Committing to Change

How many of you have dreamed of having a hobby farm? A few acres, a horse, some sheep, some chickens. If you are anything like me and the people I seem to be around then you have. So many of us have the dream and yet so few are able to commit to it or make it part of their reality.

Commune. The word conjures up many different ideas.
Co-op. Again all sorts of thoughts and preconceptions come to mind.

Is it possible for people to work together for a common goal? Do you want to? Because I do. I would love to build something that people could take part in and create with me.

What would it look like for you? What do you need? What would you like to see? Can we make your dreams come true?

For me it would be a large property (there’s 80 acres for sale that is about 15 min outside of Kamloops). It would have water, lots of it, for irrigation of pasture land and gardens. It would have flat areas and sloped areas, open areas and treed areas. There would be a creek with a willow on it’s banks who’s leaves dipped into the water late in the summer.

We would put up fences for our Jersey cows and sheep. We would let our ponies and horses run free in the pasture knowing they would happily come back to us when needed to pull the plow. We would sculpt the earth and fill it with permanent plantings which would feed our families for generations to come. We would camp out under the stars while we built a straw bale house together and dance under the same stars as we celebrated moving in day for the first family.  Our chickens would run free in the yard snacking on our compost and seaweed we gathered from the coast. We would put up a barn and hay shed as the winter winds drew near.

And oh so much more but as with anything worth while doing it requires work. And commitment. And vision. And determination. We can do this all we need to do is commit.

Want to read more about our plan? visit Kamloops Family Eco-Village

Critical Mass Kamloops

February 26, 2010
4:00 pmto5:00 pm

It’s Love Month and I loooooove my bicycle! Do you?

Friday is Critical Mass! Bring your loved ones and your bikes and lets get our ride on.

We meet at 4:00pm in Riverside Park by the tennis courts, you got any questions or concerns feel free to contact me. Need a bike for the ride? We’ll find one for you. Happy riding folks, see you on Friday!

Green Drinks

February 1, 2010
5:30 pmto7:00 pm
March 1, 2010
5:30 pmto7:30 pm
April 5, 2010
5:30 pmto7:30 pm

First Monday of every month at The Art We Are

Every month people with an interest in environmental conservation meet up for a beer at informal sessions known as Green Drinks.

It’s a great way of catching up with people you know and also for making new contacts.

Seedy Saturday

March 6, 2010
10:00 amto1:00 pm

Location: Heritage House, 100 Lorne Street
Time: 10-3:00 Saturday, March 6, 2010

If you’d like a booth:
Contact person: Fawn Knox
Email: fknox@telus.net
Phone: 250.579.5768
Contact person: Leslie Welch
Email: fknox@telus.net
Phone: 250.828.2321
Sponsor: Friends of the New Victory Gardens

Seminars:

Soil Fertility — Leslie Welch 1:00

Worm Composting — Penny Powers 1:00

Prevent Pests Naturally — Leslie Welch 1:45

Planting the Veggie Garden — Jo-Lynn Forbes 1:45

Must-grow Vegetables — Ann Sutherland 2:30

Herbs — Janet Kernachan 2:30

Garden Seminars presented by the Master Gardeners & Local Experts

Refreshments will be available, kid activities are planned and door prizes will be drawn. Fun for all.

Earthcare Kamloops Vegetarian Potluck

February 28, 2010
5:30 pmto7:30 pm
Sunday February 28, 2010
Doors open at 5:30 dinner at 6pm
520D Seymour St, Interior Community Services, beside Moviemart

Please bring:
A Vegetarian or Vegan dish** for about 8 people
Eggs and dairy are ok
Recipe or list of ingredients is mandatory
Your own plate, cutlery, and cup
A suggested $3 donation
Your own creative Nametag

**Prizes for Best Dish, Best Dessert**

After dinner:  ”Sustainable Groceries…Deciphering Food Labels, Nutritional Claims & Eco-Green Packaging” By Alex Proctor, owner, Made With Love Delectable Edibles www.madewithlove.ca

Earthcare Kamloops is a non-profit group of caring citizens who promote a plant-based diet, and support sustainable, local farming practices.  We strive to create a healthier, more connected community by discussing environmental and health issues at our monthly Vegetarian potlucks. (last Sunday of month,Sept-May)

Kamloops Food Policy Council – AGM

February 22, 2010
5:30 pmto8:00 pm

Monday Feb 22, 2010

5:30 pm
Henry Grube Education Centre

245 Kitchener Cres
Room 1A

5:30 pm
Kamloops Food Policy Annual General Meeting and Potluck

7:00 -7:30 pm
Presentation by Rose Soneff, Program Manager for Community Capacity
Building an initiative of the BC Healthy Living Alliance led by the Canadian Cancer Society.

AGM Meeting:

  1. Membership verification (membership dues up-to-date)
  2. Executive Members Report
    Executive Co-chairs, Paula Rubinson/Laura Kalina
    Treasurer, Laura Kalina
  3. Working Group Reports
    • Food Policy/ City of Kamloops Social Plan (Laura and Jenn)
    • Community Gardens (Vera)
    • Heartland Foods/FNALA  ( Lesley)
    • Community Mapping (Dave)
    • Urban Agriculture
    • Urban Hens (Bonnie)
    • Seed Saving (Fawn Knox)
    • Election of Executive – New Slate 2010
  4. Slate:
    • Chair
    • Past Chair
    • Treasurer
    • Secretary
    • Directors (3-4)
  5. Adjournment

Building a Network (there are so many ‘green’ groups)

March 4, 2010
7:00 pmto9:00 pm
    WHAT: Organizational meeting for a Kamloops sustainability network (we need a name for it too!)

    WHEN: Thursday, March 4, 2010 at TRUSU Boardroom, TRU from 7 pm to 9 pm

    WHO: Clubs, NGO’s, faith groups, government ministries: anyone concerned about the health of the earth in general and the Kamloops area in particular – at least one representative per group. Unaffiliated Individuals are welcome as well.

    WHY: Kamloops has many environmental, sustainability and other “greenish” clubs and organizations that often have overlapping interests.  Better communication would facilitate collaboration and a stronger, more unified voice on community issues.

    PURPOSE: What do you want this network to look like?  How would it ideally function?  Help us brainstorm a vision for connectivity and then formulate a plan to implement it.

Please RVSP attendance to the-cap@shaw.ca

Community Changes

If you have ever wanted to talk about and share your heart’s passion, the work you do in community, and or the  community projects that your are involved in Kim Jensen hosts a Spoken Word/Talk show on CFBX 92.5 FM Campus Community radio called “Community Connections”.   It’s on every Wednesday afternoon from 3 – 4 pm.  She talks about everything and anything to do with community.

She has put out the all to anyone working in the community to join her for some informal conversation. She does live and telephone interviews. She is in the midst of  planning for the new year so if you are interested in being a guest on my show please let her know which Wednesday in 2010 would work best for you if you’re able to come into the studio from about 2:45 – 4:15 pm.

Contact her at  inchange(at)telus.net
ph. 250-374-6614

4th Annual Arts, Health and Wellness Expo

February 6, 2010
10:00 amto4:00 pm

Saturday, February 6th, 2010
10am to 4pm

Clearwater Secondary School

For more information or to reserve a booth:
Cindy: (250)-674-2939 / Cheryl: 674-3260

Or email: cfesevents(at)yahoo.ca