ASSOCIATION BUILDS NEW TOOL FOR N.S. FOREST OWNERS . . . PEOPLE’S CLIMATE MARCH AND RALLY . . . USING POLLINATORS FOR CROP PROTECTION  . . . FOOD SAFETY CERTIFICATION GAINING GROUND . . . OTHER NEWS OF INTEREST...

ASSOCIATION BUILDS NEW TOOL FOR FOREST OWNERS IN NOVA SCOTIA

Source: NSWOOA
NSWOOA has created an innovative new tool for family forest owners: an online assessment to help them identify and prioritize their goals for woodland ownership. The self-assessment will be a cornerstone of the association’s information and outreach efforts in 2014-15 and beyond. It includes information about almost everything that NSWOOA does to help small woodland owners become better stewards of the forest. (Read more)

PEOPLE’S CLIMATE MARCH AND RALLY

Source: South Shore Council of Canadians
Leading up to the September 23rd UN Summit on Climate Change, communities around the world, including London, Berlin, Delhi, Istanbul, Rio, and Johannesburg, will be rallying to show world leaders that people want action on the climate crisis. On September 20, our community will show its concern by rallying outside Gerald Keddy’s office at 129 Aberdeen Road in Bridgewater. The event begins at 12 noon and will include a march to the Hodge Podge Community Garden where you are invited to take part in a community potluck. (Read more)

USING POLLINATORS FOR CROP PROTECTION

Source: Pollination Canada
The incursion of pests and diseases can have dire consequences for agriculture. For instance, gray mold can blight fruit crops such as strawberries and raspberries; the fungus that causes mummy berry can obliterate blueberry crops if left unchecked; and greenhouse tomatoes and sweet peppers can be affected by tarnished plant bug (TPB), western flower thrips, whiteflies, and green peach aphids. These pests and diseases have the potential to ruin crops, with significant financial implications for farmers. (Read more)

FOOD SAFETY CERTIFICATION GAINING GROUND
Source; FCC
Increasing numbers of fruit and vegetable growers are looking into the benefits of food safety certification. But figuring out the application process can be a challenge. That's why Gillian Flies, who operates an organic vegetable farm in Ontario, decided to take a food safety and certification introductory workshop earlier this year with the assistance of the Greenbelt Fund, a non-profit organization that supports sustainability of agriculture in Ontario. (Read more)