DEN Enews

This editor caught some of a most interesting discussion on CBC Mainstreet at supper hour Monday but sadly I was in the car and could not find a link to it online later to share with you. I am citing a quote from the Premier from memory: “ I saw a sign that said No cuts. Then another that said Leave it in the Ground.” The implication was that you can’t have it both ways.

The individual being interviewed commented that the two sides are so polarized that there is no discussion centered on the middle ground. As Karen Robinson from the Save Sandy Lake Coalition said in a recent email:

They are also attempting to make people believe that there is some sort of ‘either-or’ around saving Sandy Lake and solving the transportation problems.

In other words, there is no middle ground. This lack of substantive engagement was also evident in recent “meetings” across the province on Fracking. Was the “public engagement process ” merely a formality for telling you why this is good for you? Was there meaningful discussion, to-and-fro chatting? You know - the middle ground.

How do we find the middle ground? Both sides are becoming more and more entrenched and nothing good for either side can come. The science on Sandy Lake speaks for itself. The science on fracking speaks for itself. Who is listening? How can we solve the province’s economic woes in a more sustainable way for the environment?

From our Advocacy Editors:

 Even though it’s been 10 years, this 20-minute film from 2016 has relevance for Nova Scotia today. The film was produced, written, & directed by Neal Livingston. It shows how drilling and fracking was warded away from Lake Ainslie in Cape Breton by community initiative and togetherness. Check out the examples shown in ‘My film 100 Short Stories - THE BATTLE TO SAVE LAKE AINSLIE’:  

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ljERCzjQI9w

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Perhaps there is inspiration in an Action Network called Join the Movement for a resilient Prince Edward Island powered by renewable energy that is locally generated, fairly priced, and democratically governed — where no one is left behind. https://actionnetwork.org/forms/join-the-movement-156?source=direct_link&

Lots happening around water in the Transition Bay newsletter. Topics include water conservation, wells, cisterns, soil erosion and green methods to prevent and mitigate that erosion.

Look for more talk about water in the Bluedot Living newsletter- Canada edition. https://bluedotliving.bluelena.io/index.php?

with an article on AI - is it coming for our water? There is also a short article on Walking Prince Edward Island.

This is a reminder to join Green Burial NS  this Wednesday, April 29 at 7:00 PM, for our upcoming Green Burial Café. We are excited to host guest presenter Penny Allport, a Life-Cycle Celebrant, Ceremony Weaver, and Board Member of the Green Burial Society of Canada.

Penny’s presentation on Rewilding Ceremony & Ritual offers a beautiful opportunity to explore how we can reimagine our traditions to better honor both our loved ones and the earth. You can learn more about her inspiring work at movingceremonies.com.

You helped make this happen:

Our message for a renewable grid hit Parliament Hill with 34,360 petition signatures last week! The David Suzuki Foundation went to Ottawa along with 350.org, Sacred Earth and Leadnow calling on the federal government to invest in a clean, connected electricity grid while upholding Indigenous and workers’ rights. Together they met with more than 35 MPs and senators. But Big Oil is still fighting to get its polluting projects online, so we can’t let up in our efforts to have clean, reliable and affordable energy for everyone in Canada. A big thank you to each one of you who signs the various petitions.

The decisions our Prime Minister makes this year will fundamentally shape the future of the country and the planet. Canada cannot afford to continue a trajectory of fossil fuelled climate chaos. Let’s demand federal leadership and funding for a People’s Power Grid and a commitment to phase out fossil fuels. Sign the petition going to Prime Minister Carney to help us stand together in rejecting Big Oil’s toxic pipe dream and demanding a livable future. The link also has some creative resources like a downloadable guide, videos, and options on how to host a toxic trivia party.

Methane is a major super-pollutant responsible for more than a quarter of all global warming. In Canada, the largest source of methane pollution is the oil and gas sector. This pollution causes serious health issues such as cancer and breathing and heart problems, along with children being especially susceptible. In December, the federal government announced new rules to curb oil and gas methane pollution, aiming to cut it by 72% by 2030. These regulations are expected to deliver hundreds of millions of dollars in health benefits, including reduced premature mortality. At the end of March, Canada announced an agreement-in-principle with Alberta to implement the federal regulations in our county’s largest oil and gas-producing province. Key details are unclear, such as how Alberta will be held accountable to this federal target. This is about more than just emissions. Canada has an opportunity to protect our climate, improve public health, and strengthen long-term energy security. Add your name to support this future, our health, and the fight against methane pollution.

Fifteen cities across Ontario use Green Development Standards to make homes less polluting, more resilient to climate change, and more affordable to heat and cool. Doug Ford is trying to kill these local green building rules. The Ontario government just introduced a new housing bill that tramples on climate policies and local democracy. The Bill will allow developers to cut a few corners and avoid adopting modern building practices. This Bill is also shaped to benefit Enbridge Gas, who want to build more pipelines and hook up more homes to polluting gas. Coincidently, Ottawa just approved Enbridge’s $4B Sunrise natural gas pipeline expansion project a few days ago. We can all join in emailing Ontario’s Premier Ford plus the Housing Minister, and (if you live in Ontario) your MPP to tell them to leave municipal climate efforts alone. 

Société Générale (headquarters in Paris, France) is bankrolling one of the world's most corrupt, climate-wrecking coal giants: Adani. The same Adani Group convicted of bribery and fraud, trashing reefs, stealing Indigenous land, and suing journalists for telling the truth. The Washington Post recently exposed that major American and European banks are refusing to finance Adani, showing the mobilisation against Adani is working, but Société Générale seems to treat dirty coal as a business opportunity. In 2020, Société Générale made a clear commitment to "no longer provide products and services to companies that develop new mining projects, power plants or infrastructure related to thermal coal". Since then, media, activists and climate researchers have uncovered Adani’s plans to double its coal-power production; exposed its lies about its renewable energy targets; and revealed its routine transfer of its money from its green entity to coal operations. Société Générale’s loyalty for Adani is not forever. It can end where our collective power begins. Société Générale really cares about its green image, and with enough public pressure, we can turn its decision of financing the world’s largest private coal mining group against them. Please sign the petition to make Société Générale cut off Adani’s money supply.

PEI

I can’t claim any real ties to that land. I’m only an Island want-to-be. But oh, how I love Prince Edward Island just the same.

Every year, back when Nana and I could travel, our May vacation was always spent on “the Island.” The moment we came off the ferry or crossed the bridge, a gentle calm would settle over us like a well-loved quilt. No rushing, no fuss. Many a first evening was simply grab a glass of water, sit in those humble plastic chairs outside our little hotel room, and let the quiet soak in, right down to our bones.

Now, I imagine if I were an Islander, that feeling might not seem quite so magical. It would be everyday life, familiar as your own kitchen table. But for off-Islanders like me, that calm was something special. It took a good three days before it felt natural, like we had finally tuned ourselves to the Island’s rhythm.

So what follows is, in truth, is my little environmental love story to Prince Edward Island, told with admiration, gratitude, and just a touch of longing. It also was an assignment for my course. What grade did I get?

Sending you a big warm hug,

When the Island Whispers: A Grandmother’s Look at Climate Change on Prince Edward Island

There’s a way the wind speaks on Prince Edward Island, have you noticed? It used to whisper more often than it shouted. Now, some days, it feels like it’s got something urgent to say. And when you sit with it a while, you begin to understand; the Island is changing, and it’s trying to tell us so.

Climate change isn’t some faraway story meant for textbooks or big-city conferences. It’s already here, tucked into the everyday lives of Islanders, right into the soil, the sea air, and the rhythm of the seasons.

The world has already warmed by about 0.85°C since the late 1800s. That may sound small, like the difference between a light sweater and no sweater at all, but in nature’s language, it’s quite a shift. Scientists warn that if we reach a 2°C increase, perhaps as soon as the 2060s, the changes could be deep and difficult to undo.

And on Prince Edward Island, we’re already seeing the early chapters of that story.

It is a warmer Island, one day at a time. If you look at the official numbers, the change in temperature might seem modest. July’s average high has crept from 23.0°C decades ago to 23.3°C today. Not much to fuss over at first glance.

But life isn’t lived in averages, it’s lived in days.

And there are more hot days now. Quite a few more. Days over 25°C have increased by nearly 20 per cent. Since 2014, every single year has brought at least 30 of those warm, heavy days. That’s something new. Before that, you’d only see that kind of heat now and then, like an occasional guest. Now it’s more like a regular visitor who’s grown a bit too comfortable.

For farmers, gardeners, and anyone coaxing food from the soil, those extra hot days matter. Plants dry faster. Soil needs more care. And pollinators, the little winged workers we depend on, must find their way through longer stretches of heat.

There are few deep freeze days. Now here’s the other side of the coin: the deep cold is slipping away.

There are fewer days when the temperature stays below -10°C. In fact, compared to earlier decades, there are about 20 per cent fewer of those truly cold days. Some winters still bite, of course, they always will, but they don’t settle in the same way.

That might sound like a blessing if you’re tired of scraping windshields, but winter plays an important role. Cold days help control pests, protect certain plant cycles, and keep ecosystems in balance. When winter softens, it changes the rhythm of everything that depends on it.

And, Oh, the wind. Now let’s talk about that wind again.

Prince Edward Island has always been a breezy place, that’s part of its charm. But lately, the winds have been stronger and more frequent. Days with gusts over 50 km/h have climbed noticeably, with recent years seeing well over 100 such days annually.

That’s not just a blustery inconvenience. Strong winds affect fishing, farming, travel, and even how homes are built and maintained. They reshape coastlines, tug at trees, and carry salt farther inland than they used to.

It’s as if the Island itself is shifting its posture, bracing a little more often.

So, what does it mean for daily life? Maybe it is a gentle nudge forward.

When you put it all together, more heat, less cold, stronger winds, you begin to see how daily life is changing.

It’s in how farmers plan their seasons.
It’s in how gardeners choose what to plant and when.
It’s in how communities think about food security, storm readiness, and caring for the land.

And it’s in small, quiet adaptations too, like planting pollinator pathways like Seed Share, building community gardens, and sharing seeds so flowers bloom not just in one place, but all along the Island’s roadsides and fields.

Because here’s the truth, dear: nature is wonderfully resilient, but it does need a helping hand now and then.

Scientists have been saying for decades that these are exactly the kinds of changes we should expect. And now, here they are, not as predictions, but as lived experience.

The good news? Islanders are not the sort to sit idle.

They adapt. They share. They look after one another, and the land that looks after them.

So perhaps the question isn’t whether climate change is happening on Prince Edward Island. We can see that plainly enough.

The question is what we do next.

And if I may offer a grandmother’s wisdom: we start small, we stay steady, and we take care of what’s in front of us: our gardens, our neighbours, our shorelines, our pollinators.

Because when many small hands tend the earth with care, even big changes can be met with quiet, determined hope.

Gardening

Gardening is getting so close.

Yes, I did a few more seed snails and put them in little plastic greenhouses, hoping that the cold won’t kill the few green sprouts that are up.

Yes I am cleaning the spot where the greenhouse will sit this year. Our old trailer has gone to a new home. A new firepit area is being organized and there is room for a greenhouse in full early morning sun.

Seedy Saturdays and Seed and Plant swaps are happening around us and Blandford’s has nailed down their event to Sunday May 10th at 11AM (right after service if you want to come out). Our services are announced on parishofblandford.ca.

Gardens are getting raked off. Crocuses are blooming. Peas are being planned for planting next week. It is about time for another season of being outdoors. What is your new thing for your yard this year. We always love pictures in the e-news.

A Surprise at the Deli

Now let Grandma tell you of her adventure at the deli counter the other week.

You see, delis were always my favourite stop back when I was working, so many lovely meats and cheeses for lunches, and such a nice way to try something a little different. Yes, they can be a touch pricier, but every now and then, you find a surprise.

Well, this time it was the little sale sign that caught my eye: prosciutto at $1.99 per 100 grams. I stopped right there. “No,” I thought, “that can’t be right.” Prosciutto is one of those fancy items, you usually see it laid out ever so carefully in thin slices, priced like it knows it’s special.

So, I asked the clerk if I was reading it correctly, and sure enough, I was. I bravely asked for 300 grams, though in my heart I was thinking, this must be a mistake. As she began slicing, that pile of delicate, paper-thin meat kept growing and growing. I actually stopped her partway through and said, “Oh, that looks like enough.” because it all felt just a bit too good to be true!

She wrapped it up, and the total came to about four dollars. Well now, I was half ready to tuck it under my arm and make a polite but speedy exit before anyone changed their mind. And then, as if the day wasn’t already generous enough, I spotted a lovely salami at the very same price. I couldn’t resist.

Once home, I tucked the Prosciutto away properly, layering it in little portions with wax paper, just the way you’d do with bacon. That way, you can take out a piece or two at a time without thawing the whole lot. A small trick, but a handy one.

And then came the real treat. I used that beautiful Italian bacon to wrap around chicken I’d stuffed with cheese. Oh my goodness… it was something else. Crisp on the outside, tender on the inside, and just full of flavour.

Sometimes, dear, it’s the simplest surprises, a little sale sign, a kind clerk, a good meal, that remind you how sweet everyday life can be.

Something to Eat

One of Grandmas favorite cooks is a guy called B Dyan Hollis, who likes to find vintage recopies. He especially finds unlikely combinations of things that look and taste good. This week he had a “Strawberry Pretzel Salad”. Yeah, interesting!

Base

2 cups of crushed pretzels

¾ cup melted butter

3 tablespoons sugar.

Filling

2 cups whipped topping

1 pack of creamed cheese

1 cup sugar

Topping

2 packages strawberry Jello crystals.

2 cups boiling water

3-4 cups frozen strawberries

Put pretzels through a food processor or put in bag and roll with rolling pin. Add butter and sugar and press into a 9 x 13 pan

Bake 10 minutes at 350 and cool

Beat cream cheese, sugar and whipped topping and spread on crust

In a large bowl, pour boiling water over the Jello crystals. Add frozen strawberries. Put in fridge till that mixture starts to firm and gently add to pan of crust and whipped cream and return to fridge till desert time.

It is salty tasting but the strawberry mixture covers it well. It was a different fun experiment to try.

 Our Mother’s Prayer

Our Mother, whose name is Earth,
Hallowed be your ground.
Praised be for your lands
And your skies
And your rolling seas.

Your gardens thrive; your spirit alive
Through woodlands, streams,
Mountains, and plains
Everywhere.

Grant us this day our needs for tomorrow,
And refresh us with your living waters.

Forgive us our mistreatment
As we would forgive those who cause you harm.

Lift us from negligence, and deliver us from greed,
For yours is the home, and the beauty,
And the life that sustains us,
And we would love, respect, and care for you
Now and ever, ever forward.

—R. Dennis Wiancko