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In this issue:
30 Day GMO Free Challenge!
Challenge yourself to live GMO Free!
Are you curious to see what it takes to live without consuming genetically modified organisms (GMOs)? As a component of the seed literacy campaign, CGC staff has already started participating and assisting community members in the process of becoming GMO-free! From the foods we eat, to the consumer products we purchase, we invite you to join the challenge to learn what GMO's are and how they impact your life. Even if you haven't signed up yet, there is still time!! This educational challenge began on January 18th and will continue until February 16th, 2012. By focusing on reducing or eliminating GM food and non-food items from participants’ everyday lives, we are here to assist participants through this challenge, regardless of when they sign up! CGC will provide resources on GMOs, including daily tips, advice and sources of inspiration intended to guide the challenge. Participants, along with CGC staff, will also have the opportunity to blog and, or tweet about their questions, ideas, challenges and ultimately success. We want to hear your stories about living GMO free! This challenge is FREE and is open to anyone interested in learning how they can reduce their consumption of GMOs. All citizens hold the power to create change! Take the Challenge and find out how you too can make a difference. Click here for more information or to register, or contact the Cowichan Green Community at 250-748-8506.
Sustainable Living Centre: Stay Tuned for New & Exciting Products!
Although it has been a very white Cowichan, we want to remind everyone that the days are getting longer, and Spring is only a couple of months away. Time flies when you're having fun, so stay warm and stay tuned for the new Spring arrivals in our Sustainable Living Centre. We are making room for new products which include: new feather jewelery and hair pieces, bat boxes, bird houses, mason bee houses, mason bee cocoons and of course, even more open-pollinated seeds from Salt Spring Seed Company! However, if you are a local artisan that has some great ideas for Spring, give us a call or drop an email to: amanda [at] cowichangreencommunity [dot] org">amanda [at] cowichangreencommunity [dot] org We look forward to hearing from you!
Electric Bike Raffle: Congratulations to the lucky winner, Caroline M! 
We would like to congratulate Caroline M, the lucky winner of a new Pedego Electric Cruiser Bicycle! To ensure this raffle draw was fair and square, we had a special guest, Eugene Fleck, pick the winning raffle ticket on Friday, January 13th at 10 o'clock on the dot ! Caroline bought her ticket at the Christmas Chaos event, and had almost entirely forgot that she had entered the raffle. Needless to write, Caroline is so excited to have a new electric bicycle because she has recently moved into the city and cannot believe how much easier and more sustainable her life is going to become. "I might just have to get some of those bags for the side of my bike so that my two little dogs can go for a ride too," Caroline exclaims, "What an amazing day, and to think that Friday the 13th is usually associated with bad luck!" On the contrary, CGC picked this date because we knew it was going to be one lucky day for someone! Happy Trails Caroline!
Ceres Edible Landscaping: Fruit Tree Management & Pruning Workshop 
Would you like to provide the best care for the fruit trees in your life? Take the uncertainty out of pruning and learn the latest techniques and procedures from an experienced certified arborist. Join CGC staff and other community members to learn all about: fruit tree pruning and care, tree biology, planting and establishment, guild planting/mulching, and more.
This workshop will include an on-site demonstration and a take-home information package. Do your trees a favor and sign up for this workshop! Stay tuned for more information.
Cowichan Valley Apple Cider 
Due to a bountiful apple season this year, we are still selling our local Cowichan Valley Community Apple Cider to those of you who haven't had a chance to stop by. All proceeds from this cider will go back into supporting CGC, and we thank all of our fabulous volunteers and homeowners for their participation. We will be offering the 2 litre bottles for a suggested donation of $6.00 each, or 4 bottles for $20. But hurry quick because we have only two dozen left! To pick up a bottle, please visit our storefront location at 181 Station Street. If you would like to reserve a bottle, please email amanda [at] cowichangreencommunity [dot] org">amanda [at] cowichangreencommunity [dot] org
Community Events:
Makaria Farm has launched a Food Security Club for Vancouver Island residents who are interested in receiving bulk amounts of easy-to-store organic produce (e.g. garlic, carrots, squash). Cowichan residents can also sign up for the 5th year of Makaria Farm's Vegetable Share (CSA) Program, and receive weekly bags of fresh-picked vegetables from June through October. Visit www.makariafarm.com for details.
North Cowichan is seeking input to its Climate Action and Energy Plan – everyone in the Cowichan Region is welcome to contribute ideas that will make North Cowichan and the wider Cowichan region greener and more sustainable. Get involved in the dialogue and share your ideas here: http://ncclimateaction.ideascale.com/a/panel.do
What is your carbon footprint? Thursday, Jan. 26, at 11:00 am @ the Cowichan library in the Island Savings Centre. Want to really find out about greenhouse gases and how they are changing the climate around us? Want to learn how carbon reduction strategies can improve your community socially, economically, and environmentally? The library is hosting an information session on these topics by Cowichan Energy Alternatives. Citizens, students, and business owners will be especially interested in how a carbon footprint assessment can demonstrate leadership and save money! Our local governments have chartered with the BC Government to reduce emissions with the goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2012. Your actions as an individual play a role in this goal. The presentation gives many suggestions in small changes we can all make in our recreation, travel, home, food, banking, and more.
Grow Food with Joy! Jan 25th, 2012:
Learn how to grow great food using permaculture techniques that model nature. The cost for the three-class series is $50. Or give your loved one a Grow Food Gift Package, which includes one gardening class with Joy, a subscription to GROW FOOD Network Magazine and two packages of seeds. The Gift Packages are available for $30/each and can be purchased at Sunflower Cafe. For more information about the workshop series, or the Gift Package, please contact growfood [at] shaw [dot] ca or 250-743-1352
Soil Bioengineering & Restoration Workshop - Feb 25 & 26, 2012: The Cowichan Land Trust is pleased to present this 2 day course. Content will focus on soil bioengineering techniques and options involved in restoration and reclamation of damaged ecosystems using a combination of structural materials, vegetative cuttings and other specialized methods. Soil bioengineering is an applied science that uses live plant materials to perform an engineering function such as slope stabilization, soil erosion control, or seepage control. Lunch and refreshments will be provided on day one, but participants should bring a packed lunch on day two. The registration fee is $120 for Cowichan Land Trust members and $150 for non-members. The optional course manual is $30. For further questions or to register for the course, please contact Jen Morgen via phone: (250) 746-0227 or email: info [at] cowichanlandtrust [dot] ca">info [at] cowichanlandtrust [dot] ca
Garden Spaces/ Greenhouses & Rental Suites:
Funky cabin on mixed organic farm available as a
sublet (fully furnished) immediately until March 15. $600/ month. Rent reduced if cat-care included. Great place for a quiet retreat. Please phone Lynn at 250 597 3513.
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Events: A Year in Preview: CGC's dates to mark in your 2012 calendar!
Jan.18th-Feb.16th, 2012: 30 Day Live GMO Free Challenge
February 18th, 2012:
Seeds for Change Conference: GMOs
February 22nd, 2012: Donor Breakfast @ Duncan Christian Reformed Church
March 24th, 2012:
Seedy Saturday from 10am -4pm @ the Mercury Theatre
April 17th, 2012:
Volunteer Appreciation Tea in support of National Volunteer Week!
April 21st, 2012:
Earth Day Celebration @ Charles Hoey Park
April, 2012:
Fruit Save Orientation & Sign up!
June 8th & 9th, 2012:
Food Security Conference & 2012 Buy Local! Buy Fresh! Map Launch
June 21st, 2012:
Annual General Meeting w/ Guest speaker @ Duncan United Church. Time to renew your yearly memberships & vote for CGC’s 2013 Board of Directors!
June, 2012:
Farm to School Lunch & Farm Tour
July 1st, 2012:
Canada Day Celebration @ Charles Hoey Park
July 21st, 2012: Intercultural Celebration Day w/ City of Duncan
July- August, 2012
3rd Annual Series of Wild Food Walks
August 18th, 2012: Edible Garden Tours
August, 2012 (TBD):
Annual Harvest Festival w/ Providence Farm
August – September 2012: Preserve the Harvest Canning Workshops
Please Note: We will still be offering many other workshops and projects that will not listed until proposed funding is confirmed .
4th Annual Seeds for Change Conference:
GMO's and the Right to Choose! Cowichan Green Community (CGC) is excited to announce that we will be hosting our fourth annual Seeds for Change Conference. There is a lot of misinformation out there about what is or is not a Gentically Modified Organism (GMO), not tom mention the lack of mandatory labelling on GMO foods. This conference is going to be a proactive engagement of like-minded individuals who will be highlighting examples of how citizens and communities within Canada are working together to choose alternatives to GMO's. Through a series of speakers and a panel discussion, this conference will feature Jean Crowder, MP Nanaimo-Cowichan, Thierry Vrain, co-owner of Innisfree Farm in Courtenay, Jon Steinman of Deconstructing Dinner and more… Taking place on February 18th, 2012 from 10am to 4pm, this event will be hosted at the Hub in the Cowichan Station (2375 Koksilah Road, Cowichan Station, BC V9L 6M5). CGC will provide coffee, tea and light snacks. Farm’s Gate Food and Catering will be on site serving-up a fabulous set lunch for $15.00 or you’re welcome to BYOL. Entrance to this conference will be by donation. We are taking early registration as space is limited. For more details or to register for this event, please contact the Cowichan Green Community at 250-748-8506.
Tell our Government that you want!
Mandatory Labelling on Genetically Modified Foods
We all have the right to choose what we eat. Assert your right; tell our government you want foods containing genetically modified ingredients to be labelled. This petition is in support of Bill C-257.
Add your signature by coming in to our store front at 181 Station St. or print off a copy that you and your friends, family, neighbours and co-workers can sign.
Support CGC through the Peninsula CO-OP!
Would you like to support CGC, but aren’t sure how? An easy way to donate to CGC could be the next time you go to fill up with gas. If you stop at your local Co-op gas station, just tell them you want to donate your gas purchase points to Cowichan Green Community's account (#49620)! It will quickly add up for us, we can put the points to great use, and the Peninsula Co-op is a Vancouver Island based co-operative! Awesome!
Thank You's:
We would like to thank the CVRD Environment Commission,Tammy Morris, Susan Smith, Duncan Ewing, Rob Slade, Rick Julliusson, Danica Bell, the Cowichan Recyclists and our amazing Board of Directors!
Please note, if we didn't mention your name, you are still amazing!
And of course, new volunteers are always welcome! Contact us at 250-748-8506 or info [at] cowichangreencommunity [dot] org if you would like to
volunteer with us.
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