Ready to dig in

Posted on March 13, 2012May 30, 2012 by Van Waffle

I plan to start a permaculture vegetable garden behind the house. March is far to early to start most plants in Ontario. However,…

A thoughtful comedy about bird nerds

Posted on February 13, 2012 by Van Waffle

Yesterday we rented and watched The Big Year (2011), a movie about birders. Specifically it stars Jack Black, Steve Martin and Owen Wilson…

Starting with onions

Posted on February 4, 2012May 30, 2012 by Van Waffle

[slickr-flickr tag=”onionflat01″] The vegetable gardening season has begun! Onions require a long growing season to mature. If we’re growing them from seed in…

Beginners’ vermiculture

Posted on February 1, 2012May 30, 2012 by Van Waffle

This weekend I brought home a brand new Worm Chalet. Finally, after having only thought and talked about it for years, I’ve embarked…

Feeder birds

Posted on January 19, 2012January 19, 2012 by Van Waffle

Our house backs onto Hanlon Creek Conservation Area, so it seemed an ideal place to feed the birds this winter. We expected to…

Weekend retreat

Posted on June 28, 2011June 28, 2011 by Van Waffle

[slickr-flickr id=”12687067@N00″ type=”gallery” tag=”butterfletch1″] I retreated to the cottage for the weekend. Sunday morning I photographed these three butterfly species within five minutes…

Shifting to local food

Posted on June 22, 2011May 30, 2012 by Van Waffle

In recent months I have shifted dramatically toward consuming more locally produced food. I began buying into the idea years ago, but putting…

Suburbs

Posted on June 14, 2011May 30, 2012 by Van Waffle

Change is afoot—major change. Next month my partner and I will begin moving into a house in the south end of the city….

Intense lightning

Posted on June 8, 2011June 8, 2011 by Van Waffle

Last night we were hit with one of the most frightening thunderstorms I can remember. It started with violent gusts of wind that…

White-nose syndrome spreads to Canadian bats

Posted on June 2, 2011 by Van Waffle

Canadian Wildlife Federation reports in the article Is this Goodnight? that a fungal disease decimating hibernating bat populations in the United States has…