Links
The Modern Guide to Sane Living
Our first book is out. It is available on Amazon, or you can order direct from our Products page.
Start a Butterfly Pollinator Garden
In the early spring of 2021 and 2022 we sold wildflower seeds! These seeds are species native to eastern Canada and were chosen to attract butterflies and other pollinators. We also participated in the David Suzuki Butterflyway Project. Contact them for information on how you can be part of our local and national butterflyway.
Start a Bee Pollinator Garden
One of our readers, Steven, suggested this bee garden link as a good resource. Native bees are on the decline and bee gardens like the ones described in the link are a great way to create helpful habitats. We typically think of bees as they are shown in this video (I got two mild stings after recording this!) but these are honey bees (Apis mellifera) and are not native to North America. For a good primer, check out this link on native bees.
Glyphosate and Roundup
Dive into the realm of herbicides with a revealing exploration of Glyphosate and its renowned herbicide, Roundup. Unravel the controversies surrounding its impact on farming, the environment, and human health. This link delves into the intricate web of politics, corporate influence, and public outcry, offering a thought-provoking glimpse into the complex choices faced by farmers, regulators, and consumers in today’s world.
Roundup Alternatives
Pesticides have no place in healthy ecosystems. Our motivation to use them is usually a result of advertising or having seen our parents and neighbours engaged in a never-ending war with nature. Instead of aiming for perfection in lawns or gardens, we should try to achieve sustainability and resilience. To restore biodiversity, we can plant more native species suited to our location, and where invasives and unwanted species need to be managed, choose natural alternatives.
The Cumulative Effect of Pavement and Field Drainage Systems
Precipitation in the Saugeen watershed, an area that extends West to Flesherton and South to Mildmay and Ripley, empties into Lake Huron at the mouth of the Saugeen River here in Southampton.
As more of our area is developed, both for municipal growth and agriculture, less water is filtered through vegetation and undisturbed soil before finding its way into the Saugeen River. This means that there is now more road pollution, fertilizer, organic matter, animal feces, and plastic waste that ends up in the Lake. Seen from above, like in this video, the cumulative effect is clear (or rather, murky). Campaigns to promote water gardens and buffer strips throughout our watershed are the best means to keep our river and coastal ecosystems healthy.
The SVCA Arbour Day Tree Sale
The Arbour Day Tree Sale is held at the maintenance buildings at Sulphur Spring Conservation Area, off of Grey Rd. #10, south of Hanover (follow the signs). This once-a-year opportunity is available to local landowners looking to plant a limited number of trees in and around their yards.
Dates for the sale planned for 2024, and other information from the Saugeen Valley Conservation Authority, including their ongoing tree sales and planting programs, can be found here:
Tree Planting and Sales – Saugeen Valley Conservation Authority (saugeenconservation.ca)
Start Your Own Carbon-Sequestering Project
This 1998 PDF is still applicable today. It might seem intimidating, but go straight to the working examples near the end. If you have questions, head to our Contact form and we can help.
