Thinking Rural

As I reorganized papers around the house, I found a six page geographic description of the Annapolis Valley: the Geology, the Soils, the Habitats, the Primary Industries: Bay of Fundy fisheries, Forestry, Mining and Agriculture, the Micmac and the Land, the Future. I believe that it came from the MacDonald Museum in Middleton in the 1980’s. No author. No date.

Here is the final paragraph: the Future.

“We understand today, that we do not command the environment but are very much a part of it, and that what we do to the environment will sooner or later affect us.

Slowly we are learning that we must work with nature, not against it. This means abandoning old habits of careless consumption and adopting the wisdom of intelligent conservation.

Our Natural History Exhibit is designed to help visitors appreciate these fundamental truths. We have the land – the natural resources – we have clean air and water. If we managed these assets we have a great deal to look forward to in the ‘Valley of the Future.'”

The COVID pandemic has created a window for rethinking ‘rural’, for redefining our institutions and their behaviour, to establish a new vision that redefines our sense of community.

There is ample evidence of new business initiatives in the region. However less evidence of a collective new vision, and the need for institutional change to meet the new reality.

And yet, from the Annapolis Valley paper:

“Beginning in late May or early June, tens of thousands of apple trees from Windsor to the shores of the Annapolis Basin are a mass of delicate colours.

Acknowledgements

I believe the Annapolis Valley paper goes back to the days when Heather helped the MacDonald Museum set up its Natural History Exhibit in the Greenhouse, working with Alex Wilson, Curator at the Nova Scotia Museum. (1980’s). Edward added the graphics.