Protecting Our Pollinators CNL Youth Group for Climate Action Devises an Inspiring Community Project - theHumm May 2021
Protecting Our Pollinators CNL Youth Group for Climate Action Devises an Inspiring Community Project - theHumm May 2021
By Chandler Swain
As our Ottawa Valley spring moves into high gear, May is the month for us to enthusiastically embrace our short, sweet growing season. When the pandemic began changing our world last year, we started realizing what was most essential, and found it around our homes and throughout our communities. All activities related to being out in nature took off wildly!
My first awakening to how widespread this trend was came when I couldn’t find so much as a package of lettuce seed to start my little kitchen garden. Even online seed suppliers were sold out everywhere. You could hardly find a bicycle to buy either — our collective desire to connect with nature had been awakened! We wanted to be outside, and we began noticing the quiet from less traffic; we were hearing the birds! We saw things we usually were too busy to notice. In this second year of being relegated to local, home-bound activity, my hope is that we are ready for a deeper understanding of how to help our precious planet that has been a source of healing in our collective soul.
One thing that is increasingly on many gardeners’ minds is how we can enhance our growing spaces to help all the pollinators that we rely on.
Some research into the issue reveals that climate change, pesticide use and habitat loss around the world have caused a large percentage of pollinators to be wiped out. Since a majority of the world’s plants need pollinators to reproduce — and without them we would have no fruits, vegetables, or seeds — we’ve had to become aware of what they need to thrive and bounce back.
One increasingly popular remedy is purposely creating special gardens to support pollinators with native plants they are drawn to. So it’s great to know that there is a dedicated local team who are planning to roll out a project — with the community’s help — to grow these special gardens.
Let me introduce Grace Hill, Jordan-Anne Rich and Clara Misener, members of Climate Network Lanark’s Youth for Climate Action Group (for background on this group, see the CNL Article in the February 2021 issue of theHumm). These youth are now also Butterflyway Rangers through The David Suzuki Foundation’s Butterflyway Project. They are joining with many others across Canada to promote and grow pollinator-enhancing places in our community and raise awareness of the importance of this issue.
Jordan-Anne, who is passionate about protecting nature, tells me she saw the Butterflyway Project as a chance to contribute in a meaningful way to the environment and to connect with like-minded individuals in the community.
Clara learned to garden with her Grandpa, who had magnificent gardens filled with all kinds of insects and birds. When she learned about the declining populations of these species, it became a passion of hers to help promote the expansion of the habitat these pollinators need.
Grace grew up spending a lot of time in nature and helping in her mother’s garden. She learned early that pollinators were vital to a healthy planet, and felt that becoming a Butterflyway Ranger would be an effective way to protect them and grow awareness of their importance in the community.
Together, these local Butterflyway Rangers have devised a project that the whole community can support. All ages are welcome to participate and volunteer in a number of ways.
Buy One, Plant Two!
Their goal is to facilitate the planting of thirty-six 4?x4? pollinator patches spread across the communities of Perth and Mississippi Mills.
Supporters can participate in a “Buy one, Plant two” program. This donation program puts a pollinator patch on your property and allows us to fund and plant another garden in the community — at a school or a park, for example. Participants receive a 4?x4? pollinator patch prepared and planted by the rangers, consisting of three native plant varieties, a bee habitat feature, a handmade wooden pollinator garden sign, and care instructions.
If you would like to participate or if you have native plants or seeds to donate, please email lanarkclimate@gmail.com .
And for further information on pollinator habitat, check out this link to read about how Lanark County has partnered with the Canadian Wildlife Federation to increase pollinator habitats on rights-of-way corridors: cwf-fcf.org/en/news/releases/2020/great-canadian-pollinator.html .
Jennifer Anne Kelly — The Glass is Way More than Half-Full - theHumm May 2021
By Sally Hansen
Art… and Soul
Last month our featured artist was Inuk jeweller and sculptor Kaajuk Kablalik, and our April cover featured a stunning glass qajaq in addition to his distinctive jewellery. The two-year qajaq project was the result of a fortuitous series of coincidences facilitated by Mississippi Mills glass artist Jennifer Anne Kelly, whom we first featured in October of 2012. When we learned that Kelly will soon be relocating to Ottawa — the “Big City” — we wanted to cele......
Tickets PleaseKeeps on Humming! - theHumm May 2021
Rob and Kris Riendeau (publishers of theHumm), along with Ann Hawthorne (former owner of Tickets Please), are delighted to announce that Tickets Please — the Ottawa Valley’s favourite local ticketing platform — will emerge from the pandemic ready to promote the heck out of our soon-to-be-vibrant arts and entertainment scene!
After successfully running the Perth-based business for the past ten years, Ann decided that she was ready to step back. When Rob and Kris approached her about t......
Local Libraries are Flourishing! - theHumm May 2021
By — Karen DeLuca is the CEO / Head Librarian at the Arnprior Library
A new international study on the impact of public libraries speaks to the current state of libraries in our region: we are flourishing!
Longstanding library card holders are getting their books, DVDs and magazines via curbside service in record numbers. Many residents are discovering, or re-discovering, the depth of resources available in their communities — whether digital or tangible.
Partnerships are key components of this success. Sometimes it’s the local service clubs that offer fin......
Farmers’ Markets: Open for the Season! Almonte Carleton Place Carp - theHumm May 2021
As you walk away from the farmers’ market with your canvas bags filled with fresh local produce, plants, organic meats and assorted other delicious goodies, you just can’t help feeling good. Supporting small-scale market farms means voting with your dollars for the option that is easier on the planet than large, mono-crop industrial farms. Having to plan the trip to the market means planning meals, which is a great way to reduce both wasted food and extra trips to the grocery store. Growers at the......
“Grow a Row” for Food Banks this Year - theHumm May 2021
The Great Veggie Grow-Off is an annual challenge between the nine communities of Lanark County and Smiths Falls to engage more citizens in growing healthy local food to donate to area Food Banks. The challenge starts each year on May 1st — “workers day” — to pay homage to the farmers in our community who grow food to feed us. Produce can be grown at home or in community garden beds, and local farmers and gardeners can “Grow a Row” as well! The Grow-Off ends with a final weigh-in on Thanksgiving Satu......
MVTM Wants to Exhibit Your Textile Crafts! - theHumm May 2021
During the pandemic, an unprecedented amount of crafting has occurred. From the first lockdown in March 2020, uncertainty, anxiety, and a whole lot more time at home has inspired many of us to turn to crafting as a soothing balm for our minds.
The Mississippi Valley Textile Museum wants to see the textile projects that you completed in 2020 or are working on in 2021. “Though it’s been a while since we’ve seen you, we know that you’re making loads of things at home,” says Melanie Gird......
Close to Home - theHumm May 2021
From May 12 to June 18, Sivarulrasa Gallery (34 Mill St, Almonte) is pleased to present Close to Home, a duo exhibition of new works by Toronto-based artist Gizem Candan and Montreal-based artist Jihane Mossalim. The exhibition can be viewed virtually until the current lockdown is lifted after May 19, at which time the gallery will open their doors again to in-person viewing.
Born in Istanbul, Turkey, and now based in Toronto, Gizem Candan’s work is inspired by her surr......
Protecting Our Pollinators CNL Youth Group for Climate Action Devises an Inspiring Community Project - theHumm May 2021
By Chandler Swain
As our Ottawa Valley spring moves into high gear, May is the month for us to enthusiastically embrace our short, sweet growing season. When the pandemic began changing our world last year, we started realizing what was most essential, and found it around our homes and throughout our communities. All activities related to being out in nature took off wildly!
My first awakening to how widespread this trend was came when I couldn’t find so much as a package of lettuce seed to star......
Lockdown Scavenger Hunt:Food Foraging with Kids - theHumm May 2021
By Sarah Kerr
Lockdown has been an interesting experiment (that’s the nice way of saying it) for our family who travelled a lot pre-pandemic. Our kids collected a patchwork of stamps on their passports in their short lives — being toted along for work and leisure. But with that luxury screeching to a halt over 14 months ago, we’ve channelled this creative energy into our own backyard. Like many of our neighbours, our homesteading game is now strong — the kids are collecting eggs each morning and checking th......
One Magic Summer The Academy for Musical Theatre’s Safe & Interactive Summer Camp Experience - theHumm May 2021
Heidi Stepanek is a professional and experienced musician, stage director and drama educator who has built a career out of her love of working with children, and her passion for musical theatre. 24 years ago she founded the Perth Academy of Musical Theatre (PAMT), which has since transitioned into The Academy for Musical Theatre musictheatre.ca and now operates in both Perth and Ottawa. This summer, The Academy is offering a creati......
Free Editing Workshops - theHumm May 2021
After offering an Editing Workshop as part of theHumm’s Winterwords initiative, Sarah Reside editsandrevisions.com is planning two mo......
Become a Better Bystander in One Hour iHollaback.org Offers Free “Bystander Intervention” Anti-Harassment Training - theHumm May 2021
By — Kris Riendeau
Have you ever found yourself witnessing some kind of harassment in public, but not knowing how — or even if — you should respond? Have you been the target of harassment and wondered why no one ca......
The LovelyLook of Spring - theHumm May 2021
By Glenda Jones
In the fall, when we were on the cusp of nothingness (much like we are again now), I decided to go through the closet, haul out all my “good clothes” that I would normally have worn to lectures, ......
Birdhouse Auction a Huge Success - theHumm May 2021
By — Glenda Jones
After months of diligent woodworking, crafting and painting, and two weeks of intense bidding, the 2021 Birdhouse Blowout Auction has raised over $6500 for the Mississippi Valley Field Naturalist......
The Garden Calendar - theHumm May 2021
By David Hinks
During the second week of April, daily high temperatures were averaging 20 degrees and more — folks on Facebook were clamouring to get out in their gardens and plant — I even saw questions about ......
Masks and Art at MERA - theHumm May 2021
Spring is here, summer is coming, and MERA is optimistically planning another outdoor art show for May 22. This is a call for local artists and artisans to join the outdoor show.
A special ev......
Apr 27 Festival of the Maples
Apr 27 The Moth Project
May 4 - 5 Spring Fine Art Show
May 4 - 5 Spring Fine Art Show
May 4 Outskirts
May 5 Music at Mera: The Andrew Collins Trio
May 9 Family Paint Party: Paint Nite
May 11 - 12 Art in the Attic
- IS THIS A PROTEST?
- A Classic Whodunnit Agatha Christie’s Black Coffee at Studio Theatre
- Readers, Writers, and Poets
- Celebrate Indigenous Culture in CP
- Celebrate the ClassicsWith the Arnprior Choir
- 4F Auction Concoction Food, Fun, Fashion & Favourites
- Cheerfully Made Spring Market
- Electrify to Decarbonize Lanark
- Volunteer Forum
- Frankenstein Comes to The Station Theatre
