By Roy L Hales
Firewood is a vital source of heat energy on Cortes Island. Some think of it as our secret sin. There may be more environmentally conscious people here than any other part of British Columbia, per capita, yet we use a more carbon producing energy source than coal. This is the season when we cut and stack it for the coming winter. It’s also time to have fun with firewood.
Continue reading Fun with FirewoodBy Roy L Hales
When Island Timberlands arrived in 2012, they found Cortes island residents waiting behind a blockade. The Vancouver Observer sent a young film maker to cover the story, but Daniel Pierce found more than just another clash between a logging company and local environmentalists. He is still documenting British Columbia’s fight for sustainable logging.
Continue reading British Columbia’s Fight For Sustainable LoggingBy Roy L Hales
There is a little spot of Eden just outside of Gibsons. A 7-kilometre-long network of trails guides visitors along Roberts Creek and through the old growth forest. Sampling a slice of nature at Cliff Gilker Park can be an afternoon’s experience, or a short relaxing walk.
Continue reading Sampling A Slice Of Nature At Cliff Gilker ParkOriginally published on Cortes Radio, as part of the Deep Roots Initiative, Season One.
“Do trees communicate? Do they look after each other and other species?
Story Producer Rick Bockner unearths a sophisticated network of co-dependent life forces, below and above our feet.
Continue reading The Energetic ForestBy Roy L Hales
During a recent interview, Campbell River film maker Damien Gillis said “there would be a great deal of outrage” if the public knew the degree to which we subsidize logging old growth forests. These subsidies come in the form of lower stumpage fees for the remote areas where most of our surviving ancient forests still persist. Gillis also informed me this is a central issue in the United States’ softwood dispute with Canada. After the interview, I drew up a series of potentially embarrassing questions about BC’s stumpage rates.
Continue reading Potentially Embarrassing Questions About BC’s Stumpage Rates
