Spring 2010 | Volume 4 | Issue 1
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Culture Home Recreation
is h e l g i
Discovery at
Dancing Creek PLUS
• Canadale Nurseries Celebrates 55 Years • The Evolution of Textile Arts • Spring Events Across the County
Come stroll in our gardens and experience the wonders of lavender. Our gift boutique offers unique handcrafted gifts & gourmet foods created from our harvested lavender.
Mother’s Day Weekend 47589 Sparta Line (3km E of Sparta)
Open Wed-Sat 10-5; Sun 12-4 Mother’s Day through Christmas
LAVENDER FARM HANDCRAFTED GIFTS GOURMET FOODS
519-494-5525
www.lavenderblue.ca
Season Opening
SATURDAY MAY 8TH & SUNDAY MAY 9TH
Lavender Festival
SATURDAY JUNE 26TH & SUNDAY JUNE 27TH Come out to kick off the lavender harvest season with many special offers & events.
Lavender in Bloom
MID-JUNE TO MID-JULY Enjoy the heady scents of this fragrant herb while it’s in blossom.
The Fine Art of
at
“Calendar Girls”
48664 John Wise Ln, Aylmer | Tues-Sat 11-4:30 & Sun by appt. | 519-773-5912 | www.shelleymcvittie.com Plus paintings, pottery, teddies, handwoven throws, vintage games, lotions, potions & more!
Make our garden your garden! strawberries peaches raspberries and much more seasonally available
48937 Glencolin Ln, Aylmer Open Mon-Sat 8am-6pm 519-765-1752 www.berryhillfruitfarm.com
Strawberries begin in early June & Raspberries are ready in July. Please call ahead for availability.
Map of Elgin County
Editor Debra Bagshaw • editor@relishelgin.ca Layout & Design Joanne Bagshaw • jo@relishelgin.ca Advertising Info • ads@relishelgin.ca Cover Image © Sharron Russell TO SUBSCRIBE Send a cheque for $10 (to cover mailing) to the following address. Includes 5 issues. Relish Elgin Magazine P.O. Box 20058, St. Thomas, ON, N5P 4H4 519-633-1992
www.relishelgin.ca
Copyright 2010, Relish Marketing & Promotions Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction of any material published in Relish Elgin is strictly prohibited without the written permission of the Publisher. Relish Elgin is published by Relish Marketing & Promotions Inc.
herbs
INSIDE THIS ISSUE 4 Elgin Events 7 Discovery at Dancing Creek
Therapeutic adventure for all ages in Vienna
10 Map of Elgin
Featuring locally in-season produce
13 Canadale Nurseries Serving Elgin County for more than 55 years 16 Textile Arts in Elgin County
A look at Heather Bell’s Sewing & Dye Studio in West Lorne and The Little Red Mitten in St. Thomas
Our Cover Image
”Oh, the beauty!” is by Port Stanley artist Sharron Russell. You can view other examples of her work at www.portstanleyartguild.com.
HERITAGE LINE 519-866-5577
53443 Heritage Ln RR#1, Aylmer
Distinctively Different! 100% Ontario Grown Fruit Award Winning Wines N AND TAST E COME I
DECADENCE Strawberry Chocolate Wine
Begins with a delicious strawberry note and ends with a long velvety chocolate finish!
& Our newest Spring Vintage release
The Silver Birch Tea Room & The Silver Leaf Open For the Summer Season on May 31st Daily 12pm to 4pm • Featuring Herb-Infused Desserts
Indoor dining offered in the Silver Leaf. Afternoon high tea available by reservation, including tea, scones, clotted cream, appetizers, tiny sandwiches & desserts.
There’s always something new in our Country Store!
Berry Seductive
Tasting Daily Light Lunch Available Gift Store Picnic Area Always Open Tours By Appt.
www.rushcreekwines.com
WE GROW ORGANIC
Open 7 days a week - Monday-Saturday 10-5 & Sunday 12-5
www.heritagelineherbs.com
Just 20 mins from the 401! Exit onto Hwy 73 and go south through Aylmer, then turn right onto Jamestown Line (we’re #48995).
Potted Herbs & Heirloom Vegetables
RELISH ELGIN SPRING 2010
(519) 773-5432
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Spring Events
Events
IN ELGIN COUNTY
NOW - SAT AUG 28 EXHIBIT: RURAL RETAIL Elgin County Museum, St. Thomas
SAT APR 24 - SAT MAY 22 STEPAC EXHIBITIONS: GREAT BEGINNINGS - SECONDARY & WILLIAM ST. THOMAS-SMITH St. Thomas-Elgin Public Art Centre 301 Talbot St, St. Thomas www.stepac.ca TUES MAY 4 OPENING: 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ROYAL CANADIAN NAVY Elgin Military Museum, St. Thomas www.elginmilitarymuseum.ca WED MAY 5 - SAT MAY 8 APPRECIATION OF THE ARTS Latter-Day Saints Church 436 Elm St, St. Thomas Music, verse & visual arts 7pm Wed; Visual arts Thur, Fri 1-9 & Sat 10-3 Contact: 519-644-0543 THURS MAY 6 - SAT MAY 15 AYLMER COMMUNITY THEATRE PRESENTS MURDERED TO DEATH www.aylmertheatre.ca SAT MAY 8 ST. THOMAS HORTON FARMERS’ MARKET SEASON OPENING Manitoba St, 1/2 block N of Talbot St www.hortonfarmersmarket.ca
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SAT MAY 8 “PERHAPS LOVE” CONCERT WITH JOHN ANDERSON Princess Ave Playhouse, St. Thomas Fundraiser for Elgin Hiking Trail Club www.elginhikingtrail.org SAT MAY 8 & SUN MAY 9 MOTHER’S DAY OPEN HOUSE AT HERITAGE LINE HERBS 53443 Heritage Line, RR#1 Aylmer www.heritagelineherbs.com
SAT MAY 8 & SUN MAY 9 LAVENDER BLUE SEASON OPENING 47589 Sparta Ln (just east of Sparta) www.lavenderblue.ca SUN MAY 9 MOTHER’S DAY OPEN HOUSE & COUNTRYSIDE TOUR Rush Creek Wines 48995 Jamestown Ln, RR#2 Aylmer www.rushcreekwines.com SUN MAY 9 MOTHER’S DAY BRUNCH TRAIN Port Stanley Terminal Rail Station www.pstr.on.ca SAT MAY 15 “MOM’S THE WORD”: TREBLE MAKERS WOMEN’S CHOIR WITH GUEST SANDRA MOGENSEN Knox-St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, Nancy St., Dutton , 7:30pm Contact: Amy Kozma, 519-762-6065
SAT MAY 15 PLANNING & GROWING AN HERB GARDEN CLASS Heritage Line Herbs www.heritagelineherbs.com SAT MAY 15 & SUN MAY 16 ELGIN-ST. THOMAS STUDIO TOUR Maps available at STEPAC (301 Talbot) www.stepac.ca Contact: 519-631-4040 WED MAY 19 - SAT JUNE 5 PSFT PRESENTS BLUE SUEDE SHOES: A TRIBUTE TO THE KING Port Stanley Festival Theatre www.psft.on.ca THUR MAY 20 CULINARY CLASSICS: LAVENDER Lavender Sense 28011 Ash Line, Wallacetown www.lavendersense.com FRI MAY 28 & SAT MAY 29 ELGIN COUNTY PLOWING MATCH QUILT SHOW Fri 10am-8pm; Sat 10am-5pm Southwold Keystone Complex, Shedden SAT MAY 29 CRUISIN’ CAMPGROUNDS 9am-5pm West Elgin & Dutton/Dunwich www.westelgin.net Contact: 1-866-401-2965
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Events SAT MAY 29 RELIVE THE TALBOT SETTLEMENT DAY Backus-Page House 29424 Lakeview Line, Wallacetown Re-enactors, food displays & more www.tyrconnellheritagesociety. blogspot.com SAT MAY 29 - SAT JULY 10 STEPAC EXHIBITION: GEOMETRIC FORMS & ABSTRACT IMAGES St. Thomas-Elgin Public Art Centre www.stepac.ca SUN MAY 30 STRAWBERRY FIELDS KITE FESTIVAL South Lawn, Regional Mental Health Care, St. Thomas, 1-4pm www.gothicdesign.ca/strafest.htm WED JUN 2 - SAT JUN 5 ST. ANNE’S COMMUNITY FESTIVAL St. Anne’s Centre, St. Thomas SAT JUN 5 EDISON FEST www.bayham.on.ca SAT JUN 5 EDEN CAR RALLY & BBQ Eden Area Community Centre www.bayham.on.ca SUN JUN 6 EXHIBIT OPENING: BATTLE OF BRITAIN 70TH ANNIVERSARY Elgin Military Museum, St. Thomas www.elginmilitarymuseum.ca
TUES JUN 8 - SAT AUG 28 EXHIBIT: JUMBO, THE GREATEST SHOW ON EARTH Elgin County Museum www.elgin-county.on.ca WED JUN 9 - SAT JUN 26 PSFT PRESENTS LOVE SHACK Port Stanley Festival Theatre www.psft.on.ca THUR JUN 10 - SAT JUN 19 ELGIN THEATRE GUILD PRESENTS ON GOLDEN POND Princess Ave Playhouse, St. Thomas www.elgintheatreguild.ca FRI JUN 11 RELAY FOR LIFE IN ST. THOMAS St. Joseph’s Catholic High School www.cancer.ca/relay FRI JUN 11 - SUN JUN 13 PORT STANLEY ARTISTS’ GUILD 20TH ANNUAL SHOW & SALE Fri 7-10; Sat 12-8; Sun 12-5 Royal Canadian Legion 310 George Street, Port Stanley FRI JUN 11 - SUN JUN 13 ROSY RHUBARB FESTIVAL Shedden’s Keystone Complex and surrounding community www.rosyrhubarbfestival.com FRI JUN 11 - SUN JUN 13 VANFEST 15 Springwater Conservation Area www.vanfest.vandomain.com
SAT JUN 19 HOE DOWN FOR HOSPICE Time: 1-4pm Pinecroft Pottery Studio Features Jammin’ in the Cabin Gang, with proceeds to Serenity House Hospice; bring your own lawn chairs www.serenityhousehospice.ca SAT JUN 19 COOKING WITH HERBS ON THE BBQ Heritage Line Herbs Preregistration is required. www.heritagelineherbs.com SAT JUN 19 MEDIEVAL FEAST Quai du Vin Estate Winery 45811 Fruitridge Ln, RR#5, St. Thomas In support of Friends of the St. Thomas Public Library www.quaiduvin.com SAT JUN 19 RODNEY FIRE MUSTER Rodney Park www.westelgin.net SAT JUN 19 STRAWBERRY SOCIAL Canada Southern Railway Station www.narhf.org SAT JUN 19 SPRINGFIELD FAMILY FUN DAY & COMMUNITY YARD SALE Lion’s Hall, Springfield Contact: 519-773-5344 Proud Member of
COME TASTE OUR NEW SUMMER MENU! Sunday Brunch from 11:30am-2:30pm starting in May Live Music on the Patio Every Sunday from 3-7pm May to September, weather permitting
519-782-3663
295 Bridge Street, Port Stanley www.meandsuzies.com Recommended in ‘Where to Eat in Canada’ 2009
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LOCAL . SEASONAL . FRESH
Lake Erie North Shore Cuisine
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Events SAT JUN 19 & SUN JUN 20 25 YEARS OF FARMING Empire Valley Farm Market 27983 Talbot Ln, Wallacetown www.empirevalleyfarms.com SAT JUN 19 & SUN JUN 20 RAILWAY NOSTALGIA WEEKEND Elgin County Railway Museum 225 Wellington St, St. Thomas SUN JUN 20 HERITAGE OF THE RAILS Canada Southern Railway Station 750 Talbot Street, St. Thomas www.narhf.org SUN JUN 20 JOHN DEERE DAY IN DUTTON The Village Crier & Frame Shop 194 Currie Rd, Dutton, 1-4pm Antique tractors, IPM souvenirs, kids’ show & shine, gallery open house Contact: 519-762-2862
SUN JUN 20 FATHER’S DAY BRUNCH ON PSTR Port Stanley Terminal Rail Station www.pstr.on.ca SUN JUN 20 FATHER’S DAY AUTO SHOW Pinafore Park, St. Thomas lionsclubofstthomas.com/autofest FRI JUN 25 RELAY FOR LIFE IN AYLMER East Elgin Secondary School www.cancer.ca/relay FRI JUN 25 - SUN JUN 27 SUMMERBLAST Canada Southern Railway Station www.summerblast.ca FRI JUN 25 - SUN JUN 27 AYLMER STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL Aylmer Fair Grounds www.aylmerfair.ca
2010 SEASON
by Mark Brownell & Steve Thomas
July 21-August 7 Knickers: A Brief Comedy August 11-September 4 Wrong For Each Other by Norm Foster
6-302 Bridge Street, Port Stanley
519-782-4353
www.psft.on.ca
Artistic Director: Simon Joynes General Manager: Susan E. Tanton Celebrating 32 Years of Live Theatre by the Lake
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... nurturing great Canadian talent
by Sarah Quick
WED JUN 30 - SAT JUL 17 THE BBQ KING: A MUSICAL Port Stanley Festival Theatre www.psft.on.ca Visit www.relishelgin.ca for more information on these & other Elgin County events.
March 13 – August 28, 2010
Port Stanley Festival Theatre
June 30-July 17 BBQ King: The Musical
SAT JUN 26 & SUN JUN 27 LAVENDER FESTIVAL Lavender Blue Lavender Farm 47589 Sparta Line (3km E of Sparta) www.lavenderblue.ca
Elgin County’s General Stores
by Colin Stewart & Chris McHarge
by Michael Wilmot
SAT JUN 26 SPARTA STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL Contact: Mary Muscat, 519-775-0054
Rural Retail
May 19-June 5 Blue Suede Shoes: A Tribute to the King June 9-June 26 Love Shack
SAT JUN 26 DENISE PELLEY WITH THE JAMMIN’ IN THE CABIN GANG Pinecroft, 8122 Rogers Rd, Aylmer jammininthecabin.blogspot.com
A recreation of a typical general store with tin signage, furnishings and a post office, also images of rural stores past and present.
Elgin County Museum 450 Sunset Drive, St. Thomas, Ontario
Tuesday to Saturday 10 to 4 519.631.1460 ext. 160
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Dancing Creek
Recreation
DISCOVERY AT
The woods and cedar barn at Dancing Creek have been a centre of activity, laughter and discovery for the past four years. Owners Laura and Paul Donelan have long believed in the power of therapeutic adventure, central to the philosophy of their facility in Vienna. Until now, programs have focused mainly on children, but over the past year the Donelans have been busy developing their facility in order to offer more adventure opportunities for adults. Laura and Paul had both seen successes using the therapeutic adventure model when they worked at summer programs for troubled youth in northern Ontario. They believed the concept had possibilities for shorter term programming, and for different demographics. Employed at jobs in teaching and social work, they began in their spare time to look for a location from which to offer people opportunities to develop personal balance through body, mind and spirit adventures. Living in London, Paul and Laura found a potential location west of the city. Says Laura, “we spent a lot of time looking into it, but the deal just didn’t seem to be happening and Paul’s brother came across the property near Vienna.” Says Paul, “I had never even heard of the Ontario Vienna before, but when we saw it we knew this was the place.” With 10 acres of
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nature, the Big Otter Creek, a historic home and an old tobacco pack barn on site, it seemed perfect— they made the move to Vienna six years ago. Many hours went into renovating the pack barn, installing climbing and boulder walls, and preparing the property for outdoor adventure and earth education. Over the past four years the Donelans have hosted many school trips and 5-day camps for children facing challenges, from Oxford Elgin Child and Youth Centre (OECYC). The OECYC camps have been extremely well received. Teachers praise the program at Dancing Creek for it’s notable positive impacts, ones achieved through use of skilled staff, the outdoors and activities which facilitate students coming to recognize their inner strengths and the possibilities of cooperation. How important is the aspect of nature to the programming at Dancing Creek? Paul & Laura agree that it is essential. Says Laura, “Kids often use nature to calm themselves—for some, the time here is
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Recreation their first experience in nature. Even for programs of short-term duration, the seed of the idea is planted, that nature is good and something they can come back to. For some kids, just being in the environment has a striking positive effect.” Dancing Creek offers a variety of programs aimed at providing opportunities to develop life balance, valuable to any children or youth. Staff skilled in helping challenged kids are a special asset to their programs. Paul and Laura have also held several workplace retreats. The recent addition of a yoga teacher training program got them thinking about developing their facility to cater to corporate retreats and teambuilding adventures. It has involved an extensive upgrade of the cedar barn (newly insulated with solar heaters and beautiful 1600 square foot yoga/workshop studio), renovation of the historic house which was formerly their own home to one able to accommodate groups of up to 20 people, and development of
Joe Preston M.P. Elgin - Middlesex - London
Ready and available to help with your Federal concerns.
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Constituency Office: 2-24 First Avenue, St. Thomas, ON N5R 4M5 Tel: (519) 637-2255 Fax: (519) 637-3358 Toll Free: 1-866-404-0406 www.joeprestonmp.ca
their marketing program and materials. Paul and Laura are excited about fully launching this new phase of their business in fall 2010. They program for the adventure element, but also have available other facilitators like yoga instructor Tamika Schilbe who offers workshops such as “The Art of Personal Renewal”. Work groups have found retreats to the Creek to be invaluable for team-building. Paul notes, “The therapeutic adventure model applies to everyone—we all have something to learn by stepping to the outer edge of and beyond our comfort zone.” Dancing Creek is easily accessible, but it seems a relaxing world away. The novelty of adventure in a nature setting brings with it a sense of energy and fun that helps people to think in new ways. Their experience has proven that change can happen in a day, and Paul points out, learning is largely a result of presenting opportunities for discussion that just don’t happen often in everyday work life.
BRIDGEVIEW MOTORS BUY • SELL • TRADE • LEASE
Quality Used Cars & Trucks Sales, Service & Leasing
1207 Talbot St • St. Thomas 519-633-0240
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Recreation
F
S
ERGUSON’ PRODUCE
11026 Wellington Rd • 519-631-6589
Mid-June to Mid-July is
STRAWBERRY
SEASON
Ready-picked, or have some fun and
PICK YOUR OWN Available at their peak
Monday-Friday 8am-1pm & 5pm-8pm Saturday & Sunday 8am-1pm weather permitting
Fresh produce from our field to your table, guaranteed! www.fergusonproduce.com Strawberries . Raspberries . Sweet Corn . Pumpkins . Preserves
c All Locally Grown • Store-Made Deli Meat • Never Any By-Produ
ts
We have everything you need for
BBQ SEASON!
Top to bottom: a Yoga for Kids session; outdoor adventure during a corporate retreat; overnight retreat accommodations at Dancing Creek
NOW CHEMICAL FREE
Savour the Farmgate difference.
Dancing Creek offers yoga classes, yoga teacher training, climbing classes, environmental education, adventure parties, summer day camps, leadership training, retreats, workshops, rental of studio and outside space. They are happy to design custom programs to suit your needs—find out more about these and the facilities at www.dancingcreek.ca or by calling 519-874-1707. Yoga instructor Tamika Schilbe’s website is www.mysoultime.com.
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DELIVERY NOW AVAILABLE IN ST. THOMAS & LONDON
Open Mon to Sat 9am-6pm • 519-637-0055
310 Wellington St, St. Thomas
www.farmgatemarket.com Present this coupon at Farmgate for
10% OFF YOUR PURCHASE Coupon Expires Dec. 31st, 2010
Savour Spring Map of Elgin County
IN ELGIN COUNTY
yR
ille W
Asian Vegetables • Asparagus • Beans • Broccoli • Cabbage Cauliflower • Cherries • Field & Greenhouse Cucumbers Lettuce • Mushrooms • Green Onions • Peas Peppers (Greenhouse) • Radicchio Radishes • Rhubarb • Spinach Strawberries
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STRAWBERRY THINGS WE RELISH These cute little strawberry pouches unfold into beautiful reusable shopping bags. Available in a variety of colours at Wind n Willow, 435 Talbot St, St. Thomas, www.windnwillow.ca.
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Check out the 3-piece Simple Strawberries set from Joie! The strainer, slicer and huller are available individually or as a set at Salt Creek Farm Market (Highbury & Ron McNeil Ln, just north of St. Thomas), www.saltcreekmarket.com.
Rush Creek Wines’ Berry Seductive wine is their newest Spring Vintage, with notes of ripe strawberry that scream “SPRING!” Rush Creek Wines, 48995 Jamestown Ln, just south of Aylmer, www.rushcreekwines.com.
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Map of Elgin County
RECIPE:
THE ELGIN MESS This recipe is an adaptation of a wellknown dessert in England called the Eton Mess, which has its origin in the 1930s at Eton College. The story goes that, on the way to the annual parent student picnic, the family Labrador sat on the picnic basket, destroying the meringue dessert. The result was delicious, and every year since, this dessert has been served at the event. You can prepare the cream, strawberries and meringues ahead and combine up to an hour ahead of serving. Be creative and try different fruits, or sponge toffee instead of meringue!
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6 meringue shells, broken into pieces 1 cup low- or no-fat vanilla yogurt 1/3 cup whipping cream 1 Tbsp orange liqueur (such as Cointreau) 3 cups strawberries, washed, stemmed & diced • Put the yogurt into a cheesecloth- or coffee filter-lined mesh sieve and set over a bowl deep enough to leave room for liquid to drain. Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes to 2 hours. • Whip the cream until stiff peaks form, then fold in the drained yogurt and liqueur. • Fold in the meringue pieces and strawberries, then serve in individual dishes. Garnish with a strawberry.
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We’ll Rock Your World
2010 McSMITH’S CHICKEN DAYS PHONE AHEAD TO ORDER FOR PICK UP AT THE FARM AFTER 10AM ON THESE SATURDAYS
Jun 12 . Jun 26 . Jul 10 . Jul 24
Fresh Certified Organic Chickens Whole Chickens Vac-Packed Breasts, Thighs, Legs & Wings Organic Brown Eggs IN-SEASON ORGANIC PRODUCE AVAILABLE SATURDAYS AT THE ST. THOMAS HORTON FARMERS’ MARKET
519-631-0279 • 42828 Shorlea Line, St. Thomas mcsmith@amtelecom.net www.McSmithsOrganicFarm.com
Briwood YOUR NEIGHBOURHOOD FARM MARKET
IN-STORE BAKERY FRESH PRODUCE GROCERY & DAIRY MEAT & BULK FOODS PET FOODS
Everything You Need for Your Garden
Rose Bushes, Berry Bushes, Nursery Stock, Bedding Flowers & Vegetable Plants
Assorted M
low ers
hes ulc
PLUS VARIOUS HANGING BASKETS
S el ectio
ge
99¢/box of 4
L ar
ie Pans
s-
ng n of Beddi
519-633-9691
F
s 2 cu. ft. bag
WEED FREE TOP SOIL & BLACK EARTH
OPEN YEAR ROUND
Mon-Fri: 8am-8pm • Sat & Sun: 8am-6pm 1030 Talbot St . St. Thomas We proudly support local farmers.
Canadale Nurseries
Home & Garden
CELEBRATING 55 YEARS
Bill and Joan Intven immigrated to Canada in 1950, with a dream of owning their own nursery. Bill’s enthusiasm for gardening and nature had taken root in his mother’s garden. In April of 1955, the Intvens were finally able to purchase a derelict tobacco farm. They were off and running with their business, naming it Canadale out of respect for their adopted country.
Left to Right: Spring in the greenhouse; Joan and Pauline at the 55th Anniversary ribbon-cutting; an Inspiration Garden
Fifty-five years later Canadale is still family operated. It has grown, flourished and come to be known for its customer service, favourable working environment, and ability to keep on top of what’s new and exciting in the world of gardening. They opened the 2010 season with an anniversary celebration and ribbon-cutting by Joan Intven.
Backyard Vacations More and more, people are choosing a “Staycation” in response to the recent economic downturn. Creating a vacation spot in your own backyard can be a way to save money when compared to long-distance trips. Backyard relaxation is also a good fit with taking daytrips to discover places of interest nearby.
The next generation has now taken on the smooth operation of Canadale. Back in 2007, Pauline IntvenCasier saw the need for a local gardening show. She brought together a host of businesses and experts to present the first annual Canadale Spring Gardening Show. The March event has become an anticipated first taste of spring for crowds of attendees. It is Pauline’s ability to anticipate trends and customer demand that is a large factor in her success as VicePresident and Garden Centre Manager at Canadale.
Pauline notes some of the ways people are creating ‘outdoor living rooms’ for their staycations:
As the 2010 gardening season begins, Pauline cites three current trends—gardening for “staycationers”, an increase in fruit and veggie growing, and “emotional gardening”.
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• Indoor/outdoor artwork that can stay outside all year and other wall art has become increasingly popular, especially photographs and paintings of flowers, gardens and serene scenes like forests and lakes. • Large palms, colourful tropical leaf plants, exotic bougainvilleas, passion flower vines, oversized ferns and other tropical plants help make your outdoor room feel like a tropical vacation. • Cozy bistro table and chair sets provide a spot to enjoy a morning coffee or sunset.
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Home & Garden Good Eats from the Garden Growing your own fruits and veggies is a hot trend, and one that continues to grow. It appeals to those looking to eat products from nearby, maintain some control over what goes into their food, or save money. Appreciation for heritage varieties has increased. Community focused initiatives are also on the upswing. These include community supported agriculture farms, community gardens and produce exchanges. Pauline has seen a flurry of activity related to customer interest in growing food: • Customers are learning to grow vegetables from seeds and starter plants, all kinds of fruits and berries such as raspberries, rhubarb, grapes, and currants, as well as asparagus. • People are still interested in growing fruit trees – small fruits prove more rewarding because they require less room and care than full-sized trees. • Families are learning to garden together – kids come to the nursery and help pick out the vegetables they want to grow and eat. The Canadale Kid’s Club (a free weekend gardening activity club) is quickly gaining popularity. • Our parents’ generation learned to garden from their parents and so on. The new generation (gen X and gen Y) never learned to garden, perhaps because many of their parents were busy with two-income lives. Now these families are learn-
ing on their own with help from garden centres and the internet. They have lots of questions! Our small design garden vignettes area features a new vegetable garden display. The Joy of Gardening “The number one trend in the gardening industry this year,” says Pauline, “is that customers are looking for ‘JOY’. We are all tired of the doom and gloom we hear in the news every day and are looking for an escape at home.” Gardening may play a therapeutic role, with positive effect on both mental and physical well-being. Techniques and products used may also reflect personal values and concern for the environment. Gardeners may want to use no pesticides, conserve water, incorporate native plants or attract birds. Bill and Joan’s son Tom, today spends a great deal of time searching for and introducing new and exciting plants to meet all these needs. Pauline notes a few of the recent gardening trends related to joy and environmental concern: • Whimsical garden items are very popular: funny statues that touch a particular funny spot; cute figurines and catchy garden signs. • There is an increased awareness of our environment and contributing positively by caring for our own “little piece of the earth” in our own back yard. Natural and organic fertilizers are much more popular, along with natural insect and weed control (also mandated by the Ontario Pesticide Ban introduced last year).
Bringing Colour to Life
55th Anniversary
Voted Ontario’s Favourite Garden Centre!
www.canadale.com
269 Sunset Drive, St. Thomas • 519-631-7264 • New Extended Spring Hours: Wed 8-8, Sat 8-6, Sun 10-5
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Home & Garden • Water conservation is becoming more focused. The threat of a dry summer ahead and water bans in some cities in past years has brought attention to water conservation. We have a new line of wood-like water barrels to collect rainwater for gardens. Bill Intven, who passed away in 2002, believed an appreciation and love of nature is at the very heart of gardening. He would have been pleased that Canadale continues to serve today’s gardeners looking to nature for relaxation, food, and joy.
Canadale Nurseries is located just South of St. Thomas at 269 Sunset Drive. For more information, call 519-631-7264 or visit www.canadale.com. The website also includes lots more about Canadale, gardening tips, sales, helpful links and a place to sign up for their newsletter.
West Elgin Central to Everything, Second to None West Elgin—a place where the past and the future live side by side. Nestled south of the 401, it’s your link to Lake Erie and Ontario’s beautiful South Coast.
We’re just down the road and off the beaten path. WEST LORNE • RODNEY • PORT GLASGOW
www.westelgin.net 519-785-0560
NOW OPEN FOR THE SEASON
FARM MARKET & GREENHOUSES IN OUR GREENHOUSE
Annuals & Perennials . Design Baskets Jeepers Creepers & Rock Stars Heirloom Tomato Plants (20 varieties) GARDEN ACCENTS
Willow Furniture . Urns & Planters Birdhouse Gourds
NOW IN SEASON
Tomatoes Asparagus Strawberries
NOW AVAILABLE Empire Valley
Gift Cards
The Perfect Gift!
519-762-3504
27983 Talbot Ln, Wallacetown
www.empirevalleyfarms.com
Farm • Boutique • Retreat YEAR ROUND B&B SEASONAL PICK-YOUR-OWN LAVENDER SHOPPING & MONTHLY ACTIVITIES
2010 SEASON APRIL 30 – OCTOBER 30 THURSDAY – SATURDAY 10 – 5 SUNDAY NOON – 5 28011 ASH LINE, WALLACETOWN 519 762 2188 & 519 702 3800 WWW.LAVENDERSENSE.COM
Textile Arts
Textile Arts
IN ELGIN COUNTY
The myriad of textile arts—quilting, knitting, rug hooking, weaving, basketry, embroidery and others—are rooted in tradition. The skills and interests of today’s crafters may also be part of treasured connections to mothers and grandmothers. A visit to two textile-related businesses, however, revealed that modern techniques, materials and cross-craft combinations have opened up whole new worlds of texture, colour and creative possibilities.
HEATHER BELL’S
SEWING & DYE STUDIO The Place Heather Bell’s Sewing & Dye Studio is located in the quiet countryside just west of West Lorne, a short hop from the 401. The shop and classroom attached to her home have undergone a couple of renovations over the years—the last one saw the dye studio turned into a big, bright, beautiful space for classes. (The “Dye Studio” name remains because Heather loves the art of fabric dying and is determined to find space for it again in future.) The Owner Heather says she has “always sewn”. She was taught by her mom to create doll clothes and further encouraged in senior public and high school by teachers who loved sewing and shared that passion. She later worked in Toronto in industrial photographic equipment sales, then started her present business in 1991, selling Pfaff sewing machines and providing in-home classes with the machines. She saw a need for group classes, and further opportunity to share her love of creative sewing while also expanding her business. The Craft The world of handcraft has undergone a revolution in recent years. Traditionally, notes Heather, crafters worked in one segment of textile arts at a time,
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Machine embroidery on a quilt at Heather Bell’s and usually completed their pieces entirely by hand. Today, materials and techniques are used in innovative combinations, and busy people use machines to create them. She notes that it’s in the crossover of techniques that textile arts have blossomed. For instance, embroidery is combined with quilting, felting or photography in ways limited only by the imagination. Heather displays one richly embroidered sunflower picture as an example—she photographed sunflowers in a nearby field, downloaded the picture to her computer, then to her embroidery software and sewing machine—6 hours later she removed the completed piece. The Products One wall of Heather’s store is lined with an amazing array of threads, ranging through fine cotton and silk, quality construction thread, rayon and metallic embroidery thread and serger specialty products. The thread plays a large role in the look and success
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Textile Arts of a project and Heather is happy to help choose the best one. She also carries Shiva paintstiks, designed to be used on fabric—they look like fat crayons but are made of oil pigments, refined linseed oil and wax. Then there are the stabilizers or backing materials—the correct one, says Heather, is often the secret to a project’s quality. In addition the shop is filled with sewing machines, a variety of other supplies and notions, and intriguing project samples. The Joy I stepped into Heather’s shop on day one of a twoday embroidery class, to see a mound of sewing machine cases, looking like all of the relatives had just arrived with matching upscale luggage. After having a tour of the shop and observing the class, Heather’s friendly supportive manner, and the comfortable surroundings, I couldn’t help but think that the atmosphere was indeed one of a happy family getaway. These days they arrive with some pretty high-powered equipment; laptops are used alongside machines equipped with USB port, computer touch screen and stylus. They are modern, yes, but still happily following an age-old tradition of perfecting, sharing and learning as they pursue their creative passions. Heather Bell teaches and hosts guest specialists for a variety of classes and workshops including sewing, machine embroidery, quilting, and felting. Many of the workshops play homage to vintage craft styles. The studio is located at 24846 Pioneer Line, West Lorne. For further information, call 519-768-1284 (888-768-1284), email mydyestudio@aim.com, or visit www.heatherbellsewing.com.
Felting with embroidery at Heather Bell’s
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Little Red Mitten
LITTLE RED MITTEN The Place The Little Red Mitten opened in February 2009 in a restored 1842 house. Located across from Jumbo, the building was home to the Talbot Trail Tearoom for 18 years. Today, it’s vibrant with the amazing colours of a huge stock of wools, and invitingly furnished with comfy chairs and space for classes. The Owner Owner Joan Janes grew up in St. Thomas but she and husband Matt had been away for several years, living in various locations in Canada and the States. Joan completed the Master Knitting program from The Knitting Guild of America and is a certified teacher with the Craft Yarn Council of America. She and Matt returned “home” to St. Thomas in March of 2008. Soon after, they heard that the local wool shop, Parkspin, was closing. Joan had long dreamed of owning a wool shop—her email address had been “little red mitten” since 1999. The closing of Parkspin seemed like a sign. Joan sums up her vision for Little Red Mitten—“I want people to feel good, find help and have lots of choices.” The Craft Along with knitting, Joan’s expertise extends to other fibre arts, including spinning and weaving. Many people, she says, want to get back to the
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Textile Arts sheep breeds give unique products. The shop also carries needles and patterns, Majacraft spinning wheels, hand spinning fibres, wooden hand spindles and table looms. The fibres and handcrafted samples are enticing—they invite you to create and the smorgasbord of classes and groups make it easy to get started. Little Red Mitten
Little Red Mitten owner Joan Janes basics—spinning is 20,000 to 30,000 years old. She is interested in increasing people’s appreciation of the value of clothing and in giving people confidence to try handcrafting. The process itself can be relaxing and almost meditative. The Products The shelves at Little Red Mitten overflow with primarily natural fibres from Canada, the US and around the world, including wool, alpaca, cashmere, cotton, bamboo and some acrylic blends. Joan explains how dying techniques have improved and how different
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The Joy On a Wednesday afternoon, the room where the knitting group gathers is filled with women busily knitting. Moments of quiet are punctuated by ones of laughter. All of the women are full of compliments for Joan, the cozy, supportive atmosphere, and also the help they get from each other. Tamara, a young mom and new knitter notes how much she appreciates the willingness of the others in the group to share their knowledge. Do you all knit every day, I ask? That question elicits some surprising comments. Most, it seems, do knit almost every day. One member of the group relates the story of a weekend away during which she didn’t have her needles and wool. Hubby noted her mood wasn’t as good as usual and offered to find her some needles and yarn as she must be missing her knitting. Says another of the group—“It’s an addiction! Chocolate has nothing on knitting.” The Little Red Mitten is located at 86 Talbot Street, St. Thomas. For more information call 519-207-2880 or visit www.littleredmitten.ca (which includes an intriguing account of the history of yarn in St. Thomas).
Mitten
“a woolly inspiring place”
Little Mitten
Quality Knitting and Spinning Supplies
We’ve got inspiration galore - books, patterns, colours & fibres ... and the best choice of knitting tools around!
MAJACRAFT SPINNING WHEELS & ASHFORD LOOMS Mon-Sat 10-5, Thurs & Fri 10-8 86 Talbot St. (across from Jumbo), St. Thomas
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www.littleredmitten.ca 519-207-2880
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Rose Klein
Beading Supplies & Custom Designed Jewelry Beads • Semiprecious Gems • Accessories • Finished Jewelry Classes for the Beginner and Advanced Beader Birthday Parties • Bridal Parties • Trunk Shows • Fundraisers 48330 Wilson Ln, Belmont • 519.857.5255 • rose.klein@sympatico.ca • www.roseklein.com
Wind n Willow
Home Decor . Gift Ware Kitchen . Interior Decorating
435 Talbot St, St. Thomas • 519.637.3904 • www.windnwillow.ca & www.windnwillowstaging.com
NEW ITEMS ARRIVING DAILY
Eco-Friendly Bamboo Teas, Teapots & Thermal Flasks Scarves, Handbags & Jewellery Chic Folding Market Baskets and Much More! Talbot Centre
MEN’S & WOMEN’S SHOES WOMEN’S FASHIONS • HANDBAGS
West Village
Locally Owned & Operated Since 1965
www.downtownstthomas.com
East Village
Market Square
Great shops, restaurants, services, offices and attractions!
429 Talbot Street, St. Thomas • 519-631-0755 Westmount Shopping Centre, London • 519-472-3050 Shoes on Central by Mugford’s 204 Central Ave, London • 519-433-9022
www.mugfordshoes.com
OVER BAYHAM DISw.C bayham.on.ca • 519-866-5 521 ww Discover ... natural treasures & attractions. Enjoy ... clean, sandy beaches, Port Burwell Provincial Park, historic sites, special events, bird & butterfly migrations, museums and historic lighthouse. Visit ... the Erie Shores Wind Farm and view the magnificent, energy producing wind turbines, located east and west of Port Burwell, along Lake Erie.
Marriage officiant services - email rogers1651@amtelecom.net
May is Museum Month!
Museums Open Daily Mid-May to Labour Day
Wind Interpretive Centre Information Kiosk Brown Rd at Nova Scotia Ln
Edison Museum of Vienna 14 Snow St • 519-874-4999
Port Burwell Marine Museum & Lighthouse
Gateway to Erie’s Shore SUMMER 2010 EVENTS EDEN June 5: Car Rally & BBQ
VIENNA
June 5: Edison Fest
PORT BURWELL
July 1: Canada Day Celebrations with Parade at 11am July 30-Aug 1: Tub Daze
STRAFFORDVILLE
Aug 28: Watermelon Fest Parade at 10am; Family Fun Day TALBOT TRAIL OF YARD SALES Aug 28th - Throughout Bayham
Pitt St & Robinson St • 519-874-4807
Visit our website for more information on these events.
Beamish
Landscape Services
Dreaming of a backyard makeover? We can help you design it and make it happen! Spring Clean-Up & Pruning Lawn Maintenance • Garden Renovation Enchanting Water Features Landscape Design-Build Projects
Proud Member of
519.633.9176 beamishlandscape@rogers.com