Well spring is just around the corner and I can't wait!!!
I want to get out of the coffin aka office and out into that garden with the students.
Last week I had the students go online and look at plants they wanted to grow to see if we'd be able to grow them in our garden. The students really want to try growing the three sisters (corn, beans, and squash) as well as raspberries. I think that there would be great. We have a little over $500 left from the grant we got from Metro Grocery Stores and most of the original amount went to tools, which we don't have to buy again this year. GO TEAM!
In the fall we planted some garlic and I really hope that the squirrels didn't eat all of it. But come the spring we're going to have to build planter boxes and cover them with chicken wire to keep the furry tailed rats out!
In the mean time the Eco-Club will just have to keep learning about the importance of recycling and energy conservation.
Friday, December 17, 2010
Sorry that I haven't been around lately. Things have been totally turned upside down, but I'm starting to get my life back in order and will begin posting events in the new year.
Please continue to keep checking for updates. I will repost my October message... it was written in haste so I pulled it.
I'm sure that you've see or heard about Jamie's mission to get children to not only eat better but know more about their food and where it comes from.
I really liked Jamie's idea of having food ambassadors in grocery stores to show people what they can make from local ingredients in their store. I'm sure that we've all been to the grocery store or farmers market and seen something and had no idea what it is let alone what it tastes like. It was a little scary see all those kids trying to identify the foods that he brought in.
The video is about 20 minutes long. So sit back, relax, and enjoy.
Every summer the heat and humidity in this city kills me. At least it's a good excuse to take a cold shower and get that really refreshed feeling.
I own a small air conditioner that I use in my bedroom at night to cut down on the humidity and cool the room so that sleep is at least bearable. But since I don’t want to spend this whole summer or heat wave in my bedroom I searched the internet for tips on how to keep my house cool. Here are some of the best tips that I was able to find.
1)The first and most important step is to keep the sun out. You can do this a few ways:
a)Make sure that your curtains are drawn during the day to block the sun from coming in and heating the place up.
b)Bamboo mats for the exterior of the window. I thought this was a neat idea because the mats are cheap and will still let some sunlight through the gaps in the weave. In the evening you can just roll them up.
c)Awnings over the windows. The idea is that they are short enough to block most of summer’s direct sunlight and not winter’s. This option is the most expensive of the three. It isn’t always the best looking, but I thought it was worth mentioning.
2)During the hot humid days it’s better to keep your windows shut so the outside air doesn’t come in. When it begins to cool in the evening and the outside temperature is cooler than inside then you should open your windows to allow the cooler air in. If you’re one of those people who need to feel a breeze I recommend setting up a small fan. The breeze from the fan will make you feel several degrees cooler.
3)Direct sunlight and hot air will heat up your home quickly, but there are other culprits at play too. Lights get really hot when they are on and will therefore heat your home. If you have to have the lights on make sure that they are LEDsor CLFs because they give off very little heat. Halogen and incandescent lighting produces a lot of heat.
4)When doing your laundry do it at night when it’s cooler out. If you have to do the wash try not to use the dryer and take advantage of the heat drying properties of the sun. Running the dryer is like running the oven, it gets really hot!
5)Speaking of running ovens, don’t they get really hot! Plus summer time is BBQ season. If you don’t have the space for a full-sized BBQ there are many smaller options available for grilling on balconies.
6)Since we live in the northern hemisphere we get the sun’s hottest, most direct, rays to the south and west sides of our homes. If you live in a condo you won’t have to worry about this because chances are they are building another condo to block the view from your condo. But if you live in a house you’ll want to do some landscaping. Planting evergreens or other trees to the south of your home will help block the sun. If you have paving or stone work or are thinking about installing some remember that it will reflect a lot of the sun’s heat onto your home. So shading the pavement will not only make your home look nicer it will also make it a lot cooler too.
7)Electrical appliances have motors and motors give off heat. If you have a dishwasher hold off on running it until it’s cooler out or when you’re going to bed. You could also unplug you’re fridge, but then your food would last very long.
8)Electronic devices also give off heat and for the most part are always using electricity, even when turned off. I’ve found the best option is to put all of your electronics on powerbars. That way you can just flick the switch on the bar and everything is actually off.
9)Computers and monitors are another heat culprit. Your computer and monitor both give off heat. At the very least turn off your monitor. If you’re not using your computer turn it off too.
10)Modems. These suckers get hot. I can understand leaving your computer on because it takes forever to boot up. But if you’re not using your internet unplug the modem. Not only will this save you money, it will also keep you cool.
This wasn't meant to be a top ten list, but has turned out that way.
Here is a link to an interesting article about the effect that children's cartoons have on the way food tastes. The study looked at how unhealthy food is covered with branding. They looked at how branding affected what kids chose and how it tasted. In the end the branded food won out, even with carrots!
I guess it's up to healthy food to come up with the cash for mainstream cartoon characters on their packaging. Shrek's Oven Roasted Green Tomatoes? It could happen and I bet it would be a lot tastier than Twinkies filled with neon green cream (yuk!).
If you didn't get a chance to see this documentary last summer I strongly suggest that you see it now. If you're not able to make it out to Hillside Outdoor Education Centre (HOEC) you can rent this film at most video stores, but why not get out and support Friends of the Rouge with a great screening.
This documentary is about to be released in Japan, but there have been many threats to theatre owners not to screen this film. It seem like there are some people out there who don't want the Japanese public to find out about what is going on in this quiet little community.
Event Info Documentary Screening of the Movie The Cove and discussion hosted by Friends of the Rouge Watershed at Hillside Outdoor Education School
Wednesday June 9th, 2010 @ 7:00 p.m.
Join us at Hillside School, 2259 Meadowvale Rd, one block north of the Toronto Zoo.
THE COVE Flipper was one of the most beloved television characters of all time. But ironically, the fascination with dolphins that he caused created a tragic epidemic that has threatened their existence and become a multibillion dollar industry. The largest supplier of dolphins in the world is located in the picturesque town of Taijii, Japan. But the town has a dark, horrifying secret that it doesn't want the rest of the world to know. There are guards patrolling the cove, where the dolphin capturing takes place, who prevent any photography. The only way to stop the evil acts of this company and the town that protects it is to expose them....and that's exactly what the brave group of activists in The Cove intend to do. Armed with state-of-the-art surveillance equipment, the members of the small group, led by the most famous dolphin trainer in the world, devise a covert plan to infiltrate the cove to document the horrifying events that happen there. Along the way, they uncover what may be the largest health crisis facing our planet— the poisoning of our seas. Part environmental documentary, part horror film, part spy thriller, The Cove is as suspenseful as it is enlightening. The final result is a heart-wrenching, but inspirational, story that shows the true power of film in the hands of people who aren't afraid to risk everything for a vital cause.
Looks like Bike Month got off to a great start! There were quite a few people at the CBC this morning and City Hall was packed! It was good to see some familiar faces. I hope everyone can check out some of the events going on this month. Check out the City's webpage for more info on all the events.
Matt G. interviewing cycling activists and a driving instructor about what drivers and cyclists can do to keep the roads safe for everyone.
The Toronto Cyclist Union all set up at City Hall.
Just a small glimps of the hoards of cyclists at City Hall this morning.
