Table of contents for Winter 2025/26 in Harrowsmith

CHICKEN POT PIE WITH LEEKS & BABY ONIONS Tarragon and sherry are the secrets to this uptown chicken pot pie, a traditional dish tailor-made to cure the winter blahs. Serve it with spinach salad on the side and you have a dinner that will please family and friends. SERVES 6 TO 8 PREPARATION TIME: 50 MINUTES COOKING TIME: 45-50 MINUTES ½ LB PEARL ONIONS PINCH SALT PINCH BROWN SUGAR 7 TBSP BUTTER 1 CUP FRESH OR FROZEN PEAS 2 CARROTS, THINLY SLICED 2 LEEKS, WHITE PARTS ONLY, THINLY SLICED 1 ½ LBS CHICKEN, WHITE OR DARK MEATSALT AND PEPPER 2 TBSP MEDIUM DRY SHERRY 3 TBSP FLOUR 1 ½ CUPS CHICKEN STOCK ½ CUP HEAVY CREAM 1 TSP FRESH PARSLEY, CHOPPED, OR ½ TSP DRIED 1 ½ TBSP FRESH TARRAGON, CHOPPED…

Do you have condensation on windows in your home during the colder months? If you do, you’re not alone. Winter window condensation is a growing problem in regions that get cold winters… and the reason may surprise you. As building materials and technology improve, homes are sealed better against air leakage, which means natural ventilation to the outdoors is reduced. The condensation is just what happens when windows, doors and entire homes have fewer drafts and air leaks. Saving energy by reducing air leaks is a great thing, but the unintended consequence is that indoor air becomes much more likely to contain damaging levels of moisture and toxins during winter. If your windows sweat enough during the heating season to run down the glass and require periodic wiping with a…

“This place reminds me so much of Ireland!” exclaimed Judy. “I just love Ireland.” It was meant as a compliment but, as the women started trading their favourite Ireland travel stories, my stomach sank a little. That’s because we were in Newfoundland, on an eight-day tour that I had painstakingly woven together, combining people and places for a first-of-its-kind experience. The last thing I wanted was my guests comparing this destination to another place. But then Judy paused and said something I wasn’t expecting: “But this is so much better!” We had just finished a 12-kilometre hike along a segment of the East Coast Trail, which wends along the southern shore of the Avalon Peninsula for 336 gorgeous kilometres. We’d skirted past rough-hewn cliffs of black volcanic basalt; gazed down…

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…

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…

DESPITE EVERYTHING IN OUR MODERN LIFESTYLES THAT ALLOWS US TO THINK OTHERWISE, PEOPLE ARE — AND ALWAYS HAVE BEEN — DEEPLY CONNECTED TO THE NATURAL WORLD. THESE DAYS IT’S OFTEN HEADLINE-MAKING WEATHER EVENTS THAT BRING THIS REALIZATION TO THE FORE, BUT EVERY MEALTIME SHOULD ALSO SERVE AS A REMINDER THAT WE ARE INEXTRICABLY TIED TO THE PLANET WE OCCUPY. Not only does the food we eat contribute to our health, but with more than 150 million acres of our country committed to agriculture, the way that we choose to cultivate and shop for our food affects the health of our planet and our communities. This winter, take some time to learn about how you can support local farmers and sustainable practices. Plus, we share the lowdown on the different farming…

The Quebec City toboggan slide, created by Patrick Fitzgerald in 1884, predates even the Château Frontenac — making it the oldest tourist attraction in the city. By the time this photo was taken in the early 1900s, the wooden structure on the Dufferin Terrace was already a beloved local tradition, treating visitors to a thrilling experience as well as stunning views of the St. Lawrence River. Racing at intense speeds has not gone out of fashion. The slide still draws brave riders today — now with refrigerated tracks to ensure consistent ice thickness for a smoother (but still adrenaline pumping!) ride at speeds of up to 70 km/h.…

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…

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…

Learning a new language is tough. Just ask anyone who has done it. When we are asked, “How can I best succeed in the garden?” our standard answer is, “Learn to think like a plant.” When you approach gardening this way, it’s much like learning a new language. We dig, weed, prune, mulch and harvest (among other things) for years, until one day, if we are lucky, we start doing these things automatically — without consulting the calendar or the internet. At this point, we reach what writer Malcolm Gladwell calls the “10,000-hour rule” in his book, The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference (2000). This is the point at which the skill is mastered (think the Beatles or Wayne Gretzky). We aren’t sure if it…

There’s something undeniably satisfying about stepping into a sauna after a long day. Whether it’s to soothe sore muscles, unwind after a workout or just enjoy a moment of peace, more homeowners are exploring ways to bring this experience closer to home. But when it comes to making it happen, there’s a big question to answer: Should you rent, buy or build a sauna? If you’re the kind of person who likes to build, fix and improve your home, this may be something you’ve already been thinking about. Maybe you’ve dreamed of building a cedar sauna in the backyard, or converting a shed into a steam oasis. But before you go all in, let’s take a practical look at the real costs, time investment and flexibility of the options. It’s…