What an absolute joy it was to be in the garden this afternoon.

Even when frozen, the sunflowers make me smile…

Every season Mother Nature gifts us with such beauty.

Remnants of Autumn linger…

Chloe helps me make a peace sign in the snow.

Make time for nature.

We are connected to the earth and one of the reasons to take care of it is the earth and nature really feeds our soul. It is a connection that supports our mental, emotional and physical health.

Wishing you all a beautiful week wherever you are with lot’s of fun in the snow, rain or sunshine! xx

I love visiting the local Farmers market, what better way to spend your Saturday morning. Chatting with local farmers and getting to taste the best Organic fruits and vegetables in your valley. I believe it is really important for a community to support local farmers and business’s. Buying locally-grown food can bring more money into the community, reduce the costs of food shipment and create a better community atmosphere.

Who I discovered today…

Green City Acres

Meet Curtis Stone owner of Green City Acres…..Pedal Powered Urban Farmer.

Anyone who knows me will know how much I love to get on my bike and I try to use it as an alternative mode of transport whenever I can but this guy is the real deal when it comes to sustainability.

All his farming operations including farm maintenance, transportation of crops, restaurant deliveries, weekly farmers markets, and moving of their 300 lb. rototiller, are all done with their bikes and trailers. Their mission is to foster social and environmental change through the production of local organic food, with minimal use of fossil fuels, and to help, teach, and empower people to start growing their own.

What an inspiration. Check out Curtis’s website: Green City Acres

Now a few months ago one of my friends introduced me to Spelt. He baked me a Banana Bread that was the most delicious one I had ever tasted. It literally melted in my mouth. He kindly shared his special recipe and told me where to find the farmer who mills his very own ORGANIC spelt.

Meet the lovely owners of Quails Farm.

These guys not only grow and mill the Spelt, they also make the most amazing Spelt baguettes

and pizza bases and offer a huge selection of mouth watering organic vegetables.

Heirloom carrots from Quails Farm

Spelt is a species of wheat that has been grown since 5000 BC. A fact I found absolutely fascinating. Since discovering Spelt, I’ve been baking everything with it, I’m totally converted. Here’s a link to learn a bit more about Spelt.

Anna Yarosky Pottery

I cannot go past a pottery stand without thinking of my father. He would sneak us into his art classroom to play on the Potter’s wheel on a Saturday morning. Being head of the art department he would tell the janitor he was working on assignments while my brothers and I tossed the clay.

It was these mini pots that caught my eye-don’t you think they would make most adorable little set for my Little Humbug dolls.

Sunflower Magic…

Just as I was leaving I spotted these enormous sunflowers. Who couldn’t resist such beauties. I thought they would make the most fabulous prop for my book character Chloe the Gardener. Talking of Chloe the Gardener…………

Getting Kids to eat ORGANIC

I watched a video recently which got me thinking about the importance of eating Organic but how costly organic can be for some families.

Please take a moment to watch this short video concerning a cancer epidemic surrounding conventional agriculture in France…

Nos enfants nous accuserons

After watching this, I felt compelled to work on ways on how we can make ORGANIC fruits and vegetables affordable for everyone. There has to be solutions. One way is to get kids excited about gardening.  I believe one way I can help, is with my book character Chloe the Gardener, encouraging kids to eat ORGANIC. Here’s a few links:

Grow your first vegetable garden with Chloe the Gardener

Discover the magic of gardening with kids

Natural Play Structures

Are your kids growing their own vegetables? Here’s  Chloe’s gardening certificate for kids to download…

Happy Gardening Everyone!

A storm the night before had brought lots of rain making the mud thick and gooey.

Chloe and her Butterfly Girl friends Amber and Olivia love when the earth is of a squelchy consistency, just perfect for making mud pies. Sometimes the girls will jump in the squelchy mud, making them laugh so much that their sides ache, then dance in the warm summer rain to wash it all off.

Go on……..have a SPLASH in the MUD!

Just like the Little Humbugs, my kids love getting dirty!!!!

Mud Glorious Mud!

Backyard fun-David Jnr and Samuel 2008

According to this report, playing in dirt can make you smarter: Smarter Kids

Watch the DIRT Movie trailer:

The Day of the Honey Bee

I had the pleasure of joining councilor Michele Rule, Casey Hamilton and other members of the Central Okanagan Food Council Booth at the local Farmers Market this weekend.

Spot the Queen Bee … was a big hit thanks to Bob Chisholm and his “Brainy Bees“.

We were helping to raise awareness for our amazing little pollinators on a very special day…The Day of the Honey Bee.

Finding the Queen Bee was a big hit for both kids and adults and a great way to get kids interested in learning about the bees.

Councilor Michele Rule, her mother holding onto Chloe and marghanita (photograph by Casey Hamilton)

More information about the COFC can be found on their website: Central Okanagan Food Council

The Mayor’s Environmental Expo and Awards

The environmental event featured 35 exhibitors with interactive displays and activities for adults and kids. I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to handle a California king snake. (I’m usually terrified of snakes but after holding this beauty I didn’t want to put it down).

Watch the short video

And visiting from the B.C. Wildlife Park in Kamloops, Danielle Rogers and other members of staff showed off a Barn Owl and a Turkey Vulture, a species which can be found in the Central Okanagan in the spring, summer and fall. (We will be dedicating a  Little Humbugs video episode to the wonderful Birds of Prey from BC Wildlife Park next month).

Compost Fun

Kids got to play in compost. Another wonderful example of engaging kids by allowing them  hands on experience….thanks to Dean Dack and his classic compost.

Congratulations to Glenmore Elementary for winning the Mayors Environmental Award for the Greenest school. What a fantastic example for other schools to follow suit.

The Little Humbugs were thrilled to be awarded 3rd Place in the most Innovative Business Initiative Award.

Christine Collins (a green advocate) who nominated me for the award.

It was an honor to be part of the Mayor’s Environmental Awards this weekend. It was  a fantastic event and the speakers were inspirational. It is incredibly exciting to see so many dedicated to helping the environment.

The future looks GREEN!!

Central Okanagan Food Council

Brainy Bees

BC Wildlife Centre

Honey bees are dying at alarming rates in every country where they are raised.

If you love honey, fruit and pretty flowers, then you can thank a bee.

A few ways you can help:

• Plant your garden with bee friendly plants
• Buy local honey
• Learn more about this fascinating insect
• Encourage local authorities to use bee friendly plants in public spaces
• Find space for a beehive in your garden

“Day of the Honey Bee” How it all started, one man on a mission………………..

Clinton Shane Ekdahl Wrote:
“Day of the Honey Bee” was a project that I began May 29, 2009 because I saw a problem with general public awareness regarding honey bee losses across the globe. Honey bees are dying at alarming rates in every country where they are raised. Canada lost 35 % in 2008, while some countries report losses over 50 %. Initial reports for 2009 are just as bad. Honey Bees are valuable creatures which are responsible for so much of our world agriculture (up to 70% of our food crops depend on them), world economy (constitutes an estimated 32 billion annually in Canada) and our global environment, (the honey bee is a ‘Keystone Species’.)

I believe that more people should be made aware of the risks that face the honey bee and the risks that are potentially causing their disappearances from hives all over the world. There are many theories explaining these staggering losses including cell phones, genetically modified crops, global warming, viruses, parasites, compromised immune systems, monoculture food sources, neonicotineoid-based pesticides and chemtrails from airplanes. That is why to date I have now written over 4560 letters in Canada and abroad requesting support for greater awareness. This awareness comes in the form of a day dedicated to the honey bee.

The Little Humbugs are proud to be supporting the “Day of the Honey Bee” in the Okanagan.

How will you be celebrating “Day of the Honey Bee” ? Please note it is celebrated on 30th May in Canada.

Click here for a free copy of “Day of the Honey Bee“  colouring booklet for kids.

Great video about Bees by David Suzuki  To Bee or Not To Bee (Nature of Things)

Samuel has spent the last two afternoons at the bottom of the garden…..

Digging, patting, scooping & shoveling sandy earth under the shade of a Ponderosa Pine.

Sam shares his new favorite spot with his best friend….Prince!

And the beautiful Tree Spirit spoke…..

“We must protect the forests for our children, grandchildren and children yet to be born. We must protect the forests for those who can’t speak for themselves such as the birds, animals, fish and trees.”
-  Chief Edward Moody, Qwatsinas, Nuxalk Nation

Chloe the Butterfly Girl loves to visit the Little Humbugs’ Orchard.

A place to play and pick dandelions for her friends…

The bright yellow flowers make Chloe very happy.

Chloe flies over to find Lucy and gives her a bunch of dandelions.

Lucy makes Chloe a beautiful golden dandelion crown.

The tiny dandelion fairies share secrets with the Butterfly Girls.

Now I’m a Dandelion Princess giggles Chloe.

The Little Humbugs love dandelions- What do you love about dandelions? The Little Humbugs would love to hear from you.

Here’s a few delightful Dandelion posts I came across this week @activekidsclub Make Dandelion Crowns and @5OrangePoatoes- Save the Dandelions and @slowfamilyonline  Celebrate May Day with Floral Wreaths, Crowns and Baskets

Watching the Sunrise is Magical!

Watching the sunrise, has a certain magical quality about it that awakens one’s primal instincts.

High up in their blossom hideaway,  Butterfly Girls and Dragonfly Boys gaze at the beautiful sunrise, casting warm rays of light on Mother Nature waking up.

Enjoy the video below…

So set the alarm clock, grab your kids and go outside…let Mother Nature captivate you with her beauty.

You can order a Butterfly Girl Fairy from the Little Humbugs website.

…With Mother Nature

And my Butterfly Girls are too.  They love to collect the Spring blossom to make beautiful smelling potions.

Meet ISLA -My Scottish Tweed Butterfly Girl.

Discover the MAGIC Mother Nature has to offer…

I love my two little Peach trees, a birthday gift from my children three years ago.