There are people who create and build things and those who don't, often too lazy to do more than criticize or live off the efforts of others. You find primetime examples of the latter group in all walks of life, often not far from the steps of our lives.

Most recently, we encountered this when we arrived at the community garden that we started near our office.

Everyone from our office who was available came out on the Sunday to pitch in and get the tasks done. The day had been designated as one of cleaning up for the winter ahead and for building the final garden plot for next year's veggie patch.

Miller Compost had already dropped off enough compost to turn the hard-as-a-rock soil into a loamy miracle. Amazing cedar railings were purchased to bank the garden, chosen instead of pressurized-treated wood for the veggies that would be grown therein. Lunch fixings were aplenty to keep the energy going.

And then we arrived. And discovered that "it" was gone.

"It" = our beautiful apple tree. We planted it in the spring and, much to our delight and pride, it grew with ease throughout the season.

And now it was no more.

Gone.

Unearthed.

Stolen.

Gone.

What an awful feeling and what a mean, cowardly act. We had already dealt with theft in the garden --- I guess that it is a fact of life when you are in public spaces. One of our blueberry bushes was taken, traded at the same time for a strawberry plant in its place. The compost bin that I retrieved from someone's garbage and set up for the earthy-destined remains of our efforts found legs one day and walked away.

Both of these incidences were annoying but not devastating. Nothing like the feeling when one sees an empty space where once a junior tree was growing.

The tree was quite distinct --- an apple tree formed in espalier fashion --- which basically means that it was pruned to grow two-dimensionally (upwards and "sidewise" versus circular). Five different varieties of apples were grafted on its branches. It was going to serve as the wall on one side of the garden and over time, provide fruit for our gardeners and programs to enjoy.

But it is now somewhere else, hopefully taking root. If we raised a fuss, chances are that its' distinctiveness would be its downfall. That our cries would result in it being chopped down to destroy the evidence.

And so we didn't do anything other than to keep going.

The extra plot was built that day. The planks were set out; spikes were nailed in; compost spread and rototilled in. Neighbours came to help and passerbys stopped and encouraged.

But along the lines of "fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice ...", we received wise counsel that something needed to be done to protect our work and our cedar planks specifically.

So we decided to deface them.

The next day, Danielle and I went back to the garden with a can of red spraypaint and a handcut stencil of tulip designs.

And in the rain, we defaced the cedar planks. We sprayed on both the top and one side of each plank. That way if they did end up walking, someone would have a bit of work to do to hide the evidence.

The images would probably have been beautiful if it hadn't been for the rain. We could have waited to do this until the next day. But waiting a day might mean that we could lose them so we sprayed away. The immediacy of our act meant that rather than cute tulip "faces", we ended up with runny, red blobs.

Quite honestly, we didn't care. If they are still there next spring, we can spruce them up. We just needed to make sure that there would be many tomorrows.

And I guess that that's a lot like life, eh? When they hit you, you have to get up, shake yourself off, plan and go about for the next day.

Lots of parallels in the world of the folks building the composting industry across country. As well as beyond.

Sometimes I wonder if I should just "take a moment" and not post something on this 'page' versus losing whatever credibility I might have ....

And then ... one decides ... who the heck cares? And if they do... are they really that important?

Well, it really must be ... an evening in the office on a Thursday evening in July, eh?

So ... we have been having a lot of rain in Toronto. And lately it has been taking extra time to walk to work 'cause of the rain.

Not 'cause the rain is a problem. Far from it. Rather, 'cause our little mascots (a.k.a. worms) are avoiding getting drowned out in the underground by surfacing and journeying out into the great beyond.

And for anyone who has witnessed the reality of sun post a rain, it is indeed a sad thing to see a dried up worm on the sidewalk. OK ... I have at least 10 faces of members of our Council flash in my mind right now (thank goodness they are not members of our Board of Directors... =) ...)......perhaps I should call it an evening.

No! The truth must be told.

I pick up worms post a rainfall.

They and compost are partners ... and while there are tons of things sadder in life, it is at least one thing that I can do something about.

A slithery little worm wriggling its way to nowhere on a sidewalk in Toronto post a rainstorm ...versus doing something good in a garden somewhere.

I pick them up and deposit them back into a nearby garden. In so doing, it takes me twice as long to get to work (or home) post a rainshower than not.

Both Christie & Bart know better than to get cranky about having to wait as I stoop and scoop.

Once .... perhaps a sacrilege, but as it was the only thing that I had ... I used the biz card that Dr. Harry Hoitink had given to me of his coordinates.

Harry (what an honour to be able to refer to him on a "first" name basis --- perhaps he will rescind this "honour" if he ever reads this) ... will be recognized as one of the "Fathers" of Compost as the decades/years progress. He has spearheaded the disease suppression research which gives compost the extra boost of credibility in value ... I have met many of his followers who speak his name with reverence..... they would probably "flip" if they ever heard that ...

.... I used his biz card to pick up the worms that were on the sidewalk between my walk and my office.

=) I really don't think that he would mind. In fact, I believe that he would be totally in accord.

But the reality is that a business card does not do as good a job as using a door key (or car key or whatever) in getting underneath the little critter and being able to pop it in your hand.

A key is very, very great.

Rather than depositing them in gardens along the way to our office, I sometimes "save" them in my hand and bring them all to the backyard of our office. Somehow I like to think that the ultimate worm destiny should be in the backyard of the offices of The Composting Council of Canada.

But perhaps not.

Oh my goodness, I brought a whole bunch of them into the office one day and headed to the backyard ...but I must have stopped in our "boardroom" along the way.

Anyways, I was back from the garden and heard Tyrone matter-of-factly shout: "there's a worm in the boardroom".... I guess that I must have dropped one along the way ... =)

Anyways ... many errant wrigglers have found their new home in our backyard ... thanks to a rainshower, a pavement and our walk to our office in the morning.

And as long as I am on "this path", I have to say that I miss Mary Appelhof.

I will never be able to say that I knew her well ... but her & my paths did cross ... and late into the evening, I would always know that there was a good chance that if I called her in her office, she also would be working late.

One time that I called ... I asked ---- "Mary .. if a bunch of whales is a "pod" and a bunch of lions is a "pride" .... what do you call a bunch of worms?

She didn't know right away but many, many months later, I got a return late night call from her with the answer: "Susan, we've decided. It's a squirm of worms."

And you know, if it was ok with her, it was definitely ok with us.

And so we issued the press release and there you go.

And so for Mary, for Harry ... and for all those little wrigglers on the concrete ... we stoop and scoop with pride and love.... and thank goodness (and hopefully post any of our members reading this little entry) for our members who tolerate us ... we are usually a little later in getting to the office on "rain days" 'cause of the "task in hand".

And that's ok. One of the "perks" for working for a national non-profit, eh?

That plus the fact that we have a wonderfully sweet and senior cat living in our bathroom on the first floor of our office, right now. She is beyond lovely. And Bart, Christie & Bella are being so good about "allowing" her in their space.

Anyone interested in a new best friend?

If not ... No problem .... drown your guilt by considering instead attending our 18th National COMPOST Conference, to be held in Quebec City on September 17th - 19th ... you can celebrate both our "18th" as well as the "400th" anniversary of the Ville de Quebec .... either or both.... how much better could it be? =)

Amidst finalizing our conference program, developing review materials for our market program, Compost Quality Alliance, as well as our children's gardening initiative, Plant a Row - Grow a Row JUNIOR, and reflecting on the success of a terrific composting training program last week in Manitoba and our involvement with Marty's Currylicious in Toronto last Sunday, our office was sadly touched by the horrendous poisonings of a number of dogs and wildlife in High Park this weekend.

One of the dogs who died belonged to the family of one of our staff. Drinking water that was maliciously laced with antifreeze in the off-leash area in High Park was the reason for the sudden, painful illness and ultimate death.

But for having got out of the habit of going there due to our now non-car status, we would have also likely been there on Sunday evening to give Christie and Bart the opportunity for a good walk after having been cooped up in the office while we helped out with Sunday's event.

The speculation is that there are folks who would like the size of Dog Hill (the off-leash area in High Park) to be reduced ... and that a proponent of this position is responsible.

A while ago, I remember having one of our Council members tell me about how their dog was poisoned because of someone trying to inflict a point. It was equally awful to hear.

It takes a lot of guts to talk directly with someone or an organization versus using indirect measures to get points across and harm done. It's sad that there are still far too many cowards in our midsts.

My parents have been great sources of support over the many years of our work for The Council. We benefit from their generosity regarding rent and their precious, precious time.

In the early years, Dad would come in and help answer phones or whatever else was needed to keep the doors open (a favourite family story-"legend" from early on was when we had forgotten to tell him how to work the office fax machine. Something had to go out while we away so he was coached by the recipient, receiving a gentle follow-up call to ask that he repeat the faxing but that this time, to turn the paper over so that more than a blank page was received).

Pretty much any Council mailing was prepared by them at their kitchen table ... in one of the early years, we spent the entire Christmas holidays, overlabeling a newsletter article to fix the mistake of a company who wouldn't own up to their responsibilities ... and the list goes on and on.

No different than the rest of the folks in this still-young "industry" (I hate using this word in the context of composting as it connotes big bucks and massive capital strength ... something that just is not the case for most who are involved). I see their families at events, helping to make things looker bigger than they probably are, being of support when courage (and probably another source of income) are needed.

And that is what is making our world grow. That "all hands on deck", "give it your best" to keep things possible.

Both my parents also clip articles from their reading materials that help keep us on the alert for things that otherwise might be missed ... where Dad's clips are precise cuttings, my Mom has more of a "rip and tear" style; both get me the results that are needed.

The other difference between their styles is that I often find little clips from the horoscope section of the paper from my Mom ... one of her ways to keep the inspiration going.

I came across some this morning ... no date on the clips but they were in a pile of papers that needed to find their recycling destiny. Regardless of their age and "sign", they are boost for the many yesterdays as well as today's momentum and serve as ageless kicks to keep focused on our composting tomorrows....

In no particular order, here they are ....

"A caterpillar, as it rests in the comfort of its cocoon, is probably not cognizant that a metamorphosis awaits. Your situation is similar. It's impossible to see beyond your dilemna, yet a moment of deliverance awaits."

"Some people give up on their dreams at the slightest sign of resistance, but it would be wrong for you to lose hope. Your situation will improve."

"Something that was meant to be quite simple has now turned rather complicated. It will take a little longer than you thought to achieve your expectations, but it remains the quickest route to your destination."

Yesterday, I was at an event that focused on the sad state of overfishing globally. When I asked the speaker whether he thought that Canada is ready to step up to the plate (which in a couple of decades will be close to empty fish-wise if we don't get control of the fishing frenzy), his answer contained a couple of sentences which resonate equally well in the world of composting:

i. What did you know?
ii. What did you do about it?

It is comforting to be part of an organization that has seen the inherent value and merit in recycling organic residuals versus burying them. When I get asked about our organization, the many faces and huge commitment that each of our members has made to get composting moving from coast-to-coast serve as fuel to passionate answers.

Last week was International Compost Awareness Week and it was such a good, good celebration. One of the new people in our office, Jim, who is helping to bump up our website presence, asked a while back: "What do you do during Compost Week?" My quick answer back to him was "We eat cake". And while we do a lot of more celebrating than that .... cake does have a way of showing up at our events.

There were compost cupcakes (chocolate cake muffins, iced with chocolate, sprinkled with chocolate graham crackers with a gummy worm coming out of the middle) at the Memorial University of Newfoundland's Botanical Gardens event to kick off the week on Sunday May 4th. Despite a flooded city, we had carrot cake at Envirem Technologies in Fredericton following a lunch to recognize the Fredericton Backyard Composters and their many years of cajoling and educating residents about the power of organics recycling and compost.

Green Manitoba had, aside-from-my-Mom's, the best date squares at our meeting on Tuesday; the folks at SWANA Northern Lights invited us to help "spread the compost" message at their annual conference in Regina (serving a fabulous dessert complete with a chocolate iced wafer shaped as a RCMP hat at their evening festivities --- which admittedly wasn't exactly for Compost Week ... but everything counts in my opinion). We ended the week in Toronto at the Leslie Street Allotment Gardens on the Saturday with store-bought cookies from us (ok, so I didn't bake them myself. I pride myself in living up to one of my mottos that "it takes just as much talent to know where to buy it as to how to bake it").

A fun week that basically means a lot of walking for the next couple to wear off the celebratory pounds.

As a final footnote to this entry, the following formed part of our "formal" communication for last week's efforts.

International Compost Awareness Week, an event that started here in Canada in 1995, will be celebrated both here as well in the United States, United Kingdom, Ireland and Australia from May 4th – 10th, 2008.

This year, our message is simple: Compost! Recycle Your Organics.

And, in the tradition of Top 10 lists, here are some of the reasons to become part of the “Green Wave of Recycling”.

1. Send less to landfill. Organics represent over one-third of the materials being sent to landfills. Whether through backyard or large-scale composting or anaerobic digestion, those banana peels, apple cores and other organic materials can be recycled.
2. Reduce greenhouse gases. According to Environment Canada, landfill sites account for about 38 per cent of Canada's total methane emissions. It’s the organics that are buried in the landfill that are a key contributor to this production of greenhouse gases.
3. Recover valuable materials. Composting produces compost, the single most important ingredient for healthy and productive soil.
4. Decrease soil erosion. Soil erosion can remove nutrients from the soil, reducing its productivity, as well as reducing runoff that can carry sediment, nutrients and chemicals into waterways thereby creating new sources of pollution. Compost helps enhance soil structure and binds soil particles together.
5. Revitalize soil. Compost helps provide sustenance for the very necessary biological diversity in the soil. Plants depend on this to convert materials into plant available nutrients and to keep the soil well aerated.
6. Reduce the need to water. By improving the soil structure through the addition of compost, water is retained and available for plants.
7. Reduce the need for pesticides. Compost can help suppress plant diseases.
8. Save money. Through backyard composting, you can turn your leftover organics into a valuable soil amendment without spending a dime.
9. Make your garden grow. Compost provides essential organic matter for the soil, which is of fundamental importance to its’ health, vitality and fertility.
10. Make a positive environmental difference. With compost, you can take resources otherwise regarded as waste – organic residuals - and turn them into something of value while at the same time realizing landfill and greenhouse gas reductions, improved soil productivity and water quality.

Compost … For the Love of the Earth !

.... and as a sign off today re: next steps ...

i. What did you know?
ii. What did you do about it?

COMPOST!

Well, when you have bad things happen, you hope that they all get squeezed into one day so that at the end of everything, you can go home, sleep and wake up anew, hopeful again.

When you have a very good day, you just have to be grateful.... and say "let it roll".

It has been brutally cold in our office over the past couple of days. Probably a reflection of outside temperatures and our desire not to crank things up too much temperature-wise in the office. But we are just human and quite honestly, we do play with the temperature thing-y that regulates our surroundings.

Christie, my little one (puppy), sleeps right in front of one of the vents. That is prime time position for the 3 hound-dogs of our office. She does not pull rank 'cause of me. She has her own power base from which she draws her strength --- she is one tough girly-girl-dog. Bart & Bella (more so Bart) respect her alpha-dog status (at least so I think).

But what a fine day. We received approval for a guideline document on "how to organize an organics collection program" for a business organization that spans the country.

Our national conference plans and the dynamics of each day are getting more concrete.... goodness, if anyone wants to go to one amazing conference this year, it has to be our conference in Quebec City in September. Who would not want to go to a conference that combines the best and most up-to-date info on organics recovery in Canada as well as the 400th Anniversary celebrations of Quebec City ---- THE MOST gorgeous and some-would-say-Romantic city (romantic as in the sense of history and life versus whatever else the word, romance, means) in North America.

We organized the days events for our national conference today and it will be absolutely historical....

Our Anaerobic Digestion Workshop is really taking shape --- looks like it will be April 1st (Guelph) and April 2nd (Ottawa). It has taken organizational time beyond expectations but I think that we landed things today.

And how amazing the people here are.... Danielle whose 3 Black Belts are symbolic of her talented power, Tyrone whose artistic talents are so graphically amazing, Fanny who ensures que nous sommes un bureau bilingue ... and then the many wonderful people who know our many weaknesses and like us just the same.

And on a personal note, our community hall in Utopia got the approval to proceed with a building extension. How great. We are getting closer to bringing the hall back into working order for our community's needs (and fundraising efforts). I can hardly wait to have our first Composting Workshop there. We'll have THE best lunch --- hopefully the Ladies of St. George's will be willing to make their famous & amazing pies. Then we can go to the Utopia Conservation Area which has now become our community's responsibility and which, has gained much 'cause of our work with The Composting Council of Canada. Hopefully by then our 140+ year old gristmill will be that much closer to restoration. Anyways, dreams and hopes abound. All 'cause people believe in our causes.

So. A good day. A very good day.

A time to celebrate. And to be thankful for the privilege to help support the making of great things & change happen.

This year's Landscape Ontario Congress was once again a great happening this week and now our exhibit and selves are back in the office, rev'd up again by the members, colleagues and organizations that we connected with over the last couple of days.

What had started as a connection begun a number of years ago because of All Treat Farm's suggestion that we "walk the show" has resulted in a yearly presence in LO's Educational section of the congress. Many of our members now also have booths to promote their compost products and offerings.

This year, the buzz was very loud that landscapers are becoming more and more interested in using compost. Pretty exciting. It gives us great hope for sometime in the near future "sold-out" possibilities for our facilities.

It was also great to re-connect with fellow organizations who are advocating initiatives and programs of benefit to the "green & growing" community. It's the quick conversations with people who walk by your booth or that you meet along the way that revive things that need to be done or organize plans for the months ahead.

It was great to learn that Calvin Chong from the University of Guelph was recognized by Landscape Ontario with an Award of Excellence for his long-time research focus on wastewater run-off, nutrient recycling and organic residuals management. Dr. Chong has contributed greatly to composting research and has been ever responsive to our Council's pleas for help. Am so delighted for him.

And equally proud of Mark Heaton of the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and his spearheading of Garden Ecotopia, a Canada Blooms initiative last year that was supported by some of our members: the Region of Peel and Miller Composting as well as our Council. Mark was also recognized and applauded by Landscape Ontario with an Award of Excellence. Terrific and well done.

Speaking of Canada Blooms --- this year's show is from March 12th - 16th at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. http://www.canadablooms.com/

If in the area, everyone should plan to go to the show on the Friday (March 14th) so that you can also come to our fundraiser for Plant a Row - Grow a Row that night at the Steamwhistle Brewery. This will be the first time that we will include a "d" in this annual fun-raising event. We have some enthusiastic people who have volunteered their time to party-plan the evening. It holds the promise of great fun and an important source of funds for Plant a Row - Grow a Row this year.

It has been beyond an eternity since I have focused on an entry here. The time in between today and then has been one that has been an intense privilege to experience.

Some designations are freely used in introductions such as "environmentalist", "engineer", "writer", "politician" or whatever to connote stature or rank in the scope of care. But ultimately and bottom-line, we are all just humans marching to the beat of life, opportunities and issues that we face.... and our everyday actions show our commitment to our titles or causes and beliefs.

It is not the good days but the ones rather that challenge us that show our true metal, integrity and ability to realize that we walk on this planet for only a very short time and that our time, especially when we live in a country as rich and abundant as Canada, must be made to count.

Last year, I had the privilege to be in places of abandonment and war, to witness the willingness to achieve short-term gain at the risk of damaging long-term viability, to see the passing of quick judgement based on titles versus recognition of individual and collective integrity.

To find out (sadly) once again who really cares and who are willing to watch things ride.... and then who, will readily pass judgement without having had any real-life experience of "walking a day in the shoes of those who are trying...."

It is really amazing that people would devote their entire adult life to paying attention to "discarded" organics and using them to make things better. Their belief and commitment is so powerful and basic that the many hurdles and barriers that are flung in their path have, time & time again, been mere stepping stones to reach their goals.

Shame on those who sit on the sidelines. And shame on those who, if they have the means, can't allocate the time or interest to help move visions forward.

It has been ever so long since I've taken the time to write an entry here. It's not that there hasn't been tons going on --- totally the opposite in fact. And when we get through an especially busy day or important happening, on the way home, I always think .. I have to write something up. But it hasn't happened. And when I wake up in the middle of the night and start to re-visit the happenings, can't get back to sleep and could turn on the computer and write something up, I just don't.

We have had great highs and real kick-us-again-why-don't-you days during the last while. The good always outweighs the not-so-good. And the composting folks for whom we work (aka the members of The Composting Council of Canada) mean so much to us.

But last night --- well. A "leadership" debate focused on environmental issues in Ontario happened. I was so looking forward to hearing their visions and being inspired. The 13 environmental groups who organized it did a great "above and beyond" service.

The first blow to my evening was to read the stated priorities from the environmental coalition and to see that that their first "waste" priority (there were priorities for boreal forest; energy; Great Lakes; Greenbelt; toxics as well) was:

Put the 3Rs first: Develop a comprehensive study fo the current provincial waste stream with a provincial waste reduction target of 60% by 2012.

Ah. Come on.

The whole country had a 50% diversion objective by the Year 2000. Only Nova Scotia hit it.

Ontario then re-stated the diversion objective to 60% by the Year 2008. It is not going to be met.

And now enviro-groups are going to "allow" a re-statement of the same objective, changing the timeline to 2012?

The evening got even better when each of the parties (Liberal, NDP, Conservatives, Green) focused their "waste" vision totally on Producer Responsibility and bashing packaging excesses.

Not one of them focused on the fact that organics make up close to 50% of the "waste" stream and that the solution to all diversion targets will be found when a comprehensive strategy for organics residuals recovery is the focus.

Not one political party said anything. And the 13 enviro-groups did not much better.

We have so much work still to do.

Two days ago, "Honest Ed" Mirvish died. His store is close to our office and our family has shopped at Honest Ed's ever since I can remember. And because of an event a number of years ago, we became the beneficiaries of his trust and credibility and for that, we will always be grateful.

In March 2003, I wrote an article for our local community paper about a meeting I had with him ... and, in honour of his magic and contribution to our efforts, I thought it would be appropriate to "reprint" it here.

Promoting green awareness
Sell people the idea, says Ed Mirvish

"The things that I am dealing in are immediate; people use them right now so it's much easier to sell. But you are selling an idea. You are selling people the future."

And so it began. A conversation with a neighbour, a recipient of the C.B.E. (Commander of the Order of the British Empire), an hour with a modest man, time well-spent with the legendary Ed Mirvish.

Our paths crossed a few years ago when he allowed us (The Composting Council of Canada) to collect the flowers around his theatre that were left in memory of a special princess.

We were able to take them to be composted rather than have them needlessly thrown away.

We got together again the following spring and planted a tree at Allan Gardens using the finished compost to prepare the soil for planting.

At that event, he encouraged everyone to compost, saying "To get something from nothing, now that's a bargain."

It was a clever phrase that struck a chord for a cause that we were (and still are) passionately involved in.

I've thought of that moment many times since and marvelled at his marketing talents. What a gift it would be if they could be used to make everyone more environmentally respectful and action-oriented.

And so, when the opportunity came to write this column, I called to see if we could meet again and chat about how, if he were selling care for the environment as a product, he would turn it into something that everyone would want to buy.

"It is easier to sell bread today when someone is hungry than to sell an idea to people," he started off. "You have quite a job ahead of you but somebody has to do it and it is important that it be done. But it's much more difficult to sell. People don't look into the distance; they only see today, the immediate, and that is the difficult part."

Mirvish explained the difficulty, but importance, of investing "in the future. But people do it all the time -- they buy insurance. So I think that the thing is to get the message across and to get everyone involved."

"If you do your part, the public does theirs," he continued. "The public responds if you have something that interests them."

....Mirvish boosted my hope that we can individually and collectively make a difference.

"You can't force things on people," he said. "But if it makes sense and it is rewarding for them, they will respond."

Mirvish noted, "The world has changed. Where people used to be very concerned about saving money, they are not that particular today. Now, I think that people are more interested in saving their time. It is everyone's most valuable possession."

And so, we have to make caring for the environment rewarding and fun. It can't be the "Recycle or Die" message that will make all of us want to do something.

Rather, the focus has to be on providing ways to do something positive for the environment and for ourselves.

Providing opportunities that make all of us feel good about our actions and our contribution to a greener world.

One step at a time. One action that, once conquered and incorporated into our day's routine, will lead to us wanting to do more.

For instance, starting with the recycling of certain materials and then adding more to the bin. And then, starting to turn out the lights when you are not in the room. Or not running the tap when you are brushing your teeth.

Little things. Baby steps. But all meaningful. And all that capture the power of one and make a big impact when multiplied by many.

Mirvish started off with a litte storefront and turned it into a huge empire of fun, bargains and entertainment.

We can do the same for the good of the environment. One person and one household at a time. One positive environmental action after another.

For us. For our future. And for others that will follow.

Written for The Annex Gleaner, March 2003