SIderoads

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Fall 2008

This Issue: Picton Images Green Direction Biking with Ed

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Volume 1 • Issue 3

Fall 2008 Sideroads Group Publisher

Features

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Oddly oddly onker, my first conker The Story and the Game

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Moments by Peggy deWitt Images from Prince Edward County

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Calendar Grannies Supporting a Cause

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Empowered Consumer Organic Choices

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Green Direction Alan Coxwell – Green Roots

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Running Wreaths Martha Hostage No Longer

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The Art of Transformation Hand-made

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Ed Kraus & a good machine Practicing What He Preaches

Tim Whittaker

Publisher Ron Prins

Editor Eoin Callan

art director Schellé Holmes

Graphic Design Jeremy Reid

Advertising Nora Borland Nancy Demers

Conolly Publishing

Metroland Media Group 1 Young Street, Box 1030 Brighton, ON K0K 1H0 tel: 613.475-0255 toll free: 1.800.267.8012 fax: 613.475.4546 email: newsroom@indynews.ca

The contents are protected by copyright and may be used only for personal noncommercial purposes. All other rights are reserved and commercial use is prohibited. To make any use of this material you must first obtain the permission of the owner of the copyright. For further information, contact Conolly Publishing at: 613-475-0255. The advertiser agrees that the publisher shall not be liable for damages arising out of errors in advertising beyond the amount paid for the space actually occupied by that portion of the advertisement in which the error occurred, whether such error is due to the negligence of its servants or otherwise, and beyond the amount paid for such advertisement. GENERAL NOTICE: Copyright in letters and other materials submitted to the Publisher and accepted for publication remains with the author, but the Publisher and its licenses may freely reproduced the in print, electronic or other forms.

2007

Connolly Publishing Ltd, a division of Metroland Publishing, and Home of

The Independent community newspaper. The Independent is the 2007 Blue Ribbon Canadian Newspaper Association Award winner.

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COntributors Vicki E ml aw Vicki is a ninth generation farmer here in South Mar ysburgh. “Growing up and living on a dair y farm and helping my mother in our family’s garden patch was my initiation into gardening as a career (much to my mother’s surprise). For many years I lived and travelled the world returning to Prince Edward County to work in the summers. While I was here, gardening seemed to take up most of my time and what started as a hobby slowly turned into a small business supplying the restaurants I worked at. Then I just stayed, things grew and here we are!”

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Sideroads

Fall 2008

“Oddly oddly onker, my first conker” This phrase is repeated af ter finding your fir st conker of the season. Apparently ensuring good for tune and few tangles in the ensuing games, it is clearly a line never to be forgotten.

by

Louise Barker

Aesculus hippocastanum is a large deciduous tree, commonly k n o w n a s Ho r s e - c h e s t n u t o r Conker tree. As a child growing up in England, the conkers arr ival was a much anticipated event. Watching those horse chestnut flowers form into the prickly green case which protected our shiny

The world conker championship is held every year on the Village Green at Ashton in Northamptonshire, England. However it is a game, enjoyed over the world.

How to play conkers? Each player has a conker hanging on its string. Players take turns at hitting their opponent’s conker. If you are the one whose conker is to be hit first, let it hang down f rom the str ing which is wrapped round your hand . The conker i s held perfectly still.

brow n treasures, brought on the realization summer was passing. It was if Mother Nature was giving us kids one last chance of f un before the cold long damp dark days of winter arrived.

Your opponent, the striker, wraps his conker string round his hand just like yours. He then takes his conker in the other hand and draws it back for the strike. Releasing the conker he swings it and tries to hit his opponent’s conker (yours).

If a player mi sses hitting hi s/ her opponent’s conker they are allowed up to two further goes. If the strings tangle, the first player to call “strings”, gets an extra shot. If a player hits his/her opponents c o n ke r i n su c h a w ay t hat i t completes a whole circle after being hit – known as ‘round the world’ – the player gets another go. If a player drops his conker, or it is knocked out of his hand the other player can shout ‘stamps’ and jump on it; but should its owner f irst cr y ‘no stamps’ then the conker, hopefully, remains intact. The game goes on in turns until one or other of the two conkers is completely destroyed. A victorious conker assumes the score of all its victim’s precedent foes. Thus, in a contest between two fresh conkers, the winner would then have a score of 1 (known as a ‘one-er’). If it then beat another three one-ers, it would become a four-er. However, if the same conker then beat a conker which had previously conquered (no pun intended) 5 fresh opponents (and thus was a ‘five-er’), our steadfast nut would

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then become a ten-er (its own four, plus its latest victim (1) *plus* its victim’s previous count of 5). You won’t f ind these rules for a world championship as it doesn’t make sense for a one-day event. But it certainly does at school, where a good conker could go for several seasons! For children who wish for ‘killer’ Conkers, you can tr y one of the following, although it is considered cheating to make your conkers harder. l S oak your conker in vinegar. l B ake your conker in the oven. lU se an old conker from previous years. With all this knowledge, I expect to see a future generation of conquers in Canada at the nex t Oly mpic games. Enjoy! Visit the of f icial World Conker Championship Web site for more details. S

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momentsby Peggy de Witt shoots from the heart… With no formal training or technical expertise, the Picton photographer has produced a body of work that inspires memories and captures the simple beauty and quirkiness of the county she calls home. The photographs evoke warmth, wistfulness – and some times laughter – and have won her a growing fan base. But while the popularity of her pictures is undeniable, the secret to her work’s appeal seems more ephemeral. So

Sideroads turned to John Oughton, who has watched Peggy’s portfolio evolve. We asked the nationally-influential Bloomfield poet to share some insights on a few of the photographs that caught our eye.

M I L K W EE D P O D S Two good lessons for the aspiring nature photographer are evident in “Milkweed”. The first is to get up close enough that the subject fills most of the frame – easy with milkweed, not so easy with birds and animals. The second is to control the depth of field so that what you want is sharp, and what you don’t want – in this case the fields and stream in the background - are soft enough to not distract from the subject. So here, the fluff y seeds are sharp, exhibiting individual filaments and the texture of the pods. Side lighting helps too – if this photo had been taken mid-day, it would be less textural, more matter of fact. Seeing milkweed this way makes us want to float away on the wind, like the seeds preparing to launch themselves.

SU G AR BUS H P U P P Y In “Sugar Bush Puppy”, as in any landscape with only one animal or person, the dog gets our attention first, seeming to patiently await a sip from the sap buckets. But once we look beyond the canine, we see how the composition makes this picture come alive; the sloping hill drops diagonally from upper left to lower right, but ever ything else is vertical: the trees, the sugar shack , the dog’s upright posture. Soft golds, browns and silvers give this picture harmony in colour, as well.

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peggydewitt

AMELIASBURG SOAP MAKING In “Ameliasburg”, you can almost smell pioneer days in the county. As well as its evocation of bygone days – not one element here speaks of the 21st century – two things make this image work. One is the wonderfully soft light, diffused by smoke and steam from the hanging cauldron. The other is the diagonal elements that give it some movement – the tripod legs, the slanting roofline to the right, the leaning slats at the bottom.

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peggydewitt

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paperimagesgallery M AI L B O X

(previous page) “Mailbox” shows that even da Vinci’s rule about the importance of shadows can be broken. In this evocative fall image, there are no shadows; the picture, presumably taken under a cloudy sky, is a study in softness. The lack of direct sunlight tones down the contrast of the red mailbox with its surroundings, so that it seems to glow softly,

as if holding a surprise arts grant or love letter. Its slightly battered, utilitarian form contrasts nicely with the rich mosaic of leaves above and below, saying “Autumn” with a different accent.

BARN West Lake Sunset

Sunset shots are a hoary cliché in photography – everyone with a camera tries a few. So for a sunset picture to actually linger in the memory, it has to offer something beyond a striking , colourful sky. Here, Peggy has chosen a muted palette of golds and bronzes rather than the wilder colours perhaps visible a few minutes earlier. “Barn” obeys the usual “rule of thirds” in landscape photography – in other words, one is advised not to position the horizon line half way up makes for a static, dull composition. In this one, the building’s shadows are just under a third, the sunset is the middle third, and

empty sky the top portion. W hat elevates it above “just another sunset shot”? Two things – one, that the slanting clouds makes it dynamic, so the sky seems in the middle of movement; and two, the positioning of the brightest area – the just-setting sun – behind the steeple gives the picture a “hot” center that draws the eye there.

John Oughton is a Bloomfield resident, photographer and the author of five books of poetry, including Time Slip (due out from Guernica Editions next spring). His press Sixth Floor recently issued Resonance, a collection of poetry by five authors in response to paintings. The book is available at Books & Company in Picton.

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Local Calendar Girls

bare all for…

by

Eoin Callan

connecting with grandmothers in Africa to raise awareness, foster self-help initiatives, and find ways to ensure orphaned grandchildren can access schooling and secure a more promising future. Some bonds can transcend oceans and continents, breach cultural and political boundaries, and serve as a source of strength in times of crisis, even amid deadly and horrific calamities of historic proportions. The link between grandmother and grandmother is such a bond, a group of local women have found after they took the time to listen to stories from the front lines of the Aids epidemic that has swept Africa. They heard from grandmothers who witnessed a previously-unknown disease devastate families and decimate villages, sometimes leaving the elderly as the only

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The goals have been pursued by the twogeneration intact to bear witness, to bury sons year-old Quinte Grannies for Africa through and daughters stricken by the deadly virus, events like tea and bake sales and bridge tournaments, and other activities befitting and to care for orphaned grandchildren. a group of old ladies, former teachers and The affinity evoked by these tales of regular church goers. adversity, and admiration for the courage shown, inspired the group of local women to But as their commitment to the project grew come together and join a growing movement and their sense of kinship deepened, the dubbed Grandmothers to Grandmothers. local grannies decided to go a step further. The goals of the movement are modest, and include practical steps as simple as helping to provide coffins to grandmothers in Africa so they may give their loved ones a dignified burial.

They are bearing all in a new nude calendar that is raising eyebrows and eliciting gasps and giggles at fair grounds and book stores across Quinte.

Of the 50 women in the organization, twelve It is premised on grandmothers in Canada brave souls have posed as god made them,

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Fall 2008

each immortalized as a pin up girl of 2009. The candid nature of the project underlines how comfortable the local women have become in each other’s company and the bond they have formed in coming together to reach across the world to others like them. The tastefully-designed calendar has been printed en masse and is being distributed far and wide for a cover price of $20, making it an ideal stocking-stuffer for Christmas, according to Mieke Thorne, better known as “Miss February”. It can be found in most good bookstores and is available online at: www.quintegrannies.ca or direct from the Grannies, who meet at St. Thomas Church in Belleville on the second Saturday morning of every month.

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G R E A T N E W S H O W S

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TUESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2008

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TRAILER PARK BOYS MONDAY,JANUARY 26, 2009

Stars of the hit television comedy. Live on stage. Ricky, Julian and Bubbles.

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Fall 2008

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Empowered consumers

by

Vicki Emlaw

“Consumers are as responsible for the well b e i n g o f o u r c o u n t r y s i d e a s t h e f a r m e r s a r e ”.

I heard this quote at a recent PEC Sl ow Fo o d e v ent f eatur ing the d o c u m e nta r y Mi c hae l Sc h m i d t O r g a n i c He r o o r B i o te r r o r i s t produced by Norman Lofts. It r e m i n d e d m e a n e w o f t h e interconnectedness of our food system – we are al l connec ted t h ro ug h w hat we eat in a web o f e x c ha ng e s b o t h v i s i b l e a n d invisible. I know the farmer’s role in the web wel l . For a farmer li ke me w ho promotes local sustainable food production, my role i s to grow healthy, nutritious, y ummy food. This means using my knowledge to the best of my ability to make sure the plants I grow will do all they have

to do to carr y them through their intelligent life cycle. It means using sustainable grow ing methods so the impact on our countryside and water sources is minimal. It means har vesting mature seeds, storing and labelling them properly so that I help preserve heirloom varieties and biodiversity in the plant kingdom. It means taking a lot of risk often w ith little reward because of my commitment to farming and feeding my community. The consumer’s role is starting to become better known. Consumers’ buying choices have a significant impact on how food is grown simply through the choices they make when purchasing food. Is it imported or

fall recipe

Curried Pumpkin Soup

from

Christine Kosman

2 tbsp butter 25ml 2 onions, chopped 2 leeks, washed and thinly sliced 1 carrot, peeled and chopped 1 Granny Smith apple, peeled, cored and sliced 1 tbsp curry powder 15ml 1 lb butternut squash, peeled, seeded and coarsely chopped 454g 1 lb pie pumpkin, peeled and coarsely chopped 454g 1 sweet potato, peeled and coarsely chopped 6 cups vegetable or chicken stock 1.5 L 1 cup plain, live cultured yogurt 250ml Salt and ground white pepper Chives, chopped for garnish Spice sachet: 1/2 cinnamon stick, 4 wholes cloves, 5 whole allspice, tied in cheesecloth M elt the butter in large saucepan over medium heat. Add the onions, leeks, carrot and apple. Sauté over medium-low heat until onions are translucent, A dd the curry, spice sachet, squash, pumpkin, sweet potato and stock. Simmer gently for about 45 minutes, until the vegetables are very soft. Remove the spice sachet.

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these policies help but many hinder farmers like me tr ying to make a small sustainable farm viable. We need to peel back these layers and look at how our governments can further enable and support a local healthy food system. Slow Fo o d (and other not for prof it or­g anizations devoted to healthy food and farming) also play a critical role. It helps hold this web together by con­n ection producers, consumers, academics, government, chefs etc… here in PEC and across the globe all the while promoting the simple phi losophy that we should al l make food produced lovingly by our neighbours and eat together. S

T ransfer the vegetable mixture to a blender or food processor and puree until smooth. Pass the soup through a fine-mesh sieve into a saucepan. Stir in yogurt. Season with salt and white pepper to taste. Heat gently until warmed through. M akes 8 - 10 servings.

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locally grow n? Is it grow n using sustainable practices? Is the farmer being adequately compensated ? Or in the word of Slow Food, is it Good, Clean and Fair? Consumers can empower themselves and the local sustainable food system by helping out on farms, joining a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture), taking more interest in understanding food & what it takes to grow things, buying locally, and educating themselves about what goes on their fork . The government‘s role is sometimes less visible. There are hundreds of policies and practices layered over the food system by our political leaders and bureaucrats. Many of

Fall 2008

A native of Prince Edward County, raised on a farm, I left the County after High School, but returned and opened County Sunshine Natural Foods, Beverages and Supplements in the mid 90s. Located at 195 Main Street in Picton, County Sunshine offers a wide assortment of products to meet everyone’s baking and culinary needs. We feature locally grown certified organic produce, both organic and conventional flours and whole grains, raw nuts and seeds, herbs and spices, oils and vinegars, gluten-free baking ingredients, and much more. During the local growing season, most of the organic vegetables offered for sale at County Sunshine are grown here in the County on my parent’s family farm. The growing season starts with strawberries and wraps up in the Fall with potatoes, carrots, leeks, pumpkins and squash. Throughout the year, we also provide a weekly produce box service which features in-season fruits and vegetables grown on the family farm. We continue to offer for sale locally grown organic potatoes, carrots, beets, garlic, shallots and onions during the winter months, while quantities last. My objective is to support local business wherever possible, while remaining true to my commitment to certified organic farming methods and environmental protection. I have been able to incorporate these principles into my business with products such as organic, fair trade coffee roasted in Kingston, local maple syrup, and seasonings and sauces produced in Ontario. We also feature body care products produced by Honey Pie Hives & Herbals and several lines of natural body care and environmentally-safe household cleaning products manufactured in Ontario. County Sunshine is open Monday thru Saturday from 10am – 5pm. We can be reached by telephone at 613-476-5943, or email, rosarugosa@sympatico.ca

Slow Food

Italian Bread Salad Ingredients w 10 lg heirloom tomatoes (all different colours and varieties) w 1 lg red onion w 1/4 lb of Mozzarella cheese w 12 olives w 1 cup of fresh basil Basil Vinaigrette w 2 garlic cloves w 1 1/2 tbl of Dijon mustard w 2 tbl honey w 1/4 cup red wine vinegar w 1 tbl balsamic vinegar w 1/2 cup fresh basil w 1 cup olive oil w salt & pepper to liking

Cut stale bread into small squares and brush with oil and garlic. Bake on a cookie sheet for 8-10 minutes. Cut the tomatoes, onion and mozzarella into chunks. Put in a large bowl and add the olives and fresh basil. Add croutons when they are done. Mix up the vinaigrette in a food processor and pour over everything and mix. Let it marinate for 15 minutes and serve.

A recipe from

Vicki Emlaw Vicki together with her partner Tim Noxon and daughter Sage, own and operate Vicki’s Veggies. Vicki is a ninth generation (South Marysburgh-PEC) farmer. Vicki’s Veggies is a 4-acre market garden. They work the land combining old fashion methods with new techniques. They work very hard at being sustainable and ecologically friendly. Growing close to 50 different vegetables with many different heirloom varieties of

each vegetable. Specializing in Heirloom Tomatoes with 161 types. 95% of their produce is sold locally (within 100 kms) most being within 30 kms. They sell from their busy roadside stand, a 55 member CSA, local restaurants and PEC’s new agricultural initiative. Plus they eat a lot of fresh vegetables, process, freeze, and put stuff in the root cellar to have enough for themselves for their 100-meter diet in the winter months.

I use this recipe because I wait all season long until the tomatoes to come on. So now they are on and I make this almost every day.

Croutons w 1/2 loaf of stale bread w 1 garlic clove w 4 tbl olive oil

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Sideroads

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Green Direction Alan Coxwell going Green

Alan Coxwell kneels in the dirt outside his hilltop home in rural Hastings County working a patch of vegetables. A black-and-white border collie stands alert by his side, motionless as it eyes an approaching visitor. The 58-year-old has been working the same acreage since 1975, and says it provides close to 90 per cent of the food his family eats each day. The father-of-four started out with a barn of Jersey cows, but the pre-dawn routines of tending to a dair y herd persuaded him to shift to beef cattle. This has given him more time to spend off the farm, including at the Stirling Rotary Club, which he helped found and where he ser ved as president. Somewhat

improbably, he has been f i l ling his spare time of late on the hustings as a candidate for the Green Party in the federal election. W hat makes his candidacy noteworthy, is that before coming into the Green fold, Mr. Coxwell voted Conservative. The vote for the party of Stephen Harper was not an aberation. Like many fellow grey-haired Rotarians, he says he has periodically tilted towards the Conservatives during his lifetime. This has been especially true when the Liberal government of the day has ticked him off, like in the early seventies when he was working for Shell Oil on the shores of the Beaufort Sea in the Arctic and the Liberals tried to cap energ y prices. His switch to the Greens represents what party-leader Elizabeth May says could become a wider shift in Canadian politics that sees Conservativeleaning rural voters changing affiliation. W hile the party is a long way from realizing its ambitions as a broker of national power, poll results show its support moving into double-digits and picking up in both urban and rural areas. As the Greens grow, there are signs the party presents a unique threat to the Conservatives in agricultural heartlands like eastern Ontario. At a local level, the Greens are showing they can reach around from the opposite end of political spectrum and peel away Conser vative voters the traditional left could never reach. Rick Norlock, a rural Conservative incumbent in Northumberland-Quinte West, acknowledges the Greens have been picking up stray votes from his party. The former police officer says these Conser vatives are just “parking their vote”, though he suggests strongly-held beliefs seem to be propelling some of his voters towards the Greens. Mr. Coxwell says many older rural voters are becoming more cognizant of the natural environment and mindful of the legacy they will bequeath to future generations. A key reason a voter would switch to the Greens? “Your children and grandchildren will thank you 50 years from now,”

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by

Eoin Callan

he says. One of the factors that won Mr. Coxwell over to the party was the leadership of Ms. May. Mr. Coxwell joined the party after seeing her address a crowd locally, recalling his surprise at finding a party leader who “actually makes sense when she speaks”. His small “c” conser vative roots were not an obstacle to his selection as the Green candidate, with party records showing he was endorsed unanimously, save for one vote. It turns out the single vote against the candidate was cast by the candidate himself. “I refuse to join any club that would have me as a member,” says Mr. Coxwell, quoting Groucho Mar x . The levity the candidate brings to the campaign trail fits with the long-shot candidacy. Instead of printing thousands of leaflets to promote his candidac y, his team instead distributed small packets of sunflower seeds with a few scant details printed on the back . Mr. Coxwell knew when he took on the role he had little chance of getting elected – at least this time round. “Miracles happen,” he says, with scant optimism in his voice. A neighbouring farmer who has known the Coxwells for decades quips that accepting a nomination for the Green Party - which at the time had never elected anyone to parliament – was a good way of maintaining an air of purpose while being assured a quiet retirement. The suggestion seems to slightly wound Mr. Coxwell, who puts down his farm tools and walks over to the shelter of an outbuilding , followed by his dog. The father of three boys and a girl speaks with conviction about the subtle but important ways in which the local ecolog y surrounding his farm is changing. The native of rural Ontario also points across the valley below at a canopy of leaves as he explains how subtle shifts in wind currents observed and measured over decades reflect wider changes in the earth’s climate. The thing that seems to rile him most about the federal government, is what he describes as inadequate investment in alternative energy and green technology. He argues companies are being driven overseas to locations where governments have made a firmer commitment to developing this sector. Watching the 58-year-old standing on his hill top setting out what he would do differently in government, it would be easy to mistake him for a recent convert to the green revolution. But people who know him well say the man who built his own home and grows most of his own food has been a committed environmentalist for decades. W hat seems to have changed is that those convictions are now informing the political choices of the former Conser vative voter, though it remains to be seen how many grey hairs with green under their fingernails will follow his lead. S

GEO THERMAL – THE FUTURE IS NOW by

Valerie Clancy

W ith

the pollutants produced by oil contaminating our environment, oil prices escalating and fluctuating without warning, and recent reports from economists predicting furnace oil will reach $1.60/litre by October; it is fast becoming reality that our world cannot continue to run on oil alone. M ore and more, energy conscious homeowners are turning to Geo Thermal to provide year-round comfort for their home environment because it is clean, reliable and economical. G eo Thermal is a practical solution based on a simple process. It uses the sun’s energ y stored in the ground to supply an unlimited, constant source of energy that produces zero emissions, giving homeowners the advantage to control their own energy future. G eo Thermal technology is the most advanced, efficient cost effective technology in the world today… capable of heating in winter, cooling in summer, hot-water heating and dehumidifying, all delivered with quiet operation, low maintenance and energy cost reduction. S witching to GEO from oil/electric reduces energy costs by 70%, propane by as much as 80%, so the ROI is recognized ­immediately. Going GEO also increases the value of your home by ten to twelve thousand dollars. A seven thousand dollar rebate is also available through the Government ­e coENERGY program (additional rebates may apply). *Systems/

i­ nstallations must meet CGC standards to qualify for these rebates (see following for information about the CGC). S witching to GEO will cut a households emissions by 50% and is ­e quivalent to taking 2 cars off the road, planting 1 acres of trees. Homeowners need to do their homework as the realization to save energy continues to escalate. T he Canadian Geo-Exchange Coalition is the voice of the geo-exchange ­i ndustry, an energy management system that uses alternative energy sources to stop the depletion of our fossil fuels. The CGC ensures homeowners are getting approved Geo Thermal systems and professional workmanship. For more information, visit: www.geo-exchange.ca There are companies who claim to be experts in the GEO industr y, so the best way to ensure your system, designer, installer is CGC approved, is to ask for proof. C ountry Hearth believes that Geo Thermal is a positive step in the right ­d irection to clean up our environment. We are dedicated to helping ­h omeowners make an educated choice about their future environmental needs. To learn more about Geo Thermal solutions call our office @ 905-372-0223 to sign up for one of our up-coming Geo Thermal Info ­Presentations; a­ vailable to individuals, groups and organizations. S

A B r i gh t Id e a ! Compact fluorescent light bulbs or CFLs are a hot environmental trend these days. Everyone wants to do what they can to reduce their energ y consumption. Switching to CFLs is an easy way for the average household to make one small change in the fight against global warming. But they’re not quite perfect. CFLs contain a small amount of mercury, which means that the CFLs should not be disposed of in the regular garbage like the old fashioned incandescent bulbs. Just like paint, pesticides and batteries, CFLs need to be disposed of at one of Quinte Waste Solutions Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) drop-off events. The fluorescent lamps are shipped to a rec ycling facility where the mercur y is recovered for reuse and the glass and metal components are recycled which ensures that none of the components end up in landfill. Use of CFLs in your home is safe. No mercur y is released when the bulbs are in use because it is sealed within the glass tubing in vapour

form. In the unli kel y event t h at a CF L s h o u l d b re a k , t h e g reate st h ea l t h r i s k i s g e tt i ng c u t f ro m t h e g l ass shards. Clean-up of a broken bulb involves sweeping , not vac uuming , al l of the glass fragments into a plastic bag and br ing ing the bag to an HHW col lection event. So, are Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs a bright idea? Yes, they use only one quarter of the energ y of a standard incandescent bulb and last about 8 times longer which means fewer bulbs required and less packaging in our landfill sites! W hen purchasing CFLs – be sure to look for the Energ y Star Logo. S

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Fall 2008

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What does the environment have to do with me? fact, many homemade versions of these products can be just as easy to use and a lot easier on your wallet. The possible savings goes further than just vinegar and water.

If we are honest with ourselves, most of us are torn bet ween a d e s i re to b e env i ro n m enta l l y responsible and the inconvenience of changing our daily habits. Bombarded dai ly w ith idealist rhetoric touting “green” issues, you may find yourself wondering how much it all directly affects you. Is it personally worth the hassle or expense of altering your lifestyle? The answer is, resoundingly, yes.

The annual reduction in energ y b i l l s resu l t i ng f ro m chang i ng from incandescent to compact by fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) or Sarah DeVries buying a programmable thermostat to lower the temperature during hours when you aren’t at home e x p osu re to h o u s e h o l d tox i c any w ay, can add up... for the chemicals w ill greatly increase environment and your wallet. your chances of a healthy lifestyle. If that means switching from your If ever y household in Canada f am i l iar c o m m erc ia l c l ean i ng c ha ng e d j u st o n e t rad i t i o na l products to eco-friendly cleaners, incandescent light bulb to a CFL, isn’t it worth a little extra cost? In the country would save more than

A little ef for t may be required to make some changes, but big benef its can be realized to your health and finances. So go ahead a n d g o g re e n , f o r m o re t h a n political correctness, do it for yourself. S

Imagine a utility company that PAYS you for your hydro…

Beyond being a rallying point f o r p o l i t i c a l ac t i v i s m , t h e e nv i ro n m e n t i s t h e a i r w e breath, the water we drink and the land on which our food is grown. We all suffer the ill effects as it becomes depleted or polluted. We should treasure the health of our planet as many of the illnesses that plague our society are well documented as being directly or indirectly related to env ironmental problems. Although the debate rages on ov er can c er- causing agents and factors contr i buting to other diseases, one thing is certain, reducing or eliminating

16

$73 million in energ y costs ever y year and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 397,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide – the same impact on climate change as taking 66,000 cars off the road for one year.

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Sideroads

Fall 2008

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Committed to Sustainable Forestry & Responsible Land Stewardship Forest Management Planning & Operational Expertise FSC Certified Resource Manager SW-FM/COC-139 Trained and Certified Forest Professionals • Excellent Return for Products Harvested Guaranteed Markets for All Products • Supervision of Forest Operations

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Wrap up your home in comfort with DuetteÂŽ honeycomb shades. This soft shade actually traps air before it enters your room, decreasing the chill in winter and the heat in summer. LiteRiseÂŽ allows you to raise and lower your shades and blinds with just the touch of a finger. Your window fashions will open and close everytime, and can be stopped at any position along the way. There are no pull cords to become tangled in, so kids and pets play safe.

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Fall 2008

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$7000 government grant available. Add’l rebates may also apply. Financing available OAC.

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Since our ReStore opened in 2006 we have diverted 63 tons of useful materials from landfill We have initiated a unique salvage operation many area residents have used saving money and materials Visit our ReStore at 393 Sidney Street, Belleville for new and recycled building and home supplies. Doing a home renovation? Removing your home, cottage or barn? Call us about the ReStore Salvage Program. Rob Bradshaw, Manager: 613-962-7526

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Fall 2008

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Running wreaths around Martha

For years, I’ve been held hostage by Mar tha Stewar t. Her abilities far surpass those of this lowly country house frau, but...

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...hope lives on. Each autumn as we pack up the dogs and take our f irst wal k through the f al l colours, I think to mysel f , ‘ W hat does Mar tha see?’ ‘ W hat would she create to immor tali ze thi s per fec t f al l day ?’ The p ossi bi lit ies are end less, but I’ ve lear ned not to p onder her i n t i m i d at i n g t a l e n t s to o l o n g , w h i l e q u i e t i n g my i n n e r Ma r t h a by liv ing v icariously through the accomplishments of the professional s. Last fall, I threw caution to the crisp autumn w ind, in an attempt to break free of Mar tha’s long shadow, and craf ted my ow n w reath. No planning , no combing through book s or magaz ines - I just did it! After plucking all kinds of seasonal plumage from my own backyard,

t h e n g at h e r i ng v a r i o u s b e r r i e s and late blooming weeds on my afternoon walks, I made my f irst pilgrimage into a crafts store. It was a big one. A i sles and ai sles of inspiration were laid out before me, so, w ith my teenaged d a u g h t e r, L a u r a , i n t o w, w e waded in. It wasn’t long before I realized that assistance was needed , so we asked a ­c apablelook ing woman for hel p.

“ We l l â€?, s h e b r e a t h e d , ­b e f o r e lau n c h i ng i n to h e r c ra f t s sto re lingo‌ “Are you using grapevine or foam? Pins or hot glue?’â€? ‌ as my ever-shrinking artistic ego ­r eceived yet another blow.

As we were lining up our p u rc h a s e s at t h e c a s h , I a s ke d Laura if she thought the woman

Let us Entertain You! 2 0 0 8

“I’m making a wreath!â€?, I ­e xclaimed. “. . . a n d I ’m w o n d e r i n g w h a t I need?â€? Well, if a condescending smile could slay a ­c reative spirit, I was ­c er tainly maimed ‌ sti l l , undaunted , I forged ahead w ith my questioning brow.

to the glue section, aga i n st h er b e tter j u d g e m e n t . In a v e r y p e r f u n c to r y manner, she shared her opinion about proper glue gun s a f e t y, a s w e l l as the benefits of wrapping our w r e a t h ­g a r n i s h e s in some green stem tape. This mad e g o o d s en s e. Suddenly, it looked like the nex t best thing to a plan was er upting . O ne row over we found the largest bare grapev ine w reath I’ve ever seen, we smiled and hast i l y made our ex it. The craf t store lady scuttled back to her lair.

A n d ye t , s o m e re n e g ad e g y ps y gene in me persevered in my quest for hot glue g uidance. Craf ts store lady was in no m o o d f o r my w h i m s y, b u t s h e e s c o r te d my d a u g h te r a n d m e

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S h e e x p l a i n e d t h a t W E d o n’ t START there. WE should have a plan and a preference – to make a successful wreath. As put off as I was by her deliver y, there was t r u t h i n h er message. A f ter al l , Mar tha is always ver y organized when embarking on her projects. Per haps thi s was key.

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“Um, I li ke the sound of g rap e v i n e a n d h o t g l u e ‌ w hy don’t we star t there?â€? It w a s a n a i v e s t a b at h u m o u r which was clearly lost on the craf ts store crone.

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had been brusque with us? I mean, aren’t artsy, craftsy folk all war m, f uzz y and eager to share their know ledge? My surprisingly w ise teen ­n oted t h a t t h e l a d y w a s ­a n n o y e d because – while others read and work hard at perfecting their chosen craft – I was swinging by on some sudden not ion that I c o u l d j u st t h row t h i s w reat h together‌ and that was w rong , as wel l as o­ f fensive. S h e w a s p ro b a b l y a c c u r a te . It didn’t take ver y long to construct the w reath. Some dried lavender here, ­s umac cones there, a t w ist of orange and red plaid r i bbon, and voila – I had a r ustic w reath t hat c o u l d eas i l y b e s e e n f ro m t h e h i g h w ay 2 0 0 f e e t aw ay. It was huge. It was massive. It was mine. By the f irst snow fall, my autumn

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wreath was put away carelessly in our shed . I’m just now gett ing ready to haul it out , festoon i t w i t h t h i s y e a r ’s f a l l w a l k f indings (I’ve got some killer R ed Dog wood t w igs) and hang it once again on the front of our school house. Oh, she’ l l be a wonder to ­b ehold . No, Martha would not ­a pprove‌ and the craf ts store lady would b e f o rc e d to l o o k aw ay‌ b u t my ­a u t u m n w reat h hold s som e history, a lot of colour – and from a d i s ta n c e , i f y o u s q u i n t y o u r e yes, it ’s prett y impressi ve. I’ l l al w ays b e awed by the masters in our midst, but now, closing in on f if t y years of age, I’ve grow n c o m f o r tab l e w i t h my ow n l e ss than perfect ways – because truth be told , most things in life look b e st f ro m f ar aw ay‌ w i t h o u r eyes blurred just a bit. S

17th

Saturday & Sunday November 1st & 2nd Wednesday, November 5th Saturday & Sunday November 8th & 9th 10:00 am to 4:00 pm daily HUNDREDS OF QUALITY ARTS AND CRAFTS will be on display including many “one-of-a-kind�. Visit the Christmas House and Tea Room set in beautiful Heritage homes by the lake. Artists Doug Comeau, Rose Brown and Linda Barber will be in residence at the Park’s Lighthouse Interpretive Centre Gallery. Christmas at Presqu’ile is open for your enjoyment from 10 AM to 4 PM daily. Admission to Presqu’ile Provincial Park is complimentary and there is no charge to enter Eastern Ontario’s Signature Juried Arts and Crafts Show. Follow the signs for Christmas at Presqu’ile. For more information please call The Friends of Presqu’ile at 613-475-1688 or visit our website at www.friendsofpresquile.on.ca

Directions: Hwy 401 to Hwy 30 (exit 509) south to Brighton.

Fall 2008

21

Hand-made

The art of transformation

by

Carlyn Moulton

Nothing has been more ‘ handmade’ t h ro ug h o u t h i sto r y t han ar t. Inherent in its ver y nature, t h e a r t i s t i c p ro c e s s e m b o d i e s innovation, creativ it y, design, a way of transforming materials from one thing to another and in ways that will last. We are rediscovering these values in many other contexts s u c h a s o u r a r c h i te c t u r e , o u r clothing and our food. Seven generations sustainability is an ecological concept that encourages us to be working for the benefit of the seventh generation in the future. 7G is an exhibition of contemporar y ar t objects by seven artists who explore concepts o f s u s t a i n a b i l i t y i n a c re a t i v e 3-D dialogue with the principles of Leadership In Energ y and Environmental Design (LEEDS) that g uided the development of Fifthtown Artisan Cheese Factory. Fif thtow n not only makes great hand-craf ted goat and sheep cheese from local organic farms – it is the first LEEDS Platinum cheese production facilit y in North America. The artists were asked to create work from found or rec ycled objects. Peter Blendell made his bench from an oak beam discarded dur ing the constr uc t ion of the factory. The works are available for sale through the Oeno Gal ler y. The exhibition continues on through October. Near and Far Away

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S

arts

trail

It’s Official: The Arts Trail is Bl azin’ Hot by

Carlyn Moulton

7G exhibition

Early one morning in August, dozens of cars converged at the Fields on West Lake. This was the “Official Launch” of Prince Edward County’s Arts Trail. Easels and plinths popped out of trunks, and in minutes, Mark Henr y’s barn was transformed into an instant art gallery. It was a classy country affair, replete with tastings of Fifthtown Cheese and (blessedly, considering the hour) remarkable non-alcoholic cider from Grant Howe’s County Cider Company. The mayor was there. Leona Dombrowsky, our MPP was there. Even Peter Fonseca, Ontario’s Minister of Tourism was there – and all were celebrating the remarkable collaboration that has taken place amongst government, the Trillium Foundation, Taste the County, and local artists and entrepreneurs to make the Arts Trail a reality. In the last issue of this magazine we explored the stretch of trail from ­C arr ying Place to Wellington. This time, we are heading down deep into the County in the south east corner on one of the prettiest drives to be found in Canada. Starting in Bloomfield, head out County Road 12 toward the Sandbanks, and cut across Kleinsteuber Parks Road. If luck is with you, the eclectic and eccentric Mary Brett might have her open shingle out at her studio and be willing to show you her watercolours. And then around the ­c orner, a little further around East Lake on County Road 11, make sure to stop at Mad Dog Gallery. This fall they have two group shows scheduled with work by many artists, including Celia Sage, Rosemar y Brown, Susan Wallis and Susan Straitan – and one solo show with the talented British painter (and County resident) John Castle. A few minutes down the road – be forewarned – you might very well fall victim to the charms of Cherry Valley. Many theories abound about

Mark your calendar! Oct 31 – Nov 2, 2008 Daily 10am to 5pm

Signature Show of the Prince Edward County Arts Council returns to showcase internationally and locally renowned artists and artisans, and introduce new ones to the scene. Browse Eastern Ontario’s most exciting show and sale for unique pieces from a collection of work including wood, metal, mixed glass, jewelry, clay, fibre and wearable art. Admission $5. For more information call 613-476-4811, email pecartscouncil@bellnet.ca, or visit www.themakershand.com

the precise nature of its seduction. One has to do with the light and the precise way it falls in the late morning and early evening. And another has to do with the bawdy w it of a Welshman w ith remarkable eyes. Graham Davies – also known as the Bald Photographer – takes astonishing photographs. He has been known to take pretty pictures of the usual suspects – craggy landscapes, heritage architecture and county fairs – but his black and white explorations of the sensual and eternal mysteries of one human body encountering another are unforgettable. As it is important to pace oneself, a little lunch might be in order – and there are many options to choose from. The Milford Bistro ser ves a tasty lunch of local cheeses, salads and marinated skewers of chicken and beef. On Count y Road 8, going toward Waupoos, you can have a hearty outdoor lunch and a pint at the Duke of Marlbourough Pub, an elegant lunch with a little Baco Noir by the water at the Waupoos Winery, or enjoy one of the finest views in the County while eating at the County Cider Company. After that it is a ver y short drive along the shore to the La De Dah Sculpture studio – a stop not to be missed. Frank de la Roche has received numerous international awards for his sculptures. His works are created in materials such as stone and bronze, and they are sought after by many collectors. Frank is also one of the funniest characters in the county – and you will be very tempted to stay and listen to his stories. But once you have found your own treasure there, let the man get back to work and carry on out toward Cressy. If you can get there before five, stop in at the Fifthtown Artisan Cheese Factor y. They simply make the best goat and sheep cheese that we know – our personal favourites are Diva and Operetta. And until midOctober, Fifthtown is hosting 7G, an outdoor sculpture show curated by the Oeno Gal ler y, featuring work made from rec ycled or found objects. (For more on this, see The Art of Transformation on previous page.) County Road 8 becomes County Road 7 and winds back toward Picton. On the way, you can stop in at the Red Roof Galler y, home to awardwinning watercolourist Ron Pickering , and then do take a bit of time to stop at Lake on the Mountain overlooking Glenora. No matter how many times I go there, it still takes my breath away. In the next issue of Sideroads, we will follow the Arts Trail to village of Bloomfield. Carlyn Moulton is the co-owner and curator of the Oeno Gallery. She sits on the Cultural Round Table, where the idea for the Arts Trail was born, and also sits on the board of Taste the County™, which manages both the Taste and the Arts Trail.

S

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Sideroads

Fall 2008

Ed Kraus is a man who practices what he preaches

a good machine by

Shelley Wildgen

W hat can you say about a guy who didn’t get a driver’s licence till he was thirty-five? Well, you say he’s a man who’s true to himself, and in Ed Kraus’ own words, he ‘just couldn’t find the time’. Ed Kraus is the ow ner of Ideal Bike Shop in Picton and if ever there was a man who practiced what he preached, it’d be Ed. With a calm, kind demeanour that belies his quiet approach to forty, Ed has been c ycling , not just for sport, but as a way of life.

Before opening Ideal Bike Shop in Picton four years ago, Ed was a bike messenger in Toronto, making his home in Kensington Market. After vacationing in the County during Toronto’s S. A .R .S. epidemic, it just made good, healthy sense to pack up his young family and indulge in the much simpler County way of life. His only complaint being that there isn’t any daycare in his landing spot of Wellington... hence the need for a driver’s licence. Other than regular daycare operatives, one gets the sense that Ed rides his recumbent (easier on

the neck and shoulders) bic ycle just about everywhere. He reveres the humble cycle much like some do their loaded iPods. “The bicycle,” says Ed, “is a good machine,” and after one ponders the bicycle as a machine, you realize that he’s right. This centur y, especially, has provided us with many ‘machines’, but few, if any, surpass the simple performance quality of a bicycle. I asked the bike guy - who made up most of his customer base? He happily told me the shop

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Fall 2008

25

W hat can you say about a guy who didn’t get a driver’s licence till he was thirty-five? Well, you say he’s a man who’s true to himself, and in Ed Kraus’ own words, he ‘just couldn’t find the time’.

performance quality of a bicycle.

I asked the bike guy - who made up most of his customer base? He happily told me the shop draws largely local people, w ith about 30% being tourists... this year has Ed Kraus is the owner of Ideal Bike been his big gest tourist season Shop in Picton and if ever there ever. With a smidge of concern was a man who practiced what he on his face, he noted that women preached, it’d be Ed. With a calm, between 15 and 30 make up the kind demeanour that belies his least number of avid cyclists, and quiet approach to for t y, Ed has though the county roads provide a been c ycling , not just for sport, great place to cycle, there aren’t any bike paths for younger kids. but as a way of life. Before opening Ideal Bike Shop in Picton four years ago, Ed was a bike messenger in Toronto, making his home in Kensington Market. After vacationing in the County during Toronto’s S. A .R .S. epidemic, it just made good, healthy sense to pack up his young family and indulge in the much simpler County way of life. His only complaint being that there i sn’t any daycare in his landing spot of Wellington... h e n c e t h e n e e d f o r a d r i v er ’s licence. Other than regular daycare operatives, one gets the sense that Ed rides his recumbent (easier on the neck and shoulders) bicycle just about ever ywhere. He reveres the humble cycle much like some do their loaded iPods. “The bicycle,” says Ed, “is a good machine,” and after one ponders the bic ycle as a machine, you realize that he’s right. This century, especially, has provided us with many ‘machines’, but few, if any, surpass the simple

26

As a supporter of the upcoming Kingsto n B. M . X . Inter nat i o nal Competition, Ed has a penchant for providing kids (adults too) with an easy, affordable cycling option, by carr y ing a good selection of B.M. X . bikes. The man w ith the peacef ul disposition, positively lights up at the prospect of kidfriendly activ ities, and looks forward to construction beginning in September on Picton’s new Skate Park . With Ideal Bike Shop’s innumerable bike sales, rentals and repairs, it’s refreshing to see how much this man enjoys his work, often crafting his own repair utensils, much like a shoemaker would fashion a custom patch to mend a tired sole. It’s a hard living , with only six peak months of business a year, and as you can well imagine, finding eager employees can be a challenge. “My dream employee would be a

Sideroads

Fall 2008

retired bike mechanic living in the County.”

Feeds building on Elizabeth Street off Picton Main Street.

Until that person surfaces, Ed will continue to provide work and instill the passion of cycling into his parttime teen employees, knowing that he only has them for a short time, before they move away to university or college.

Never to be mistaken as a cycling snob, Ed has an ‘inclusionary vision of cycling’ truly believing there is a bike for ever yone, not just for those with long-standing skill and accomplishment.

W hether you’re eight or eight y, This means a ver y hands-on role you’re likely to feel energized by for Ed, who seems content working Ed’s sensible c ycling philosophy, away at his shop in the old Master because no matter how old we are, we al l rememb er that ver y first time - cautiously taking our pavementp u s h i ng f o o t o f f t h e g ro u n d , a n d fearlessly flying on our new bicycle. S ATLANTIC CITY Oct 26 - 29, 2008 3 nites accom, show, 2 dinner buffets, Starting from $319 Coin package.

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