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.

The bad news is that about one-fifth of animal species are at risk of extinction, according to a report released by governments and conservation groups that met in October for the Convention of Biological Diversity in Nagoya, Japan. The good news, according to an article summary of the report, is that the number of threatened species would be even higher if not for the success of conservation efforts. Unfortunately, given the recent global economic crisis conservation efforts have lately taken a back seat.

The Dec/2010 issue of U.S. News contains 50 Ways to Improve Your Life in 2011. Articles concerning your health, money, career, mind and the world are included. Please note this will be the last issue of U.S. News & World Report. This magazine will no longer be published as a print or digital replica magazine. The U.S. Media group will continue to publish the usnews.com website.

A virtual cornucopia of foods and other items for your Thanksgiving feast will be available to buy at Canton's Fall Harvest Market this Sunday, November 21, from 9:00AM to 2:00PM at the Cady-Boyer Barn, in Preservation Park at 500 N. Ridge Rd. (approx. 1/4 mile north of Cherry Hill Rd.). Nearly two dozen local Michigan farmers and vendors will offer market favorites, including: turkeys, pie pumpkins, farm eggs, apples, spices, cider, natural meats, stuffing, artisan breads, salad greens, winter squash, sausage, pasta, honey, pies and other baked goods, pierogi, flower arrangements, dog treats and much more. Some vendors are taking pre-orders for your convenience.

According to an article in USA Today, a recent study indicates that it is likely. The study, which did not disclose brand names, analyzed top-selling air fresheners, laundry products including detergents, personal care products such as soaps and cleaning products. They found that all of the products tested emitted at least one chemical classified as toxic. The study did not find any difference in the so-called green products. To learn more about toxins in the environment you may want to check out Dodging the Toxic Bullet: How to Protect Yourself from Everyday Environmental Health Hazards by David R. Boyd. [Photo courtesy of AP Images]

Do you believe you can make a difference and help change the world?

Stephen Forrest will talk about his experiences with his "off-the-grid" house in Vermont. Forrest is Vice President of Research at the University of Michigan as well as a Professor of Engineering, Computer Science, and Physics.

Dr. Forrest will speak at the Hatcher Library Gallery at the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor on Tuesday, October 26, from 5:30-7:00PM.

Little green dresses: 50 original patterns for repurposed dresses, tops, skirts, and more by Tina Sparkles; photographer, Erica Beckman — Looking for a way to refresh your wardrobe without spending big bucks? Here you'll find lots of ideas for revamping existing clothing in your closet or from a thrift store, places to find inexpensive fabric, and sewing instructions for all levels. These patterns are printed so that you can photocopy onto larger paper and sew from there. Check out this Q&A with author Tina Sparkles at Craftzine.com.

I just read Sleeping Naked is Green by Vanessa Farquharson — one woman's attempt to incorporate one new green activity a day into her life for one year. If you are trying to lead a greener life, but sick of feeling guilty about that one cup of coffee you had in a Styrofoam cup last week, this might be the book for you. It is told with a sense of humor and interesting Canadian view-point, but yet has some good ideas as to how to lead a greener life. In celebration of CPL's thirtieth anniversary, here are thirty of the more entertaining (and sometimes downright gross) ideas that Vanessa attempted to incorporate into her life during her one year adventure:

1. Forgo electronic gym equipment
2. Switch to recycled toilet paper
3. Use handkerchiefs instead of tissues
4. Switch to vegan-friendly dental floss
5. Invest in permanent laser hair removal rather than shaving and waxing
6. Pick up litter when you see it
7. Switch to recycled, recyclable razors

Eco books : inventive projects from the recycling bin by Terry Taylor

Handmade books sound neat, but how easy is it to actually make one? Turns out, pretty easy! You can take materials you have around the house and make them into books in a variety of styles. This book shows how to make forty different types of books ranging from easy (complete in an afternoon or less) to more advanced styles that might take a little longer. You can also reuse a ton of different materials for the covers, including egg cartons, cardboard, fabric, an old mouse pad, cereal boxes, and lots of others.

John Gallagher thinks there is, and discusses it in his new book Reimagining Detroit: Opportunities for Redefining an American City. In a Detroit Free Press article, Gallagher writes that trying to rebuild Detroit into its former glory by repopulating the city's empty spaces and returning downtown to the shopping area it once was is not the answer. He argues that we must envision a different future for Detroit — perhaps with less people, but room for more community gardens, bike lanes and transit lines.