Picture this … Sisley, 1943 … okay, wrong memory…

When I was growing up in St. Thomas, religion was a bit tricky for me. I was quite involved in our church (which went bust some years ago and is now a dance school – who knew such a thing could happen?). I was a member of the choir and the youth group, a cub and scout. But there never seemed to be a middle-ground – it was like you were either a God or a sinner and I was neither.

I think I mostly loved the “idea” of church; a sense of community, respect for all, the concept of a Good Samaritan. I even lived by most of the Ten Commandments. But I knew I wouldn’t be getting married, seeing my kids christened, or having a family pew, so I eventually withdrew, sadly feeling like an outsider and a fake.

Flash forward three decades or so, to a couple of Sundays ago. With our friend Sherry in town from Toronto, we attended my Mom’s church, now Knox Presbyterian, for their annual Kirkan of the Tartan. It was a combination of worship, Scottish music and pageantry, and included a wee parade, two bag pipe bands and a whole lot of tartan. Robin is from Scotland (a place called Saltcoats, which makes Coronation Street look sunny and bright) so he was at home with everyone in their kilts and Celtic-speak.

Doing the course of this, our first taste of 21^st century church-life in St. Thomas, I realized just how times have changed; my mom re-introduced me to many folks I knew 25 years ago, and introduced “his partner Robin”. She is now asking, possibly simply expecting, of her church what the church has asked of her all these years; “so in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you” (Matthew 7:12).

And you know what? So far, so good. Maybe we’ll drop in again.

Street design

Am I insane, or we still designing streets they way they did when fresh sewage flowed alongside pedestrian walkways?
Since we have to get in and out of vehicles, walk, cycle, load babies into car seats, empty our trunks, stop to chat or cross the street, all at the curb side, why not design streets so that the gutter is in the middle? Why is all the water, oil and filth, drainage grills and debris directed to the only part of the street where people are on-foot?

Hawks Cliff Weekend

The cycle of nature is in constant flux; the seasons change; the numbers of predator and prey vary; organic population controls such as disease are turned on and off; the tide advances and recedes.

Water will always level itself, and the earth has evolved to find equilibrium. Of course, that was prehuman and things have changed ever since we dammed our first river.

As we have struggled to understand and predict, often attempting to prevent, earth's inevitable progress, we've begun to realize that nothing happens in isolation; everything that happens in Nature, ripples outward with reactions.
Our world is populated with concerned individuals and organizations, working silently, attempting to monitor these reactions.

Hawks Cliff is located along the coast of Lake Erie, east of Port Stanley, and the Hawk Cliff Foundation is one of those organizations; their science is the banding and tracking of migratory birds. The Hawk Cliff Foundation (HCF) was incorporated in 1996 as a non-profit organization of volunteers dedicated to the conservation of migratory raptors, passerines and Monarch butterflies of North America through scientific study, public education and appreciation of their fall migrations. Hawks Cliff Weekend is an annual open-house of sorts, giving the public an opportunity to see some birds-of-prey up close, observe the tagging of monarchs and generally learn first hand, from the pros. The more we learn, the more respectful we can be.

Quaker Meeting House

Last evening, Robin, Dana and I attended a fund-raising Harvest Dinner and Silent Auction at the Quaker Meeting-House in Sparta. We learned of the evening through our friends at Orchard Hill Farm, and it had the warm, honest feeling I want every community gathering to have, though they seldom do.
The Meeting-House is magically situated in a forest clearing, surrounded by tall, sentinel-like trees; you could see something beautiful wherever you looked and it was the kind of evening where every door and window were open. As we began our meal, sharing our long table with new friends, we instinctively set-about discovering who-knew-who, reminding us all how small the world is (Robin reluctantly allowed us to taste his slice of Martha’s raspberry pie; I had a slice of hard to find raisin). At one point in the evening, both the tables and benches inside, and those outside on the large front porch, were filled with people chatting, eating, and laughing. It is only our fourth month in town and there we were having another amazing, glad that we moved back home moment. Of course, being the guys that we are, we stopped at Shaw’s Ice Cream on the way home, for one scoop of strawberry cheesecake and one of peanut butter cup round-up for me, and two scoops of strawberry for Robin.

Peak Saver

When we were last in Austin, TX visiting our friend Janet, we learned of a program by which the local energy provider would install in your home, free of charge, a programmable thermostat allowing the energy provider remote-access control to your air-conditioning. During a peak energy-use period, the provider could cycle-down specific A/C systems, reducing the strain on the grid and potentially avoiding brown-outs. We recently received a similar offer from St. Thomas Eneregy called Peak Saver and on Tuesday we had our programmable thermostat installed, free of charge. Apart from helping out during the hot summer days, the device will enable us to micro-manage our heat use during the winter, as it allows us to program 4 temperature settings a day (#1 - cool over-night, #2 - warm in the morning, #3 - cool during the day, #4 - warm during the evening and #1 - cool at night). The remote access A/C program is home-owner driven, and I believe that we likely won’t notice the temperature difference. If we do, it’ll just remind us that we’re doing our bit to help our friends, neighbours, and the next generations.

... and another thing ...

.... further to my Sunday rant about caring for our earth, in the September issue of Prevention Magazine there is an article noting a connection between the bacteria found in healthy soil and increased brain function. Researchers at the University of Bristol found mice who had inhaled the bacteria were better problem solvers. Perhaps they can figure a way to get a better job! A couple of pages earlier in the same issue there's an unpleasant prediction from the Harvard School of Public Health, warning to expect a 55% increase in pollen over the next fifty years, due to global warming. Interestingly, I'd also heard the increase in pollen is also the result of city planning. Apparently, many cities have decided to limit their planting to only one gender of trees, to eliminate cross-pollination which, naturally, results in messy fruitfulness.

Our nest

In Stephanie Donaldson's prologue to The Elements of organic Gardening, by HRH The Prince of Whales, she says "an organic gardener's focus is on the soil, while a conventional gardener's focus is on the plant".
Similar to using the word "smog" instead of "pollution", "conventional" in this context is a polite way of saying "short sighted". We're no longer so naive as to think that what we are doing to the planet is not affecting our health and we've got to stop wondering why our roses have no fragrance, if we've killed all the organisms in our gardens.
As Marjorie Harris wrote recently in Gardening Life, "we've done a fine job of fouling our own nest". She writes of ways to deal with our climate change, the first of which is to face the realities of it; the increase in storms (frequency and force), droughts and flooding, and bugs and disease which, as with our own mammalian viruses and diseases, have been strengthened by our chemical use
(stronger bugs = fewer predators).
The good news is that Nature is an amazing force - that's why there is a plant growing in the middle of our paved driveway! We just need to stop working against it and become part of the solution.
Stuff spinning around in my head (for today, at least) ...
1) Zeriscaping
2) Biodiversity
3) Indigenous, drought resistant perennials
4) Our rain barrels and push mower
5) Non-grass lawn (clover, thyme, periwinkle, moss)
6) Break up the sidewalk leading to our front door
7) Pruning the dead bits from our trees before the next storm

Heating our water

I've never understood the whole huge-tank-of-hot-water-sitting-in-the-
basement thing. When I was in the UK years ago on business I had my first experience using something called Hot Water on Demand (we sometimes call it instantaneous hot water). This is a tankless system which heats water as we require it buy coiling cold water, through tubes, around a heat source. The water comes out of your tap at the desired temperature, for as long as you require. Our friend Rita, who lives not far from Inverness in northern Scotland, has this type of system as well. In fact I think most of Europe functions quite nicely without having big tanks of water on "warming standby". The most inexpensive option for us right now would be for a gas system (we currently have a gas hot water tank). In fact, no matter how much we reduced our consumption, an electrical tankless system would cost us considerably more to operate. My compromise will have to be a gas system now, which we could later convert to electric and tie into our then operating solar power system. In keeping with our Energy Retrofit Master Plan we would ensure we qualified for the retrofit grants which could entitle us to $400.00.

Step One; Our AmeriSpec visit

So we had our energy efficiency assessment from Andrew at AmeriSpec. He recorded a lot of data, asked a number of questions, took some measurements and explained how the program works. Once we had all of our windows shut, he conducted a pressure test by utilizing a fan equipped with computerized controls to pressurize the house. We were then able to physically identify (and label) problem areas, simply by seeing where air was rushing in through closed windows, door frames, electrical outlets etc. Andrew will now make some calculations and suggest ways to make improvements. The report we’ll receive will also indicate what grants we would be entitled to, provided we follow the program correctly, have the work completed within 18 months and have a follow-up inspection.

As I have read over and over again, there’s no point in doing any “green” upgrades to your home if the house itself is not already an efficient vessel, and Andrew has already made some suggestions. We hadn’t expected to insulate the basement, because we didn’t want to finish it, but it seems we will be losing up to 30% of our heat through our un-insulated, above-grade walls. Spray-foam insulation will likely be our best bet as we could also seal the corners and window frames relatively easy. An added bonus, though we have no apparent water leakage in the basement, is that spray foam does not “feed” mould, so we’ll have no issues covering our questionable areas.

Andrew also noticed our three rain barrels which we’ve installed (two for rain water and one for grey water from our kitchen sink). He suggested that he had seen rain barrel water used to flush toilets, mounted high, above the toilet, using gravity. Hmmm … we are planning to change-out our sixteen flusher for a taller, low-flush, high performance model …

There'll be more on this once we receive our report.

We have a push mower

I like the life my grandparents lived; I think they were healthier and good stewards of the earth.

They didn’t watch much TV and read only local newspapers. Most of the food in their fridge and cupboards didn’t have ingredients. They had only one of everything; TV, fridge, automobile, residence. They ate pears and cherries off of their own trees. They had stress and struggle, and times were tough, as tough as they had been before and as tough as they are now. They had antacids, aspirin, cough syrup. We grandkids had to eat the turnip and squash, but there were fruit flavoured jellies and pineapple-orange juice as well. Their clothes smelled like clothes; cotton, linen, wool, and starch, and shoe polish. And their clothes were mended, re-sized, passed on, and familiar. They treated their sons like children when they were young, and like men not long after that. Too early, perhaps.

My grandfather had a push lawn mower and a pocket watch he wound each night.

When we moved into our house, there was a push mower from my Dad waiting in the garage.

No Labour on Labour Day

We’re enjoying our Labour(less) Day holiday Monday, sitting on our deck (something we couldn't do in our condo, with our juliet balcony!). Yesterday we had a friend (and qualified electrician) doing the tricky stuff as we moved our stove to an exterior wall to accommodate an extractor fan. In the process of wiring the high voltage outlet required for the stove, it was discovered that the previous cabling had been spliced a few times, so we were certainly pleased to but in new wiring. Oddly enough, the breaker box was replaced not that long ago, but the electrician doing that work wasn’t nearly as thorough. Moving the stove to a more practical and functional location was like getting a new kitchen. As well, we purchased a range hood that would accommodate compact fluorescent bulbs, enabling us to use two 14 watt bulbs, instead of two 50 watt bulbs.

Next project along the same lines will be to install an extractor fan for the bathroom, but we’re waiting a few weeks for temperatures to lower as much of the work will involve someone (me, being the true bat-boy that I am) stuffed into the attic following instructions.

Our first week of September, which should be called Navamber since this isn't the 7th month

Our pal Brian was in town over the weekend, advising while we prepared the kitchen for the electrician to wire a new outlet as we move our stove to an exterior wall to accommodate an extractor fan. Holiday Monday found us relaxing on the deck, watching the hummingbirds (can you see it in the right photo, bottom left of feeder?), reading, typing. Tuesday evening, following my work, we’ll be meeting with my folks to design photo displays for their 50^th wedding anniversary in October. Wednesday we’re having the home inspector from AmeriSpec determining what needs to be done for our home to become more energy efficient. The inspection should provide us with a prioritized report, including goals we would be required to meet to qualify for government grants. Thursday I expect we’ll be analyzing the report attempting to map out a plan of attack and Friday, after our usual visit to the library, we’ll be getting the house in order for Sherry who’s (finally) coming for a visit.

I loves my toys - my new EM130 electronic energy meter

As we delve into our E.R.M.P., I find I'm obsessed with our kwh (kilowatt hours) and just exactly how much energy our electric tooth brush is consuming while innocently sitting by the bathroom sink. I've purchased a EM130, electronic energy meter, to hopefully collect some hard data. (we bought ours at our local Home Hardware - I can't say enough good things about this store,Geerlinks Home Hardware!) With this device you can monitor how much energy your lamp, fridge, stereo, computer, electric toothbrush, is consuming. It will even tell you how much you've just spent powering the thing! Once you program-in a few simple bits of data, including your current charge from your utility company for your electricity (ours is presently $00.053 per), you simply plug the meter into any electric outlet and then plug in the device, let's say a lamp, your checking. As the lamp is turned on and off during the hours, this device tracks your Voltage, Amperage, Wattage, Kilowatt Hour and $ cost, for you to check at anytime. I am presently tracking a power-bar which is carrying our TV, DVD, VCR, satellite modem, computer speakers and a lamp with a compact fluorescent bulb. I've been reading allot lately about "phantom loads" so I'm going to check it for a 24 period of regular activity, then I'm going to check a 24 hour period where I will turn off the power bar when the appliances are not in use.

Step One of our E.R.M.P.; our inspection

Now that I've completely overwhelmed myself with information about alternative everything (power, water systems, light bulbs, heat, transportation ...), I need to add another important "alternative" - financing. Thanks to my brother Wayne, I'm now aware of a system of grants offered by our government, provincial and federal (even a program offered by the O.P.A., Ontario Power Authority). These grants are designed to assist us peeps as we attempt to tackle our Energy Retrofit Master Plan and become a bit (or allot) individually sustainable. In our case, there are grants specifically designed for those attempting to retrofit an older house. We've made an appointment with an ecoEnergy Retrofit- Homes energy evaluator, because "only homes that have had pre- and post-retrofit evaluations from an NRCan-licensed energy advisor are eligible for grants. The grant amount is based on each of the recommended retrofits you have completed and the relative impact the retrofits have on the energy efficiency of your home. For instance, replacing your gas furnace with an ENERGY STAR^® qualified furnace will achieve a high level of energy savings and will therefore have a bigger grant value. Your energy advisor can suggest the retrofits that are your best options."

So, next Wednesday, someone from AmeriSpec in London will be in our house performing pressure tests, checking our insulation, etc., and providing us with a prioritized "to do" list cross-referenced with grant options.