Sustainability

The County of Hastings County includes Hastings County, the City of Belleville and the City of Quinte West and the Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory, with its forests, farmland, lakes, rivers and small and large communities, is well situated to lead in the field of alternative energy development, conservation of natural resources, sustainable agriculture and forestry and artisan food production.

Harvest Hastings is about living lightly on the land. Sustainability has four sections on land stewardship, tree planting, managing woods and wildlife at Caring for Land; discussion about Climate Change; finfd out about Green Communities, and read about what's happening in Local Agriculture. There are Audio, Videos, and a Photo Gallery. Look for "Know your farmer" video or audio interviews with local farmers and other producers. Web links has l links to local organizations as well as provincial ones. Check Coming Events to find workshops, agricultural events, community meals and much more. Above all get outand explore

Latest Articles

Charles: 'Climate change sceptics are turning Earth into dying patient'

Heir to throne intervenes on issue dividing coalition, making outspoken criticism of attempts to tackle global warming

Prince Charles has attacked corporate lobbyists and climate change sceptics for turning the Earth into a "dying patient", making his most outspoken criticism yet of the world's failure to tackle global warming just when the heir to the throne is assuming a growing number of the duties of what is supposed to be an apolitical monarchy.

Climate Change

Marmora Farmers Market

May 9, 2013 by Louise Livingstone

Marmora Farmers Market opens on Saturday, May 11. The kick off event is on May18 will show case vendors and activities for children. Please contact the Tourism Centre for information 613 472-1515.

Event Date and Time:

May 11, 2013 - 08:00 - 13:00

Growing a healthy environment with native trees

University of Toronto PhD student uses Mitacs-Accelerate to discover the huge benefits of planting native trees in urban areas

Less than half of all tree species now growing in urban areas around the world are native to the local environment. While imported tree species are chosen for aesthetic reasons, it has a huge impact on wildlife.

Native trees are known to support local ecosystems much more effectively, providing a home and food source for local insects and wildlife. But the exact benefit of using native trees has never been studied in Canada.

Green Communities

Stewards of the land

Caruana, 51, is the Hastings Stewardship Council's new co-ordinator.He said the council helps residents make a difference in tangible ways.

“It's just practical environmentalism,” he said.“There's lots of stuff you can't do about the bigger picture.“This is hands-on. This is what we can do right now in our own local environments to be stewards of it. And there's a lot we can do.”

Local Agriculture

Quebec Use of Wood in Construction Charter

The Minister of Natural Resources, Ms. Martine Ouellet, Minister of Labour and Minister of Employment and Social Solidarity and Minister responsible for Status of Women, Ms. Agnès Maltais , today presented the government’s vision to promote the increased use of wood in construction in Quebec Charter of wood.

“Our government is demonstrating today, by the Charter of the wood, the firm will develop more effective ways to promote the use of locally processed material. In addition to consolidating and even create jobs for our communities and regions, increased use of wood is a tangible contribution to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, “said Minister Martine Ouellet.

Climate Change

NASA: Warming Climate Likely Means More Floods, Droughts

The Earth's wettest regions are likely to get wetter while the most arid will get drier due to warming of the atmosphere caused by increased levels of carbon dioxide, according to a new NASA analysis of more than a dozen climate models.

Scientists ran simulations of 14 different models, starting with CO2 concentrations at about 280 parts per million, which is similar to preindustrial levels but well below the 400 parts per million today. The amount of carbon dioxide was then bumped up by 1 percent per year, an increase that is consistent with a "business as usual" trajectory described by the U.N. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, or IPCC, NASA says.

Climate Change

If left untreated, say farewell to Ontario's ash tree

The clock is ticking for Ontario’s ash trees.

The ‘delete’ button was pressed a few years ago and within the next three to five years, all of the untreated ash will be history. The emerald ash borer (EAB) has crept up from the mid-western States, arriving there about 15 years ago from Asia. It begins its nasty work very quickly, gnawing its way under the bark of ash (all Fraxinus species) until they are dead.

In Ottawa, the total number of ash trees represents more than 20 per cent of the tree canopy. Ouch! No matter where you live in the lower portion of Ontario, EAB is one big pain.

Local Forestry

Use local Ontario Wood

May 2, 2013 by Louise Livingstone

Ontario Wood - Look for the leaf. When you choose Ontario Wood, you’re not just making the best choice for building a deck, installing a new floor, or renovating your kitchen; you’re making the best choice for all of us. That’s because our forest industry provides thousands of jobs and sustains hundreds of communities across our province. On top of that, Ontario Wood products are high-quality and cost-competitive and enjoy an excellent reputation around the world.

“Ontario Wood” is an initiative to help you identify and purchase locally made Ontario Wood products. Whether you are a consumer, builder, designer or architect, look for the leaf to be sure it’s Ontario Wood.

Local Forestry

Susan Chan on terroir, vintage and the flavour of honey

May 1, 2013 by Louise Livingstone

Susan Chan, author of "A Landowners Guide to Conserving Native Pollinators in Ontario", spoke to Harvest County beekeepers about the significance of terroir (or the land ) in determining flavour of different honeys. She is keen to develop a language to describe the different flavours of honey. Honey, like fine wine, is a product of the land. Roger and Valerie Kelly of Kellys' Berries organized the event held in Bancroft in early March. They provided an excellent lunch.

This is a recording of her hour-long talk. After the talk we all sampled a number of different honeys and were surprised by the great variety of flavours.

The Hastings Federation of Women's Institutes and the Hastings Cattlemen have invited Susan Chan to talk at the Ivanhoe Veteran Hall in October 10.

China becoming global climate change leader: study

China is rapidly assuming a global leadership role on climate change alongside the United States, a new study said Monday, but it warned greenhouse gas emissions worldwide continue to rise strongly.

The report by the independent Australian-based Climate Commission, "The Critical Decade: International Action on Climate Change" presents an overview of action in the last nine months.

It was released on the same day as a fresh round of UN talks were to start in Bonn on boosting action on climate change -- a two-decade-long process that has been dogged by procedural bickering and defence of national interests.

Climate Change