Friday, November 21, 2008

I Smell Bullshit!

This spectacular pile of cow banjos is called What's For Lunch? A Comparison of Organic and GMO Foods. It shows people who prefer organics as bumbling, classist herd-followers that are pretty much a bunch of arrogant alarmists. And it also stages GMO foods as harmless to people and the environment.

They even go so far to claim that GMOs and organics can be married beautifully together. GMOs will save the world and are a blessing to farmers. I guess they never heard of Percy Schmeiser or got the memo about GMOs contaminating organic crops.

I suppose it is no surprise that this video was found on the Monsanto website. Enjoy the propaganda!



Sláinte!

Laurel

Thursday, November 20, 2008

What a Turn Out...

Well, the public meeting to help save Sweetman's Garden from the hydro substation may have been a complete waste of time, save the fact that so many people turned up!

From the North Bay Nugget:

"A homeowner who lives near Sweetman’s Garden said he has been denied permission to build a carport because it was not consistent with the aesthetic of the community.
So Glen Turcotte spoke up Wednesday, asking the city why it’s now OK for North Bay Hydro to build a substation in the same area.
He was one of hundreds of Sweetman’s Garden supporters who crowded council chambers Wednesday night to hear from city staff and hydro representatives about a plan to build the new substation at the end of McIntyre Street West.
It was standing room only as citizens expressed concerns about safety and property values during the three-hour meeting."

I am glad so many people turned up, but it was the only public meeting. Hopefully the other handful of options for dissenters to get their voices heard will be effective.

Read the rest of the article here.

Sláinte!

Laurel

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Luverly of the Week: Collette Savard


Collette Savard is an awesome songstress from North Bay Ontario, whose music is as luverly as she is!

Check her out singing 'Midnight' live at the Cameron House in Toronto:



Monday, November 17, 2008

Another Local Piece of Paradise Under Attack

A former Canadian National Rail waste area has been gardened by Murray Sweetman since 1962, here in North Bay. He had spent money out of his own pocket, and tended to it himself all these years, with the help of dedicated volunteers and with donations from the community.

Sweetman's Garden is absolute loveliness that is a hot spot for wildlife and nature lovers alike.

For the last couple of years the Friend's of Sweetman's Garden has been trying to secure the land that the garden is on, so it can continued to be enjoyed by the community.

In this press release the group states, "In September, 2007, North Bay City Council authorized conversations with representatives of Sweetman’s Garden to purchase this beautiful west end neighbourhood property. Many in our community breathed a sigh of relief that this special place had been “saved.” Not so. City residents learned on November 5, 2008 that a significant portion of the garden is slated for a new North Bay Hydro Sub-Station."

But, how much of the garden will be destroyed? Well Friend's of Sweetman's Garden claims:

"Although The Nugget reported the Sub-Station would be on land adjacent to this 'beloved neighbourhood garden,' the Mayor indicated on his Cogeco TV call-in show on November 7 that it will intrude into the garden, more than 20 feet as it turns out."

And what would the outcome be?

"The project means the removal of all trees as well as the stone wall on the North/West boundary, and the destruction of several perennial gardens running parallel to that line.A lovely view that frames the whole end of the site will be gutted....The result is a profound loss of the garden’s historic significance and the beauty and sanctuary that help make this particular neighbourhood so special to so many."

What makes this all so ironic is that the City of North Bay has been working to increase greenspace and parks within the city, and it has been found that we are lacking in parks. Sweetman's Garden certainly fits the bill, so why would they ruin an already established greenspace that has been around for 46 years and maintained by the community?

I suppose their idea of parks is concrete buildings, and the hum of power lines is much more pleasant than the sound of birds.

Well, at least not all is lost. There's a meeting at City Hall on the 19th, and you can bet I'll be there with a gaggle of others to see if this can be changed.

To read the rest of the article click here and to find out more about Sweetman's Garden (and see luverly pictures!) click here.

Sláinte!

Laurel

Friday, November 14, 2008

A Face That Only a Mother Could Love....



I think it's safe to say that our pumpkin is ready for the compost heap.

Mourning for Jack the Toothless,

Laurel