Either I love my job or I have nothing else to do on Saturday ... given that it's nearing Valentine's Day, let's figure that it's for the "love of the cause" reason that I'm in the office today.

Things are so busy. In a couple of weeks, our Regional Workshops begin (Vancouver; Feb. 20 & 21), our next National Board of Directors' meeting follows (Vancouver; Feb. 22) and Canada Blooms looms ever closer (March 7 - 11).

We are finalizing the results of our 2006 National Survey of Composting Facilities, with the hopes that we can release the findings in time for Valentine's Day ("For the Love of the Earth"). I am still mad that our application for a summer student was rejected because it was not deemed a "high priority". Thank goodness for our "well, we'll just get it done anyways" attitude, some support received from Procter & Gamble as well as Tim Horton's and the diligence/determination of Gail, Ashley, Michelle, Bouchra and Maité.

During the past week, we've been involved in discussions in Ontario, had updates from the CFIA (Canadian Food Inspection Agency) regarding their BSE management plan and have had some planning sessions for the beyond-exciting garden display initiative (Garden Ecotopia) to be presented at Canada Blooms. Miller Composting and the Region of Peel amongst others are going above and beyond in helping pull together an absolutely awesome display of environmental actions that each of us can do as we enjoy our life in the garden.

Lorraine Hunter and fellow garden writers are helping us with the development of a gardening guide for children.... and we just got a call on Friday, confirming that the folks at the CNTower would like this guide and our efforts to be involved in their March break activities.

Hopefully in the week ahead, we'll be able to finalize our design for this year's Compost Week (May 6 - 12). The theme for this year is: Change our Earth ... COMPOST ... pour une terre meilleure.

It is always a challenge to come up with a fun/all-encompassing theme to help promote our messages. The long-standing tradition that John Bartlett & I have regarding coming up with the annual theme makes it easier to do (ie. meet, brainstorm, eat, brainstorm, drink beer ... the evening doesn't end till we get the theme done). Looking back, we've had some great themes:
1995 = The Green Wave of Recycling
1996 = For the Love of the Earth
1997 = Create a Natural Treasure
1998 = Return to your Roots
1999 = It's Your Turn
2000 = The Future Starts Here
2001 = Make a Difference
2002 = Make Magic Happen
2003 = How Does Your Garden Grow?
2004 = Be Resourceful
2005 = Starve a Landfill ... Feed your Future
2006 = Add Power to your Flowers

Goodness ... that's a lot of themes (and a lot of beer that got us those themes). Thank goodness for John Bartlett. Salim Abboud told me once that someday our posters will become collectors' items. Who knows. Perhaps they might. Looking back at them brings back tons of great memories of events and people who have gone above and beyond the call to "spread the compost" message.

In the week ahead, we have the Waste Diversion Ontario consultation process (it is unsettling that compost could possibly be dragged into the whole funding exercise brought about by Ontario's Municipal Hazardous and Special Waste regulation; we've been told that compost won't be designated but we need to be diligent to make sure that the "fertilizer" designation doesn't encompass compost as well), conversations scheduled concerning the nation-wide Compostable Plastic Bags certification process as well as our efforts to implement an industry protocol assessment regarding composting and the impact/influence on greenhouse gas management.

Makes working Saturdays easier to take when you know that some of the work that The Council does will make a real and meaningful positive impact.