MIKE UNCORKED: NO MOW MAY

Issue No. 19.04 April 2022

Wolfville Farmers’ Market / Burger Wars ................. p.3 No Mow May / Margot’s Hidden Gems .................. p.4 Free Will Astrology / Star Drop .............................. p.5 Featurepreneur: Scrubbed Green Cleaning ............. p.6 Classifieds / FSTRA ................................................ p.6 Who’s Who: Mary Harwell ..................................... p.7 Gaspereau Press ................................................... p.8 Visually Speaking / I Know a Place ....................... p.9 Wolfville Page ......................................................p.10 Zero-Proof / Dinner Out .......................................p.11 What’s Happening / Tides ............................... p.12-13 Great Big Crunch / Kings County Public Spaces .....p.13 Light It Up Blue for Autism Awareness ...................p.14 What’s Growing / Raine Hamilton Trio .................p.14 Music in the Garden Room / Energy Discussion ....p.15

BROUGHT TO YOU BY AN AMAZING TEAM OF CONTRIBUTORS:

EMILY LEESON Editor-in-Chief

GENEVIEVE ALLEN HEARN Operations Manager

EMILY KATHAN Managing Editor

MONICA JORGENSEN Events & Lists

DAVID EDELSTEIN Design, Typesetting, Layout CONTRIBUTORS: Margot Bishop, Mike Butler, Scott Campbell, Margaret Drummond, Wendy Elliott, Genevieve Allen Hearn, Anna Horsnell, Samuel Jean, Janet Kirkconnell, Ron Lightburn, Sarah Mullen, Kelly Marie Redcliffe

DELIVERIES: Margot Bishop, Earle & Karen Illsley, Robert Knee, Andrea Leeson, John Morrison, Julie and Mugen Page, Fred Phillips, Sam Rhude, Mark Rogers, Lorna Williamson

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WHERE TO FIND US

WINDSOR: Fry Daddy’s, Gerrish & Gray, Lisa's Cafe, T.A.N. Coffee, Mosaic Market FALMOUTH: Fruit & Vegetable Company, Petro-Canada HANTSPORT: Jim's Your Independent Grocer AVONPORT: Cann’s Kwik-Way GRAND-PRÉ: Convenience Store, Domaine de Grand Pré, Just Us! Café GASPEREAU: Gaspereau Vineyards, Reid's Meats & Kwik-Way, XTR Kwik-Way WOLFVILLE: Carl's Your Independent Grocer, Eos Natural Foods, Just Us! Café, T.A.N. Coffee, Library, Wolfville Farmers' Market GREENWICH: Avery’s Farm Market, Edible Art Cafe, Elderkin's Farm Market, Hennigar's Farm Market, Noggins Corner Farm Market, Stirling's PORT WILLIAMS: Library, Planters Ridge, Post Office, The Noodle Guy CANNING: ArtCan Gallery, Degraaf's Kwik-Way, ValuFoods NEW MINAS: Boston Pizza, Captain Sub, Irving Big Stop, Jessy's Pizza, Long and McQuade, Milne Court Petro-Canada, Pita Pit, Swiss Chalet KENTVILLE: Half Acre Café, Jason’s Your Independent Grocer, Library, Maritime Express, Post Office, T.A.N. Coffee, Valley Regional Hospital COLDBROOK: Access Nova Scotia, T.A.N. Coffee, Callister's Country Kitchen, Foodland BERWICK: Jonny's Cookhouse, North Mountain Coffeehouse, Rising Sun Natural Foods, Union Street Café, Wilsons Pharmasave AYLESFORD: Chisholm's PharmaChoice KINGSTON: French Bakery, Pharmasave, Green Elephant GREENWOOD: Country Store, Tim Horton’s (Central Ave + Mall), Valley Natural Foods MIDDLETON: Angie’s, Goucher’s, Wilmot Frenchy’s, Tim Horton’s, Library

DISCLAIMER

The opinions expressed are solely those of the authors, and the publication of these opinions does not signify the endorsement by the staff or owners of The Grapevine Newspaper. Opinions expressed within this publication are not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional or medical advice. While we make every attempt to ensure accuracy with all published content, GV Publishing Inc. assumes no responsibility for the accuracy or truthfulness of submitted copy. In the event of an error, GV Publishing Inc. is only responsible for the price of the individual ad in which the error occurred. Can I have a show of hands: who likes to mow their lawn? Okay, there’s a few of you out there but the majority find it to be tedious, sweaty, tiring work that eats up your weekend, and makes your allergies act up. Let me save you some trouble and introduce you to No Mow May!

Some choose to put a lot of work into a lawn. There can be liming, fertilizing, raking, aerating, patching, re-seeding, mowing, rolling, edge trimming and watering. In addition, there can be weeding and pest destruction by herbicides and pesticides respectively, hopefully in an environmentally-sound manner. And as much as it is great to be outside the house, and as much as gardening and yard work is great exercise and therapeutic, let’s pause and ponder the effects of shifting your mowing obsessions, or as I call it: MOW C. D.!

There are positives to lawns. A small neatly kept area of pure green can be a wonderful foil for colorful flower beds. However, there are negatives to lawns. Clearly the “perfect, weed-free” lawn does little, if anything, to promote life on our planet.

A question for environmentalists is how to promote the switch from a sterile, manicured lawn to something more like a meadow that provides and supports life. The No Mow May movement started in the UK and sought to facilitate such a transition by educating and changing the minds of those who clear-cut the lawn. The movement is gaining traction in the Maritimes, thus the town councils of Moncton and Sackville, New Brunswick both lent their support in 2021. The idea behind the No Mow May movement is to let early-flowering wild plants (especially dandelions) grow in lawns and elsewhere. In this manner, essential food is on hand at the time when hungry native bees, butterflies and insects are emerging.

The No Mow May movement is a worthy initiative. The movement has really got the conversation going and has caused a seismic shift in attitudes. A concern with No Mow May is that we are importing a European solution in an attempt to solve a Canadian problem. That wouldn’t matter if the climate and growing conditions in the Maritimes and Europe were the same but they are not. Last year, an encouraging number of Annapolis Valley residents did not mow in May. What happened, in some cases at least, was that by mid May the dandelions had gone to seed and by the end of May the grass was quite long. The relationship between the frequency of mowing, number of native bees and number of wild flowers is not straightforward. With frequent mowing there are few bees of any description and few wild flowers. As the frequency of mowing decreases at first there are more wild flowers and more bees. However, there is evidence indicating that, within limits, while the number of flowers always increases as mowing decreases the number of bees on those flowers eventually starts to decline, the suggestion being that native bees don’t like to hunt for flowers in long grass. In addition, climatic conditions are such that bringing the long grass down to something resembling a lawn at the end of May is a challenge for Nova Scotians that the European advocates of No Mow May do not have to face.

Perhaps the first step in strengthening the No Mow May plan is to match the timing and duration of a no mow period to our climatic conditions. There is evidence that if the start of the spring clean up is delayed till there have been 7 to 10 days at around 10 C, the unintended destruction of native insects will be avoided. By this stage the insects that emerge in spring will have left their winter quarters, be they underground or in the stalks of dead plants or fallen leaves. Linking the no mow period to native insect emergence and to the blooming of flowers feeding pollinators would seem to be common sense.

I am very proud of those areas of the Valley that promote secluded pollinator gardens, created and maintained to feed the bees. It’s a great first step to helping the movement and to have a visual place to educate youngsters on this movement. Why not create a small pollinator garden on your property and promote it? There are some beautiful gardens in the Annapolis Valley designed to be part lawn and part meadow. Find them and show them off! We have, at our fingertips, the knowledge and advice of the Blomidon Naturalists Society. If you have any questions about what you can do to help, reach out to info@blomidonnaturalists.ca. Peek at the website, find your strength, make the change and, bees and thank you, enjoy NO MOW MAY. ❧

Children enjoy a campfire as part of March Break Camp activities at the Ross Creek Centre for the Arts.

FarmWorks Annual General Meeting

Investment Co-operative Limited

Phone 902-542-3442 or 902-670-3660 Email: lbest@ns.sympatico.ca Website: https://farmworks.ca/

FarmWorks 11th AGM will be held ONLINE on April 27 at 6:45 pm The Zoom link and agenda and information will be posted at farmworks.ca Please contact lbest@ns.sympatico.ca or phone 902-542-3442 with questions.

APRIL’S HIDDEN GEMS

Margot Bishop

April’s ‘hidden gems’ are all about the talents hidden in each and every one of us. Everyone has a desire to achieve something creative. Let that talent or interest shine. Do not let anyone try to discourage you. Whatever interests you, let that blossom. Do not allow people to influence you in a bad way, or demean or treat your idea as silly. Every creative idea may become a hobby that could and often does become a lifelong passion. Also, as we mature and change so do our hobbies. Let those ideas change with you. No matter what other people say or think, what interests you is very personal, and should be recognized as that. And remember—hobbies are fun.

What do you want to do? If a hobby intrigues you, but you do not know much about it, research it and find out more information. If you start something and it becomes less interesting, do not be discouraged, you can always rethink your actions and start something new. There are literally thousands of things that you can consider making your hobby.

With sports, anything from walking to ice hockey to kite surfing could be a potential hobby. Of course, there is the expense of hobbies. All factors must be figured in. Do I need lessons, special equipment, certain types of surroundings, like tennis courts?

If you are a gardener, some of your favourite ‘hidden gems’ may be the delight and wonder of the lovely plants resting in our soil: snowdrops, crocus, even heather blooming beneath the snow cover. The potential of our rich Valley earth becomes clear very early in the season: planting early peas, harvesting the first rhubarb.

If you like doing things by yourself maybe collecting is your forte. Everything from stamp collecting to models (cars, airplanes, ships). Knitters often do projects by themselves and then meet to collect or combine them (think of blankets or prayer shawls). That could be the best of both worlds—solitude AND togetherness.

The world of art is full of remarkable things to do—from sketching with charcoal or pastel pencils, to painting with watercolours, acrylics or oils. Carving all different mediums, sculpting with everything from clay to concrete. Your hobby, your ideas, your masterpiece.

Music, acting, writing, dance, comes from that inner self. The one that makes you the wonderful person that you are. The love of cooking (and eating) can create great chefs or that perfect grilled cheese sandwich made for your loved one. Even making the pottery dishes that you serve on could become a hobby and even a business.

Volunteering is a kind of hobby for some people. They love being involved, and a good thing too, as they are the backbone of most organizations.

Here is a quote from an old movie (Auntie Mame): “The world is a banquet, and all you need is a fork.” Please remember though that some people’s banquets are not as bountiful as ours in the Valley.

Have fun with whatever hobby you choose. You are unique, one of a kind, the pleasure you will receive will stay with you long after the activity has ended. Good memories are truly fantastic, so are hobbies.

An Act of Kindness

An act of kindness or a daily good deed (done anonymously) not only makes the receiver feel good but the doer as well. With the many religious holidays coming up in our calendar year, it may be a time for thoughtful and respectful good deeds. Show your neighbours, and strangers, that the world is still a kind place to live, especially our Valley and province.

My dad used to say if you did a good deed every day, you got a reward in heaven. It was a joke, as good deeds are not done for any kind of reward—just that nice feeling of well-being. We should all be kind to one another: strangers, neighbours, and family too—the people we often take for granted. Be good to yourselves and others. ❧

Obeisance (noun):

Open here I flung the shutter, when, with many a flirt and flutter, In there stepped a stately Raven of the saintly days of yore;

Not the least obeisance made he; not a minute stopped or stayed he;

But, with mien of lord or lady, perched above my chamber door— Perched upon a bust of Pallas just above my chamber door—

Perched, and sat, and nothing more.

© 2022 Rob Brezsny • freewillastrology.com • Horoscopes for the week of March 31st

ARIES (March 21-April 19): In 1904, it wasn’t illegal to use performance-enhancing drugs during Olympic competitions. Runner Thomas Hicks took advantage of this in the marathon race. The poison strychnine, which in small doses serves as a stimulant, was one of his boosters. Another was brandy. By the time he approached the finish line, he was hallucinating and stumbling. His trainers carried him the rest of the way, and he was declared the winner. I recommend you make him your inspirational role model in the coming weeks. How might you cheat to gain a great victory? APRIL FOOL! I Lied. While it’s true that a meaningful triumph is within your reach, you’re most likely to achieve it by acting with total integrity, following the rules, and imbibing no stimulating poisons. TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Science fiction aficionado Wil Wheaton suggests that all of us should have the following: 1. a nemesis; 2. an evil twin; 3. a secret headquarters; 4. an escape hatch; 5. a partner in crime; 6. a secret identity. Dear Taurus, I have doubts that you possess any of these necessities. Please embark on intensive efforts to acquire all of them. Your deadline is April 21. APRIL FOOL! I half-lied. There’s no way you could add all those things to your repertoire in such a short time. See if you can at least get a secret identity and a partner in crime. It’s time to have wicked fun as you add to your potency and effectiveness. GEMINI (May 21-June 20): “I hate being on my best behavior,” wrote Gemini author Colleen McCullough. “It brings out the absolute worst in me.” In the coming weeks, I hope you avoid the danger she describes. Don’t be on your best behavior! Emulate Gemini filmmaker Clint Eastwood, who said, “I tried being reasonable, but I didn’t like it.” APRIL FOOL! I lied. Here’s the real truth: Being kind and generous and reasonable will be your secret weapon in the next three weeks. Doing so will empower you to make interesting and unforeseen progress. CANCER (June 21-July 22): A Tumblr blogger named Alyssa complains, “I’m still peeved that I can’t fly or set things on fire with my mind.” You might share that feeling, Cancerian. But here’s the good news: I predict that you could soon acquire, at least temporarily, the power to fly and set things on fire with your mind. Use these talents wisely, please! APRIL FOOL! I lied. In fact, you probably won’t be able to fly or set things on fire with your mind anytime soon. However, you may acquire other superpowers that are only slightly less fantastic. For example, you could change the mind of an ally who has been ridiculously stubborn. You could uncover a big secret that has been hidden. You could mend a wound you thought would never heal. Any other superpowers you need right now? LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): I suspect that only a Leo would say what Leo filmmaker Stanley Kubrick once asserted: “You know, it’s not absolutely true in every case that nobody likes a smart ass.” In accordance with astrological omens, I authorize you to prove his assertion. Be the kind of smart ass that people like. APRIL FOOL! I’m half-joking. The truth is, I hope you will be the kind of smart ass that people absolutely adore and get inspired by. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): In honor of your arrival in the most lyrical and soulful phase of your cycle, I offer you advice from poet Richard Jackson: “The secret is to paint your own numbers on the clock, to brush away those webs that cover the wild country of the soul, to let your star hover between the flowers of the moon and the flowers of the sun, like words you have never spoken yet always hear.” APRIL FOOL! I partially lied. I don’t think you should paint your own numbers on the clock. But the rest of what Jackson said is totally applicable and useful for you. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): “I want excitement,” declared Libra novelist F. Scott Fitzgerald, “and I don’t care what form it takes or what I pay for it, so long as it makes my heart beat.” In the coming weeks, I hope you will make that statement your motto. APRIL FOOL! I half-lied. While I do foresee you being able to gather a wealth of excitement, I hope you won’t be as extreme as Fitzgerald in your pursuit of it. There will be plenty of opportunities for excitement that won’t require you to risk loss or pay an unwelcome price. SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): “If you can’t make fun of yourself, you don’t have a right to make fun of others,” said comedian Joan Rivers. I agree! So if you are feeling an irresistible urge to mock people and fling sarcasm in all directions, please prepare by first mocking yourself and being sarcastic toward yourself. APRIL FOOL! I lied. I will never authorize you to make fun of others. Never! In the coming weeks, I hope you’ll do the opposite: Dole out massive doses of praise and appreciation toward everyone. To prepare, dole out massive doses of praise and appreciation toward yourself. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): In the traditional opera performed in China’s Sichuan province, magical effects were popular. One trick involved characters making rapid changes of their masks. The art was to remove an existing mask and don a new one with such speed that the audience could not detect it. An old master, Peng Denghuai, once wore 14 different masks in 24 seconds. This is an antic I think you should imitate in the coming days. The more frequently you alter your persona and appearance, the more successful and popular you’ll be. APRIL FOOL! I half-lied. I recommend that you gleefully experiment with your image and exuberantly vary your self-presentation. But don’t overdo it.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): A nutritionist named Mark Haub decided to try losing weight by eating only sugary treats. For 10 weeks, he snacked on junk food cakes, cookies, and sweet cereals. By the end, he had lost 27 pounds. In accordance with astrological omens, I suggest you try the metaphorical equivalents of this project. For instance, work on deepening your relationships by engaging your allies in shallow conversations about trivial subjects. Or see if you can enhance your physical fitness by confining your exercise to crossing and uncrossing your legs as you sit on the couch watching TV. APRIL FOOL! I lied. Here’s your real horoscope: For the next four weeks, take better care of your body and your relationships than you ever have before in your life. Make it a point to educate yourself about what that would entail, and be devoted in providing the most profound nurturing you can imagine. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Aquarius-born Giordano Bruno (1548–1600) was bravely heretical in his work as a philosopher, poet, mathematician, and friar. He angered the Catholic Church with his unorthodox views about Jesus and Mary, as well as his belief in reincarnation, his practice of occult magic, and his views that there are other stars besides our sun. Eventually, the authorities burned him at the stake for his transgressive ideas. Beware of a similar outcome for expressing your unusual qualities! APRIL FOOL! Luckily, no punishment will result if you express the rich fullness of your idiosyncrasies in the coming weeks. I’m happy about that, since I’m encouraging you to be as eccentrically yourself as you want to be. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Life is too complicated to accurately comprehend. There’s too much to know! It’s impossible to make truly savvy and rational decisions. Maybe the best strategy is to flip a coin or throw the dice or draw a Tarot card before doing anything. APRIL FOOL! While it’s a fact that life is too complex for our conscious minds to fully master, we have massive resources available on subconscious and superconscious levels: our deep soul and our higher self. Now is an excellent time to enhance your access to these mother lodes of intelligence.

Homework: What’s the most compassionate prank you could perform? Newsletter.FreeWillAstrology.com.