An organic and zero waste farming project, driven by 500 lbs of Tilapia fish, is currently on hold at the corner of Keele St. and Sheppard Ave.
Waiting on a long-term lease from Downsview Park, Fresh City Farms seeks to resume the largest scale cultivation of local food in the GTA - using fish excrement.
In a partnership with WaterFarmers Aquaponics, the Aquaponics system, at Fresh City is a closed water system that recirculates water between a fish tank and a floating vegetable bed. Nutrients from fish waste are feed to the plants and the plants in turn filter the water for the fish.
Issues with current agricultural practises like scarcity of freshwater, decline in soil fertility, and extreme weather aren’t an issue with this innovation and it is also beneficial for community building, job creation and food education.
Who wouldn’t be interested to learn about a clean, no waste way to grow food near or at home. Not to mention using fish that you can eat if you wish. Quite the conversation starter.
Saving up to 90% of water compared to traditional agriculture, aquaponics only needs a 10% volume top up to the total water volume each week according to Arvind Venkat, the Chief Scientist, Founder and CEO of WaterFarmers. Not only that, but it is close to one of the “purest food production technologies in the world”, as stated on their website.
“Vegetables grow up to 50% faster than soil farming” says Arvind.
Using the digestive system of cold blooded animal to its advantage, the excrement produces a broad spectrum of nutrients compared to cow or horse manure. Unlike commercial farming which causes erosion and soil depletion, no additives, pesticides or fertilizers are needed within this closed loop system which uses 100% of what goes into it.
The WaterFarmers have projects in over 10 different countries including Hong Kong, Turkey, Costa Rica and Indonesia. Aquaponics is said to be particularly useful for islands surrounded by salt water or areas with harsh climates experiencing extreme weather or drought.
Changes in soil temperature that would normally affect growing conditions are controlled in greenhouses.
That also means basil and cherry tomatoes are available in December - a surprise to those used to just having the choice of local Ontario root vegetables in the winter months.
The WaterFarmers seek to empower sustainable communities ranging from commercial and academic partnerships, down to helping you in your own home.
Visit www.waterfarmers.ca to learn more!
Hydro One: it’s not too late
Public meetings about Kathleen Wynne’s plan to sell-off Hydro One have been happening for almost a year now, yet they continue to fill up to capacity. These packed rooms are evidence of the overwhelming opposition to the Liberals’ plan to privatize this public asset.The room overflowed at a Jane Street Hub meeting in early March. Ontario NDP leader Andrea Horwath and MPP Jagmeet Singh listened and took note of the community’s concerns.One resident voiced her frustration with the already high cost of hydro, and her worry that it would go up even more if the Liberal plan moves forward. She explained that she only cooks on Sunday to take advantage of off-peak pricing, but her hydro bill is still too high.The truth about the many downfalls of selling Hydro One has been talked about for months now.Privatizing Hydro One will increase rates. Research on public vs. privately owned utilities has shown that customers of public firms pay lower prices for services (source: keephydropublic.ca). The less public ownership we have, the less control we’ll have and the less we’ll be able to turn to the Ontario Energy Board to stop rate increases.The loss of ownership also means the loss of revenue. Averaging $913 million in revenue per year since 2000, Hydro One is a reliable revenue source that we can’t afford to lose.Over 80 per cent of Ontario voters oppose the sale of Hydro One and as of December 2015, 194 of Ontario’s municipalities took an official stance against the sale. It’s clear that the movement to stop the sale continues to grow.Many people believe that it’s too late; that the deal has already been made. But this isn’t true. When asked what to say to those who think it’s too late, Horwath replied “It’s never too late, never give up.”“People want to do something about it. We’re giving people a voice,” Horwath said.The Liberals haven’t provided a timeline for their plan to sell. There’s still time to contact your MPP and have your voice heard.For more information and to sign a petition against the sale of Hydro One, visit:www.youpaytheprice.cawww.keephydropublic.ca
Improving community centres for greater youth engagement in North York
Part of the growth strategy to harness youth leadership skills is establishing community centres that aligned with their interests.
Despite the amount of time, financial resources and human capital invested in constructing and developing programs to meet the needs of youth, many publicly funded community centers are noticeably underutilized and underpopulated. Voicing their concerns are a number of high school students who participated in a youth engagement program organized by the Jamaican Canadian Youth Council (JCYC) and the Skills for Change organization.
The aim of this program was to first enable youth to communicate with different business organizations about their products and use the collected information to structure a business plan. And secondly, the JCYC used the space to liaise with youth to better understand their plights as a way to strategically plan how the organization can assist them with leadership skills.
During the breakout session various youth were asked to highlight an issue in their community and to articulate strategies to remediate the problem. Through their collaborative efforts several issues were highlighted such as the need to improve the current conditions of their existing community centre. They further expressed concerns about its inadequate usage, which they associate with the lack of maintenance and funding.
By pointing to the need for better community centers, it is hoped that leaders at the local government level will collaboratively work with youth and other constituents to understand the underlying factors that led to the poor state of these facilities.
While these ideas may perhaps be conceived as lofty goals, it is hoped that such transformational measures will foster an environment of excellence, where youth leadership capacities will be harnessed so that they, too, can continue to work with their peers, and other constituents to improve our communities.
Recipe of the Month: Seafood Pasta
IngredientsTomato Sauce1 can of chopped plum tomatoes3 cloves of garlic1 white onion2 tbsp of oregano1 tbsp of olive oil1 bunch of basilSalt and pepper to taste2 garlic cloves2 tbsp of shallots1 tbsp of chilli flakes100 mL of vegatable oil100 mL of white winePastaAny dry pasta of your choice (preferably spaghetinni or linguine)Seafood5 pieces of cleaned shrimp8 cleaned mussels
DirectionsTomato Sauce1. Finely chop your garlic and sauté it in a medium size pot2. Once it is cooked add in your diced white onion.3. Continue to sauté and then add the can of tomatoes with olive oil, oregano and basil.4. Stir regularly and bring sauce to a boil.5. Season it with salt and pepper and continue to cook it until most of the liquid is reduced.Seafood6. In a medium pan sauté more garlic in vegetable oil, just as above.7. Then add finely chopped shallots and continue to sauté8. If you would like your pasta to have some heat (spicy) I recommend adding in chilli flakes at this point.9. While the pan is still hot add your shrimp.10. Achieve a nice sear on both sides of the shrimp without burning it11. Then add your mussels and toss them in the pan so all of the flavours are incorporated.12. After about 2 minutes deglaze your pan with white wine, cooking off the alcohol.13. At this point add in your previously made tomato sauce and bring to a boil.14. Season with salt and pepper15. Your pasta sauce will be ready when the mussels begin to open upPasta16. In a medium pot boil water (salt the water to the point where you can taste it).17. Follow the instructions on the box of dry pasta and cook it off until it is soft.18. Be sure to stir your pasta while it boils or else it will stick19. Strain your pasta and add it to your sauce.20. Toss all of your ingredients together and serve
Tax Filling Help Awaits at Mathan Tax Services
The deadline to submit your 2015 taxes is approaching. Before you know it it will be April 30th and that means it’s time to track down all of those old bus passes, T4’s, T5’s and to scour through receipts to figure out what’s deductible and how much.
Are you planning on filing online? Have you bought the latest software? Or should you go old school and fill out the paper forms? If you’re anything like me, it all sounds more than just a little overwhelming. This year we have the solution to alleviate some of your tax season stress, by sending you over to Mathan Tax Services.
Mathan Tax Services is a family run business that has been in the Downsview community for over a quarter of a century -26 years to be exact. This is the perfect place to go for any Canadian resident in the Downsview area who needs help, or a consultation, with filing their personal or business taxes.
We asked the owner, Mathan Thava, why he decided to open up a tax services business in Downsview. He responded, “my experience in accounting and in-depth understanding of Canadian Tax Law led me to further educate myself in the intricacies of the Canadian Tax system. I decided to use my knowledge to serve the neighbourhood that I was raised in.”
Thava and his family are active members and business owners in the community. Mathan Tax Services is a professional business full of people who truly care about helping you meet your tax needs and are dedicated to ensuring you get the best return possible this year. This dedication and unique understanding of the area, great rates and reliable services, have helped Mathan Tax Services to continue to grow, year after year, as more and more happy clients keep returning and referring their friends.
So you could go through the time, effort, confusion and expense of trying to do your taxes yourself. Or you could go to one of the big chains who seem like they just use the same computer program as the rest of us. But we suggest you go to the experts, the people who know what they’re doing, have a sound knowledge of the Canadian Tax system, and who understand your needs and lifestyle because they are your neighbours.
This year, save yourself the headache that so often accompanies tax season.
Check out Mathan Tax Services located at 1290 Finch Avenue West, Unit #23, get more information at www.mathantaxservices.com or contact them directly at 416-665-4756.
Happy filing!
Hand Sewing 101: basic stitches
Picking up where we left off a few months ago, we’ll learn an additional basic hand sewing stitch- the blanket stitch. This stitch can be applied to previous projects, for example, how to hem and how to sew a patch, and it is especially useful for finishing seams. Unless otherwise indicated, always tie a knot when beginning and ending a row of stitches. For right-handed sewers, most stitches move from right to left. It will be the opposite for left-handed sewers.
Tools required: Sewing needle, thread, fabric
Blanket stitch – usually used to finish off the raw edge of a piece of fabric, especially on the seams of a garment or a blanket (hence the name ‘blanket stitch). A variation of this stitch is also used to make hand bound buttonholes.
1) With the edge of the fabric facing up, start your stitch at the far right corner of the fabric. Guide the needle in an out of the fabric from right side to wrong side about ¼ inch away from the fabric raw edge. Pull the needle out from the wrong side, back to the right side and repeat the process in the same spot.
2) In the same spot, place the needle into the right side, and before pulling it through, wrap the excess thread around the head of the needle in a counterclockwise direction. Pull the needle through gently and ensure the thread lays directly on the edge of the fabric.
3) Move forward ¼ inch and insert the needle into the right side of the fabric and repeat step 2. Continue steps 2 and 3 until the entire edge of the fabric is covered.
April 2016 Edition of The Downsview Advocate
Read the full versions of the April 2016 Edition below:
Bathurst Manor Edition:
Ward 8 Environment Days
One Community, One Voice: A local leaders journey in uniting her community
A leader is a person who recognizes the needs of their community, and motivates, inspires and empowers a group of people to unite in order to make changes in a community. A leader does this, by advocating on behalf of those who are without a voice, and also by giving the people of their community the opportunity to actively participate and influence decisions that affect them.
Amanda Coombs, is our community spotlight leader of the month. She is a Tenant Rep, who advocates on behalf of the people who live at 4400 Jane St. Amanda was elected tenant rep after only 6 months of residency. Since she was elected, Amanda has gone above and beyond to be the voice of her community. Shortly after being elected, Amanda acquired funding and opened the once closed gym in her building, and began teaching fitness and healthy living classes. She also began assisting residents with obtaining employment by posting jobs on the buildings community bulletin board.
Amanda made it her responsibility to advocate and protect the basic rights of the people living in her building by assisting the residents in her building who are facing eviction in writing letters of appeal on their behalf. Amanda has also started an organization called Peoples Pantry, which focuses on providing fresh produce and educating people about healthier lifestyle choices. The residents of 4400 Jane St. know that when it really counts Amanda will come through for them.
Noticing the barriers between getting a good quality education and having access to employment opportunities, Amanda, started her own non-profit called “Back 2 Basickz.” Back 2 Basickz is a not for profit organization that helps youth get their GED, while also assisting them in securing employment in their field of interest. Amanda has done all of this by actively applying for grants and canvasing for donations and she does it all on a voluntary basis.
She also volunteers at the local soup kitchen, facilitating community workshops and assisting in children’s programs.Amanda cites her son as an inspiration for the work she does in her community and her work reflects her commitment to ensuring that every child is given an equal opportunity to be successful. When Amanda’s term as tenant rep concludes, she plans to run for MP.
We acknowledge Amanda for all of her contributions to our community and we wish her luck in all her future pursuits.
Taking responsibility for our Environment
Dumb big moves undo many little smart moves.
The first Earth Day in 1970 awoke us to the many dangers of climate change such as extinction, smog, deforestation, water and soil pollution -which today no one denies.
This year is the 46th Earth Day and we should consider the risks of climate change again. The negative effects occurring on planet earth are not a risk worth taking and as ambassadors of the World we need to address how to inform, educate and reform ourselves.
Consider bitumen. It is a heavy tar-like substance that no one knows how to clean up.It is pretty much worthless on world markets during an oil glut. And it is what Line 9 is pumping right through Downsview backyards. As a whole, Energy East would increase emissions by 32 million tons a year in CO2, undoing the vast good millions of us do every day.
We need another awakening. Efficiency saves money by replacing reliance on dangerous exports (asbestos, uranium, bitumen) that ultimately harm everyone. Green infrastructure which saves fuel and time is a better investment than pipelines.
This isn’t just economics, its morality. Our grandchildren and great-grandchildren will be a part of the Vulnerable 20 (V-20) nations who demand justice for climate harms done to them. Earth Day should focus on goals bigger than our own country and longer than our own lives.
Yes, it’s depressing. So was nuclear standoff. We survived. We became better people. Now let’s become better again!
Whatever efficiency you pursue now, keep it up: LED lighting, sealing drafts, new appliances with better efficiency, gardening around foundations to hold in heat, ditching old fridges, electric cars etc.
Consider one new surprising transformative thought every week. A piece of advice from Stanford University’s Professor Marc Jacobson’s: renewable energy (with smart grid & conservation) already does compete on cost with fossil fuels even without charging for fossil’s ecological damage. What keeps us back? Ignorance. Influence. Inertia.
Don’t be shamed by what you don’t do, what we all do, or what failed Yes, we’ve all idled our cars to stay warm. Yes, we use much more than ‘our share’ of what the Earth can sustain. Not even great spiritual leaders live up to all their own ideals every day in every act or
comment. But doing nothing tomorrow because you didn’t do enough yesterday, is surrender.
Ever watch Mad Men? That’s how we behaved in the 1960s: casual sexism, drinking at work, drinking and driving, littering, smoking at work or in cars with children, and worse. Things didn’t get better all at once. We dropped one bad habit, then another, then another. We have a few more to drop. So consider Earth Day 2016 a funeral for those bad habits, a rebirth for yourself, and the day you finally ‘got it’.By Constantine Kritsonis and Craig Hubley