Upcoming Events

Backyard composting is back in style these days to aid in the production of those delicious organic home-grown vegetables and to recycle garden waste and kitchen scraps.  There are many different composting methods and wonderful "black gold" should be the end result, but sometimes results are less than perfect.

Wondering how to produce better compost, recycle kitchen scraps, or dispose of pet litter in the most environmentally friendly way? Thanks to a collaboration between the Earth Festival Society, the Farmers' Institute and the Greater Victoria Compost Education Centre, a backyard composting display is being set up at the Farmers' Institute and the first workshop will be held next Thursday, August 5.

A manufactured composter such as the Earth Machine (available at the recycling centre, while supplies last), a DIY pallet composter for larger quantities, or a worm bin, are suitable for uncooked vegetable waste, lawn clippings etc. and will make very good compost, given the right mix of materials and moisture. All these can easily be rodent-proofed.

But what about the other household organics--cooked food scraps, left over fats and dairy products and pet wastes? A digester such as the Green Cone is one answer to this waste disposal question. It does not make compost in any quantity, it just digests food scraps, including meat and pet wastes. Households with a garden may need a composter plus a digester to deal with the different types of organic waste.

We will be installing and demonstrating several types of composter and a digester at the Farmers Institute as part of the backyard compost workshop on Thursday August 5 from 2:00 to 5:00 pm. If you would like to attend the workshop to learn how to set up and operate a rodent-proof composter, or if you are experienced at composting and willing to help and share info, please call Elizabeth White 250-537-2616 or email elizwhite@saltspring.com. The workshop, led by Nashira Birch of the Greater Victoria Compost Education Centre, is free but please pre-register with Elizabeth.

Past Events

Electric Vehicles Workshop
Saturday, April 10 1-4pm
All Saints by the Sea

Article

Earth Day
April 18

Events in Centennial Park
10 - 3

and

Time of Sale Home Energy Labelling Pilot Program
call Marion Pape at 250-537-4567 or e-mail Marion to register

April 18 starting at 1:00 pm

More information on the workshop here and here
and general information on housing and Energy Options here. Climate Change Community Workshop

February 6 from 1-5pm at GISS

The workshop is open to everyone.   Discussion topics will include energy supply, food and agriculture, land use, building design, conservation, transportation, and others.

The workshop is sponsored by the Earth Festival Society, the Agricultural Alliance, the Institute for Sustainability Education and Action, the Salt Spring Island Transportation Commission, Transition Salt Spring, the Chamber of Commerce, the CRD, and the Islands Trust.

October 24 - Day of Action on Climate Change

"Be the Change", a song by Phil Vernon - Listen to it here (mp3).

Words to the song are here (pdf).