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.

Posted by Susan Antler at 7:10 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

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.

Posted by Susan Antler at 8:35 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

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.

Posted by Susan Antler at 11:37 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)