Brad Leonard of Friendly Fires in Kingston spoke at Hastings Stewardship Council's 2016 Winter Speakers Series in January. The talk was part of the Local Wood Initiative funded by the Ontario Trillium Foundation. He spoke about wood stoves, chimneys, firewood, burning wood without smoke and fire safety.
Tree Identification in Winter
Tim Trustman, Quinte Conservation ecologist, show you how to identify trees in winter. He describes how to identify ash, cedars, maples, white elm and black cherry and black oak by looking at the twigs and the bark. He is at the H. R. Frink Centre as part of the 2014 Trenton Woodlot Conference. There are good interpretive signs at the Frink Centre describing the different species of trees.
Coyote Quest: The coyote study in Prince Edward County
Coyote Quest is the second in the 2015 Winter Speaker Series hosted by the Hastings Stewardship Council and sponsored by the Hastings Prince Edward Land Trust. Join Tyler Wheeldon in Ivanhoe for a presentation on his recent coyote research.
A plan for Tweed's Stoco Lake
By Brett Mann
Friends of Stoco Lake, a local association of residents interested in the health of the lake, recently held their first public meeting to develop a “lake plan.” Over 30 people, many lakefront property owners, gathered at the Tweed library to hear presentations from the Quinte Conservation Authority, Friends of Stoco Lake, Watersheds Canada, and Gordon Rodgers, a consultant with French Planning Services Inc. Mayor Jo-Anne Albert and the rest of Tweed council participated in the meeting in anticipation of a presentation on the topic at the next day’s council meeting.
Horse logging with Jim and Kenny Uens
Jim Uens and his son Kenny demonstrate logging with horses at the 2013 Trenton Woodlot Conference.
Appreciation Gift basket
Current Chair Charles Robinson presents long serving past chair Cliff Maclean on right with a gift basket from council members.
Batawa Wild Flower Garden
Bug Apetite
1. Liberty Macdonald- Bug Appetit. Liberty was a winner at the Quinte Region science fair. How eating bugs can lower our environmental footprint instead of traditional protein production. Council members were each given a delicious cookie baked with crickets as an ingredient, baked by Liberty.
HSC Presents the Price of Gold
Louise Livingstone introducing the documentary The Price of Gold about the Deloro mine history and cleanup at the Madoc Performing Arts Center Wednesday June 19 2013. About 50-60 people turned out to watch the very informative documentary and participate in a Q and A with the film writer,director, producer Heather Hawthorne and Nancy Elliot from the MNR.
Stewardship councils talk about beavers
by Jeff Green
Two hundred people packed the Civitan Hall in Perth for a day-long seminar devoted to the ubiquitous Canadian Beaver, the loved and loathed creature that most closely resembles humans in its tendency to make changes to its surroundings.
Stewards of the land
By Luke Hendry, The Intelligencer
Tuesday, May 7, 2013 5:05:37 EDT PM
Caruana, 51, is the Hastings Stewardship Council's new co-ordinator. He said the council helps residents make a difference in tangible ways.
“It's just practical environmentalism,” he said.
For Matt Caruana, preserving the environment isn't just a philosophy – it's his new job.
“There's lots of stuff you can't do about the bigger picture.
“This is hands-on. This is what we can do right now in our own local environments to be stewards of it. And there's a lot we can do.”
The council, created through a provincial stewardship program, encourages residents to help care for their natural surroundings through a variety of programs. They include tree planting, helping with funding applications and education.
“We're a learning and awareness organization. We promote good stewardship every chance we can,” said volunteer and past co-ordinator Jim Pedersen.
“We're not affiliated with any political organization,” he added.
Originally from St. Thomas, Ont., Caruana spent about 20 years working as an energy advisor for residents wanting to make their homes more efficient. He's a graduate of Ryerson University's environmental management program.
He and his wife, Karen, bought a derelict 100-acre farm here 10 years ago, naming it Porcupine Creek Farm.
They fixed up the buildings, installed solar panels and geothermal heating, and at one point had a certified organic farm. They're now raising chickens and growing some of their produce.
Through the Trees Ontario program promoted by the stewardship council, the couple planted 3,000 trees in old pastures behind their house. Caruana said the rocky property is proof ideal soil isn't needed for tree planting.
The province last year cancelled its funding for the council after 17 years.
“We're still very interested in working with all of the partners that we had before,” said Pedersen, who has remained employed with Ontario's Ministry of Natural Resources. Those partners include municipalities and farming groups.
Caruana is on a one-year part-time contract. He said the group is still able to provide some programs.
Grants of around $3,000 could soon be offered for sustainability projects and those by schools, 4-H clubs and agricultural programs, he said. Details are still being finalized but a draft of the program is now on the council's website.
“We hope to have some bursaries for students going on to further education,” said Pedersen.
Caruana added his work will also include creating a newsletter and seeking more funding.
To learn more, visit the website at hastingsstewardship.ca or call Caruana at 613-391-9034.
Community Tree line up in Marmora
We gave away over 1500 trees on a beautiful, warm, sunny Saturday, May 4. Thank you to all the Marmora Environmental Action committee members for their help!
Good line up for a very successful tree giveaway in Marmora