ENVIRONMENTAL GREMLIN: A celebration of sustainable living

Community organizations and citizens have once again come together for the 3rd annual Celebration of Sustainable Living in the Annapolis Valley as part of the local celebrations of Environment Week 2009, May 31 to June 6.

Please note that the Environmental Gremlin on May 14 focused on the evident demise of Canada’s Environment Week. Someone in Ottawa must be reading this column as there is now a website for Environment Week 2009. The old link (http://www.ec.gc.ca/cew ) has been replaced by http://www.ec.gc.ca/sce-cew/default.asp?lang=En&n=56886AF1-1 Please have a look for yourselves.

One of the highlights of the Celebration of Sustainable Living is Groundworks 2009 when local artists create environmental art around the French Basin Trail. Members of the Annapolis Region Community Arts Council and other citizens usually gather on Sunday afternoon in a festive mood to build their creations.

Some of the art work is whimsical while others might have a more serious message. The artists often use found things that will naturally degrade as Environment Week progresses.

As the Groundworks are being created, citizens will also have an opportunity to participate in the Great Plant Pull at the Annapolis Royal Marsh. The objective is the removal of glossy buckthorn, an invasive alien plant that has infested part of this area.

Beginning at 9 a.m. on June 2, citizens are invited to meet at the Annapolis Royal Train Station for a community-wide litter pickup. Gloves are recommended.

Wednesday evening at 5 p.m., the Annapolis Field Naturalists will be leading a birding field trip around the Annapolis Royal Marsh. This will be an excellent opportunity to learn about the feathered critters that call this area home.

On Tuesday and Thursday evenings, the Cyopaths, a group of local cyclers will be meeting at Annapolis Home Hardware at 6 pm for an evening trip around the area. Destinations are usually decided prior to each outing.

The Annapolis Royal Recreation will be offering a family bicycle ride on June 4 meeting at the French Basin Trail parking lot at 6:30 p.m. At 12:30 on June 5, they will also lead an Annapolis Royal Trails outing.

While not open to the general public, the Celebration of Sustainable Living will include a special field day for students from Champlain Elementary School. Students will get to touch and learn about many of the creatures that live in this region.

The week will close with an opportunity to buy local at the Annapolis Royal Farmers’ Market on Saturday. Also on Saturday, the Clean Annapolis River Project will be demonstrating the EnerGuide for Homes program at Annapolis Home Hardware.

The Celebration of Sustainable Living reminds us how fortunate we are to live in the Annapolis Valley. Welcome to the celebrations. *****

Comments are always welcome and can be addressed to stephenhawboldt@annapolisriver.ca