It has been awhile since we last posted an eco-tourism article on the website. This afternoon I came across an article that caught my eye and led me to read more about the Wye Marsh Wildlife Centre. The Wye Marsh is located on the edge of Midland, Ontario in Tay Township, Canada.
The Wye Marsh has decided to expand its Eco-Tour Program for Winter 2007. After a successful summer program, the Wildlife Centre is giving guests and visitors the opportunity to explore winter in Ontario. If you have children and are looking for an escape away from the TV, video games and computer, the Wye Marsh is the place to visit.
According to the article I found:
Wye Marsh naturalists will guide visitors behind the scenes into the world of woodland and wetland research using snowshoes. Eco-tours will be approximately 3 hours in duration and will include a stop at a warm fire for hot chocolate and snacks. Tours start in January 2007, and continue through March on selected Saturdays and Sundays. Cost is $40.00 per person plus applicable tax and includes use of snowshoes. Additional times and dates can be personally arranged for groups of five or more. Scheduled dates and times can be viewed at Wye Marsh Winter Eco Tours.
Eco-tours will include:
• A three-hour (three - four km.) snowshoe trek (snowshoes provided-or bring your own)
• Hands-on winter animal tracking and tree identification
• Hands-on winter survival techniques plus bow and drill fire starting
• Research updates and swan information
• GPS workshop - You get to lead us home!
• Hot chocolate and hotdogs over an open fire in the woods
The Wye Marsh is working hard to reduce their impact on the environment:
* Solar panels
* Composting toilets
* Waterless gardening
* Vermicomposting - Visitors to the Marsh can also buy worm kits and worms for their own vermicomposting initiatives.
* Future wind turbine - The Marsh also has future plans to erect a 10KW wind turbine on the property
* 3 goats to cut their grass - zero harmful emissions and free rich fertilizer
If you are interested in visiting the centre, you can reserve now for the outdoor winter eco-tour by calling 705-526-7809. For more information on the Winter Eco Tours go to the Wye Marsh Wildlife Centre web site. www.wyemarsh.com
Technorati Tags: Wye Marsh Wildlife Centre, eco-tours, Midland Ontario, outdoor winter eco-tour, eco-travel, vermicomposting
Written by steve on November 17th, 2006 with no comments.
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Green overkill? I think not. 
Interesting article in the Hamilton Spectator about Rosa Flora Greenhouses, located in Dunnville Ontario. The company recently shipped in a 75 meter, 600 kW wind turbine from Germany to help power it’s facility.
Here is an exerpt:
Ralph DeBoer, operations manager of Rosa Flora Greenhouses, prefers calling the purchase of a 600-kilowatt turbine from Germany a “calculated risk.”
“In the greenhouse sector, there are so many challenges,” he said.
“Rising energy costs, labour costs, the Canada-U.S. exchange.
“The rising cost of natural gas was a major factor.”
The new wind turbine rounds out Rosa Flora’s set of alternative energy sources: solar energy (to produce its flowers), a biomass boiler system (wood burning) for heat and a Cogen unit which can generate two megawatts of power along with carbon dioxide used in floral production.
To be totally honest, I would not have expected a greenhouse operation to be able to invest in green power, due to tight profit margins and the potential risk involved. I’m really impressed that this company is setting such a great example. Of course they are not doing it to look good. The almighty greenback is certainly being considered here. Would be foolish to throw caution to the wind.
Yet another indication that green energy can work for all kinds of businesses.
On the Rosa Flora website there is a cool photo series showing the contruction of their new windmill - pretty cool!
Here is a link to the spectator article: More than plants come up green
Technorati Tags: wind turbine, wind power, wind energy, greenhouse, green energy, green business, rosa flora greenhouses, hamilton
Written by Bentley on November 17th, 2006 with no comments.
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Looks like electronics giant LG is starting to have green thoughts. I found an interesting article posted on CNET.co.uk that talks about a new plasma TV that is constructed almost entirely of natural materials.
The bezel is made of compressed wood (derived from renewable forests) and finished in white water-based paint. No consumer electronics device is complete without a splash of silver, so LG has used aluminium — thus ensuring it’s highly recyclable. We were also pleased to learn LG has used lead-free or low-lead internal components.
According to the article, LG plans on releasing the new 52 inch TV to their commercial customers. However, it could be just the start of a new trend in green electronics.
To view a concept picture of the eco-friendly plasma TV, visit Crave at CNET.co.uk.
I did a quick search for LG’s eco-friendly plasma TV and I struck out. It appears Crave has the inside scoop on LG’s new developments. Keep your eyes open, if you see anything related to this story please email us.
Technorati Tags: LG eco-friendly plasma TV, LG electronics, green electronics
Written by steve on November 17th, 2006 with no comments.
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