Tips for reduce your water use

photo by stacey.d https://flic.kr/p/5dqnuv

Kady Wong, an environmental geography student and Zero Waste Communications Assistant for the Simon Fraser University Sustainability Office, published the following tips for reducing water use. It is shared here with permission.

1. Keep a pitcher of water in the fridge rather than letting your tap run to get cold water.
2. Water your gardens* in the morning to reduce water loss from evaporation. (And don’t over water them: They only need about one inch of water a week and this includes when it rains.)
3. Repair any leaky faucets and toilets. A single dripping faucet can waste up to 20 gallons of water a day!
4. Use recycled water from a rain barrel to water your plants.
5. Purchase native grasses, shrubs and trees as opposed to exotic plants. Native species require much less water.
6. Reuse your cooking water. After boiling water for pasta or washing vegetables, use the leftover water to water your garden. 
7. Only do a load of laundry or dishes when the load is full. 
8. Use a broom to clean walkways and driveways rather than hosing off these areas. 
9. Don’t use your toilet to dispose of waste. Flush only when necessary! 
10. Place a bucket in the shower when you’re waiting for the water to warm up. Use this clean water for cleaning or watering your plants. (And keep those showers short: Try for 5 minutes or less.)

* The original post suggested watering lawns in the morning as well. In a natural setting like Lac Le Jeune perhaps it is best to refrain from watering lawns entirely. 

Canada Post Notices, Deconstructed

For those of you who are trying to decipher how to get your mail now and in the future, I suggest you skip the notices and call Canada Post customer support network: 1-800-267-1177

We do have a report that the new keys are at the Rexall Drug Store location though!

Notice #1

Notice #2

Media Release: Wildfire Management Branch

Province on high alert with increased fire activity across B.C.

http://bcwildfire.ca/hprScripts/WildfireNews/DisplayArticle.asp?ID=2415

7/6/2015 4:50 PM

VICTORIA - The Province is cautioning all British Columbians to be diligent with fire safety and report all wildfires to authorities as 184 active fires are being fought across British Columbia with 9 evacuation alerts and orders currently in effect, impacting over 800 homes. Twenty-seven new fires started in B.C. yesterday, with extreme fire hazard rating in many areas, and hot and dry weather conditions continuing to present challenges to firefighting efforts. British Columbians are urged to be responsible and abide by all fire bans and evacuation orders until conditions change. Campfire bans have now been implemented across the province. Failure to abide by the Wildfire Act, including open burning restrictions, can result in a $345 fine. Anyone who causes damage to Crown forest or grass land through arson or recklessness can be fined up to $1 million or spend up to three years in prison. Air quality status: If you see or smell smoke in the air, you're encouraged to avoid strenuous outdoor activities, especially people with chronic underlying medical conditions. Staying indoors and in air conditioned spaces helps to reduce fine particulate exposure. Exposure is particularly a concern for infants, the elderly and those who have underlying respiratory conditions - like asthma and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease - or heart disease. For information on current air quality readings in B.C. please visit www.bcairquality.ca Supports for British Columbians impacted by wildfires: Emergency Social Services (ESS) support has been provided for over 200 people in B.C. due to the wildfires east of Kelowna and in Port Hardy. ESS is temporary public aid that provides up to 72 hours of essentials like lodging and food service, as well as emergency supplies and absolute necessities. Report all wildfires: Human-caused wildfires are preventable and the public is B.C.'s first line of defence against forest fires. Please be diligent when in the backcountry, and report all wildfires to 1-800-663-5555 or *5555 on your mobile phone. Learn More: For current information on current wildfires and open burning prohibitions in your area, as well as fire safety tips, see: http://engage.gov.bc.ca/bcwildfire/ and http://ow.ly/PfwC6 For current Evacuation Alerts and Orders in B.C., see: www.emergencyinfobc.gov.bc.ca To learn about how to prevent wildfires and what to do if your community receives an Evacuation Alert or Order, visit: http://ow.ly/PfsPl and http://ow.ly/PftLE The Homeowner's FireSmart Manual helps inform people on how to reduce the risk of personal property damage due to wildfires: http://ow.ly/PfpqL To keep up-to-date on emergency alerts & notices, follow @EmergencyInfoBC (https://mobile.twitter.com/EmergencyInfoBC?max_id=505511422928093184) on Twitter. Media Contacts: For wildfire information: BC Wildfire Service Media Relations 250 312-3051 or Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations Media Relations 250 356-5261 For air quality questions: Media Relations Ministry of Environment 250 953-3834 Connect with the Province of B.C. at: www.gov.bc.ca/connect

News Release: Ban on all open burning

From the BC Wildfire Website
http://bcwildfire.ca/hprScripts/WildfireNews/DisplayArticle.asp?ID=2396

Campfires, open fires and fireworks banned throughout B.C.

7/3/2015 9:39 AM

KAMLOOPS - Effective at noon (Pacific Time) on Friday, July 3, 2015, all open burning, including campfires and fireworks, will be prohibited throughout the majority of the province, Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations Minister Steve Thomson announced today. This prohibition will remain in place until the public is otherwise notified. This extraordinary step is being taken to help prevent human-caused wildfires and protect public safety. Unseasonably hot and dry weather is being experienced around the province and any preventable, human-caused fires divert critical personnel and resources from other incidents. The BC Wildfire Service is responding to over 150 active fires in the province. Campfires will still be allowed in the area known as the "Fog Zone" along the western coast of Vancouver Island. A map of the area covered by this open burning prohibition and campfire ban is available online at: http://bit.ly/1IyUZG4 This ban applies to: - open fires of any size, including campfires; - the use of fireworks, sky lanterns and tiki torches; - burning barrels or burning cages of any size or description; - the use of binary exploding targets (e.g., for rifle target practice); and - the use of air curtain burners (forced-air burning systems). This prohibition does not apply to cooking stoves that use gas, propane or briquettes. It also does not apply to a portable campfire apparatus with a CSA or ULC rating that uses briquettes, liquid or gaseous fuel, with a flame length of 15 centimetres or less. The use of this equipment may be prohibited locally and at a later time if deemed necessary so check "current fire bans" online at: www.bcwildfire.ca The use of a portable campfire apparatus that does not meet the conditions noted above is prohibited. This prohibition covers all BC Parks, Crown and private lands, but does not apply within the boundaries of local governments that have forest fire prevention bylaws and are serviced by a fire department. Please check with civic authorities for any restrictions before lighting a fire. The "Fog Zone" is a two-kilometre-wide strip along the outer coast of Vancouver Island, stretching from Owen Point (near Port Renfrew) north to the tip of Vancouver Island and around to the boundary of the District of Port Hardy. This strip extends inland two kilometres from the high-tide point. A map of the Fog Zone is available online at: http://bit.ly/1GMvwnU Anyone found in contravention of an open burning prohibition may be issued a ticket for $345, required to pay an administrative penalty of $10,000 or, if convicted in court, fined up to $100,000 and/or sentenced to one year in jail. If the contravention causes or contributes to a wildfire, the person responsible may be ordered to pay all firefighting and associated costs. To report a wildfire or unattended campfire, call 1 800 663-5555 toll-free or *5555 on a cellphone. Quote: Minister of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations Steve Thomson - "We're committed to safeguarding B.C.'s families, natural resources and infrastructure from wildfires. Given the hot and dry conditions in most of the province, we are implementing this provincewide campfire ban to help protect our communities." Learn more: For the latest information on current wildfire activity, burning restrictions, road closures and air quality advisories, go to: http://www.bcwildfire.ca You can also follow the latest wildfire news: - On Twitter at: http://twitter.com/#!/BCGovFireInfo - On Facebook at: http://facebook.com/BCForestFireInfo

Lac Le Jeune Contact List

Photo by marinate https://flic.kr/p/4cRwCm

Has your phone number or email address changed? Do you have a new neighbour? Steve Roy is busy updating our Lac Le Jeune Contact List and would like to hear from you! Please send details to: laclejeune@laclejeune.ca  

The Lac Le Jeune Contact List is shared with members of the community, as well as the Logan Lake RCMP to be used in emergency situations such as evacuation alerts.

Reminder about noise bylaw

This comes from a resident who would like to sleep past 6:30 on the weekends :)

From https://www.tnrd.ca/content/bylaw-enforcement 

GENERAL REGULATIONS 
6.1 No person shall make or cause, or permit or be made or caused, any excessive or persistent noise which disturbs or tends to disturb the quiet, peace, rest, enjoyment, comfort, or convenience of the neighbourhood or persons in the vicinity.
6.2 No person being the owner or occupier or tenant of real property shall allow or permit such real property to be used so that excessive or persistent noise which occurs therein or emanates there from, disturbs or tends to disturb the quiet, peace, rest, enjoyment, comfort, or convenience of the neighbourhood or persons in the vicinity. 

The "courtesy" rule around Lac Le Jeune is to refrain from using chainsaws, construction tools, lawnmowers, etc before 8:00 a.m.  Does that sound reasonable? Should it be later?

Window and carpet cleaning

Kathy Wyse is looking for 2 - 3 other Lac Le Jeune households that would like to have one or both of these cleaning services done on Friday, July 10 to share travel costs. It is approximately one hour’s drive and the companies typically charge what they would make in that time.

"My window cleaner" by cloudzilla

Carpet Cleaning
Total Carpets has been the ‘reader’s choice’ 19 years in a row.

Windows
JP’s window cleaning is insured and has work safe coverage. He did a good job of residents' windows last year.

Call Kathy Wyse at 250-374-8542 asap as their bookings fill up.

LLJCA Annual General Meeting

Photo by Kathleen Conklin https://flic.kr/p/57MLdw

Mark your calendars!

What: Lac Le Jeune Conservation Association Annual General Meeting and BBQ lunch

When: Sunday, August 30, 2015
Meeting begins at 10:00 a.m., followed by lunch

Where: Home of Jacquie and Mike Brugger, 3793 Water Street

Bring your own chair or a tree stump :)

Your Gardening Questions

photo by Becky Cortino https://flic.kr/p/byQ3No

Over the years Lac Le Jeune residents have raised questions about the types of plants they can grow in this region, and about best practices for landscaping and yard maintenance in way that is environmentally responsible. Diane Hynds, owner of High Country Nursery in Logan Lake​, has kindly offered to ​respond to your questions, and ​contribute some gardening tips and advice to the blog​.

Your Questions

Here are the questions gathered so far (edited for brevity and consistency).

Annemarie Tempelman-Kluit​: ​​What do you recommend for hedging?

There are several that one could use: Cotoneaster, Caragana (these both are quick growers but the downside is they attract lots of bees). The Cotoneaster has beautiful fall red colour. My preference are Junipers. They are more slow growing so purchasing a taller shrub can be useful. They offer different shapes and colours. They grow naturally in this area so they do well here. They are a low water consumption shrub which is nice and the deer don't touch them. Several types produce berries which can be used for cooking, and the Cedar Wax Wings love them.

Pamela Mason​:​ ​Will French Lilacs​ grow here (and do you sell them)? ​​

Yes, French Lilacs do well here. I have one myself. They are a later bloomer than the common Lilac, the flower head is smaller and has a really different nice fragrance. They also do not sucker like other Lilacs. Yes I do sell them by order and they come in several colours.

Amie Schellenberg​:​ What food plants / trees could we try that will be less prone to getting eaten or attracting unwanted wildlife? ... I'm thinking of trying nuts...

That is a tough one because of the short growing season and lack of really rich soil, and low rainfall.

• Elderberries grow really well.
• There is a low growing Honeysuckle that produces edible berries
• Gooseberry 
• Crabapple. 

This area is very limited with fruit trees and shrubs. Apple trees will grow but again a favourite of deer so unless you build a twelve foot enclosure it will be impossible to keep the deer away. Wish I could suggest more but if the deer are hungry they will eat just about anything.

Karen Morash​:​ I ​am interested in attacking some weeds!! 

I am not sure how big an area you want to eliminate. If you have just a small area you can spot kill with a paint brush or one of the wands that has a sharp end -- when you push down on it it releases the herbicide. For a large area that will kill everything you can use horticultural vinegar. Purity Feeds carries it but it is a large quantity and a bit pricey. Be cautious of the 'weed n feed' type products as they can build up in the soil. Also, they will eventually kill your grass.

Robin Campbell​:​ What type of perennial flowers would work​?​ ​

Oh my there are so many that will do well.

• Iris
• Reony
• Monarda
• Bugbane
• Veronica
• Speedwell
• Columbine
• Artemesia
• Campanula
• Delphinium
• Dianthus

There are many more but all of these listed will bloom at different times throughout the Spring and Summer.

Sylvia Currie: What gardening and landscaping practices do you recommend to maintain our healthy lake?

Good question and a tough one. Use low water plants and landscape. Avoid using pesticides, herbicides and so on. Keep rotting vegetation away from the waterline, and never dump material into the lake, liquid or otherwise. Perhaps the Ministry of Water and Lands could help to respond to this question.

Final Tip

There really isn't a bad time plant up this way. In fact, I have planted perennials and shrubs as late as September.

How to order

Diane can be contacted by phone 250-523-6510, and will place orders for trees and shrubs and perennials. Freight is expensive so she waits for a big enough order to have it delivered.

Ask away!

Do you have gardening questions? Post them in the comments section or in the Lac Le Jeune Facebook Group.

Your choice of routes to Kamloops

How fast would you like to drive on your journey to Kamloops? You have options. If the slow, scenic route doesn't suit your driving preferences, then take HWY 5 instead.