TAKE 5 October 2023

Letters

Dare to Be Different!

Being a wildlife photographer, I was thrilled to see a blonde crow named Charlie sitting in a tree just 30 meters from my front door. He and his two black siblings had just left their nest, and, along with their black parents, they stayed in my neighbourhood for three weeks.

Like the Spirit Bear, Charlie has a genetic disorder called Luecism, and he can’t produce the black pigment. But since all adult crows have brown eyes, Charlie can produce the brown pigment. It is thought that only one out of every 30,000 crows is blonde.

Charlie now hangs out with his friends at the Southgate Plaza in Chase River, where he munches on pancakes and pizzas.

-David Aquino

Cassidy Aquifer coverage

We are sending out a BIG THANK-YOU to Marina Sacht, and TAKE 5 staff, for your ongoing coverage of the Cassidy Aquifer/Schnitzer Steel issue. All three stories have contributed greatly to helping residents understand the significance of this important community issue and our work. Your help in sharing information and concern for this precious water resource has been most appreciated. And, we are especially

A blonde crow hanging out with his friend. Charlie has a rare genetic disorder. Photo: David Aquino

grateful for the “Cassidy Aquifers, Part 2” article by Quentin Goodbody, in the September TAKE 5 edition. This piece was so very well researched. We are sending out our gratitude to Quentin as well.

Throughout the years, TAKE 5 has become a foundation of our rural communities by providing stories about us. These are stories people can connect with, that inspire conversation, and help create strong communities! You have built trust through well-researched reporting. We owe TAKE 5 for the years of being our one-and-only source of community connection and helping to build our small business community along the way.

Thank you for your valued contributions to our community.

— Pauline Hunt and June Ross, for North Oyster/Diamond Ratepayers Assoc. & Vancouver Island Water Watch Coalition

Goodall on progress

I have visited Nanaimo on a number of times and spent many hours in Wildwood Ecoforest. What a beautiful part of the world in your care.

I have been informed that BC has begun the Zero Carbon Step Code and that Nanaimo is proposing to move faster towards zero-carbon housing. This is fantastic news, and I congratulate you. I just hope that others will adopt similar policies because, otherwise, we are doomed. When we think of what is happening all around the world — the heatwaves and terrible fi res, the storms and terrible floods — it is wonderful to know that you are taking a lead.

It is, as you have not only realized but acted on, desperately important to transition as fast as possible from polluting fossil fuel to renewable energy.

We have not been borrowing from future generations but stealing ever since the industrial revolution. And it is no wonder that so many people, including young people, are losing hope. And without hope, we fall into apathy and do nothing. It is important to share news of all the good things that are going on so people can say, “Well, if they can do it, so can we.”

So, let us hope that BC moves ahead with proposed plans to clean up its act. Then we can spread the news and other cities, states, and even countries will have a great example to follow.

— Jane Goodall, PhD, DBE, founder of the Jane Goodall Institute & UN Messenger of Peace

Correction

In the TAKE 5/Sept 23 issue under Back to Business column it was stated that Purple Pigeon’s April Akroyd sourced some items from local garage sales. This is wrong and Akroyd emphatically states they would never do that.

If you have not been to the Purple Pigeon in Ladysmith, we encourage you to pay them a visit for some very unique gifts and collectibles including jewelry. Our apologies to April.

Open Mic at Ladysmith Community Marina

Ladysmith Maritime Society (LMS) hosted several live music events on the dock in 2023. Dine on the Dock and Music on the Dock, but not to go unnoticed, was Open Mic on the Dock every Wednesday from July through August.

An open mic brings local performers (with the occasional performer from far and wide) to the dock. They have an opportunity to play a minimum of three songs. We had a local story-

teller and heard guitars, fiddles, mandolins, keyboards and mouth harps. This year’s Open Mic on the Dock was a huge success, highlighting 92 performances and 42 different musicians. There were some fabulous vocals, fi ngerpicking at its fi nest, with a few jokes to add colour, and a fantastic audience applauding and singing along. A couple of professional musicians came down on the dock to entertain and be entertained. On two occasions, we had musicians play that were moored for the evening in our marina. And a massive shout out to our local community marina, who made the open mic possible with their social dock and sound equipment. We were never rained out, and there is nothing quite as stunning as a sunset on the dock. The perfect venue.

THANK YOU, musicians and participants. THANK YOU, LMS and a big thank-you to John Trottier, who was always available to set up and take down and assist where needed.

— Owen Pallot, Open Mic organizer

Letters to the editor do not necessarily represent the opinions or views of TAKE 5's contributors or its affiliates.

Owen Pallot, LMS Open Mic organizer, playing a tune at one of this summer’s Open Mic on the Docks.

Photo: Nadine Wong

Growing concerns over marina

Confusion and concern over Ladysmith Community Marina’s future is growing among moorers and the community.

“We embrace the economic and recreational opportunities at Ladysmith Harbour to build a sustainable future for current and future generations,” said Chief John Elliott, Stz’uminus First Nation (SFN), in the press release issued by the Town of Ladysmith and Coast Salish Development Corp. (CSD) on September 12, 2023. “We are working towards a December 31, 2023 transfer date where SFN will be granted leases on water and land lots in the harbour. Long-term plans include re-development of the area from Slag Point to the federal wharf.”

The press release went on to say that “on an interim basis, Coast Salish Development Corp, the economic division of SFN, will provide moorage on the existing site and boaters should contact CSD, starting October 1, 2023, to arrange for moorage coinciding with the transfer.

The press release did not address any concerns over the future of the Ladysmith Maritime Society (LMS), the nonprofit society whose volunteers built the Ladysmith Community Marina (LCM) over 30 years ago and have been operating it since.

“We didn't know that was coming out,” said Kelly Daniels, LMS President, who is still hopeful an agreement between the CSD and the society to continue to operate the marina on their behalf is still possible.

Reaction from boaters was swift. “We’ve had many questions and large gatherings at our weekly Tuesday Open Table meetings. There's a lot of frustration, and there's a lot of concern over what the future might look like.”

The LMS will hold a public Open house on Wednesday, October 25, at Eagles Hall at 6 p.m. to address some of the concerns.

Linda MacShane and John Trottier are part of a newly formed Concerned Boat Owners of Ladysmith Community Marina Group. They had requested Delegation Status before Ladysmith Town Council and were initially granted a hearing on October 3. A few days later we received an email cancelling our Delegation Status and telling us to refer our questions to the Coast Salish Dev Corp.,” said MacShane. “We wanted to discover what's happening with the marina because no one has spoken to us. I know there were a lot of people who were shocked that Council wouldn't hear us.”

It’s particularly troubling as both MacShane and Trottier are liveaboards.

LCM has 170 moorers, 22 privately owned boathouses and 20 liveaboards who call the marina their home. Many of the liveaboards are retired and have fi xed incomes; some have lived there for over ten years, says Trottier.

“A number of us are paid through until the end of March next year. And we don't know what will happen with that money," adds MacShane.

In a press release, the LMS wrote,

“The LMS continues to believe that a collaborative solution can be achieved through dialogue, a sentiment we have conveyed to key stakeholders including the Province, the Town of Ladysmith, and the First Nation. We have reminded them of our existing tenure agreements, which secure the operation of the Community Marina by LMS until 2029. We continue to reach out to Stz’uminus elected Chief and Council, hoping that doors will open for productive talks.”

“At this point, we still have a valid lease agreement,” said Daniels. “And that we can resolve things together between now and then.”

CSD said information will be shared over the next four months.

High Flyers

On September 19, 2023, a daring trio of Ladysmith Lions Club members took part in the Easter Seals BC/Yukon Drop Zone event in Victoria. These superheroes for the day were part of the 49th Parallel Flyers team, which repelled down 13 floors of the CIBC building in Victoria. They raised approximately $4,600 for Easter Seals BC/Yukon.

“Compared to the challenges that many children, and adults with disabilities face everyday of their lives, I feel that my effort to raise awareness and funds is small in comparison. It was an exhilarating experience, one I will be doing again for such a great cause,” says Allen McDermid.

The Easter Seals Drop Zone Challenge is an inclusive event that gives people of all abilities a unique chance to challenge themselves while helping others.

Since 2005, close to 10,000 brave individuals from across Canada have overcome their fears to become superheroes for a day in support of Easter Seals, and persons and

families living with disabilities.

The Easter Seals give children, youth and adults with disabilities the gift of an unforgettable summer camp experience and provide a home-away-from-home at Easter Seals House for families facing unimaginable health challenges. This includes Camp Shawnigan, on Vancouver Island.

“Lions Clubs have continued to be an integral and formidable supporter for children and adults with disabilities. Over these many decades, Lions Clubs have continued to support the society with their incredible fundraising, events and time volunteering at the camps.”

New Vision connects rural BC to a stronger future

The BC government has released StrongerBC: Good Lives in Strong Communities, a new vision that outlines investments to help build a brighter future for rural communities and the people who call them home.

The vision focuses on concrete actions to make life better for rural British Columbians, including delivering high-speed internet to every community, helping goods and people move, and bringing more rural expertise and perspectives to government.

“The challenges faced by rural places are different than those in urban centres, but all BC communities deserve the opportunity to thrive. Unique challenges, coupled with unique local solutions, require flexible support from the province,” says Roly Russell, Parliamentary Secretary for Rural Development. “These investments are a key part of our larger strategy to building strong and di-

Allen McDermid. Photo submitted.

verse rural economies, because we know that when rural communities thrive, it puts us all on the path to a brighter future.”

Doug Routley, MLA for Nanaimo-North Cowichan, adds, “People in rural BC are resilient, but we are facing some big challenges. From our changing climate to a changing economy, it’s crucial that the decisions we make as a province reflect the perspectives and expertise of those who live in rural BC.” .

Ladysmith Dragon Boat team claims gold at Comox Dragon Boat Festival

The Ladysmith Dragon Boat Society made a triumphant return to the racing scene at the Comox Dragon Boat Festival on Saturday, September 16, 2023. Members from several Ladysmith teams came together for a remarkable performance that clinched the gold medal in a thrilling competition. This event marked the fi rst time Ladysmith had the opportunity to compete since before the COVID-19 pandemic.

In a field of six women’s teams in the standard (20-person) boat category, the Ladysmith Dragon Boat Team demonstrated their prowess by securing fi rst place in the fi rst two heats. Their performance times for all four 200-metre sprints clocked in at 00:56.6, 00:58.8, 01:04.2 and 01:05.6. Their combined performance in the fi nal two heats resulted in earning top spot in the Grand Final.

The team’s gold-medal triumph serves as a testament to the spirit of teamwork, dedication and passion that defi nes dragon boat racing, and they look forward to bringing home more hardware next season.

Crosswalks unveiled in Ladysmith

Two new painted crosswalks commemorating First Nations and veterans were unveiled in Ladysmith on September 11.

Located on First Avenue, the crosswalk “Every Child Matters” helps to raise awareness of the victims and survivors of the residential school system, and “Ladysmith Remembers” is a tribute to veterans. The existing “Rainbow” crosswalk has been updated to include representation for the intersex community.

Infrastructure Upgrade Stocking Lake Dam

The Town of Ladysmith and Cowichan Valley Regional District have completed several key infrastructure upgrades to the Stocking Lake Dam, continuing the ongoing investment in the preservation of our respective communities’ drinking water.

Ladysmith Dragon Boat team. Photo submitted.

The Stocking Lake Dam is an earth-fill dam constructed from natural materials and maintained to provincial standards through an agreement between the municipality and regional district.

Water drawn from Stocking Lake is the drinking water source for the residents of Ladysmith in the winter months as well as the CVRD Area G (Saltair).

The project scope for the work completed in recent weeks involved two parts: addressing a leak that was identi fied over the winter, and further strengthening the dam itself.

The contractor retained by the Town for this project removed material from the dam on the downstream side and laid rock riprap to further reinforce the structure. Secondly, to address the leak, loose material was removed from the spillway channel, and a water barrier was installed and topped with rock.

Ladysmith utilities staff inspect the Stocking Dam weekly to ensure that it is functioning properly.

The Town and CVRD continue to explore funding opportunities from senior levels of government for the dam replacement. A preliminary design for a new dam was completed in 2021. A new dam would increase the lake storage capacity by both raising the height of the structure and lowering the intake pipe.

Wolf Talk at Museum

Gary Allan and his beloved wolf Tundra shared the world of wolves and the importance of them in the ecosystem. Although Tundra is no longer with us, Allan continues to share their message. On Sunday, October 8, at 1 p.m., join in for his presentation “We Share the Forests.” He will show how wolves help to protect forests and, in return, how forests protect wolves. Allan also examines the relationship between beavers and forests and other animals. The talk will be held at the Ladysmith Museum and is free. Donations are appreciated.

Zombie Walk — awareness to hunger in our community

Get ready for the second annual Zombie Walk.

October is the month that Halloween is celebrated as well as International Zombie Day. It is a day when people dressed like zombies gather and stroll through town to bring awareness to hunger and

homelessness in their area.

Eastern Star, a part of the Masonic Family in Ladysmith, is teaming up with the Ladysmith Museum to shine a light on hunger our community by co-hosting the Zombie Walk through the streets of downtown Ladysmith on Friday, October 13. This is a way to have fun, bring awareness to hunger locally and donate goods to our local food bank.

Leaving St. John’s Masonic Hall, at 26 Gatacre Street, at 4:30 p.m., the Zombie Walk will proceed to the Ladysmith Museum, at 721 First Avenue, where refreshments will be served, and then stroll back to the Masonic Hall for costumes to be judged.

Registration for participants will be in person on October 13, 4 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., at the St. John’s Masonic Hall. The event is free, but non-perishable food or a cash donation to the Ladysmith Food Bank is appreciated.

Also, in keeping with Halloween, the Ladysmith Museum brings back its “Museum in the Dark.” Bring a flashlight or use your cellphone and come visit the museum with the lights off Saturday, October 28, and Sunday, October

29, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Regular hours are Saturday and Sunday 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Gary Allan will give a talk on Wolves at the Ladysmith Museum on Oct. 3, 2023. Photo submitted.

Quirky, Funny, Singer, Songwriter, Performer: Ryan McMahon

BY NADINE WONG

When you sit down to a cup of coffee with Ryan McMahon expect an explosion of colourful, descriptive idioms. I had to stay focused and concentrate to keep up with his energy. It was refreshing to see so much enthusiasm. Ryan was stoked; he had just received a text from Sam Boyd, Tom Cochrane’s manager, confirming that Ryan would be opening for Tom on his upcoming West Coast tour in November. Big shout out to Ryan — our small-town Ladysmith boy continues to entertain on the big stage.

Ryan has been performing since he

could walk, enthusiastically vying for the attention of his grandparents and anyone who would watch and listen as he hi-jinxed his way around the family dinner table. Visions of a five-year-old poking his index finger repeatedly into your arm come to mind, but then it doesn’t take long to realize he was poking with words. He wanted to make people laugh, to bring joy. Ryan was extremely close to his grandparents. They only lived a block from his family home, and he was there almost everyday after school. Grandpa encouraged Ryan to be silly, weird and free-spirited, just like him.

Ryan is a storyteller, singer and songwriter. Born in Chemainus, the father of three, he writes and records music in his studio (converted garage), but he will tell you his favourite spot to write a song is at his kitchen table, well-lit and bright with scenes of the neighbourhood alive and breathing.

While living in Vancouver in the early 2000s, Cathleen Lundgren represented Ryan at Mission Management Group. “All professional musicians need a manager for their fi nances to stay on track and to hopefully make a full-time living doing what they love.” In 2008, now married, Cathleen and Ryan moved to Ladysmith, bought and renovated a house, and raised their three children (now ages 20, 17 and 13).

When I asked Ryan how he got started, he told me, “My career began at 17, when I was still in high school. I would borrow my parent’s Mercury Topas, drive to Nanaimo and sneak into the Queens. This was about 1996. I met Joel Spillette, ‘Uncle Joel,’ who played the piano with me then, and now, in his late 60s, hits the road with me for our ‘lounge act."

Musician Ryan McMahon. Photo submitted.

McMahon has had a few “ah-ha” moments. When he met Aaron Pritchett at a Ronald MacDonald House fundraiser, they hit it off and Ryan is now co-writing with Aaron. It was Aaron that Ryan went to during the pandemic to discuss how musicians were going to make it through COVID when live music venues were closed and how they were going to stay “in the game,” make money and bring their music to a virtual audience.

Ryan described what it is like to co-write for someone: “Cowriting or writing with another artist in mind to deliver the song is a new challenge that I’ve enjoyed. I try to remember that every lyric should be believably delivered in a voice other than my own, which is a nice shift of focus for me.”

When I asked Ryan what challenges he was experiencing, he said, “During COVID, physical performances were nonexistent. I did monthly online virtual Facebook and Instagram concerts. Probably a total of eight altogether lasting two to three hours. Folks listened from their kitchens, living rooms, bedrooms, closets … wherever they could fi nd a space to have a beverage or meal and relax for a few hours. Along with my own music, I played a lot of cover songs and took requests. It wasn’t unusual to have ‘tips’ sent through e-transfer. After the pandemic, you are not the only musician competing for gigs; there are thousands, and not enough venues to accommodate them all. All of the musicians are vying for your entertainment dollar. There is only so much to go around. You have to hustle.”

Ryan will be 44 this month. His new quip: “Plenty of highway ahead of me but also old enough to know what dropping a sample at the lab feels like.”

Opening for Burton Cummings at the Port Theatre in 2017, again in 2019 for Burton’s four Vancouver Island shows, and again in 2023 on Cummings’s 14-day BC/Alberta tour have been some highlights of his career.

What’s happening now for Ryan McMahon? He has his own album release for Live Now in November and will be opening for Tom Cochrane’s BC Tour. Looking to 2024, Ryan’s own headline tour with his band in March. Pretty exciting stu ff coming up for Ryan.

The future? Preparing for two big tours and focusing on his family. See more about Ryan McMahan at https://ryanmcmahon.com/.

Kiss the Moon, Kiss the Sun returns

Kiss the Moon, Kiss the Sun by Norm Foster starts off the fall season for Ladysmith Little Theatre.

Directed by Josee Du ff hues, the show is a tender look at how real people can endure hardships with humour and kindness! Every life is challenged and that’s certainly the case in Kiss the Moon, Kiss the Sun.

Robert, a 35-year old man with the mental capacity of a child, meets Holly, in crisis, pregnant and alone. These two form a surprising bond, and the eventual result is an unexpected family. Yes, life is messy, chaotic, funny and beautiful, and more than a little terrifying. So much happens by chance, sometimes at a bus stop.

Written by the proli fic Norm Foster, one of Canada’s most performed playwrights, this is a story layered with relevance and meaning is a perfect blend of drama and comedy.

Kiss the Moon Kiss the Sun was cut short in mid-run due to COVID-19. Now, the LLT is thrilled that most of the cast, crew and Director Josee Du ff hues have returned to recreate this heartwarming production.

The show runs from October 12 to 29, 2023. For reservations and more information, visit www.ladysmiththeatre. com or call 250-924-0658.

YPDG new comedy

Get set for Yellow Point Drama Group’s Show Relatively Speaking

Set in the swinging 1960s of London, England, Relatively Speaking is a comedy written by renowned British playwright Alan Ayckbourn.

Greg and Ginny are in love, or so they think. The trouble is Ginny has some secrets that could get in the way, which requires a trip to her ex-lover’s country home. What ensues is a series of hilarious misunderstandings and complications that could cause Ginny’s world to come crashing down. British propriety meets the freedom generation in Relatively Speaking, one of Ayckbourn’s early big successes.

Produced by Armando Dos Santos and directed by Nick Scholls, the show opens Friday, October 20, with evening shows October 21, 28 and November 4. Matinees are Sunday, October 22, 29 and November 5. Doors open at 7 p.m., with show at 7:30 p.m. on evenings. Matinee times are 1:30 p.m. for doors and 2 p.m. for the show.

Tickets are $25 and available online at yellowpointdramagroup.org, or by reservation at 250-722-2459, or at the door.

Hobby workshop celebrates 50 years

Jonanco is celebrating its 50th anniversary on October 14 from 11:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., with an open house, history display, and examples of members' work.

Jonanco Hobby Workshop was established in 1973 by a group of rockhounders led by John Colwell. John was a WWII veteran captured by the Germans after his plane was shot down over Holland. He was sent to the prison camp, which became the "Great Escape" site. He was known to his fellow POWs as a "tin basher"; he could turn old powdered milk tins into functional objects such

as coffee pots, cups, pots, utensils, and even a kitchen sink. As part of the escape plan, he was a "penguin," someone who helped move nearly 85 tons of sand needed to clear the tunnels.

On his return to Canada, John purchased a farm in the Extension area of Nanaimo and became interested in rock collecting and lapidary work. When he realized the need for shared equipment and meeting space, he donated the land next to his home to his rockhounding friends for a clubhouse and workshop. It became known as "Jonanco Hobby Workshop," a contraction of "John and Company''. Since then, the hobbies have expanded to include woodworking, quilting, watercolour painting, felting, silversmithing, and others.

Jonanco is located at the junction of Nanaimo River Road and White Rapids Road, in Nanaimo.

Studio Tour 2023 — 27 years and counting

Gabriola artists are preparing for the 27th Annual Thanksgiving Studio Tour. The Gabriola Arts Council welcomes over 60 artists to the tour this year, with nine new participants.

The Studio Tour brochure is available at most businesses on Gabriola, and during the tour weekend, BC Ferries will be handing them out at the Nanaimo Harbour terminal. There is also a digital map you can download on their website artsgabriola.ca for more information.

The Preview Gallery at Tour Central will be located upstairs at Nova Boutique and Gallery in Folklife Village. The opening night is Thursday, October 5, at 7 p.m. Tour Central is open Friday, October 6, to Monday, October 9, from 10 to 5 p.m.

David McCormick and Kristen Forrester in YPDG's Relatively Speaking comedy. Photo submitted.

Growing Gold in Quinceotica

BY KERITH WADDINGTON

An ancient Middle-Eastern fruit believed to predate the apple is being grown in Cedar thanks to the chance encounter of a young man with a poem many years ago.

Quince is a hard, tart fruit that becomes sweet and tasty when cooked.

Although little known in North America, this sole member of the genus Cydonia has enjoyed popularity in the Mediterranean for three thousand years. It is most often turned into preserves and jellies, but it can be used in cakes, pies, stuffings and more.

John Edwards — poet, Oxford scholar and now local quince farmer — encountered lines by the ancient Greek poet Sappho in his 20s that so inspired him, he has grown the exotic fruit ever since: fi rst on a small scale on Salt Spring Island and, more recently, on a much larger scale here in Cedar.

The poetic fragment that fascinated Edwards is known as 105 and dates from 630 BCE.

The scholar’s translation reads as thus:

As the quince that ripens last upon the highest branch Is forgotten by the harvesters. …

But no! Not forgotten but beyond their reach

The mythology of the fruit, alongside the poetic fragment, made a lasting impression on Edwards, who now has more than 200 quince trees growing on the 100-acre Cedar farm he tends with his wife, Gillian.

Edwards stresses that “with one exception, anything you can do with an apple or a pear can be done with a quince.”

And what is that exception?

“Eat them raw!” says Edwards with a laugh. “The flesh is so hard, it can break a tooth. Even the deer leave them alone!”

Some scholars believe that many references to fruit in ancient

texts, including the “forbidden fruit” in the Garden of Eden, were probably referring to quince. Greek mythology associates the fruit with Aphrodite, the goddess of love, and many believe that the golden apple given to her by Paris was a quince.

If those stories have truth, a gaptoothed smile may have been the deciding factor in subsequent human history.

And where did the name “quince” come from?

“It is derived from the Greek name of an ancient village on the Island of Crete, Cydonia, where it was fi rst described by the botanist Theophrastus, for Alexander the Great.”

One may well question what kind of market exists for this obscure fruit here on Vancouver Island. Edwards has sold quinces to Longwood brewery in Nanaimo for over six years, to Paci fic Rim Distillery in Ucluelet for a seasonal liqueur made with local herbs, and to Bespoke Brewery in Parksville. John and Gillian also sell 10 to 20 pound boxes of quince at Quincotica Farm throughout October.

Edwards grows three di fferent kinds of quince on the farm.

“We technically have two types here, the Champion and the Le Bourgeot. But because those trees were grafted onto the root stalk of a Provence quince, when a tree sends up shoots it sends up Provence!” exclaims Edwards. “I used to cut the shoots, but now I am letting them grow. It takes three to four years for a quince to mature, so I expect to be harvesting three types of quince by 2025.”

A late-harvesting fruit — quince ripen at the very end of September, fi rst week of October and grow to about the size of a small grapefruit — Edwards looks forward to another crop coming soon.

His only regret?

“We pick it all by hand in a fortnight. And even with a large ladder, there is fruit I can’t reach.”

Sappho could relate.

Opposite page: John and Gillian Edwards discussing their quince farm in Yellow Point.

Nick Longo.

Inset: Quince hanging tantalizingly on the tree. A "dust" forms when the fruit is ready to harvest.

Photo:

Photo: Marina Sacht

Beauty. Joy. Abundance. Local Farmers

BY KATE GIRARD

What word do you use to describe work that is 24/7, 365 days a year, requires you to be outside in all kinds of weather and — the kicker — often generates so little income, you have to take on another job and/or borrow large sums of money?

Believe it or not, the word for two local farmers is “joy.”

Erica DeFrane and Marlene Lewis may have vastly different backgrounds, but both are committed to farming as a way of life.

DeFrane says Steld Farm is “my happy place.” She describes her excitement in spring when she notices the fi rst sprouts of grass, pulls her fi rst calf or sees a hen who has been hiding suddenly reappear with baby chicks. “I wouldn’t trade it for anything,” she says.

Lewis, who farms Empress Acres with her husband, Peter, and the help of others, shares that clarity. The fi rst line on the farm’s website declares their vision: “69 acres of beauty, joy and abundance.”

DeFrane comes from a long line of farmers in Cedar. “My kids are fourth generation 4-H,” she says proudly. In fact, her parents, Greig and Joanne McLeod, met in 4-H and went on to have a dairy farm near Quennell Lake.

DeFrane jokes, “I was not quite born in a barn, but I was raised in one.” In 2007, she bought a 53-acre blueberry farm on Michael Lake from Irene Trudell, and she continues the Upick operation the Trudells began in 1973. Altogether, DeFrane farms 120 acres, including land leased for pasture and hay.

Lewis, on the other hand, did not come to farming intentionally. She still works in her profession as a speech-language pathologist, and her husband, Peter, though retired, uses his skills as a former professional photographer on the farm’s website.

In 2017, they teamed up with two partners and bought a farm from Cliff and Suzanne Haslam on the corner of Adshead and Haslam Roads. Their dream was to raise empress trees, one of the fastest-growing trees in the world, but they soon realized the trees didn’t grow well in this location.

The partners pulled out, and the Lewises were left with the farm. What to do? They decided not to sell. Instead, they com-

mitted to transforming the property into a viable business, producing healthy, organic food for the community.

However, growing food for a living is a daunting task. For most farmers, it’s essential to diversify.

Consider all the different work done by Erica DeFrane in a year. As soon as Christmas is over, she’s out pruning blueberry bushes, a task that continues for four or five months.

Once the plants flower in early May, she turns to mowing the grass between rows and to irrigating. Haying also happens in those months. In July and August, the U-pick sales begin.

Somehow, DeFrane also raises pigs and thirty or so cows, selling sides of beef to customers as well as young stock to other farms. Recently, she started a bit of relief milking for a younger dairy farmer.

AND she has started a new project that will be revealed in 2024. Her face lights up when she talks about it. “Stay tuned,” she says, with an impish grin.

At Empress Acres, Peter and Marlene Lewis are busy too, looking after the viable empress trees while exploring ways to expand food production.

The Lewises are a generation older than DeFrane, and Peter had a stroke five years ago, so they farm with the help of others.

Erica DeFrane at Steld Farm. Photo: Marina Sacht

Finding the right partners is not always easy, but nurturing the young employees is clearly a joy for them.

Currently, the farm produces vegetables and flowers as well as eggs, pork, and turkeys. Empress Acres is also a popular spot for weddings.

Lewis is determined to fi nd a way to maximize food production and make the farm self-sustaining. “You have to be able to do things beyond agriculture,” Marlene says, though she adds that sometimes insurance requirements and government regulations make that di fficult.

Both women value the connections between their work and the larger community. For one thing, farmers themselves have their own community — a tight-knit group that offers support when needed.

DeFrane and Lewis also get a lot of satisfaction when customers tell them how much they’ve enjoyed the food produced on their farms.

“People don’t realize how important farming is,” says DeFrane. With the rising price of farmland and the cost of doing business, farms can only survive

with our support. “We have to help each other,” she says.

“Buy local. Go to U-picks, farm stands, and farmers’ markets. In the grocery store, choose BC or Canadian products,” she enthuses. “Grow a garden. Remember where your food comes from.”

Here in Cedar and area, we are so fortunate. The beauty, joy and abundance of farming are there for all of us to share.

Marlene and Peter Lewis of Empress Acres. Photo submitted.

Farm fresh!

It’s fall, and the feasting has begun. After all, it is the season of harvest and abundance when we set the tables with locally grown fresh eats.

And if you want fresh, you go to the source — your local farms and food producers.

We are fortunate to have the Cedar Farmers’ Market and many farm gates offering culinary delights.

Stray Coastal Moat Farm Market

Why does our food distribution network not support BC farmers when their crops are in season? Conversely, how can we, as food eaters, make purchases that support farmers with fair-tofarmer pricing?

Those were the issues Sabrina Anderson and Whirley Bird of the Stray Coastal Moat Farm Market (formerly Cassidy Farm Market) wanted to focus on as they took on operating the market.

The Stray Coastal Moat Farm Market makes local food more accessible to the Island community and has allowed them to network with local producers. Anderson and Bird are proud to have supported 12 growers regularly and over 31 Island makers, bakers and growers in their short fi rst season and look

forward to next year.

They thank everyone who supported them this season. After all, as they say, it takes a community to build a community farm store. They are open to October 9, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and closed on Tuesdays.

reFRESH Cowichan

reFRESH Marketplace is a small nonprofit grocery store that offers affordable fresh produce, local meat, organic dairy and zero-waste pantry staples. Every week, the reFRESH Food Recovery Program collects thousands of pounds of excess produce from local grocery stores. It redistributes the donations to partners such as food banks, daycares, shelters and community groups. A small portion of select stores’ produce is made available at reFRESH Marketplace at a reduced cost. Shopping here supports Cowichan Green Community’s food security initiatives. reFRESH is located at 360 Duncan Street in Duncan.

Stray Coastal Moat Farm Market. Photo submitted.

Yellow Point and Cedar Area Farms

It’s the season of the cranberry! And no one does it better than Yellow Point Cranberries, whose delightful shop is stocked with all things cranberry and more. The cranberry harvest is underway, and this year’s berries are available now. The store is open daily, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. They also offer a pre-order option online, so you can swing by and pick it up.

While in the area, make sure to pay a visit to Yellow Point Farm and McNab’s Produce Farm. Although the corn maze is closed this year, their pumpkin patch and produce stand are still open. It’s the season for squash, and you won’t believe the varieties of squash they offer. It’s great fun to look at various shapes, colours and sizes. And who knows? You may fi nd a new favourite to add to your home menu. The stand is usually open until mid-November, depending on the weather. Cash only, please.

And if you are not already a regular shopper at the Cedar Farmers’ Market, you should go this time of year. The vendors are brimming with fresh and tasty locally made food, beverages, treats and lots of fun gift items to start your Christmas season shopping. They are open on Sundays until Halloween, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Enjoy the season of harvest and happy feasting.

Tatiana and Bonnie McNab amongst the squash in season now at McNab's Farm Stand. Photo: Bruce McNab

RDN Area A Cedar, South Wellington, Cassidy & Yellow Point

Let’s Talk Parks and Recreation

Although I think an update on project planning is timely, I note that the budget season is upcoming, which is the process that approves these plans and the necessary resources. All projects require approval by the board as a whole. Approved projects are put into the staff work plan for the next four years among all the other RDN projects.

First some good news: The Province provided money to local governments through the Growing Communities Fund to support core community infrastructure and amenities. The portion allotted to Area A was $736,211, with the large majority of this being split approximately equally between the Cedar Tot Playground Project and the South Wellington Community Centre Project. Although both of these projects were already in the books, these additional funds will free up funds for other projects or cover potential additional costs for these projects.

South

Wellington Community Centre

Since the alternative approval process was completed in Spring 2022, the RDN has been determining the scope of the work and fi nalizing the project plan. The RDN “Get Involved” page details the various facility systems that were evaluated and the multiple regulatory obligations necessary to re-open and re-

purpose the facility. (Yes, the RDN must follow their own bylaw and permitting process.) A report will be presented to the Board in the fall that will include updated projected costing, scheduling, and scope of work – all with the priority of getting the building open and generating income as soon as possible with as little work as possible. Funds for this project have been allocated from a reserve fund and funding from the provincial and federal governments. So far, this work focused on the building. A community consultation process for the outdoor portion of this property will be conducted.

Cedar Tot Playground

The location of the playground is still being evaluated following consultation with preschool groups. RDN land near the Morden Colliery Regional Trail was deemed as not suitable, and the possibility of expanding the tot playground at the Cedar Heritage Centre will be reviewed and discussed at the next EA A Parks Recreations and Culture Commission meeting.

Cassidy Park/Playground

Finding land suitable for the playground in Cassidy is proving to be a signi ficant barrier. The fi rehall lands did not work. Funds for this project have been set aside, but we do not have land. Anyone have a rich aunt or uncle in Cassidy that wants to donate land? (I’m half joking.) Cassidy needs a public space.

Morden Colliery Regional Trail

The board is expecting an update of

cost and feasibility for this regional project. This will go to the Regional Parks Committee, as this project is being funding by the entire region with Area A’s portion expected to be about five per cent.

Cedar Village Roadside Pathway

I’ve asked that a feasibility study for a roadside path in the Cedar Village area be included in the upcoming budget. This path is intended support safe and active routes to schools and provide a walking/running/riding path in the Cedar Village area. I have received a lot of feedback that the community is concerned about road safety, and I want to gather information on costs to bring to the community for discussion. As this is a new proposal, it is subject to board approval during the budget process.

Kipp Park Access

Given the yet to be fi nalized costs of the South Wellington Community Centre and the signi ficant community concern for road safety, I made the decision to pull the money previously allocated to improve access to Kipp Park. I would love to have in fi nite funds but needed to make this cut to support other priorities. The mountain bike riders will continue to access these trails from the usual locations.

Other issues, including beach access and other recreational opportunities, will continue to be discussed at the Parks Recreation and Culture Commission. Community members are welcome

to join these meetings. The next meeting is September 27, 7 p.m., at the Cedar Heritage Centre.

As always, I want to hear your thoughts on this and all things Area A: jessica.stanley@rdn.bc.ca or 250-268-7359

CVRD Area H North Oyster/Diamond

It’s October! As I write this, there is very little rain in the forecast. Days are shorter, but it is dry. We have been very fortunate to avoid the forest fi res and smoke that other parts of our province and country have experienced. How are we doing with all this?

An online health and wellness survey was launched this summer by Our Cowichan Communities Health Network. Several of the questions in the survey are about climate change, extreme weather like forest fi res and floods, heat and temperatures within residents’ homes. Other questions range from overall health, transportation preferences, recreational activities, safety and sense of community belonging. The survey is at www.ourhealthourcommunity.ca.

A flyer was mailed out in September, so this is a reminder, as it is scheduled to end October 3. The survey aims to collect local, anonymized data from at least 4,500 Cowichan Valley residents to help provide important information to support Island Health, and partners, decision-makers and service providers, better understand the region’s health and wellness needs and priorities.

It’s October! This is the month the Schnitzer’s rezoning application should come to the Electoral Area Services Committee (EASC). There will be a staff report that will be provided the Friday ahead of the Wednesday meeting. The dates of EASC meetings are October 4 and 18. So, watch for the EASC agenda.

As mentioned in previous articles, there is a public input period at the beginning of each meeting that allows three minutes for a member of the public to speak to a topic on the agenda, and a question period at the end of each meeting to ask questions of the meeting chair. Letters can be sent in electronically to legislativeservices@cvrd.bc.ca, and these will be shared with the directors. If possible, do this at least 48 hours in advance of the meeting. This is a big file, and there is a lot to read to be fully informed. Once the committee makes a decision, it will go to the CVRD Board for approval, which can be as soon as the following week.

It’s October! It is the time that the CVRD begins its budget process. Likely, we all know that almost everything is more expensive this year. I just saw diesel at $2.12 a litre! The budget will be a big challenge. As well, there are carryovers from last year. For example, next year will be year two of the three-year phase in of regional recreation. And, decisions are being made for future services. Recently the electoral area directors approved a three-stream curbside collection option of recycling, compost (and yard waste), garbage and glass, which is to rollout in 2025.

It's October! There will be a director’s Town Hall Meeting at 6 p.m., Thursday, October 5, at the North Oyster Community Centre (NOCC). I look forward to hearing from you about anything of interest or that concerns you.

And looking ahead to November, put on your calendar the upcoming Local Area Plan Workshop on Sunday, November

5, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at NOCC. There will be a workshop at 11 a.m. and one at 12:30 p.m. Local Area Plans are planning documents that provide greater detail on growth management for communities that are expected to experience change. These plans help shape growth in a way that contributes to more place-speci fic, well-designed and livable complete communities. More on this topic in the next month.

In closing, it’s a busy time over the next months — and it is important to have community input on what are your priorities. Please call or email me. And I hope to see you at the Town Hall on October 5, and at the Local Area Plan Workshop on November 5.

Ben.maartman@cvrd.bc.ca;

250-510-5930

CVRD Area G Saltair/Thetis Island

As of this update, there has only been one CVRD Board meeting, but it was necessary. The Board voted that the three-stream curbside service will include food and yard waste, recycling, garbage and glass collection for all eligible residents in CVRD electoral areas. Service will begin in 2025.

It’s important to remember that in 2018, the CVRD Board passed the Solid Waste Management Plan as mandated by the provincial government. Due to our limited land fill capacity, the CVRD transports garbage the region generates to Washington State. Including yard waste and glass collection in the threestream service puts waste diversion and convenience at the forefront and aligns the CVRD with neighbouring jurisdictions.

After implementing the three-stream curbside collection for single-family dwellings, the CVRD will work to include businesses and residents living in multi-family homes, a fi rst step towards the goal of keeping organics out of land fills, which is 40 per cent of total land fill waste.

Starting in 2025, residents will have a comprehensive organics collection and can add yard waste to their curbside organics totes. Following best practices from WildSafeBC, organics will be collected weekly, and the totes will be equipped with bear-resistant hardware.

One of the main reasons I voted for including yard waste and glass with three-stream collection is because we know that enforcement is more expensive to the taxpayer than providing the additional services. All in all, garbage, recycling and organics collection will cost $320 annually.

To learn more about waste management in the CVRD, visit https://www.planyourcowichan.ca/curbside-collection.

Jesse 250.208.9919 AreaG@jessemcclinton.com

Back to Business

It's Small Business Week, October 15-21, 2023. This annual celebration of entrepreneurship has been going on for 44 years. Running a business has always been challenging, but ongoing worker shortages, interest rate hikes, and in flation are making it even more complicated, according to the Business Development Bank of Canada.

So, how is our local business community doing? ”

“I would say that employment has been challenging for the businesses, says Cheri Mactier, president of the Ladysmith Chamber of Commerce (LCC).

Yet, despite the challenges, businesses are stable. “Our membership is holding strong. It's impressive when you consider the number of businesses for a community this size," says Jacquie Chellew of the LCC.”

The Chemainus Chamber of Commerce (CCC) has seen a big jump in membership this year, says Melody Smythies, Events & Membership Manager. “We just had ten tour buses come into town today, each packing about 50 people.”

Peter Matthews, President of the CCC, says businesses struggling to keep their doors open are now “more buoyant" and stable. “We have seen a good in flux of tourists coming into town.”

The Chemainus Chamber works closely with the local Business Improvement Area (BIA), representing about 120 businesses in the downtown area. Krystal Adams, Executive Director of the Chemainus BIA, describes the members as a mix of retail and service, family run with only one member being a chain.

“Tourism has picked up more in addi-

tion to an increase in shopping local.”

These groups, along with others such as the Ladysmith Downtown Business Association, are active in advocating for their members, supporting events, and enriching the community at large.

So besides shopping locally, you can help them by putting away that credit card. Use cash or debit, suggests Wayne Smith, an accountant who understands that every cent counts.

Some fees charged to the merchant run as much as 10% of the charge, depending on the brand of card and the amount, and that is on the total charge, including taxes, plus tips if it's a restaurant charge, explains Smith. You will save a small business hundreds or thousands of dollars over a year.

Taking care of Business

For Tim Mitton, Big O Tires, it was a family affair. My father was in the tire business, so I grew up around it. He opened his shop in Ladysmith in 1981. Then, after 25 years of running the Nanaimo shop, he returned to Ladysmith.

Big O Tires offers all things tire-related, brake service, and custom wheels.

Mitton has seen some changes in the years, primarily the advent of tire pressure monitoring and all-weather tires. “They are a hybrid between a winter tire and an all-season. The tires are designed to stay on all year. While all-season tires are more convenient, winter tires work

Nikki MacCallum of Nikki Designs.

Photo submitted.

best for snow.”

The compounds they use for winter tires stay soft in sub-zero temperatures, while all-season tire rubber starts to harden as it gets colder. And the harder the rubber receives, the less traction potential it has.

“Returning here has been such a pleasant experience to reconnect with friends. And it's probably where I'll fi nish my career. So I felt like I've come full circle,” he says. Kind of like a big “O,” you could say.

Nikki Designs, created in 2005, offers interior design services, custom pillows and cushions, fabrics, linen, hemp and wool home goods, and new and vintage home decor.

“I offer our community a place to shop for hand-made gifts and unique home decor items,” says owner Nikki MacCallum. At the beginning of 2023, she started focusing her business on interior design, vintage goods, and a few select items that she still makes in her studio.

“I love to breathe new life into found objects. Objects once carefully crafted and treasured by their owners or thoughtfully given as gifts. It's time to treasure these pieces again, and I love to show my clients how vintage pieces can be incorporated into contemporary design.”

MacCallum lives and works here because she loves the outdoor lifestyle, the friendly people, and the relaxed vibe.

Tim Mitton, Big O Tires, Ladysmith,

Photo: Marina Sacht

Fall Colour Anyone?

BY JACQUELINE SHERK MASTER GARDENER

Now, with the fall season upon us, we see our gardens in a new and colourful cloak. The chemical changes that occur in leaves often produce a myriad of colours for us to enjoy as the plants signal their coming dormancy.

Saskatoon (Amelanchier alnifolia), also called serviceberry, is a small flowering native tree that colours up beautifully in autumn, and also produces a blue and very edible berry that is famous for pies and jellies.

Vine maple (Acer circinatum) is also a native here on Vancouver Island, and its leaves turn bright crimson red as it heads into dormancy. Vine maple makes a very nice shade tree in the garden, as it is not large growing and is often multistemmed, therefore spreading pleasingly and allowing dappled light to the plantings below.

Mountain ash (Sorbus sitchensis) is a West Coast native that grows more like a shrub than a tree, unlike other species in the genus. Hailed as a “four season” plant, it greets spring with pretty white flowers followed by red berries and rusty orange leaves in fall. The berries persist through winter if the birds don’t eat them all!

An Asian tree that produces brilliant yellow leaves in fall and is popular with gardeners is the large-growing katsura (Cercidiphyllum japonica). Its leaves have the lovely fragrance of brown sugar as they fall to the ground seemingly all at once.

Redbud hazel (Disanthus cercidifolius) is a very small tree also originating from Asia. Even in light shade, it presents beautiful fall colours. Not widely known in gardening circles, I was fortunate to find it at one of our Island nurseries!

In addition to trees, there are also many shrubs whose leaves become colourful in autumn, including some that are native to our region. Gardeners have become ever more aware of the importance of native plants because we have learned that insects, including pollinators such as butter flies, need the plants they have evolved with in order to complete their life cycles and, in doing so, produce the next generation.

Our native dogwood shrub called red osier (Cornus sericea) offers both fall and winter interest. Leaves of this

plant turn purple as they age, and then in winter, the vibrant red stems remain. This shrub grows quite large but can be coppiced. Coppicing refers to a method of cutting woody stems low to the ground and served people in ancient times to harvest wood for fi re. Plants that can be coppiced regenerate easily from their roots.

Fothergilla is a shrub native to the Southeastern United States and is sometimes called witch alder. This plant is in the witch hazel family and has similar leaves. Tolerant of both sun and shade, there are just two species in the genus: one is a dwarf (Fothergilla gardenii) and the other grows large (Fothergilla major). Both produce an early flower that is attractive to pollinators, and in fall, the leaves turn shades of orange, yellow and red.

Also originating from southeastern North America is a shrub called Virginia Sweetspire (Itea virginica). Aptly named, it is a pretty little plant that, in the wild, favours the banks of shady streams. Its graceful, arching stems terminate in flowers not unlike those of Fothergilla, except that they are highly fragrant! Its leaves turn shades of crimson and garnet and last well into fall.

These are just a few of the many plants that could be mentioned for their outstanding fall colour. I hope you will consider adding some of them to your garden the next time you visit your local nursery.

Certified Vancouver Island master gardeners are volunteers who provide education to the home gardener using current, science-based horticultural knowledge that exemplifies environmentally responsible practices and stewardship.

(l-r) Saskatoon, aka serviceberry (Amelanchier alnifolia) Redbud hazel (Disanthus cercidifolius) Photos: Wikimedia Commons

Climate change — what must we do?

For many people around the world, this summer has been truly awful. Their homes have either been destroyed by flood or forest fi re, or they have been forced to flee. In British Columbia, we have had the worst forest fi re season on record. At the time of writing, half of BC is affected by smoke.

In Greece, in September, the region of Thessaly had three feet of rain in four days. When the same storm reached Durna in Libya, it overwhelmed two poorly maintained dams and drowned 20,000 people, swept out to sea by the flood. In addition:

• July was the hottest month in human history;

• the ocean waters off South Florida have been as warm as your hot tub;

• winter temperatures in South America have topped 38 degrees Celsius; and

• in Antarctica, winter temperatures soared to 40 degrees Celsius above normal.

There’s also this summer’s unprecedented drought, with 80 per cent of our watersheds being at drought level four or five. In September, Bowinn Ma, BC’s emergency management minister, said, “The drought that British Columbia

is facing is unlike any kind of drought conditions the province has ever faced. In my opinion, it truly is a sleeping giant of a natural disaster. The impacts will be very, very real.”

Nature is su ffering too. During the heat dome of 2021, when air temperatures passed 42 degrees Celsius, around a billion sea creatures died, roasted by the heat. In Australia’s wild fi res in 2020, three billion animals were killed or harmed.

Natural disasters have happened since time immemorial, but today, they are happening much more frequently and with greater intensity. Scientists at America’s National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration have warned that such extreme events are likely to become more frequent and intense unless drastic action is taken to curb human-driven climate change.

This is not a matter where differences of opinion are normal, such as which political party you support. This is a matter of life or death. The world’s climate scientists are resolutely and desperately clear that the main reason for the increased intensity and frequency of di-

sasters is carbon pollution from coal, oil and gas, which changes the makeup of the atmosphere. This year, things are being made worse by El Nino, but the underlying cause is the massive amount of carbon and methane pollution we pour into the atmosphere each year.

Our young people are especially troubled. When 1,000 young Canadians were asked about climate-related anxiety in a survey this summer, 73 per cent said they found the future frightening. On the flip side, 71 per cent believed that together, we can do something to address the climate crisis.

What is that “something”? Mostly, it’s a rapid transition to clean electricity, electric vehicles (EVs) and heat pumps. Electric cars, trucks and buses will drastically reduce air pollution, with its associated heart and lung diseases. In 2021, there were 50,000 EVs on BC’s roads. Today, there are 120,000, approaching 20 per cent of new car sales. It is becoming common to see a heat pump. Victoria, Nanaimo and other communities recently voted to end the use of natural gas in new buildings. Heat pumps also provide essential cooling during a heat wave.

The more difficult part to accept is that we also need to stop drilling and mining for fossil fuels, since they are the primary cause of the problem. We have made big transitions before, such as when we changed from horses to cars.

The bad news is that the storms, floods, droughts and fi res will get worse every year until we stop polluting the atmosphere. The good news is that we know what we need to do. We just need to do it.

Some readers may not want to hear such talk. You may believe that what’s happening is natural, which means you don’t have to do anything about it. Or you may argue that since Canada only produces two per cent of the world’s climate pollution, why should we bother? You may have been persuaded by a video you saw on YouTube that this is all a hoax, designed by governments to impose a future tyranny. We are friends and neighbours, which makes this conversation difficult, but please: this is real. We are the cause of it, and it’s we who need to act.

Guy Dauncey is co-chair of the West Coast Climate Action Network.

Rising temperatures and rain scarity are stressing trees. Photo: Nick Longo.

The Socialist Road

BY CLIFF WILLIAMS

As told to Cliff Williams by Leslie James Williams, 1970.

Back in 1905–1906, the present Cedar Road was the only road connection between Nanaimo and Ladysmith. The present Trans-Canada Highway started out from Nanaimo and fi nished at Waterloo, leaving a gap of two or three miles between the two roads. At that time, Parker Williams was representing the Cowichan–New Castle district on the Socialist ticket in Victoria (incidentally, he was the fi rst Socialist in Canada to obtain a government seat) and a grow-

ing settlement was growing around Waterloo.

Ladysmith was booming with the smelter going and many ships calling for coal from the Extension mines. In Ladysmith, there was a ready market for farm produce, but unless it was shipped by the E&N, these farmers were more or less shut off from the Ladysmith market.

About 1906, Mr. John Cairns, a farmer who lived in the area was

road superintendent and a strong Conservative. Mr. Parker Williams got busy in Victoria and got a road put through from Waterloo (Cassidy) to the junction at what was once Johnny’s Service. Mr. Cairns, a Conservative, always referred to the new stretch of road as the “Socialist Road,” and it is now part of the Trans-Canada Highway.

Johnny's Service Station. (Below) Parker Williams, 1921 class. Photo: Ladysmith Archives.

A Forests Life Cycle: Zero Waste

BY KALI BRAUCKMANN, NATURALIST ECOFORESTRY INSTITUTE SOCIETY,

In the intricate dance of nature, a forest performs flawlessly. From the seamless cycling of nutrients and carbon to capturing and filtering water and processing energy, forests embody perfection.

Zero Emissions Day, September 21st, has come and gone but it serves as a global nudge, prompting us to introspect and evaluate our habits. Instead of offering a list of what we can do to attain net zero, this article celebrates how the environment achieves this balance with

natural elegance.

Imagine the forest as a sentient entity, one that thrives with innate self-su fficiency, relying solely on one external ally: the sun. Within this green expanse, plants harness the sun’s raw energy, transforming it into vital carbohydrates. These nutrients, in turn, sustain the myriad herbivores and omnivores that call the forest home. Such profound yet intricate interactions form the basis of the food chain, igniting a burst of life throughout the woodland.

As these plants mature, they become living vaults of carbon, storing it within their fibers. Some of this carbon is reintroduced to the environment, be it through seasonal leaf falls or forest fi res. Yet even in decay, this organic matter is reclaimed, nourishing eager plants and microorganisms.

Recently, a scene unfolded in Wildwood that encapsulated the forest’s circle of life: a doe and her yearling, dashing through the trees, pursued by a cougar. Moments later, only the mother emerged, retracing her steps. This poignant interplay reflects the forest’s intricate web of life.

The energy the yearling derived from the forest’s flora now sustains the cougar. And in time, as fallen leaves envelope the young deer’s remains, they will decompose, giving back to the plants it once consumed.

Rain following this event may have swept over the remains, becoming contaminated. Yet, the forest’s innate purification systems — mosses, plant roots and layered soils — would cleanse this water. Today’s water systems confront

A patch of big-leaf maples (ts'alhulhp) and cedars (x'pey) deep within Wildwood.

Photo: Kali Brauckmann

a myriad of contaminants, but an unblemished forest can purify water more adeptly than our best machines — and at no cost.

Beyond this, forests offer a plethora of joys: bird-watching, foraging, wildlife photography and countless tranquil pursuits that foster a deeper connection with nature. Next time you’re in nature think of all these wondrous connections taking place and let it dazzle you.

A raindrop clinging to Beard lichen (she'yutun). Photo: Kali Brauckmann

Sweet Pepper Addiction

North America is under attack. I’m not talking about some crazies flying into buildings - that’s been done. I’m talking about something more insidious, more personal, an attack on our bank accounts, a threat where an evil Third World power gets us addicted to a substance then slowly ratchets up the price until fi nancial ruin stares us in the face. A threat that could potentially drive old guys like me back to work. And if you don’t think that’s a threat to the labour force, ask my long-su ffering co-workers.

The keen readers among you think you have the answer, but you’d be wrong. I’m not talking about gasoline at fifty

cents more a litre, a mere speed bump along the road of supply and demand. Nor am I talking about BMWs - that’s a Vancouver-only phenomenon. I’m speaking about 1200% price increases, where prices can range from one dollar a pound up to twelve. I’m talking sweet peppers.

First some background. Thirty years ago, the average household didn’t have red and yellow peppers, just highly nonaddictive green ones that no one would pay more than 39 cents a pound for. These were used in Greek salads, or if your mom was a gourmet cook, stu ffed with hamburger and served in the formal dining room to honour some occasion.

Then, one day in Mexico, where our peppers are grown, there was a farmers’ strike. Green peppers were left unpicked on the vine and after ten days - What do you know? - green turned to yellow and yellow morphed to red. One vegetable, three colours. Not since the AMT 3-in1 model cars have we seen such a nifty trick.

The picketing Mexicans soon grew tired of pitching rocks at passing mo-

torists and started eating the brightly coloured peppers. “¡Ay, Caramba!” they cried. “These are better than those stinking green peppers the gourmet cooks up North are stu ffing with hamburger. I tell you, amigo, I can’t stop eating them. Wait until the rich Americans sink their gold teeth into these beauties.”

The wily Mexicans realized they had a highly-addictive substance. Once people were hooked, they’d pay great amounts of money. Which explains why, on that fateful day in Hawaii, I paid six dollars for one organic yellow pepper. Yes, folks, $12 a pound!

As with any addiction, it started slowly. I remember that fi rst time. There I was at a friend’s home, living a clean, pepperfree lifestyle. Clueless, I watched as he fried up red peppers with garlic and olive oil, and then shredded asiago cheese on top. I ate the peppers with gusto, and it was just like pesto all over again. My life would never be the same. (Clinical note: basil addiction, though similar to pepper addiction is considered less damaging to society, especially if you live in an Italian neighbourhood.)

My addiction developed quickly. Al-

most overnight our eating habits changed. Soon we couldn’t have pasta or salad without peppers, and barbequing changed forever. Where there used to be space on the grill for chicken or steak, now every square inch was monopolized by peppers.

I later learned that the man who introduced me to peppers secretly vacations six months every year in an Acapulco mansion, that town being the home of the Mexican pepper cartels, all of which belong to the dreaded Capsicum family.

The big question about peppers is price fluctuation. How can a red pepper sell for 99 cents a pound one day and $5.99 the next? I went on the Internet to fi nd out. And here’s where things become mysterious. Like fluctuating gas prices, there’s smoke and mirrors here! We’re getting the runaround! There were vague references to the law of supply and demand, but push harder and you get shunted over to a Viagra ad. Push still harder and they park you on a Depends site where the message is clear: either mind your own business or you’ll fi nd yourself in an adult diaper. Really!?

Turns out the Capsicum cartel plays the law of supply and demand like a Stradivarius. They squeeze, squeeze, squeeze - $2.99, $3.99, $5.99 - just to the point we realize we can’t go on living this way. Then they drop the price down to $1.99 and we’re back to our old habits, barbequing large batches of peppers every night, using brightly coloured peppers as Christmas tree ornaments. Stu ff like that.

But this sweet spot seldom lasts. Soon enough, prices start to ramp up again as the Capsicums do a little profit-taking. Now you know why we’ve formed a self-help group. We’re working on a twelve-step program, but so far have only one step: get yourself a greenhouse and grow your own. It worked for marijuana, didn’t it?

Wine Pick

It’s Thanksgiving and you are serving a turkey dinner with all the fi xings but what are you going to pour? How about a Rosé that will satisfy both the red and white wine drinkers?

Summerhill Alive Organic Rosé by Summerhill Pyramid Winery in the Okanagan is what we are serving. With notes of tart cranberry, rhubarb and fruit, it will keep your diners merry and you thankful at about $23 a bottle.

Pick up a copy of Slightly Corked at the Mahle House, CoCo Cafe, or the TAKE 5 office.

Growing a Local Textile Economy

BY KERITH WADDINGTON

Two Chemainus residents, busy leading their best lives, have little idea of the important role they are playing in local, sustainable textile production.

Of course, that’s understandable, given that those two residents are rabbits and, as such, unaware that their angora fur gets collected every three months and woven into the softest of clothing. But Dandelion and Thistle’s human caretaker—and collector of said fur—is very aware of the volume, variety and economic importance of regional small-scale textile farming. And she’s set herself the task of sharing her knowledge and excitement with others.

Fleece and Fibre: Textile Producers of Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands is written and photographed by Chemainus resident and rabbit-owner Francine McCabe, a self-taught fibre artist who identifies as Indigenous, a mixed-blood Anishinaabe from Batchewana First Nations.

Being released October 10, Fleece and Fibre is described as “part sourcebook, part stunning coffee table book and part call to action,” showcasing the rich practice of fibre production taking place along the Salish Sea while presenting alternatives to the unsustainable, exploitative global textile industry.

McCabe’s intention with the book is to “forge new connections between farmers, makers, designers, dyers and wearers.” She believes the tome — which highlights 40+ farms from Victoria to Campbell River and from the islands of Saturna, Pender, Galiano and Salt Spring — will be of interest to anyone looking for local, sustainable alternatives to fast fashion.

There is little doubt that for McCabe, the book is personal.

“I learned to knit and crochet from my grandmother, so making clothing by hand is an important part of my own story,” she says. “After my fi rst child, I also took up weaving and spinning. But I wanted to use local fibre in my work, which sent me on a search to see who was growing what and where. Along the way, I fell in love with our flourishing fibre economy, and the idea of the book was born.”

Fleece and Fibre is illustrated with gorgeous full-colour photographs throughout and presents the many types of animal- and cellulose-based fibre produced on the West Coast, including sheep wool, llama, alpaca, mohair, cashmere, linen and hemp.

The book also explains where and how the product is currently being grown, processed and used.

McCabe acknowledges that one of the greatest impediments to building a regional textile economy is the lack of infrastructure: there is currently no fully functioning fibre mill on the Island, and few people have the equipment, time or skills needed to process the material themselves.

In researching the book, McCabe was shocked to see how much locally grown fibre is being wasted, used for such things as compost, mulch and even to make roads.

Today, farmers looking to process their fibre have no other option than to ship their fibre off the island, sometimes even across the country, for affordable processing. By the time the fibre is packaged into yarn, the cost is already high. Once the shop adds enough markup to make a profit, the price is beyond what most consumers will pay.

Francine McCabe holding Dandelion. Photo submitted.

New book by Francine McCabe Fleece and Fibre: Textile Producers of Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands.

“The ingenuity of these farmers to use everything they produce one way or another is admirable,” says McCabe. “As I visited the farms, people, plants and animals within our fibreshed, it became clear to me that this industry is defi nitely a labour of love. We just need to build connections between farmers, makers and consumers if we want to localize our wardrobes and create an economy we can feel good about.”

McCabe wonders why there are multiple agricultural grants for farmers looking to produce food, but so little fi nancial help for starting fibre-related farms.

“We need sustainable start-up options for fibre mills,” she says. “Farmers need an easy way to turn their fibre over so they can justify and afford the time spent on the product, and the makers that are looking for local fibre need to know what is locally available and how they can buy it. All the parts are right here.”

Dandelion and Thistle would approve.

Above:

Yarn being dyed with Miawa natural dyes at Hinterland Yarn. Photo submitted.

New children's colouring books by diver

BY J PERSSON

Usually a truck driver by trade, Don Ravensbergen has rekindled his artistic side from his high school days through his love for diving. He has completed over 700 dives, most of which were done right here on Vancouver Islands waters. Ravensbergen’s love for the sea has joined with his love for art in the form of his children’s colouring storybooks, of which he has released two more this year.

Roatan Honduras Colour My Island Paradise and Country Canada Colour Me Beautiful are both based on real-life locations set in an educational colouring adventure through the sea and across Canada, respectively. Ravensbergen’s new books will deliver hours of fun.

Ravensbergen has lived in central Vancouver Island for over 30 years. Years ago, Ravensbergen started a website to catalogue the sea life he had discovered across his many dives on the Island’s seas. Check out www.vancouver-island-dive-sites. com to learn more about Ravenbergen’s diving adventures and where you can pick up his books.

FOR SALE

FISH FISH FISH. Buy direct from the guy who caught it! High-quality salmon, lingcod, rockfish. All fish blast frozen at sea. Satisfaction guaranteed! Contact Jim at oceandancer. wallace@gmail.com or 250-245-5957/250-7391123.

RENTALS

450 sq ft garage available for rent in Ladysmith Sept 1. Ideal for boat, rv, storage. 33ft deep X 15ft wide, 11 ft high door opening. Call/text 250-8165145 for viewing. $400/mo

HEALTH & WELLNESS

TAI CHI for mental & physical health. Beginner class Monday mornings. Ongoing class every Wednesday morning. For class time and location and more information, visit www.taichinanaimo. org or call Sara 250-245-1466.

FARM FRESH

EMPRESS ACRES LITTLE FARM STORE:

Produce: Organically Certified; Pork, Turkeys & Eggs - Pasture Raised: pork variety pack, bar-b-cue pack, pork specialty sausages, turkeys fresh or frozen, eggs, variety of produce; open 7 days/wk; Ph/text Marlene @ 250-889-1343 for pork orders & boxes & turkeys or Email: marlene@empressacres. ca; 2974 Haslam Rd; see Fresh Sheet on website: www.empressacres.ca

CRAFT FAIRS

CRAFT FAIR. Every Sunday Carol’s Artisans: wood turned pens, quilting, woodworking, amazing sewing and knitting, interchangeable jewellery, hats, pottery, preserves, jams and MORE; 13467 Cedar Road, 10am–3pm. New vendors welcome. Contact petespensandmore@shaw.ca.

MUSIC

DO YOU LIKE TO SING? Yellow Point Singers, a non-auditioning community choir that meets in Cedar, seeks new members. FMI: daphest@shaw.ca.

TRADITIONAL FAMILY BARN DANCE with LIVE fiddle music at Cedar Community Hall, on Cedar Road, Friday, October 6, 2023. A fun, all-ages, non-alcohol event with experienced teacher/caller. Doors open 6:45pm for 7–9pm dance; $10/person or $25/ family. Contact Doug 250-268-6064 or visit nanaimofiddlesociety.square.site/

HOME & GARDEN

I AM LOOKING FOR BAGGED LEAVES for my garden and will pick up at your location. Please call Murray 250-245-9251

DARRELL ESSAR RENOVATIONS. Over 35 years’ experience, certified journeyman carpenter; renovations. For free estimate, call Darrell 250-714-3823.

PAINTER. Certified Journeyman. Clean, efficient, respectful, punctual. 25+ years’ experience. WCB coverage. Enhance your enjoyment of the home you love. Call Howard 245-2751.

KB HANDYMAN AND YARD WORKS. Minor carpentry work, decks, fences, power washing, tree pruning, yard cleanup, lawn fertilizing, mowing. Seniors discount. Contact Karl kbhandymanandyardworks@ gmail.com or 250-714-2738.

ALL ACRES providing all aspects of tree work. Pruning, falling, hedging, dangerous tree removal. Fully insured. Professional work at reasonable rates. Call 250-246-1265.

CONCRETE RESULTS. Foundations, retaining walls, patios, driveways, walks and stairs. Full forming and finishing. 40 years’ experience. Email Gord at concreteresults@ live.com.

HEART LAKE ROOFING for all your roofing repairs 250-668-9195.

BUSINESS

I CAN EDIT. Copy editing, proofreading, structural editing and more. Fiction or non fiction, web content and eBook prep. For more information, editican@gmail.com.

VIDEO PRODUCTION to help your business or non-profit group grow. Affordable and professional service. editor@take5.ca

PETS

THE PET NANNY is back. I have cared for animals for the last 7 years. I offer overnight care or daily home visits for pets or home security. Email sburchard@hotmail.ca or phone 250-924-8809.

WHAT'S HAPPENING

October 8 - Wolf Talk & Presentation, We Share the Forests, 1pm, Ladysmith Museum, free, donations appreciated.

Oct 13 & 14; 19 - 22; 25-31 Thirteen Scary Nights of Huard's Haunted House, Donations support local youth groups and charities. 1702 Timberlands Road. Ladysmith. Infofacebook.com/huardshauntedhouse/

Oct 13 - Zombie Walk, Walking for Hunger, 4pm. Dress like a zombie, join in the walk. Masonic Hall, 26 Gatacre St. Donations for the food bank appreciated. Infogoodmorning2017@gmail.com

October 14 – The Australian Bee Gees Show, 7pm–9pm, The Port Theatre, Nanaimo Tickets – porttheatre.com/events

October 20, 21, 22, 28, 29 - Yellow Point Drama Group Presents Relatively Speaking. Tickets - yellowpointdramagroup.org

October 21 - Jonanco Fall Arts & Craft market, 10am – 3pm, 2745 White Rapids Rd Nanaimo. Info – rina.danielowski@gmail.com

Oct 25 - Ladysmith Maritime Society Open House to discuss Ladysmith Community Marina's future. Ladysmith Eagles Hall, 6pm to 8pm. Info - lmsmarina.ca

October 29 – Arts, Crafts & Bake Sale, 10am – 3pm ,Nanaimo Golf Club, Banquet Hall. Info – dssmiley@shaw.ca

in my last submission (August) has been transformed into a state-of-the-art metal-roofed building. Whew!

But if you can believe it, there was another almost more pressing item. It has been on my mind for more than six years: the western red cedar tree (arborvitae — interestingly enough the Latin translation for “Tree of Life”), and also the provincial tree of BC.

Hang ’Em High

“You don’t need a weatherman to know which way the wind

Again, the summer, somehow, has slipped on by, but not without a few choice changes here on the farm — with the latest making my heart soar.

This summer’s extended heatwave is nothing new. Once more (with feeling!), the fields are yellow and the pond is down, down, down. That meant that nothing in the orchard or veggie gardens got watered. With all the wild fi res, I was a real “Nervous Nellie.” The ancient cedar-shake barn roof that I mentioned

A small one was planted by our sweet friend Lynne Wallace way back when she bought this farm from her brother. It’s beside her cabin and was treasured even more after she passed away and we bought her farm. I’ve always thought that that tree and her were a perfect match. She was the epitome of elegance, strength, beauty and (for lack of a better term) height! She was a six-footer. The tree grew to a towering 50 feet.

In ’97, Lynne had written to us about how her forest red cedars, many giant second growth, seemed to be having a hard time. Forest pathologist Stefan Zegland later would call the dying western red cedars “the canary in the coal mine.” But Lynne’s special one was still vibrant and growing.

Drat that drought!

Fast forward a decade, and drier hotter

summers were the norm. And Lynne’s tree was starting to show stress at the top. By 2018, it stood without a green bit on it. Each day, I would look out and it just made my heart sink. What’s worse, folks would come by and wonder at this beauty farm, notice the cedar and invariably say, “Oh my, you need to cut that down.” But I just couldn’t. I’d been

blows.”

— Bob Dylan, “Subterranean Homesick Blues,” 1965

Arborist triumphantly enjoying his work.

Photo: Jackie Moad..

told that a dead cedar could stand for 50 years.

I really wanted to “beautify” it instead of cut it down. I thought perhaps like Jack Anderson’s tree-hand, I could get a carver to come in and do something fancy. But most of it would have to come down. I really like the totem idea, but again, you have to cut it down, then carve, then erect it again.

My fi nal thought was, just like Lynne (and Laurie), they would enjoy something USEFUL — keep the awe in having such a tall tree, make it prettier to look at without all those grey weeping branches AND make it useful too. Like maybe add a weather vane.

So, I had an arborist come, and I watched, at a respectable distance, the “Beauti fication of the Cedar.” I was entranced, mesmerized almost. It was hard to remember to keep taking pictures. Each limb, from the base on up the trunk, was removed deftly and expertly by chainsaw and handsaw and thrown spot-on onto one big pile. But the icing on the cake, the tiara on the top, was defi nitely the crowning glory!

I had looked around for a weather vane that “spoke to me” (laugh all you want, readers). There were roosters and deer and dogs (but no collies!) and birds. There were herons and rabbits and squirrels and a line of trees too. I’d almost given up when I went to Bucker field’s to get some horse grain and I asked halfheartedly if they had any weather vanes. Just one, and it had been around for a while. It was a horse, a magni ficent copper horse. How perfect is that! It spoke and whinnied and sang to me all the way home.

Jackie Moad has been trying to pace herself (some would say unsuccessfully), securing old and making new wonderful memories, as she continues to farm that 20-acre organic slice of Paradise in Cedar.