Published in The Humm, Ottawa - April 2009
For Earth Day, consider doing something fun and practical that you can keep re-using for the rest of the year. Learn valuable skills for eco-living.
On Saturday, April 18, EcoPerth will be hosting an EcoSkills Sampler - a fun day of mini-workshops on eco-friendly living. Eleven local presenters will be presenting on ten topics: ecological principles and permaculture; solar hot water and electricity; biodiesel; rainwater harvesting and greywater; greenhouses and season extension; fermented foods and root cellars; canning; tree pruning and grafting; wild medicinal and edible plants; and advanced composting. The presenters are: Bob Argue, Sebastien Bacharach, Bonita Ford, Geoff Hodgins, Phyllis James, Joanna Kowalczyk, Lynn McIntyre, Paul Pietsch, Coral Sproule, Kristine Swaren and Stewart Yeaman.
Today, we spent most of the day at Montague Public School, where we led discussions with four classes and a group of teachers about their plans and ideas to make their school "greener". In the afternoon, we played a "web of life" game with the students and saw the entire school (in groups of 15-20) in a whirlwind of an hour and 15 minutes! I was most touched to see the interactions between the older students and the younger ones. I noticed an older student holding the hand of a little girl in his group, guiding her into the classroom. A couple of the grade 7 and 8 students leaned over to help the smaller junior and senior kindergarten kids read their cards during our group activity.
