Human induced climate change is real, and its hurting humans, societies and the Earth. A lot of it is the result of atmospheric carbon. That’s the story that my city, Vernon, is […]
Climate Change in the North Okanagan
Nature is Political Says Rebecca Solnit
Just ask this Western Tanager, negotiating a perch without being hassled by a man in a kayak with a camera. Sheesh. No, seriously. Rebecca Solnit says so in her new book: See? […]
Kelowna is Funny
Here’s Kelowna’s explanation of their success at mitigating climate change. See that? 20% of sensitive ecosystem land is protected. Given that sensitive ecosystems make up 28% of Kelowna, and Kelowna covers 214 […]
Ethical Vineyards: Inspiration from the Rhine
It is possible to have a vineyard without weeds . Here on the hottest part of Germany’s Kaiserstuhl, the system is managed by drought, cover crops, and manure laid in a line […]
Rewilding Vineyards and Orchards in the Okanagan
The best intentions don’t always lead to the best results. Placing a vineyard or orchard next to a wild environment so that both farmed and non-farmed environments can exist and the farm […]
The Lost Terbasket Ranch Orchard is in the News
Our project to celebrate the resilience of the Sməlqmíx through friendship and an amazing apricot tree is celebrated in an article by Aaron Hemens in Indigenews. Here is elder and language keeper […]
Of Kant and the Environment
On March 29, 1781, the philosopher Immanuel Kant sat at his writing desk in Königsberg, East Prussia, and opened his new book, A Critique of Pure Reason. Spring clouds were building over […]
Paul Terbasket’s Apricot Tree Has a Visitor
Remember our elders? Remember how resilient they are? https://okanaganokanogan.com/2019/03/28/the-glory-that-is-paul-terbaskets-apricot-tree/ Remember when we went pruning on Paul’s 100+-year-old apricot tree at Blind Creek? Remember how the trees grew and grew, with a chance […]
Gardens for the Grand Kids: an Organic Model for Slow Release Fertilizer in a Post-Petroleum World
Compost requires labour and tillage. In other words, it is a renewable input. It is one that mimics natural processes, or interjects materials into them. I guess it is a bit like […]
The Sly Thing About Fossil Fuels and Farming
The Okanagan Valley is a great place for fences. The concept of taking common land and turning it into private land, and the dispossession of the land’s people that came with it, […]
Okanagan Okanogan 