Harrowsmith

One of my favourite books of the past few years is Wintering: The Power of Rest and Retreat in Difficult Times, by Katherine May. In it, she explores the dark seasons of life and the light that eventually follows. Since its release in 2020, I think it has become even more relevant. Just as plants go dormant and animals hibernate, winter can be a time for us to slow down — to recharge and quietly care for ourselves, so we can emerge even stronger and more able to care for our families, our communities, our world. Nature survives and thrives by honouring its cycles. And although modern life may try to convince us otherwise, the same goes for us. “Wintering” can mean a lot of things, but a common thread…

As the nights grow longer and colder, comfort foods naturally find their place on our dinner menus. We’re talking hearty dishes that take the chill out of even the frostiest nights. To me, this means homemade soups and stews. Growing up in a European household, these dishes were a staple — especially in the colder months. Since childhood, the aroma of this type of homemade goodness coming from the kitchen has stayed with me, and I think it’s why I love to cook so much. I come by it honestly. Whenever I was under the weather, it wouldn’t be long before the aroma of chicken soup and dumplings would fill our house. It was comforting — and it felt like my mother’s way of saying, “I’ve got you.” I’d like…

PEI Spread some luck along with holiday cheer with these adorable woodland acorn button boxes from Cattails Woodwork. According to maker Brenda Watts, acorns are said to bring health and good fortune to the home. These sweet, turned boxes are perfect for stashing treasures, and they make for beautiful, rustic accent pieces for nature lovers. Watts also makes acorn birdhouses, wine stoppers, door wedges and more. cattailswoodwork.myshopify.com Two claws up for Two Lupins, a local maker with some seriously adorable onesies and tees. We love the Lobster Heart onesie, but this Etsy seller offers its designs in all sizes — and even allows for custom colours and sizes. etsy.com/ca/shop/twolupins Shuck It Out! Be the star at your next holiday mixer with a box of chef-ready PEI oysters from Atlantic Aqua…

1 Solitary bees come out to nest at different times of the year. How they develop over the winter depends on whether they emerge in spring or summer. Bees making an earlier appearance overwinter as adults, while later-emerging bees overwinter as prepupae (a late larval stage) or pupae. Some species wait until summer and only forage and nest for four to six weeks before they start the cycle all over again. TIP: Do some research on the species of bees local to your area, as well as their preferred native plants (iNaturalist is a great resource for this information). When planning your garden, think about providing forage for native bees from early spring to late summer. 2 Seventy percent of bee species nest in the ground. Depending on the species,…

Have you ever heard the saying, “Change the latitude, change the attitude”? It’s an old saying in sports for when a player doesn’t mesh well with the team. (In layman’s terms, it means to trade the player for better outcomes.). Now consider this: What if a change in latitude could bring about a change in attitude and perspective with respect to birding? Perhaps more specifically, what if it could bring about change in the ways we welcome the return of some of our feathered friends depending on where we live? For people living in southern Ontario and the lower 48 states, the Dark-eyed Junco is a harbinger of winter. As a migratory bird, it arrives in late autumn and remains until mid-spring, before setting off again for their summer breeding…

Birds Life Size: Up Close and Personal with 47 Bird Species, by Chris Earley (FIREFLY BOOKS, AVAILABLE NOW) Earley, an interpretive biologist at the University of Guelph Arboretum, is a bit of a superstar in the birding world — especially where kids are concerned. In his latest book, designed especially for young readers, we come eye-to-eye with a bald eagle and nose-to-beak with a hummingbird. This vivid, oversized guide to North America’s most fascinating birds features life-sized photographs, fascinating facts and quirky details about 47 bird species — from the puffin to the pelican. Webb’s Cosmos: Images and Discoveries from the James Webb Space Telescope, by Marcin Sawicki (FIREFLY BOOKS, AVAILABLE NOW) For stargazers of all ages, check out this richly illustrated book, showcasing 200 of the most breathtaking images…