Here’s a summery four-step program to protect nature, on or off the grid:
1. Stop your neighbours from spraying toxic pesticides
2. Don’t compost invasive plant species
3. Learn to ID critter poop and protect wildlife trees
4. Renovate green and reduce waste destined for the landfill:
How to ask your neighbours to stop spraying pesticides Ever asked anyone not to spray pesticides where children play or near your organic vegetable garden? How’d that go over? I suggest putting up a “Pesticide Free” lawn sign. (Congrats to eight lucky blog readers who won their very own!) Read the full story.
Stop the spread of invasive plants Invasive plants are good at wreaking havoc. But many wouldn’t be so successful if they didn’t have our help. Make sure you aren’t aiding and abetting (plant) invaders! Make amends. Maybe become an ivy buster? Read the full story.
The poop on scat… and other wildlife skills Enrich your next outdoor adventure – whether it’s a walk in the woods at the family cabin, or a trip into the back country. Did you know that moose poop looks like chocolate-covered almonds? Or that dead trees house an abundance of wildlife? Read the full story
Green your next home renovation Back in the 1800s, Levi Strauss never imagined scraps from manufacturing denim jeans would have value as non-toxic home insulation. An old toilet could be reincarnated as your kitchen counter. Now, that’s reusing! Read the full story.
Lindsay Coulter: Queen of Green: ☺
Natural Wellness Solutions: Watermelon info and recipe
Donna Wiggers of Natural Wellness Solutions kindly shares the following with us. Please visit her website for more information on her services and other healthy/wellness ideas and solutions.
Watermelon
No other fruit is more enjoyable on a hot summer day than sweet, juicy watermelon; it has an extremely high water content, approximately 92%.
Why you should add watermelon to your diet. Watermelon is a rich source of heart-healthy nutrients, such as vitamin C and the carotenoid phytonutrient, lycopene; which also provides reddish-pink watermelon with its distinctive coloration. Lycopene, along with beta-carotene and vitamin A, provides powerful antioxidant protection from the oxidative damage to cellular structures caused by free radicals. Watermelon is an ideal food not only because it is nutritious and tastes great, but also because it is low in calories: one cup of watermelon contains only 49 calories!
Summer is the time of year when its concentration of nutrients and flavor are highest and its cost is at its lowest.
Selecting a watermelon
Watermelon will not ripen after they are picked, so it is important to select a ripe watermelon in the market. If you thump a ripe watermelon it will sound like a dull thud rather than tighter ringing or hollow sound. The rind should be relatively smooth – neither overly shiny nor overly dull.
Watermelon retains its maximum amount of nutrients and it’s best taste when it is fresh.
Watermelon Frappe
4 cups cold watermelon chunks
8 mint leaves
Run the blender at medium speed and drop chunks of watermelon through the feed hole one at a time until they are well integrated.
Add the mint and run the blender at medium speed for 1 minute until the watermelon has liquefied.
Strain into glasses, garnish with a sprig of mint and enjoy! Serves two.
Watermelon-Kiwi Soup
Puree 3 cups watermelon, 1 cup cantaloupe and 1 cup kiwi fruit together. Swirl in a little plain yogurt and serve as a refreshing soup.Please call Donna at 905-666-0005 or check out her website
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August 2011 E-News
Serenity’s Gift Cove August E-News….
August 2011,
Can you believe it we are already up to August….. ???
What a summer so far after our very wet spring we have had some very hot and dry weather, not that I am complaining mind you, although I do feel bad for the farmers, grass trees, the plants and wildlife, I am sure they are all confused… ☺
Enjoy your August everyone and for those of you who are taking holidays this month we wish you an awesome and relaxing time.
Events and News:
News: Jim Cuddy New CD Release soon:
Jim Cuddy, one heck of a singer/songwriter/musician and Canadian, will have a new CD set for release Sept 27 2011 but good news you can preorder your copy and get a chance to listen to one of the new songs when the JC team send you a free download….Check out the post below from the Jim Cuddy team and go to JC’s website if you would like to place your order. The following is from my Inbox
A Peak into the Making of Skyscraper Soul
“On September 27, Jim Cuddy’s brand new solo album, Skyscraper Soul, will be released! From now until then, we are very excited to be able to give you a look into the making of Skyscraper Soul, including blog posts by Jim and his band, behind-the-scenes photos and videos, and even an audio stream of the entire album! While the first blog post is available right now, the rest of this exclusive content will be revealed as the release date for Skyscraper Soul approaches. Visit JimCuddy.com to read Jim’s “First Things” blog, which you can access by clicking on the July 27 window in our skyscraper landscape.”
Events: The Magical Blend August workshops and classes:
The magical blend is a mystical magical pagan/wiccan store locatedin Montreal, they have oodles of fabulous stuff for all your ritual needs, the staff are friendly and fun and each month they have classes and events going on, lots of them ☺ please contact Robyn if you would like to receive the events for August. The following post is from their August Newsletter: Happy Lughnasadh all…. ☺ The following is from my inbox.
Contact: Robyn: magic@themagicalblend.com
Next Sabbat: Lughnasadh
Also known as: Lammas. Celebrated on or around August 1.
In the Wheel of the Year, Lughnassadh is the first of three harvest festivals, and although the days are still hot and sunny, they are growing ever shorter, marking the rapidly approaching winter season (which for the ancient Celts began at Samhain, our modern Hallowe’en). Like Imbolc, its partner across the Wheel, Lughnassadh is a cross-quarter day, and as other cross-quarter holidays is celebrated from sunset the night before, as the Celts believed the days began with the vanishing of the sun as opposed to its rise. The alternate name for this Sabbat is “Lammas”, which is derived from the Christian festival of “Loaf-Mass”. In essence, this festival was a day of first fruit offerings, marking the beginnings of the harvest with bread baked from the first grains. “Lughnassadh” translates to “the feast of Lugh”, the Celtic sun-god of many skills. Traditionally, this is the time of year for fairs and festivals. Many Highland Games and Clan Gatherings occur around this time of year, family reunions and games of skill to honour Lugh and the mythical funeral games he held to honour his foster-mother Taillte.
Concepts: Harvest; family; friendly competition; demonstration of skill in sports and arts; the bounty of the Earth; the diminishing power of the Sun God and Vegetation God.
Altar Decorations: Harvest fruits; foods such as corn, fish and breads eaten.
Eco News/Upcoming Event:
The David Suzuki Team is gearing up for this years Scotia Bank Toronto waterfront marathon…. If you like to keep active this is a great family way of helping out your environment too…. ☺The following is from my Inbox.
“An invitation to run, wheel, or walk with the David Suzuki Foundation Team at the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon, Sunday October 16, 2011. We’re taking our love of nature to the street. You can join us in the half marathon, tackle the full race, or come out for the 5k. You choose your distance and speed. It’s our first year participating in this amazing international event which will host over 22,000 runners. We hope to raise $20,000 as a team and would love your help to reach that goal. You could win a t-shirt and have your entry fee waived!”
Sign up here to join our Team. For more information, feel free to contact me at kmajic@davidsuzuki.org.
Thank you for your support. Hope to see you at the race!
Kathrin Majic
Development Officer, Community Partnerships
David Suzuki Foundation – Toronto office
Local Events:
The Tranquil Garden Retreat located in Oshawa is packed each month with happenings and events….visit their website to view what’s happening in August….
News: August Special from Azuregreen:
Azuregreen is located in the U.S. the staff are friendly and it’s a fabulous place to shop for all your metaphysical needs… This Month marks their 25 Anniversary… Congratulations guys and gals ☺… and to celebrate this auspicious occasion they are offering 25% off of everything, I mean everything … Visit with them at their site to find out more or to go shopping… Azuregreen also deals in Wholsale and they have some fantastic offers this month….
News: Chic Interior Redesign Consultation Special:
Sherry, of Chic Interior Redesign has a fabulous special on this month, she is offering a one and half hour consultation for the great price of $95:00, you save $25:00!!! So if you are thinking of moving, or you just want to change things up around your home, now is the time to contact Sherry, she is warm, caring and professional. Please check out her website Chic Interior Redesigns for more information or to contact to Sherry… ☺
News: the 99th monkey back to school supplies:
“Back to School Litterless Lunch Supplies at The Ninety Ninth Monkey
From various sizes of Klean Kanteen water bottles, to reusable sandwich wraps, stainless steel food containers to Lunch Bags & Lunch Boxes. Come see and mention this e-letter and receive 10% off.” Visit their website to find out more and or to contact Barbara.
Events:
Meditation Circle with Julie Ditta August 10th:
Fire Ceremony with Julie Ditta August 21st:
Drum Circle with Julie Ditta August 26th:
Please contact Julie at: 905-666-8238 for times and locations ☺
“Fire Ceremony
Let the flames of the fire burn away resistance, unwanted thoughts, patterns and memories from our past. We ask that our prayers be carried by the smoke to the heart of the Great Spirit.”
7:30 pm $10:00 Refreshments: Oshawa 1835 Concession 7 (East of Oshawa)
FYI: Service Ontario Centers:
Most of us are aware about Service Ontario Centers, where we can apply for and obtain birth certificates, health cards, vehicle stickers etc….A recent “amalgamation” ofOntario’s M.O.T. and health card centers. But are we aware that not all Service Ontario Centers do everything? Some Centers deal more with the M.O.T. side of things and only have limited availability to help consumers with health card issues, they do not deal in birth certificates nor do I believe do they issue marriage licenses. So perhaps next time we need to make a trip to our localServiceOntarioCenter, it might be wise to call them first to make sure they can assist with the issue at hand, saving all of us time. ☺
Come visit our site, we try to update it as often as possible with local information, eco-news, product for sale and we enjoy sharing information from others. Please feel free to email us if you would like a copy of our monthly E-News, if you would like to have something posted in our E-news or on our weblog, or if you have any questions regarding our services or products. If you have an idea for a discussion post, would like to get something off of your chest or if you would like to share information with others, send it along to us and we would be happy to post it for you. All prices listed on weblog include 13% hst and shipping charges. PUP= Pick up Price. (for product/orders which are picked up instead of shipped/mailed out). Prices are in Canadian $’s. International andU.S.orders will require more shipping please email for details. Please email us for payment options. ☺
We at Serenity’s Gift Cove, believe each of us is a student and teacher because knowledge is to be shared, respect for our planet and all living things is paramount and that kindness can be contagious. ☺
Please forward this E-News to those you feel would enjoy it… thanks ☺
Happy August everyone, and to all who are celebrating an event this month … Kick up your heels and let your hair down….☺
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FYI Eye Glasses and Bug Spray….. eek!!
From the Editor:
On our recent vacation to the Adirondacks we did some hiking as we usually do only this time there was something different.
For a number of years in our household we have used a natural bug spray called “Bug Stuff” I had sold it in my store and both hubby and I really like it. Alas this time while packing up to get ready I couldn’t find the “Bug Stuff” and had to take our back up supply which has DEET in it. We don’ t like the thought of using a repellent that contained DEET but figured it wouldn’t hurt just this once…..
So off we went hiking up a mountain, thankfully this was a short hike :) but it was very buggy because of the wet spring the forests had experienced, we held off as long as we could but there was just too many of them, and out came the Repellent with DEET…. all goes well for the rest of the hike and we enjoyed the solitude at the peak for a little while until others came and it was time for us to head back down.
Hiking through forest growth, over rocks and up steep inclines, through, over and around puddles and streams can be a rather sweaty (and tiring) undertaking, but it sure is worth it when you reach the summit and when you come back down and look back you feel good :) . After changing out of our hiking shoes and settling back in the car to head to our camp ground, I noticed something on my eye-glass lens, it looked like a sweaty finger smudge, but when I tried to clean it off it wouldn’t budge….
As time went on the “smudge” on my lens got worse it seemed to be growing and nothing we did would get rid of it, it was like it was in between the layers of the lens. After doing a bit of research hubby and I came to the conclusion the bug repellent with the deet must have wrecked my lens!!!! So off to Lens Crafters where I had purchased them about 2 1/2 years ago to see if they could fix them, nope they said nothing we can do, it’s time for new glasses, the staff indicated that by the color of the lens (it had a smoky tinge to it) you could tell the lens were just about shot anyway…. !!
I wasn’t ready to get a totally new pair of glasses, I like my glasses and they are still perfectly fine for my needs, however it was becoming increasing annoying seeing a smudge in my line of vision all the time. Hubby needed new reading glasses and was looking for the flex frame type so my sister suggested New Vision Optical located in Oshawa as this is where my brother-in-law got his flex frame specs. :)
We went to New Vision, sister and hubby met us there as sister had a question about her glasses. We left New Vision very happy and satisfied, hubby got two pairs of glasses, I got a fabulous pair of prescription sun glasses and new lens’ in my frames all for a great price. Jose is helpful and easy to deal with and he has a large selection of glasses to choose from.
Lesson learnt, DEET wrecks plastic eye-glass lens’ and as Jose told us nail polish remover can also wreck your plastic lens’, the chemicals seem to melt the plastic….!!! We certainly learnt that our natural “bug stuff” was a far better product, and it’s far safer for us and for our environment and it’s deet free.
If you are in Oshawa and area and looking for glasses check out
905-432-6033
And if you are in Whitby and area and looking for glasses check out
(905) 665-8515
Both places have fabulous customer service, great prices and a large selection :)
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FYI David Suzuki Science Matters
From my inbox. If you would like to receive updates from Science Matters in your inbox please connect to David Suzuki’s website. ☺
By David Suzuki with contributions from Ian Hanington, Communications and Editorial Specialist
Photo credit: themajesticfool via Flickr.
In their desperation to find even a tiny shred of peer-reviewed science to challenge the volumes of research from around the world about human-caused climate change, deniers have often held up Willie Soon’s work.
Dr. Soon, an astrophysicist at the Harvard-Smithsonian Centre for Astrophysics, is known for studies that purportedly show that the sun, and not CO2 emissions from human activity, is the main factor in climate change, and that climate change in the 20th century wasn’t that unusual to begin with. He has also argued that mercury emissions from burning coal are no big deal.
Now, in response to a Greenpeace investigation, Dr. Soon has admitted that U.S. oil and coal companies, including ExxonMobil, the American Petroleum Institute, Koch Industries, and the world’s largest coal-burning utility, Southern Company, have contributed more than $1 million over the past decade to his research. According to Greenpeace, every grant Dr. Soon has received since 2002 has been from oil or coal interests. This despite the fact that he once told a U.S. Senate hearing that he had not been hired by, employed by, or received grants from any organization “that had taken advocacy positions with respect to the Kyoto protocol or the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.”
Dr. Soon has also been affiliated with a number of industry front groups, including the coal-funded Greening Earth Society, and Koch-Exxon-Scaife-funded groups including the George C. Marshall Institute, the Science and Public Policy Institute, the Center for Science and Public Policy, the Heartland Institute, and Canada’s Fraser Institute. Please Click Here to view this article in its entirety.
