ECONEWS Green Diary
Newsletter #193 - July/August 2009
Serving the Vision of a Sustainable Vancouver Island
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EcoNews is a monthly newsletter funded by your donations that dreams of a world blessed by the harmony of nature, the pleasures of community, and the joys of personal fulfillment, guided and protected by our active citizenship.


AG00119_.gif (2913 bytes)EcoNews costs $1,100 a month to produce, and for this we reach around 8,000 people, including every MLA in BC, and every CRD municipal politician.  If you enjoy reading EcoNews and value the information it provides, you can be proud that it is your donation that makes it possible. Will you help?

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Many thanks to Jan Zwicky, Janet McNeill, Maggie Salmond, Marlene Rice, Marian Kemp, Patrick & Jane Fawkes, Ian Brown, Merv Wilkinson, Gillian Smith, Jean Evans, Duncan & Marilee Goheen, Barbara Scott, Ed & Jean Mackenzie, Andrew Pringle, Tatiana Schneider, Richard Pearson, Christine Morrison, Ellie Roelofsen, Heather Page, Rita Wittman, Vivian Chenard, Alison McLaren, Elisabeth Haythorne, Jocelyn Braithwaite, Vivien Davies, Chris Napper, Betty Taylor, Paul Wise, Josephine Doman, Pam Webster, Frank Martens, Barbara Hourston, Germaine Taylor and AC Anderson.

Contact EcoNews

Guy Dauncey, Editor
395 Conway Road, Victoria, BC
CANADA V9E 2B9
Tel (250) 881-1304
www.earthfuture.com

Executive director
The Solutions Project

ALL SUMMER

Every Mon and Sat, 10am -12pm - Brodick/Feltham/Bow Parks (Saanich) Invasive Species removal. Volunteers needed. Training, gloves, and tools provided. No dogs please. For directions to site call Judy 472-0515 or jandd_spearing@shaw.ca

Every Tue, Thur, and Sun morning, 10 to Noon. Mt Douglas Park Garlic Mustard removal. Lots of help needed!! Meet just before 10am at Glendenning Rd entrance to Mt Doug Park, (south park entrance). www.mountdouglaspark.ca. No dogs.

Every Wed and Sun, 9am Bird Walks with naturalists, Swan Lake Christmas Hill Nature Sanctuary, 3873 Swan Lake Rd. Margaret Lidkea 250-479-0211

Every Wed, 1-3pm Haliburton Community Organic Farm work parties. 741 Haliburton Rd. info@haliburtonfarm.org. www.haliburtonfarm.org

Every Thur, 6:30pm Vipassana (insight or mindfulness) meditation group meets in Brentwood Bay. Tatha: peninsula.mindful.living@telus.net

Every Sat, 7am  VNHS Saturday morning birding. Call 250-592-3381 on Friday or Saturday for the meeting location. Rick Schortinghuis: 250-652-3326.

Every Sat, 9-12pm Beacon Hill Park Ivy Pull. Volunteers welcome. Cornelia: 250-920-3556

Every Sat, 9-3. James Bay Market, Menzies @ Superior. Local food, crafts and
more. http://www.jamesbaymarket.com.

Every Sat, 10-2. Moss Street Market, Fairfield. Local food, crafts and more.

Every Sat, 1:30pm Tour of Merve Wilkinson’s Wildwood Forest near Ladysmith. Jay: 250-245-5540

Every Sun, 10-4pm O.U.R. Ecovillage weekly Sunday work parties. RSVP: 250-743-3067. www.ourecovillage.org

Every Sat, 6pm: EcoReality Co-op, Salt Spring. Potluck, followed by movie or presentation. http://www.EcoReality.org/Meetings or 250.653.2024

Every Weekday - Help stop the seal slaughter! Join Dave Shishkoff with Friends of Animals if you have a spare hour during the week around lunchtime. Dave @ FriendsofAnimals.org

JULY

WEEK ONE

Thur 2, 6:30pm Dynamic Neural Retraining. Free Information Session in Victoria. MSC Cure - Recovery from Multiple Chemical Sensitivities. 
Church of Truth, 
111 Superior Street
 (James Bay)

Fri 3, 10am Pedal for the Planet. Come and give two young Canadians a good send-off as they cycle to Ottawa to urge strong action on climate change in Copenhagen this December. Legislature Lawn. Ride departs Legislature for Swartz Bay 11 am, arrives Swartz Bay 1:30 pm. www.sierraclub.bc.ca/events/pedal-for-the-planet/

Sat 4-Sun 5, 10-5pm. 5th Annual Organic Islands Festival and Sustainability Expo. Glendale Gardens. www.organicislands.ca

Sat 4, 8-11am Matheson Lake Canoe Adventure. Come and enjoy the solitude of Matheson Lake. Canoe and instruction provided, no experience necessary. Pre-register $15 + GST/person. 250.478.3344 www.crd.bc.ca/parks

Sun 5, 10-12:30pm. Public Tour of the Eco-Sense Cob-Solar House in the Highlands. $20. 3295 Compton Road. www.eco-sense.ca 250-478-2680

Sun 5, 11-3pm Cougar Ridge Hike (Adults) in Roche Cove Regional Park (East Sooke). Wear sturdy shoes, pack lunch. Meet parking lot off Gillespie Road. 250.478.3344 www.crd.bc.ca/parks

WEEK TWO

Tues 7, 9:30am-12 noon Official Opening of the Dockside Green biomass gasification plant – Canada’s first urban gasification energy facility. The opening launches the partnership between Dockside Green and Clinton Climate Initiative’s Climate Positive Development Program. Dockside Green, 354 Harbour Rd, Victoria.

Wed 8, 10-1pm Crazy for Craigflower Creek! (Age 10 years+) Thetis Lake Regional Park. Bring snack, water and wear sturdy shoes. Meet Craigflower Creek trailhead off Highland Road, off Watkiss Way. Free, but pre-register 250.478.3344. www.crd.bc.ca/parks

Thur 9, 10am—2pm Marine Day Witty’s Lagoon Regional Park (Metchosin). Fun-filled celebration:  scuba divers, live displays, harbour seals, sand creature creations. Follow the 20-minute forest trail to the CRD Regional Parks tents at the beach. BC Transit #54 or #55. www.crd.bc.ca/parks

Sat 11, 10-12pm Composting Basics Workshop. FREE. Compost Education Centre 1216 North Park Street. To register email office@compost.bc.ca 250-386-WORM (9676)

Sat 11, 2-4pm Green Roof Design. $10 members $15 non-members. Compost Education Centre 1216 North Park Street. To register email office@compost.bc.ca 250-386-WORM (9676)

Sat 11, 1-4pm Zero-Mile Diet: Organic Pest & Disease Control. From slugs to tomato blight, discover non-harmful organic methods to keep your garden healthy and productive throughout the year. $45 +GST. 395 Conway Road (off Interurban). Register thegardenpath@shaw.ca 
 250-881-1555.

Sat 11-Sun July 12, 9-4pm. Eco-Sense Cob 3 Workshop. $200. 3295 Compton Road. www.eco-sense.ca 250-478-2680

Sun July 12, 10-2pm GVCC Victoria Architectural Bike Tour. Meet south end Selkirk Trestle. Bring lunch. 30 km. GVCC 480-5155. Donation $5.

Sun 12, 8—11am Matheson Lake Canoe Adventure. Come and enjoy the solitude of Matheson Lake. Canoe and instruction provided, no experience necessary. Pre-register $15/$8.50 + GST/person. 250.478.3344 www.crd.bc.ca/parks

Sun 12, 1pm Forests of the Sea - Island View Beach Regional Park (Central Saanich). (6 years+). Join us as we search for seaweeds and the creatures that call them home. Meet picnic shelter off Homathko Road, off Island View Road. www.crd.bc.ca/parks

WEEK THREE

Mon 13- Sat 18, Cob as Cobbers can: cob building workshop at O.U.R.Ecovillage, Shawnigan Lake with Elke Cole and others http://ourecovillage.org/our-activities/education/workshops/ Elke 250-743-3067

Tue 14, 12 noon. The Future of Cycling in BC. Free 1-hour webinar with guests John Luton and David Cubberley. From your computer. BC Sustainable Energy Association. To register go to www.bcsea.org/teleworkshops

Tue 14, 6-8pm 3rd Annual Green Drinks Victoria Celebration: Building a Legacy. At Royal Roads. Green market place with local green entrepreneurs, businesses, community and environmental groups. Food, drink, and great company! Travel there as greenly as you can. info@greendrinksvictoria.ca. www.greendrinksvictoria.ca

Tue 14, 7-9pm Sacred Circle Dancing into Summer. 1831 Fern, Victoria. By donation.
250-592-2848

Thur 16, 6 pm: COG-VI Farm Tour ALM Farm with hosts Mary Alice Johnson & Marika Nagasaka, who will talk about Winter Gardening. 3680 Otter Point Road, East Sooke map www.almfarms.org pauline_martens@yahoo.com

Fri 17 – Sun 19 Working Holiday - Wildwood Ecoforest: Lakeside Cabin Restoration, Ladysmith. Participants will help restore a small cabin overlooking the lake, while camping in the forest, learning about Merv Wilkinson’s sustainable forestry practices and picking up some renovating skills. $144/$160. Vancouver Island: Wildwood

Sat 18, 11-3pm Forest Family Fun at Witty’s Lagoon Regional Park (Metchosin). Park in the main parking lot off Metchosin Road and follow signs to CRD Regional Parks tents.
BC Transit #54 or #55. www.crd.bc.ca/parks

Sat 18, 2-4pm Chickens in the City. $10 members $15 non-members Compost Education Centre 1216 North Park Street. To register email office@compost.bc.ca 250-386-WORM (9676)

Sat 18. VNHS Bird-watchers Kayak Tour to Discovery Island & Chain Islands Ecological Reserve. Five-hour guided tour. $90. To register: 361-9365

Sat 18, Sun 19. Victoria Butterfly Count. We are always looking for keen-eyed volunteers – call James Miskelly 477-0490.

Sun 19, 5:30pm VIVA-Raw Potluck. Demo by Elyse Nuff, Certified Raw Chef, Archie Browning Sport Centre, 1511 Esquimalt Rd. Bring raw vegan dish of 6 or more servings with ingredients list, serving utensils plus your own plate and cutlery.   $5/$3 per adult. http://viva-raw.seedwiki.com or  Linda: 250-380-6383.

WEEK FOUR

Thur 23-Sun 26 Building as if People Mattered. A conference for builders, contractors, designers, & home-owners with a focus on sustainable solutions. Presenters include Mark Lakeman, Meror Krayenhoff, & Elke Cole. Field trips (July 27-29) to Mayne Island, Salt Spring and Victoria. O.U.R.Ecovillage, Shawnigan Lake baipm@nbnetwork.org 250-743-3067 

Fri 24, 7am VNHS Mount Washington Botanical Day Trip. Preregister, email Agnes thelynns@shaw.ca

Sun 19, 10-1pm Seals! Seals! Witty’s Lagoon Regional Park (Metchosin). Drop by anytime to see Tower Point’s most avid sun worshippers and swimming enthusiasts—the harbour seals! Binoculars and spotting scopes provided. Enter at Tower Point parking lot off Olympic View Drive. BC Transit #54 or #55 www.crd.bc.ca/parks

Sat 25-Sun July 26, 9-4pm. Eco-Sense Cob 4 Workshop. $150. 3295 Compton Road. www.eco-sense.ca  250-478-2680

Sat 25. SOUL Organic Garden Tour, various urban gardens in Oak Bay and Fernwood. $20/$10. Tickets from Dig this Oak Bay & Market Square, and the Compost Education Centre. 250-381-3773.

Sat 25, 5pm Greenpeace co-founder Rex Weyler presents "Overshoot and Relocalization”
Salt Spring EcoReality Farm Tour, Potluck. 250-653-2024 EcoReality yellow house, 2152 Fulford-Ganges Road, Salt Spring Island, BC V8K 1Z7

Sun 26, 6:40am VNHS bird-watching trip to Mandarte Island Seabird Colony and Sidney Spit. To reserve, call Rick 250-885-2454.

Sun 26, 8-11am Matheson Lake Canoe Adventure. Come and enjoy the solitude of Matheson Lake. Canoe and instruction provided, no experience necessary. Pre-register $15/$8.50 + GST/person. 250.478.3344 www.crd.bc.ca/parks

Tue 28, 7-9pm Sacred Circle Dancing into Summer. 1831 Fern, Victoria. By donation.
250-592-2848

AUGUST

WEEK ONE

Sat 1, 8-11am Dip, Dip and Swing—A Thetis Lake Canoe Adventure, Upper Thetis Lake (Adults). Water lilies slip by the side of our canoe, bald eagles soar over head and damselflies dart over our paddles. Canoe equipment and instruction provided, no experience is necessary. Pre-register: $15/$8.50 + GST 250.478.3344. Transit #50 or #53 www.crd.bc.ca/parks

Sat 1, 1-4pm Zero-Mile Diet: The Winter Food Garden. 
In this region we can grow 50 varieties of cold hardy vegetables without protection to harvest throughout winter. Learn which varieties these are, and how to plan and plant a productive winter food garden. $45 +GST. 395 Conway Road (off Interurban). Register thegardenpath@shaw.ca 
 250-881-1555. www.earthfuture.com/gardenpath

Sun 2, 5:45am VNHS Botanical trip to Hurricane Ridge Alpine Flowers. To reserve, call Rick 250-885-2454. VNHS members get a priority.

Sun 2, 1pm Seed Safari (6 years+) Francis/King Regional Park (Saanich)
At the end of summer Mother Nature is planting her garden for next year. Join us as we check out the different ways plants scatter their seeds. Meet Nature Centre off Munn Road. www.crd.bc.ca/parks

Wed 5, 10am-Noon Beach Snoop at Low Tide (6 years+), Witty’s Lagoon Regional Park (Metchosin) Be prepared to wade up to your knees in the pools. Meet end of Witty Beach Road by new park map kiosk. BC Transit #54 or #55 www.crd.bc.ca/parks

Thur 6, 11-3pm Snake Day at Elk/Beaver Lake Regional Park. CRD Regional Parks has teamed up with Swan Lake Christmas Hill Nature Sanctuary and UVic for this slithery event. Drop in. CRD tents, Beaver Beach. BC Transit #70 or #75. www.crd.bc.ca/parks

Thur 6, 7:30pm. Hiroshima-Nagasaki Remembered. The annual lantern ceremony marking the 64th anniversary of the  atomic bombing of Japan. Craigflower Park / Kosapsom at Admiral’s Road and Gorge Road West, Saanich. Lantern making starts at 7:30pm; words and songs of peace at 8pm; floating the lanterns in the Gorge. Victoria Raging Grannies and the Physicians for Global Survival. 665-7788

Fri 7, 6-9pm Early Evening Canoeing at Elk/Beaver Lake Regional Park (Saanich)
Join us for a magical early evening paddle on the still waters of Beaver Lake. Canoe provided, no experience is necessary. Pre-register: $15/$8.50  + GST 250.478.3344. Transit #50 or #53 www.crd.bc.ca/parks

Sat 8, 10-2pm Park 2 Park: A Hiking Adventure (Adults). From Francis/King to Thetis Lake. Bring lunch, water, raingear, sturdy hiking shoes. Meet Nature Centre off Munn Road. Free, pre-register 250.478.3344. www.crd.bc.ca/parks

Sat 8, 10-2pm Composting Basics' Workshop. FREE Compost Education Centre 1216 North Park Street. To register email office@compost.bc.ca  250-386-WORM (9676)

Sat 8, 2-4pm Organic Soil Health Management $10 members $15 non-members Compost Education Centre 1216 North Park Street. To register email office@compost.bc.ca  250-386-WORM (9676)

Sat 8, 9:30–5pm. Dr. Brian Swimme - The Heart of the Cosmos:  Humanity and the New Story. The story of “new heavens and a new earth” entails a new human consciousness and a new way of being in the cosmos. $95. UVic MacLaurin David Lam Auditorium. Register:  earthliteracies@gmail.com  www.livinglanguageinstitute.org

Sat 8, 7:30pm – Mon 10. Belonging To the Cosmos: Celebrating Our Origins, with Alexandra Kovats, CSJP, PhD. This retreat will explore and celebrate the implication of some cosmological insights for living a holistic, earth-conscious spirituality, with reflections, poetry, music, movement, sacred silence and sharing. $125 UVic Conference Centre. earthliteracies@gmail.com www.livinglanguageinstitute.org

Sat 8, 1-5pm. Eco-Sense Resource Recovery Workshop (Pee, Poo and Perfect Compost). $150. 3295 Compton Road. www.eco-sense.ca  250-478-2680

Sat 8, 1pm  The Land Conservancy (TLC) Extraordinary General Meeting to hold elections for a new Board of Directors. UVic Wright Centre, Science Building 150. All members are encouraged to attend, and vote. For details see www.conservancy.bc.ca

Sat 8. VNHS Bird-watchers Kayak Tour of Discovery Island & Chain Islands Ecological Reserve. $90. five-hour guided tour. To register: 361-9365

Sun 9, 8-11am Morning Mist Canoe Adventure at Elk/Beaver Lake. Paddle through early morning mist searching for eagles, herons, frogs and other lake life. Canoe provided, experience is necessary. Pre-register: $15/$8.50  + GST 250.478.3344. Transit #50 or #53
www.crd.bc.ca/parks

Sun 9, 10-12:30pm. Public Tour of the Eco-Sense Cob-Solar House in the Highlands. $20. 3295 Compton Road. www.eco-sense.ca  250-478-2680

WEEK TWO

Tue 11, 5-7pm Green Drinks at The Belfry Theatre, Fernwood Village.

Tue 11, 7pm Sacred Circle Dancing into Summer. 1831 Fern, Victoria. By donation.
250-592-2848

Wed 12, 6-9pm Early Evening Canoeing at Elk/Beaver Lake Regional Park (Saanich)
Join us for a magical early evening paddle on the still waters of Beaver Lake. Canoe provided, no experience is necessary. Pre-register: $15/$8.50  + GST 250.478.3344. Transit #50 or #53 www.crd.bc.ca/parks

Fri 14-Sun 16 Aladdin's Cave - circle dance weekend with June Watts. Cowichan Valley. $250. 250-746-4859

Sat 15, 8-11am Morning Mist Canoe Adventure at Elk/Beaver Lake. Paddle through early morning mist searching for eagles, herons, frogs and other lake life. Canoe provided, experience is necessary. Pre-register: $15/$8.50  + GST 250.478.3344. Transit #50 or #53
www.crd.bc.ca/parks

Sat 15, 11-3pm Walk on the Wild Side in East Sooke Regional Park (adults). Spectacular Coast Trail from Aylard Farm to Beechey Head. Wear sturdy hiking shoes, bring lunch and water. Meet kiosk in Aylard Farm parking lot off Becher Bay Road. www.crd.bc.ca/parks

Sat 15, 1-4pm Zero-Mile Diet: Preserving The Harvest. Drying, bottling, canning and preserving extend the harvest into winter and beyond. Bring your apron and favourite chopping knife and board for this one! $45 +GST. Register thegardenpath@shaw.ca 
 250-881-1555.

Sat 15, Sun 16 Victoria Butterfly Count. Keen-eyed volunteers wanted – call James Miskelly 477-0490.

Sun 16, 5:45am VNHS trip to the Olympic Peninsula, Cape Flattery and the First Nations Cultural Center. Tufted Puffins, Sea Otters and Archaeological Museum on Cape Flattery To register, call Rick Shortinghuis 250-885-2454. VNHS members will be given priority.

Sun 16, 10am. We're All Interconnected, with Rosie Emery. Rosie Emery is a world-class children's environmental educator. See www.interconnected.ca and www.littleearthcharter.org. First Unitarian Church of Victoria, 5575 West Saanich Road. www.victoriaunitarian.ca

Sun 16, 5:30pm VIVA-Raw Potluck, Archie Browning Sport Centre, 1511 Esquimalt Rd. Bring raw vegan dish of 6 or more servings with ingredients list, serving utensils plus your own plate and cutlery.   $5/$3. http://viva-raw.seedwiki.com or  Linda: (250) 380-6383.  

WEEK THREE

Mon 17 – Fri Sept. 4 9-4pm. Sustainable FUN Camps for youth ages 6-12. Oak Bay Rec Windsor Pavilion. $195/week  Maia Green 778-231-5921 maia@funcamps.ca www.funsociety.ca

Thur 20, 6pm: COG-VI Farm Tour Fruit Trees and More, with Bob & Verna Duncan
724 Wain Road, Sidney. www.fruittreesandmore.ca  pauline_martens@yahoo.com

Fri 21, 5:45am VNH birdwatching trip to the Dungeness Spit and the National Wildlife Refuge, USA. To register, call Rick Shortinghuis 250-885-2454. VNHS members will be given priority.

Sat 22, 1pm Bountiful Berries (8 years+) at Elk/Beaver Lake. We’ll explore for Blackberries, Oregon grape berries, Salal berries and more, and taste jams. Meet Nature Centre at Beaver Beach. BC Transit #70 or #75. www.crd.bc.ca/parks

Sun 23, 8-11am Morning Mist Canoe Adventure at Elk/Beaver Lake. Paddle through early morning mist searching for eagles, herons, frogs and other lake life. Canoe provided, experience is necessary. Pre-register: $15/$8.50  + GST 250.478.3344. Transit #50 or #53. www.crd.bc.ca/parks

Sun 23, 10-4pm GVCC Sidney Picnic. Meet Lochside Trail at Darwin Avenue. Bring lunch. 50 km. GVCC 480-5155. Donation $5.

WEEK FOUR

Tue 25, 7pm Sacred Circle Dancing into Summer. 1831 Fern, Victoria. By donation.
250-592-2848

Fri 28, 7pm EcoNews Dessert Potluck Mailout Party, 395 Conway Rd, Victoria. All welcome! Guy: 250-881-1304

Fri 28-Thur Sept 3, goBeyond Youth Action Gathering. Deas Island Park Delta, BC. 50 post-secondary and high school youth learn the skills and actions of sustainability. Fun, games and inspiration amid beauty. www.campusclimatenetwork.org/wiki/2009_gobeyond_Youth_Action_Gathering  yag@campusclimatenetwork.org

Sat 29, 8-11am Dip, Dip and Swing—A Thetis Lake Canoe Adventure, Upper Thetis Lake (Adults). Water lilies slip by the side of our canoe, bald eagles soar over head and damselflies dart over our paddles. Canoe equipment and instruction provided, no experience is necessary. Pre-register: $15/$8.50  + GST 250.478.3344. Transit #50 or #53
www.crd.bc.ca/parks

Sat 29 – Sun Sept 6, 10-5:30pm. Winter Vegetable Bedding Plants Sale at The Garden Path Centre, 395 Conway Road (off Interurban). A fantastic selection of certified organic winter vegetable starts. Carolyn, 250-881-1304.

Sun 30, 7:30am VNHS Exploring the Victoria Shoreline for Shorebirds. Meet Cattle Point. Rick, 250-885-2454

Submissions to EcoNews

To buy ad space in the next EcoNews, or to submit your event to next month's Green Diary, please contact:

Guy Dauncey, Editor
395 Conway Road, Victoria, BC
CANADA V9E 2B9
Tel (250) 881-1304
guydauncey@earthfuture.com

The deadline for the September issue is August 24th.

Notice

NewspaperEcoNews provides this electronic version of the newsletter without charge even though it costs around $1,100 CDN to produce each month. Please feel free to repost.

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