Update: Go for the Gold(fish)

Aug 04, 2008

Our 150 foot slough was 'stocked' with 24 goldfish this spring.  We also have an abundance of spring peeper frogs/tadpoles. 

When the entomology department checked it for mosquito larvae a minimal number were found.  They credit this to our fish/frog combination.

We like to add that we have attracted a Great Blue Heron to the pond who has enjoyed fishing.  This has resulted in some restocking!

The local pet stores tell us an added benefit of people using goldfish in outdoor ponds; with our cold winters they must be brought indoors and this is alreading resulting in the sales of aquariums and supplies.  Just what is the benefit?  Research shows us that just looking at fish swimming in a aquarium lowers stress and blood pressure. 

Update:Victory Garden, the War on CO2 & Thank You Very Mulch

Aug 04, 2008

Over 100 families have planted gardens ranging in size from 1 acre to a single tomato pot on a patio.  We are working on calculating the total impact of these gardens (and snacking on some fresh local produce to keep our minds sharpe!!)

Most of the families used conservation methods in their gardens.  A few did not have compost piles and used commercial  fertilizers.

We are happy to report that 30 city 1/4 acre lots and a  total 10 acres of 'country' lawn owners  refrained from using commercial chemical fertilizers on their lawns.

17.5 acres= 7,087.5 pounds of CO2 reduced

Update:Moo-ve Over & Feel Baaa-d about Mowers

Aug 04, 2008

Approximately 150 hours of lawnmower free emissions

522 pounds of CO2 reduced

Update: Leafing C02 Behind

Aug 04, 2008

We are happy to report 200 more trees have been safely tucked into the ground and are hard at work making a cleaner environment for us all while we are sleeping

200 trees = 146,000kg or 321,200lbs C02 removed

Tree CO2 removal total: 1,149,750kg or 2,529,450 lbs

Project: Interview With the Bears

Aug 04, 2008

In 2005, CancerCare Manitoba Foundation designed a fund-raising event.  Knowing that Manitoba is famous among nature lovers around the world, and that our capital city was the inspiration for one of the most beloved bears in children’s literature, Winnie-the-Pooh, they commissioned 62, seven-foot concrete bears.    Artist Richard Osen used Debby, at that time 38 years young and still possessing her svelte models body, as his maquette.

The artists gathered together in one building and painted each polar bear with their individual design.  On the morning of May 26^th the bears emerged from ‘hibernation’ and were displayed on Winnipeg’s famous Broadway Avenue.

For this project we wanted to interview people on the streets of Winnipeg about their knowledge of climate change, polar bears, and what they are doing to be ‘green’.  We thought, ‘what better place to stage these impromptu talks than by the bears!’

Armed with camera and questions we headed out to Broadway to talk to Winnipeggers.  These sessions allowed us opportunity to educate and encourage participation in the greening of Winnipeg.  (no small undertaking, since with six months of snow we are also known as Winterpeg)

Pictures to follow

Debby, Winnipegs' Bear

Aug 02, 2008

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It is with great sadness that we report on the failing health of Debby, the oldest polar bear in captivity (41+ years).  From her arrival in our Centennial year, as an orphaned cub from Russia, to her survival into the Year of the Polar Bear, Debby has been an outstanding ambassador for not only the Assiniboine Park Zoo but for her wild counterparts in the five Polar Bear regions of the globe.

An approximate 18 million zoo visitors have admired Debby as a representative of her species and as a quiet spokesbear symbolizing the delicate balance between man and our environment. 

For the time of its inception in the 1950’s Debby’s housing was regarded as cutting edge zoo enclosure technology, with its absence of bars and open moat water area.  More than fifty years later conservationists have expanded that vision. From observing bears like Debby we have learned that housing should reflect, as closely as possible, the animals’ natural habitat.

It will be many years before Winnipeg will find a replacement for Debby.  Mike Stevens, chairman and president of the Zoological Society of Manitoba, states; “We’re not going to do a quick fix, because we don’t think that will do justice to the zoo or the animal.  What we want to have is a facility that will be aligned with a northern community and will have an underwater environment people can view.”

Polar Bears International has been supportive in the effort to build an interactive polar bear facility that would, once again, set world standards.

We celebrate the long life of Debby and send our prayers and well wishes to the staff of our zoo at this time.

Team Canuck Nanooks will dedicate the proceeds of our ‘More Cents for the Environment’ to PBI and the Assiniboine Park Zoo.

to learn more about Debby and her home at the Assinboine Park Zoo visit www.zoosociety.com

Project: Go For the Gold(fish)

Jul 01, 2008

Many acres in our municipality are marginally productive and returning them to functioning wetlands would provide ecological, economic, water purification and recreational benefits.

We are encouraging neighborhood ponds with native wildflowers and annual seeding to provide food for wildlife.  Working with our local pet store we are designing a coupon where backyard and retention pond owners can purchase goldfish at a discount as an environmentally friendly way to reduce mosquito larvae in their ponds.

The National Wildlife Federation has great information on making your yard wildlife and environmentally friendly.  Once your habitat is certified by NWF, you can order and display an attractive Certified Wildlife Habitat sign to convey your commitment to wildlife conservation and the environment, and help spread the word to your neighbors.

 Why should I create a NWF Certified Wildlife Habitat?

1.      It's fun! Watching wildlife in action can be fun and relaxing for everyone. Your habitat may attract beautiful songbirds, butterflies, frogs, and other interesting wildlife for viewing from your very own window.

2.      Curb appeal! Replacing grass lawns with native wildflowers, shrubs, and trees will increase the beauty of your property and provide a nurturing refuge for wildlife.

3.      Bring wildlife home! Restoring habitats where commercial and residential development have degraded natural ecosystems can be your way of giving back to wildlife.

4.      Eco-friendly! Gardening practices that help wildlife, like reducing the use of chemicals, conserving energy and water, and composting also help to improve air, water and soil quality.

5.      Community! Gardening for wildlife can help you share your love of wildlife with your neighbors and help them get involved in creating a home for wildlife.  (From NWF Certified Wildlife Habitat) 

National Wildlife Federation http://www.nwf.org/backyard/

Project: Thank You Very Mulch

Jun 27, 2008

Mulch is simply a protective layer of organic (grass clippings, straw, bark chips) or inorganic (stones, plastic, brick chips) material that is spread on top of the soil

·        Protects from erosion

·       Conserves moisture and reduces need for watering

·        Prevents weed growth

·        Maintains an even soil temperature

As organic mulches decompose they keep the soil loose and this improves water filtration and water-holding capacity of the soil and improves root growth.  Organic matter supports a friendly environment for beneficial soil organisms and earthworms.

For this project we encourage those who planted gardens (Project: Victory Garden, the War on CO₂) to use conservation methods in tending.  We are also talking with local farmers to embrace conservation tillage to create mulch on the soil surface.  This also helps hold carbon in the soil and aids in reducing greenhouse gases.

Fertilizing one acre of lawn at the recommended rate of 137 pounds per acre results in 405 pounds of CO₂ equivalent emission.  (This is like driving the family sedan 440 miles)

Project: Victory Garden, the War on CO2

Jun 27, 2008

During world war I & II families were encourage to do their part for the war effort and plant gardens to help with food shortages. Today most North Americans’ meals are produced in five different countries.  The transportation of food represents more than 20% of total commodity transport. 

To produce one pound of beef 2,500 gallons of water are needed.  Cows produce methane (livestock are responsible for 20% of this  #2 greenhouse gas) and play a role in the pollution of water resources.

For this project we encouraged families to plant gardens of all sizes, even container pots for tomatoes and cucumbers.  Decorative flower gardens invite healthy insects for natural pest control, and bees mean honey. To reduce CO₂ released from areoplanes, trucks, trains, cargo ships, eat food that is in season, organic and grown locally.  While acknowledging that beef is a good source of protein and vitamins; going vegetarian one day a week is a great rest for both your body and the environment.

Go to ams.usda.gov/farmersmarket -- to find the farmers' market nearest you

Leafing C02 Behind: update

Jun 18, 2008

Taking an exam break we put another 200 trees into the ground

200 trees = 146,000 kg of carbon dioxide removed

 Total 857,750 kg or 1,887,050 lbsof carbon dioxide removed

This week we will survey our 'city' friends to see how many ornamentals they planted over the weekend

Moo-ve Over & Feel Baaa-d about Mowers

Jun 17, 2008

Gas and electric lawn mowers contribute to air pollution. Whether gas-powered or electric, lawn mowers have a large collective impact. Gas mowers generate emissions directly, electric mowers, indirectly in the form of power-plant emissions.

The Environmental Protection Agency states that 25 hours worth of mowing produces

·        87 pounds CO₂

·        48 pounds CO

·        5.6 pounds Volatile Organic Compounds

·        0.25 NO

·        0.02 SO₂

·        0.02 pounds of particulate matter linked to heart disease and lung cancer

These play a prime role in the formation of low-level ozone, smog, and acid rain. This is the equivalent of 43 new cars driving 12,000 miles each.

More than 17 million gallons of fuel are spilled during refueling of mowers in the U.S. alone!

Grass clippings pile up in landfills. A 1,000-square-foot lawn can generate about 300 pounds of clippings a year. Multiply that by a typical suburban neighborhood and you can quickly see the implications.

There is no doubt in our mind that gas mowers are not environmentally friendly.  Our dilemma is that push mowing, while good for both you and the environment, is not too practical when many acres are involved. 

Small landholders in our municipality have been encouraged to

·        Plant natural ‘islands’ of tress and bushes for reduction of grass and encourage habitat for wildlife

·        Let portions of your property grow ‘wild’ or plant wildflowers

·        Leave your grass longer

·        Tether sheep, goats and cows for natural grass trimming

·        Mulch or compost clippings

We are happy to report that, thus far, 25 acres in our ‘neighborhood’ are growing longer (it helps that our mower wasn’t working!), being sheared by sheep, goats, and horses and are part of a large ‘naturalizing’ tree and bush planting.

This represents 12.5 hours of mowing time/week saved or 174 pounds of CO₂   monthly.

http://www.mowdownpollution.ca

More Cents for the Environment

Jun 06, 2008

Coins have a lifespan of 30 or more years, unlike bills.  In the U.S. there is an estimated $10 billion in coins hidden in your sofa or sitting unused.  Putting even 10% back into circulation has huge environmental impacts.  Reusing 15 billion coins translates into the following estimated environmental saving equivalencies

·        Water from 82 million showers

·        Energy from 4.1 million 60-watt light bulbs

·        Carbon emission reduction from 12,619 cars for a year

·        5.3 million pick-up truck loads of waste material

Each ton of copper mined to produce coins results in 400-600 tonnes of waste material

Schools in our community were contacted with information about More Cents for the Environment.  Participants were supplied with a recycled 5 gallon H₂O container to collect pennies and assorted change.  At the beginning of December these containers will be collected, the change rolled and the proceeds to PBI and the Assinboine Park Zoo for a new Polar Bear Enclosure.  Schools will receive notice of their impact.

Each 5-gallon container has the following impact

·        H₂0 Consumption 12,952l

·        Energy 255.7 kWh

·        Geological Waste 19,9888 lbs

To determine how much you can cash in and help the earth use the following calculator as Change for our Earth dot Com

Project: Leafing C02 Behind

Jun 06, 2008

As part of photosynthesis trees breath in carbon dioxide and convert it into stored carbon and oxygen.  (Carbon sequestration)  Not only does this offset our polluting lifestyles but also provides sustainable habitat for wildlife, and enhances the landscape.  Purchasing trees also helps support local business.

 It is estimated that one broad leaf tree will absorb approximately 730kg of carbon dioxide during its life-time (approximately 100 years).  The average person needs to save about 7,000 kg of CO₂  per year.  Planting 10 trees each year is a simple way to achieve this.

 In the first part of this project we canvassed our neighbours and encouraged them to plant trees for shelterbelts and hedgerows.  Trees were purchased from a local business that grows them as an alternative renewable fuel source.  Over a span of 2 weeks 975 broadleaf trees were planted.

 Part two of this project is promoting homeowners with smaller property to plant ornamental and fruit trees.

 975 trees = 711,750 kg or 1,565,850 lbs of carbon dioxide removed