Seeing in New Ways

Ken originates from south-west Saskatchewan; his brother farms land which has been in the family for over a century.

Farming country in South-west Saskatchewan

Recently Ken's brother told us about a rancher from North Dakota, Gabe Brown, who is an articulate and passionate spokesperson for something called "regenerative agriculture". Ken and I have been watching some of Brown's talks on Youtube. He is knowledgeable, convincing, and persuasive.

Regenerative agriculture - and for that matter, any kind of regenerative gardening - stems from the perspective that soil health is critical, and that tilling the soil -- something we had assumed is the only way to go -- is in fact harmful to it. Instead, Brown advocates farming techniques that build organic matter and nutrients in the soil, and avoid tilling it.

Here is a link to Brown's website for his ranch: http://brownsranch.us His website describes his mission as "regenerating landscapes for a sustainable future". His ranch is shown below:

Scene from Gabe Brown's ranch. Source: http://brownsranch.us

The talk we have been watching is called "Treating the Farm as an Ecosystem:

Screen shot from Youtube, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uUmIdq0D6-A

Brown talks about his journey from farming and ranching using commonly accepted techniques, to a new approach based on ecosystem principles. He avoids saying that he is departing from "traditional" farming and ranching, because his perspective is that established farming techniques are at odds with "tradition", in that the longest tradition on our landscapes is one where ecosystems were in balance.

He provides ample evidence that his approach regenerates the soil, and yields crops and results with higher nutrients. His presentation is at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uUmIdq0D6-A

Seeing with New Eyes

During Brown's talk, he speaks to the following quote:

If you want to make small changes, change how you do things. If you want to make major changes, change how you SEE things! Attributed to Don Campbell

I find his talk inspiring. It is so easy to think, in this time of entrenched and polarized positions, that changing the way we see things is an impossibility.

Brown demonstrates that change in the way we see things is possible. In fact, he has become so convinced of the merits of his approaches, that he has travelled, taught workshops and written extensively. The Youtube video above was filmed while he taught a workshop in South Carolina  - a long way from North Dakota!

Changing how we see things... Shifting our perceptions of what is the "right" way of doing something, of what works and doesn't work. Humans don't always make changes easily, but Gabe Brown provides one example from agriculture, an inspiring one.

On Silence and Trees

I have been noticing that Salmon Arm is a lot noisier than James Bay, despite Victoria's size.

On each of my walks in the last few days, the most present thing in my ears has been the roar of traffic. The mountains around the Bay act like a reverberating echo chamber.

Trail through ravine, Gardom Lake Park

One of the things I enjoyed when I lived at Gardom Lake was the wonderful silence of the forest there.

Noise in Salmon Arm comes from the highway and from various collector roads.

Highway traffic brakes as it comes down the hill, and accelerates to head up the hill or to leave town.

Even after vehicles have left Salmon Arm travelling west they continue to be heard. Their roar travels across the lake as they move around the bay.

So what can we do about urban noise?

I am convinced that tree planting to muffle and absorb sound is one action that might make a difference.

In Salmon Arm, the streets that I have been walking have lost trees in the last five years, with the pace of new development.

New rental units being built in Salmon Arm
Site clearing resulted in the loss of some trees

BC Statistics estimates that last year Salmon Arm's growth rate exceeded 10%.

Clearing for new residential development near 20th St SE, Salmon Arm
Note the public walking trail on the right. Connectors like this add to Salmon Arm's walkability.

New hotel under construction by the Trans Canada Highway
An old plum orchard along with Douglas firs were removed for this development

This development along the shore of the lake, next to the Prestige Hotel, required the removal of 13 large willows, seen below.

The willows just leafing out in the background of this image have since been removed for the development below

The loss of trees with development is making Salmon Arm noisier. In principle I support infill. A more dense community becomes a more walkable community, if done in ways that facilitate and encourage walking. And a more dense community helps the viability of public transit.

But - there is no need to lose trees with increased density. I see James Bay as a good example of what can be done.

Fence built around tree, James Bay

Based on what I saw in my walks, the residents there have a love affair with trees.

Another fence built around a tree, James Bay

This tree in Fairfield has become part of the house's funky design.

Massive fir retained with high rise construction.
Notice there is also foliage from a cedar in the left of the image.

High rise surrounded with large trees, Douglas Street

Not everyone loves or appreciates trees. Over 200 years ago William Blake wrote, "The tree which moves some to tears of joy is in the eyes of others only a green thing which stands in the way."

Trees removed and replaced with xeriscaping, Salmon Arm

So, it's a question of perception. Perhaps we take trees for granted in Salmon Arm because there are so many visible on the slopes of the mountains which surround us.

The thicket of trees in the photo below has an older house located in its midst. Relatively close to the core, will these trees too be lost? I hope not. Every time I walk past them I hear songbirds and flickers.

It's time that in our urban core we protect and value trees more.

Courage and Spring

Today I watched a short video prepared by Frances Moore Lappé of the Small Planet Institute. Years ago I read her book Diet for a Small Planet, along with that by Susan George, How the Other Half Dies. Both books changed my ways of thinking about world hunger and over-population. But that's another subject.

Lappé's message in the video was simple: to counteract evil in the world, we need courage, the courage to stand up and speak out when lies are trotted out as truth, the courage to stand up for our convictions.

In a sense, it was a message of hope. If we all acted courageously, as if we had hope, and speak our truth to power, things could be different.

A bit later in the day I walked in a small local park, Peter Jannink Park.

The park is a pocket park sandwiched between Salmon Arm's sewage treatment plant and industrial zoned land on one side, and the lake on the opposite side.

Environment Canada weather station, Peter Jannink Park

On the third side is land under the jurisdiction of Adams Lake Indian Band, and on the fourth is new residential development currently under construction.

This little pocket park is truly multi-use. Environment Canada has a weather station here.

Bench, Peter Jannink Park

The park has a history of having been an area to which industrial fill was dumped, so consequently has a weed problem.

Tansy and Poison Hemlock Seed Heads, Peter Jannink Park

New development bordering Peter Jannink Park

The shallow waters of Shuswap Lake immediately in front of the park are a haven for birds in the spring and summer. Birders often find better birding here than at the wharf in Salmon Arm.

Bird box typically used by swallows, just below Peter Jannink Park. Hard to imagine, but the lake rises to the point that last year water came to the base of the box. Volunteers with SABNES and the Shuswap Naturalists are extending the posts to raise the boxes higher.

 
The Park is popular with people because of the covered shelter which is a rarity in parks these days.

One of the people honoured at the Park is Mary Lou Tapson Jones, a founding member of the Shuswap Naturalists whose passion was botany. I still consult her book "Perilous Charmers", on poisonous plants of the Shuswap. The extract from Blake on the rock below speaks to me of the attitude we need in today's world. "To see a world in a grain of sand, and heaven in a wildflower."

We can so easily get caught up in the magnitude of the crises on the planet, the big picture. If we look at the grain of sand, the wildflower, the opening bud, and view the perfection within each, we can find the courage to counteract our despair, to stand up for nature, for truth, for justice.

Buds, Peter Jannink Park

Young People and the Future

After five weeks in the James Bay area of Victoria, I have slid back in time to the more wintry climate of Salmon Arm. 

Today I attended a meeting of the City's Environmental Advisory Committee (EAC) where I represent SABNES (Salmon Arm Bay Nature Enhancement Society). Usually the committee sessions are in City Hall, but today we met at the High School where we had an opportunity to connect with two teachers and some students there.

The focus of our meeting was to learn about the BC Tomorrow land use simulation tool.

From the BC Tomorrow website
http://www.bctomorrow.ca

This tool is being developed and piloted right here in Salmon Arm, based on something similar from Alberta. Apparently there is a lot of interest from other schools throughout the province in taking this tool to use it in their classes. 

Students learn hands-on about a range of key ecosystem principles. These include: 

The Shuswap Watershed.
The mapping of the watershed in 2010
was a significant step forward in raising
awareness about it. An environmental group
(Shuswap Environmental Action Society)
made this happen.

1. We live in a watershed. In the case of Salmon Arm, it is the Shuswap watershed - a headwater drainage of the Fraser River, one of BC's major rivers.
2. Nature, and human settlements and economies, are sets of inter-related systems. When we change one part of the landscape, it has ramifications on physiological (e.g. systems like water, habitat), social  and economic systems (e.g. available land for agriculture, industry, settlement). 
3. Cumulative effects must be considered in decision-making. One small change, such as paving a small area of a watershed, will have negligible impact, but the cumulative effect of paving more and more area of the watershed will be significant.

The presentation included video clips of students talking about how the simulator helped them understand inter-connections and cumulative effects. 

EAC members noted that the students who are in high school today will become decision makers one to two decades from now. The more decision-makers understand the complexities and inter-relationships of land use and natural systems, the better.

Developing this tool has taken a huge amount of effort. The utility of the tool relies upon the accuracy of the relationships being modelled, so good data is essential. And, the tool is "apolitical"; it assumes best practices are employed in each of the sectors being modelled, but does not finger-point or blame. Its development has been led by a non-profit society, rather than the Ministry of Education. 

It was gratifying to see that there is interest from elsewhere in this innovative learning tool, and to recognize the many creative, thoughtful people in this community that have led to its development. 

Salmon Arm from Tappen
Source: Creative Commons: upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d4/SalmonArmFromTappen.JPG

I always find the meetings of the Environmental Advisory Committee inspiring because of the insights and perceptions of the participants around the table. There is also considerable frustration. Members are well aware of the severity of environmental issues globally, the slowness of governments to make change, and the need for inspiring, committed leadership.

Another innovative step that Salmon Arm has taken is to have representatives from the high school Youth Council attend City Council meetings. Once a month Council makes time for these young people on the agenda, giving them an opportunity to provide comments and feedback. An article in the March All Month AM (friam.ca) written by the students notes with appreciation the help they have received from members of City Council. These young people are now more politically literate, understanding the ropes of municipal government, and knowledgeable about things such as budgeting, zoning bylaws and the development approval process.

This morning at the EAC meeting a fellow committee member asked two of the young people sitting near her if they had heard of the Swedish student Greta Thunberg, and the movement of student climate strikes. Those two particular students were not aware of this movement, and of the story of Greta's decision to strike every Friday, to raise awareness in her own country about the need for more action towards meeting its climate commitments.

BBC image November 30 2018 - Student strike in Australia
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-46380418. Getty Images

Student climate strikes have spread around the globe; there was one in Victoria the day that we arrived. Here is a journalist's photo of the event:

Victoria students on stirke February 1 2019
Source: www.peninsulanewsreview.com/news/victoria-youth-skip-school-for-climate-strike/ Credit: Keri Coles

Tomorrow, Friday March 15, is the day of the world-wide school strike by young people. I don't know how many will be striking in BC; I am told there is at least one planned, in Nelson.  

Let's hope that the energy and pressure of young people such as these will hold decision-makers accountable, and push them to make the tough decisions we need to reduce carbon and other climate-altering emissions.

Details Matter

I'm discovering small little things that Victoria is doing differently. In some cases, they seem to be part of the way business is done here. In others, they are most likely experimental projects. Here are a few examples. They all point in the direction of building a sustainable community.

Construction and Tree Protection

I like the friendly, simple communication with the public about projects, as exemplified by the sign which I saw on Cook Street at the edge of a long line of construction activity.

Sign on Cook Street

As the sign indicates, the storm drain is being upgraded with technology designed to minimize disruption to the roads and boulevard trees.

I also liked how sturdy and substantial the tree protection is. This is on Superior Street; on the left is the Capital Park Residences project.

Tree protection on Superior Street, James Bay

Cigarette Butt Recycling

In 2014 a cigarette butt pilot recycling program was started by the Downtown Victoria Business Association, the City of Victoria, and an environmental group. According to a Times Colonist article, the butts are converted into products such as plastic pellets for industrial use, while the paper and tobacco components are composted. The incentive for business is that a "storefront covered in cigarette butts is uninviting for customers".

Cigarette butt recycling near the Convention Centre

There are apparently a number of these units in the downtown and Inner Harbour areas, but so far, this is the only one I have found. Considering how many smokers I have encountered on the streets here, far more are needed!

Solar Energy

I have seen very few solar panels in the areas of Victoria I have walked in. Parking kiosks like the one below are the exception; I have seen a number.

There is definitely room for expansion of the solar energy infrastructure.

Human Powered Energy

Speaking of energy, every time I go to a gym, especially if I sit on a spinner (cycle), I think about all the human energy being employed there, and whether it could be captured in some way. Well, the Urban Spinning Bench was designed by someone who thought the same questions. In this case, it is converted to electrical energy which can charge a cell phone, or power a light.

Urban Spinning Bench, Cook Street
Energy from pedalling can be used to charge a cell phone

Instructions for the Urban Spinning Bench

Currently, this is in the form of street art. Choosing the option to light the pole makes the results visible to the cyclist; I'd like to see this pilot project replicated elsewhere. There is a lot of energy produced in gyms!

Drones

Signage about drones has recently been discussed in Salmon Arm. The Salmon Arm discussion was triggered by reports of drones flying above bird nests, especially raptors like osprey or waterfowl like grebes.

Sign at Victoria Harbour

This drone sign, seen near Fisherman's Wharf, is oriented to safety, because of the air operations over Victoria Harbour.

Ecosystem Awareness

I like the signs around Beacon Hill Park that make people aware of the rare ecosystems that Victoria is situated in - the coastal bluffs, and the Garry Oak meadows.

Victoria Seed Library

Finally: we came across the Victoria Seed Library at the Downtown Library one Saturday. Here is how they describe themselves, from their website (http://lifecyclesproject.ca/our-projects/seed-library/):

"A partnership between LifeCycles and the Greater Victoria Public Library, the Victoria Seed Library is a way for hobby and beginner gardeners to share seeds and steward a regionally adapted seed collection. Together we are working to keep seeds in the public domain and support food security and biodiversity."

As it was explained to us, gardeners can borrow seeds from the collection, with a commitment to harvest them in the fall and return seed to the library. That way the seed collection grows. 


A few small projects.... each one a good idea, each one with many details that needed working out. Start small, think local, and pay attention to the details.

How to Follow my Blog - UPDATE

I would love to see more people following my blog! If you would like to know when I upload a new post, click the blue "Follow" button below.

I am using a Google platform for this blog; from what I have read, you will need a Google account (ie a gmail address) to follow me.

Apparently the Google platform does not send email notifications when there is a new post. Instead, you have to go to "BLOGGER" in your Google account, and scroll down to "READING LIST". There you will see the Google blogs you follow and the list of postings.

Nature's Turn

I have written mostly about Victoria's urban life in this blog. It's time to acknowledge the presence of nature here.

It is easy to stroll -- even along the oceanfront -- and not pay attention to the natural world on which we depend. I have been walking with a couple of different groups and find that in the throes of conversation with other people, I miss a lot of things I would normally notice if I was out by myself or with Ken.

Yesterday we sat by the water's edge and watched a Black Oystercatcher through the binoculars. He stood on rocks that were being covered with sluicing water as the incoming tide washed over him, sometimes getting completely soaked. But he seemed unperturbed, scooting around the rocks and grabbing at whatever marine life was clinging to them.

Black Oystercatcher.
Source: www.islandlight.ca/cortes-island-oystercatcher-photo-885

The day before we had watched -- without binoculars -- three animals that appeared to be otters, on rocks far out in the ocean. We initially guessed that they must be sea otters, but now understand that sea otters do not usually come this far south. They must have been river otters.

There are many Mergansers and Bufflehead in the waters along Dallas Road.  We are familiar with these ducks from their spring and summer sojourns in the interior, where they come to breed. It was enjoyable watching their feeding behaviour in salt water.

By contrast, I find the over dense population of Mallards at Beacon Hill Park to be an indicator of something out of balance. The photo below shows that the population is so high, they have eroded all the grass in the area. I saw one Ruddy duck, and a number of American Wigeon, mixed in, but 90% of the ducks are Mallards.

Beacon Hill Park is an urban park, not a natural one, and the experience of these children with the ducks is an encounter more zoo-like than anything.

Feeding ducks at Beacon Hill Park

Look Up! Herons in Douglas fir at Beacon Hill Park

We talked with a photographer who had these herons in his scope. They have just returned; he said these were males.


All these experiences of nature have skated around the most essential point, which is that nature's systems provide the fundamental source for life on the planet.

Some use the term "natural capital" - the services that the earth's ecosystems provide us. It is rather a peculiarly modern way of looking at things, that our ecosystems serve us and that we have to put a dollar quantity on the value of the services that they provide. It is an indicator that we cannot value our environment for its intrinsic benefits, or because we are all part of the web of life. Rather, we have to find a dollar value.

Here is one chart that I found that is oriented to the oceans and the ecosystem services they provide - including food sources, but also filtering water, protecting coastlines, and sequestering carbon:

Source: https://oceanwealth.org/ecosystem-services/

Because we have primarily stayed in the James Bay area on this trip, we have not been to the wilder ocean scenes. Here are a couple from our last trip further up the island.

Natural coastline, Courtenay area

When the tide recedes

Life in the city tends to be very separated from nature. I would like to see much more awareness and connection - even in this most "green" of cities.

Diversions

Before I talk about my thoughts on resilient communities, here is a diversion for a bit of fun: James Bay's Window Wanderland which happened last weekend. Through decorating windows with translucent designs, the neighbourhood was transformed with colourful windows. At night, these shone like stained glass, with the lights behind them.

This was the second year in a row that the community has had a Window Wanderland. There were workshops, with materials provided, at one of the community centres, for people to make their own creations.

We saw some of the designs, but missed many. The map below shows how many homes and facilities "lit up".

The New Horizons Centre served hot chocolate in the evenings for people to warm up and gather. We did not go to that; I spoke to a couple who had been and asked how many were there when they stopped by, and they said, "a few".

The concept of Window Wanderland is an import from an idea in the UK. Here is a website with more info: https://www.windowwanderland.com/

Because it is a new idea, like all news ideas, it will take some time to catch on and spread. But it is a great one.

Map of known participants in Window Wanderland

James Bay United Church had a big display, building on two lines from the hymn "All Things Bright and Beautiful":

James Bay United Church Windows

And here is one example of what people in an apartment building did:

Add caption

This is from the "sail" that neighbours walking on the street were encouraged to pull or move, to get the various wind chimes ringing.

I called this posting a "diversion" - but ultimately, community events like this are a key component to building a resilient community.

The website promoting the idea describes the objectives as "to build relationships, strengthen neighbourhoods, create pride and spread friendship, positivity, happiness and goodwill."  

What could be better?