Hello Farmer!

With summer comes a bounty of fresh vegetables and fruits, grown not far from home. Jane and I love to visit our local farmer’s market in Toronto’s Withrow Park on Saturday mornings. It’s a great opportunity to meet farmers and sample a wide variety of produce and dairy. With heritage varieties for sale, organic local farmers promote diversity in edible species.

Of course, local farmers also help us reduce our carbon footprints and promote sustainable practices. According to the World Wildlife Fund, the average food item travels 2,000 miles from farm to plate. The longer it travels the less money goes to the farmer and the more likely farmers will engage in environmentally unfriendly practices to try to maximize yields.

Make a date with your local farmer Saturday mornings. To find a Farmers’ Market near you, visit the following:

BC Association of Farmers’ Markets

The Alberta Farmers’ Market Association

Saskatchewan Farmers’ Market

Manitoba’s Farmers’ Market Guide

Farmers’ Markets Ontario
The Best Farmers' Markets in Toronto

Quebec Farmers’ Markets

New Brunswick Farmers’ Markets

Farmers’ Markets of Nova Scotia Cooperative

PEI Farmers’ Markets

Newfoundland & Labrador Farmers’ Markets


Canadian Farmers’ Markets

Farmers Markets USA


Action

G8: Time To Lead On Climate Change
Sign AVAAZ’s petition here.

In the News

Sometimes the news is jammed packed with inanities that I don’t know quite what to do. Perhaps I need a week off to meditate and cleanse. A good smudge may do the trick. Some deep breathing. Read on if you want your blood pressure to boil over…

It’s junk science week at the National Post!
Happy week! Climate change isn’t as bad as the majority of scientists say. And pesticides are safe according to Health Canada’s Pest Management Regulatory Agency. But wouldn't any pest management regulatory agency declare pesticides safe? Junk science? The only junk science I know of is promoted on the pages of the National Post.

Lakes across Canada face being turned into mine dump sites
Sixteen Canadian lakes – home to fish and other species, and important to aboriginal communities – are slated as toxic dump sites for mining companies – without public consultation. Contact your MP and let them know how you feel about this.

Darlington to get 2 new reactors
Fabulous! Let’s dump billions into something proven to be costly, potentially dangerous and dependent on uranium, a non-renewable resource that is toxic to communities when mined. The sooner we move towards a decentralized approach to energy, where homes and businesses conserve and generate some of their own energy, the better off we will be.

Bush Will Seek to End Offshore Oil Drilling Ban
Desperate times bring about foolish action. How about investing in technology to get us off the oil kick?