The Western Canada heat dome of 2021 was the first time Anna Helmer was acutely aware of the impact of climate change and made her realize extreme weather was going to be a part of her life. She says the experience made her a better environmentalist but she ponders how much change she can make in her daily life.Posted: Mar 27, 2024 4:00 AM EDT | Last Updated: 8 hours ago
The first time I sensed it as I floated, I absentmindedly felt up my leg for the cause of that curious feeling. I was shocked when I found the slimy, bright green creature. I tore it off and flung it far away with surely unsurvivable vehemence.Helmer has become acquainted with many species from B.C.’s aquatic bug catalogue. This is a rough-skinned newt.
I never intended to swim in a swamp. The makeshift swimming pool was originally an unrelated climate change mitigation plan, excavated and filled with water to use as a reservoir to fight wildfires that might encroach on the farm. It was a promising pool-shaped collection of cool water, even if it did resemble a swamp.
I've been farming with my family for 25 years and this was not our first effort at dealing with the effects of climate change on the farm. The increasing summer heat even before the now infamous heat dome was most notable, but longer periods without precipitation and the ubiquitous presence of wildfire smoke were also cause for concern.
Prior to the heat dome, I used to think the effects of climate change on our farm were manageable. I must admit that I did not have a firm grasp on the immediacy and severity of the situation, and I had no idea I would feel it so personally.I find it a little embarrassing to admit that. People often assume I am a passionate, highly aware environmentalist because of my occupation.
These are the thoughts that swirled in my head as I waded over to the muddy shore of our watering hole. I calmly pried off the newt's every little finger and toe from my forearm and deposited the amphibian amongst a school of water beetles cavorting in the grass tufts.
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