Table of contents for Summer 2020 in Harrowsmith

RASHEEDA ALI After graduating with an honours BA from McMaster University in social sciences, Rasheeda worked in international development and travelled across Canada and the world, completing projects that mainly focused on the well-being of women and children. She always wanted to write, however, as it was one of her very first passions as a child. Creating stories and crafting engaging pieces to share with readers is what she has always wanted to do, and she is happily following that dream now. MARK AND BEN CULLEN Mark is an expert gardener, author, broadcaster and tree advocate and holds the Order of Canada. His son, Ben, is a fourth-generation urban gardener and a graduate of the University of Guelph and Dalhousie University in Halifax. Follow them at markcullen.com, @MarkCullen4 (Twitter) and…

FRIENDLY DEBATE I was pleased to see Harrowsmith on the shelves and readily purchased the Winter 2019/20 issue. I only hope that this reincarnation will not become a platform for the spokespeople who deride modern agriculture. It’s fine to talk about garden plots or “hobby farms” of a few livestock, but the contributions of those such as Mary Lowther of Mesachie Lake, B.C., bear scrutiny. Her letter to the editor and biased allusion to the World Health Organization’s classification of glyphosate as a “carcinogen” ignore the findings of the U.S. Department of Agriculture and our own Health Canada’s findings underscoring the safety of this valuable agricultural input. The well-publicized lawsuits of supposed victims of glyphosate health issues have become a playground for contingency-settlement-hungry lawyers. The use of glyphosate in modern…

Control the light intensity in your home, and you control the emotional atmosphere of the space. This is what dimmer switches are all about, and though we’ve had basic dimmers for many decades, these days there are more to choose from. Dimmer switches and light bulbs are also more complex than ever. Learn to deal with the three main challenges of dimming indoor lights at your place, and you’ll enjoy your home more. Light Dimmer Challenge No. 1: Poor LED Dimmer Performance So you’ve installed some LED bulbs, but these lights don’t dim like they should (or maybe not at all). This is a common problem and a relatively new one. In the days when the vast majority of household lighting involved incandescent bulbs only, adding a dimmer switch to…

When the wind is in the East, it is good for neither man nor beast; When the wind is in the North, the old beasts should not venture forth; When the wind is in the South, it blows hay into the horse’s mouth; When the wind is in the West, it is of all the winds, the best. – Folklore As farmers, farming this patch of earth at Drover’s Way Farm, our senses are ever attuned to the weather and the seasons, taking note of nature’s absolute deadlines as we strive to produce food for man and beast. As I step out of my farmhouse door every morning, I inevitably pause on the stone step. I take note of the conditions, the wind, the scent in the air. I feel…

The world is changing, and that includes our food. Climate change, pressure on our resources, and growing consumer awareness are forcing producers to innovate, prioritizing wellness, sustainability and ethical practices along the way. By rethinking kitchen staples and ingredients and offering fresh approaches to supply and demand, these Canadian companies are leading the way. Balzac’s Coffee Roasters Female-led coffee company Balzac’s Coffee Roasters was the vision of president and founder Diana Olsen, who spent 18 months in France after graduating and was inspired by the celebration and tradition of coffee there. She wanted to bring the same experience home to Canada, and in 1993 she travelled to San Francisco to learn the craft of coffee roasting and bean selection at the West Coast Specialty Coffee Training Institute. In 1996, the…

Our old washing machine quit last month after a quarter century of doing a wash a day for a family of six. We were sad to see it go. Our old repair guy, Lee, had replaced pumps and screens and control panels over the years, but when the motor finally quit and the price of a replacement was $725, he shrugged and suggested it was time. “It sure doesn’t owe you anything,” he said. It was a German-made compact that spun the clothes so fast they were basically dry when you took them out. It used practically no water and hissed at you if you put in more than a tablespoon of soap. My wife wanted to buy a new one exactly like it. Unfortunately, the new German machine is…

There are many opportunities to diversify our neighbourhoods using the underused and marginal green spaces in our communities, such as yards, medians and parks. Fresh fruits, berries, herbs and more can be just outside our doorstep if we follow a few practical design steps. Spaces as small as 25 square feet (5 by 5 feet) can be transformed into diverse, delicious and beautiful abundance with an edible-ecosystem design. Edible-ecosystem design uses companionship planting to improve yield and plant health and to maximize space. Companion plants work well together because they share space, time and energy, and naturally improve the overall system’s health and yield. By observing natural systems like woodlands and prairies, gardeners can inform their garden design and choose companion plants appropriately. Look at a wild ecosystem outside your…

T he future of food is fermented, faux, functional and entomological. We’re looking for alternatives that create a smaller “foodprint” and promise good health. We aren’t just feeding ourselves; now we know we’re feeding our gut microbiota too. Each of us wants to eat according to our food sensitivities, blood types, genes—gluten-free, lactose-free, vegan, paleo, keto—and we want to produce way less waste doing it. Farming, food production, packaging and, indeed, lifestyles are being scrutinized, and it can feel overwhelming, but it’s also a time of great creativity. We are looking forward, but we’re also looking back to the ways of our ancestors, and it’s all right here in our delicious past-meets-future picnic. MEGA BROWNIES Makes 9 generous squares Why “mega”? Because these moist and indulgent treats are also packed…

It’s one helluva meet-cute that brought Stephanie Lipp and Leo Gillis to Bonavista, Newfoundland, and led them to create their gourmet mushroom production company. But while their mushroom-growing business initially appealed to them out of curiosity, it’s the opportunity to help their community become self-sustaining that cemented the business idea for them. Originally from Mississauga, Ontario, they moved to Bonavista last year. A visit in 2017 and, later, a chat with Leo’s grandmother about the cost of renting out east led Stephanie to take a closer look at the idea of living there. “Just for fun, I went on realtor.ca, and when I saw the prices of houses in Newfoundland, I said maybe we should just ditch our city life and move to Newfoundland, where we can afford a house,”…

A young couple from Mississippi were visiting rural Ontario, their first time in Canada. Staying at the renowned Drake Devonshire Inn, they signed up for my 3-hour Parts Unknown of Prince Edward County guided tour. They didn’t realize just how unknown the parts were where I was taking them. After driving through the pastoral landscape and having a tasting at a winery, I suggested a craft brewery they might like. We turned off the paved road onto a bumpy dirt lane. It was April, too early for green foliage, and there was no human settlement through the dismal swamp, with spring flood water lapping at road’s edge for a couple of kilometres. I mentioned that we were going to Strange Brew, housed in the brewer’s own home. From the back…

In each episode, host Wayne MacPhail interviews innovative, engaging and inspiring guests who share their lives and life lessons. In recent episodes, he has spoken with David Suzuki about his career, his regrets and his learnings. Dan Needles, the creator of the Wingfield Farm series of stage plays, shared his thoughts on his success and background. Wayne has even chatted with Canada’s leading hemp ambassador. The podcast is a cozy, half-hour soak in a warm audio bath. Enjoy it on a commute, a walk or just hanging out at home. Sound good? Listening is free and easy. Just subscribe on Apple iTunes or wherever you get your fine podcasts. Or drop by harrowsmithmag.com and give the show a listen right on your computer.…

How to Talk to Your Kids About Climate Change: Turning Angst into Action by Harriet Shugarman (New Society Publishers, 2020) Climate change is overwhelming for adults as it is, so how do we explore the topic with our kids? How to Talk to Your Kids About Climate Change is here to help. By offering advice for addressing the realities of today, along with sharing opportunities to make a difference, the book guides parents on how to have a conversation about climate change that offers hope to our children. Peter and the Tree Children by Peter Wohlleben (Greystone Kids, 2020) Peter Wohlleben gave us the bestselling book The Secret Life of Trees, which explores the fascinating inner world and language of trees. His new book, Peter and the Tree Children, is…

The night sky doesn’t change very much, or so we are told. Aristotle (384–322 BC) set the stage for this assumption with his philosophy of the unchanging starry realm. His teachings persisted for almost 2,000 years. After it was adopted by religion, to question it was heresy. Observers of the night sky slowly chipped away at these teachings by witnessing changes in the night sky. Eventually, these observations could no longer be ignored. The night sky does change, although slowly. To be fair, changes in the universe occur very slowly, spanning millions of human lifetimes. Some stars have lived as long as the human species, and others have been around for billions of years. Closer to home and with greater rapidity, the planets orbit the sun, and the rotation of…

Picnicking can be a trashy business, and plastics play a big role: plates, cutlery, cups, bottles, baggies, wrap, straws and paper napkins. But there are ways to take the trash out of your picnic, and here are a few of our favourite alternatives. Instead of new and disposable, think vintage, secondhand, reusable or compostable. We love the selection of innovative compostable and reusable products from Canadian company Green Munch (greenmunch.ca). Instead of… • Paper plates and cutlery, consider vintage enamelware and thrift-store silverware, compostable bamboo, or dishware and cutlery made from pressed leaves. • Plastic cups or bottles, fill up jars, insulated flasks or a canteen from an army surplus shop. • Plastic straws, bring along paper, steel or even hollow pasta or rice straws. • Plastic bags and wrapping,…

Fish counters can be overwhelming for the best of us home cooks. We wonder if the fish is fresh and how long it has sat there. Then there’s the source: Where does the fish come from and how long did it take to get here? How was it grown and in what conditions? And who has the time to figure it all out and get dinner on the table in a reasonable fashion? You’re not alone if you’ve ever wondered if your grocer’s catch of the day is wearing a disguise. In an ongoing investigation conducted by Oceana Canada, 26 to 67 percent of fish sold in cities across the country have been mislabelled. One option this non-profit conservation organization suggests is to shop from local, smaller businesses that know…