One Seed – Coming To Kamloops In Time For Earth Day

After eight years of germination, “One Seed”, the children’s story (and song) by author and singer-songwriter Rosemary Phillips, has sent up shoots and been re-released in full colour in English, French, Persian and English-Persian.

On Saturday, April 17, at 11 a.m. just in time for Earth Day celebrations, Phillips will be visiting Chapters Kamloops with an interactive reading, sing-along and book signing until 3 p.m.

“One Seed” is the story about a seed that decided to grow on the desert when all the other seeds said it was impossible and couldn’t be done. It is a story that has travelled across Canada to schools and has been read, performed, and sung in schools and homes around the world.
“One teacher from Texas school near the Mexican border e-mailed me last year for permission to perform the story,” says Phillips. “She explained that so many of the children need all the inspiration they can get. They put together a concert and it was aired on the district TV.”

And that is just one example of how “One Seed” has influenced children and grown-ups. “Last week I received an e-mail from a teacher in Western Australia who is so excited about reading and presenting “One Seed” to the children there. The greatest review I have is from parents who say they have to put the CD player in the children’s rooms because they play the story and song over and over again.”

Two years ago Phillips was asked for a copy of the book by Fariborz Asghari, a plant scientist and storyteller from Iran. Now “One Seed” has been translated into Persian. In response to requests from French Immersion teachers, it is also now available in French.

As a result of these translations Phillips has redesigned the book to include full colour and made it pocket-size, a favourite with kids. “For the English version there is a mini-CD included and the music for the song,” adds Phillips.

At this time every book is a labour of love as Phillips makes each one herself. “I used to work for a print shop and learned about book production,” she explains. “This is truly Made in Canada.”
So Phillips will be taking along her guitar and new “One Seed” to Chapters Kamloops for children and grown-ups to enjoy. Yes, “One Seed” is also for grown-ups. SOUND Kamloops says… “This little story, for children and weary activists… gently reminds us that the courage of one has deep and far-reaching impact.”

For more information visit www.oneseedstory.com

PLEASE NOTE: If you are wondering where to recycle any item not listed here, please contact the Recycling Council of BC. Also, occasionally the City of Kamloops offers an opportunity for free disposal of household hazardous waste and electronic waste (such as CDs, DVD players, and phones not otherwise recyclable locally). To get word of when those are, check your newspaper or check the City of Kamloops website.

New! London Drugs has implemented a relatively comprehensive recycling program, for styrofoam, plastics, small appliances, electronics, batteries and a host of other items, whether purchased there or not.

Batteries

• Drop off any and all batteries: Battery Direct 1400A Battle Street (374-8914).
• More drop-off locations for rechargeable (only) batteries, click here.
• For an article about this, click here.

Cell Phones (See also ‘Computers, Electronics’ below)

• Any working phone less than five years old: Any thrift shop.
• Older than five years old or broken, click here to recycle your phone while raising money for the Food Action Centre or here to recycle your phone while supporting Bert Edwards Elementary School or Habitat for Humanity (Kamloops Chapter).

Cloth Bags – Large

• Second-Hand Stores – Value Village usually has a wide variety in stock.
• Grocery Stores
• Farmer’s Market
  
• Amber Horne – Makes bags out of recycled material. Call 377-7450.
• Cherish or Perish Project (heavy duty cotton tote; water bottle bag; decals). Email ljwall1@telus.net

Cloth Bags – Small
For tips about transporting your bulk dry goods, such as rice, oats and beans, click here.

Compact Disks (CDs) and DVDs
In response to some comments below, we’re including this new category. For reusable disks, see the options listed under ‘Other Reusable Items’, below. In terms of disks that are no longer usable, we don’t know of options for recycling these in Kamloops. However, for ideas on reusing them or on recycling involving shipping, please click here.

Composting
If you have a yard, a simple wire cylinder or a plastic container will do. If you have no yard, check out the indoor worm composting system available through Kamloops’ own All Things Organic.

Computers & Other Electronics (See also ‘Cell Phones’, above.)

• Any working electronic less than five years old: Some thrift shops or charities (Food Bank; Boys & Girls Club, etc).
• TVs and “computer electronics” older than five years old or not working, click here. Note: Encorp does not accept DVD players, etc –just TVs and “computer electronics”.
• For an inspiring article on this topic, click here.

Curbside Pick Up
The City of Kamloops’ curbside pick up program began March 17, 2008. This ended the only private service available locally.

The City of Kamloops does not accept bags, even if labeled for recycling. Plastic bags can be return to stores. London Drugs accepts all plastic bags, but not plastic food wrap. Other un-numbered plastics can be saved up for a trip to Kelowna, which recycles all plastics except toothbrushes. To prevent use of plastic bags, scroll up to ‘Cloth Bags’.

Diapers
Click here.

Dishsoap
EcoVer (Plastic #2) at Nature’s Fare.

Drop Off
See the City of Kamloops Recycling Page for drop-off options.
See also “House & Household”.

Egg Cartons
Egg producers are often in need of egg cartons. The Bernardo family accepts clean egg cartons. It sets up its Farmers Market stall at the corner of 3rd & St Paul (north side, in front of the CFCD office) every Saturday.

House & Household
Sinks, doors, stoves, paint and more. With your donation or purchase, you are both saving money and supporting Habitat for Humanity. ReStore is located at #28 – 1425 Cariboo Place (just up Hillside Drive from the Home Depot).

Light Bulbs – Compact Fluorescents
Home Depot now accepts used CFLs. For details, click here.

Lights – Fluorescent Tubes
London Drugs

Other Reusable Items

• Thrift shops recycle, support community agencies, and/or provide wages. For a list of locally-owned, not-for-profit thrift stores, click here. Most will pick up your items for free.
• For items that thrift shops won’t take, post to Freecycle, an online service whose entire purpose is to divert items from the landfill. Old wheelbarrow? Cracked paddling pool? Post ‘em! FMI click here.

Oil, Paint, Scrap Metal, Solvents, Tires, Toxic Waste
See “House & Household”, above, and the City of Kamloops Recycling Page for drop-off options.

Plastics, Bags & Unnumbered
The City of Kamloops does not accept bags, even if labeled for recycling. Labeled bags can be return to stores. Any bags and un-numbered plastics can be saved up for a trip to Kelowna, which recycles all plastics except toothbrushes. To prevent use of plastic bags, scroll up to ‘Cloth Bags’.

Pads & Tampons
The DivaCup, Keeper, and LunaPads are excellent reusuable menstrual supplies and are all sold at Nature’s Fare. They will last a very long time, saving your pocketbook as well as your planet!

Rice, Soy, Cow Milk Beverage Containers
Milk cartons, as well as dairy substitute cartons*, are accepted at the following locations in Kamloops for recycling (no associated deposit or refund).

1) Full Refund Bottle Depot
805 Notre Dame Drive

2) Lorne Street Bottle Depot
270 Halston Road

*This includes all empty milk, cream, and milk substitute (soy & rice) beverage containers (plastic, cartons and jugs). ‘Cartons’ include both polycoated and paper board containers like tetra packs or aseptics and gable top cartons. So your dairy and dairy substitute tetra paks are accepted for take back. or additional information on this program please visit Encorp Pacific’s website.

Yogurt
Option 1 : Make Your Own
Option 2 : Nancy’s Yogurt at Nature’s Fare (Plastic #2)

PLEASE NOTE: If you are wondering where to recycle any item not listed here, please contact the Recycling Council of BC. Also, occasionally the City of Kamloops offers an opportunity for free disposal of household hazardous waste and electronic waste (such as CDs, DVD players, and phones not otherwise recyclable locally). To get word of when those are, check your newspaper, check the City of Kamloops website, or subscribe to this site.

Directory compiled by One Hill Productions
Last updated March 18, 2010.

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The above was originally published in a hardcopy of SOUND several years ago. We just heard from the author of this book that the book and cd are being reprinted and re-issued, with SOUND’s comment on the back cover! Great news, Rosemary! We wish you the best of success with spreading this positive message!

“It’s much better to keep bees in a city,” he says. In rural and suburban areas, pesticides sprayed for agriculture and mosquito control can also harm bees. But in the city, the use of these kinds of pesticides is less widespread.

For the full article, click here.

We can all generate health and wellness in our homes and lives. Let’s talk about technology, reducing our use of fossil fuels, ideas, improving, growing and changing to be more sustainable.

Check it out here!

“The I’s Have Fallen – It’s Time for the We’s to Stand”
Tuesday, October 20, 7PM
Smorgasbord Deli – 225-7th Ave
Presenter: Dawne Taylor
Join us for a stimulating discussion of all aspects of this timely topic.

10,000 Villages Fair Trade Craft Sale Volunteer Recruitment

The sign-up sheet for volunteers is now available at the Smorgasbord Deli
Come and add your name for a couple of days of busy-ness, fun, and satisfaction.

Global Day of Action on Climate Change

On October 24, people all over the world will join to take a stand for a safe climate future, and Kamloops will be no exception.  A rally will be held at the Farmer’s Market on St. Paul’s St. at 11 am on October 24 to encourage world leaders to take bold and immediate steps to address climate change and reduce carbon emissions.  As one of over 2,000 simultaneous events in over 150 countries, the rally is part of a global day of action coordinated by 350.org. For more information, visit www.350.org, or contact local organizers at (250) 374-1472.

And then it hit me! I will do two things: I will buy the version made in China and I will make a corresponding donation so that a person currently working in a sweatshop has a new option.

I just recently committed to donating a specific sum through kiva.org, “the gift you can keep giving”. KIVA is a microlending organization, through which one can donate to specific projects operated by identified entrepreneurs. Projects include businesses, housing, education, etc. When the loan is repaid, you can accept your money back or loan it to someone else. Imagine being able to offer the same $100 bill over and over and over again, to as many people as you wish!

KIVA helps people who are already somewhat established. So what of those who have literally nothing but themselves? heifer.org allows one to donate plants, animals or food to people in need. A goat, for example, can help create a more sustainable eco-system in even the most rugged terrains, while producing milk for human nourishment. Sheep can do likewise and also offer wool for warmth.

Goats can thrive in extreme climates and on poor, dry land by eating grass and leaves. The gift of a dairy goat can supply a family with up to several quarts of nutritious milk a day – a ton of milk a year. Extra milk can be sold or used to make cheese, butter or yogurt. Families learn to use goat manure to fertilize gardens.

Goats often have two or three kids a year making it easy for Heifer recipients to pass on the gift of a goat to another family in need. This great investment allows our partners to lift themselves out of poverty by starting small dairies that earn money for food, health care and education.

As the friend I am gifting is vegan, I have opted to donate a tree, which will provide shade and fruit, while helping to rejunevate the local environment (reduce topsoil erosion, clean the air, etc).

On a steep Tanzanian hillside, Heifer International helped a family learn to plant trees and elephant grass to keep the soil in place. Today, they have flourishing rows of leucaena trees and corn.

Through training, families learn how to keep their small plots of land healthy and renew the soil for future generations by planting trees, using natural fertilizer, and limiting grazing.

By helping families raise their animals in harmony with nature, you can fight poverty and hunger while ensuring a healthy, productive future for us all. Passing on seedlings ensures that this sustainable cycle continues.

Unfortunately, I could not find an option for ensuring the tree is given to a family in China but the fact is, sweatshops simply roam the earth seeking the poorest population. Ultimately, a grove of trees or a swarm of honey bees in  Tanzania changes social conditions for the worker in China, too. When we all have the basics, sweatshops will not be able to exist.

1. Become acquainted. Fear may wreak more havoc on the natural environment than any other issue. Generally speaking, wasps are our friends. For the most part, they will not hurt us. In fact, they will often take wee rests on a person’s head or fingers. If we don’t panic, or accidentally sit on them, all is normally well.

Apparently, blowing gently on a wasp will prompt it to take flight. Also, wasps will warn us with a firm bounce against our bodies when they are stressing about our activity near their own. If ‘bounced’, simply take heed, and wander off to work elsewhere for an hour or two.

2. Make space. Determine where nests and activity are not problematic. Wasps nesting in a peak well above street and door level, or under the eaves on the alley side of a garage, need not necessarily be an issue. Wasps need somewhere to live, so your second move should be to determine which areas can be successfully shared.

3. Caulk. If wasps are tucking into holes and crevices, simply fill those.

4. Make it flush. Wasps seek alcoves. Attach wood or, if you’re not handy, just try stapling some fabric or screening, to eliminate cozy areas. (Be careful not to create tiny doorways in the process.)

5. Screen. Century Glass will custom make a fitted screen for about $25. Depending on how your window opens, a screen may make additional locations (for example, above a high window) a non-issue.

6. Soap. Rubbing bar soap on wasps’ preferred nesting areas can make the area just slippery enough to make nesting a no-go. Petroleum jelly or cooking spray may work similarly, but obviously these bring their own environmental concerns.

7. Trick. The idea here is to fill a small, crumpled paper bag with air and hang it where you don’t want nests. So far this hasn’t worked on my winged guests. A commercial, weather-resistant version is promoted here. The Waspinator is available locally at Art Knapp Plantland.

For similar tips along these lines, click here.

My question: Does anyone know what is being used in the preventative applications promoted by some companies? SOUND would love to hear of details on the ecological-friendliness of this approach. If anyone knows anything about this, please post a comment!

We invite everyone to use the comment box to post your results (successful or not) with eco-friendly preventative steps.

Finally, we have the answer!

The City of Kamloops offers an opportunity for free disposal of household hazardous and electronic waste, June 6th at 800 Mission Flats Road. Information is not yet appearing on the City’s website, so for details, please see the ad in Kamloops This Week, Wednesday May 27th, Page A12 or email publicworks@kamloops.ca

This massive event runs 12-5pm, is family friendly, and is free to attend.

For general information, click here. For the complete schedule, click here.