Pollution. It's in you.

Pollution. It's in you.

Pollution. It's in you.

That's the tag line for the Environmental Defence campaign "Toxic Nation"

Pollution is not just a cloud of chemicals spewing from car exhausts or the nearby industrial plant. It is also found in our bodies. It comes from the air, soil, food, and the products we use. The list is long- and scary. (Another list here)

The Toxic Nation campaign strives to change policies to minimize these pollutants, conduct studies to expose the risks of these pollutants to Canadians and put together resources to help Canadians make more informed, healthy choices about the products we use- from shampoo to curtains, to pj's.

Did you know?

Major gaps in public health laws allow cosmetics companies to use almost any ingredient they choose in everything from sunscreen and mascara to deodorant and baby shampoo, with no restrictions and no requirement for safety testing.

Alternative: The U.S.-based Environmental Working Group has created the Skin Deep: Cosmetic Safety Database. This database allows you to search almost any makeup, skin, hair, eye, nails, baby, oral care, sun protection, and other products to see what their ingredients are and how toxic they are. It rates them on a scale of 0-10 (o is good!). One warning: some companies have different ingredients in the American and Canadian versions of their products- so be sure to double check the labels at the store!

Did you know?

A large and growing body of scientific research links exposure to toxic chemicals to many ailments that plague people, including several forms of cancer,reproductive problems and birth defects, respiratory illnesses such as asthma and neuro-developmental disorders such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

So what can you do?

Some of the most serious toxins in our lives come from hidden ingredients in the everyday consumer products found in our homes. The good news is that there are simple steps we can all take to reduce our exposure.

Ten Ways to Detoxify Your Home

(more details on each recommendation by clicking here)
Recommendations from the authors of Slow Death by Rubber Duck

1. Reduce non-stick products and stain repellents
2. Cut PVC plastic and fragrances
3. Eliminate Flame retardants in fabrics
4. Don’t use hard plastic containers
5. Eat Organic food
6. Have some fish in moderation
7. Stop using antibacterial products
8. Use natural household cleaning products
9. Call the companies
10. Express your concerns to your MP & MPP

Want to learn more?

• Your Healthy House: recipes for cleaners made from common kitchen ingredients
• EcoEthic: a Canadian line of environmentally friendly cleaners
• Environmental Working Group: Skin Deep: Cosmetic Safety Database
• Slow Death by Rubber Duck: an eye-opening book by Rick Smith and Bruce Lourie. Worth checking out! Lots of resources on this page too.
• David Suzuki Foundation campaign "Dirty Dozen"
• Environmental Defence: "Just Beautiful" campaign
• Environmental Defence: "Toxic Nation" campaign
• The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics
• YWCA Muskoka Chemicals & Cosmetics: has 2 'zines to help you navigate the world of safe cosmetics

Happy Earth Day!!

Earth Day is April 22!

What will you do to celebrate?

How can your actions last longer than just one day?

Here are some ideas:

In Huntsville, there is the "Greening Huntsville" initiative. It includes:

• 2 Street Sweeps: April 21


• Urban Strretscape Tree Planting Program


• Free Compost at Madil Church Yard (April 21)


• Roadside Clean-up (April 30)


• Neighbourhood Clean-up


• Free Garage Sale (May 7)

Some Muskoka-wide events:

• Native Plant Sale: pre-order before May 9, pick-up in Huntsville, Bracebridge, or Bala on May 14.



• Biodiversity Day: A fun day for the family on May 22 at Brooklands Farm near Milford Bay



• Muskoka Envirocredits: emissions offset program plants trees in Muskoka



• 3rd Annual Amazing Race: Come out August 13th as a volunteer or participant for fun and to support the Muskoka Trails Council



• Participate in the Muskoka Stewardship Program to live more sustainably on your land.
  One of the best things you can do to celebrate Earth Day is to "Give it up for Earth Day. That means helping to create a healthier world by making some changes in your daily routine. Some examples are:


• Eating less (or no) meat in your diet. If you are really ready for change, you could try veganism.


• Reduce the amount of "things" you buy- especially when lots of plastic packaging is involved.


• Turn off the TV and get outside!


• Cut out toxic chemicals from your home (watch for an upcoming blog post about this)


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  Challenge your friends and family to follow in your Earth Day footsteps

Have you decided to "Give it Up for Earth Day"?

There are prizes, materials, answers to your questions, and a community of like-minded people at Earth Day Canada's "Give it Up for Earth Day" Challenge.

Muskoka's Native Plants

Spring is here - and so is the Muskoka Heritage Foundation Annual Native Tree & Shrub Sale!

Wild Columbine Aquilegia canadensis

This flowering plant is drought tolerant and likes sand or loam soil types with partial or full sun- and it's so pretty! It attracts birds, hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies which makes it useful in the oh-so-important pollination.

Staghorn sumach Rhus typhina

Spectacular red, edible, and showy seeds on this shrub. It likes clay, sand, and loam soils, partial or full sun, and normal to dry moisture.

Butterfly weed Asclespias tuberosa This red/orange flowering plant attracts pollinators and is also drought resistant.

Bear berry Artostaphylos uva-ursi This native ground cover is suitable for your shoreline restoration projects, in the riparian area. it is drought and salt resistant. It also attracts pollinators and adds a splash of colour to your garden!

I wrote last spring about why native plants are important for your gardening projects. Who can resist a garden that is colourful, disease and pest resistant, low maintenance, and provide habitat for wildlife? It just makes good sense!

WHAT YOU SHOULD CONSIDER WHEN PLANNING YOUR GARDEN THIS SPRING:

• Duplicate natural growing conditions


• Consider soil type, moisture, sunlight, wind


• Take clues from what is already growing

WANT TO KNOW MORE?:

• More tips on starting your own native plant garden


• Tips for choosing native species: wildflowers, trees, & shrubs


• Not sure if it's a native species? check the native plant database


• Problems with deer? Check out these deer resistant gardening techniques


• Need planting tips? Check out this information sheet

ORDER PLANTS:

• Orders must be placed by May 9th (email form or call in)


• Pick up your order in Huntsville, Bracebridge, or Bala on May 14, 2011


• Special workshops and information available at Bracebridge location

Happy Gardening!

Signs of Spring

Spring was definitely in the air this weekend!

What did you do to enjoy it?

Did you remember your camera?

Submit your photos to the Muskoka Heritage Foundation "Spring to Life" Photography Contest

I noticed some sure signs of spring when I was out during the past week:

The ice is melting and shifting on Lake Rosseau

New growth and buds on this Red Maple in Annie Williams Park, Bracebridge

The river is free of ice, most of the snow has melted, and buds are starting to appear on the trees in Annie Williams Park in Bracebridge.

All the details you need to enter the "Spring to Life" Photography contest can be found here or on the blog post from last week.

There are some great prizes! Deadline for entry is this Friday, April 8, 2011

Spring to Life! Photo Contest

Spring to Life! Amateur Photography Contest

A celebration of Muskoka’s environment and the global Earth Hour and Earth Day initiatives.

Frogs, toads, snakes, and turtles emerge! Photo Rebecca Francis

Scour your backyard, nearby lakes, swamps, woodlands, and neighbourhoods for the unique found-only-in Muskoka shot of the local environment as it comes to life after a long, sleepy winter.

What we're looking for are photographs that exemplify the signs of spring in Muskoka. What comes to mind when you think of spring? What feelings do you experience when "spring is in the air"?

Critters like chipmunks come out and robins and red-winged blackbirds return. Swollen buds take over the tips of branches and clothes can be hung on the line. For each person spring shows up in different, subtle ways. Photograph submissions should reflect your personal experience of the transition from winter to spring- and our enjoyment of that special time. The snow melts and we can once again see the forest floor. Ground covers sprout up and woodland pools foster lots of life. Photo: Rebecca Francis

1st Prize! An in-flight aerial photography lesson with professional photographer Paul Bennett. Visit http://www.paulbennettphotography.com/.

2nd Prize! A one-year subscription to the Wednesday edition of your choice, The Gravenhurst Banner, The Huntsville Forester or The Bracebridge Examiner.

3rd Prize! A one-year membership with the Muskoka Heritage Foundation and a copy of the MHF DVD entitled Life on the Edge: Stories of Muskoka’s Past.

Ducks and other birds return from their winter away. photo: Greg Francis

Criteria

• Open to amateur photographers


• Contest starts same day as Earth Hour— March 26


• Entries must be submitted by 4:00 p.m. April 8


• Email entry to events@muskokaheritage.org


• Photos must be at least 300 dpi and 8 inches wide


• To be eligible, submissions must include the name of the photographer and a brief description of the photo, including where it was shot in Muskoka


• 1st, 2nd and 3rd prize photos will be published in the April 20th, edition of Metroland’s local Wednesday papers (The Gravenhurst Banner, The Huntsville Forester, The Bracebridge Examiner) - 2 days before Earth Day!


• Winning photos will be published on the Muskoka Heritage Foundation website


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  Metroland Media Inc. and the Muskoka Heritage Foundation reserve the right to reproduce submissions

Get outside, take your shots, and enter soon!!

Sponsors

Happy Earth Hour!

On Saturday, March 26 at 8:30pm millions of people around the world will be flicking their lights off in support of Earth Hour.

Earth Hour was started in 2007 by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), and this year, its fifth year, it will be more popular than ever. Earth Hour grows in popularity every year. Last year, 128 countries and territories officially participated. Famous landmarks all over the world shut off their lights to show support. Currently, Earth Hour is the largest global initiative to fight climate change and it continues to grow.

Earth Hour provides an opportunity for the global community, no matter what background you are from, to join together to conquer one of our largest obstacles; climate change. Earth Hour gives the planet an hour of respect, where everyone can participate. This year, however, the WWF is campaigning for people to go beyond the hour, and make every hour Earth Hour. Some people only participate so they aren’t the only ones on the block with their lights on; but every year Earth Hour touches new people and makes them realize that our society must change so that we are living more sustainable life styles.

This year the Muskoka Heritage Foundation will try to get this message to Muskoka youth with the MHF Earth Hour Pledge. This will give students the opportunity to MAKE THE PLEDGE! on Facebook that commits them to participating in Earth Hour 2011.

Together our actions add up.
Happy Earth Hour!

Click on the logo to join the Facebook group and make the pledge!

Maple Syrup in Muskoka

Word from hard maple stands in Muskoka is that the sap is starting to run!

Buckets on trees

Maple syrup production has a long history in Canada, beginning with aboriginal people. Check out some neat photos of some of the first sap collection techniques used here.

Tools of the trade

Remember, it's the International Year of Forests, to raise awareness on sustainable management, conservation and sustainable development of all types of forests. Maple syrup and forest health are strongly linked.

Sugar bush management involves thinning the trees to improve the health of the woodlot and the sap producing potential of individual maple trees. The development of wide and deep crowns is encouraged to support the production of large volumes of sweet sap.

The types of trees removed in improvement operations include the following:

• Non-maple species including hemlock, beech and ash which interfere with the growth of maple crop trees.
• Over-mature trees
• Diseased, dying and defective trees
• Trees producing sap with a sugar content of less than 1%

But remember, it is good practice to maintain species diversity to accommodate other values including aesthetics, wildlife and bio-diversity.

Tapping the tree

Feeding the fire to boil the syrup

Did you know?...It takes about 40 litres of Sugar Maple sap to make 1 litre of maple syrup!

Filtering the syrup

Upcoming workshop: Savour Muskoka is running a workshop at Brooklands Farm this Sunday, March 20th about maple syrup production fundamentals. For more details and a full description visit the "Stewardship Workshops and Events" page.

Want to know more?

• This Extension Note about "Backyard Maple Syrup Production" tells you more about how to produce maple syrup in your own backyard.
• This Extension Note about "Sugar Maple" trees is also helpful in learning more about this species and how to identify it.
• Atkinson Maple Syrup Supplies has some helpful info sheets on various topics.
• The Ontario Maple Syrup Producers Association has some educational resources too-- especially for children!
• Managing Maple Trees for Sap Production: resources from the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture Food and Rural Affairs.
• FAQs about maple syrup production from OMAFRA

Thanks to Ariel Zwicker for the great photos from her family maple syrup operation!