From taking down to an entire tree to trimming a few branches, below are all the tips you need to keep you, and the tree, safe.

You’ve just stumbled across a deer. She’s staring at you. Her ears are perked up and she knows something’s there, but she can’t quite see you. The sun is descending upon the horizon, and this is a Kodak moment if ever there was one. But the only camera you have on you is your phone. Well, as influential photographer Chase Jarvis always says, the best camera is the one that’s with you. So how do you take amazing wildlife photos with your phone? Here are some tips.

Stand very still

Not only is movement going to scare that bull moose that’s right in front of you, but it’ll also lead to an unfocused image. One of the challenges with phone photography is holding it still enough to capture a focused picture. Use two hands to hold the phone and if you can, place your elbows on something solid. Crouching down so you can place your elbows on your knees is a good option.

Zoom

Getting close is the trickiest part of this. Although most phones have a zooming option, once you start zooming in the quality of your image is going to degrade. The reason wildlife photographers use giant 800mm lenses that cost upwards of $10,000 is that they can zoom in from hundreds of meters away. And they cost so much because of the complex pieces of glass inside of them. Your iPhone doesn’t have this. Phones zoom digitally, meaning if you zoom in too far, the image you end up with will start to pixelate. A good rule of thumb is don’t zoom. Get closer. Get as close as humanly possible And therein lies the challenge. There are a number of aftermarket zoom lenses for phones, including the Phone Skope. It’s probably safe to assume that the more you pay for one of these add-ons, the better the results will be.

Light

Another limitation of smartphone photography is light. The tiny sensors in these cameras need plenty of light to create a decent image. That means shooting bats, or anything during the early day or night will be difficult. You preferably want full sun, and the hour or two after or before sunrise and sunset will give you the most dramatic lighting. It’s also the best time to see animals.

Feeding the animals

While baiting a black bear with a jar of honey would be pretty effective at getting you close enough to take a decent shot, it’s a bad idea. It’s also ethically controversial. No one ever seems to complain, however, when you put out some seeds for a cardinal or sugar water for a humming bird. And this might be your best chance at getting a decent shot of wildlife with your phone. You’ll be able to plan out the time of day, get to know an animal’s habits and draw them in.

Apps

The number of after-effect apps for photography must double daily. These are entirely up to you. While some are cheesy and useless, others, like VSCO Cam and Afterlight are both legitimate post-processing apps to add to your images.

Lake Huron’s water level hit a record low this past February, an inch below the previous record set in 1965—and it’s still dropping. This is the 13th year in a row that water levels for Huron, as well as Lake Michigan, have been below average. In Ontario’s Georgian Bay, the drop is especially damaging, closing marinas, cutting off water access to cottages and disrupting the entire ecosystem—including the sportfishery.

Why the drop? Long-term dredging to maintain the shipping channel on the St. Clair River, the only outflow from Lakes Huron and Michigan, has gradually increased the discharge of water. Add to that drier and warmer weather, and you have last summer’s lake levels, which sat at 75 centimetres below normal. That’s crisis condition, according to the International Joint Commission, the Canada-U.S. body overseeing cross-border water issues on the Great Lakes.

What’s the impact on fish? The receding water is cutting off access to wetlands and some rivermouths, spawning habitat for fish such as walleye, lake sturgeon, northern pike and muskies; about 80 per cent of Great Lakes fish species need wetlands at some point in their life cycle. Muskies are especially vulnerable because the juveniles rely on shallow marshes. Over several years of study, in fact, researchers from Hamilton, Ontario’s McMaster University failed to find juvenile muskies anywhere in southern Georgian Bay. And as the water gets shallower, it also gets hotter during summer. This promotes algal blooms and bacterial growth, both implicated in the high mortality of fish and birds. Says McMaster researcher Pat Chow: “The entire food web is changing.”

How’s the sportfishing? It’s also changing. Shoals are now islands, and there’s much more shallow water. This is forcing fish into new habitat and anglers to find new fishing spots. “We’ve definitely noticed the small- and largemouth bass have moved to different areas,” says Terry Crawford, a member of the Georgian Bay Hunters and Anglers. “And the pike numbers are getting lower.” Ironically, muskie anglers are doing better, says Davin Heinbuck, who maintains a voluntary log of fishing effort for Muskies Canada. Over the last 10 years, Georgian Bay angling hours per fish caught dropped along with average size, suggesting that juvenile fish are doing okay. Heinbuck’s conclusion? “Nature has a way of adapting.” But not everyone agrees. “Long term, these fish are in trouble,” says Mike McKie, president of the Georgian Bay Musky Association. “If the low water levels continue for a number of years, I can’t even imagine the damage that could be caused to the muskie population and the overall fishery.”

What can be done? A plan to place submerged sills to slow the outflow of the St. Clair River was abandoned in 1972, but it arguably remains the best solution. The Sierra Club’s Ontario chapter says it would cost $200 million to install the fish- and boat-friendly structures, but both the U.S. and Canada would need to okay the plan. While Ottawa seems supportive, any such scheme would also require the approval of the White House and the U.S. Congress—something unlikely to happen any time soon.

Water is a big deal at most cottages. A lot of cottage life revolves around swimming, fishing, water-skiing and a host of other outside water activities—but the water inside is just as important.  

If your cottage uses a well or cistern, you already know that your supply can dry up with a couple of ill-timed showers. And even if your cottage is lake-fed, you’ve probably heard about average water levels dropping.

So water is important. And what we do with it is even more important.

That’s why more cottagers are exploring greywater recycling. Greywater, which makes up 50 to 80 percent of household wastewater, is what’s left over after you have a shower, do the dishes, or wash your hands. (Water from the toilet is called blackwater, for understandable reasons.)

The idea behind greywater recycling is to take that not-quite-dirty water and use it for another purpose. This can be as simple as collecting the water from your sink after the dishes are done and using it to water your flowers—or, with a little technology, actually make greywater part of your overall water system.

First things first—greywater isn’t blackwater, but it can become dangerous if it’s not properly handled. If you’re going to store your greywater for any purpose, it needs to be treated or the bacteria in it will turn it into a nasty, septic mess.

One of the most common ways to recycle greywater is to install a system that diverts wash water from your shower, washing machine, and bathtub into your toilet. The used water is treated, then pumped into toilets.

For urban homes, the obvious benefit to a system like this is saving on ever-climbing water bills. For cottagers—many of whom don’t pay municipal water bills—there’s another, equally significant benefit.

“Greywater recycling reduces the amount of water that’s going into the septic tank—which means you can wait longer before emptying the tank,” explains John Bell, VP of business development for Greyter, a Toronto-based company that specializes in water recovery and reuse systems. “Toilets are one of the highest wasters of water in homes—and a greywater system can be a real money saver in a cottage where the toilets get a lot of use from guests.”

According to Bell, an indoor greywater system can also reduce the demand on a well—a boon for cottagers whose water supply can be unpredictable.

If you’re more of a DIY devotee, you can recycle your greywater for use as outdoor irrigation by diverting it to mulch beds or to a constructed wetland in your garden. As it is absorbed, the water is then naturally treated by the organisms in your topsoil, and irrigates the plants around it.

This isn’t a suitable option if your cottage is built on bedrock, without a good layer of topsoil. As well, the untreated greywater must not come into contact with humans—which means not using it to water vegetables and fruits that might be eaten raw, and not using it in a sprinkler. Water that has been used to wash dirty diapers is generally considered too dirty to use in a DIY system.

For most of us, the cottage wouldn’t be the same without water—use it wisely now, and there will be plenty left to enjoy later.

It’s easy to get overwhelmed by the words sustainable, eco-friendly, and green. We all want to do our part to help the planet and reduce our impact, but how? There are a few easy options for you to start your quest to be greener and they can start right at your cottage.

1. Put away the Styrofoam, paper and plastic dinnerware. Disposable dinnerware is such a timesaver when you have a crowd of people over and you don’t want to deal with clean-up. But the impact of those traditional disposable options is huge. A few companies are offering great alternatives that include recycled materials and renewable resources, and they are durable so you won’t end up wearing your potato salad. Look for sugarcane plates, plant starch cutlery made of 70 per cent renewable materials, and even bamboo.

2. Look under your sink. One way to be more eco-friendly at your cottage can be with the products you use to keep it clean. A lot of the conventional cleaners we use contain toxins that can hurt the ecosystems around us. Most of grocery stores carry green cleaners now such as Method, Mrs. Meyers, and Seventh Generation. But if you really want to commit to being eco-friendly consider making your own household cleaners by using items commonly found in our cupboard like vinegar, baking soda, hydrogen peroxide, and citrus fruits like lime, lemon, and grapefruit.

3. Shed new light on your outdoor lighting options. When the nights start getting warmer, there’s nothing better than sitting outside with family and friends. But outdoor lighting controlled by inside switches can often suck up a lot of energy, and with dry fields and forests candles and tiki torches can be a concern. There are a lot of green alternatives for your outdoor lighting that will create some great ambiance and help the planet. Consider solar powered lanterns and lighting that uses LED bulbs. You can even get creative with boring old strings of LED lights by creating shades that cover the bare bulbs.

4. Make your own ice. Ice is a hot commodity on summer days, and as much as many of us love refrigerators with built in ice makers, this convenient feature can be an energy drain and are prone to breakdowns. Cold air can also be lost through because of poor seals.

5. Recycle your stovetop kettle. Even though there is something comforting and familiar about the whistle of a kettle, electric kettles boil water in less time and more efficiently than the stovetop version.

When was the last time you visited a protected area like a provincial or national park, or a public nature reserve? These spaces are often not as inaccessible or wrought with MacGyver-esque rope bridge canyons, Class 5 rapids and granola-laden treehuggers as you might think. In fact, many of them offer some pretty superb opportunities for outdoor recreation, learning, and relaxation. Just make sure you choose the right area for your given objective. After all, there’s nothing worse than planning a great hike or paddle only to find out that the destination you’ve chosen is closed to the public.

So what is your objective? Maybe you’re looking for an exhilarating day hike, some straightforward wildlife-viewing opportunities, a couple of days of car camping, or a week of canoe-camping in the wilderness. Not all protected areas are the same and therefore you might want to do a bit of up-front research.

There are essentially four big questions to answer during your research.

1. What do you want to do?

When it comes to protected areas, you’ve got to remember that these spaces are typically set aside for public enjoyment of natural spaces and conservation of spectacular natural heritage. And on that premise, they’re managed with specific rules (backed by law) about what can and cannot take place within their boundaries. Some sites may be completely off-limits to any visitors; others may allow only self-propelled recreation and low-impact camping; and still others may allow fishing and hunting, motorized recreation, RV camping, or in some cases, harvesting of lumber and other natural resources (just so you know).

So decide what kind of experience it is that you’re seeking and use that to help you narrow down sites that pop up as you search for potential destinations online or elsewhere. And don’t worry. I provide a list below of some more detailed questions you’ll want to consider.

2. How do you want to do it? Back-country, RV, or in-between?

Ask yourself how you’d like to spend your time at your protected area of choice. Do you want to get away from it all and experience Mother Nature in her raw beauty? Or do you want to enjoy a day splashing around in the shallows while jet skis and motorboats whiz by on the lake? Do you want to pitch your 2.5-pound two-person tent in a pristine stand of old-growth after three days of paddling the hinterlands, or park the 40-foot motorhome at a hook-up near the beach and the amphitheatre for two weeks? Maybe you want to experience a little from Column A, and a little from Column B? Whatever the case, there’s a pretty clear distinction between the kinds of protected areas that specialize in true wilderness experiences and those that have boat launches, RV pull-thrus and hot dog stands on the beach. Then again, some areas like national parks may offer both types of activities in moderation in differently managed zones.

Just make sure you know what to expect—not just in terms of how you experience your destination, but also how your fellow protected areas visitors will be enjoying the area alongside you. These days you can find information on many protected areas online, including on travel review sites.

3. When do you want to do it?

Do you secretly want to walk out into the middle of a frozen lake in the wilderness and make snow-angels in perfect snow? Maybe you fancy the thrill of cannon-balling into a deep, dark water lake from a ledge? Or—dare I suggest it—you’re into midnight skinny-dipping during the harvest moon? In any case thinking about when you want to experience a protected area will help determine where and which type of area you choose. Some sites are completely closed to visitors during the winter, while others may be unserviced and “visit at your own risk” during the off-season. You can find some superb snowshoeing opportunities this way.

Some areas may have shoulder seasons during the spring and fall that allow for certain types of use, like hiking or paddling, without all the people and extra services. But during the spring you can reliably replace the missing people with hordes of hungry black flies in southern Canada. The late spring and early to mid fall can be potentially tricky times to go deep into black bear or moose country, respectively, as the animals may be a little bit testy during the “rut” period. Just stay sharp on the trails.

Summertime in Canada is going to be the best time to visit most protected areas, but do keep an eye on the forest fire index where you’re headed, since that can change your plans of s’mores and Neil Young tunes strummed in the firelight.

4. Where do you want to do it?

Canada is a large country, and each province offers a range of possibilities, so consider what you’d like to see and experience when you arrive at your destination. For example, don’t plan a trip to New Brunswick’s Kouchibouguac National Park if you want to experience backcountry camping in the boreal forest or spectacular coastal fjords. And don’t plan a backcountry paddling adventure at Ontario’s Rondeau Provincial Park.

When answering the question of where to go, keep in mind that a good number of protected areas are planned (or should be) with the conservation of representative examples of particular natural landscapes and ecosystems in mind. In fact, this is the basis for the way Canada’s National Parks are planned from coast, to coast, to coast, as indicated in Parks Canada’s latest park system plan. The provincial and territorial governments use similar approaches for most if not all of their respective protected areas, including sites that are often strictly off-limits and 100 percent about conservation of sensitive and irreplaceable ecosystems, like nature reserves. So think about this when you ponder a destination. Have you seen an example of an arid desert ecosystem in Canada? No, then check out publicly accessible protected areas in British Columbia’s South Okanagan region.

Wherever you end up, make a point of trying to know the local wildlife: not just the charismatic critters, but the noxious plants, venomous insects and reptiles and potential wildlife hazards (like rutting Bull Moose). Encountering wildlife in a protected area is usually a very special experience. It’s almost as if the animals act ‘more wild’ in these spaces, perhaps because they are less influenced by human developments and habitat loss. Whatever the case, make sure you’re at least a bit prepared for what you might encounter on the trails or in the shallows.
Some important points to keep in mind:

• Know the restrictions. Are you travelling to a different province or country to visit a protected area? Avoid problems by checking into special local laws or rules that may apply at your destination, such as alcohol consumption in protected areas. 
• Know the climate. From potential white-outs to flash floods, you should know the extent of what’s a possible natural occurrence in the area you’re visiting.
• Know the terrain. Don’t go into an arid or high-elevation landscape expecting to find plentiful surface water, for example, and don’t expect water flowing through the forest to be free of nasty parasites like giardia, aka, the protozoan famous for causing “Beaver Fever”.

Getting started
At the end of the day, there are simply too many different kinds of protected areas across Canada to list each type, which activities you can do at each, where it’s found, and who else is going there. So once you’ve got a particular area in mind, find out who manages it—for example, which government department or local non-profit organization—and check with them online or by phone if you’re unsure of what is or isn’t permitted. You’ll want to ask about site bookings or permit requirements for things like camping or fishing, and don’t forget to ask if your furry friend Fido is allowed in the area, too. For the sake of the animals that rely on them, many protected areas have strict rules requiring dogs to be on-leash at all times, if they’re even permitted on-site. Here’s a list of things you might consider asking about to drill a bit deeper into the questions above:

• Is access to the site free, or do you have to purchase a permit? Do you have to pay for certain services on-site?
• Is there any infrastructure at the site, like accessible trails, boardwalks, trailheads and markers along paths, bathrooms (with or without showers), drinking water, secure waste disposal areas, or other basic services?
• Are there any interpretive signs and staff at the area, or are you completely on your own?
• Are there trails to complement different hiking abilities and objectives?
• Is the area for day-use only? Is there overnight camping? Is it front-country or walk-in camping, backcountry hike-in or canoe camping or a combination of all of these?
• Is it a strict no-take area or is fishing (or hunting) permitted?
• How large is the area and what proportion is set aside for hiking trails, canoeing, wilderness conservation or other non-human uses? (I call this the “connecting with nature vs. connecting with people” ratio.)
• Is alcohol permitted on campsites or in public use areas? (And no, I don’t mean alcohol-fueled camp stoves.)
• Are there any pests you should prepare to avoid, such as skunks, deer ticks or seasonal blackflies and mosquitoes that can be mistaken for the provincial bird?
• And as many campers will recall from recent summers across Canada, is there a current ban on campfires or other open flames at the area?

So there you have it. I can’t forget to mention another type of protected area you can probably find right in your town or city: municipal parks. Canada’s cities are blessed with some pretty fantastic natural spaces so don’t forget to check them out too if you’re looking for an outdoor afternoon adventure. 

Alexander MacDonald hails from Hall’s Harbour, NS, on the Bay of Fundy. He graduated from McGill with a BSc after spending a semester in the Republic of Panama. He has worked in the Environmental NGO sector for a number of groups ranging from local grassroots coalitions to national organizations. After moving with his wife to Ottawa to complete an MSc in Biology at the University of Ottawa, Alex joined the staff at Nature Canada, where he manages the organization’s national protected areas program, and currently leads the Lac Deschenes Naturehood initiative based in Ottawa-Gatineau. In his spare time, he also fronts the indie folk-rock band Umbrella Protest and enjoys teaching his young daughter about nature.

Wildlife viewing makes for good cottage entertainment, but to get those critters near your doorstep, you have to make it worth their while: Bring on the food. To 
create your own wildlife restaurant, the recipe for success starts with native plants. The greater their variety, the more likely the animal sightings.

“Biodiversity is an important part of the ecology of all wild spaces and should be encouraged,” says Chris Earley, an interpretive biologist at the University of Guelph arboretum. Swamp milkweed and Joe-pye weed serve as a dinner invitation to pollinators such as bees and butterflies, while serviceberries and mountain-ash berries feed foxes, chipmunks, and waxwings. Cardinal flower, wild columbine, and spotted jewelweed, on the other hand, are irresistible to ruby-throated hummingbirds. And when you plant flowers instead of hanging a feeder with sugar water, “you reduce competition over the feeder,” says Jan McDonnell, a biologist with the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Muskoka Heritage Foundation.

Buy seeds and plants from a nursery that grows its shrubs and trees from local seed sources. These plants are more likely to suit your cottage property and are less likely to be invasive species. Also, look for plants that match your soil conditions; the cardinal flower, for instance, prefers moist soil.

Of course, increased biodiversity means you may spot the odd bear snooping around, or a squirrel looking longingly at your attic, or have to shoo away rabbits feasting on plants not intended for their enjoyment. It’s nature, after all.

Mountain ashes
Birds: pine grosbeaks, evening grosbeaks, bohemian waxwings, thrushes, robins.
Mammals: chipmunks, squirrels, mice, moose, white-tailed deer.

Serviceberries
Birds: northern orioles, thrushes, waxwings.
Mammals: chipmunks, squirrels, bears, white-tailed deer, moose, foxes.

Blackberries and raspberries
Birds: ruffed grouse, cardinals, catbirds, rose-breasted grosbeaks, scarlet tanagers.
Mammals: rabbits, raccoons, bears.

Sunflowers
Birds: mourning doves, black-capped chickadees, sparrows, red-winged blackbirds, goldfinches.
Mammals: squirrels, chipmunks

Wild strawberries  
Birds: cedar waxwings, ruffed grouse.
Mammals: chipmunks, squirrels

They wouldn’t be out of place on a “most wanted” list, these alien invaders that displace our native species and wreak havoc upon ecosystems. The Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources reports that invasive species are second only to habitat loss as a threat to the province’s biodiversity. But there’s a growing contingent of foodies and ecologists who suggest that these invasives could serve as good side dishes. Less detested, they say, than digested. Jessica Robertson, for one, offers a workshop on urban foraging through Wild Craft Permaculture, her sustainable landscaping business in London, and frequently uses invasive species in her recipes. Jackson Landers, the author of the recently released book Eating Aliens (Storey Publishing), says that garlic mustard and kudzu, for example, “are both delicious.” And “Wildman” Steve Brill, an urban forager who leads regular foraging tours in the Big Apple, and even has an app that includes info on eating invasives, insists that “eating them and having more contact with nature makes us more aware of our need to protect it.” We agree: If you can’t beat ’em, eat ’em!

Phragmites (Phragmites australis)
Phragmites, a relative newcomer to the invasives list, is swallowing up beaches and wetlands along the Great Lakes, where it has been compared to purple loosestrife in its spread and impact. How to eat it: Boiled and tossed with butter. Pick the shoots right where they meet the underground stems.

Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

Japanese Knotweed (Fallopia japonica)
With a place on the International Union for the Conservation of Nature’s “100 of the World’s Worst Invasive Species” list, Japanese knotweed is almost universally loathed. Except by Steve Brill, who
says it “tastes like rhubarb…only better.” How to eat it: Steamed, with garlic, sesame seeds, and cayenne; also, in soups and sauces, or in baking. According to Brill, you can eat the shoots when they’re 15-20 cm tall. Anything taller and you’ll first have to remove the tough outer layer.

Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.

Kudzu (Pueraria montana)
Known as “the vine that ate the South,” kudzu was ostensibly brought to America in 1876 for a Centennial celebration. A prolific grower (up to 30 cm per day), it recently jumped the border into Ontario along Lake Erie near Leamington. Like American culture, it threatens to take over completely. How to eat: it As young shoots in a salad, or use larger leaves to wrap savoury meatand- rice fillings. The secret, says Jackson Landers, is to parboil the leaves. “Kudzu has these fuzzy hairs on it that can make the texture pretty unpleasant. Parboiling turns it into a very versatile vegetable.”

Photo courtesy of David J. Moorhead

Garlic Mustard (Alliaria petiolata)
Originally brought here by European settlers for their kitchen gardens, garlic mustard has spread throughout North America. How to eat it: Puréed into a pesto, or in salads. Jessica Robertson recommends harvesting the leaves before the plant flowers and turns bitter.

Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.

Autumn Olive (Elaeagnus umbellata)
Found throughout Southern Ontario, the autumn olive boasts fragrant flowers and lovely silvery leaves. The berries are “nutritious and delicious,” says Robertson. How to eat it: In smoothies and yogurt, or in jams and jellies.

Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

With a can of chickpeas and a jar of tahini (sesame-seed paste) in your pantry, you can whip up this Middle Eastern spread in a few minutes. The quantities below are just a guideline—adjust for the taste you prefer. You can also add some chopped roasted red-pepper, sun-dried tomatoes, olives, herbs, or caramelized onion. Olive oil is usually drizzled over hummus, but you can also dress it up with paprika, pine nuts, or the Middle Eastern spice sumac.