Do you have a compost at home you have questions about? Maybe you’re interested in the idea, but don’t know where to start? On Wednesday June 15, Akil (aka the wormy godfather) from The Box of Life will visit the Brookfield High School to offer an indoor / outdoor composting workshop.
Date: Wednesday June 14
Time: 3:30 pm
Registration: on site or by calling 613-733-0610
Audience: Everyone! (Community members welcome)
Location: Brookfield High School Courtyard, 824 Brookfield Rd
Are you getting uneasy about climate change? Do you wonder if there is something you could do to help mitigate your contribution to climate change? Twenty people participated in an eco-focused Jane’s Walk sponsored by OSEAN to 4 different sites where the actions residents have taken towards sustainability could be viewed and discussed.
Dave and Ruth Wilkins invited people to see their ground source heat pump and EV and generously answered many questions about the benefits of and how their equipment works.
Lynne Patenaude from OSEAN explained the rationale and process of building a pollinator garden from scratch in an area with very poor and compacted soil. She spoke of the importance of providing food and shelter to pollinators and the difficulty of working with the City to access City owned land.
The Conte family demonstrated how their permeable driveway wicks away water and reminded us that it is not always straightforward when working with contractors.
Heather Dunlop provided an overview of her solar system, air source heat pump, heat pump water heater and EV. None of the leaders are technical experts but they are knowledgeable in the operation and benefits of each system and many questions were asked and answered. Each, through their own journey towards sustainability, is doing what they can and what is meaningful to them.
The overriding lesson from this day’s event was that although no one has a completely carbon free lifestyle, there are a wide range of actions we can take to reduce our carbon emissions. We hope that their actions provide inspiration to others.
OSEAN invites you to join us for an eco-focused walk in Ottawa’s Riverview Park neighbourhood. Get inspired with ways you can reduce your carbon footprint and support the local environment.
About the walk:
2 hour (2 km) tour starting from and ending at Riverview Alternative School, 260 Knox Crescent. We will be visiting a home with a ground source heat pump, then walking to a pollinator garden. The final visit is to a home with solar panels. We will be talking to the homeowners and gardener who will share their knowledge and experience in hopes of inspiring others to embrace more sustainable practices. Questions will be welcome.
Accessibility: please note there are some stairs along the route.
OSEAN will be celebrating Earth Day in Carlington this year! We will be teaming up with Councillor Riley Brockington, Junk That Funk, Bike Ottawa, Friends of Carlington Woods, For Our Kids Ottawa/Gatineau and JC Mobile Sharpening to bring you a variety of activities and fun for the whole family on Saturday April 22 from 10 – 4 pm.
We encourage you to 
bike, 
bus or
walk. (Bus 85 and 81 are closest)
Things that will be happening that day:
E-Waste pick up (all day)
Kids activities: colouring, crafts, games (all day)
Knife/Garden Tool sharpening (time tba)
Free Native Seeds and Seedlings (all day) 
Sock collection (partnering with MEC/Smart wool) (all day) https://smartwool.ca/en/second-cut-recycle.html
Basic Bike Tune-ups with Bike Ottawa (11-1) But volunteers will be there from 11-3 to talk about their stress maps and cycling in Ottawa (https://bikeottawa.ca)
Learn about vermiculture (afternoon) – chance to win a free Bucket of Life worm composter from The Box Of Life 
native flowers program, upcoming Jane’s Walk on May 6th, and more!
