Farming Smarter aims to sustain our land, water, soil, and farmers for the benefit of everyone.
Farming Smarter is growing stewardship
Farming Smarter makes a commitment to foster sustainable farming practices. For example, wherever they can, they will partner, research, inform, and support cost effective projects that are good for the land, air, water and crops.
Currently working in Southern Alberta, their Innovative Projects include:
Deep banding immobile nutrients
High value specialty crops
Precision planting canola
Cover crops across Prairie Canada
Alternative flee beetle management without neonicotinoids. What is a flee beetle? And why do they matter? Here's what the FS site has to say: Flea beetles are one of the major canola pests in Alberta. Currently neonicotinoid-based seed treatments are often used to protect canola seedlings from flea beetle damage. PMRA's recommendation to phase out the use of neonicotinoids has caused concern for growers. Without these seed treatments different control mechanisms must be considered by growers. These may be alternate seed treatment, increased seeding rates, or foliar insecticides. These activities may have negative environmental consequences. Furthermore, they may be less effective than current strategies and they will incur increased production costs
Curious? Check out their summer events:
Farming Smarter invites you to a summer of field school and "plot hops." You may also want to explore their farm days and conference options.
Many people don’t realize that F.S. is a registered Canadian charity. They are a non-profit association funded by grants, sponsorship, and donations. Above all, money donated to them stays in southern Alberta and funds locally directed agriculture focused research.
Your donation to this work, for example, could help them do your most critical agricultural research.
In short, if this resonates with your own values and concerns, we can help!
Dr. Jay’s Children’s Grief Society received a strong donation in April. They are one of over 200 organizations to receive Donate a Car Canada gifts this month.
Dr. Jay’s Children’s Grief Society helping children grieve
This one-of-a-kind charity provides a free service of grief counselling to dying children and to children whose parent or sibling is dying. Caregivers, medical professionals, families and children can receive training to deal with grief, dying and the healing process.
Services at the centre
The Dr. Jay Children’s Grief Centre provides free counselling services to children and youth who have experienced (or are currently experiencing) a terminal illness and/or death, personally or in their immediate family.
Bereavement Program provides counselling support after a death to normalize grief, encourage emotional expression, provide helpful coping strategies, and support enduring bonds.
Youth Support Program for bereaved youth is for kids between the ages of 13 and 18. The program creates a supportive environment. Grieving adolescents have the opportunity to connect with same-aged peers through art, music, drama, and sport.
Family Support Program focuses on supporting families who have experienced the death of a family member.
Camp Erin Toronto is a 3-day bereavement camp program in Muskoka for children and youth aged 6-17. Camp Erin is free and is open to any child who has experienced the death of an immediate family member or custodial caregiver.
Where your giving goes
Dr. Jay Children's Grief Centre does not receive any government funding, and our gifts are critical. Their counseling program is in high demand and their need of ongoing funding is high.
Through the generosity of people like you, their work has made a difference in the lives of countless children, youth and families who are living with terminal illness, traumatic loss and grief. Your gift to the Dr. Jay Children’s Grief Centre helps to ensure that grieving families have access to the innovative and specialized support they need. They also mean that this support can be accessed when they need it most.
A unique giving opportunity
If this cause speaks to you, but you aren't in a position to donate a vehicle at this time, consider ECHOAGE. If you're planning a birthday party, wedding, or some such event, you can invite your guests to make a donation to the grief centre when they respond to your invitation. You'll find this link right on the charity donation page on their website.
Your donation-ready vehicle will make a difference, too! Click below and we'll get you started on your donation process.
Vehicle donation in Canada should be a simple and cost-free process. As the donor, you have several donating options. Check your options carefully - not all donation programs are equal in integrity or service. Donate a Car Canada is all-Canadian, providing over 800 charities to choose from. 'Have a cause you love? We can process your car, truck, and (seasonally) motorcycle. For free! The net sale proceeds will go to your charity of choice.
How this works
The simplest way to proceed with your vehicle donation is to click any of the buttons on our webpage. That click will take you to an online form for your donation. The form is simple to understand, and it only asks for information we really need to process your car or truck promptly.
Not having success with the online form? No problem! Give us a direct call at 1-877-250-4904. Our phone team will be happy to talk with you. They'll walk you through the form if you like, but will also be happy to just fill it all out for you.
Done that step? Leave it to us. We'll contact a nearby towing company and arrange for your free and timely pick-up. Don't worry: no one will show up for the vehicle until they've called to arrange best timing with you.
The tow guys will come for your auto, process it, and send us payment. The dollar outcome is subject to (always!) fluctuating metal prices in Canada. Once we have payment from our tow agent, we'll forward the proceeds on to your charity.
What does the charity have to pay?
Not a thing! We have written agreements with our supported charities that they will issue tax receipts in a prompt manner. Apart from that, the work is all taken care of by us here at DACC. Many of our charities receive thousands of dollars each year; some of the lesser-known organizations would be grateful for a little extra from you!
The difference you make
Vehicle donation in Canada has a multi-layer impact. First, it allows you to have a recycle or re-sale ready vehicle picked-up and processed at no cost to you. But the benefits don't end there. The charity of your choice will certainly benefit. And so will the environment (clean, thorough recycling practices matter). The longer reach? Many of our supporting tow agents are small, local companies: keeping wheels on the ground with a steady stream of work matters, too.
So, give us a click and let us get you on your way with your vehicle donation today!
Spring maintenance as a topic for a vehicle donation site should probably be about vehicle clean-up? But there's something about the season that invites a check-in on other dusty corners.
"Road trip!" This has been the go-to vacation mode for our family of five. We recently donated our faithful old Buick Rendezvous through the Donate a Car Canada program, but didn't want to let it go without a little nod to some of the adventures it accompanied us on.
USA, here we come!
I hadn't realized, until I started scrolling through old road trip pictures, how far and wide our '09 Rendezvous actually took us. Not only did it get us down to the New Mexico Whitesands, it also explored parts of Oregon, Idaho, and Washington State with us.
It's pretty likely that our three teenagers were less enthusiastic than their parents were about these treks. Ok. It's a lot likely. There was just so much bribery and cajoling and compromising. I mean, how are you supposed to keep 5 people happy? All at once? When you're travelling hundreds and hundreds of kilometers each road trip? I don't think we ever really figured that out, and I couldn't find very many pictures of smiling teenage boys in my file. But the SUV sure served us well!
Giant array = giant dismay
'Not sure what the "Very Large Array" is? Yeah. I wasn't either. It's this:
Yup. A big field full of dishes. My hubby had seen them in a movie and was pretty stoked about detouring to "just drive by" on our way North and out of New Mexico.
One thing we know for sure about road tripping as a family is that I should, 100%, never-ever-never navigate. I mean, I can read the map and do a reasonable GPS-voice impersonation, but do not (do not!) listen to me if I decide to follow my "gut."
Because 3 out of 3 boys were totally not into visiting the Very Big Array, I was determined to souse out the quickest path to and from that field. The map showed two options: main highway, and a secondary route. It looked highway-ish. My gut said, Definitely follow that highway-ish red line on the map - it's so.much.shorter. than the real highway. My gut was wrong. Really so completely wrong.
Warning signs
To be fair, our frame of references for "rough road ahead," and "Beware: rocks on road," road signs are Rocky Mountain signs that simply note that a beautifully winding mountain highway might get a little seasonally dodgy.
Fair warning: if you come across these signs in New Mexico it means the road is made entirely of giant stab-y, tire-piercing stones. That actually pierce your tires. And leave you stranded between apparently abandoned homes along a completely abandoned road in a wholly abandoned desert.
The short cut red line that led to the Very Big Array was not a short cut. Especially not once we'd emptied the entire contents from the vehicle in order to get at and mount the spare tire, and then (after re-packing all of our belongings) limped our way 80 more miles to the array, and then on to the main highway. The array itself? Yeah, it's probably 15 minutes off the main highway. We added hours and hours to our travel time by taking the short cut.
Canadian hitch-hiker
We paused at the array. It seemed only fitting to pay it some kind of respect given all we'd sacrificed to get to it. And then nursed our poor Buick and its broken foot to the highway, praying to the tire gods that the spare would hold until we could get to any kind of civilization to buy a replacement tire for our shredded original.
The spare did not hold. It wheezed out a protesting gasp a few miles down the highway. And we were stuck. In the States. In New Mexico.
So, I went and stood in the middle of the highway. All 5'2" of mom Me. I hailed a passing truck (with a beautiful human and her dog and her threats of, "Do you know how lucky you are? No one ever stops for hitch hikers in New Mexico!") and got dropped off at a suspect looking town up the highway. The broken down shack of a garage that called itself the tire place happened to have two gentleman on the yard. I (don't judge me) pleaded our case and (I said don't judge me!) jumped in the truck with one of them and another spare tire, praying a) the spare would fit the Buick, and b) that I'd live to see that happen.
On the road again
I lived! And the spare fit. And it got us all the way to the next nearest city (none of the towns en route had anything close to a tire shop...but they definitely had some interesting places that looked like they were probably "We're totally a tire shop!" fronts for much scarier businesses...). There? We found that sanctum we all know as WalMart. And we just happened (we could do another blog on "Road Trip Coincidence: Miracle? Or plain dumb luck?") to roll up with enough time in the day for them to swap our small town spare for a less-small-town proper tire. Very big array? Very big adventure, I'd say! And I'm sure my kids would totally agree. Offered enough bribes.
Giving up the Rendezvous was no small thing for us. Canon Beach, Oregon, Seattle, Vancouver, Everywhere Alberta. Coeur d'alene, Idaho. Oh. Yeah. Coeur d'alene. Don't get me started on that short cut.
Do you have a beloved old vehicle that needs to go? Give us a call!
"Buick Rendezvous, 2009. Broken down on Northbound Metis trail. Parked on the shoulder." Had you told us 50,000 kms ago that our trusty Buick would get us all the way to March of 2019 we would not have believed you for a second! We knew this was the final service call we'd make for this faithful SUV, and it came with a flood of memories.
SUV or half-ton truck?
When our family was ready to transition from a minivan to something smaller, , the Rendezvous was our go-to. This was the fanciest vehicle we'd ever had (Heated seats and mirrors that adjusted themselves? So fancy!). We loved it!
Storage space in the SUV wasn't optimal, but that didn't stop us from using the poor ol' girl like she was an F150. Over the years we've moved many friends from one home to another. We've hauled lumber and gardening soil and trees. She got the kids through years of hanging out with buddies (read: that vehicle hauled a lot of bodies, weird combinations of sporting and gaming equipment, and debris).
Road trippin', Buick-style
We're a road tripping family - because who can afford to fly with 3 kids? Well...who can afford to fly them and feed them? Since we had to choose between the two, we opted to feed them. They seemed to appreciate that. When the kids were still travelling with us the drives would take us South of the border in search of sun and warmth and adventure.
One of our most memorable trips was taken in the Buick. That hearty black wonder got us all the way down to New Mexico, USA. I don't think we ever (like, never) got all of the White Sands, NM sand out from the carpet fibres and various nooks and crannies of that vehicle? We had dramatic tire trouble (that's a story of its own...) in an effort to short-cut our way to the Giant Array (again, more on that next week), and just about drove the boys nuts with the various other "short cuts" we took in an effort to show them their continent.
Gettin' it done
Winter after winter, long after our sons had purchased their own vehicles, the Buick got us through one tight spot after another. The kids went from kiddos to adulthood while we had the Buick. With 5 adults, our family has a pretty big vehicle foot print. Work and play demands mean that everyone has their own car...and with that many vehicles in one family , there are a lot of roadside breakdowns, parking lot boosts, and wonky electrical issues. The Rendezvous was the one vehicle that never broke down. We'd leave it parked curb-side for weeks or months at a time, giving it a negligible drive around the block just to ensure we kept the motor functioning and the parking authorities at bay. And every time we needed it, it started right up and got whomever was in a last-minute pinch to where they needed to be.
One last trip
Until just a week or two ago. I'd done the obligatory run around the block/move the vehicle and make it look like someone loves it drive. It started up fine and had that warm and mechanical-gas-y smell of a neglected vehicle. I love that smell. It reminds me of grandpa's old blue K-Car. The one that used to sit out on the farm, years after it had stopped driving. A magical, all-blue automotive playground for the grandkids.
Then, one of our boys had car trouble, and without giving it a second thought, he grabbed the Buick keys and headed off to work. The ol' thing didn't get very far before it coughed a little and gave it up at the side of the road. There would be no more last minute saves by that seasoned Buick.
For our family, that leads to the easy next-step: donation. The SUV doesn't owe us a thing. From thousands of miles of road trip comfort to truck-like weight-bearing to icy parking lot rescues, it has more than earned its end of life rest.
Five quick minutes on the Donate a Car Canada website and we were in their system for free support. We got our tow timing call the next day, and before we knew it, the Buick was out of sight.
That hardworking auto will keep its generous legacy going by turning into a cash gift for Inn From the Cold, our family's charity of choice. Fitting for a vehicle that kept us warm and safe over so many kilometers.
Signs of Spring are everywhere. Between a few little cold snaps, I've spotted gophers, flies, motorcyclists, and the ultimate sign: our first robin!
Rabbits and streetsweepers
As I sit (on the deck...in the sunshine) rambling on, a street sweeper is taking his initial swipe at our gravel-strewn street. The family of wild rabbits that makes their home under the neighbors' deck is scampering wildly around the yard. And the neighbor's dog is going nuts over those same bunnies.
The mama skunk that has been prowling the hood (I tracked her for miles in the freshly fallen snow the other day) has happily claimed pretty much everyone's front porch in her mafia-like landgrab. Who's going to argue with her? She and I had an encounter on our walking path just the other day. There's only one way in and one way out of this particular stretch of green space. I was attempting to make my way out. She wanted in. I froze. She froze. And we both, wordlessly and simultaneously, gave each other a very wide berth.
Signs of spring...in the garage
Just about now we all start feeling a little Marie Kondo need to find some joy-through-purging, scrubbing, and expunging. I've gone through closets and cupboards and basement corners. How we accumulate so.much.stuff in such little time I do not know. But we do. And every year it's gotta' go.
The garage is always the last place to get any attention, right? In fact, it's the spot I purge everything out into! The floor is caked in everything from mud to salt to some reluctant-to-go ice. There are tires for multiple vehicles, bins full of goodness-knows-what, and a "work bench" where zero work occurs, and lots of work-ish bits and bobs build up.
Get that clunker out of the way
If maneuvering around a project car is making the garage clean-up crazy-making, consider donating? Many of us have tired old vehicles just taking up space in the garage, or on the driveway. We had good intentions to fix 'em, but is it worth it? We've hem'd and haw'd, weighing the cost of fixing against the value of the vehicle. If it's costing you more to keep it, it may be that its re-sale or recycle value would be more meaningful to your charity of choice than the sentimental value of the car to you?
Whatever the signs of spring in your back yard or garage, some warm sun and the beginnings of green and growing things are sure to give us all a boost in the month ahead. Here's to a successful clean up, and lots of time to enjoy the wake-up weeks of the world around us.
The Honda Civic did it again. For 21 years in a row the Civic has been Canada's best-selling car.
Civic eclipses competition
As passenger cars go, this little Honda is Canada's top pick. In their article on our top ten most wanted, Driving.ca notes,
"Only half a decade ago, the Honda Civic’s share of Canada’s passenger car market was 8 per cent. It was a staggering figure, but it’s now far overshadowed by a 12 per cent share of the Canadian car market. 2018 saw the Civic claim Canada’s title as the best-selling car for a 21st consecutive year, and the Civic did so in dominant fashion by maintaining its equilibrium in a rapidly declining car market. The Civic outsold its closest rival by a 41 per cent margin."
Who else is in the game?
The Elantra was once thought to rival the Honda Civic for buyer interest. Driving.ca goes on to say,
"Once seen as the vehicle that could overtake the Honda Civic – and it often did, on a monthly basis – the Hyundai Elantra is now a distant third-place candidate in the passenger-car battle. The Elantra narrowed the race to a slim margin in 2013, when sales of the Hyundai peaked and Civic volume was only 16 per cent stronger. But Honda now sells 65 per cent more Civics than Hyundai sells Elantras. Elantra volume slipped to an eight-year low."
The longevity and performance of the Civic has won the confidence of Canadian drivers. With varied conditions year 'round, and the demands of terrain and traffic, we expect a lot from our cars. This little Honda continues to be the car of choice for those in the market for a passenger vehicle.
What that means for donations
It's not surprising, then, that we see many Hondas rolling through our donation program. But here's the difference: our Honda donors have held on to their car for 15, 20, or 25 years. Accords and Civics are donated regularly, but not until they've given every last gasp to their owner. This compares with other makes/models significantly. It's not uncommon to see a PT Cruiser, Elantra, or Cavalier being donated after only 8 - 10 years of drive time. Some Mazdas get eaten alive by rust and just can't handle Canadian winters.
These makes and models are loved by their owners (our donors), but the performance on those Hondas just can't be beat!
Do you have a trusty old Civic that's served you well, but that now needs end of life processing? Consider extending the vehicle's good service by donating to your charity of choice!
Photo courtesy of https://www.honda.ca/civic_coupe
Charity of choice is what we're all about here at Donate a Car Canada. It's one of the hallmarks of our exceptional donor care: you choose the charity you love. We make sure they get your gift!
We have over 800 charity "doors" to choose from. You're sure to find a cause that you feel deserving of your donation dollars.
Do you already have someone in mind? 'Need a little more information? Just call in, or explore our site. You'll find the inspiration you're ready for.
Charity of choice means it's all up to you
Canadian vehicle donors gifted 250 different charities in February. This doesn't mean we had only 250 donors; many donors select similar charities. For example, it's common for well-advertised charities like the Diabetes Canada, The Heart & Stroke Foundation, and the Canadian Cancer Society to receive many donations each month.
But something you'll love about us? We have hundreds of lesser-known organizations to choose from. Here's a sneak peek at 25 of the charities that we sent funds to last month:
A Better World Canada
ALBERTA CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL FOUNDATION
Alberta Wilderness Association
ANGLICAN DIOCESE OF EDMONTON
BC Children’s Hospital
BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS CANADA
Calgary Women’s Emergency Shelter
CANADIAN CANCER SOCIETY
CancerCare Manitoba
DIABETES CANADA
Elderdog Canada Inc.
GERDY’S RESCUE & ADOPTIONS
Habitat for Humanity Southern Alberta
HEART & STROKE FOUNDATION
Kenneth Copeland Ministries
KIDS HELP PHONE
Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of Canada
ORKIDSTRA
Pacific Assistance Dogs Society
PARKINSON CANADA
Stollery Children’s Hospital Foundation
THE DREAM FACTORY
Tree Canada
WINNIPEG HUMANE SOCIETY
Wounded Warriors Canada
How can I learn more?
We're supporting charities that work with kids, animals, and the sick. Women in need of assistance are served by smaller charities in every Canadian city. If Earth care is your heart cause, we can help. And, if you're looking to support the arts, we have many theatres and groups to choose from.
If you click on the "charities" button on our home page you'll be taken to an alphabetical breakdown of who's on our list. Clicking on the charity name will give you a quick look at their unique mission. And each mission is linked to the charity's home page, should you wish to explore more deeply.
You choose! We're here to help in every way we can, and your charity of choice is ready to receipt you for your generosity. We look forward to your donation!
You have Our Gratitude
Thank you Patrick from Ottawa for donating a 2008 KIA Rondo EX to David Suzuki Foundation
Thank you Ryan from Edmonton for donating a 2006 Mitsubishi Lancer to Make-a-Wish Northern Alberta
Thank you Dominique from Duncan for donating a 2007 Honda Fit to Kidney Cancer Canada Association
Thank you Chloe from Banff for donating a 1994 Ford E-350 to Canadian Blood Services
Thank you Robert from Brantford for donating a 2007 Chevrolet Uplander to Brant Community Healthcare System Foundation
Thank you Michael from Toronto for donating a 2007 Toyota Camry to The Salvation Army
Thank you Anthony from Calgary for donating a 2000 Honda Civic to Pregnancy Care Centre
Thank you Darcy from Maple Ridge for donating a 2002 Chevrolet Venture to BC SPCA
Thank you Virginia M. from Toronto for donating a 2005 Dodge Caravan to Canadian Catholic Organization for Development and Peace
Thank you Olga from Vancouver for donating a 1995 Acura Integra to Diabetes Canada
Thank you Kimberly from New Westminster for donating a 2007 Volvo Xc90 to BC SPCA
Thank you Cody from Calgary for donating a 2005 Pontiac Sunfire to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada
Thank you Tara from Edmonton for donating a 2005 Dodge Caravan to Stollery Children's Hospital Foundation
Thank you Cory from Calgary for donating a 2002 Dodge Caravan to Kids Now
Thank you Dan from Tillsonburg for donating a 1997 Acura 3.5 RL to Parkinson Canada
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