Tag: bacteria

A Heartfelt Thank You to Chris and Liz: Keeping Our Dog Park Clean

Dear Park Visitors,

We want to extend our deepest gratitude to Chris and Liz for their incredible dedication and hard work in keeping our South West Off Leash Recreation Area clean and safe for everyone.

This spring, Chris and Liz took it upon themselves to clean up the dog poop left behind by our furry friends over the winter months. Their selfless actions have made a significant difference in maintaining the cleanliness and hygiene of our beloved park.

While their efforts are truly commendable, it’s important to remember that they wouldn’t have to work tirelessly if every pet owner did their part to scoop after their own pet. In gratitude we recognize that the City of Saskatoon generously provides pet waste pick-up bags and trash bins for this purpose, making it convenient for all visitors to dispose of their pet’s waste responsibly.

Chris and Liz’s commitment to keeping our park clean not only benefits human visitors but also ensures a safer and more enjoyable environment for our canine companions. Their actions exemplify the true spirit of community and environmental stewardship.

Additionally, we would like to express our gratitude to Barb and Garry for their artwork on the new posters, which help raise awareness and support Liz and Chris’s efforts in maintaining the cleanliness of the park.

When Chris and Liz arrived at the dog park, they observed the site covered in dog poop and felt compelled to take action. They brought with them a garbage bag and worked tirelessly to make the area look more pleasant. We can all assist their efforts by also carrying a garbage bag with us when visiting the park and disposing of pet waste responsibly. If you bend down to pick up after your dog, pick up a few extra while there! It makes a huge difference to the park, and to Chris and Liz as well.

Let us all come together in the spirit of Richard St. Barbe Baker, who coined the motto “TWAHAMWE,” which is Swahili for “All Together or Pull Together,” for the International Tree Foundation. Let us also heed our Saskatchewan provincial motto, “Multis e gentibus vires” (From Many Peoples Strength).

Once again, a heartfelt thank you to Chris and Liz for their collaboration as park users in keeping our South West Off Leash Recreation Area clean and enjoyable for all. Your dedication and commitment are truly appreciated.

Additionally, it’s essential to recognize the potential health risks associated with dogs ingesting poop. While it may seem harmless to dogs, the ingestion of poop from other dogs or animals can lead to illness. Parasites, viruses, and bacteria present in feces pose serious health threats to dogs. Hookworms, roundworms, and tapeworms are among the parasites that dogs can contract through the ingestion of poop.

Therefore, it’s crucial to discourage dogs from eating poop and to also promptly clean up after our own pets to minimize the risk of illness and maintain the overall health and well-being of our furry companions and the biodiversity of the forest.

Bibliography:

Keep it Clean Keep it Green Scoop that Poop
Keep it Clean Keep it Green Scoop that Poop

For directions as to how to drive to “George Genereux” Urban Regional Park

For directions on how to drive to Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area

For more information:

Blairmore Sector Plan Report; planning for the Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area, George Genereux Urban Regional Park and West Swale and areas around them inside of Saskatoon city limits

NEW P4G District Official Community Plan

Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area is located in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada north of Cedar Villa Road, within city limits, in the furthest south west area of the city. 52° 06′ 106° 45′

Addresses:

Part SE 23-36-6 – Afforestation Area – 241 Township Road 362-A

Part SE 23-36-6 – SW Off-Leash Recreation Area (Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area ) – 355 Township Road 362-A

S ½ 22-36-6 Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area (West of SW OLRA) – 467 Township Road 362-A

NE 21-36-6 “George Genereux” Afforestation Area – 133 Range Road 3063

Wikimapia Map: type in Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area

Google Maps South West Off Leash area location pin at parking lot

Web page: https://stbarbebaker.wordpress.com

Where is the Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area? with map

Where is the George Genereux Urban Regional Park (Afforestation Area)?with map

Pinterest richardstbarbeb

Blogger: FriendsAfforestation

Tumblr friendsafforestation.tumblr.comFacebook Group Page: Users of the George Genereux Urban Regional Park

Facebook: StBarbeBaker Afforestation Area

Facebook for the non profit Charity Friends of the Saskatoon Afforestation Areas Inc. FriendsAreas

Facebook group page : Users of the St Barbe Baker Afforestation Area

Facebook: South West OLRA

Reddit: FriendsAfforestation

Twitter: St Barbe Baker Charity Twitter:FriendsAreas

Mix: friendsareas

YouTube

Please help protect / enhance your afforestation areas, please contact the Friends of the Saskatoon Afforestation Areas Inc. (e-mail / e-transfers )

Advertisement

Donate your old vehicle, here’s how!  

Support using Canada Helps

Support via a recycling bottle donation

United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration

““Be like a tree in pursuit of your cause. Stand firm, grip hard, thrust upward. Bend to the winds of heaven..”

Richard St. Barbe Baker

Scooping the Poop: A Responsible Act for Pet Owners

As responsible pet owners and park visitors, it’s crucial to clean up after our furry companions. While phrases like “stoop and scoop” have echoed through parks for years, some may wonder: why the fuss about dog waste when wildlife scat seems to go unnoticed?

Well, the truth is, not all scat is created equal.

Wild animals typically consume food within their ecosystems, resulting in waste that supports the natural balance of nutrients. This waste plays a vital role in dispersing native plant seeds and contributing to ecosystem health. Once digested, the nutrients are returned to the environment, aiding in the ecosystem’s health. Their waste is produced in manageable amounts over very large areas, allowing ecosystem decomposers to continue the natural cycles effectively.

On the other hand, dogs fed store-bought diets produce waste high in nitrogen and phosphorus, posing potential problems for ecosystems. Dog waste left in parks can lead to excessive nutrient levels, promoting the growth of invasive plant species and threatening biodiversity.

In 1991, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency categorized pet waste as a nonpoint source pollutant, joining other pollutants like herbicides and toxic chemicals. Nonpoint pollution refers to pollution from various dispersed sources, such as waste left in the afforestation areas. During rainstorms, this waste washes into waterways, eventually reaching our drinking water source such as the South Saskatchewan River, lakes, streams, and oceans. The afforestation areas do not have storm drains to treatment facilities, allowing pollutants like pet waste to directly impact marine environments- the wetlands draining directly into the river through the West Swale.

Beyond environmental concerns, dog waste also poses health risks to humans, wildlife, and other dogs. It can contain harmful bacteria, parasites, and viruses like E. coli, Giardia, Salmonella, and roundworms, which can persist in the soil for years and infect wildlife.

Unlike wild animals, which disperse their waste over large areas, pet owners in urban areas often frequent the same places, resulting in concentrated waste. Imagine thousands of dogs each producing 0.5 to 0.75 pounds of waste daily, the impact is substantial. A gram of dog waste contains about 23 million coliform bacteria, twice that of human waste. It’s estimated that only 60% of dog owners consistently clean up after their pets, leaving significant amounts of waste and pathogens. In just a few days, waste from 100 dogs can contaminate waterways, i.e. the West Swale Wetlands – a swale (low lying area) which drains directly into the South Saskatchewan River Basin, polluting our drinking water in the South Saskatchewan River.

Pet waste is a major contributor to water pollution, with bacteria tracing back to animal sources, particularly dogs. Additionally, it contains excess nutrients, contributing to poisonous and deadly algal blooms and aquatic plant growth, which deplete oxygen vital for our waterfowl species at risk on the Chappell Marsh wetlands and all animal life using the wetlands.

Dog waste doesn’t just stay on the ground—it can also become airborne. Studies conducted in four Midwestern cities, particularly in Cleveland and Detroit during the winter, found high levels of fecal bacteria from dog waste in the atmosphere. Researchers believe that the increase in bacteria from dog feces may be due to a decrease in other bacteria from soil, dust, leaves, and water surfaces as snow covers the ground and leaves drop during the winter months.

But fear not, there’s a simple solution!

When visiting parks with your pet, be sure to pick up their waste promptly. Proper disposal is key—dog waste should be placed in designated receptacles or taken home for disposal. Remember, hanging waste in trees or leaving it on trails is not acceptable.

By scooping the poop, we’re not only keeping our parks clean and safe for everyone, but we’re also protecting water quality and promoting a healthier environment. So, let’s all do our part to ensure our parks remain beautiful and biodiverse spaces for generations to come!

Let us all practice for Scoop the Poop Week!

Here is information about the dog parks from the City of Saskatoon and reference to Saskatoon bylaw 8760 as well

Leave No Trace: Why Cleaning Up After Your Dog is Critical for the Environment
Leave No Trace: Why Cleaning Up After Your Dog is Critical for the Environment
Dogs in Off Leash Dog Park socializing, playing and having fun
Dogs in Off Leash Dog Park socializing, playing and having fun
Bark for a Cause
Bark for a Cause
The Dirty Truth About Dog Poop and Wild Animal Attraction
The Dirty Truth About Dog Poop and Wild Animal Attraction

Don’t take our word for it! Check out the Bibliography:

#ScoopThePoop #ResponsiblePetOwnership #CleanParks #ProtectOurEnvironment 🐾🌳

For directions as to how to drive to “George Genereux” Urban Regional Park

For directions on how to drive to Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area

For more information:

Blairmore Sector Plan Report; planning for the Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area, George Genereux Urban Regional Park and West Swale and areas around them inside of Saskatoon city limits

NEW P4G District Official Community Plan

Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area is located in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada north of Cedar Villa Road, within city limits, in the furthest south west area of the city. 52° 06′ 106° 45′

Addresses:

Part SE 23-36-6 – Afforestation Area – 241 Township Road 362-A

Part SE 23-36-6 – SW Off-Leash Recreation Area (Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area ) – 355 Township Road 362-A

S ½ 22-36-6 Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area (West of SW OLRA) – 467 Township Road 362-A

NE 21-36-6 “George Genereux” Afforestation Area – 133 Range Road 3063

Wikimapia Map: type in Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area

Google Maps South West Off Leash area location pin at parking lot

Web page: https://stbarbebaker.wordpress.com

Where is the Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area? with map

Where is the George Genereux Urban Regional Park (Afforestation Area)?with map

Pinterest richardstbarbeb

Blogger: FriendsAfforestation

Tumblr friendsafforestation.tumblr.comFacebook Group Page: Users of the George Genereux Urban Regional Park

Facebook: StBarbeBaker Afforestation Area

Facebook for the non profit Charity Friends of the Saskatoon Afforestation Areas Inc. FriendsAreas

Facebook group page : Users of the St Barbe Baker Afforestation Area

Facebook: South West OLRA

Reddit: FriendsAfforestation

Twitter: St Barbe Baker Charity Twitter:FriendsAreas

Mix: friendsareas

YouTube

Please help protect / enhance your afforestation areas, please contact the Friends of the Saskatoon Afforestation Areas Inc. (e-mail / e-transfers )

Donate your old vehicle, here’s how!  

Support using Canada Helps

Support via a recycling bottle donation

United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration

““Be like a tree in pursuit of your cause. Stand firm, grip hard, thrust upward. Bend to the winds of heaven..”

Richard St. Barbe Baker

Volunteer Week!

April 24 – 30 is National Volunteer Week. Volunteer for the

City Nature Challenge – City Nature Challenge

Home

City Nature Challenge Saskatoon and Area 2022

https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/city-nature-challenge-2022-saskatoon-sk

In love with Saskatoon and Area’s incredible nature? You can help observe on iNat & protect it by joining this year’s #CityNatureChallenge, April 29–May 2! All you need to join is a smartphone and the free @inaturalist app. Learn more at FriendsAreas.ca Explore back yards, the afforestation areas, along the boulevards of our city streets, in the nooks and crannys of fences and trees. Participating is easy: just make observations of wild plants, animals, and fungi, anywhere in the Saskatoon and Area with the free @inaturalist app April 29 – May 2, and they’ll automatically be added to this project.

The CNC was organized by citizen science staff at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County (Lila Higgins) and California Academy of Sciences (Alison Young). The City Nature Challenge has become a global effort for people to find and document plants and wildlife in cities across the globe in support of world conservation efforts. It’s a fun citizen science event with a challenge where cities are in a contest against each other to see who can make the most observations of nature, who can find the most species, and who can engage the most people.

Being involved is super easy!

connect with nature- fungi, insects, Plants and Wildlife

From the CNC FAQ page; Take photos, or sound recordings of “any observations of WILD plants, animals, fungi, seaweed, bacteria, lichen, etc. you find in and around your city! Observations of living or dead organisms, or evidence of those organisms, like shells, seeds, tracks, scat, pinecones, feathers, etc., are fine. Remember to make sure you’re taking good photos of the organisms!”

Take a Picture

Take a picture of what you discover in nature. The iNaturalist app records the GPS location of the critter or plant – and you can set it to obscured or leave it as publicly known. (Don’t change location to private or it won’t be part of the City Nature Challenge)

Share!

Upload, share, save your observations through iNaturalist or Ebird or Observation.org

Duties

Why participate in the City Nature Challenge?

There is nature all around us, even in our cities! As the urban footprint and the human monoculture keeps expanding, nature is often overlooked in our cities, which has become a safe haven for many wild animals who no longer have a wild habitat. You cannot protect what you don’t know, and all of us – citizen scientists, scientists, land managers, and the community – come together in Twihamwe “working together as one” to find and document the nature in our area. The Saskatchewan Motto strengthens the volunteer spirit of the City Nature Challenge’ Multis e Gentibus Vires (Latin) (“From Many Peoples Strength!”) By participating in the City Nature Challenge, you can learn more about your local nature, and at the same time you can also make your city a better place – for you and nature!

For the COVID-19 pandemic, some modifications were implemented into the City Nature Challenge 2020 and 2021 to help keep both organizers and participants safe. It is way more important to focus on collaboration rather than competition. And we want to know about and embrace the healing power of nature and encourage the sharing of unique stories, species, habitat ranges found during the CNC. Look inside your own homes, in your own yard, in your local bus stop, along your boulevard or local park. Keep safe, follow all health guidelines for COVID, follow all health guidelines for nature as well! This year’s City Nature Challenge is a hybrid between collaboration and competition.

Create your own iNaturalist account

  • Visit iNaturalist.org
  • Download the app from the AppStore or Google Play
  • Sign In
  • Start sharing your observations
  • Check back later to see the conversation about your observation!

Qualifications

iNaturalist is an free observation platform that uses both computer recognition vision technology alongside crowd sourced corroboration that acts as a place for people to record biodiversity observations, interact with other enthusiasts, and learn about organisms. Observations from iNaturalist also enrich biodiversity science within open science projects such as the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) and the Encyclopedia of Life (EOL). Scientists (and anyone) can freely access and use these data to address their research questions. iNaturalist is as easy to use as 1-2-3!

Find It

Snap It

Share It

This guide, along with YouTube Videos, and planned Virtual events for volunteers who wish to take part will walk you through recommendations for the best ways to use iNaturalist with students in formal or informal settings so they learn from the experience and contribute high-quality observations to the iNaturalist community.

What kinds of observations of nature should I make during the CNC?

Any observations of WILD plants, animals, fungi, seaweed, bacteria, lichen, etc. you find in and around your city! Remember to check under the leaves of your cultivated plants. Observations of living or dead organisms, or evidence of those organisms, like shells, tracks, scat, feathers, etc., are fine. Remember to make sure you’re taking good photos of the organisms!

Celebrate 50 years! Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area and George Genereux Urban Regional park were planted to trees in 1972, 50 years ago. Come out and say Happy Birthday!

City Nature Challenge CNCYXE Saskatoon area versus YQRCNC Regina and area in a mini SK challenge
City Nature Challenge CNCYXE Saskatoon area versus YQRCNC Regina and area in a mini SK challenge
Regina YQRCNC vs Saskatoon CNCYXE SK mini Challenge for the City Nature Challenge
Regina YQRCNC vs Saskatoon CNCYXE SK mini Challenge for the City Nature Challenge
City Nature Challenge CNCYXE Saskatoon area versus YQRCNC Regina and area in a mini SK challenge
City Nature Challenge CNCYXE Saskatoon area versus YQRCNC Regina and area in a mini SK challenge
City Nature Challenge CNCYXE Saskatoon area versus YQRCNC Regina and area in a mini SK challenge
City Nature Challenge CNCYXE Saskatoon area versus YQRCNC Regina and area in a mini SK challenge

For directions as to how to drive to “George Genereux” Urban Regional Park
For directions on how to drive to Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area
For more information:
Blairmore Sector Plan Report; planning for the Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area, George Genereux Urban Regional Park and West Swale and areas around them inside of Saskatoon city limits
NEW P4G District Official Community Plan
Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area is located in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada north of Cedar Villa Road, within city limits, in the furthest south west area of the city. 52° 06′ 106° 45′
Addresses:
Part SE 23-36-6 – Afforestation Area – 241 Township Road 362-A
Part SE 23-36-6 – SW Off-Leash Recreation Area (Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area ) – 355 Township Road 362-A
S ½ 22-36-6 Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area (West of SW OLRA) – 467 Township Road 362-A
NE 21-36-6 “George Genereux” Afforestation Area – 133 Range Road 3063
Wikimapia Map: type in Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area
Google Maps South West Off Leash area location pin at parking lot
Web page: https://stbarbebaker.wordpress.com
Where is the Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area? with map
Where is the George Genereux Urban Regional Park (Afforestation Area)?with map
Pinterest richardstbarbeb
Blogger: FriendsAfforestation
Tumblr friendsafforestation.tumblr.comFacebook Group Page: Users of the George Genereux Urban Regional Park
Facebook: StBarbeBaker Afforestation Area
Facebook for the non profit Charity Friends of the Saskatoon Afforestation Areas Inc. FriendsAreas
Facebook group page : Users of the St Barbe Baker Afforestation Area
Facebook: South West OLRA
Reddit: FriendsAfforestation
Twitter: St Barbe Baker Charity Twitter:FriendsAreas
Mix: friendsareas

YouTube

Please help protect / enhance your afforestation areas, please contact the Friends of the Saskatoon Afforestation Areas Inc. (e-mail / e-transfers )Support the afforestation areas with your donation or membership ($20.00/year). Please donate by paypal or by using e-transfers Please and thank you! Your donation and membership is greatly appreciated. Members e-mail your contact information to be kept up to date!

Donations can be made through Paypal, Canada Helps, Contact Donate A Car Canada, SARCAN Drop & Go 106100594 for the Friends of the Saskatoon Afforestation Areas Inc.

United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration

“Be like a tree in pursuit of your cause. Stand firm, grip hard, thrust upward. Bend to the winds of heaven..”

Richard St. Barbe Baker

The Best Soil Worker

World Soil Day
5 December 2018

WorldSoilDayLogo

“As long as a soil is covered with forest, its humus is maintained. The basic forest problem lies in its composition and regeneration. In the forest the process of decay and growth always balance one another. The vegetable wastes together with the by-products of the animal population form a mixture on the forest floor. As we examine this mixture from time to time we find it remains practically constant in depth, in spite of annual additions from leaf-fall that take place. This mixture is drawn upon at an even rate by earthworms, fungi and bacteria, and the resulting humus in turn is absorbed by the soil and provides the trees and under growth with the food materials they require. Thus the forest manures itself and with the help of the earthworms and other animal distributes this manure through the upper layers of the soil. Everything is done by Nature quietly and efficiently. No artificial fertilizers, no selective weed killers, no pesticides and no machinery are needed in the household of the natural forest.~Richard St. Barbe Baker My Life My Trees

Are you planning to have an event on soils?

Put your event on the map

Spread the word on the importance of soils using our campaign materials. Download posters, banners and logos in multiple languages.

“The worm is the best farm worker. Darwin told us all there was to know about the life history of the worm. But what he didn’t teach us is how to harness the worm. And this I’ve been trying to do for the past forty years. To teach people how to use the worm on their farms and in their gardens by helping them to increase the humus, aerate the soil. And on the fringe of the Sahara and in Israel where I started planting trees over fifty years ago, we put a stone or a couple of stones for every tree on the road from Jerusalem to Jericho in our plantations in the Judean hills. And if a goat knocked a stone off, the tree would die.

“The stone is there to water the tree; this is what we call stone mulching or top mulching. The stone draws down the heat and it draws up the heat from below and draws up the moisture and will protect the worm. The worm will come up and down, and enjoy a cool night under the stone in the moisture that is accumulated under the stone. And in the morning the worm goes down again.

“If you pick up that stone you’ll see two or three worms just underneath, all in the cool and damp. But what is not generally understood is that you can’t have superphosphate and worms. The worms don’t like the superphosphate or any of the chemicals or weed killers and things you put on the crops now, these selective killers. You have to make up your mind whether you’re going to harness the worm or you’re going to work for the chemical merchant.” Richard St. Barbe Baker

For more information:

Blairmore Sector Plan Report; planning for the Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area,  George Genereux Urban Regional Park and West Swale and areas around them inside of Saskatoon city limits

P4G Saskatoon North Partnership for Growth The P4G consists of the Cities of Saskatoon, Warman, and Martensville, the Town of Osler and the Rural Municipality of Corman Park; planning for areas around the afforestation area and West Swale outside of Saskatoon city limits

Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area is located in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada north of Cedar Villa Road, within city limits, in the furthest south west area of the city. 52° 06′ 106° 45′
Addresses:
Part SE 23-36-6 – Afforestation Area – 241 Township Road 362-A
Part SE 23-36-6 – SW Off-Leash Recreation Area (Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area ) – 355 Township Road 362-A
S ½ 22-36-6 Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area (West of SW OLRA) – 467 Township Road 362-A
NE 21-36-6 “George Genereux” Afforestation Area – 133 Range Road 3063
Wikimapia Map: type in Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area
Google Maps South West Off Leash area location pin at parking lot
Web page: https://stbarbebaker.wordpress.com
Where is the Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area? with map
Where is the George Genereux Urban Regional Park (Afforestation Area)? with map

Pinterest richardstbarbeb

Facebook Group Page: Users of the George Genereux Urban Regional Park

Facebook: StBarbeBaker

Facebook group page : Users of the St Barbe Baker Afforestation Area

Facebook: South West OLRA

Twitter: StBarbeBaker

Please help protect / enhance your afforestation areas, please contact the Friends of the Saskatoon Afforestation Areas Inc. (e-mail)

Support the afforestation areas with your donation or membership ($20.00/year).  Please donate by paypal using the e-mail friendsafforestation AT gmail.com, or by using e-transfers  Please and thank you!  Your donation and membership is greatly appreciated.  Members e-mail your contact information to be kept up to date!

QR Code FOR PAYPAL DONATIONS to the Friends of the Saskatoon Afforestation Areas Inc.
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Membership : $20.00 CAD – yearly
Membership with donation : $50.00 CAD
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“I believed that God has lent us the Earth. It belongs as much to those who come after us as to us, and it ill behooves us by anything we do or neglect, to deprive them of benefits which are in our power to bequeath.” Richard St. Barbe Baker

 

“It is not the land itself that constitutes the farmer’s wealth, but it is in the constituents of the soil, which serve for the nutrition of plants, that this wealth truly consists.”—Liebig.

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