Author: maherrv

Posted in Article Review

Two Newspapers

Posted on by maherrv

At the Green Elephant Cafe in Kingston, I picked up the June issue of the Grapevine.

I was surprised to read that this will be the last issue by this team. In the Summer supplement, two articles caught my attention.

The story of Louis Coutinho and their family buying the Avondale Sky winery. On their website (avondalesky.com) there is a link to four podcast episodes on their experience. Each runs for half an hour. This takes me back to my meeting Louis when he was CAO for the town of Windsor. It was a time when we were part of the Valley REN.

The second article (on the same page 10) is by Gary Leeson, The Dome Chronicles: a Father’s gift.

’They were back-to-the-landers. Over the next forty years, through flood and fire, triumph and catastrophe, they persevered, unwittingly sowing the seeds for the modern small-farm movement.’

I picked up the Explorer 2022 Official Visitors Guide to Annapolis Royal and Area, at Lunn’s Mill I believe. Besides the details for tourists visiting the area, I was struck by the quality of the mapping.

One example would be Jim Todd’s rendition, Bird’s Eye View of Annapolis Royal and Lequille, 2005. Another would be Walk Annapolis, recreation and walking trails. The thirty-two-page free guide includes a wealth of historical information for both the visitor and Valley residents.

We capped off the week with a short walk to Peter Point, Kejimkujik National Park. It must have been at least three years, since the last time we were in the Park.

Acknowledgements

Heather shared a memorable lunch at the Green Elephant cafe. Edward made his artistic contribution.

References

The Grapevine, June 2022 and Summer supplement.

Explorer, 2022, Official Visitor Guide: Annapolis Royal and Area.

Posted in biographical sketch

Annapolis Royal visit

Posted on by maherrv

Heather and I went down to Annapolis Royal. The drive on Highway #101 is very efficient, from exit 21 to exit 22. We wanted a short walk. Our choice was the French Basin Marsh trail, a 1.2-mile loop.

There was great bird watching on the water, as well as the occasional muskrat. The hawthorn and cherries were in full bloom. The next stop was the Mad Hatter wine bar, sipping Annapolis cider, with a view along the Basin shore.

A brief stop at the Library, but neither Lola’s cafe nor the Brown Dog kitchen were open (Tuesday).

Annapolis Royal is the home of Jeremy Akerman. Checking online, I have noted that Moose House Publishers have just released his book Outsider. This takes me back to England and reading Colin Wilson’s The Outsider.

Today, we wanted a longer walk. We followed the road, past the Fairview Cemetry to the Lawrencetown Water Supply. The road passes through Hemlock groves and Acadian mixed forest. We reached Inglisville road. The return trip was around two hours. A good leg stretch up South Mountain.

From Sandra Barry, I learned that the Winemakers Tavern in Lawrencetown has been sold. Its future may include a bakery, cafe and grocery store. This would be a welcome addition to the local economy. Brian Reid confirmed the story.

Acknowledgements

Sandra and Brian for the information on the Winemakers Tavern. Heather shared both the short and long walks (twice). Edward added the graphics.

Postscript

Thursday will be the start of the celebration of Queen Elizabeth, 70th year on the throne.

References

Jeremy Akerman, 2022, Outsider, Moose House Publishers.

Colin Wilson, 1956, The Outsider, Gollanz.

Posted in New thinking

The Mountain and the Valley

Posted on by maherrv

Ernest Buckler died in Bridgetown, in 1984. (He was born in West Dalhousie, 1908).

from the Nova Scotia archives.

From the back cover of “The Mountain and the Valley“,
”set against the backdrop of the Annapolis Valley’s natural beauty, The Mountain and the Valley captures a young man’s spiritual awakening and the growth of artistic vision.” Published in 1952.

Today, in 2022, Annapolis County is attempting to develop a municipal plan. Indeed, the County includes four distinct regions: South Mountain, the Valley, North Mountain and the Bay of Fundy shore. Each region depends on a different mix of resources: forestry, agriculture, fishing and mining.

Within the County, we have separate municipal units: Annapolis Royal and Middleton as well as a number of smaller villages. To plan the future of the County, requires representation from the four landscape units, the different resource sectors, the various municipal units, and the business community, as a whole.

We need a consortium of citizens who can agree on a planning methodology, the mechanism for understanding our geography, e.g. land use, population distribution, river networks, road networks, climate conditions, housing stock, etc.

Without an agreed methodology, plus access to common geographic information, it will be impossible to reach a consensus on a common future.

These discussions cannot be left to County employees or an external consulting company. Instead, we need a citizen consortium, with representative voices from the different geographies, sectors, and communities.

With a common geographic database, we can at least share our understanding of the County, its resources and hence possible future.

Let us follow in Ernest Buckler’s footsteps and in his artistic vision.

Acknowledgements

I have benefited from conversations with my new neighbour, Rob Jarvis, with Jane Nicholson, with John Wightman, with Brian Reid. Edward added the graphics. Heather shared the gardening.

Reference

Ernest Buckler, 1952, The Mountain and the Valley, McClelland and Stewart Inc.
(link to 2010 edition HERE)

Posted in Book Review

Bridgetown Weekend

Posted on by maherrv

It has been a hot weekend in the Annapolis Valley. On Saturday, we took a break from gardening and went to Aroma Mocha, in Bridgetown, for a morning coffee.

Had to stop at the Endless Shores bookstore. Heather found Isabella Tree’s ‘Wilding’. It describes a ’rewilding’ project in West Sussex. This challenges farming practices in the UK, and raises the question about agricultural practices in the Valley.

I found Scott Milsom’s “Voices of Nova Scotia Community: A Written Democracy“. After a Foreword by Silver Donald Cameron, it describes Milsom’s work with the Coastal Communities network. I have started on the Evangeline Trail, travelling from Yarmouth up towards Canning. Given the suite of public meetings on County Planning, it offers useful insights.

From the Internet, I received a notice that they have published posthumously Barry Lopez’s last book “Embrace Fearlessly the Burning World“.

On Sunday night, we went to the Tragedy Ann & Basset concert at the Dawn Oman gallery. This was a beautiful surprise, within the restored church, surrounded by Northern artwork, we listen to folk songs by a young duo from Southern Ontario. In the intermission, we picked up their latest CD, Heirlooms.

After dark, we returned home to a chorus of tree frogs from the vernal pools in the forest. Earlier, in the afternoon, we had been serenaded by a sapsucker, beating out a tune on the wooden pergola. Above, in the birch trees, hummingbirds take a rest; the azaleas are in flower and attract both the hummingbirds and the bumblebees.

One last book review.

In the Inside Story, Heather found “Alone on the Trail“; a new book by a young Newfoundland author. We are savouring this one. It is a novel, describing a trip by a small group along the Long Range Mountain trail in Gros Morne National Park. Heather and I used to run back-packing trips through that geography in the early 1970s. What a coincidence!

Postscript

We stopped at Button Brook farm on Hwy #201, outside of Bridgetown, at their farmer’s stand. One can buy fresh vegetables, as well as seedlings for the garden. They opened this weekend.

Acknowledgements

To Dawn Oman and Scott for bringing Tragedy Ann to their exquisite venue. Sadly, in times of COVID, it was a small audience. Heather shared the experience and time away from the garden. Edward added the graphics.

References

Isabella Tree, 2018, Wilding: The return of nature to a British farm, Picador.

Scott Milsom, 2003, Voices of Nova Scotia Community: A Written Democracy, Fernwood Publishing.

Barry Lopez, 2022, Embrace Fearlessly the Burning World, PenguinRandomHouse

Emily Hepditch, 2021, Alone on the Trail, Flanker Press.

Tragedy Ann, 2022, CD Heirlooms, tradegyannmusic.com

Posted in Event Review

Guided Walk

Posted on by maherrv

Yesterday (Wednesday) Heather and I conducted a guided walk through Andrew’s old property from the Hunter organic orchard on Highway #201, to the Annapolis River (see “Times Have Changed” blog post).

The last time we conducted a similar hike was in 1975 in Gros Morne National Park for Black Feather outfitters in Ottawa. On that occasion, it was a ten-day event, including hiking along the Long Range Mountain trail.

This time, it was a three-hour hike for two couples from Ottawa, and a father from Mount Rose (North Mountain). Our objective was to demonstrate the changing ecology from South Mountain to the Annapolis River, as well as the changes in land use over the last twenty years. The land has been used by the Mi’kmaki for a much longer period.

The experience allowed small group interaction. The couples had spent time overseas enjoying other landscapes and cultures.

Heather and I recognized that under COVID conditions we had missed the stimulation of interacting with other age groups and interests. We thank Celes for the initiative, and Abby and her group for their insights and interests.

Today, I attended the Plannapolis consultation at Centrelea. What I found most striking, was the lack of any appreciation of the unique economic opportunity presented by the technology and education at COGS (NSCC’s Centre for Geographic Sciences). I fail to understand why today, GIS technology is not a standard for community meetings. This allows a common understanding of our geography, land use, people and culture.

Second, Abby and her partner met at COGS. Imagine how many young professionals we have graduated from Lawrencetown since 1980 (The year when I started teaching there). It seems obvious to me that this represents both an educational and an economic opportunity — and opportunities lost if not exploited.

Acknowledgements

Heather shared her knowledge and ‘sense of place’ on the guided walk. Rob and Sinead gave us permission to conduct the walk on their property. Pierre at Ironworks for the excellent Hunter Brandy. Edward added the graphics. Celes Davar at Earth Rhythms has brought Experiential Tourism to the Annapolis Valley.

Reference

Annapolis County-wide Plan Review, prepared by Stantec Consulting Ltd., May 9, 2022.

Posted in biographical sketch

Preparing for Experiential Tourism

Posted on by maherrv

We have been working with Celes Davar at Earth Rhythms to deliver a two-hour walking tour through the property. Entitled, ’An Adventure in Paradise’.

The orchard is in full bloom with cuckoo flowers and dandelions. Trees are still in bud. Nova Spy is the first to flower.

Preparations include organic apple juice, Ironworks Hunter brandy, and Fox Hill cheese, checking the trail conditions, and what’s in flower. This weekend the ticks, and blackflies seemed unusually virulent.

Today (Monday), we went up to Port William. We wanted to buy local Fox Hill cheese.

In Canning, we stopped at the Coffee Shop. I noted that the Merritt Gibson Memorial Library has a plant and book sale. On the road to Starr’s Point, we enjoyed the vista of vineyards in the region. This contrasts with Annapolis County.

With the approach of the long weekend, I noted the availability of Saltscapes 2022 “Your-on-the-go Guide to Canada’s East Coast”.

This week, Edward forwarded me a link to the Fogo Island Arts Upcoming Digital talks.

I will try to check out the events. Certainly, Nova Scotia (Annapolis Valley) could join the cross current residency between Scotland and Newfoundland. It is part of a Connect and Collaborate program by British Council Scotland, Creative Scotland, with support from Shorefast.

On Andrew’s property, besides managing the organic orchard, we have been supportive of coppicing poles for yurt construction, and charcoal production. All examples of alternative woodland management. We hope that the new owners, Rob and Sinead will continue a different, but alternative approach too.

Acknowledgements

Celes proposed the concept of a guided walk. Rob and Sinead allowed access to the property (previously Andrew’s). Edward forwarded the Fogo Island Arts link. Heather shares the experience.

Posted in biographical sketch

A room of one’s own

Posted on by maherrv

Our latest project is the conversion of the garage into a studio/office for Heather.

This will allow her to spread out her botanical specimens and the associated technical literature. The work is being undertaken by Jerry Frigault and Dubrovko. In the words of Virginia Woolf, ’she needs a room of one’s own’.

From England, Andrew Ronay forwarded a link to a set of talks organized by Planted in conjunction with the National Trust. To date, I have had the chance to enjoy two panels moderated by Sam Peters.

  1. Reading Nature.
  2. Farming for all.

In a time, when the County is considering ’how do you want your community to grow?’, it is both educational and stimulating to hear about initiatives in other countries.

My takeaway message from the Planted YouTube videos is that an important component is education.

As a research scientist engaged in education at the post-secondary level in Annapolis County for over forty years, I see engagement at the school level, at the community level and within tertiary institutions as critical to rural planning. I look forward to the slate of community meetings.

From the Annapolis Valley Regional Library, I have received notice of two books by Torbjorn Ekelund.

2020, In Praise of Paths: Walking through Time and Nature.

2021, A Year in the Woods: Twelve small journeys into Nature.

I am working my way slowly through them. At a time when gardening is a preoccupation.

Acknowledgements

Jerry and Dubrovko for their carpentry and electrician skills. Andrew Ronay for the link to Planted-Unearthed and the work of Sam Peters. Heather expressed the need for a room of her own. Edward added the links.

Reference

Virginia Woolf, 1929, A Room of one’s own.

Posted in Opinion

Rural Education

Posted on by maherrv

This week’s Annapolis Valley Register included two articles on education.

Anne Crossman’s column focused on the buildings. Whereas the lead article, Generational Duty, emphasized the work of Avery Jackson and the Clarence Community Club, restoring the United Baptist Church and the Clarence East school.

What attracted my attention was that Avery plans to start his Acadia University M.Sc in Geographic Sciences in September 2022. The first year is at COGS, and the second at Acadia. This took me back to 2009 when I co-authored a paper with Ian Spooner, Defining the Applied Geomatics Research agenda: joint graduate degree collaboration between the Nova Scotia Community College and Acadia University, Geomatica 2009 (63) p.156-161.

Here we are thirteen years later, and a local student recognizes the opportunity from this collaboration.

How many students have followed this path?

It builds on the one-year technology diploma at COGS and allows the graduate to apply their technical skills to a significant problem at Acadia University in the second year.

This is not dissimilar to the original one-year diploma at COGS in the 1980s. In that case, it was a three-semester program, culminating in a cooperative project.

Avery’s example shows that post-secondary education is available in a rural setting. If we are to change the relationship between rural and urban Canada, we need more examples where students can learn and apply their skills in a rural context. This was well understood by Major Church and JB Hall. It does require a willingness for collaboration between the community college and the universities.

Many of today’s global issues occur in a rural setting, whether agriculture, forestry, fisheries or planning, within the context of climate change, changing demographics, transportation, and new employment models.

A simple first step would be to provide a list of graduates from this institutional collaboration. What type of projects did they complete for their thesis? Where are they now?

Clearly, the Register article on Avery Jackson illustrates the recognized potential for these graduates in rural Nova Scotia, and beyond.

Acknowledgements

Appreciation to faculty at COGS and Acadia who have kept this option alive. Edward added the graphics. Anne Crossman expressed her interest in our historic infrastructure.

Postscript

From David Colville. After tomorrow’s graduation, I think there will be about 32 students that have completed the MSc Applied Geomatics program.  A few more are somewhere along the completion process.

References

Annapolis Valley Register, Thursday, May 5, 2022 ’Generational Duty’ by Jason Malloy.

Annapolis Valley Register, May 5, 2022, Anne Crossman, Valuing Education: Nova Scotia has deep history with providing training.

R.V. Maher and Ian Spooner, 2009, Defining the Applied Geomatics research agenda: joint graduate degree collaboration between NSCC and Acadia University, Geomatica 63. p.156-161.

Posted in biographical sketch

Handyman

Posted on by maherrv

Living in rural Nova Scotia, there are a number of devices that need to be maintained. over and above functioning computer systems.

My current list includes a chainsaw, chipper, splitter, tractor and bush-hog, and Z-track lawnmower.

Fortunately, I have access to folks who are more ’handy’ i.e. practical than myself. Stephane, from across the road came over and chainsawed (with a large blade) the remnants of a downed maple. He also provided much-needed intelligence on the use of a new electric log splitter.

Later, I contact Neil Bent in Lawrencetown. He was able to use the air compressor to inflate the tires on the chipper. He will come back later to replace a couple fence posts that have rotted out this past Winter.

With the sale of Andrew’s farm, we are no longer responsible for the organic orchard or bush-hogging the lower fields with the tractor. The tractor goes with the farm.

On another topic, I try to keep the number of electronic newsletters to a minimum. There are really only two weekly regulars; Emergence Magazine, and The Marginalian by Maria Popover.

Given the quality of TV programming and the dire news, we enjoyed listening to the interview with Sam Lee on the Nightingale’s Song. It was a one hour podcast. I have included the link here (Image from Emergence Magazine).

Finally, kudos to the Annapolis Valley Regional Library for their continuation of the Seed Library. This year, it features the Three Sisters Companion pack.

Acknowledgements

Stephane Doucet and Neil Bent for their handyman skills. Jaki Fraser at the Lawrencetown library. Heather enjoyed “Nightingale’s Song”. Edward added the graphics.

References

Emergence Magazine, May 1, 2022.

The Marginalian by Maria Popova, May 1, 2022.

Posted in Event Review

Nisoge’katik

Posted on by maherrv

This morning, Heather and I shared a zoom call with Celes Davar, Earth Rhythms.

He operates an experiential tourism business in the Gaspereau Valley of Nova Scotia. Our paths have crossed several times over the last forty years.

In an earlier email, he had forwarded information on the STAR (Strategic Tourism for Areas and Regions) visioning session for a new tourism strategy for the Annapolis valley. This week, there were sessions from Windsor to Annapolis Royal. I chose to attend the event at the Bridgetown Motor Inn. It was hosted by ACOA and the Valley REN.

As you might imagine, the small group of attendees was Bridgetown-centric in their interests. Thus, one of my concerns was a collaboration between the different communities throughout the Annapolis Valley region. As a previous board member of the Valley REN, I had noticed the lack of inclusiveness across the region.

To counter this reality, it is my belief that the overall focus should be on understanding our ecological landscape and the relationship of the different communities to these regional assets.

My second observation is that there is a shortage of staff in the hospitality industry, especially in rural Nova Scotia. To offset this, there should be a concerted effort to engage students and faculty within post-secondary educational institutions. With individuals, like Celes, moving into the region, there is the opportunity to become world leaders in the ’ creative rural economy. There exists an amazing resource of artists, musicians, and storytellers in the region. This links back to opportunities for experiential tourism.

Finally, from Celes, Nisoge’katik is the name for the village of Paradise in Mi’kmaq (check placenames.mapdev.ca). It means ’the lower ground’

Postscript

From Wade Davis,

”The world in which you were born is just one model of reality. Other cultures are not failed attempts of being you; they are unique manifestations of the human spirit.”

Tonight, we went down to Lunn’s Mill to purchase beer in support of Ukraine.

Acknowledgements

Participants at the STAR session in Bridgetown at the Motor Inn. Celes for a stimulating Zoom call. Heather shared the background research. Edward added the graphics, David and Paulette Whitman for their extensive knowledge of the Lawrencetown history and stories.

Reference

David and Paulette Whitman, 2009, Lawrencetown and the Annapolis Valley: An Old Fashioned, But New Scrapbook, Bailey Chase Books.