Ernest Blair Experiment

On the weekend, we took the time to visit Streets Ridge, Cumberland County.

Heather wanted to check the woodlot on the family property that was being managed by North Nova Forest Owners Co-op Ltd. It had been horse-logged, and then replanted with Acadian forest species. Nearby, a parcel had been scheduled for Glyphosate spraying. Reports confirmed that this did not happen.

On our return, we noticed that the Sweet Chestnut had started to drop seed. Today, we had the opportunity ’to roast chestnuts over an open fire’. Since it was the first year, the nuts were small. But it was symbolic.

Frank Fox forwarded a link to a story maps web site that shows the distribution of private wells in Nova Scotia.

It is an excellent example of the use of maps to convey public information about arsenic, uranium and manganese in well water. With climate change, private wells will be at risk.

Back home, there was the opportunity to reflect on other experiences and places. This included listening to the guitar music of Tassilo. His CD’s were obtained when we were living on Haida Gwaii.

Or rediscovering the writing of Alan Drengson. His book, Wild Way Home, was purchased at Munro’s book Store in Victoria, Vancouver Island.

Finally, I picked up from the bookshelf, Dave and Paulette Whitman, The Valley Chronicles. In these tales of the Annapolis Valley, there are chapters on The Mi’kmaq of Paradise and Area, Ellenhurst, and Moving to the Valley. Chapter 8 includes our story, p. 210-214.

Postscript

In the current issue of Atlantic Books Today, I noted that Goose Lane is advertising both Waterfalls of Cape Breton Island , and Waterfalls of New Brunswick.

Acknowledgements

Frank Fox for the private wells link. Roger Mosher for the Sweet Chestnut tree. Max and Philip Stewart for the Streets Ridge news. Edward for adding the graphics and links. Heather for roasting the chestnuts.

References

Tassilo at Tassilomusic.com

Alan Drengson, 2010, Wild Way Home: Spiritual Life in the third Millenium, LightStar Press.

Dave and Paulette Whitman, 2016, The Valley Chronicles, Bailey Chase Books.

This week, I had to get my car serviced at Kings County Honda in Kentville. Apparently, there is a demand for second hand 2014 Honda CRV.

I also heard that there is plan to close the Scotiabank in Middleton.

While waiting, I read The Grapevine, October 2021; devoted to Arts, Culture, Community. Within, I discovered Gary Leeson has published a second book, The Secret of the Spring. A novel centred on activities at the Spa Springs hotel in 1889. He has previously authored the award-winning The Dome Chronicles.

From AIRO, I received the link to the YouTube video Rural Renaissance, How Canada’s oldest town reinvented itself. Kudos to Jane Nicholson, Andrew Tolson and Wilfred Allan for this inspirational, one hour documentary. It shows the way forward.

This week too, I have made significant progress reading Beyond the Map (see earlier blog post) where Bonnett describes thirty nine places. I am on #26, Magical London.

Looking forward to his Epilogue:

”Geography is getting harder to read; the map is breaking up. It is an extraordinary, even magical sight, but its also bewildering and often frightening. I used to think that this kind of glittering spectacle could be described as ’enchanting’ and that what I was doing, as I captured and catalogued escapees from the map, was offering a ’re-enchanted’ geography. But now I am not so sure.’ p.284.

Whether its Annapolis Royal, Spa Springs or one of Bonnett’s thirty nine places, behind each one there is a story and a real ‘sense of place’.

Acknowledgements

Edward added the graphics and links. Rocky Hebb provided the local updates. Heather, the encouragement.

References

Gary Leeson, 2021, The Secret of the Spring, Moosehouse Press.

Alastair Bonnett, 2018, Beyond the Map, University of Chicago Press.

On Saturday, we went to the Annapolis Royal Farmers Market.

MareGold bookstore had a stall, with an interesting selection of books. I was intrigued by Alastair Bonnett’s, “Beyond the Map“. Bonnett is Professor of Social Geography at Newcastle University. The book is divided into five sections: Unruly Islands, Enclaves and Uncertain Nations, Utopian Places, Ghostly Places and Hidden Places (to be reviewed in a later blog post).

On CBC Radio, Sunday Morning, I enjoyed the interview with James Rebanks about his new book Pastoral Song. It describes the sheep farming culture in England’s Lake District.

Rebanks talks about ’rewilding’, ’living quietly’ and the landscape as a poem. Certainly, food for reflection on the state of agriculture in Annapolis County, and in the Annapolis Valley, in general.

With the spectacular Fall weather, we try to find a walk in the woods in the morning. Once the dew has burnt off, it is time to work in the garden: weeding, mulching, harvesting the remaining vegetables.

For today’s walk, we selected St Croix Fall from Benoit Lalonde’s , Waterfalls of Nova Scotia. The book describes one hundred waterfalls, with detailed directions. The St Croix Fall is one of the shorter hikes. The main challenge was finding the trail head.

Acknowledgements

MareGold is a Retreat Centre located in the village of Victoria Beach. Edward added the graphics and links. Heather shares the waterfall walks. We have completed three; ninety seven to go.

References

Alastair Bonnett, 2018, Beyond the Map, University of Chicago Press.

James Rebanks, 2021, Pastoral Song: A Farmer’s Journey, Harper Collins

Benoit Lalonde, 2018, Waterfalls of Nova Scotia, Goose Lane.