Season's Greetings!

Happy Holidays from the MCRP team!

Heather's Tidbits

Simple Winter Composting
from Harrowsmith Country Life Magazine, October 2009

Every fall, line up several empty pots in a seldom used but accessible location outdoors.

Over the winter, I fill them about 3/4 full with kitchen scraps and top them up in the spring with soil skimmed from my vegetable garden. I plant then with annuals during the summer and by the following autumn, Nature has done its magic and each pot is full of soil, which I distribute where needed in my garden.

-John Nielsen of Portage la Prairie, Manitoba

Food Storage Tip:

Store onions upside down to prevent spoilage. Water is concentrated in the top of the onion. When you store it with top down, the water tends to disperse and the onion keep longer.

Betty Berg, Russell, MB.

Got a tip to share?

Compost those dandelions, but use caution

By Reena Nerbas, For Canwest News ServiceSeptember 9, 2009

Q: Can dandelions be composted?-- Gertha

A: Decomposing dandelions provide mineral-rich composted matter and nitrogen to the soil. If you add fresh dandelions to the top of your compost pile, you'll notice a formation of puffy white seeds, so turn the pile regularly. This will force dandelions to the centre of the pile, where they break down in temperatures above 55 C for several days, and do not survive as seeds.

© Copyright (c) The Edmonton Journal

Check it Out: New Volunteer Management Software

Dear MCRP Volunteers,

The City of Edmonton, Waste Management Branch is delighted to announce our new Volunteer Management Software, “Impact”, and it’s ready to roll out to you – our valued volunteers. You can access it by clicking on http://www.myvolunteerpage.com/ or the link at the right-hand side of this blog.

We’re excited because Impact is a strong communication link that will give you more direct access to the Branch. You can look at the many volunteer positions that are available, schedule yourself for activities, track your volunteer hours, or even sign out a book from our library. For the first time you will have the opportunity to build your own profile, share with us your interests, drop us a quick note by email or even change your volunteer shift.

Please take a look. Any computer, including a City Library computer, will allow you to get on our site.

Follow these steps:
1) Log on the internet
2) Type in www.myVolunteerPage.com
3) Put in your password and username (at the top of this letter)
4) Voila! You’re in, and on your homepage.

The “let us know” link will allow you to send staff a direct email. Please drop us a note to tell us what you think about the site. Click onto “my profile” and change your user name and password – but be sure to write it down on the brochure provided as you will need it next time you log in. Remember to save any changes you make to your profile immediately by pressing “save”.

If you need more help, press the “help” button on the right hand corner and more information will appear. If you feel that you need a little more support, please feel free to give Mark, Carole, Rose or me a call.

Thank you for taking the time to try out the new volunteer management software and sharing your comments with us. We hope that you enjoy the site as much as we do!


Warmest regards,

Heather Mayor
Community Involvement Coordinator
Waste Management Branch

September 2009 Master Composter/Recycler Newsline

EWMC Plant-A-Row/Grow-A-Row Garden Doing Well

Thanks to our extended “summer” weather, our garden is still growing! So far we have harvested 248 kg. of produce for the Food Bank.>

The garden is also attracting other “friends”. The deer sampled beet tops, spit out cabbage leaves. The other day, Mark Stumpf-Allen and I got to see a small greenish salamander burrowing into a hole left by a mole. We are seeing Canada geese flying overhead regularly. One solitary goose flew by and then came back. I guess he was lost.

Our harvest work bee is scheduled for Saturday September 26  from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.(weather permitting). Lunch is provided. So please considering coming out, even for a couple of hours.