Alberta’s Fire Emergency - Imagine How You Would Feel...Don’t Let it be You

ATTENTION: With the support of the Alberta Off-Highway Vehicle Association and due to extreme fire hazards, the Government of Alberta has issued a province-wide ban on the use of ALL recreational off-highway vehicles on public lands and provincial parks, effective immediately. This ban does not include agricultural, commercial, industrial or First Nations use. Additionally, the ban does not include camping or the use of RV’s. 

Details here: Government of Alberta Link

Imagine knowing that it was your fault, that something you thought was insignificant cost someone their home, their life or the life of a loved one. When venturing out into the backcountry this spring, remember that more than half of all wildfires in Canada are human caused and do your part to insure that human isn’t you.

By now, we’ve all seen the horrible devastation caused by forest fires in the community of Fort McMurray and area. Extremely dry conditions have set the stage for similar blazes across the province, leading the Government of Alberta to implement a province-wide fire ban. This ban is not to be taken lightly, as even a small oversight can escalate into tragedy.

Right now valuable resources are needed to deal with the situation in the Fort McMurray area and new fire outbreaks would put a significant strain on everyone involved. In this difficult time, we must all do our part to reduce the risk of forest fires in every possible situation.

Info for Campers:

The Provincial Government issued a province-wide fire ban as of May 5th. Under this ban, the following are

PROHIBITED:

• Use of ALL wood, briquette and propane or natural gas fires

• Patio heaters, turkey fryers and Tiki torches

PERMITTED:

• Liquid or gas fueled stoves and BBQs that meet the CSA  or UL standards

• Liquid or gas fueled lanterns (enclosed flame) that meet CSA or UL standards

While some camping appliances are still permitted, it is important to use caution during any activity that may increase the risk of wildfires.

The recent ban on OHV use is mandatory. When this ban ends, or if using OHV's on private land, here is some important information regarding fire prevention.

Info for Recreational Vehicle Users:

All Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) and All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV) users are encouraged to practice extreme caution when heading out this season as the fire hazard in our watershed is already high. Remember that if you are found responsible for the start of a wildfire you may be charged under the Forest and Prairie Protection Act and be held responsible for the cost of extinguishing the fire.

Here are some tips from the Alberta Government to prevent starting a wildfire while enjoying the backcountry.

• Before you ride, ensure that there is no debris build up

• Always carry a small fire extinguisher and collapsible shovel to put out small fires

• Wash your OHV regularly at a commercial car-wash or your home

• Remember that you are required to have a spark arrester on your OHV

For more information check out these helpful links:

Alberta Fire Bans by phone: 1-866-394-3473

Alberta Parks

Alberta Environment and Parks

Alberta Wildfire App for Android and IPhone

If you spot a wildfire or see an out-of-control fire call 310-FIRE (toll-free) anywhere in Alberta.

Thank you to the Crowsnest Pass Quad Squad, Southern Alberta Off Road and many others who are encouraging their members to recreate responsibility or stay home during this fire season to reduce the risks. 

Safe Drinking Water In Lethbridge - And Downstream!

(Editor's Note: The Oldman recently toured the wastewater and water treatment plants for the City of Lethbridge as part of our Film Project. Here's a little update. Do check out #oldmangoestohollywood if you are a Twitter user.)

The other day, we met with OWC's Chairman, Doug Kaupp, who is also the General Manager of Water and Wastewater for the City of Lethbridge. The City has generously sponsored the OWC Film Project as a Collaborative Partner. The OWC gets $5,000 to put toward the film-making, and the City gets three videos: one for kids, one for the public at large, and one for scientists. The Collaborative Partner gets the videos at a fraction of the commercial cost, and the Oldman gets to create invaluable educational material.

For the City's videos, we toured three main sites: the waste water treatment plant, the water treatment plant and some river locations for storm outfalls and other technology.

It's a good thing this is a story told in pictures and not in smells! ...but, here we go:

So this first picture ^^ is where all the toilet flushings and drainage from the city of Lethbridge is collected to ONE POINT. I know, it's not fluffy birdies and flowers, but it's high time you knew. Yes, it stinks to high heaven.

 

That's why I was praying that the guys didn't drop or knock their fancy-dancy camera equipment into the sludge: clearly, nobody would jump in after it to save it!

There are several stages to the process, and I'm not going to walk you through them all, but it was really interesting to find out just how much effort, science (and yes, money) goes into treating wastewaster to a condition where it can be released back into the river. It is the same stuff that fish will swim in, kids will play in ... and everybody downstream will drink (after they treat it further). (Obviously this picture shows one of the initial stages, and not the end result far down the line in wastewater treatment!)

First of all, anything that will harm the other machines is caught and removed (rocks, what have you). Then, 'tons and tons' of sand is taken out. I couldn't believe it. A lot of the sand is simply from cleaning - washing your floors, etc. Apparently, a lot of people are also forgetting their rags when they flush their dirty floor water down the drain! 

A much better idea is to use biodegradable soap and dump the sand and dirty water onto your lawn - and pick out your rag.

The picture above ^^ shows part of the process where, now that the sand has been removed, the culprits grease and hair get worked over.

Are you one of the people flushing the hair from your brush down the toilet? 

It is far better to put it in the garbage. 

The same goes for your bacon fat, cooking fat, any type of grease is a real effort to remove. 

There's a little trick, actually: use an old milk carton and pour the grease into it. Close the spout so it doesn't smell and put it in the fridge and it is easily disposable in the garbage after it has set.

This is a very complicated process.  There are ten of these"sludge pools", bubbling and working away.

In fact, this process is was pioneered in Lethbridge. The gas created in this sludging process is actually captured and used for electricity to run the plant! How tidy!

And here's a photo of "Mr. Water", Doug Kaupp, who is taking the Oldman Film Crew on a tour of the facilities and explaining the wastewater treatment process to us. Doug has a lot of responsibility for taking care of us all!

There is not an alien living in this tank. It is actually ultraviolet light, used to treat the water once it's past the sludge stage. It has a green tinge due to the algae.

On to the next stage! There are several buildings, each with it's own function, and all connected with massive pipes.

Jim MacDonald, left, is the Wastewater Plant Manager in Lethbridge. A lot of people are involved in making sure our water is clean and healthy for everyone downstream.

Great chemistry brains aren't just found on TV! Brian Thomson is the brains at the water treatment plant.  Wastewater gets treated differently than water does than stormwater does. The difference? Wastewater is downstream. It's what we put down the drain. It must go through a careful cleaning process before it is put back into the river. It all goes to users downstream. The sludge removed is what powers the plant itself, but you can help by being more careful about what you put down the drain: use biodegradable soap and pour your cleaning water in the yard; don't put hair in the sink or toilet and keep cooking fats out of the drains.  Water treatment is upstream. It's what we take in from the river flowing into the City. It has come from the headwaters in the mountains and passed through the communities and landscapes to the west and we take a portion of it into the water treatment plant where we remove contaminants and treat for purity. That then, flows into your taps.  Stormwater is what falls as precipitation from above. It falls on your roof, your car, your yard. You could be capturing it from the roof in a rain barrel, making sure you don't wash your car in the driveway, avoiding the use of pesticides and herbicides in your yard (hey! dandelions are the first bee food!) - and keeping your storm drain clean. All this water collects in the gutters and is transported straight into the river. Whatever you do to your yard, fish drink. That's the concept of "We are all downstream". Luckily, more and more people are getting into gardening, permaculture and xeriscaping as beautiful - and useful - 'English lawn' alternatives. We do, really, live in a semi-arid climate.   Adding to this list, we also have groundwater, which is what you would use if you have a well.

Away from all the plants and pipes and down to the Oldman River for some fresh air!                We're going to see the weir (Get it?!!)

Nice shot, if I do say so myself. The lovely cottonwoods across the river are budding and waiting to leaf. We saw Spring's first butterflies and a few tiny flowers. Doug took us to a few different stormdrains that exit into the river. Yes - whatever is on your street- leaves, garbage, paint, soapsuds ... whatever your pour into the gutteror the street drain ... DOES NOT GET TREATED. It flows straight into the river and straight onto wildlife like beaver and trout. It is important for us, as neighbours, to keep storm drains clear. The City can't possibly come around several times a year to do this. We must have an interest in keeping our water wildlife healthy and care about human populations downstream.  The "Yellow Fish Road" program is a way for school kids to learn about storm drains and water. They paint on the little yellow fish on the storm drains as a way of reminding people that whatever goes down there directly impacts fish.

It was a beautiful day for filming and we had the best tour guide ever:                                          Thanks, Mr. Water - Doug Kaupp - and thank you to the City of Lethbridge! For more information about your drinking water, please visit http://www.lethbridge.ca/living-here/water-wastewater/Pages/default.aspx The OWC is seeking further Collaborative Partners who would like to showcase in video how they are making the watershed a better place to live, work and play. Please get in touch!

The Beauty of Permaculture Blog

(Editor's Note: I bet a lot of people are planning some garden clean-up this weekend. What better time to think about how you can set up your yard to make best use of both soil and water? There is an event TONIGHT!

One of the greatest challenges we face at OWC is communicating to folks that what happens on the land makes or breaks water quality for fish, flora, fauna and folks downstream. These days, we are hearing more and more about permaculture. Thanks to Cristiana for the guest blog posting! Enjoy your weekend read!) 

Vibrant Life Eco-Solutions is a local small business that focuses on Permaculture Design, Education, and Soil Enhancement. It strives to both protect nature and enrich the areas of it that we live in to sustainably support humanity.

So many of us enjoy nature. We strive to protect it and in turn take time to bask in the beauty and vitality of Mother Nature. Nature is full of webs of interaction. The study of the interactions of living creatures, vegetation, and their surroundings is Ecology. Healthy Ecosystems are the key to sustaining human civilization as nature provides for all of our needs – food, water, shelter, and warmth. 

It is widely observed that when a civilization has crumbled in the past, the condition of their land had been vastly degraded by the agricultural practices used to sustain the people. To take a simplified look - unhealthy nature leads to unrest among the people who faced famine, starvation, and natural disasters. War and disease tend to follow, completing the decimation of the once great civilization. 

As the wise Masanobu Fukuoka once said:

"If we throw Mother Nature out the window, she comes back in the door with a pitchfork."

Out of this understanding, 'Permaculture', the word and the science, was born. It is a fusing of the words "permanent" and "agriculture." Its purpose is to show how to create a Permanent Culture or civilization that lives in harmony with nature, instead of trying to subdue it.

The design science behind Permaculture is essentially Ecology. However, let us insert ourselves and our needs into the picture with Nature. We are no longer the ecologist who, by definition, observes the system from the outside. We are part of it! First, we observe how carelessly taking what we need can impact the system negatively. Then we consider how we can enhance the system and out of the bountiful production of nature, receive what we need to live.

Food production is a huge part of Permaculture, and it is an integral part of our existence. So, let's talk about how we can grow our food sustainably and enhance Nature while we're at it.

Observing Nature in the area you wish to cultivate is very important. We need to find out about the types of plants that grow well, the wildlife that we need to co-exist with, the types of weather and weather cycles that are common, where the water comes from and where it goes, and if there are any harsh factors such as intense sun or prevailing winds that need to be taken into consideration. A common saying is, "100 hours of observation; one hour of work." Every possible aspect has to be carefully considered before starting to alter the natural system.

But don't be discouraged! After the area is very familiar, the design process begins. 

The first and most important step is mapping water. Water, where it is, and how we can passively move it through the landscape to nurture our crops and animals is what the whole system is built upon. Roofs are great surfaces to catch water and are largely under-utilized. Thousands of litres per year can be captured, and then the rainwater can be directed into storage or channelled directly to areas that need irrigation. 

Areas of the land that are eroding, flooding, or are established waterways need to be identified. There are many methods that can be used to naturally solve erosion and flooding issues, and passively irrigate areas that need moisture throughout the growing season. Once the water management plan is in place, your garden, orchard, and meadow areas should be simple to take care of due to the water being distributed naturally throughout your property without sprinklers or pumps.

Rainwater Capture, Filtration, Storage, and Passive Irrigation System Designed and Built by APEX Permaculture Inc.

One of the biggest differences between Permaculture methods and Conventional methods is how the vegetation is arranged. In modern farming and gardening, straight rows and large areas of one type of plant are the normal planting format. However, this is contrary to Nature, which does not tend to plant in rows or have areas that contain just one species of plant. Diversity goes a long way to reducing pests and disease. Thus, the Permaculture way is to plant in Guilds.

A Guild is any group of plants that benefits one another. Companion planting figures into this concept but is not the summation of it. There are benefits to having different heights, different rooting styles, and plants with different purposes all growing together. A guild does not have to contain all of the aspects illustrated in the image below, but this is the ultimate Guild – The Forest Garden.

 The Forest Garden is one of the finest expressions of enhancing nature so that humans can harvest food and wood for fuel and shelter. While this is the ideal way to plant, it may not always be practical. A kitchen garden with annual vegetables and herbs along with a separate area dedicated to fruit and trees with less diverse undergrowth can also be great ways to practice Permaculture style planting methods. 

The most important keys in Permaculture planting are to encourage diversity, grow plants with multiple functions, make use of both vertical and horizontal space, and encourage pollinators and beneficial creatures to frequent the area.

Another big difference between Permaculture Methods and other gardening methods is to "chop and drop" instead of weeding. Contrary to popular belief, not all weeds are your enemy! They always perform some sort of function in the area they grow in. For example, dandelions grow in compacted soil that is low in Calcium. Their deep tap root both loosens the soil and brings minerals up to their leaves which crumble onto the ground at the end of the season, and become part of the topsoil. 

"Chop and drop" is simply cutting the foliage at ground level, then dropping it around your plants. By chopping the weed foliage before it seeds out you prevent an infestation, but you also allow the weed to perform its function in the system. In this way you also increase the organic matter of the soil and add to the mulch layer that protects and nurtures the microorganisms that make the soil nutrients plant-soluble. So, not only is "chop and drop" less labour intensive, there are multiple "wins" when you handle your weeds in this manner. 

You can also do this to plants that are growing too large or you can intentionally grow plants that will be "chopped and dropped" such as comfrey. Comfrey is a bio-accumulator, which means that it grows deep roots and brings all the amazing minerals that are deep in the soil up to its leaves. Then when you "chop and drop" the comfrey, you create a nutrient dense mulch for your other plants.

There are numerous methods used in Permaculture that are based in science and common sense. The way that these methods are tied together into a self-sustaining system is what sets them apart and earns them the title of Permaculture. Permaculture strives to create a web or closed system based on the example that Nature sets for us. There is no waste in a properly designed ecosystem - there are only inputs and outputs.

A very simple example system is growing a garden. You need to enrich your soil with compost or worm castings. You harvest food and along with it, some excess plant matter. The excess goes into your compost or worm bin. 

Repeat. Let's say you have an infestation of slugs because your soil is moist and has a lot of organic matter in it from handling your water efficiently, chopping and dropping, and building up the protective organic mulch layer. Well, one option is to get a pet duck. The duck gives you eggs and eventually meat and it eats the pests in the garden and creates manure and nutrient rich water which can be used to fertilize the garden. The Permaculturist creates an interactive web, just like Nature, to solve issues and to create an efficient, vibrant, bountiful, and healthy system.

                        

This is the beauty of permaculture. It is the beauty of nature and the pursuit of a vibrant life.

If you would like to learn more about Vibrant Life Eco-Solutions you may visit our website, here, or our Facebook Page, here. Any inquiries can be emailed to: c.hill@VLESolutions.ca

Check out our Events, Products, and Services and learn more about Permaculture and Vibrant Life Eco-Solutions. We will be happy to help enhance the Nature that surrounds you. 

We are hosting an evening talk: Water & Earth: Issues and Elegant Solutions, this Saturday, April 11th, 6 - 9:30PM, at the University of Lethbridge, that will reveal more about how Permaculturists manage water and correct or prevent issues from occurring with some really interesting landscaping techniques. All are welcome. Hope to see you there!

Cristiana Hill

Vibrant Life Eco-Solutions

c.hill@VLESolutions.ca

403.894.4887

www.VLESolutions.ca

 

Top 5 Ways to Reduce Waste During the Holidays

(Editor's note: Thanks to Heather Gowland from the City of Lethbridge, Waste & Recycling Services for these unique ideas on how to reduce our waste this holiday season! The OWC encourages you to try some of these out and then tell us about it!) 

Top 5 Ways to Reduce Waste During the Holidays

Did you know that household waste generation increases by approximately 25% around the Christmas season? But don’t let that fact spoil your eggnog - you can be a waste-wise and still enjoy the traditions of the holiday season! Here are the top 5 ways to reduce waste during the holidays:

#1 The Trail of the Tree

Real vs. fake  – the debate is ongoing.  No matter which type of tree you use, there are still ways to make it greener. If you use a fake tree be sure to repair it when you can and reuse it as long as possible. If you love a real tree, recycle it by chipping it into mulch through a collection program or site. Or if you don’t mind going outside of tradition, dress up the houseplants.

How about trimming the tree? If you like to change the decorations you use often, consider these ideas to lessen your footprint: DIY decorations made from components of used or broken decorations, compostable decorations (ex. Popcorn strings). If you’re replacing your decorations because they’ve grown worn over the years, consider repairing them first.

Origami birds made out of old calendar prints and dehydrated orange slices are both beautiful and eco-friendly ornaments.

#2 Green Gifting

The best things in life are free! Visit www.lethbridge.ca/wrs to watch some videos with ideas on how to create memories, not garbage.

#3 Wrapping Wizardry

Most gift wrap, bows, ribbons, tissue and adornments are NOT RECYCLABLE – typically they are used once, viewed once, and then tossed. Do a quick internet search for “green gift wrap ideas” and you will find a plethora of ways in which to wrap a present with all the glam and none of the garbage. My favorite idea is to use fresh sprigs of berries or bushes to add a festive touch to the wrapping job - instead of tossing it in the garbage, it gets tossed right back into the yard!

Reusable fabric bags, newsprint and paper are all good options to alternative wrapping. Image from http://www.fashionthroughtravel.com/2012/12/december-magic-top-10-gift-wrapping.html

#4 Food Fixings

Food is fantastic and should never go to waste! From composting to soup cooking, there are things you can do to make sure more gets eaten. Here’s one idea: let people serve themselves (including kids). They will likely take only as much as they feel like eating. This way, less of it ends up as plate scrapings and more of it as yummy leftovers for later days. Also, freezing is a great way to deal with too many leftovers – if something is not suitable for re-heating nicely, consider if the de-thawed version would be a good addition to a soup. If you need motivation, check out this new film http://www.foodwastemovie.com/

Your cooking efforts are too good to waste.

#5 Quality Hosting

Many people dropping by, dinners and celebrations can be overwhelming when it comes to the little things like dishes and preparing snacks. But being a host can also mean making sure everyone is included and gets a little bit of quality time with someone else. Instead of using disposable dishes, how about disengaged dishwashers? Here’s what happened in my house growing up: All the teenagers were sent to the kitchen to wash the dishes – we got to know each other, kept busy and felt useful. Sometimes a group of people would gather around a cutting board, cut veggies for snacks and put them on a plate – instead of buying a pre-made plastic tray. Sound nostalgic? 

Have a holiday full of love, laughter and memories to come!

Be Safe. Be Merry. Be Green.

Heather Gowland, BSc.

Waste & Recycling Coordinator

City of Lethbridge, Waste & Recycling Services

403-320-4996

This holiday season, be a #greenangel and Create Memories, Not Garbage. Watch the vidoes that are full of 'green' gifting ideas by clicking here.

Unfinished Houses by Fortino Acosta

(Editor's note: The author of this guest blog is an Industrial Engineer 

and Landscape Architect. Many thanks to Fortino for this thoughtful article. 

As always, your comments are welcome)

Unfinished Houses

Residential Policy and Climate Change in Lethbridge, Alberta

by Fortino Acosta IE MLA

acosta.fortino@gmail.com

Our province has one of the highest (if not the highest) carbon footprints per capita in the world. 72 ton CO2 / year while our American neighbor, the second largest contributor of greenhouse gases worldwide, averages 20 ton CO2 / year. Mexico, which is among the top 15, has a rate of 4 ton C02 / year . 

Do you understand now the disparity of what we are living? The development model we are living this vision of dramatically changing the nature and greatness of all Alberta and even Canada itself.

I am a new resident in Alberta, and all this concern was born from the simple reason of seeing every house with rain gutters but without any kind of storage. House after house . If they do this with water... what about the heating system? I also found out that geothermal systems are rare here. Finally, the fences are made by unsustainable logging practices in original forests in the back country or imported from China without any other information. 

There are three simple ideas that could be regulated and promoted by local government to help us regain our friendly lifestyle and pride in living in this unique place.

Rainwater use and beauty

I propose that our public officials include the following in our construction standards:

1. All new construction to include rainwater harvesting, adequate for the residents (rain gardens, rain barrels, water tanks, etc).     

2. All new construction requires a geothermal system installation for air conditioning, space heating and hot- water services .

3. Lumber suppliers have to guarantee their products' origin from reforested wood farms or reclaimed timber certification.

Why wastewater? You pay for it from the tap!

Do these very practical suggestions benefit the Oldman River? Yes! These three actions together decrease rainwater runoff, reduce our dependence on fossil energy, increase forest areas without jeopardizing existing forests.

Close your eyes, imagine the river and feel the change as this happens: New forests will appear in our landscape, our watershed will be healthier, the water treatment plants less burdened, your water bill smaller and our houses are going to look completed and smarter. 

In the meantime, let us create the city we want and start to reduce our ecological footprint. I invite you to seek out friends and neighbours who already use rainwater or geothermal systems and they'll show you more benefits.