A friend's introduction to the live Eagle Cam at Norfolk Botanical Gardens is fascinating and quite an educational experience for all ages. This eagle couple has three chicks, or are they fledglings? Find the answer to this and the myriad questions you will have after viewing these majestic eagles. Check out this book on our nation's symbol Eagles and for adults, Eagles: Masters of the Sky.

Have fun reusing and recycling everyday items you might find around the house. All ages welcome!
Program Date: Wednesday, April 20, 2:00-3:00PM

Use recycled materials from the Scrapbox to make unique projects. All ages welcome!
Program Date: Tuesday, April 19, 1:00-3:00PM

Spring is a great time to clean out your file drawers for old documents and paperwork. However, many people worry about the safety of throwing away sensitive records and most home shredders are not powerful enough to handle large amounts of paper at one time.

If you are considering shredding for those piles of paper, Office Max offers a secure shred service for $.59 per pound. Those documents that are shredded are then recycled, making it an environmentally good choice as well.

Looking to get out of the rat race? Striving for less? Check out these books for great minimalist tips:

Philosophy of Simplicity

Enough already!: clearing mental clutter to become the best you by Peter Walsh

Simplexity: why simple things become complex (and how complex things can be made simple) by Jeffrey Kluger

Thursday, March 17, 4:00-7:00PM: Open House
This month at the Hatcher Graduate Library, the theme is “Mapping Science” in conjunction with the current Library Gallery exhibit Places & Spaces: Mapping Science, a traveling exhibit created by Dr. Katy Börner of Indiana University. The exhibit was created to demonstrate the power of maps to navigate and manage physical places but also abstract topic spaces. It introduces knowledge mapping techniques to the general public. It is meant to inspire cross-disciplinary discussion on how to best track and communicate human activity and scientific progress on a global scale. Allow time to view maps from the Map Library as well as the exhibit.

I now can identify certain birds by song thanks to this book. The Backyard Birdsong Guide: A Guide to Listening by Donald Kroodsma is a real treat — especially as Spring approaches. Look up a variety of birds located in Eastern and Central North America and you will find a photo of the bird, a brief description, information about their habitat, as well as information about their singing. But what is really nifty is that you can then punch in the number located next to the bird in the sound device located in the book and listen to the bird singing!

The revolutionary yardscape: ideas for repurposing local materials to create containers, pathways, lighting, and more by Matthew Levesque — When I see a garden or yard with cool planters, trellises, or other accoutrements, I always think about how pricey it would be to do the same in my garden. But with this book, you can make your own goodies from previously used materials — save some cash and go green at the same time. This book has lots of tips for making old items seem new. Isn't it time to add some useful art to your landscape?

The March/2011 issue of This Old House contains 52 Quick Fix-It Trricks, remoldeling money savers, how to problems and many other DIY shortcuts for your reading. This Old House is part of the CPL Adult magazine collection and also available at thisoldhouse.com.

Craig Perdue, Naturalist and Primitive Technologist, shows us how Glory, the gregarious Harris Hawk, and Jasper, the Great Horned Owl, get trained to follow using behavioral psychology. Mr. Perdue also tells us about his lifetime love of nature and the skills to survive and thrive in it. Check out Mr. Perdue as a Living Book at Canton Public Library!

The Canton Winter Farmers Market returns this Sunday, March 13, from 10:00AM-2:00PM, but with a different location due to the soggy weather: Come to historic Cherry Hill School on the Northwest corner of Ridge and Cherry Hill Road at 50440 Cherry Hill Road. Eighteen local vendors will be there this Sunday. Don't miss it!

Save the Date

One more Canton Winter Farmers Market is slated for Sunday, April 10 from 10:00AM-2:00PM

Pasta Drive

The Farmers Market will continue its pasta drive to help restock the shelves at Open Door Ministry's Food Pantry in Canton during all three Winter Markets. Drop off any boxed, dried pasta at Cherry Hill School during the Market.

Seed libraries are a way for people to share the seeds from the plants they grow, as well as to gain access to other heirloom varieties with which their neighbors may have had good luck. The Bay Area Seed Interchange Library is one such organization, which appears to be working well. Have you swapped seeds with others? Do you keep your own library of seeds from year to year? Would you be interested in participating in a seed swap in Canton? For more info on saving seeds, check out this article:

No, really, you can! Even if you live in an dwelling without a yard, you can still turn your food waste into rich, useful compost. Michigan garden expert Colleen Vanderlinden shows you how over at Planet Green. You can also check out some of our many resources on composting:

The compost specialist : the essential guide to creating and using garden compost, and using potting and seed composts by David Squire

Green is definitely not just a color for beans anymore. We all need to be "green" and take responsibility to care for our wonderful planet. Kids can be just as responsible as parents in this area by doing simple things like turning off the lights when they leave a room, or using both sides of a sheet of paper. Of course using the library is a fantastic way to be green, by using the books and sources we have, instead of buying new ones. There are also some great books at the library to help remind kids of the important part they can play in being green. Check out Sandy's Incredible Shrinking Footprint, Uno's Garden, or The Lorax, which all are fun stories to read and help remind us to take care of our Earth.

Are you looking for some environmentally friendly ideas for your business? Join Eco-Coach Lori Sullivan and Bill Clemens of DTE Energy for some great solutions. Vendors will also be present for even more green tips and products. This Strategies of Success (SOS) seminar takes place on Thursday, February 3^rd from 7:30-9:30AM in the Summit on the Park Banquet Center. Space is limited so please reserve your spot by calling the Canton Chamber of Commerce at (734) 453-4040.

Many people know that Canton, before it was developed, was largely farmland. But did you know that there are still functioning family farms in the area? Check out Michigan Family Farms.com to find information about local farms and lots more information about finding local food and events. You can also look forward to fresh, local food from some of these farms at the upcoming Winter Markets at the Canton Farmers Market.

Jumo is a social network "connecting individuals and organizations who want to change the world." Jumo is founded and directed by Chris Hughes, co-founder of Facebook. Jumo beta requires users to sign up using their Facebook account. How is Jumo different from other online platforms? It claims it is different because it "is interested in building an informed community of people invested in the long-term successes of effective organizations."

As the holiday season continues on into the month remember to include reading of This Old House magazine. The Dec/2010 issue of TOH includes several informative articles on inexpensive homeowner gifts and their assessment of the best product picks for 2010. This Old House is part of the library's print magazine collection and is published monthly.

MiEarth.org is a website containing videos "designed to celebrate great environmental work in Michigan, educate people about what they can do, and inspire them to take action." You can view videos about a variety of environmental topics and projects in Michigan. If you log in and create an account, you can even post one yourself. There are several different categories of videos on the site including "Green Communities", "My View" and "Green Inc" where you can learn about the sustainable practices of posted local companies and organizations. The website also has an environmentally-themed blog.

The yarn garden : 30+ knits using plant-based fibers by J. Marsha Michler — Many of us like to keep our lives filled with natural things as much as possible, and this book offers some perhaps not-as-well-known options for knitting with natural fibers. You'll find that just because it's natural, it's not limited to frumpy styles or subdued tones. You can also check out a few free patterns that didn't make it into the book.