#Canada - We are Missing Bees!

Did you know Canada..  I've read a few reports today about Canada's dwindling honey bee
population!  According to the Canadian Honey Council, Canada's bee population has plummeted by an estimated 35% since 2010.

I know most of us head the other way when we see a bee for fear of being stung, but honeybees are our pollinators and pollination is responsible for the growth and development of 70% of Canada's cultivated plants!

Some are saying that a neonicotinoid-based insecticide that has been used in Canada for the last 9 years is to blame.  This insecticide is coat field crop seeds but some are saying the coating is also getting into plants, water, soil and air.

Other agricultural and scientific communities say they simply don't know why the bees are disappearing but it's a major problem.  Apparently a bee health working group has been formed in Ontario to make recommedations, but we won't hear from them until next spring at the earliest.

Do you feel neonicotinoids should be banned as many beekeepers suggest?

#bioSnackySprouts with @AVogel_ca

Did you know Canada..  we are on Day 2 of a sprouting challenge!  A.Vogel has challenged us to grow some sprouts over a 10 day period using their classic bioSnacky 3-tier sprouter.

The older boys each picked a seed and Mom got to pick one too.  So we are growing..

Mung Bean - Green soy seed with mild and aromatic taste. Mung bean sprouts contain vitamins A, B1, B2, B3, B12 and C, plenty of vitamin E as well as iron, potassium, calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus.
Fitness Mix - Mix of wheat seeds, mung beans and radish. This unique mix provides a subtle, mildly piquant taste which adds interest to your meals.
Little Radish - Little Radish sprouts have a strong and spicy flavour. They contain vitamins A, B1, B2 and C as well as numerous minerals.

So far the Mung Bean is in the lead, already sprouting on day 2!

The set up was very easy and an enjoyable family project.  You just rinse out the tiers, confirm the red drain is in place, then rinse your seeds (the amount of seeds you add per tray is listed on the seed package), add the seeds to the tray and you are good to go!  You water your seeds right away and it's actually really fun to water them, because you add your water to the top tier and it drains all the way to the bottom leaving just enough water in each tier for your sprouts to grow!  You empty the bottom drainage with the excess water and that's it!

I LOVE how quickly you have action as you can see from our Mung Bean's, this makes it really exciting for the boys and we will be adding out sprouts to sandwiches, salads, stir frys and more in no time!  Being able to grow 3 different sprouts at once in one compact unit gives you enough sprouts for so many different dishes or even combined into one!

Stay tuned next week for an update and follow hashtag #bioSnackySprouts for our daily updates along with others doing the challenge!

Blackflies *shiver*

Did you know Canada.. it's that time of year again!  Start out in Mid-May and last until Mid to Late June, the blackfly is almost upon us. And I've heard many times nowhere else on the planet are the black flies as big as in Northern Ontario.

Like the Mosquito, it is the female black fly that bites, but the males that swarm around the females increase the nuisance factor. The female bites a hole in the skin to suck the out blood. In response to chemicals injected by the female during this bite (including toxins and anticoagulants) the area around bites swell, becoming painful and itchy. Intense feeding can cause "Black Fly Fever", with headache, nausea, fever, swollen lymph nodes, and aching joints; these symptoms are probably a reaction to a compound in the flies' salivary glands. Less commonly, severe allergic reactions may require hospitalization.

A blackfly's average lifespan is around three weeks - but that's three weeks too long for many of us.

One solution to combat the blackflies is to take 3 times the recommended daily dosage of Vitamin B Complex for 2 weeks before heading out into the wilderness - this is suppose to cut down bites by up to 75%!

Have you ever struggled with the madness of the blackflies?

Source: CTV, Wikipedia

Earth Day Boutique - DK Canada

Did you know Canada..  Our friends at DK Canada have an awesome group of titles perfect for focusing on the Earth and our natural world in their Earth Day Boutique.  Might be a fun idea to have a few on hand for Earth Day as a treat to read by candle light!

My guys have been checking out two books in particular, and they have been big hits!  First let me tell you about this little man, he is a rock collector.  If you open his backpack, coat pocket, pant pocket, peak at the chair he sits in in the car, pretty much ANY WHERE he has been, you will find rocks.  They are all special in some way to him, and goodness help ya if you move any of them.

So I was SO excited to share Pocket Genius: Rocks and Minerals with him!  This awesome book profiles nearly 200 types of rocks and minerals from volcanic rocks and granite to sparkling diamonds and explosive sulfur, and tells what they are made of, how they are formed and what they are used for.

In easy to understand terms, every page opened up at least a 10 minute discussion, it's been a great experience, and has him planning on being a rock collection with a kit and tools and everything.

We also enjoyed Everything you need to know about Sharks - this beautiful, fully coloured book is full of quick and interesting facts.  My boys are obsessed with numbers right now, so to read things like how the Earth has 369 million trillion gallons of water is really exciting around here!  And what kid wouldn't love to know some fish produce electric discharges that can jolt other fish and humans!

I love the fact that both books contain hundreds of REAL pictures, no drawings or cartoons but real life photographs, giving factual information in a way both kids and adults can enjoy.  They can also easily be read a bit at a time, and won't these be awesome for future school projects??

Two big hits from DK Canada's Earth Day Boutique and I can only imagine how great their other offerings are - and all the books in the Earth Day Boutique are ON SALE!  A great time to share some of these amazing books with your family.

Burt's Bees partners with Canadian accessories designer Jenny Bird

Did you know Canada..  A favourite of ours, Burt's Bees, just announced a partnership with Canadian accessories designer Jenny Bird!

Jenny has created a custom, Limited-Edition friendship bracelet commissioned by Burt's Bees to help raise awareness and funds to help work to save Canada's depleting bee populations!

How is great it that 100 percent of the proceeds from the sale of this Limited-Edition bracelet will go to the Pollinator Partnership, a not-for-profit organization whose mission it is to protect and restore populations of pollinator species, bees in particular.

Bees of course are a critical part of our ecosystem and they pollinate our crops!

Did you know - 43 types of Canada's bumblebees are currently threatened, and 99% of the Rusty Patched bumblebee populations has already been lost!

The bees are in trouble because of pesticide use, diseases, pollution and loss of habitat.

For the Bees bracelet is available nation wide at The Bay locations and the web at www.burtsbees.ca/forthebees and http://jenny-bird.com

Earth Day & Carebags

Did you know Canada.. it's Earth Day! Locally I know many schools, businesses and groups have held clean ups this past week. Globally people have been committing to acts of green.

Thanks to Wikipedia we know The first Canadian Earth Day was held on Thursday, September 11, 1980, and was organized by Paul D. Tinari, then a graduate student in Engineering Physics/Solar Engineering at Queen's University. Flora MacDonald, then MP for Kingston and the Islands and Canadian Secretary of State for External Affairs, officially opened Earth Day Week on September 6, 1980 with a ceremonial tree planting and encouraged MPs and MPPs across the country to declare a cross-Canada annual Earth Day. The principal activities taking place on the first Earth Day included educational lectures given by experts in various environmental fields, garbage and litter pick-up by students along city roads and highways as well as tree plantings to replace the trees killed by Dutch Elm Disease.

To celebrate we have a flash giveaway for Earth Day! We are giving away 1 set of Carebags and 1 set of Got it - 100% reusable bags for produce & bulk foods, that are strong, lightweight, breathable and Made in Canada! What makes these bags special? It’s not only longevity of the textile, it’s unique stretch, washability, and hundreds of uses. Nor is it simply that you can buy/wash & store produce and bulk right in the bag. Foodies send us amazing notes on straining, sieving, sprouting & stuffing. Travelers list dozens of handy tricks from brewing coffee, to packing clothes, stashing laundry & separating foreign currencies. Mom’s too love our bags for kids lunches, and toys. While fitness professionals have told us they use Carebags to keep sneakers & sweats separate, in gym totes. Still our favorite defining virtue is that Carebags are locally made within a tiny eco footprint, in Canada.


Did you know Canadians use 9-15 billion plastic shopping bags every year?  The average plastic bag is used for five minutes yet can take up to 1000 years to break down.  It's time to make the change!

I am proud to say I am making the change - I think these bags are fantastic! Easy to take with you anywhere, perfect for home use, and love that we are not only supporting Canada but also our environment.  I've used them in many crazy ways already - in the laundry, for kids toys, straining, storing food and more!  They are a lot sturdier than I thought this type of bag would be, I am very impressed with the quality, the size and can see these bags are made to last.    Available in over 300 stores across Canada, Carebags is a fantastic Canadian company to be supporting.

Enter below for your chance to win, ends midnight April 22nd!!

Giveaway

Canadian Gardener's Guide

Did you know Canada.. our friends at DK Canada have done it again - they've published another gorgeous, well thought out, well LAID out and informative book directed at Canadians.

The Canadian Gardener's Guide is perfect for not only new gardener's but also those more experienced. With over 1,000 full-colour photos that illustrate every aspect of gardening from the growing site, to the plants needs, design and harvesting - they have you covered every step of the way.

I LOVE that is also includes a plant catalogue and an A-Z of common pests, diseases and disorders AND how to treat them.

It unfortunately isn't that often that a Canadian can find this kind of information only for us, and you're left guessing at how the information and maps will affect your location, but this book is just for us baby! With a Canadian hardiness zone map, how to take care of plants over the winter and more.

I am really enjoying the section on growing fruits and veggies, something we've tried in our garden the past couple years, I've learned some fantastic info all ready and can't wait to put it into practice in the backyard. We've got the garden all dug up, started a few seeds indoors already and will update you as the season progresses! Enter below for your chance to win a copy of Canadian Gardener's Guide from DK Canada!

Giveaway

Earth Hour

Did you know Canada.. this Saturday, March 31st, is Earth Hour^TM from 8:30PM – 9:30 PM local time.

Earth Hour is a time when we turn off the lights and consider climate change. According to the WWF, climate change is the biggest environmental threat to our planet and the number one concern for Canadians.

Earth Hour started in 2007 in Sydney, Australia when 2.2 million individuals and more than 2,000 businesses turned their lights off for one hour to take a stand against climate change. The next year more than 50 million people across 35 countries participating. By 2010, Earth Hour had created history as the largest voluntary action ever witnessed with participation across 128 countries and every continent.

Earth Hour 2011 was the biggest year yet, many world landmarks switched off their lights including the Forbidden City, Eiffel Tower, Buckingham Palace, Golden Gate Bridge, Table Mountain, Christ the Redeemer statue and Sydney Opera House.

Unfortunately, one the least co-operative areas traditionally has been Alberta! In 2008 Calgary's power consumption actually went up during Earth Hour. just last year in 2011 Edmonton's power usage also increased during Earth Hour. So let's get the word out to Canadians, flick off the lights this Saturday night from 8:30 - 9:30PM and stand up for climate change!

A to Z Illusions

Did you know Canada.. Canadian company A to Z Illusions was created by award winning freelance photographer David Matthews. He photographs natural occurrences of letters in the alphabet and sells a wide range of products including framed words, posters, cards, magnets and more.

Not only are the framed words gorgeous additions to any home but I love that he has expanded to the cards and magnets. What great gifts for special occasions, teacher gifts, anniversary and birthdays, the possibilities are endless. The magnets make a perfect little something extra to add to a card and they can be cherished and admired for years to come. I was very impressed with the quality of the cards and magnets. I absolutely loved the way they came packaged, check out this cool bag - as always, you know I so appreciate it when businesses pack their products with care and make you feel like you've received something really special. I felt that way with my package from A to Z Illusions.

You have to check out the Create Your Word section of A to Z Illusions. You can make your own word - say a family name, business name, team name, words and messages special to your family. Then, my favourite part, click on the letters to see all the choices for each letter! I can't believe how large David's library of letters are. So not only are you creating a word special to your family but it will be unique with the letters you choose. Maybe the A in your son's name is more meaningful as finding an A on a swingset, but for your Grandfather with an A in his name, an A in the Eiffel Tower would be perfect for him. What a fun, fantastic and unique service.

Find A to Z Illusions online, Facebook and in person at many local craft shows. We are so excited to share a giveaway with our readers as well! Enter below for your chance to win a framed copy of the word Love or Home. Stay tuned as we will have more giveaways with A to Z Illusions to celebrate Mother's Day and Father's Day!

Giveaway

Maple Syrup

Did you know Canada.. if you're planning on heading to a Maple Syrup festival this weekend and March Break, we have some fun Canadian facts for you that you can share.

* Canada and the United States are the only two maple syrup producing countries in the world

* Canada producing 82% of the world's total syrup

* it's Quebec that produces the most syrup - about 90%

You'll find plenty of Maple Syrup festivals across Ontario, Quebec and New Brunswick this month, let us know if you're attending one!

Image Source: rgallant_photography

Giveaway! Earth's Berries Soap Nuts

Update: Giveaway is now closed, thank you everyone for commenting!!

Did you know Canada.. I have discovered such a cool product - Soap Nuts!

What the heck are Soap Nuts - I know some of you are thinking it!! Well, they are actually a fruit to start with, taken from the soapberry tree, and it is a natural, potent cleaning alternative to the harsh chemicals common to detergents and household cleaners.

Not only economical (1kg bag of soap nuts will do 300-400 loads of laundry at the regular retail price of $30.00) but also eco-friendly (1kg bag would replace 9-32 load plastic bottles of detergent, also naturally harvested and the ink on the exterior bag is sun dried).

There is also no residue, works as a fabric softener and as an odour neutralizer!!! Perfect for any Mom - especially me and my stinky boys. :-)

I admit I was a little unsure at trying out the soap nuts but I am absolutely over the moon for them now - recommending them to friends, family, random Moms - everyone! They are so easy to use, just make up one small cotton sac of 4-5 Earth’s Berries soap nuts and that will take care of 4-5 loads of laundry!! They work fantastic, I am positive our clothes, especially the kids clothes which are always stained with something, is SO MUCH cleaner, fresher and softer. I really notice the LACK of soap residue in items like jeans and towels too - so, so nice. Click here to view full directions on how to use the Soap Nuts in your laundry.

Earth's Berries is a Canadian Company, and Karen, the owner, has been selling soap nuts since July 2009. We are so pleased to recommend this Canadian company, what they stand for and thank them for introducing us to such a fantastic product!!

Giveaway

One lucky reader will get a chance to try Soap Nuts for themselves, winning a 1kg bag with 4 wash bags!!

Mandatory Entry - one mandatory entry per person
Let us know in the comments section: What laundry products do you use right now?

Optional Entries - 1 comment per each optional entry
- Follow Did you know Canada on GFC
- Follow @diduknowcanada on Twitter
- Like Did you know Canada on Facebook
- Subscribe to our newsletter
- Tweet this giveaway (link to your tweet in comment, can be done 2x a day during giveaway)
Example Tweet..

#Canada - have you heard of Soap Nuts?? Enter for a chance to #win a 1kg bag! Ends 10/10 @diduknowcanada http://bit.ly/rgz5pI #CanWin

Giveaway open to our Canadian readers, closing October 10th at 9:00pm EST. You must leave an email address so I have a way to contact you in the event that you win. Winners must respond within 72 hours or another winner will be chosen in their place.

Disclosure: We were sent a bag of Earth's Berries Soap Nuts - my opinions are my own.

Campground of Canada

Did you know Canada.. we heard about a fantastic website: Campgrounds of Canada. They offer a service to campgrounds and RV parks - for only $2.00 a month they can list their business with Campgrounds of Canada - giving people a 1 stop shop to find places all over Canada!

I think this is FANTASTIC for so many reasons. I've mentioned we recently went on a camping trip near St. Jacob's in Kitchener ON - this was a great meeting point for our family that is spread around Southern Ontario. So when we planned a camping trip we knew the location we needed but didn't know any campground in the area. It was actually a bit of a painful search and a lot of phone calls to find places; find out the amenities, what was available in the area, etc.. Campgrounds of Canada would have been PERFECT for this.

Their goal? To promote camping in Canada by creating a website with all campgrounds and RV parks in Canada - I love it!!!

Click here to see how a full listing looks. Know anyone that works at a campground or RV park? Spread the word!! This is a very exciting up and coming site that I know a lot of campers will love.

Beat the Heat

Did you know Canada.. we're going to break some records today! Records for highest temperature and humidex dating back to 1918 will likely be broken today as temperatures rise to 38-39 degrees and a humidex of 49-50!!!

This is not a day to brush off the warnings thinking they are meant for someone else. All Canadians - please check on neighbours, ensure they have cool water, fans and ways to keep their body temperatures down. If they don't, get them to a cooling centre! If your city or town will be facing the extreme hit today they've likely set up one or more local cooling centres - tune into local news to find out these locations and utilize them if needed.

AM980News tweeted a very interesting fact this morning: It'll be hotter in London, Ontario today than it is in Kandahar, Mumbai and parts of Ghana!

I read an interesting (and scary) story yesterday (I think it was on the Weather Network) that it's not so much the day time temperatures but because temperatures are not going below 20 degrees at night this is causing two serious problems:
* for those without a/c and ways to cool off the body does not get a chance to rebuild itself and prepare for the next day - this it what has killed many during heatwaves in our history
* this can also lead to "superstorms" with what was seen at Bayfest as just the start of them if temperatures continue

So stay cool Canada, remember our little ones and seniors, if anyone is playing sports today call ahead as many have been cancelled already.

Mayfly

Did you know Canada.. there are some folks across the nation that are cringing every time they go outside between May and the middle of July because they are always on the look out for Mayflies.

The Mayfly is known by many names - "dayfly", "shadfly", "dunes", "canadian soldiers", "lake fly" or "fishfly" around the Great Lakes.

Surprisingly the lifespan of an adult Mayfly can vary from just 30 minutes to one day depending on the species as an adult Mayfly does not eat or drink (they actually have underdeveloped mouths and can not feed), the primary function of the adult is reproduction only (a female Mayfly releases up to 8,000 eggs).

The Mayfly is very susceptible to pollution, so funny enough Mayflies are a good indicator species for the health of a lake - though no one may want to be around the lake when swarms of these large insects are around.

Mayflies are an important food for fish and appreciated by many fishermen, especially fly fishermen after trout - many of their lures are based off of Mayflies.

They are known to be the oldest insect alive, and are believed to date back from about 300 million years ago. While not everyone appreciated the Mayfly they are a pretty interesting species!

Caribou Decline in Canada

Did you know Canada.. We honour caribou on the 25 cent piece but one of Canada’s most recognized national symbols is fighting a losing battle as their numbers continue to decline across the nation.

We've talked about the Caribou before but wanted to let you know about their current challenges.

As Parks Canada explains.. In recent years in the high arctic, the temperature has risen above freezing in October. The surface snow melts and re-freezes into a layer of nearly impenetrable ice, sealing off ground lichens and plants upon which these caribou feed in winter. Their numbers have decreased to the point where they are threatened with extinction.

Increase on human activities such as diamond mines, ice roads, oil and gas exploration, a pending pipeline and increasing populations in caribou territory is another major factor. There are now four diamond mines in the range of the Bathurst barren ground caribou herd.

Some populations have been determined to be at risk by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC).

According to Hinterland Who's Who There are national recovery teams, draft recovery plans, and coordinated recovery actions underway for the Peary caribou and the four populations of woodland caribou that are at risk: Atlantic-Gaspésie, Boreal, Southern Mountain, and Northern Mountain. Since the range of the Boreal population is so extensive, there are also regional recovery teams in place in each of the eight provinces and territories that have responsibility for “boreal caribou.”

It's time to think more about our national symbol, support conversation and recovery efforts and help save our Caribou.

Mosquitoes in Canada

Did you know Canada.. There are about 82 species of mosquitoes in Canada!

Are you already itchy? I know I am. I have already had a few mosquito attacks this spring, I have a couple itchy bites on my legs right now. Not only are these bites a pain they can be dangerous too.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the present known mosquito-borne viruses in Canada are West Nile and St. Louis encephalitis.

West Nile virus belongs to a family of viruses called Flaviviridae. It is spread by mosquitoes that have fed on the blood of infected birds. West Nile virus is closely related to the viruses that cause Dengue fever, Yellow fever and (something else our mosquitoes could be carrying) the St. Louis encephalitis.

The best way to avoid these guys is to remove any standing water away from your home (bird baths, kids pools left filled, etc..) as this is their breeding ground. It's also good practice to wear long sleeves and insect repellents with DEET when you know they are going to be bad (the worst times for mosquitoes is dusk and dawn).

This article in the Winnipeg Free Press gave me the chills - they report Manitoba mosquitoes are legendary, sometimes jokingly referred to as the provincial bird. In the town of Komarno, there is a giant metal weather vane shaped like a mosquito with a wing span of more than four metres. "Komarno" is Ukranian for mosquito.

Have the dreaded mosquitoes gotten bad in your neck of the woods yet?

Source: Hinterland Who's Who, Public Health Agency of Canada, Winninpeg Free Press

Snakes!

Did you know Canada.. the largest of Canada's 26 snake species and one apparent hybrid is the Southern Ontario black rat snake! The black rat snake actually got a new name recently, now known as the gray ratsnake.

The species are the largest snakes found in Canada. Individuals longer than 1.5 m (5 ft.) are not uncommon, and even-longer ones have been recorded. The young are about 28 to 33 cm long (11 to 13 in.) at birth.

This ratsnake feeds primarily on mice, rats, and some bird eggs and young birds. Not venomous, it constricts its prey within the tight coils of its body. Adults often hunt for mice around rural buildings such as barns, sheds, or cottages. The young will feed on small lizards, young mice and, occasionally, on small frogs such as treefrogs.

It prefers heavily wooded areas and is known for having excellent climbing ability where it sometimes shelters in cavities high up in hollow trees and generally inhabits uplands away from water.

Source: nature.ca, Nature Conservatory, thecanadianencyclopedia.com

Caribou

Did you know Canada.. the largest herd of Caribou in the world can be found in Labrador.

The barrenground caribou of Labrador are part of the worlds largest herd, "The George River Caribou herd". The barren land of Labrador with its abundance of shrubs and lichens makes a perfect rest stop for the migrating herds of Canada's north. With the ground and tree lichens as the primary winter food of caribou, it provides a highly digestible and energy-rich food source. With the change of seasons these caribou continuously roam north and south from breeding grounds to feeding grounds.

This also leads to being the best place in the world to hunt caribou.

There are more than 2.4 million caribou in Canada. Some dwell in forests, some in mountains, some migrate each year between the sparse forests and tundra of the far north, and others remain on the tundra all year.

Source: Newfoundland Caribou, Hinterland Who's Who

Eagles of Hornby Island

Did you know Canada.. one of our fantastic readers Gingermommy turn me on to The Eagles of Hornby Island webcam.

(hornbyeagles.com)

From the website..
Our eagle cam streams live video of a pair of Bald eagles nesting in a tree on Hornby Island in British Columbia Canada.

The two cameras were installed in September of 2004. The nest is 120 feet off the ground in a Douglas fir tree.

Doug Carrick hosts the eagle cam and has been observing this pair of eagles in excess of twenty years. This was one of, if not the first eagle cam ever to be Webcast. The cam went "live" to the Internet in 2006 and since then millions of viewers have Followed Mom and Dad Hornby as they've raised their young. Through technology and the graciousness of Doug and Sheila Carrick, people from all over the world have been able to enjoy this fascinating look into the lives of these wonderful eagles. We hope that you will enjoy them as well.

My boys and I have enjoyed watching the webcam today and will continue to do so - especially the eagle babies that recently hatches a few weeks ago!!  Their forum and website if filled with fantastic Eagle Information and details about the birds we're watching - a great read.  Another fantastic thing Canada has to offer!!

Banff Upper Hot Springs

Did you know Canada.. The Upper Hot Springs are one of nine different naturally occurring hot springs in the Banff area. At 1,585 meters of elevation (5,200 feet), Banff’s Upper Hot Springs is the highest in Canada. This is significant because its thermal waters must be driven vertically over
2,000 meters, through the Sulfur Mountain thrust fault.

Water temperature is kept at approximately 38°C with a max temperature of 47.3°C.

The Upper Hot Springs is commercially developed with many amenities including a restored 1930s heritage bathhouse, an outdoor spring fed hot pool with view of famous Mount Rundle, a Day Spa, Indoor Cafe, Gift Store and more.

A popular tourist destination Banff Upper Hot Springs are open year-round.

Source: Parks Canada, Wikipedia