By Jim Cooperman — The pandemic has been a massive shock to humanity, and as a result, there may never be a return to the same lifestyle we have always deemed normal. In fact, the disease has exposed all the flaws in our society, and thus, it could become a catalyst for the changes needed to improve our lives. While most of the key decisions are made in Ottawa and Victoria, there are ways that regions like the British Columbia interior can change for the better. The goal posts are shifting. For too long the mantra of continuous growth has…
Author: thegreengazette
By Terri Smith – I believe creativity is important. When we are creating, we are living in the moment. The worries and cares of life can be set aside, and we can allow ourselves to be captivated by a sense of wonder and excitement. I believed this was important even before the world as we knew it came to a standstill. Now that so much is so uncertain, I believe it is still important, perhaps now more than ever. I have been teaching needle-felting classes for over two years and have been felting for a little over a decade. I…
By Ryan Elizabeth Cope — The coronavirus pandemic came at everyone like a freak storm arising out of nothing. Even for those self-reliant with backyard or terrace gardens, the DIYers of the world, or the homesteading types, physical distancing rules and myriad restrictions and shortages threw everybody for a loop. Although we have fared better than some places, here in BC, we have not been without our share of illness and tragedy. With spring and summer come themes of renewal, rejuvenation, and new life. These past few months have been fraught with anxiety, uncertainty, and lots of unease, but we’ve…
By Pat Teti — Who would have thought that toilet paper and baking yeast would be two of the most talked about items in short supply during a pandemic? The surge in home baking has been a positive outcome during an otherwise grim situation, but the difficulty of finding yeast seems to have thwarted some baking plans. This got me thinking about ways of using less commercial yeast and inspired me to review my favourite recipes and experiment with new ones. In this article, I describe four strategies for being less dependent on commercial baking yeast while also expanding your…
By Ron Young — British Berkefeld or “Berkey” water systems have been around since the 1890s and are commonly used as the water purification system of choice by first responders to disaster areas where clean water and power are unavailable. One of the many advantages of the Berkey systems is they work without power because they use gravity to deliver the purified water from the top canister to the bottom canister. Notice I am saying purified water, and not just filtered water. There is an important difference. You can filter water just putting it through a coffee filter, but purified…
By Tera Grady — Part of the Cariboo Regional District’s Solid Waste Info Series: Becoming Waste Wise Note: *Reminder to take advantage of our SALE on composters ($40), countertop containers ($5). This deal is available to all Cariboo residents while supplies last. Only one of each product available per customer. To sign up please complete the order form HERE. Learn more about the products at www.earthmachine.com or www.sure-close.com. Spring and summer are the perfect time to start composting or ramp up production of nutrient rich soil in your existing compost pile. A healthy compost pile will be moist, have a…
By David Suzuki – In early 1995, eight grey wolves were transferred from Jasper National Park in Alberta to Yellowstone National Park in the Unites States. Within two years, 23 more were brought in. The last wolves in Yellowstone had been killed in the 1920s. What happened next was remarkable. Over time, the wolves not only reduced rapidly increasing elk populations, but also caused elk and deer to move away from valley bottoms and riverbanks where they were easy prey. Deer and elk populations levelled off, new growth came in along rivers and valleys—attracting a wide variety of wildlife—and rivers…
By Guy Dauncey — Who are we? And where are we going on this tiny planet of ours, this bright sparkle of life in a Universe so ridiculously vast? It’s a question worth exploring, if you have ten minutes in your busy COVID day. Almost all scientists assume that the Universe is a solidly material realm, consisting of packages of atoms that have, by the happenstance of chance, turned themselves into polar bears and poets. We may have come from stardust, but we have no inherent direction or purpose. Where are we going? You might as well ask what a…
Vancouver’s Green Technology Education Centre (GTEC) is releasing its Rebuilding BC report to the BC government. Rebuilding BC is the work of a group of prominent environmentalists and economists in consultation with community leaders such as Ted Sheldon and Coro Strandberg. The report makes 24 recommendations to guide recovery in areas of the economy ranging from affordable housing to forestry. The report’s primary recommendation is the formation of a Resilient Recovery Action Team charged with developing stimulus measures that move BC in the direction of a more sustainable, just, and resilient economy. Rebuilding BC’s key recommendations also include: Employ up…
Rocky Mountain Books is pleased to announce its new titles for Fall 2020, featuring Canadian stories covering a broad spectrum of nature, storytelling, and outdoor adventure. RMB is proud to offer a diverse list of titles by authors creating memorable books that captivate readers and inspire us all to “Think Outside.” Takaya: Lone Wolf By Cheryl Alexander An enchanting and evocative look at the unique relationship between a solitary, island-dwelling wolf and a renowned wildlife photographer. Through journal entries, interviews, and a stunning collection of photography, Takaya: Lone Wolf addresses a number of profound questions and tells a story that…
By Sasha Makhnevea — I worked hard for four years and received my bachelor’s degree in environmental science in the spring of 2019. But the week after graduation, I began a new stage of life that I call my ‘post graduate depression.’ After graduation, I wasn’t sure what kind of jobs I could find with my degree. All I knew was that I enjoyed variety. For about half a year, I stayed with my five part-time jobs: bartending, banquet serving, background acting, promoting brands, and assisting with events. Having a bachelor’s degree gave me an environmental perspective on the event…
By Jordan Davis, Executive Director, Downtown Williams Lake BIA — There are many things I have been thinking of over the past months of dealing with COVID-19. First of all, I am very proud of our downtown business community. In BC, and particularly in our area, we didn’t have the same strict shut down of non-essential businesses that happened in other regions. While some local business operations unfortunately were deeply affected or closed their doors this spring, many others found creative ways to adapt to the crisis. With circumstances ever-changing, we don’t know how the business landscape will evolve as…
By Amy Quarry, Owner, Long Table Grocery — “If we want a garden We’re gonna have to sow the seed Plant a little happiness Let the roots run deep. If it’s love that we give Then it’s love that we reap If we want a garden We’re gonna have to sow the seed.” Lyrics from “Crowded Table” by The Highwomen A few weeks ago at our weekly Zoom jam night, a friend played this gorgeous song by The Highwomen, and it resonated so deeply with me. During these new and wild times we find ourselves in, I think it is…
By Amber Gregg, Cariboo Chilcotin Conservation Society — I am writing this in spring 2020, amid the COVID-19 craziness. I don’t know where we will be by the summer when this article is published. Maybe by then we will have put terms like quarantine and social distancing behind us and resumed our normal lives, or perhaps we are adjusting to a new way of life. I am very aware that for many people, this pandemic has caused both mental and physical challenges, and possibly financial hardship and increased food security concerns. That said, I have been impressed by what I…
Bi-annual Garden Tour Going Ahead July 11 — After much discussion, the Williams Lake Garden Club has decided to go ahead with its bi-annual, self-guided garden tour. If you like flowers, mark July 11 (10 a.m.to 4 p.m.) on your calendar. The tour showcases the region’s loveliest flower gardens in Russett Bluff and Williams Lake proper. Participation is by donation and jars will be available at each garden. Tickets are recommended and can be reserved by contacting Nola at (250) 392-6858. Tickets will be emailed or mailed and include a map showing the location and description of each garden. At…
By Margaret-Anne Enders — I’m sure you have heard it said at least once during the past couple of months of pandemic time—this is a time of great possibility. People say it with hope, with excitement, with the keenness of a new idea. Let’s be honest, though. This is nothing new. It has always been a time of great possibility. It’s just that we can see it more clearly now that the “normal” lenses have been knocked off of our faces. People are open to both the possibility and the necessity of change. There is no denying the need for…
By Jessica Kirby — The talk of the town is isolation and restrictions. When will it end? What will new normal look like? Since no one really knows for sure, it might make better sense to stay present and see what we can learn. The most important thing that comes from this will be whether we—meaning governments, health authorities, the human race—take heed of the lessons that abound in this scenario and apply them in preparing for next time. Because there will be a next time. It might be another pandemic or a global catastrophe, or an environmental crisis, or…
By Erin Hitchcock — The COVID-19 pandemic has threatened our lives and transformed how we live. It also places our economic security at risk, especially for those most vulnerable. As a result, food security is increasingly becoming that much more important. Outbreaks at meat processing facilities in Alberta and the United States, at an Okanagan farm, and at a Saskatchewan grocery store have pushed the issue of food security front and centre—if COVID-19 continues to affect the places we currently rely on for food, it will dramatically disturb the food supply chain for all of us. The virus is a…
By Tim Vant – I have fond memories of growing up in the Cariboo region—as a child, running through birch leaves and admiring the papery bark and the myriad of colours brought on by leaves, wildflowers, and grasses. Every bumblebee was a delight, and every fuzzy black and orange caterpillar a new joyful discovery. Today, the same stand of birch trees we played in has been chopped down to make way for development. Are there better ways to preserve existing greenspace as Earth day turns 50 this year? As plastic production and consumption ramp up to unprecedented levels can we,…