Planting a Prairie Garden
The thought of planting a garden that can survive our wild weather can be daunting for even the most seasoned green thumb. Add in the weeding, fertilizing, watering and tending and you’ve got yourself a summer of hard work ahead. It’s for this reason that many gardeners are experimenting with native prairie plants. Well suited to the ups and downs of our climate, native plants are generally hearty enough to flourish in our prairie soil.

Shirley Froehlich, owner of Prairie Originals, located just outside Lockport, explains some of the benefits of planting native plants: “They’re tough, can survive the heat and drought, and they’re beautiful; the prairie style tends to be lower maintenance.” Many varieties, she continues, also attract native birds and butterflies.

Lower maintenance indeed. Because they are already accustomed to living on the prairie, the plants don’t require the constant watering and weeding of a traditional garden. And in the fall you can forget about pulling out all the plants and making a mess of your beds. Simply leave the plants in the ground throughout the winter, then mow the area in the spring. This will take care of the previous year’s growth, allow the soil to warm up sooner, and promote earlier growth.

Froehlich suggests checking out Naturescape Manitoba and Wildflowers Across the Prairies, both are great references for identifying prairie wildflowers and helping you landscape your garden.

For more information contact Prairie Originals at (204) 785-9799 or e-mail prairieoriginals@mts.net.

Drink to Your Health
The latest craze among celebs in Hollywood is toting bottles of vitamin-enhanced water. From Paris Hilton to Lindsay Lohan, the Glaceau Vitamin Water trend might be personal trainer approved, or maybe it’s a way to beat that after-party headache. Whatever the reason, these stars may be on to something. With a slight fruity flavour, most of the vitamin water on the market is a low-calorie way to get the daily vitamins (vitamins E, B6, B12 and niacin to name a few) that are said to improve your energy and strength throughout the day. Unfortunately, Glaceau products are only sold in the U.S., but other companies are jumping on board and developing their own vitamin water, including Aquafina Alive, Dasani Plus and Propel Fitness Water.

Ready, Set, BUILD!
A new home is under construction in St. Vital as part of Habitat for Humanity Winnipeg’s Women Build Committee. Two hundred women from all walks of life have volunteered their time to perform the hands-on construction of the 1,200 square foot bungalow.

This summer marks Women Build’s third year of home building. Over $135,000 has been raised to erect the house, which will provide a family of seven a place to call home on Maralbou Avenue.

Construction began on May 22 and will continue throughout the summer. If you’d like to be a part of this rewarding project, they are still accepting volunteers for various dates. No construction experience is needed. Contact Linda Peters at (204) 235-2188 or email at lpeters@habitat.mb.ca.

Kids' music that won't drive you nuts
Taking kids on a road trip can be filled with fun and adventure as you watch falling stars wink out above the lake, roast marshmallows at your campfire, canoe a quiet river or scream down a waterslide into the hotel pool. Listening to Alvin and Chipmunks over and over on the drive there, however, will result in Dad “accidentally” backing over the CD by day two. Let’s have a look at some great music the whole family can enjoy as we motor down life’s highways.

Mixed tapes or CDs let you slide in a couple of artists for yourself and are a great way to slip in a bit of musical education along the way, like Gordon Lightfoot’s Canadian Railway Trilogy as you enter the Rockies.

Let’s start with the classics and you can’t go wrong with Beatles songs like All you Need is Love, Yellow Submarine, Octopus’s Garden, Here Comes the Sun, When I’m 64, or With a Little Help From My Friends. Add in some Monkees hits like Last Train to Clarkesville and I’m a Believer or the Byrds’ Mr. Tambourine Man or Mr. Spaceman and you’ve got singalong that will have the whole car giggling. Don’t forget to plug in The Beach Boys’ Fun Fun Fun as you motor into California. Our House by CSNY, Benny and the Jets by Elton John, Proud Mary or Traveling Band by CCR are also classic faves.

Silly novelty songs from our youth like Snoopy and the Red Barron, Itsy Bitsy, Teeny Weenie, Yellow Polka Dot Bikini, Purple People Eater or even the Barenaked Ladies’ If I Had a Million Dollars are fun for the first few spins.
Hipster parents might want to look for cuts like Wilco’s cover of Woody Guthrie’s Hoodoo Voodoo off Mermaid Avenue, Bob Marley’s One Love or Black Horse and the Cherry Tree by KT Tunstall.

Country fans can’t go wrong with Corb Lund’s 5 Dollar Bill or the Dixie Chicks’ Lullaby. Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, Patsy Cline, Doc Walker and Shania Twain all have tunes suitable for young fans.

Show tunes are always great with big memorable choruses and catchy melodies. Look for some of the more obscure ones like the wonderful I’m Coming out of My Shell from the musical A Year with Frog and Toad.

There are a million rock or pop tunes but try some of these on for size: Queen—Bohemian Rhapsody, The B-52’s—Love Shack, Ben Lee—Catch My Disease, Andy Stochansky—22 Steps, Coldplay—Yellow, Blue Rodeo—Try, or Corrine Bailey Rae—Put Your Records On.

Manitoba has a bountiful crop of wonderful children’s entertainers and I always worked in a few songs from Heather Bishop (Chickies on the Run), Al Simmons (I Collect Rocks) or anything from Fred Penner.

Girl tweens will love Hilary Duff, Hannah Montana or Eva Avila. Boys love AC/DC, AC/DC and more AC/DC. Introduce your kids to the harder side with Lillix or Joan Jett’s I love Rock ’n’ Roll.

My kids loved Life is a Highway by Tom Cochrane, The Beatles’ Baby You Can Drive My Car, Good Mother by Jann Arden, Crabbucket by K-OS and anything by the Wailin’ Jenny’s.

So get the windows rolled down, the stereo cranked and stock up on slurpees, cause its almost summer and that beach is just an hour away.

Goodbye Plastic
Have you ever stopped to think about just how many of those plastic grocery bags you use in one year? According to bringyourbag.com’s calculator, a family of five uses an average of 1,250 bags per year, and North Americans uses 110 billion bags annually. The problem is that most of these bags end up at a landfill, and take anywhere between 15 and 1,000 years to break down.

In response to environmental concerns, many retailers are now selling reusable bags, including grocery giants like Safeway and Sobeys. Bringyourbag.com (BYOB) is an initiative that is devoted to doing away with plastic bags, to improve and help sustain the environment. Retailers are teaming up with BYOB to join in on the effort. Their bags are made from recycled material, and they sit flat, for easy packing.

Many cities and towns around the world are adopting new plastic bag by-laws. On April 2, 2007 the northern Manitoba town of Leaf Rapids became the first in Canada to ban all single-use plastic bags, after teaming up with BYOB. The story made national headlines this spring, and environmentalists are hoping that other municipalities take notice.

WELL READ with Janet Stewart
Seen every night on CBC News at Six, Janet Stewart has called Winnipeg home since moving from Halifax in 2001. She spent five years at CTV before moving to CBC earlier this year. With a hectic schedule, it can be difficult to find time for herself, but Stewart says she tries to take time every day to read. Here are three of her favourite books.

Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone
by J.K. Rowling
“I had got into this place where I felt reading was something I had to do,” says Stewart. She says she would read history and non-fiction books, because they were what she thought she thought she should read.

That all changed when she met a certain young wizard.

“Once I decided to read Harry Potter, it reintroduced to me that reading can be fun,” she says. The Harry Potter series, which now are available with more mature covers for adult readers, is so accessible and easy. Perhaps one of the best things about it, she says, is that there is nothing to learn from it. “It’s a true escape. J.K. Rowling changed my life.”

Three Times Carlin: An Orgy of George (Brain Droppings, Napalm and Silly Putty,When Will Jesus Bring the Pork Chops)
by George Carlin
Stewart was lent this anthology by Murray Parker, CBC’s weather specialist. “There is no plot, just joke after joke after silly observation,” she says. “It’s made me laugh out loud.”

A Prayer for Owen Meany
by John Irving
While it has been a few years since Stewart first read this book, it still stands out as one of her favourites. “It’s very twisted and warped,” she says. “I like John Irving’s style of writing. At times it’s tragic and dark, but there were also moments where I laughed out loud.”

UP NEXT: She hopes to finish the George Carlin anthology, and then re-read the Harry Potter books, before the final installment of the series comes out on July 21.

Au natural
In an effort to improve their health, and support local farmers, many Winnipeggers have made the switch to organic groceries. The health benefits of eating pesticide-
free, non-modified fruit and vegetables can offer a certain peace of mind, especially when it comes to feeding your children. To accommodate the growing demand, organic product lines have been popping up in major grocery stores
and local organic food stores alike, including:

Fresh Option Organic Delivery (FOOD)
This Winnipeg-based company delivers local produce right to your door every one to two weeks. You can individualize your box to your own tastes, and check online to see what will be coming from week to week. Founders Marnie and Kevin Feeleus are both former chefs and include a recipe in each delivery. There is also information on where your food is coming from, which is often from local producers.
freshoption.ca • 1338 Clifton St. • 772-1479

Organza Natural & Organic Market
This is the largest organic and natural product supermarket in the city. From packaged snacks and frozen foods, to dairy products and fresh vegetables, as well as natural cleaning and facial products. The Dandelion Eatery is an on-site restaurant offering prepared dishes and dips to go.
organzamarket.com • 230 Osborne St. • 453-6266

Humboldt’s Legacy and Caulfield’s Organic Market
These two forces have joined together—on the Caulfield’s side, you’ll find a small organic grocery store, and on the Humboldt’s side you’ll find a wide selection of biodegradable and fair trade products, including coffee, tea, chocolate, and organic cotton clothing.
887 Westminster Ave. • 772-1404

Pet Insurance
When choosing a perfect pet, new owners buy dishes, mats, toys and even sweaters for their new loved one, but often forget to plan for when Princess Fuzzypants gets an infection in her paw, or when Fido swallows a child’s toy. Pet insurance is a way of preparing for these unforeseen events, so that your pet can get the care and treatment they deserve, while offering you peace of mind.
Since it’s inception in 1989, Petplan Insurance—a Winnipeg-based pet insurance
company—has been growing, and is now increasing at a rate of about 35 per cent each year.

“The bond with people and their pets is becoming more important,” says Randy Valpy, Petplan’s President and COO.

But one mistake people tend to make when purchasing insurance for their pet is that they are inclined to get only accident coverage. “Seventy-six per cent of all our claims are for illness,” says Valpy. Only about one per cent of pet owners in Canada have coverage for their pets, yet, according to the Petplan Insurance website, 73 per cent of pet owners say they would go into debt in order to provide for their pet’s well-being.

For more information on pet insurance, contact Petplan Insurance at 1-800-268-1169 or online at petplan.com.

Searching for Wisdom Abroad
Armed with a love of writing, a passion for people and the money she’d set aside for a mortgage, 26-year old Denyse Johnson set out in March 2007 to uncover words of wisdom from women in eight countries (Canada, the UK, Monaco, Mozambique, South Africa, Thailand, Australia, New Zealand), and chronicle these encounters.

“The idea to write about inspirational women has been something I’ve wanted to do for years,” she explains. “I think it’s because the two most influential people in my life are women: my mom and grandma. So, I decided to find, meet and write about other role models and gather their pearls of wisdom.”  

Some of her first lessons came from holding a brief job at an adult education centre in a rough part of London, England.

“I was only there for a couple weeks, but every day a woman would come in with a young baby under her arm, not able to speak a word of English, to try and register for an ESL class,” she recalls. “I remember thinking how much courage it must take to leave your country and move your family on the off chance that things may be better. It blew me away—the strength of these women.”

Rising to life’s challenges has been a common “pearl” Johnson has collected. As one interview subject, a dancer in Monte Carlo told her: “Don’t give up. It’s normal that in life you’re faced with a lot of challenges. If there are things that you are afraid of doing, those are the things that you should force yourself to do.”

Even after meeting people from around the world, Johnson says one of her most profound profiles comes from her hometown.

“Winnipegger Pauline Kuhn has a kiosk at The Forks and sells handmade crafts she buys from the women in her former country of Kenya. She knows first hand what extreme poverty can lead to. Still, she has this unbelievable faith in people and helping others. She just won’t give up, no matter what. I really admire her for that.”

Even with different backgrounds and varying experiences, Johnson says there are some universal truths. “A common theme I’ve picked up from the women I’ve interviewed is the belief that we all do the best we can with what we have,” she says. “No matter what choices we’ve made in the past, no matter what choices we’ll make tomorrow, we’re all genuinely trying our best. Meeting and profiling these women has made me stop comparing myself to other people. We are all different and we all have different goals and strengths. I’ll never be my best if I’m constantly trying to be somebody else. That’s one of the things they’ve taught me.”
Johnson is returning to Winnipeg in August and plans to write an in depth book on her experiences.

To read more about Denyse’s journey, visit pearlsoftheworld.ca.