Last summer (2003) EH! provided free, full-colour bookmarks ("Why are Wetlands important to me?") to libraries, bookstores and other businesses across Haliburton County. Thanks to funding from the Haliburton County Development Corporation, printing by County Commercial Printers and a beautiful colour photograph of a bullfrog by Darren Lum of the Haliburton County Echo, the bookmarks were able to spread important messages about wetland protection.

Kim Varty, a Haliburton Village resident and university student, came to EH! with her idea to sell reuseable, cloth grocery bags at local stores to help reduce the use of plastic bags. Again, with financial assistance from the Haliburton County Development Corporation, 500 cream-coloured bags were printed in green ink with the Haliburton Chamber of Commerce logo "A Natural Work of Art" and the slogan, "It's in the bag." They were sold at local stores for $4.99 each and, in most stores, the bags sold out quickly. Displays for the bags were made by Sergio & Sigi Zrinscak of Eagle Lake.

This year all municipalities in the Highlands have been revising their Official Plans (OPs). OPs are important documents, which outline planning rules regulating development and ultimately influence how this beautiful area will look in the future. Heather Ross, the Chairperson of EH!, is a planner by training.She and the OP committee have examined the municipal OPs and have provided critical comments on environmental aspects of these plans. In most cases, these comments have been well-received by municipalities. The county and municipal OPs can be found online : the County of Haliburton, the Township of Algonquin Highlands, the Township of Highlands East, the Township of Dysart et al and the Township of Minden Hills. Anyone can obtain a free copy of an OP by inquiring at municipal offices. It is EH!'s intention to publish a comparative review of all the OPs on this website, so people can see how their OPs rank environmentally.

EH! with its concern for proper forest management decided at one of its earliest meetings to run an Information Day in partnership with the Highlands Stewardship Council for lakeshore and small property owners.That day was titled “Caring for your Woodlands near water: Ideas and Opportunities” and was held on Saturday, August 9, 2003.

He contacted Dave Chapeskie, an Agroforestry Specialist, Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food at Kemptville, for assistance. Dave came to Haliburton and they toured about 12 properties, which had been offered as sites by their owners. Three were selected by Dave - a property on 12 Mile Lake which is jointly owned, Beatty’s Sugar Bush and the Dobrzensky property.

Murray Fearrey, the Reeve of Dysart et al, welcomed everyone. Then Dave Chapeskie took over. He gave a preliminary lecture with slides on what to look for. He then introduced Jennifer Card from the Highlands Stewardship Council and Torben Michalsen, the County Forestry Official, who each spoke for a few minutes.

At about 11 p.m. everyone boarded a bus to travel to the first site. Unfortunately, it rained off and on all day which caused problems trying to walk in the bush. After visiting the first site, the bus headed to Beatty’s Sugar Bush where a BBQ luncheon was served. After lunch Dave Chapeskie and Torben Michalsen spoke about the waterfront lot concentrating on replanting and then answered questions. A tour was conducted of the sugar bush and pine plantation. Due to delays caused by the rain it was not possible to visit the final property. However, Margaret Dobrzensky, the owner of that property, was with the tour and provided information and history regarding her property.

The bus then returned to the community centre. In spite of the weather, an informative day was had by all. Approximately 30 people attended. Anyone who would be interested in future programs of this kind should contact EH!

People who have land they want to protect for future generations donate that land to a Land Trust, where it is looked after and protected in perpetuity. It may be surprising to some people to realize how many landowners welcome the idea of land trusts -- perhaps they don't have any heirs to pass the property onto or perhaps they think those heirs might develop the property, divide it or sell it off! Sometimes developers agree to "donate" lots to lake associations/municipalities as a compromise in their development plans -- they get to sell off new lots while some lots are preserved undeveloped. There are plenty of reasons why land trusts are becoming increasingly popular all over the province.

The title was "Behind the Lakes" but EH! member Ian Daniel was the man behind the forum -- he has been interested in land forums for many years. In a way, the forum was the fulfillment of a long-held dream and Ian is to be congratulated for putting on such a successful forum.

(Of course he couldn't do it alone! EH! members Monika Turner and Wallis Smith provided a most excellent lunch, complete with Monika's now-famous Southwest Salad [we'll try to get her recipe online!]. Eric was the tech guy and everybody else pitched in with moving chairs around and such.)

Speakers included Dave Walker of the Ontario Land Trust Alliance, Ron Reid of the Couchiching Conservancy, Ian Attridge of the Kawartha Heritage Conservancy, Paul Heaven from Glenside Ecological Services and Peter Hynard, a registered professional forester.

The forum was so successful, in fact, participants unanimously approved the idea of setting up a land trust in the Highlands. A search committee was formed soon after, with Ian as chairman, and that committee is hoping to have a final list of names ready to sit on a Land Trust committee ready by January 2004 -- at the latest.

The search committee includes Ian Daniel, Karen Warner, Cathy Olliffe, Stephen Foster and Lorraine Smith. Any members of EH! or participants at the forum, are welcome to submit names of people they think would make good candidates for the Land Trust committee.

The sun shone down on EH! Fair July 3, 2004 at the Stanhope Community Centre and Park. An estimated 1,500 people visited throughout the day and evening, popping in to do a little eco-shopping, grabbing an organic bite to eat, catching a seminar from one of many knowledgeable speakers or listening to some great music.

The day started with this friendly admonition: “This is an environment fair which means you should let the leftover hippie in you emerge and catch some much-needed rays. You should not feel obligated to see or do all things. Choose what interests you! Wander in! Wander out! And take these words to heart - `Slow down, you move too fast, time to make the whole day last; skip around some granite stones, look for fun and feel groovy!'”

Everything got going pretty early: at 8 a.m. the rummage and bake tables opened and earlybirds took advantage of caterer Franka Andriano's caffeine and muffin fuel to find the best bargoons. Mieke Foster did an outstanding job gathering items and running the rummage table, with some help from Margaret Dobrzensky, Ann Mahar and many others. The bake table was amazing, with home baked goodies galore, most of which were baked in Monika Turner's very capable kitchen. Donations also came in from many others.

The officialities started at 9 a.m. with welcomes from Environment Haliburton! President Heather Ross and Township of Algonquin Highlands Reeve Eleanor Harrison. EH!s very own Carolynn Coburn then took over the mike, introducing the first speaker of the day, Monte Gisborne.

Not one to miss making an incredible entrance, Monte rode onto the stage on one of his electric scooters, resembling Elvis -- only thinner and quieter. Monte talked about the world of hybrid or battery-operated vehicles, in particular a project he's working on in the Balsam Lake area. Outside, people could see his electric scooter, his electric snowmobile and his hybrid car.

Comedienne/actress Brigitte Gall was up next, talking about her TV show World's Greatest Spas and how she got to tour some of the swankiest places on earth during the show's filming. And, despite all the great places she visited, she still thinks her little cottage in Minden is one of the best places in the whole world.

Environmentalist Pat Potter, who lives near Bancroft in a house made of old tires, gave an inspired, impassioned talk about the importance of looking after your own backyard, as well as chat about her amazing off-the-grid house.

After Pat, the audience was treated to a showing of George Farrell's Haliburton Highlands video. Meant as a marketing tool, this beautiful film really drives the point home that this area is drop-dead gorgeous and worth protecting.

At lunchtime Franka Andriano and her talented crew served up a wholesome, sell-out lunch while local musicians entertained on stage. First up was Katya McQueen, singing along with Eric Lipman and Dave Fougere. She was followed by Albert Saxby and Ian Pay of Backwater Dog fame.

Up next was Carol Moffat who gave everyone a head's up on what turned out to be an explosive issue: the rumoured closing of the Leslie M. Frost Centre. The rumours, unfortunately, turned out to be true and Ontario's most important outdoor/environment education center was closed July 14. But kudos to Carol and others for getting the issue out of the starting blocks so early and so effectively.

Dr. Julia Harrison, a professor at Trent University, talked about her “cottaging” project. Julia is looking to hear from cottagers in the Highlands to talk about their unique experiences.

Steve Galea, an award-winning columnist for the Haliburton County Echo, the Minden Times, Today's Parent and Ontario Out of Doors, presented a humourous slide show of some of his nature photography.

Jean Tyler of Waverley Brook Farms talked about her family's wonderful farm near Haliburton and the challenges of gardening - especially organic gardening - in the harsh, short season we have in the Highlands.

Singer/songwriter/environmentalist Zoe Chilco wowed the crowd with her bluesy jazzy songs. She even played her new video, Rats `n Welfare. Later in the day she also warmed up the crowd for Nancy White.

At 5:30 “The EH! Team” dropped into hyperdrive to put on a fabulous, mostly-organic, barbecue feast! The menu included organic burgers, veggie burgers, dogs and veggie dogs, fresh, homemade salads, fresh fruit, veggies and, for dessert, beautiful cakes decorated with icing photos of the Highlands in three seasons. Congratulations to all the hard-working chefs and clean-up crew and special thanks to Easton's valu-mart in Haliburton village for providing such fresh, wonderful food at such a low price.

And when supper had settled, everyone gathered in the hall for a sold-out concert by the very fabulous Nancy White! Nancy is a CBC Radio alumni who has been writing humourous songs about current events and all kinds of other events for many years. Her dry wit and wonderful voice, with some help from her hilarious accompanist Tom Leighton, had the audience in stitches. Nancy sung her heart out, giving everyone a night they'll always remember.

Thanks to everyone who participated in making EH! Fair such a perfect day! Extra big thanks to all the EH! members who worked like slaves in the hot weather - setting up and cleaning up and everything else! What a great team!