Go green at home on Earth Day

(NC)—Earth Day is a reminder about the importance of respecting our environment and doing all we can to protect our planet. Every year, over six million Canadians take part in Earth Day by doing simple things such as riding their bikes to work or using candles at night. This year show how important the environment is by pledging an act of green. 

Here, in your own home, are some ways to take part in the world's most celebrated environmental event. These tips are environmentally friendly and will save you money on your energy bills: 

• Cool down your house with a ceiling or electric fan and open up the windows at night. Ceiling fans cost about 1 cent for two hours of use, compared to 67 cents to a dollar for central air. Use your AC only when necessary and be sure to turn it off when you're going to be away from home long periods of time.

• Invest in a programmable thermostat. It will automatically adjust the temperature in your house, saving you energy while you're away or sleeping. 

• Use insulation with a high R-value, such as Roxul RockFill, which can be used to increase insulation in your attic. It will keep your house cool in the warm weather and take the stress off your air conditioning unit.

• Check the tightness of your refrigerator seal by closing the door on a piece of paper. If it's held in place, the seal is still good, if not, it's time to replace the seal or fix the door's alignment. 

• Only do laundry when you have full loads. If you have smaller loads, make sure to use the correct settings and if you only have a couple of items, wait it out or wash them by hand. 

www.newscanada.com

Patti Friday, Photojourno, reporting from inside 'The Art Dept.' at the international 'Embassy of Ideas'.

Precious Environment: Wasaga Beach

If explorers just landed on the beach and witnessed its beauty for the first time, they would most certainly decide they had discovered a magical landscape and place like no other. So, how did it come to this? (and who will make it a place of value?) A world-class destination and international treasure?

Have Your Greens Today?

Success with greenery! Check it out here. Beach Blooms Flowers & Gifts Workshop.

Share The Harvest June Through October 2009

Fresh, organic and local. From the farm to your table. 5 minutes from Wasaga Beach Walmart you'll discover a wonderful family run Vegetable CSA (also freezer beef and chicken). What are CSA farms? CSA farmers receive a set fee (from you - the consumer) prior to the start of the growing season. In return, you receive shares (produce) in the farm's bounty and you also share the risks due to weather and other factors beyond the control of the farmer.705 322 6218 Seasonal cost: 16 weeks for family of 4 = $400 (payment plan offered)

"Whispering Pines Farm and Garden is a 50 acre farm located 5 minutes south-east of Wasaga Beach, 30 minutes north-west of Barrie. We currently have beef cattle, CSA vegetable garden (June to October) and chickens which will be available late June. Our CSA vegetable garden is growing vegetables using the old fashion way using crop rotations, hand weeding and manure from the cattle. No herbicides, pesticides, genetically modified seed and/or any other chemicals are used. Our cattle are a cross of Hereford/Limousine/Red Angus and are a closed herd. Our cattle are grass-fed and free from hormones and/or any by-products used to stimulate growth and/or production.Produce: Lettuce, Peas, Carrots, Beets, Potatoes, Winter and Summer Squashes, Tomatoes, Beans, Ground Cherry's, Herbs, Onions, Cucumbers Delivery to These Areas: We will deliver if we have at least 5-10 customers at one location. Area of Coverage: Barrie, Wasaga Beach, Elmvale, Midland, Coldwater, Collingwood." - John Cullen, Liz & Jesse Dobinson

Eat Local

I'm off to Whispering Pines this morning. I am so excited! It is a farm and garden that offers a Vegetable CSA and freezer beef and chicken. I will be enjoying a farm tour, games, lunch and a lesson in making a salad dressing by Melissa Karin, Publisher of My Healthy Appetite. BUY this 'Victory Garden' painting HERE.

Snake Halts Condo Construction in Beach

One snake. Yes, one pretty snake can stop an entire contruction site. Eeeck! Yikes! Read more here.

Lawn & Garden in Wasaga Beach

I took a sunny visit to the garden centre at Superstore today. It was busy! Have a look. Lush and full. Their plants are exclusively from Canadian growers – and most are grown close to where we live. They’ve been working with local growers since their beginnings. It helps local economies and ensures we get the best quality. Long ago, they learned that buying local allows them to offer us plants that spend more time in greenhouses where they grow strong and mature, plus they travel less so they arrive in their stores fresh and ready for our purchase. Cool.

Piping Plovers Return to Wasaga Beach

A pair of Piping Plovers landed at Wasaga Beach last week. With their arrival, Wasaga Beach Provincial Park will be putting up a protective enclosure. Read more here...

Step by Step: Build A Raised Garden Bed

Follow the steps here. Home for your veggies and herbs! Cool.

I Never Wear A Helmet. They Don't Look Cool

Time to remind ourselves and the people we care about - and everyone we see in Wasaga Beach - to wear a bicycle helmet - scooter helmet - skateboard helmet - roller blade helmet......We need to make our roads safe. We need more safe, designated bike paths. More info here. Safe Kids Canada website here. Staggering statistics here.

Visit Think First

Cycling - For cycling, wear an approved cycling helmet. Bike helmets must be replaced after they have been in one crash. They will not protect you a second time. If your helmet has been in a crash, replace it. Look for certification by CSA, CPSC, ASTM or Snell.

In-line skating - Although there are some helmets designed specially for in-line skating, a certified bike helmet is fine for recreational in-line skating. The special in-line skating helmet extends farther down the back of the head to provide additional protection for backward falls. If using a bike helmet, replace after one hard crash. Look for the CPSC, CSA, ASTM or Snell certification.

Scooters - No standards have been set for helmets for scooter riders. Bike helmets are the type recommended for scooters because this activity is similar to biking and in-line skating.

Skateboarding - We recommend a special skateboarding helmet that covers more of the back of the head and will protect against more than one crash. Because falls are common in skateboarding, these helmets are made of material that is specially designed to withstand multiple impacts on the same spot. Look for the ASTM F-1492 or Snell-94 standard. Be aware that a skateboard helmet should not be used for bike riding unless specified on the label.

Multi-sport helmets - Some helmets are marketed as "multi-sport." This means the helmet meets safety standards for more than one activity. The Snell N-94 helmet is tested for cycling, mountain biking, in-line skating and skateboarding. Other helmets labeled as multi-sport may meet more than one standard - for example, one standard for cycling and another for skateboarding. Be sure the helmet you buy shows clearly what activity it has been tested for. If you have any questions, contact the manufacturer.
Helmets for winter sports:

Hockey - Hockey helmets are the multiple-impact kind, designed to protect your head in many falls to the ice and collisions with the boards. Hockey helmets also cover more of the back of the head. This is important for the kind of falls that often happen on ice and snow. Hockey helmets are also recommended for ice skating, and tobogganing. Hockey helmets are regulated by federal law in Canada and should always have the CSA label.

Skiing and snowboarding - We recommend a ski helmet. These are usually designed as single-impact helmets. They cover more of the back of the head, compared to a bike helmet. This is important because backwards falls are more common in snow sports than with cycling. Look for certification from Snell or ASTM.

Beachy Flower Pots

Another way to recycle glass jars.

Jane Market Bag: Sewing Pattern Download

The perfect bag for shopping in Wasaga Beach! Get the download HERE.

Arbour Day Tree Sale

WBRP - details here. Tree sale details above. Click to enlarge.

Remember this equation:

3 Trees/Family/Year/ for 10 Years = 500,000 Trees

Plant A Vertical Garden

Wouldn't this be absolutely incredible on homes in Wasaga Beach? More examples here, here, here, here and here.

Make Beach Lanterns

Details on how to make glass jar lanterns here. Excellent step by step instructions here. More photos here and beach lantern inspiration here. A design smart way to recycle!

Beach Bag: Make Your Own

By the sea, by the sea, by the beautiful sea. Beautiful bags to match your deck chairs, espadrilles, and razzeteurs. Roomy enough (21" x 13" x 4") to hold your towel, cover-up, sunscreen, water bottle, favorite magazine, mp3, and cash...With an inside pocket, Velcro closure, and a perky little bow on the outside. $58 U.S. or, you could repurpose and recycle some old clean clothes and make your own! Send us your finished projects and we'll show the town!

How to DIY

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