Africa Night Fundraiser, Nov. 27th

On Saturday, November 27th, Canada World Youth presents a fundraiser for Cowichan Green Community and Christo Rei, a Mozambiquan AIDS Organization. Join us at the Quamichan Room and the Quw’utsun’ Cultural and Conference Centre for an African inspired evening. Enjoy music, food and dance from this fascinating continent. Suggested donation of $10 at the door. Doors open at 7pm.

In this issue:

• Bike Raffle at CGC
  
• The Sustainable Living Centre
• It's a Green Wrap
• Edible Neighbourhood
• Community News

CGC Bike Raffle

Bike to Work! Go Trail Riding! Be Carbon Neutral! Here is your chance to win a Norco LRT 1 bicycle from the Cowichan Green Community. 

What could be a more fitting way for an environmental organization to raise funds than to raffle off a bicycle?  That is exactly what the Cowichan Green Community aims to do with their Norco bike raffle; raise funds for food security programs such as FruitSave, Farm to School, and the Alexander School Community Garden. 


Raffle tickets are available at the CGC Sustainable Living Centre, at 181 Station Street, Duncan.  They will be sold up until Friday December 17th, and the winner will be determined in a one-time draw at 9:00 am on Monday December 20th – just in time for Christmas!  Chances of winning are 1 in 2700. Ticket Purchasers must be 19 years of age or older.  The Draw will be held at CGC and the winner will be contacted as well as announced on CGC’s website, www.cowichangreencommunity.org, and in the CGC newsletter.  For more details and complete raffle rules, visit www.cowichangreencommunity.org.

BC Gaming license 28625, Problem Gambling Help Line 1-888-795-6111, www.bcresponsiblegambling.ca.  19+ to play! Know your limit, play within it.

For full details and prize description, visit cowichangreencommunity.org.

Green Christmas at the CGC Sustainable Living Centre

Many people are looking to live more sustainably, whether they are growing their own food, buying second hand clothing, or focusing their purchasing power on local products to reduce their carbon footprint.  Sustainable products are those which provide the greatest global environmental, economic, and social benefits and are measured over their entire life cycle, from raw materials extraction to final reuse or disposal.

CGC is excited to support the local community by increasing the range of products and information available at the newly revamped Sustainable Living Centre, 181 Station Street Duncan.   Formerly known as the Green Store, the space has been a hive of activity as new products have been brought in that meet our sustainability requirements, while being unique to our centre.

The Grand Re-Opening will be November 26th, 2010, in time for your Christmas shopping!  Many of our products are ideal stocking stuffers or holiday party host gifts, like Abeego wraps. Abeego is a natural, eco-conscious food storage system created with hemp/cotton fabric and infused with beeswax and plant extracts.  The fluid-resistant coating keeps food fresh and is easy to clean.  The Sustainable Living Centre also carries The Art of Zen Crochet, Renditions in Rags hooked rugs, Salt Spring Seeds, Reishi/LingZhi Mushroom kits, Vancouver Island Salt Company artisanal salts and much more.  All CGC members receive a 10% store discount, as well as access to our Lending Library.  Come on by!

It's a Green Wrap

Look for Cowichan Green Community this holiday season as we offer Downtown Duncan’s first ever eco-friendly gift wrapping service.

In partnership with the Downtown Business Improvement Association, we will be wrapping up gifts for the holidays with sustainability in mind. We are looking for donations of fabric remnants, burlap, craft paper, or other recyclable, reuseable, upcycled gift wrap. Please drop off your “scraps” to our store at 181 Station St. so we can offer a low-impact gift wrap alternative and keep the landfill a little less full this season.

This Christmas, think outside the box too!

Skills Link – James Street Edible Neighbourhood

Cowichan Green Community is excited to announce the start of their newest initiative, the Winter Wonderland Edible Neighbourhoods project.

"We are excited to be engaging with the community in designing and building six edible gardens with the capacity to grow food year-round," says project supervisor John Milne, "the fact that we can simultaneously offer work experience and skills training to six local youth adds to the excitement!"

The six youth participants will be joining the CGC team in the last week of November and garden building will start in the new year.  If you'd like to get involved as a volunteer please contact John (john [at] cowichangreencommunity [dot] org)

Kinsmen Community Garden Clean Up - Volunteers wanted

CGC is hosting a community clean up event at the Kinsmen Park Community Garden, this Friday November 26th. Starting at 1:00, join us for bed repair, weeding, mulching and general garden clean up. If you are interested in volunteering, contact us at 250-748-8506 or just show up and help us put our beds to rest for the winter!

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Community News:

 
Plug Into Green Energy; A Free alternative Energy Workshop - Sat. November 27th, from 1-5 pm
Energy Transitions & Challenges; Global and Local Perspectives
Heritage Hall, Island Saving Centre, Duncan
FREE Admission. For more info contact the Cowichan Carbon Busters or Cowichan Energy Alternatives at 250-597-1491.

RENT OR BUY IN TO COMMUNITY HOBBY FARM 

Wanting people to rent and/or buy in to a working organic hobby farm in North Cowichan .  Some interest or training in permaculture preferred. Farm is not economically self-sustaining yet, so outside work will be necessary.
 
There are about 10 arable acres. It is a mixed small-holding with sheep, turkeys, layer chickens and pastured meat birds seasonally. It has a 1/4 acre veggie garden, new food forests in process plus an old orchard, and plans for grain growing, possible fresh-water aquaculture and wet rice growing. There is potential for medicinal herb gardens, mushroom cultivation etc.

There is a room to rent for someone interested simply in renting. There is also an opportunity for people to initially lease to see how they "fit" with the current operation here, then buy in as part of a "community" farm if both parties agree. Will discuss living arrangements and financial details with anyone interested in getting involved. Contact Lynn at (250) 597 3513.