Eco-Friendly Products.”

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, .ature Clean, Seventh Generation

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 Cariboo Growers Coop, 778 412-2667 disposal available for recycling of paint, stain, 3rd & Oliver St., Williams Lake. 100% .atural & CFLs, batteries, saw blades & more.

Organic Foods, .on-Profit Farmer’s Coop San Jose Cattle Company, 250 296-4592 Cleanway Supply, 1-800-663-5181 Clint and Karen Thompson 275 South MacKenzie Ave., Williams Lake Sustainable Agriculture, Raised .aturally/Local Organic Cleaning Products Beef, .o antibiotics, hormones, chemical fertilizers or herbicides.

Dandelion Living, 778-412-9100 271 Oliver St., Williams Lake Scout Island 'ature Centre & Williams Lake Local & Original, Reclaimed & Repurposed, Field 'aturalists, 250 398-8532 .atural & Organic Products www.scoutislandnaturecentre.ca www.williamslakefieldnaturalists.ca Day Spa Champagne, 250 305-1249 1305A Borland Rd, Williams Lake 124A North Second Ave., Williams Lake .ature on the city’s doorstep. Bird sanctuary, Quiet, relaxing, personalized atmosphere. A Zen arboretum, trails, .ature House, natural history experience. Four Types Massage, Reflexology, programs for children and adults.

Manicures/Pedicures & More.

Smashin’ Smoothies, 778-412-2112 Debbie Irvine B.Sc. (Agr.) RH' 102-41, 7th Ave North, Williams Lake Registered Holistic Nutritionist Juice, Smoothies & Expresso Bar 250-392-9418 or dirvine@thelakebc.ca Fresh, Organic, Whole Food.

SPRI GHOUSE GARDE S - Organically grown market garden veggies; Grass fed/finished Sta-Well Health Foods, 250 392-7022 beef - no hormones, no GMOs. Enquiries wel79D 3rd Ave. North, Williams Lake come.

Organic Foods, Water Distillers, .atural Medicines, Emergency Freeze Dried Foods. 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, .atural Products, Essential Oils, Teas, Crystals, Gemstones, and more.

Williams Lake Food Policy Council 250-3025010 GROWI.G THE SEEDS OF CHA.GE! 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

October/November 2014

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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 & Convenience Red Crow Cafe

Redstone Kinikinik Wildwood RaceTrac Gas & Store Williams Lake A& W All-ways Travel Amanda Enterprises Barking Spider Mountain Bikes Bean Counter Bistro Beaver Valley Feeds The Book Bin 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 Margetts Meats McDonalds Mohawk 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

Prince George Ava Maria Gifts and Health Foods Books and Co. University of Northern BC College of New Caledonia

Shopper’s Drug Mart Spa Bella Staples Station House Gallery Sta-Well Health Foods Subway Sutton Cariboo Realty The Gecko Tree The Open Book Tim Hortons Tourism Info Center Trattoria Pasta Shoppe TRU Tsilhqot'in National Gov`t Walmart WL Veterinary Hospital Williams Lake Water Factory

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Likely Lakeside Service Valley General Store McLeese Lake Deep Creek Service Station The Oasis Motel Cafe 'impo Lake Nimpo Lake General Store

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October/November 2014