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In this issue:
Volunteer Coordinator Needed!
CGC is currently looking for a volunteer coordinator to help us facilitate our fantastic volunteers for upcoming events. We have so many volunteers that want to get involved with CGC, but due to a lack of staff power we often find ourselves scrambling at the last minute to rally up our people! This would be a volunteer position that would be resume builder alongside a great chance to network and get involved with like-minded people. If you think that you would be a great volunteer coordinator, please email: emilydy [at] cowichangreencommunity [dot] org">emilydy [at] cowichangreencommunity [dot] org and we will be in touch!
Electric Bike Raffle! 
Hear Ye! Hear Ye! On Friday, November 11th, started raffling off one of our super funky e-bikes at Christmas Chaos! Featured in last week’s newsletter, we are excited for the future winner of an Electric Pedego Classic Cruiser Hybrid Bicycle. Tickets are available for $5, and you can pick yours up at our storefront location. Try your luck and perhaps you will be the lucky owner of a new E-bike for the New Year! Draw date: January 13th, 2011 For more detailed information about the Pedego Classic Cruiser please visit www.pedego.com, or visit our Sustainable Living Centre at 181 Station Street and take this beauty for a FREE test drive!
Real Estate Foundation 2011 Land Awards Nomination Video!
 The nomination videos for the Land Awards have finally been posted! Many thanks to the Real Estate Foundation for hosting The 2011 Land Awards Gala Dinner and Ceremony in Vancouver. We would also like to thank our very own Justin Beaton, for his eloquence and heartfelt message that was included in our nomination video
Cowichan Valley Apple Cider Still Available 
We are thrilled to announce that due to a bountiful apple season this year, we are offering our local Cowichan Valley Community Apple Cider again. 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 bottle for $20. Come by to get yours soon - they won't last long!
Dried Apple Chutney Recipe!
Dried apples were on the menu this week. The last of the Ethos crew was given the task of firing up the dehydrator and cutting apples into slices. It takes a lot of apples to fill the dehydrator, but it makes sense to have the unit filled before starting. It can take a few days to dry the apples completely, depending on the dehydrator. By cutting the clean apples into uniform pieces, you will have more even drying. A bit of lemon juice in the bowl can help to slowed oxidization of the apples (browning). Once the slices are completely dried, they can be stored in glass jars or placed in the freezer.
We found a couple of great recipes to use with apples and we wanted to share them with everyone!
Ingredients:
• 1 1/2 cups dried apples
• 1/2 cup unsweetened dried cranberries
• 1 quart boiling water
• 1/4 cup dried minced onions
• 1 cup apple cider vinegar
• 3 tablespoons butter
• 3 tablespoons garam masala
• 1 teaspoon powdered ginger
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 1 1/2 cups hard cider**
Place apples and cranberries in large bowl and cover with boiling water. Cover tightly and let sit 15 minutes. In a separate bowl, combine cider and onion. Let sit.
Carefully drain excess water from fruit, but do not squeeze. Chop apples into bite-sized pieces.
Melt butter in a sauté pan, set over medium heat. Add spices and cook, stirring constantly, 1-2 minutes or until fragrant. Stir in fruit and vinegar. Increase heat to medium-high and allow to reduce by half. Add salt, pepper, and cider. Cook, stirring occasionally, until liquid has reduced to a light syrup. Serve immediately or cool and refrigerate. Makes 2 1/2-3 cups.
Mulled Apple Cider 
Sweet cider is an unsweetened, unfiltered, non-alcoholic beverage made from apples. This seasonal beverage is served during Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays which can be heated and mulled. Add some ice cream and a cinnamon stick and see what happens to your taste-buds! Voila, a taste worth remembering!
Ingredients:
2 lt of apple cider or juice (not filtered)
¼ c of brown sugar
1 square of cheesecloth (8” double thickness)
8 whole allspice berries
4 cinnamon sticks, broken into halves
12 whole cloves
1 large orange
Additional cinnamon sticks
In a slow cooker, combine cider and brown sugar in a 2.5 – 3 quart slow cooker. Rinse cheesecloth and sqeeze out excess water. Wrap allspice berries and cinnamon stick halves in cheesecloth and secure with string or a strip of cheesecloth. Stick cloves all over the orange; cut into quarters. Place spice bag and orange quarters into cider mixture. Cover and cook on high for 2.5-3 hours. Once ready, the cider may be turned to LOW and kept warm for an additional 3 hours. To serve, remove spice bag and orange pieces, ladle the cider into mugs and garnish with the additional cinnamon sticks (ice-cream is really delicious too!).
Ceres Edible Landscaping:
Holiday Gift Certificates!
Ceres Edible Landscaping- Give the gift of Gardening! Do you want to make gifting extraordinary this year? By purchasing a Ceres gift certificate you will be helping those you love while contributing to CGC’s many initiatives and programs. Gift Certificate options include: a Custom Patio Container, Compost Health Check & Free E.M, Invasive Removal or Consultation. Too cold to work outside? Brrrr! Rain or shine, let Ceres do all the work. Please inquire for prices and details. Call Kristi at 250.748.8506
Sustainable Living Centre:
All About the Pedego Classic Cruiser Hybrid Bicycle!
Our third featured electric bike is the 2011 Wisper folding E-Bike. This fabulous folding bike combines the speed and easy cadence of the larger bikes with the advantage of being able to be easily stowed away. The Wisper combines 20” wheels with 16 gears so it may be light and durable, but it kicks a punch up a steep hill. This bike uses a 250W high efficiency motor and runs on a 36V lithium ion battery. This bike’s top speed can get up to 25 Kph with the motor assist and gets up to a 45km range with the pedal assist and on level terrain.
Come stop by our sustainable living center to check out our wide selection of electric bikes, and take one out for a free test drive today!
Community Events:
DBIA Downtown Christmas Kick Off tonight from 5:30pm-8pm in Downtown Duncan. Come downtown for the annual Christmas Tree light-up, as well as fireworks, hayrides, the Smiley Family Band and FREE family fun!
Community Drumming Circle w/ Karen Lewis on Sat. Nov. 26th from 7:30pm-9:30pm @ Natasha's Temple located on Station Street. Drums available, but please BYOD if you have one. This is a by donation event.
Cowichan Wellness Expo: Nov. 26 & 27, 9:30am-5:30pm: This Wellness event features healing arts, practitioners providing workshops and presentations as well as exhibitors displaying holistic wares. This is a FREE event taking place at Oceanfront Suites in Cowichan Bay, and is open to the community of all ages. For more information, contact 250-709-4334 cowichanwellness [at] gmail [dot] com.">cowichanwellness [at] gmail [dot] com
Word Lovers Unite: Out of the Warmland Anthology Reading: Saturday, Nov.26th from 2pm- 4pm @ Cowichan Library Branch (Lewis Street). Come and listen to local writers and poets read their work from Ten Old Books new 2011 anthology. Support local writers by simply listening.This is a FREE event.
Documentary Night at the Library! November 28th we'll watch Mad City Chickens, a look at keeping backyard hens. Please feel free to come and watch these free movies at the Vancouver Island Regional Library on James Street in Duncan, B.C.
LifeCycles presents: Making Food Matter - A Local Food Gala: On Tues, Nov 29th from 7pm - 9pm join the LifeCycles team for an evening of delicious local food tastings with star Chef Cosmo Meens and great speakers, including Carolyn Herriot (Seeds of Victoria) and Corky Evans (farmer and former BC Minister of Agriculture). Taking place at the Atrium (1321 Blanshard St, Victoria), suggested admission is a donation of $20. For more information contact LifeCycles at (250) 386-3449 or visit http://indivision.ca/imageland//stored_originals/2508761.jpg
CVRD Environment Commission: What's up with the environment? Video contest for children and young adults between the ages of 8 and 24! Do you have some opinions about how the environment is doing and how we should treat it? The CVRD wants to know your thoughts and feelings.All you have to do is make a short video (on your own or with friends) and send it in before December 12, 2011. Winners receive cash prizes and local fame! The winners and their winning videos will be showcased at the CVRD Environment Commission meeting on December 15, 2011 at 7pm. Go to www.12things.ca and click on the contest icon to learn more!
Host a Booth at VIU’s Volunteer Information Fair: Mon, Dec 5th - 12pm-1:30pm
Vancouver Island University’s Cowichan Campus and Volunteer Cowichan are teaming up to present a Volunteer Information Fair and is looking for exhibitors. The purpose of the event is threefold: to celebrate International Volunteer Day, to showcase to the community the many local agencies that use volunteers, and to introduce these agencies to students who require volunteer hours for program prerequisites. We have some awesome door prizes to hand out to our agencies – an example: VIU is offering a $50 gift certificate towards a continuing education course! Please let me know if you are interested in hosting a table by Thursday November 24th – there are only 24 available. Contact atvc [at] volunteercowichan [dot] bc [dot] ca">atvc [at] volunteercowichan [dot] bc [dot] ca or call us at 250-748-2133.
Public Input on Pesticides on Dec.16th:
The BC government is considering banning the sale and use of chemical pesticides on lawns and gardens. Tell them you care and practice your right to share your opinion by answering their e-questionnaire, open until Dec 16th. For more information about taking action on pesticides, visit the Organizing for Change BC website.
The National Farmers Union is calling on non-farmers to join the campaign to defend the Canadian Wheat Board. The NFU states, "Farmers are organizing and protesting. But to save our democratically controlled marketing agency, farm families need your help, and the help of the organizations with which you work. The loss of the CWB will hurt every Canadian family."
Take action!
The NFU says, "What is needed right now is for Canadians to write two short letters:
1- One to Prime Minister Harper, asking him to scrap Bill C-18, his destroy-the-CWB legislation, and to instead enact policies that foster Food Sovereignty and a strong Canadian nation and economy; and
2- One to Canadian Senators, asking them to resist pressure to fast-track Bill C-18, and to instead give careful and adequate consideration to this detailed and far-reaching legislation; to hold meetings of their Agriculture Committee; and to hear presentations from farmers, workers, businesspeople, and other Canadians who will be affected by this legislation."
They ask that you fax your letter to Stephen Harper (613-941-6900), the Clerk of the Senate (613-992-7959), and one copy marked 'Sent' to the National Farmers Union (306-664-6226).
To assist you in writing your letter, they offer 'Seven Reasons Non-Farmers Should Care...And Act' to Save the Canadian Wheat Board. To read that list, please go to http://www.grazingdays.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/7-reasons-Non-Farmers-Should-Care.pdf.
The Council of Canadians fighting to save the Canadian Wheat Board needs your help!
Veggies Available!
Delicious veggies are for sale from Growing Opportunities, a non-profit collaborative. Growing Opportunities works collectively with people of all abilities to learn and gain experience of growing food on a farming scale. To order veggies or get involved email jenandbearit [at] gmail [dot] com or phone and leave a message at 250-753-3070.
Casual Farm Help Available. Weeding, planting, general farm labour. Contact CGC for more information. 250.748.8506.
Garden Spaces/ Greenhouses & Rental Suites:
Sorry, there are currently no rentals or garden spaces we know of.
Job Opportunities: (Note: Please reply directly to the job posting)
Request for Proposals – Environmental Education CVRD is seeking a contractor to provide environmental education services within the Regional District by Dec.9th: Please feel free to submit a proposal or pass this information onto those who you think would be interested in submitting a proposal. All proposals must be addressed, as specified in the RFP, to Christina Ross (Environmental Technologist, Engineering and Environmental Services) on or before Friday, December 9, 2011 at 4:30 pm. For more information, please contact (250) 746 2530 or email part11 [dot] 06010401 [dot] 04090507 [at] shawbiz [dot] ca">cross [at] cvrd [dot] bc [dot] ca
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Events: Seed Stories Wrap Up!
It's a wrap! Seed Stories on Tour has been a great success and a big thank you to everyone who made that possible: Vancouver Island Regional Library, Ladysmith Community Gardens, Ladysmith Garden Club, Boys and Girls Club of Central Vancouver Island and our fabulous speakers: Wayne Haddow, Regional Agrologist; Shirley Bellows, of Seeds of Diversity Canada; and Glen Hammond, of Sunnyside Holly and Garlic Farm.
It's been a pleasure to meet and work with all the enthusiastic green thumbs in our community who are keen to learn more about saving seed.
Funded in whole or in part by the Canada – British Columbia Labour Market Development Agreement.
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 everyone who made it out to the polls to vote on November 19th! Democracy is an important part of sustainability, and we look forward to the positive changes that your votes will make in our community!
Many thanks to VIHA, Danica, Natasha and Devann!
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 help out. If you would like to volunteer with us.
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