Westman, Check Your Datebooks!

Lots of interesting events coming up in the next little while! Here's a few I've heard about and thought I'd share! First, this Saturday, February 12, Funds Fur Furry Friends and Pet Valu are getting together. Both Brandon locations of Pet Valu will give you a 10% discount on any bag of food that you buy to donate to the rescue. They really need puppy food right now, but they always need dog and cat food. You may be able to meet a few adoptable puppies, too. If you can help, please do so!! FFFF will also be in Shoppers Mall from, I think, 2 - 4 PM with some adoptable pets you can meet! Go lay-a-little-lovin' on a cat or dog looking for a forever home!

Seedy Sunday is February 20th at Brandon's Park Community Center! If you're looking for seed or have saved seed and want to trade or share, this will be a great event. We're going to be there selling seed potatoes from our collection of twenty five different varieties. I don't have any further details at this time, but I'll share as soon as I know more.

New Era School is having a Market Day on Saturday, March 5 from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Tables are $20 and all proceeds go to support New Era! They're looking for sellers of baking, crafts and gently used items. There will be a canteen, with proceeds going to New Era, as well. Great day to shop or sell for a good cause! You've got to register to sell by February 24th, you can email Denise at coxb@mts.net or Delvina at kejick.delvina@brandonsd.mb.ca.

Earth Day is April 17th and there will be events in Princess Park again this year. The Green Spot's Spring Garden Fair is April 30 and May 1st this year. Hartney's Hort Day is May 7th and I'll be speaking there. Haven't really settled on a topic yet, but I'm currently rather obsessed with managing soils and garden beds organically. If you'd like to hear about something in particular at Hartney - let me know!

Love, love, love this!

This is a young (!) Brandon boy with a big heart for the animals. It's so exceptional that someone so young wanted to do something. The family asks that if you'd like to help, well, you can buy the toys that he's put on eBrandon or you can forward a cheque to the Brandon Humane Society or Funds for Furry Friends on 'behalf of Evan'. Then, let them know and he can track his progress. If you are reading this and you are not from this area - make a donation to your local Humane Society or no-kill shelter 'on behalf of Evan' and let them know!

Let's Help Riverheights School!

A new round of voting is on at the Pepsi Refresh Everything contest. If you haven't heard, Pepsi is supplying grants that different groups have applied for and you can vote to make it happen. My pet project, this round, is Brandon's Riverheights School, which needs to refurbish their playground. Since you have ten votes a day, but can only vote once for each grant application, I'm also voting for Biggar, SK, which is also trying to refurbish a playground, I'm supporting the building of a straw bale greenhouse in Grand Forks, BC, the building of a 'machine' that will recycle food scraps into fertilizer quickly, teaching underprivileged kids to grow food and, of course, some animal rescue organizations. Get online here and help support some great groups trying to improve their communities!