More About Meat: A Teach and Taste Event brought to you by Lanark Slow Food and REAL

Sun. Feb. 5 from 4 - 8 p.m. in the Smiths Falls Community Health Centre Kitchen, 2 Gould St., (old high school)

Chef Tibrata Gillies and students will demonstrate the preparation of dishes that feature local, grass-fed beef and goat, and others for you to taste.

Cost is $5 per person or $15 per family at the door. Read more or RSVP to this website.

Scholarship invests in future environmental leaders

Earth Day Canada, with financial support from the Toyota Canada Foundation, has launched the 2012 Toyota Earth Day Scholarship Program. This year, the Toyota Earth Day Scholarship Program will reward 20 graduating high school and Cégep students across Canada with $5,000 scholarships for their environmental community service, extracurricular and volunteer activities, and academic excellence. Application deadline is Jan. 31, 2012. Read more.

Thank you to everyone who supported REAL's Prelude to Christmas concert. A big thank you to the Central Band of the Canadian Forces for putting on such a great show!

(613) 283-7999

REAL Deal Reuse Store

• Open Thurs, Fri and Sat 10 - 4 p.m.

We truly appreciation donations of gently used items, but please do not leave your donations after hours.

Delivered under agreement with Green Communities Canada

ecoENERGY Retrofit - Homes is back!

The federal government has renewed the program retroactive to June 6, 2011. Homeowners are eligible to receive grants of up to $5,000 to make their homes more energy-efficient. All energy retrofits and post-retrofit evaluations must be completed by March 31, 2012.

For more details contact REAL (613) 283-9500 or Sue.

The REAL Community Garden

A successful gardening season has drawn to a close. If you would be interested in one of the eight raised beds at the REAL Deal site for the 2012 season, please get in touch.

Find out more.

Rideau.Reuses.com Online Exchange

For stuff that's too good to waste! Post items you would like, or items you have to give away or sell for less than $99.

Some items from the REAL Deal Store are posted there as well.

Recycle your Electronic Waste!

Electronics are accepted for recycling at authorized Ontario depots, including two in Smiths Falls: Twenty Twelve and Staples. Search by material or postal code at dowhatyoucan.ca. Drop off at no charge TVs, computers and peripherals, cameras, speakers, turntables, copiers and more.

Available for borrowing through Perth, Almonte or Smiths Falls Public Libraries or at the REAL Deal.

Wondering what you can do about your high electricity bill? The Kill a Watt meter is a handy device to monitor the energy consumption of some of your electrical appliances. Call 613-283-9500.