Happy New Year

Welcome back to the Enews. Let’s start the New Year with some good news. DEN’s Coastal project recently got some great press on CBC. If you missed it, you can catch it in the link below. The article even made it into the Anglican Church of Canada email round-up of notable news and events.

More Good News

A quick browse found a few other sites for good news to get you in the right frame of mind to look ahead to the possibilities of the year despite the looming political situation. Let us not forget the strength behind everyday, ordinary people working with passion.

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Thanks to Rev. Charles Bull for passing along this promo for a beautiful and inspiring film by Kent Martin about the visionary work of Dr. Ron Coleman.

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Amour Love was born in rural New Brunswick where storytelling is a very important and meaningful way to convey information. But not all stories are told equally or as often. Amour Love’s Story Time seeks to share the essential values of being kind to those who look different, loving yourself and the environment as well as respecting diversity and inclusion. 

It is DEN’s prayer these dramatic readings of the works of DEN poets will spark a flame and ignite Epiphany moments, inspiring us to care for God's creation and each other in a deeper, richer way. Hope you will join us! 

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Welcome back

Hello Everyone! Hoping you had a great holiday, or at the least, it is great that the house is back to normal now. Grandma loves to be-dangle and be-glitter in December, but January should be bare. The house needs bare so I can clean and declutter before I start gardening again.

If anyone wants a slow, easy, “get the house clean” system, try flylady.net. She doesn’t believe in rushing to catch up on cleaning. It is more of a, “Here is your list for the week. See how much you can get done. Next month we are doing it again and you will eventually get caught up and sparkling clean.” It took me four months the first time to get to the point where you think “This isn’t dirty or cluttered. Just a little dust” Yeah! It took that long. There is hope. http://flylady.net

I made up my new paper calendar for the year. I include things that others may not. Sure, I have all the birthdays typed in. I also add trash days, Bookmobile days, and holidays. You can customize your calendar free at https://print-a-calendar.com/

Did you know there is a new waste collection item to separate? Light bulbs! Back in August of 2024, Nova Scotia Lights program was introduced. We can now return light bulbs to local collection sites. In my area that is Kaizer Meadows. I will need to set up another storage bin in my shed. We can pass in up to 16 bulbs or fluorescent tubes at one time. Find out more at https://www.productcare.org/products/lights/nova-scotia/

I feel the need to brag about two products I got for Christmas. (OK I am spoiled!) The first is a seed storage close to Amazon SKU BOCK1HMTYK except mine is all little bottles. (60 of them) There were tears as I imagined how much easier this case and a handful of #1 coin envelopes would make seed-sharing day.

My grandson thought I should have a soil blockmaker. This takes my newspaper pots to a new level. It is compressed soil alone that you plant into and then transplant to the garden. I am not sure if it will crumble apart but I sure am willing to try. Tutorials make it look somewhat simple. Cover with burlap until the root systems hold it together. I always keep a new bag of potting soil in the basement in the winter. Time to play! Ah, maybe call that research?

Get ready for more news on our Seed Share idea. I took the month of December to look for grants. One thing I do when I know nothing about a subject is ask questions. I created a nice letter to any foundation telling them what we do and ask if any of the projects meet their criteria. Then every day, yes, EVERY day, I sent at least one e-mail.

What did I find? Over half of them never replied. Ten replied wishing me well but I didn’t fit their category. Five replied to say their application process is closed but they would add me to their email list when they open next year. Three want me to write a letter of intent (not sure what that is yet) ONE foundation has a real interest in DEN’s Seed Share project. They are having a ZOOM meeting in January to give a general overview for a group of us after the same thing. They will help us with that letter of intent and the application process. It could still fit the timeline for this year (2025).

So, was thirty-plus emails worth it? It was worth every minute it took. I learned so much and felt, even more, a part of a big collection of environmentalists. If anyone out there knows of a grant, please email Grandma at [email protected].

Craft

I am working on several crafts but nothing is finished enough to add here. Next week I will have something for you. Grandma promises

Something to eat.

I couldn’t resist trying this recipe and it was a success. Being called a “Church Supper Hot Dish”, intrigued me. I didn’t use the chow mein noodles but that is just a personal choice. This would fit a family of four.

Church Supper Hot Dish

1 pack ground meat

2 cups sliced potatoes

2 cups celery

1 cup carrots (I switched to 2 cups carrots and 1 of celery)

A few slices of green pepper

¼ cup onion (unless you have people who are allergic in your group)

2 tbsp butter

1 cup water

2 cans condensed cream of mushroom soup (I used one can)

1 can of chow mein noodles (I didn’t have any)

1 cup shredded cheese

Using a pan that can be transferred to the oven, cook and crumble the beef. Add the vegetables and cook 5 minutes. Add water and stir in the soup and cheese.

At this point they take everything out of the pan, layering half the chow mein noodles on the bottom and putting the rest on top. I now use pots that can go in the oven. I leave mine in the pan (Throw in the noodles if you use them) and give everything a good stir and into the oven. When close to serving I throw on another handful of cheese to melt.

Hint: If you find your family likes celery but it doesn’t get used up as fast as you want, freeze it. I buy a celery when I need one for a veggie plate. The next day the rest gets chopped up and put 1 cup quantities in a sandwich bag. Six of those bags go in a gallon bag and into the freezer. For all those recipes that want celery and I don’t have any fresh, I pull out a bag of celery from the freezer.

A brand-new year awaits us. It will have ups and downs. Right now it is like a new notebook, waiting to be filled with ideas. Wishing you all a Happy New Year!

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