June 2012 - Saint Mary's University

June 2012
Saint Mary’ University Sustainability Program
Welcome to Greening SMU, a monthly newsletter to update and
connect Saint Mary's University students, faculty and staff on various
sustainability initiatives, events, volunteer and job opportunities across
the university and in the community.
Past editions of Greening SMU are available at
www.smu.ca/sustainability/news.html. This newsletter is just one way
to keep you connected! You can also find us on Twitter or Facebook by
searching "Sustainable Saint Mary's". To contribute to Greening
SMU, email sustainability@smu.ca

ARAMARK’s Farm to Table Program: Rhubarb
Rhubarb is a native crop of Asia and is
considered a cool climate perennial plant;
which makes it excellent for growing in the
Maritimes. Once planted, the rhubarb plant
can continue to produce for 8-15 years. The
red variety is more popular although the green
Ingredients:
3 cups chopped rhubarb
2 tablespoons orange juice
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
variety produces a higher
yield.
Rhubarb has celery-like
stalks which can grow up
to two feet long. It’s
generally eaten as a fruit,
but is technically a
vegetable. The leaves of
the rhubarb plant contain
oxalates, which makes
them poisonous and
therefore should never be
eaten.
Traditionally known as a
medicinal plant, rhubarb is not only sold as a
nutraceutical but as a food product, fresh
frozen and even processed. Rhubarb is tart
and is usually combined with sugar to create
jams, desserts, sauces, pies, etc. Rhubarb is
often combined with strawberries for festive
or traditional items. From a nutrition
standpoint, rhubarb is a source of Vitamin C,
potassium and dietary fibre.
Rhubarb Crumble
Cook Time: 40 minutes Total Time: 40
minutes
Preparation:
1 tablespoons
butter, cut in small pieces
Crumble Mixture:
1/4 cup melted
butter
1/3 cup brown
sugar
2/3 cup sifted allpurpose
flour
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon
baking soda
2/3 cup quick
cooking oats
Arrange diced rhubarb in a buttered 8-inch
square baking dish. Sprinkle with orange juice,
3/4 cup sugar, cinnamon, and then dot with
the 1 tablespoon of cut up butter. Combine
melted butter with brown sugar. Sift together
the flour, salt, and baking soda; mix with oats.
Combine the flour oat mixture with the brown
sugar and melted butter mixture. Spread over
rhubarb. Bake at 375F for 40 minutes. Serve
warm, with ice cream or whipped topping.
Source: www. southernfood.about.com

Paradise-Keji, Seasonal
Park?
This is where nature education and appreciation began for me, perhaps I share this in
common with others. Many people like me made Keji a part of their lives.
Kejimkujik National Park - a place I visited many times as a child! I enjoyed familiarizing
myself with local plants and animals through the various interpretive displays, games, and
pamphlets. Getting a close-up look at fish, listening to song birds, testing my skills assembling
one of the wildlife puzzles, paddling the lakes and rivers and just simply enjoying nature and
the company of my companions. I also used to go there to enjoy the winter park activities:
winter camping, skiing, snowshoeing with my family. It is amazing how nature helped me to
forget about life's stressors.
However, things are changing at my favourite National Park. It has been confirmed that the
park will close each year after Thanksgiving Weekend (October) and reopen for the Victoria
Day long weekend (May), for budgetary reasons. My paradise, Kejimkujik National Park, will
become a seasonal park from this year forward. A shame?! I will miss my Keji winters. Right
on my doorstep, but limited accessibility.

Do not wait!
Do the Light Bulb Exchange! Free!
Notice to Staff and Faculty
Please bring in your incandescent desk light bulbs to get a new LED light bulb. Drop
by our office during regular office hours at McNally Main Basement - Inventories and
Distribution

Since the event began in 1991, McCarthy said she's seen no decline in the amount of trash
that piles up on the island each year.
"We thought we were going to see fewer of those plastic tampon applicators that are
flushed down the toilet but we still find them on McNabs Island," she said.
Fishing boats were hired to take the garbage to Eastern Passage for disposal.
McCarthy said the cost of the annual cleanup has increased over the years.
Great McNabs Island cleanup!
Cathy McCarthy, president of the Friends of McNabs Island Society, said about 450
bags of garbage were collected on Sunday.
"There were some cans of sardines that had never been opened so we don't know if
they came off a ship or where they came from. There was a television and a remote
that was found also. There was a sign from the Cunard Centre," she told CBC News.
McCarthy said about 200 volunteers spent the day on McNabs Island with members
of the Friends of McNabs Island Society, which organizes the annual event.
(Source: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/story/2012/06/04/nsmcnabs-island-cleanup.html)

upcoming
amazing events
Greek Festival 2012
June 7 at 6:00pm until June 10 at 10:00pm
St. George's Greek Orthodox Church
Clean Nova Scotia Day
Saturday, June 9 10:00am-
12:00pm
Quinpool Road
Celtic Mass for the Sea
concert to the Halifax
waterfront in celebration
of World Oceans Day 2012
Saturday, June 9 7:00pm
Halifax Waterfront