Basil

Ok, so you have heard of chili heads but I am a true basil head.  I love basil and good gosh one variety of basil is not good enough for me.  I grow the common sweet basil as well as five to six other varieties both indoors and outdoors.  Basil seriously rules as an herb!  When we bought our vacation home in Florida, the first plant I bought was basil.  I knew there was no way I could keep it alive when we weren't there but I knew we would enjoy fresh basil while we were there.  Then we got to know our neighbours.  Our basil plant goes to their house to be looked after while we are gone.  The plant comes back to stay with us when we are here.  They are great friends and basil brought us together.  Basil rules...

Garden Gnome
©2006-2011

Talk About Conserving Energy!

Generator Powered Lights

July 20, 2010

A couple of days ago we took a bit of a road trip.  The weather was overcast with threatening thunderstorms in the area so it was a bit darker out than it would have been in full sunlight.  However, when we happened upon a generator powered flood lights that were on there was no logical reason.  It certainly was not dark enough for any type of lighting let along flood lighting.  The lights were generator powered meaning all the time the generator was running it was burning gasoline.  This definitely was quite contrary to being eco-friendly and practicing energy conservation.  I can't imagine why the generator was running to power the lights but it certainly was a waste of energy.  For shame!

Garden Gnome
©2006-2010

Ten Ways to Avoid Paying HST in Ontario

Towards the end of last year I posted about the proposed Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) scheduled to go into effect on July 1, 2010 in Ontario and British Columbia.  Despite campaign promises of new new taxes the HST effectively introduces a new 8% tax on 17% of consumer goods and services in Ontario.  There has been rather vocal opposition to the HST and continues to be opposition even though it is now in effect.  The HST has resulted in a dramatic increase in the underground economy to the point the McGuinty government has spent taxpayers dollars warning against using the underground economy to avoid paying the HST.  The bottom line is a price increase of 8% on anything right now while we are still in a recession is hitting people while they are still down.  The hardest hit will be those on fixed incomes.  Unfortunately in McGuinty's ultimate wisdom the HST now applies to home heating fuel, electricity and gasoline so unless you go solar or go without and don't drive a vehicle you will end up paying some GST.  The average person is expected to pay somewhere $1,000 extra per year as a result of the HST.  With a few shopping and lifesyle modification you can cut that cost by half if not more!  Here are ten ways to minimize what HST you have to pay and avoid the HST you can get away with not paying:

1. utilities - Reducing the amount used will reduce the amount of HST on your utility bill.  Lower your temperature setting by 2ºC in the winter and raise the air conditioner setting by 2ºC in the summer.  Turn off the air conditioner whenever possible.  Winterize your home to reduce heating costs. Practice energy conservation.  The less energy you use the less impact by HST. If you can switch to wood heat since there is no HST on wood.  If possible switch to solar for supplemental heating and switch as much electrical use to solar as possible.  Ideally your home can be covered to fully solar for electricity and water heating.  This can be a DIY expandable project that doesn't break the bank but will eliminate electricity from the grid entirely saving you both the cost of electricity and the HST on it.
2. underground economy - The underground economy is alive and well thanks to the HST.  Essentially what this means is you pay cash for goods and services.  The government would have you believe this is extremely risky but if you know who you are dealing with it isn't.  Use local services that will offer a discount plus no HST if you pay cash.  In older terms it meant doing something "under the table" so the concept is not a new one, it's just growing in popularity thanks to the HST.
3. barter - Bartering has always been a frugal way of getting what you want without any cash outlay.  For example I trade some of my garden extras for other produce I don't grow or extra fresh caugh local fish.  Each person in the barter ends up with what they want with no money changing hands.  Hair cuts now have 8% HST added so a frugal person will either cut their hair themselves or trade something like extra produce or even offer to babysit the hairdresser's kids for a couple of hours in return for a hair cut.
4. reduce spending - The reality is many spend simply for the sake of spending making no distinction between needs and wants.  
5. yard/estate/garage sales and resale shops - Buying those items you need used is eco-friendly recycling and you avoid paying any HST.
6. shop outside of Ontario - Washington State has announced that they will be giving BC residents a tax break for shopping there due to the HST.  That's a pretty good incentive for BC residents to shop in the US rather than BC.  In Canada BC, ON, NS, NB and NL have HST.  The rest of the provinces do not.  Those in ON close to the Quebec and Manitoba borders can shop there without paying HST.  Those in border areas to Minnesota, Michigan, and New York can shop in the US without paying HST although it may be assessed when returning to Canada if you were not out of the country for 24 hours.  In general gassing up in the US is overlooked so not only do you get cheaper gas but also don't pay the HST.  At the same time basic groceries don't have HST added on but many are cheaper in the US so during a gas trip do a bit of grocery shopping as well.
7. magazine subscriptions - Magazine subscriptions will now be 8% more expensive.  In this day of the internet which will also have an addition 8% tax, eliminate any magazine subscriptions.  Magazines are not eco-friendly to begin with.  In many cases you can read them for free at the library and there's always the trading amongst friends.  Many magazines are now offering online subscriptions as well so while you are paying 8% on your internet bill you won't be on your online subscription.  
8. home repairs/service calls/landscaping/home renovations - These services now have an additional 8% tax on them.  The simple solution to avoiding tax on these services is to become a do-it-yourselfer (DIYer).  There are several online sources and library resources to help you and chances are you already know someone who wouldn't mind sharing their knowledge.  Doing it yourself is going to save all the costs of hired labour as well!
9. real estate commissions - An additional 8% tax is now applied to real estate commissions something that doesn't sit well with since our house is currently on the market.  Our solution baring an acceptable offer will be to remove our house from the market something many will likely do.  Unless you are moving to lessen the commute to work it is usually cheaper to stay where you are and upgrade.
10. hunting and fishing licences - There is now an additional 8% tax on these licences.  Those who qualify as Aboriginals under the Canadian Constitution Act (1982) do not require either licence so it is more important now to know your rights!

Garden Gnome
©2006-2010

Earth Day 2010

Today celebrates Earth Day 2010, a special day meant to bring awareness to environmental concerns and living in an eco-friendly manner.  So many people are planning special events or planning to attend special events celebrating Earth Day.  We have no special plans because we try to celebrate Earth Day every day.  I am making an Earth Day cake so that should be rather interesting :)

Garden Gnome
©2006-2010

Asian Carp

Reports of Asian carp (7 species) being as close as 40 miles from Lake Michigan are causing an environmental concern. Asian carp are not indiginous to the Great Lakes. This is an introduced, invasive species much like Zebra mussels that threatens to disrupt the ecology of the Great Lakes. Asian carp was originally introduced to the US as aquaculture in the 1970's then released into natural waterways. Asian carp are voracious eaters of both plant and animal plankton. They can grow as large as 100 lb in weight. One of their interesting behaviour patterns is jumping when startled by boats which could present quite a problem should a smaller pleasure craft hit one of these fish. If they enter the Great Lakes, the Asian carp would quickly become the dominant species displace our native species such as bass, pickerel and perch. Currently there are several natural resources management agencies working together to prevent the spread of the Asian carp into the Great Lakes.

Canada's leading funny man, Rick Mercer has come up with a way for dealing with the Asian carp problem. Apparently he isn't far off as Asian carp while being bony, if properly cleaned are edible and sold in Asian markets.

Garden Gnome
©2006-2010

Earth Hour 2010

Please join thousands of Canadians across Canada and the World as we celebrate Earth Hour 2010 at 8:30 PM tonight. At this time to show your support of Earth Hour please turn off all lights in your home or wherever you are for one hour beginning at 8:30 PM local time. Together we can make Earth Hour 2010 an event to remember. If you would like more information on Earth Hour 2010 please click on the logo.

Garden Gnome
©2006-2010

My View on the Toronto Civic Service Strike

Beautiful Skies
June 27, 2009

It's now day 8 of the Toronto civic service strike. By far the media focus has been on the garbage piling up in temporary dumping areas. Of greater concern is the city of Toronto has hired a firm to come in a spray insecticides nightly to "ward off insects and rodents". Worse yet in the midst of this type of problem the residents of Toronto seriously are behaving like babies! Heck even Economic Development and Trade Minister Sandra Pupatello called Torontonians a "bunch of babies" in their response to the garbage strike although she later apologized for that. Well, I do think they are being a bunch of babies and I'm not going to apologize for saying so!

Less than 24 hours after the strike began there were reports of garbage piling up in Toronto and illegal dumping. What the heck? Give it a rest! I'm sorry but I just don't understand why Torontonians couldn't be a bit more prudent with their garbage production especially in these times when so many are trying to reduce their carbon footprint. What are they doing? Spring cleaning just because?

Heck, we could easily go several weeks and do so in the winter not putting out garbage. We average 1 bag of garbage weekly and it does not include organic waste. Organic waste can be composted so is a valuable resource. We put our recyclables out biweekly and while that is more that a garbage bags' worth it is still less than the average household because we follow the first rule of being eco-friendly and that is to reduce. We still have a long way to go. A few years ago I saw a rather interesting documentary where a family of 4 was able to reduce their garbage output to 1 grocery bag for the year. Now that is our goal!

Torontonians need to start taking responsibility for themselves. All those bags of garbage do not just magically disappear when you put them to the curb. They go somewhere else where they are someone else's problem. Now they are finally realizing it is their problem. This is a perfect time for each and every Torontonian to do their part. Get involved and reduce your garbage production!

I'd like to address the issue of the insecticides being used by the City of Toronto. This is an environmental nighmare! Insecticides do diddly when it comes to rodents or other small animals that get into the ever growing piles of garbage. What they do is get into the ground water and make their way to Lake Ontario causing possibly irreparible environmental damage affecting all the Great Lakes waterways. They are already putting humans at risk as one being sprayed causes respiratory problems. Yet we have the Ontario Pesticide Ban and Toronto was a leading city getting that through the legislature. Residents can be fined for using these pesticides but NOW. the city of Toronto turns around and uses the very same pesticides banned without regard to the future health of their residents. For shame Toronto!

For shame Toronto on so many levels! And yes from a fellow Canadian you are being a bunch of babies!

Garden Gnome
©2006-2009

Labour Stopages

On the Horizon
June 22, 2009

I woke in a lousy mood! There was no rhyme or reason for this mood other than another sinus attack but really in comparison to most this appears to be a rather mild attack. An excellent time to get a rant on is when you aren't feeling 100%. So it didn't take a whole lot after turning to my favourite Toronto news station cp24 to really tick me off. First the Toronto city workers are on strike.

Well, all right maybe those jobs could go to some of the many in Ontario that really would like a job. Their union is not doing them any favours. Heck, Windsor garbage workers have been out on strike for 11 weeks now. The striking workers under CUPE receive weekly strike pay from CUPE National Strike Fund which amounts to a mere pittance to their normal pay, only a few dollars a week. I heard a figure of $25 per week but that hasn't been confirmed. At best it is no more than $100 per week. So in these hard economic times you tell me who can afford to have their pay cut to a few dollars a week? How long can striking employees last before food and utilities come onto the chopping block? How long can before house costs (rent, mortgage) can no longer be met. The sad reality is there are going to be employee casualties out of this strike. Sadder still is the ones affected by the strike that depend on daycare. Some of those folks are going to end up losing jobs simply because they cannot find immediate replacement for the daycare they had already arranged. I should point out that unlike the last city workers strike in Toronto the pope or queen or any other dignitaries are not scheduled to visit so the city is not under any pressure to agree to anything. In fact this time it looks like they might just wait things out. Just perfect! Just what Ontario needs is more people out of work!

Now if that isn't bad enough both Bombardier and the LCBO are threatening strikes. Bombardier actually settled with the CAW this afternoon. The LCBO is scheduled to walk out at 12:01 AM Wednesday morning. Here's the thing, Bombardier did a responsible thing settling the labour dispute to the benefit of all. The LCBO well, who really cares? I'll bet beer and wine sales will soar. Yes they want job security but trust me anyone being self-employed has never had job security and some days earning $10 an hour would be a huge blessing! So get over yourself already. Anyone wanting alcohol in Ontario will have either stocked up by now or will go outside of Ontario. Those near provincial or US borders will simply go across and get what they want.

An LCBO strike is virtually meaningless aside of the fact it is the first one in their history. It will hurt hotels and restaurants but you know the Ontario government aka Dalton McGuinty doesn't really care about small business in Ontario and that apathy is wearing off on other Ontarioians. LCBO workers will try to get their demands heard on deaf ears while the Ontario government loses $5 million dollars per day for each day of the strike and you know where they are going to come to make that up, don't you? As far as I'm concerned liquour sales in this province should have been privatized a long time ago. The government no longer has to be paternalistic. I think we can think for ourselves, thank-you very much. But what the province is really saying is drink up so we can fund our hospitals but don't drink and drive wink wink because we don't want too many people in our hospitals.

Today, I found cp24 news irritating because of the sensationalization and the irrational people dumping garbage wherever. I mean come one, seriously how much garbage can some one create in one day? And how much can garbage stink in one day? The media is feeding into the fear of the people and people are reacting. For shame! People in Toronto are flipping out because their garbage has not been collected for a day. Give it a rest! Honestly! We have garbage pick-up once a week and recycle pick-up every other week. It is not uncommon for us to put our garbage out once a month or once every 6 weeks and then it is one small bag. Why? We have learned how to reduce garbage and if anything the citizens of Toronto need to learn is to reduce their garbage. Simply tossing it out in a container does not take care of the problem! Those self-centred inconsiderate imbeciles who think they can just drop their garbage anywhere well deserve the fines given and I might add I think during the strike those illegally dumping should have fines doubles. I'd love to see environmentalists get involved in this strike. Reducing the garbage put out would solve a lot of problems including not having to have as many garbage collectors. That way the city could hire extra day care workers to keep those who really want a job working!

Garden Gnome
©2006-2009