at our next meeting:
Guest Speaker Mark Emery
from the Elgin Stewardship Council

Thursday, January 15th
7:30 at the HUB

The “Trees for Life” program has volunteers collect seeds from native trees in participants’ yards every fall.  Growing these seeds provides a hands-on learning experience for youth at area schools, with the saplings being made available for local habitat restoration projects.

Mark will be speaking about the forest restoration process, native and rare plants, the details of this project, and how you can volunteer your time or your trees for this worthwhile cause.  If you would be willing to have seeds collected from trees on your property, or if you can volunteer to do a bit of raking yourself, come join us Thursday evening!

This is the first meeting at our new regular time: the 3rd Thursday of each month, 7:30 at the HUB.  As always, everyone is welcome, both from the village and the surrounding area!

If you’d like any more details call 644-5186.

Elgin Stewardship Council Website:
http://www.ontariostewardship.org/ontarioStewardship/home/osESCIndex.asp

Meetings & Topics:
Jan 15: “Trees for Life” Seed Collection Program
Feb 19: Green Baby Night
Mar 19: The Environment & Your Health
Apr 16: Your Next Big Green Event

Movie Nights:
Presented at Aylmer Old Town Hall by Grassroots, an Aylmer environmental group
Jan 27, 7:00: “Who Killed the Electric Car?”
Feb 24, 7:00: “The End of Suburbia”
Mar 31, 7:00: “Garbage”

Other Notes:
Registration begins in February for the “Greening Up at Grosvenor Lodge” summer day camp. Call 645-2845.

Join millions of people around the world in turning off your lights for “Earth Hour”, 8:30 to 9:30 pm, March 28th.

Watch for Pitch-In Community Clean-Up Day on a Saturday in April.  This is a great volunteer opportunity for students.

Trees for Tomorrow is a great opportunity for families to learn about the types and importance of the trees growing on their own property, and a great volunteer opportunity for students and others looking to enhance area forests.

The details:

“Trees for Tomorrow”

Guest Speaker Mark Emery
from the Elgin Stewardship Council

Sunday, October 26th
7:30pm at the HUB

Followed by a screening of films from the
Short-Attention-Span Environmental
Film Festival, if time allows

Everyone is welcome, invite a friend!

What is Trees for Tomorrow?

1. Volunteers collect seed from native trees in participants’ yards each fall
2. Students at area highschools get hands-on experience growing the seeds
3. Saplings are planted as part of local habitat restoration projects

ECO-TOUR

Sunday, Sept. 28
1:00 – 5:00 pm
Starts @ Belmont Arena

The Eco-Tour is a guided visit to a number of interesting spots in Elgin County, featuring things like:

-Renewable Power Generation
-Homemade Bio-Diesel
-Low-Impact Wine Making

… and more!

Come see what’s happening in your own backyard!

A more detailed schedule and map will be posted closer to the date.  If you’d like more info, or are able to offer a ride that day, please call 644-5186.

Congratulations to the winners of our category, McSmith Organics, who have built a beautiful home using straw-bale construction, and the Hawk Cliff Raptor Banders, who play a significant role in wildlife conservation.  Both groups do phenomenal work, and have made substantial contributions to our environment in this municipality.

Thanks for those who came and supported us at our barbeque on the weekend – it was a great success!

As promised, for those interested in the worms that were on display, here is the contact information for the lady I purchased them from:

www.annelidcycle.com

I just started a vermi-composter, and will be posting updates on the experience as it unfolds.

TTFN

Saturday, June 28
11am – 2pm
Belmont Foodland Parking Lot

Learn more about our group, see displays on vermi- or worm-comosting, and Ontario’s new “hang-to-dry” policy.

We’re looking for volunteer cooks, ticket-sellers, clean-up crew, and all-around friendly faces. Email sustainable.belmont.blog@hotmail.com to help out!

If they are RECHARGEABLE, a number of places will recycle them – generally, where you buy them… Just ask. Up on Wellington Road, you can return them to Lumberteria, the Bay, Canadian Tire or The Source. In Dorchester, try Home Hardware, and kudos to our neighbours: the Township of Malahide takes rechargeable batteries and OLD CELL PHONES at its office on John St in Aylmer. Use this site search for stores near you.

If they are NON-RECHARGEABLE, you’ll need to dispose of them as hazardous waste, in the same way you would with old paint, fluorescent light bulbs, or used oil. This probably means taking them to the Central Elgin Hazardous Waste Day next year (the ’08 day was last weekend!). If you find another place to take them, please let us know by posting a comment below.

Finally, before you buy that next pack batteries, consider that it takes many, many times more energy to make a battery than the energy it provides. Something to chew on.

Blind Birders, Grumpy Badgers, Extreme Bikers,

Concerned Grandmothers And Flipper!!!

We’ve Got It All

Sustainable Belmont’s First Ever Movie Night

Featuring Short Films From The Earth Dance Short-Attention-Span Film Festival

Refreshments * Prize Draw

Bring Your Friends And Family

Sunday, June 1, 7:30 pm @ the HUB

For More Information Call 644-5186 Or Email

sustainable.belmont.blog@hotmail.com