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Written by fish
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Wednesday, 08 September 2010 06:47 |
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If you'd like to see some live footage of one of our systems (the Windermere Secondary System). There is a film produced by EYA currently posted on Jack Johnson's "All at Once" website as a fundraising opportunity for EYA (EYA gets a dollar for every view!). So watch it here. An update (and a pretty photo) from our own backyard. The nutrient levels and bacteria colonies have stabilized and we're finally seeing some great plant growth. Hopefully we will get to harvest a cucumber before the weather gets to chilly!
**Update** The video is no longer available on All at Once - but you can find it here: Fish and Veggies at Windermere Secondary from Environmental Youth Alliance on Vimeo. |
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Last Updated on Monday, 24 January 2011 22:02 |
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Chicken Workshop Sept. 11 |
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Written by Duncan Martin
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Tuesday, 24 August 2010 17:16 |
Saturday, September 11, 1:00 - 3:30 pm, Strathcona Community Garden
Learn the basics of Vancouver's chicken bylaw and learn what it would take for you to start getting fresh eggs from your own backyard. Chicken-coop-builder Duncan Martin will let you in on some tips for building your own coop (or buy one of his kits!) and introduce you to everything you need to know about basic care, sourcing chickens and supplies, and helpful resources for future reference. Also: Come away with your own recycled-container waterer. Suggested donation: $10-15
Email Duncan for more information:
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Last Updated on Tuesday, 24 August 2010 17:20 |
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Upcoming aquaponics workshop |
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Written by Jodi Peters
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Wednesday, 21 July 2010 04:54 |
SATURDAY JULY 31st - Aquaponics workshop and demo!
Details: Saturday, July 31st, 1 - 3:30pm, Strathcona Community Garden
(Meet at the Eco-Pavilion in the north west corner of the garden (at Prior, just west of Hawks)
Grow edible fish and plants - almost anywhere - in a single, connected eco-system. This workshop will explain the basic principles of aquaponics, including basic system design and a hands-on demonstration of how to build a small indoor system.
Suggested donation: $5
Please RSVP to Jodi at :
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
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Last Updated on Wednesday, 21 July 2010 05:35 |
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Happy plants...lots of learning |
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Written by Jodi Peters
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Wednesday, 21 July 2010 04:44 |
Normal 0
What does a happy plant look like?
Yards of roots following the nutrients to their source! Our Windermere aquaponics system has recently taken off. The fish are happy and the plants are growing like crazy!
We are apparently learning the ins and outs of system maintenance through the “crisis method” – a crisis occurs, we figure how to deal with it and add it to the regular maintenance checklist.
Root clearing is a big one. As is solids removal. Fun fun fun!!!
But look at those lovely cucumber plants – all fertilized on the nutrients excreted by a pack of happy, fat and growing goldfish. Stay tuned for the next level…getting some edible fish fry!
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Sept. 11th Chicken coop workshop |
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Written by Duncan
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Monday, 12 July 2010 19:23 |
When? Saturday, Sept. 11th from 1:00-3:30
Where? Strathcona Garden Eco Pavilion at Prior & Hawks St. in Vancouver. Come on down to the Eco Pavilion at Strathcona Community Garden this Saturday to learn about the housing needs of chickens. Chickens don't require much, but whether you're buying a coop or building your own, you'll want to make sure they're safe, healthy, and happy. |
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Last Updated on Tuesday, 27 July 2010 07:20 |
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Written by Duncan Martin
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Friday, 11 June 2010 16:33 |
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Vancouver Chickens officially became legal on Tuesday, and "All over the world today, people woke up to find they had water for coffee, electricity to brew it and a newspaper at the door. The mechanized world did not grind to a halt last night, as some had forecast." Ok, I cut and pasted that from an NPR News transcript dated Jan. 1, 2000. But as Vancouver's clocks clucked 12 AM on June 8th, Vancouver's chickens were perched, eyes closed, waiting for another day of eating slugs and carrying on as quiet, peaceful, and productive denizens of our fair city. On Monday, I made it out to Julia Smith's backyard on Blenheim St. Randy Shore of the Vancouver Sun was there to learn about the ins and outs of keeping hens. See the articles: DailyEggs.com Business Profile How-To With Julia Smith |
There was a small legal hiccup this weekend, as an East Van resident called me after a visit from the animal control officer. It appears that, because there was no active chicken bylaw, she decided ticket the man for owning chickens, and not simply warn him for having roaming chickens (it had wandered across the property line and was sleeping under a tree). Let's hope that any further discipline related to chickens will be based on actual problems, not technicalities. |
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Last Updated on Sunday, 13 June 2010 10:31 |
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City Council Approves Zoning For Backyard Chickens |
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Written by Duncan Martin
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Sunday, 23 May 2010 02:26 |
Raise your hand if you think chickens are legal in Vancouver finally.....Actually the bylaw allowing them doesn't go into effect until June 8th, but I'm going to publicly endorse a little civil disobedience and encourage people to go for it now. What's a few weeks anyway?
It has been a long process, with motions, seconds, public input, public hearings, dozens of bad puns, and even some "experts," but we finally can say without a doubt, that on June 8th, you can pick up four chickens in the Valley, put them in your code-compliant coop, and get fresh eggs daily without a municipal stooge coming 'round to make orphans out of your orpingtons and forlorn leghorns. |
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Last Updated on Friday, 28 May 2010 15:32 |
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Duncan To Answer Chicken Questions on BC Almanac |
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Written by Duncan
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Friday, 14 May 2010 03:17 |
 CBC Radio's BC Almanac Host Mark Forsythe
Listen to 690 AM or 88.1 FM around 12:15 PM on
Tuesday, May 18th
Tuesday, May 18th is a big day for chickens in Vancouver. Although one would think, given the press coverage and the many meetings on the issue, that the chicken bylaw has passed, there is still one more small step. A public hearing will be held at City Hall at 7:30 PM on Tuesday. To mark the occasion, I will attempt to answer any questions you may have about keeping backyard chickens in the city. So tune in to CBC Radio 1 on 690 AM or 88.1 on the FM dial.... There is little reason to think there will be stiff opposition to the bill, but come on down and show your support if you can. It's in the evening, so no excuses! |
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Last Updated on Saturday, 12 June 2010 06:54 |
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Farmers' Market Breeding New Farmers? |
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Written by Duncan
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Monday, 10 May 2010 19:13 |
 Urban farmers' markets have traditionally served to connect farmers with local consumers. And while we usually conjure up images of pumpkins, apples, cucumbers, beets, and other delicious treats of the harvest, the springtime markets are a very different scene. While leafy greens and hothouse veggies are aplenty, seedlings seem to headline the market in May, as countless market-goers plan their own backyard gardens. It seemed timely, then, that Dylan and I were able to join Matthew from EYA and be there with our mushroom kits and chicken coop, while Matthew and EYA gardeners sold seeds and seedlings. People stopped by, asked about the chicken bylaw, which should go through on May 18th at City Hall, and learned what it takes to make their backyards more productive.
If you haven't been to the new summer market at Trout Lake, make a point to go next Saturday. Nestled, between a lane and the north side of Trout Lake, the market is now at the Templeton entrance to the park, where a narrower parking lot provides ample shade and a view of the water. |
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Last Updated on Saturday, 15 May 2010 17:10 |
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Earth Day Celebration at Jericho Beach! |
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Written by Duncan Martin
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Sunday, 25 April 2010 01:43 |
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The Backyard Bounty Collective and many others braved the chilly wind (and sun at times) at Jericho Beach to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Earth Day. If it wasn't obvious already, Vancouver is a city ready to take the next step in food security. We have all seen the damning documentaries about agribusiness. We have all learned the benefits of buying local and organic. And countless gardens are popping up in backyards, on rooftops, and in city parks. So while we weren't necessarily taken by surprise, it was once again encouraging to see the degree of enthusiasm and commitment that passers-by (and stoppers-by) showed toward expanding the role we play in providing our basic food necessities.
Jodi mentioned that one could live completely off of our systems (fish, veggies, eggs, honey, and mushrooms) with the exception of grains (and haven't we had enough of those already?).
A toast to our health!
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Official Launch at City Hall |
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Written by Jodi Peters
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Friday, 16 April 2010 05:50 |
In the gentle warmth of the April sun, the Backyard Bounty Collective sat down with Vancouver City Councillors (and a bit later, the Mayor) and enjoyed delicious food representing each of our backyard food production systems prepared by Bishop's restaurant executive chef Andrea Carlson.
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Last Updated on Wednesday, 21 April 2010 14:54 |
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Read more...
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6 ways mushrooms can save the world |
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Thursday, 15 April 2010 07:05 |
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It's exciting how everything is coming together so nicely!
To celebrate our successful launch I would like to share a video:
http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/eng/paul_stamets_on_6_ways_mushrooms_can_save_the_world.html
Paul Stamets, world renowned mycologist, talks about ways that mushrooms can save the planet.
Enjoy! |
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