Insect Questions - Here!!

K. so every once in a while I get asked insect questions.....your garden variety usually. I love to answer them, so if you have one...by all means send it to me. It is just one way i justify all the money and 4 years spent on an agriculture degree.

BUT....here is the answer to a riddle that Bruce had for me while he was weeding the gardens at the church- thanks Bruce!! It seems the canna lilies and the roses at the church were being eaten....but by what? We found these little wonders on the roses eating small holes.

It is called the Japanese Beetle.

Popillia japonica

The beetle species Popillia japonica is commonly known as the Japanese beetle. It is about 1.5 cm (0.6 inches) long and 1 cm (0.4 inches) wide, with iridescent copper-colored elytra and green thorax and head. It is not very destructive in Japan, where it is controlled by natural enemies, but in America it is a serious pest of about 200 species of plants, including rose bushes, grapes, [hops], canna, crape myrtles, and other plants.

SO BRUCE....I got bad news. Planting Canna, and roses together means.....hungry, hungry, Japanese Beetles....

BUT.

There may be good news.

During the larval stage, the Japanese beetle lives in lawns and other grasslands, where it eats the roots of grass. During that stage, it is susceptible to a fatal disease called milky spore disease, This may mean nothing....but at least it is something.

BUT wait there is more.....

Natural repellents include catnip, chives, garlic, and tansy[3], as well as the remains of dead beetles. Additionally, when present in small numbers, the beetles may be manually controlled using a soap-water spray mixture.

other good news....

There is only one generation per year. Adults emerge from the soil in late June through mid-July, feeding actively in sunny locations for 30-45 days

For further information....

check out omafra which has info on almost every insect found in Canada

now you know.

Macintosh Musing

It was a beautiful day, a perfect day to work outside. I was standing under what appeared to be an apple tree, though before that day I had not realized the existence of it's fruit bearing abilities -- a strand of Macintosh at that. It had been a couple of weeks since Rob had announced to me that we were going to prune the apple trees on the property. "Apple trees," I had exclaimed, unknowing that we even had one. We have four! Four (decent kinds of apple) trees in the backyard of the Cambridge Vineyard. One more new discovery since I've started working here six weeks ago.

So, there I was standing under the first chosen tree to prune, apparently a first experience for both us. Rob was already fully immersed in chopping off limbs and branches at the top of the tree when I walked over. I had a memory flash of an apple orchard and thought out loud, "Aren't apple trees supposed to be fairly sparse in branches?" Rob grinned and chuckled as he jumped out of the tree and answered me, "Yep. Apple trees are generally sparse -- we've got a lot of cutting to do," and he handed me the clippers.

For the trees to bear good fruit they need partial sun and partial shade, so the branches need to be spaced in a way that allows the sun to shine through, yet at the same time provides some coverage from too much heat. This is why typically the structure of an apple tree is shaped like a pyramid/triangle. The tree we were standing under was shaped like a big sphere. It took me a little while to figure out "what branches would get to live or die," as Rob so eloquently put it. At first I was timid and thought I was going to screw up the tree if I cut the wrong branch, but after my first few cuts I started seeing and understanding the process a bit more. As I looked up from the ground and surveyed the direction the branches were growing in, I was able to recognize what branches were good and what one's were deterring healthy growth.

"This is why we can be thankful that Jesus is gentle and only prunes us a little bit at a time." Rob's one sentence sermon ended as he finished sawing through a large branch with a 3.5-4" diameter. I should say it was more like the top of a limb he was cutting off. It was full of leaves and looked healthy, it had many smaller branches sprouting from its thick trunk. The limb fell to the ground with a thud. The leaves rustled and shook from the impact, then rested peacefully. "Yea, it's a good thing Jesus is gentle," I thought as I witnessed what looked like harsh treatment of a perfectly fine living structure, "..because the chopping off of a limb that size on my own body would really hurt."

I think it's hard for us to recognize pruning because all it really feels like is suffering. We may have a branch that is bearing good fruit of love and joy, but because of the great abundance of goodness there begins to sprout a lot of branches. So many, in fact that the weight of the branches become overbearing and because of the coverage, the limb begins to die from lack of warm sunlight. This may look like weariness, bitterness, resentment or frustration. This is a good branch that the Father needs to prune. Pruning may be Jesus asking you to step back from leadership for a while, or it may be needing to ask your son or daughter to choose only one sport per season. It may be making the decision to commit to only two nights out a week and the other three you stay home or it may be resolving some conflict between you and someone. Whatever it is, it is usually uncomfortable, hard and possibly hurts a little bit depending on the situation.

Well, I have now turned Rob's one sentence sermon into a six paragraph thought. I'm going to bring it to a close by saying, I'm really glad that I have Jesus to stand under me, look up and see the branches that are deterring good fruit from growing. And I'm really glad that He doesn't just walk away and leave me to grow into something that the Father did not create me to be. He only asks me to trust and obey.

Over-growth and bad fruit is self produced.

Is this What you Expected?

By Matte Downey, Montreal Vineyard.

I was reading Luke 7 this week and the question that John the baptist asks jumped out of the page at me. He was in prison and sent some of his disciples to ask Jesus, "Are you the One we've been expecting, or are we still waiting?" Despite John's extensive preparation work for the long-awaited messiah, he still wasn't sure that what Jesus was bringing was what he had been expecting. Sometimes this life of following Jesus is not what I expected, either. I'm with you, John.

read more...click on this link. Trust me, it's worth the read!
Shelley

http://outword.blogspot.com/2009/06/is-this-what-you-expected.html

Lars and the Real Girl

At the Supporter's Support Group last night we watched Lars and The Real Girl. It is a great movie about the importance of community, acceptance, support and participation in one another's lives, whether we have 'issues' or not.

In the movie, Lars has issues and he does something very strange - you will have to watch it - I don't want to give it away.

But his community, after they get over the shock and stuff, rally around him and participate in his life without passing judgement or telling him what to do. I think this response from them expedites his healing, since he was then able to go through the process without needing to deal with those around him at the same time. It is a powerful lesson for us all.

They were initiatly judgemental and horrified, and then they decided to lay that down in humility and love.
They decided to let go the fact that they thought he was crazy and wrong, and love him anyway.
They didn't just tolerate him, they supported him.
They followed his lead and didn't try to make it into something it wasn't or to direct his process.
They put their own reputations on the line for him and they supported each other as they supported him.
They were willing to be in embarrassing situations in order to support him.
Their support of him was contagious.
They didn't shun him or hide him, in fact his family went to the community and asked them to support Lars.
They challenged him when he got his boundaries messed up.
They didn't patronize him.
They laughed and partied and loved and grieved with him.
They didn't rush him.
They didn't argue with him and insist he get over it.
They dealt with their own issues that came up as a result of Lar's behaviour, esp. his brother, and owned their own stuff.
They didn't try to fix him, they loved him.

In not trying to fix him, they actually enabled him to be fixed.

I think in doing what they did they became a stronger community as well, and Lars brought out the best in them.

May we learn to be such a community.

Baptism's Sunday

Here are some pictures from sunday... awesome testimonies, 6 people baptised, tons of new people at church...who were they all?

more photos on the website www.cambridgevineyard.on.ca

BBQ on Lumbsten Cr.

Steve and Judy Quinton have been headed out around the neighbourhood, building relationships. June 21st we had a big bbq. Can you imagine that in 21 houses there are 97 Kids??


check it out!!!

StoredUp - June 24th 2009 Youth Benefit Concert

What a night! One-hundred tickets were pre-sold and more kids showed up to purchase at the door. Michael Davison with Rob Hall as his side kick, organized this benefit concert to expose the youth in our city to a fun Christian atmosphere as well as, raise money for the Storehouse. Jeanne Hill, Diane Saramango and Debbie Runstedler came and sold tickets and goodies. We had Hamburgers and Hot dogs for a buck along with water, pop and snacks.
$300 was raised for the Storehouse (lower level of our Sanctuary that provides free food, clothing, showers and friendship to the community in Cambridge).

Take a look below to see the chronicles of the nights events.
There is also some video footage at the very end.

**The band pictures are not the most focused pictures you'll ever see,
but I did my best without using a flash.**


Is this a commercial?


Another commmercial break.


This event was brought to you by: Foot Washing Ministries...


Let Jesus Cleanse and Renew your weary soul from head to toe ;)


Some of our fabulous youth hanging out before the bands started. In the foreground is one the band members of Hello Kelly chillin' before the show.


Jim Cheshire and Rob Hall BBQing


Rhonda was fantastic help running all over town last minute grabbing extra water, hot dogs and buns. She also brought her daughter Cortney and her friend Paula as extra helpers. Thanks ladies, you were a great help!


Issac Maw and Sally Ellis trying to weasl hotdogs out of Rob... check out the video at the end to hear the full conversation and if Sally would really do anything for a hotdog.


After every band there would be a massive wave of youth that would flow out of the Auditorium as they waited for the next band to set up. It was nice to have the night broken up like this because it allowed the kids to socialize with each other and also for us to be able to socialize with them. It was also a chance for fans of the previous band to get autographs and pictures.
Good times!

Tim McLean showed up and we put him to work as bouncer.


Tom Portaccio: Doorman.
George Lakatos was also a doorman, but couldn't resist the excitement of the bands inside.


The foyer was full of each bands memorbila.


Way to go Chris Patterson for braving the LOUD and Hayley Davis for your moral support and teardown help. You both ROCK!


The kids eased into the evening by sitting and watching the first band.


A local high school band was the first band to start the night.


They had a heavy metal sound... I stayed outside for the majority of their set.


Second band was ChasingAmee had an alternative sound and
much more melodic than the first band.


Tuck the bass player.


Ryan Matthew Faist - guitar and keys.


Nathan Bulla - drummer - great drummer.


They were very good at interacting with the crowd.


It was hard but I managed to tear these guys away from giving autographs and getting pictures with the cute girls for a moment to take a group shot.


Third band up was To Tell -- this was the best pic I got of them unfortunately.


These guys, I think, were David Rae's favourite band of the night.


The lead singer had A LOT of energy.


Guitarist tending to his instrument after the set.


HELLO KELLY


Through the blur you can see Ben Patterson up-close and personal watching the band...


He was enthralled with Francois (lead vocals).


Francois is a very intense performer with great vocal abilities.


The band as a whole was tight and very entertaining to watch and listen to. Check out a couple videos at the end of the pictures to get a small taste.


Francois struggles with stuttering, but when he sings and performs you would never know. He wrote a song that shows his heart surrounding his struggles and where he puts his trust (J.C.) His music and lyrics bear honesty and vulnerability to the audience.


Artsy shot :)


Group shot of the band.
They are a great bunch guys - very friendly and authentically genuine.




Below are a few videos from the night just for fun - they're probably about 8mins in total.