My friend Shayne is currently farming in Canada and has sent over a couple really cute/interesting emails. Enjoy:)
Hi!
I’m writing to you guys from Picton, Ontario, which is a little island on Lake Ontario. As some of you may or may not know, I’m working on an organic farm here for a couple weeks (www.vickisveggies.com). Just wanted to send you a little email update, and say hello!
Picton is a very rural community, but is getting more and more popular as a tourist destination. It’s quite beautiful; lots of rolling fields, and blue water all around! Some of it’s super-sweet natural attraction: a lake on a mountain, called Lake On The Mountain (creative, eh?) and the Sand Banks, which is North America’s largest freshwater beach. I’ll send pictures eventually!
I’m staying with Tim Noxon, Vicki Emlaw and their beautiful 3-yr-old baby daughter Sage. They are amazing; I feel like part of the family already, and it’s only my second day here! So far, we’ve been to a Slow Food fish fry, and art gallery opening, I’ve spent day weeding carrots, chased chickens and have begun learning all about the challenges of running a farm in today’s modern world (and there are a lot). There are always tons of people around, from family to neighbors, to people coming and buying things from the roadside stand. There are also a bunch of really cool girls who work here; they’re all around my age so that’s nice.
I’ve been learning a lot about growing things: for example, lighting puts a ton of nitrogen into the soil. which is why the grass is so green the day after a lightening storm. Nettles also can be cooked, and make a really rich, excellent food that has TONS of nutrients. It’s strawberry season in June, and raspberry season in July. (This means I get fresh strawberries all the time right now!). Plus, I’ve been talking a ton of politics; I’ve had two people so far ask me if I’m a Republican or a Democrat, and who I’m voting for. Also, I’ve been asking lots of questions about Canada, especially their health care system; the government of Canada recently became quite conservative, and now there is a new push towards a partial privatization of health care, which some people are not happy about.
Anyway, I’ll send more later, but for now, love you all and hope everything is well! Write me back!
~Shayne
jane sayz...