East Coast Living Spring 2021

Inspiring home life in Atlantic Canada

Sweet

Celebrations

MEAGHAN ADAMSKI’S CAKES ARE A FEAST OF FLOWERS

NOW’S THE TIME FOR EAST COAST WINE SOAK UP THIS N.L. BATHROOM RENO THE BIG DEAL ABOUT TINY HOMES

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ABM leads IT solutions for today’s fast-paced businesses

F

or 30 years, ABM Integrated Solutions, a Halifax-based IT solutions provider and integrator, has been serving large and small organizations across a wide range of industries in Atlantic Canada.

Today, ABM Integrated Solutions has evolved beyond what it means to be a technology outsourcer into an organization dedicated to delivering technical excellence across the Atlantic region. “Our mission is to be a reliable and trusted partner for our customers, providing technology solutions and services to empower their success,” says Craig Lynk, President ABM Integrated Solutions.

ABM aligns strategically with small and medium-sized businesses (SMB), delivering technical integrations, solutions, and platforms. ABM understands the pace of change and the ongoing challenges organizations face within the new digital economy. Technological challenges and advances are constant, and to stay competitive, businesses today need to remain current. In many ways, organizations’ technical programs need to secure and drive a successful business strategy.

That’s why today, ABM considers itself more than just another technology company, but rather an organization that supports a wide range of SMB customers as a partner, delivering exceptional IT solutions tailored to the individual needs of their customers. “We help organizations be their best by doing what we do best,” says Mr. Hall-Hoffarth, “we provide inclusive programs designed to enable the organization and allow companies to focus on their business goals and objectives.”

But don’t just take his word for it.

Cortney Burns, the Director of Finance and Administration at the Greater Moncton International Airport, had this to say, “as with most organizations, cybersecurity is a critical focus for Greater Moncton International Airport (GMIA). ABM provides technical guidance and expertise, with a focus on ensuring our systems and information are protected from unauthorized access, both inside and outside of our organization. With the support of ABM, we implemented several security initiatives that have improved our technical readiness and increased our security posture to support key business initiatives. ABM continues to be a valuable resource in meeting the needs of GMIA.” One recent ABM client, Cherubini went further to say, “we had a complex system integration that required a high level of technical expertise and knowledge we couldn’t field in-house,” said Michael Gasparetto, the company’s Managing Director. “ABM not only solved our problem, but they also worked with us to greatly improve our overall IT infrastructure and service promise.”

To do what Mr. Hall-Hoffarth says, “we do our best to understand and support our customer’s needs.” ABM frequently works with world-class partners such as Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE), the global edge-tocloud platform-as-a-service company that helps organizations accelerate outcomes by unlocking value from all of their data, everywhere. “We’ve found ABM’s particular ability to execute complicated infrastructure projects to be extremely beneficial,” said Paula Hodgins, President of HPE Canada.“The efficiencies are passed on to clients in reliability and valueadded functionalities. which, in the long run, means cost-competitiveness.”

Within all of this, Mr. Hall-Hoffarth says, “reliability and customercentricity are the keys to our success.” “We work with businesses to understand not only their immediate needs but also their long-term objectives. We continue this collaborative approach to find the best solutions within our partner networks, working closely with HPE, Aruba (a Hewlett Packard Enterprise company), and Fortinet (to name a few) to

“We are a reliable and trusted partner to our “We are a reliable customers, we provide and trusted technology solutions and services to partner their to empower our customers, success.” we provide technology solutions and services to empower their success.” deliver best-in-class, cost-effective solutions. Then, we apply an integrated, tailored approach to drive service excellence and bottom-line results for our customers.”

In fact, ABM’s Managed Services and Service Desk offerings are specifically designed for SMBs that require in-depth analyses and ongoing support for their growing technology needs, aligned with real-world outcomes.

But what does this mean?

ABM can bring efficient and accessible cloud computing solutions to businesses, providing secure, effective computing options that help reduce IT overhead, enhance security, and improve bottom-line profitability. As part of ABM’s suite of offerings is the ABM Advantage Basic Plan, which allows clients to focus on cost management while also providing them with options to choose from a large selection of IT products and services. To go a step further, ABM’s Advantage Plus Plan leverages the company’s technical expertise to eliminate distractions associated with selecting and managing products and services aligned with business outcomes. ABM also offers the Advantage CIO Program, which goes beyond software, hardware, and support services. The CIO works directly with a client’s leadership teams to forecast business change, create long-term IT roadmaps, and oversee large-scale development projects.

ABM also focuses on safeguarding valuable stakeholder relationships in a variety of ways by conducting comprehensive security assessments for their customers. Additionally, as a Fortinet partner, ABM can provide monitoring services to ensure a client’s environment remains secure. In fact, ABM’s Peace of Mind offers professional security assessments that help instill confidence for all stakeholders.

The bottom line is, regardless of the need or the scale of the solution – whether it be a large, complex project in a fast-paced environment or a smaller initiative with a tight timeline – ABM supports customers by providing effective solutions designed specifically for an individual business’ needs.

“Whether a business is expanding an office, taking its on-premise servers to the cloud, or requiring the expertise of a virtual CIO, we have integrated technology plans that will meet the need,” Mr. Hall-Hoffarth says.

“For SMBs, the accelerating pace of IT change is a fact of life. We know this from our experience, and we have the technical expertise and knowledge to help your organization prosper, both today and tomorrow.”

contents

SPRING 2021

Last Look

38

27 THE LIST

24 Gardening: Tunnel Vision

Stretch the season with mini hoops and cold frames

10 Décor: Travel Treasure

Transformation

FEATURES

rug from Morocco spices A up a dining room design

12 Projects: Suite soak

16 A sweet slice of spring

21 Gardening: Greenhouse

27 In Depth: Finding a home

Want to extend your gardening season? Here’s what you need to know to take it indoors

Tiny homes are becoming a big deal in Atlantic Canada, but you can’t just plunk them down wherever you want

Cake designer Meaghan Adamski shares how you can make your own extravagant cake and eat it too!

A timelessly elegant reno brings a long-awaited luxury bathroom to a Newfoundland bungalow

for your tiny home

essentials

4

Finding a home for your tiny home

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DEPARTMENTS 6 Editor’s message

Find your reasons to celebrate

32 Libations: Open your senses

to East Coast wine

Atlantic Canadian vintners have moved from frontier to frontline, blending traditional methods and innovations

37 Buying guide 38 Last look: Nadine Jewer

East Coast creator Nadine Jewer makes pottery with rope

Glubes AVU is one of Nova Scotia’s most respected Audio Video and Custom installation specialists.

Locally owned and operated, we have been serving the A/V enthusiast for over 40 years and has been the trusted choice for some of the finest homes in the Maritimes since 1980.

We develop custom home theater and entertainment systems for the discriminating buyer. We specialize in the design and installation of home theater systems, as well as multi-room audio and automation systems for both residential and commercial applications.

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Networking / Wi-Fi

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Shop now at glubes.ca

Find your reasons

to celebrate

Crystal Murray, Editor-in-Chief ecl@metroguide.ca EastCoastLiving East Coast Living Magazine

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PHOTO: BRUCE MURRAY/VISIONFIRE

902-499-1323 Jarrett@reddoorrealty.ca reddoorrealty.ca

PHOTO: NORTHOVER PHOTOGRAPHY

R

ecently my daughter and I ventured into Halifax for a change of scenery. She was on her university reading week and needed to escape the confines of her bedroom, where she spends most of her days tethered to a desk and computer, the unrelenting reality of online education.

The trip to the city made us giddy. Both of us needed a break from our rural Nova Scotian existence. We made a reservation at a popular Halifax eatery, eager for the din of dining out and hungry for the convivial noise of mashed-up conversations, music, and the comings and goings of staff from the kitchen.

Even with masks and plexiglass barriers, we weren’t disappointed. She was two weeks shy of her 20th birthday. We ordered wine with our dinner and a decadent layered caramel cake for dessert. The night didn’t start out as a celebration, but it ended as one.

Behaviouralists have discovered the power in celebration, how we all can use it as a way to help pull ourselves out of dark and lonely places when the future seems dim. I have often relied on seemingly small moments of accomplishment in my own life when I need a reminder that the slightest progress can be worthy of celebration.

The joy of celebration inspires this issue of East Coast Living. And what better way to celebrate than with cake?

There are many things that I love about cake, but most of that love is layered in it as a symbol of celebration, sharing, and the joy of bringing people together. If there is cake, there is usually a good time happening.

Erin, Meaghan, cake, and bubbly.

And speaking about good times, what fun we had on our cover shoot with cake maker Meaghan Adamski. We had no idea that our cover girl was also a birthday girl on the day that we snapped the photos in the gorgeous kitchen owned by Meaghan’s friend Erin Sanderson in Middle Sackville, N.S. It was Meaghan’s special day, but her gift to you are easy instructions to make your own spectacular sugar flower decorations. Learn more on page 16.

Let your creativity bloom and when you gather with your special people to reveal your masterpiece, say cheers with a glass of wine from one of your favourite East Coast wineries. Writer Sara Ericsson asks you to open your senses to the new world of local wines, that have moved from the fringe to forefront, lauded internationally for innovation and experience. See her story on page 32.

These days we don’t need a lot of space to celebrate. Increasingly, people are looking at ways to live large in tiny homes. Contributing editor Janet Whitman explores the latest in the tiny-home movement, exploring how living small contributes to sustainable and affordable living here on the East Coast. The story begins on page 27.

Maybe your idea of a tiny house is a different kind of green. Gardening experts Niki Jabbour and Jodi DeLong dig up the best ideas for extending your growing season with tips on building green houses and cold frames that could see you celebrating the bounty of your garden well into next winter. Turn to page 21 for more.

It’s been a tough year to celebrate, but even while navigating all of the setbacks and heartaches endured since last spring, the human need for triumph has been part of our journey. We hope you enjoy all we’ve packed into this issue. Happy spring!

Industrial Revolution.

Bring the revolutionary power and industrial-style beauty of a Bosch industrial style rangetop home, and experience the freedom of six flexible burners and record-breaking boil times thanks to a powerful Dual Flame Ring Power Burner.

And the daringly different Bosch design? That’s just icing on your tahini panna cotta.

© 2020 BSH Home Appliances Ltd. All rights reserved.

Visit bosch-home.ca for details

Online eastcoastliving.ca

Find even more images from our home featured on the cover, blogs posts and more on eastcoastliving.ca.

Missed an issue? Discover back issues of East Coast Living on our website, plus recipes, stories and sneak peeks into upcoming issues of East Coast Living.

“I don’t always play it safe with ingredients but I do when it comes to cleaning my grill!” ~The Kilted Chef; Alain Bossé

The Everest - Anchors Away Cottage

INTERHABS Specializing in custom designed homes that use our signature, hand-crafted, panelization system.

Learn more at www.interhabs.ns.ca

BY JASON H. MCWRIGHT

Learn more at juniperbbqscraper.com

The Guesthouse

8

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25 Riverside Drive Charlottetown, P.E.I. C1A 9R9 (902) 894-5536 www.MetroPEI.com

METRO On our cover:

Dartmouth, N.S. cake designer Meaghan Adamski shares a special cake she created to celebrate our spring issue.

Photo: Bruce Murray/VisionFire Publisher Editor-in-Chief Senior Editor Contributing Editors Production & Creative Director Graphic Designer Production Coordinator Printing

Fred Fiander Crystal Murray Trevor J. Adams Janet Whitman Jodi DeLong

Viewed to be the best

Shawn Dalton Roxanna Boers Nicole McNeil

Advocate Printing & Publishing

TABITHACO.CA PICTOU, NS

PRODUCED BY METRO GUIDE PUBLISHING For editorial and advertising inquiries: 2882 Gottingen St., Halifax, N.S. B3K 3E2 Tel. 902-420-9943 Fax 902-422-4728 Email: publishers@metroguide.ca metroguide.ca eastcoastliving.ca To subscribe, call: 1-833-600-2870 email: circulation@metroguide.ca or subscribe online: eastcoastliving.ca Canada: one year (four issues), $17.99+HST; U.S.A.: one year, $25.00 (Canadian Funds).

EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1, 2021: Subscriptions are nonrefundable. If a subscription needs to be cancelled, where applicable, credits can be applied to other Metro Guide Publishing titles (Saltscapes, Halifax Magazine, or At Home). Please note that each circumstance is unique and election to make an offer in one instance does not create obligation to do so in another.

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Return undeliverable addresses to Metro Guide Publishing at the address above.

Volume 24, Number 1, Spring 2021 ISSN 1714-1834 East Coast Living is a Metro Guide publication.

902.759.7715 HELLO@TABITHACO.CA G Ö e k w @tabithacompany Valérie Leduc Photography

Tap into your inner mermaid!

Canadian Winner, 2021 Gourmand International Cookbook Awards A compe things m ndium of all erm healthy aid, including recipes, sea vegetable m and mor ermaid folklore e, featur , in illustrat g original ions

A GUIDE TO THE MERMAID WAY OF LIFE, INCLUDING RECIPES, FOLKLORE, AND MORE • Words by Taylor Widrig • • Art by Briana Corr Scott •

Mermaid Bath Salts Makes approx. 5 cups

Salt baths are relaxing and good for the body because their natural minerals can be absorbed. If you are sensitive to essential oils, you can use herbal tea instead, like mint or chamomile.

Many mermaids reportedly take at least one bath a day, if not more, and that does not include trips to the ocean, lake, or river.

Adding Epsom salts and seaweed powder is a way to harness the powers of nature in your bathtub for those times when you cannot make it to the real ocean. ) 1 kg Epsom salts ) ½ cup dried brown seaweed powder ) essential oil of your choice (mermaid top picks: cedar, eucalyptus, jasmine, lavender, lemon, mint, patchouli, rose, tea tree, thyme, vetiver) 1. Mix together all ingredients in a large bowl.

2. Sprinkle a handful of Mermaid Bath Salts into a hot bath.

3. Store remaining Bath Salts in Mason jars or non-plastic containers.

SPRING 2021

@nimbuspub or nimbus.ca

···

eastcoastliving.ca

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Travel Treasure A rug from Morocco spices up a dining room design

After

PHOTO: CONTRIBUTED

Before

BY NATALIE OWENS PHOTOS BY BRUCE MURRAY/VISIONFIRE

T

hink back to a day when travel wasn’t quite so limited. You are walking around the quiet shops in the vibrant city of Marrakesh in Morocco. The textiles, pottery and rugs are unlike anything you’ve seen back home, and one rug in particular is calling your name. “I have to have it...” Suddenly you’re paying an arm and a leg to ship it across the earth to get it settled into its new Atlantic Canadian home.

This was the prelude to my recent work at a client’s home. As I entered the front door, the first thing that caught my eye was of course this incredible wool, multi-coloured Moroccan rug, that lay lonely on the dining room floor. I knew they hadn’t bought it here, and that the dilemma was going to be: “Do we use this rug ... or abandon it to the basement?”

Sometimes that object that you just can’t go home without loses its lustre when you actually have it in your space. It just looks different from what you envisioned and what felt special and exciting in the moment creates a bigger problem and in some cases buyer’s remorse.

But this homeowner committed to her souvenir and a plan that would

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DECOR

Transformation The trio of baskets adds an additional element of texture to the dining room and makes a connection to the Moroccan marketplace memories.

see this memento of a special trip become the inspiration for a fresh new look for her dining room.

The colour red is a difficult work-around for me. It can be harsh and unforgiving when attempting to soften a space and create a calming environment. But that’s what we decided to do. We wanted to work with the rug and try to optimize its beauty by softening the other features in the room and allowing it to really be the focal point of the dining space.

We swapped out bright coral window dressings and heavy drapes for soft flowing cream linen. I happened to stumble across a beautiful rattan chandelier that would tie in earthy texture to the bohemian vibe of the rug. We installed creamy grass cloth wallpaper behind the existing antique, buffet table to add more dimension to the space. That was our plan: cream tones and various textures to build up around the show-stopping rug.

We layered a large sisal rug underneath our Moroccan rug to expand the space of the dining room, added farmhouse dining chairs & pulled the mustard out of our rug for a custom dining bench. We kept the sitting area open, and bright with new accent chairs, nesting coffee tables and various neutral textiles.

Luckily for me, these clients have exceptional taste in artwork, and we incorporated some large beach scenes filled with colour and calmness.

The lesson? Don’t buy expensive things abroad that you don’t know what to do with. But if you do, find a way to continue the romance when you return home. Sometimes it’s the best outcome; this was one of those stories. o

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Suite soak A timelessly elegant reno brings a long-awaited luxury bathroom to a Newfoundland bungalow

BY CRYSTAL MURRAY PHOTOS BY ATLANTICFOCUS NL

PROJECTS

Waterfall edges on cabinetry plays up the bathrooms elegant contemporary design.

I

t’s the end of a long day.

All you can think about is a cup of tea and a soak in the tub.

Then you open the doors to your new ensuite and feel as if you were transported to a luxury bathroom in a dreamy five-star hotel. All of the worries of your day melt away and you shed your weary layers to rejuvenate in your personal spa.

Denise Philpott doesn’t have to imagine this any longer; she just needs to open her bathroom door.

She and husband Derrick have loved their ranch bungalow in Topsail, Nfld. since they moved in 36 years ago. It’s where they raised two kids, a place where grandchildren happily visit and feel at home.

The house has been good to them and they’ve been good to it. There have been a few updates over the years, but when their adult children started to build their own modern houses, Denise decided it was time to get serious about renovating the homestead.

“One day I walked into my daughter’s brand new home. It was so lovely and modern. I went home to my husband and said, ‘That’s it, we are renovating,’” says Denise, teleconferencing for an interview from her kitchen, alongside designer Kiersten Gaulton, of Newfoundlandbased Property Projects, a company specializing in kitchen and bathroom renovations.

Over the last two years, Denise has worked with Kiersten and her business partner Ryan to transform most of her living space. The kitchen and living room now have the clean, modern look that Denise admired in newer builds, while keeping warmth with a few design elements that maintained the family vibe.

Last year, she decided to tackle the ensuite bathroom they never had. The big question was: where to find the space? Like many empty nesters, Denise and Derrick had empty bedrooms. “We opened up the wall between the existing bathroom and her daughter’s old bedroom, says Kiersten. “It was exactly the space we needed to achieve what Denise wanted.”

The wish list included a soaker tub, separate shower, and walk-in closet. “It’s hard to believe but in all of those years we never had a tub,” laughs Denise. “Now I want a nice tub not just for myself but for when my grandchildren come to visit. A few of them are getting too big for the kitchen sink.”

A bathroom redesign requires big decisions on features that must pass the test of time. Calling it her forever home, Denise wanted the results to be timeless.

The theme is black and white. “That’s the way we went with the décor in the main part of the house and I wanted to carry that idea into the bathroom,” she adds.

The new ensuite is where the colour palette really makes a statement—classic, elegant, fresh, and dramatic. The sleek black soaker tub is set against a dazzling quartz wall. Designer lighting heightens the spa vibe with dimmer switches to set the mood. Each element of the bathroom is controlled in its own zone: soft and low for private time, or bright and cheerful when it’s bath time for a grandchild.

Two sink vanities are wrapped in the same quartz (via HanStone in London, Ont.) as the feature wall. The waterfall edges, a newer trend in stone installation, sets off the warmer wood tones of the cabinetry.

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Denise wanted to install a spray attachment on the deep soaker tub making it easier to clean and rinse off the grandkids when they come to visit.

“Now I want a nice tub not just for myself but for when my grandchildren come to visit. A few of them are getting too big for the kitchen sink.”

Denise selected black and chrome hardware. While she loves the look of brass, she felt that chrome was another element that never goes out of style.

The tub dominates the room. The Philpotts considered jets but opted for a simplified soaker. “When you talk to a lot of homeowners,” says Kiersten, many say that they don’t use their jets, which are expensive to install.

Kiersten believes the more important feature of the tub was a quality filler with a spray attachment. “The spray not only is great to bath the grandkids, but it also makes cleaning a deep soaker tub a little easier,” she says.

The walk-in shower tucks in behind the feature wall. Subway tiles stretch to the ceiling, adding height and balance. The wall mounted hand shower is great to rinse sandy feet in the summer, and handy for cleaning the glass enclosed stall.

Denise and Kiersten worked together to select the tile. Beyond its qualities of being waterproof, easy to clean and sanitize, tile sets the texture and tone of the space.

With thousands of samples to choose from, tile selection can be overwhelming. But having completed several projects together over

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the last few years, Denise and Kiersten knew what to expect from each other. The Philpotts worked exclusively with DSF Granite and Tile for the stonework in their kitchen and bathroom renovations.

“DSF can do just about anything we ask them to do,” adds Kiersten.

“The large feature wall in the bathroom was challenging because we wanted to make it look little a single piece of stone and the installation is just beautiful.”

Last spring, COVID-19 precautions forced the reno to pause, just as they were about to start work on the bathroom. In late May, work resumed and Denise was soaking in her tub by the end of October.

While her budget was not determined by the province’s new pandemic economic stimulus program that is providing a rebate on construction and renovation activity, Denise said that the little bit of cash back in hand was definitely a bonus for renovating at a time when building costs took a significant jump.

Denise has been waiting for this bathroom ever since they bought the house. “My splurges were on the HanStone wall and the waterfall edges,” she says. “You would never walk into this house and think it was 36 years old. Just about everything in the house is now brand new.

I am staying here forever, and I love it!” o

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East Coast Living Gift Guide 2021

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1

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MARILLA BEFORE ANNE

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A heartrending work of historical fiction telling the story Marilla Cuthbert, long before Anne came to Green Gables farm.

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YORABODE

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6

EAST COAST LIVING MAGAZINE

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Anniversar

LIVING

Get inspired with fabulous decorating, renovation and entertaining ideas…with a uniquely Atlantic Canadian twist. Treat yourself to East Coast Living for just $17.99 + HST per year! (4 issues per year) Subscribe at eastcoastliving.ca/subscribe

home Inspiring

tic Canada life in Atlan

OR WITH YOUR DÉC OWENS DRESS UP NATALIE STYLIST

re Happy Add Mo oliday rH u o Y to ACY URG LEG

ENB SAUNA ON’S LUN CRANST WITH A HOME THE BOX TOLLER HEATS UP T THINKS INSIDE WINTER TERIE THA CHARCU

A

sweet slice of spring

Cake designer Meaghan Adamski shares how you can make your own extravagant cake and eat it too!

BY MELANIE MOSHER PHOTOS BY BRUCE MURRAY/VISIONFIRE

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COVER STORY

O

ne of the most welcome signs of spring is the unfurling of the season’s first flowers. Those tiny buds sometimes forcing their way through the last dustings of stubborn snow, a fantastic display of flower power. Even if you are a lover of winter, the thaw and awakening is met with the yearn to celebrate.

As we turn the calendar to a new season, say good-bye to a long winter and shed our sweaters, let’s think about layering up with sweet sensations. East Coast cake designer Meaghan Adamski shares how to make a cake for your own special celebrations that will be as much a feast for the eyes as your taste buds.

How cake designer Meaghan Adamski has time to create her decadent and delicious cakes with four children scurrying around her Dartmouth home is as much a mystery as how flowers know when it’s time to bloom in the spring. But the fact that she does and with the most breathtaking results will give all novice cake decorators hope. You just need to give yourself a little time and let your imagination and love for flowers blossom.

Meaghan fell in love with cake design when she was planning her wedding in 2010. She started making small cakes for family and friends playing with fondant and different decorating techniques but when she discovered the art sugar flowers her cake design rose to a whole new level.

“I certainly remember my first wedding cake client,” she recalls. “Very good friends of ours asked me to make their wedding cake. It was July of 2012. I was terrified to make a wedding cake, as I had never taken on such an important or large order before. It was my first time truly tackling sugar flowers … I happily took on the challenge despite being terrified. For my very first wedding cake and first attempt at sugar flowers, it turned out pretty good and they were so happy. I just fell in love with the entire process and the beauty in creating such a special cake with these beautiful sugar flowers.”

Adamski’s flowers are crafted petal by petal, with meticulous detail. The results are edible art pieces so lifelike one is tempted to sniff the flowers.

She’s self-taught and thanks her mom (an accomplished painter) for her artistic inspiration and sense of colour. Adamski’s keen observational skills allow her to study a variety of real flowers and leaves, noting details like intricate vein patterns in eucalyptus, delicate overlap of peony petals, and the slight unfurling on the edges of a rose.

“I have pulled many flowers apart petal by petal, to figure out how the petal formation can look natural and organic,” she adds.

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She spent hours watching videos and practising her technique for making and manipulating sugar paste.

“My love for sugar flowers was hugely inspired by Maggie Austin, one of the most talented sugar flower artists out there.

I was so fortunate to fly to Washington, D.C. back in 2017 and take a three-day sugar flower workshop from her,” says Adamski.

Explaining the very basics of the technique, she says that the gum paste recipe that she makes starts with the consistency of modeling clay. It dries quickly and requires swift work.

Adamski can spend up to 30 hours creating the flowers for a single cake.

Unlike fondant which remains pliable, sugar flowers become hard. “They’ll last forever,” says Adamski. Often clients save their flowers, making a keepsake arrangement for the mantle.

One of her favourite ideas is keeping the flowers under a glass dome, like the rose from Beauty and the Beast.

Because sugar flowers are hard, they can be brittle and break if bumped or accidentally dropped. Tiny fractures can add to the natural look of the piece. For larger mishaps the cake artist says she uses berries. She often adds sugar berries and small fruit to her designs for contrast and variety. Having extras with her when she arrives at a venue mean she’s prepared. If a cake gets jostled in transport, a carefully placed blackberry or a few blueberries inserted in the right spot cover the damage.

Baking wasn’t something Adamski did as a young girl. “In my family growing up, my dad was and still is the baker,” she says. “To this day I use some of my father’s recipes for some of my cakes.” His carrot cake has the right amount of sweetness, the perfect texture, and it’s always moist. Her own personal favourite is lemon cake. “Anything lemon related! I must not be alone as it is also a very popular wedding cake flavour.”

“When it comes to choosing a recipe, I always recommend giving anything a try if you think it sounds delicious,” she says.

“If you don’t love it, play around with it and don’t be afraid to make some changes. I have tweaked recipes over the years to find the perfect flavours and textures.”

Changing a recipe to make it larger or smaller is not as simple as doubling or halving the ingredients. Sometimes things don’t work out and she tries again. Her family, neighbours, children’s daycare workers, and teachers, however, are glad to help by eating the mistakes.

Despite the meticulous presentation of her cakes, the mother of four little boys says that she has to approach each one of her projects with patience.

“I love to bake with my children,” she says. “Baking with young kids requires a lot of patience and you just have to let go of any need for perfection. It’s pretty much what you’d expect with spills everywhere, eggs cracked on the floor, and your kitchen looking like a flour-covered winter wonderland at times. Honestly, I wouldn’t trade the chaos or the mess when baking with them for anything. I always tell myself that we are not just baking cakes, we are making memories that I hope they will cherish looking back one day.”

For her clients, she hopes her cakes, elegantly adorned with sugar flowers, create memories too.

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COVER STORY

Homemade Gum Paste From the book Maggie Austin Cake, Artistry and Technique (Makes about 1 lb or 454g) Ingredients: 75g (1/2 cup or 3 oz) egg whites 382g (2 1/2 cups plus 2.5 tsp)

confectioners’ sugar 19g (4 teaspoons) of tylose powder 12g (2.5 teaspoons) of shortening Directions: Using a stand mixer and paddle attachment, mix the egg whites and confectioners’ sugar on medium speed for 2 minutes until smooth and glossy.

Turn the mixer on low-medium and add in the tylose powder. Turn mixer back up to medium and mix for about 15 seconds until it is incorporated and stiffens. The mixer will seem like it is working hard at this point, that is normal.

Scrape mixture onto nonporous work surface and knead in the shortening. Double wrap the gum paste in food safe cling wrap and store in zip-top bag or container. Can be refrigerated for up to 2 weeks and frozen up to 6 months.

Note: This recipe is very precise and a digital scale to measure in grams is highly recommended. Grams are the most accurate unit of measurement for best results.

Follow Meaghan’s steps to make your own sugar flowers bloom 1. M ake gum paste (following the recipe above) and colour with gel food colouring to achieve base shades. Wrap gum paste in food safe cling wrap and store in sealed bag or container as gum paste dries out quickly when exposed to air.

2. M ake centres for each flower by wrapping floral tape around a piece of floral wire and attaching to rolled gum paste balls or cones with edible glue (such pasteurized egg whites) and let dry overnight.

3. R oll out gum paste very thin on a non-stick surface (apply shortening or cornstarch to surface prior), and cut petals using cutters.

4. U se decorating tools (such as ball tool and dresden tool) on a foam board to thin & shape petals.

5. U se veiner tools or silicone molds (if available) to add life-like veining to each petal.

6. U se an edible glue and small paint brush to attach each petal working out from the center.

7. B uild the flower by layering and layering petals, often using a slightly lighter shade of gum paste as you reach the outer petals.

8. Allow flower to dry overnight before using edible petal dusts to add shading and colour. o

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The

CAROLYN DAVIS STEWART Group

“Experience isn’t Expensive...

It’s Priceless!”

HomesinHalifax.ca 20

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GARDENING

GREENHOUSE

ESSENTIALS Want to extend your gardening season?

Here’s what you need to know to take it indoors

BY JODI DeLONG PHOTOS BY NICOLE LAPIERRE PHOTOGRAPHY

I

t makes sense that with the explosion in home gardening in 2020 due to COVID-19, many people would segue from having an outdoor garden in summer to also having a greenhouse.

Greenhouses come in all shapes and sizes, from deck-sized covered portable units to elegant built-on greenhouses, with myriad choices in between. Before you rush out to buy, East Coast gardening enthusiasts offer some tips and tricks.

“I can’t imagine trying to garden without a greenhouse now,” says Janet Wallace, who lives on the Bay of Fundy in Albert County, N.B. “We get a lot of wind and not

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Having a greenhouse means getting a start on seeding plants in spring, like this ‘Phenomenal’ variety of lavender.

“Once you realize how much more you can grow with just a little bit more protection, there’s no going back.” a lot of heat,” so her 9.2-square-metre greenhouse is ideal for raising melons, peppers, eggplants, and tomatoes. Janet and her partner use their home-built greenhouse (which cost about $700 for supplies) about nine months per year. They’re working to winterize it. They built it using recycled windows and patio doors, with a clear corrugated plastic roof.

When her professional photography business all-but-evaporated in the spring of 2020, Nicole LaPierre had an inspiration: to start an online shop selling her prints and other things that she enjoys, including linens, sourdough starter (yes, really), and interesting houseplants. She and her husband Ted realized fairly quickly they would need more room for the plants, so they invested about $2,000 and built one in their Hammonds Plains, N.S. backyard.

Their 18.6-square-metre south-facing greenhouse features windows that open for ventilation, a gravel floor for the handmade plant benches to stand on, and a centre aisle of repurposed cement patio stones, where a fifth bench on castors sits for more working room. They have been overwintering some plants in the greenhouse. Come spring, they’ll start transplants for their gardens and also to offer for sale.

Having a handy spouse or friend is a great way to keep costs down when building a greenhouse. Ardent food gardener and author Elizabeth Peirce had run out of space in her home to start transplants, with seedlings on every south-facing window in her Halifax home.

Her engineer husband designed a greenhouse to add on to a newlyconstructed garage. With a mind to upcycling and deferring items from the landfill, they repurposed windows and a sliding glass patio door from renovations that family members had done into the design.

“The wall the greenhouse shares with the garage is concrete slab, south-facing, which absorbs the heat of the sun and releases it slowly,

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With cement patio tiles down the centre of the greenhouse, it’s easy to wheel around an extra greenhouse bench, and set up a table for a little relaxation time.

reducing the need for extra heating,” Peirce says. “Our intention is for it to be mostly a solar greenhouse. There is also a poured concrete floor with electric cable running through it which is hooked up to the thermostat in the garage. You can heat it electrically during cold snaps.” She starts onions and leeks in winter in the greenhouse, followed by a succession of other food crops, and also dries herbs and seeds.

You can’t merely put plants in the greenhouse and go away for a couple of weeks. You need to be able to water your growing darlings, often daily in warm weather. Look at options for table-top irrigation, or have a good hose and sprinkler or watering wand for keeping plants hydrated. You also need to be able to cool the greenhouse down with fans and cross ventilation (windows that open) so that heat buildup isn’t excessive.

If you’re not ready to spend a lot, go for an inexpensive but effective option to test the waters. There are numerous portable options available at gardening supply stores, or online. These range from a simple zippered shelf to walk-in portable structures, grow tunnels, and more elaborate options.

“If you can’t do a greenhouse at first, start off with row covers and cold frames,” Wallace says. “Once you realize how much more you can grow with just a little bit more protection, there’s no going back.” o

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BOOK EXCERPT

Extend your

GARDENING SEASON Start small with mini hoop tunnels and cold frames

BY NIKI JABBOUR

The following excerpt is from the new book Growing Under Cover: Techniques for a More Productive, Weather-Resistant, Pest-Free Vegetable Garden (Storey Publishing) by Niki Jabbour.

Used with permission.

T

here is no one right garden structure. If you’re new to gardening, start small and begin with a mini hoop tunnel or a cold frame.

This will give you an opportunity to flex your gardening skills and learn techniques like timing off-season growing and how to regulate temperature by venting regularly.

Mini hoop tunnels and cold frames also require little initial investment of either time or money. They can be built using new materials or from old windows, doors, bricks, conduit, and even straw bales. For me, the biggest advantage of these devices is that they are fairly easy to build — especially the mini tunnels — and you see their effectiveness almost immediately. Within a week of sowing seeds in my spring frames, tiny seedlings are popping up. I get to enjoy a full crop of salad greens before my neighbors have even begun to prep their gardens.

Once you’ve had a season or two under your belt, you’ll know if you’re ready to move to a bigger structure like a polytunnel or greenhouse.

Mini Hoop Tunnels A mini hoop tunnel is exactly what it sounds like: a miniature polytunnel. But unlike a walk-in structure, these pint-size tunnels are quick to build, easy to use, and made with inexpensive materials.

There are just two main components: hoops and a cover. The hoops can be made from a variety of materials, including PVC conduit, metal, wire, concrete reinforcement mesh, or even old Hula-Hoops cut in half.

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Five Ways to Use a Mini Hoop Tunnel Frost protection. Top your hoops with a row cover to protect from frost or cold weather. A row cover also shelters crops from heavy rain, hail, or strong winds.

Winter harvesting. We use mini hoop tunnels to harvest cold-season crops all winter long. For winter crops, cover the hoops with a 6 mil greenhouse polyethylene. Twist the ends closed and weigh down the sides to secure them against the winter weather.

Summer shade. I use my mini hoop tunnels from late spring to early autumn to provide some shade from the hot sun. Cool- and cold-season vegetables like salad greens quickly bolt once spring turns to summer.

Having a length of shade cloth over the hoops lowers temperatures and prolongs the harvest season. You can also use shade cloth to establish just-planted seeds or seedlings.

GARDENING

Changing lightweight barriers through the season will provide protection from insects and larger pests like rabbits, deer and birds. The tunnels also protect plants from fall frost or create a winter harvest tunnel.

Spring, summer, and autumn insect defense. Using a lightweight insect barrier keeps cabbage, kale, broccoli, potatoes, and other pest-prone plants free of insect damage. Float the cover over the hoops as soon as crops are planted and bury the sides to prevent pests from entering the mini tunnel.

Spring, summer, and autumn pest p ­ revention. Not all pests are small.

Deer, rabbits, birds, chickens, and even dogs can eat or damage vegetables.

Top the mini hoops with bird netting or chicken wire to keep crops safe.

Types of Mini Hoop Tunnels In my mind, mini hoop tunnels fall into two categories: lightweight and heavy duty. Your reason for covering the crop and the timing of coverage help determine the type of hoop you’ll need. Are you prewarming spring soil, shading summer-planted seeds from sun, protecting plants from fall frost, or creating a winter harvest tunnel?

Lightweight tunnels. I make lightweight tunnels with wire hoops and use them as spring and fall frost protection in the garden. They do a fine job of protecting crops from cool weather, light frost, heavy rain, and wind, but don’t stand up to snow. I also place them over the beds inside my polytunnel for a double layer of winter protection. For this light work, wire or PVC hoops are fine.

I generally prefer to build my own mini hoop tunnels, as it takes little time and I can match the size to my raised beds, but there are many commercially produced mini hoop tunnel kits you can buy. The kits often have wire hoops and fall into the “lightweight tunnel” category. Depending on the manufacturer, mini hoop tunnel kits may be called polytunnel cloches, mini greenhouses, or mini tunnels. Often the kits are too narrow for my beds, or not long enough.

Heavy-duty tunnels. The other type of mini hoop tunnel is a heavy-duty version made from 10-foot lengths of 1/2-inch diameter PVC or metal conduit. These are strong enough to withstand a snow load and are great for winter protection; if you live in an area that gets a lot of snow, consider adding an extra center support.

Installing Hoops Nine-gauge wire. For quick hoops, use 9-gauge wire, which is readily available from a hardware store. You can buy the wire in 50-foot coils and cut it to the desired length with wire cutters. The length of the wire will depend on how wide the bed is and how high you want the hoop to be.

For my 4-foot-wide beds, I cut the wire into 8-foot lengths. This creates hoops that are 3 feet tall before the ends are pushed down into the soil.

After that, the hoops are about 2 1/2 feet tall.

For my 3-foot-wide polytunnel beds, I cut the wire into 6-foot lengths and the hoops are 2 feet tall at the center before being inserted into the soil. Once the hoops are installed, they’re about 15 to 18 inches tall. These low hoop tunnels are used for sheltering low-growing greens like arugula, leaf lettuce, and Asian greens.

Flexible 9-gauge wire can also be bent by hand into a square-shaped hoop, so that the tunnel is the same height over the entire bed.

PVC conduit. For over a decade, 1/2-inch-diameter PVC conduit has been the primary material I’ve used for my mini hoop tunnels. Ten-foot lengths are readily available, inexpensive, easy to use, and durable.

To install hoops, pound foot-long rebar stakes into the ground every 3 to 4 feet along each side of the bed, then bend the length of PVC over the bed and slip the ends over the rebar stakes to secure the hoop to the ground.

For winter tunnels in areas like mine that have a heavy snow load, a PVC structure needs a center support to add strength. Without it, the tunnels will be susceptible to flattening after a very heavy snow.

Metal conduit. Half-inch-diameter metal conduit makes for a very sturdy hoop to support fabric- or plastic-covered mini hoop tunnels. Metal hoops can be used year after year and are strong enough to withstand snow loads without the center support needed for PVC hoops. To further improve their capacity, I make sure the cover is pulled taut and well secured at the ends, and I knock off heavy snow after a storm. Ten-foot lengths of metal conduit are easy to source at most building supply or hardware stores, and they don’t require a stake to hold them in place; just SPRING 2021

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1

2

3

sink the end of each hoop 6 to 8 inches into the soil, spacing the hoops 3 to 4 feet apart.

The only challenge is figuring out how to bend the metal conduit into hoops! A few years ago, I got a metal bender from Johnny’s Selected Seeds and started bending 10-foot lengths of conduit into super sturdy hoops.

This tool has been a game changer. Plus, bending the metal conduit to make the hoops is great fun. It took just a few minutes to get the hang of it and now I can bend a hoop in about a minute.

To make a metal hoop, you first mount the bender to a sturdy structure like a workbench or a picnic table. Then insert a straight length of conduit into the bender and pull the metal tubing down toward you, bending it into the characteristic U-shape.

A metal bender is a great investment for a garden club, urban farm, or community garden where many gardeners can use it to bend strong hoops for season extension.

How High should Your Tunnels Be? Just-planted seeds or seedlings, or compact crops like leaf lettuce, mâche, or baby greens don’t require a high hoop. But taller edibles like kale, collards, leeks, and Italian parsley can grow several feet high, so take plant size into consideration when deciding on how big a hoop to use.

In general, hoops should be tall enough so that plants aren’t in direct contact with the cover. The exception to this is when lightweight insect barrier fabric is laid on vegetables during the growing season for pest control. Otherwise, plants shouldn’t come in contact with a polyethylene cover or row cover during cold weather as this can cause damage to the foliage. This also holds true in summer when a shade cloth-topped mini hoop tunnel is used to shield vegetables from the hot sun. Keep the cover well above crops to avoid heat buildup around the plants.

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4 BEND YOUR OWN MINI HOOPS

My low tunnel hoop bender makes quick work of bending metal conduit for 4-foot wide hoops. The bender needs to be mounted on a sturdy surface like a truck hitch or, in my case, a heavy pallet anchored to a wood base.

1. For a 4-foot wide hoop, slide a 10-foot length of half-inch or three-quarter-inch metal EMT conduit through the holding strap, so it extends 16 inches beyond the end of the bender.

2. Grab the opposite end of the conduit and bend it toward you until it touches the base of the bender.

3. Now slide the tube through the holding straps until it’s centered on the bender.

4. Squeeze each end of the tube until they are straight and a U-shape has been achieved. The sides of the tube should be parallel. Once you get going, it will take around a minute to bend each hoop. o

PHOTO: CONTRIBUTED

IN DEPTH

BY JANET WHITMAN

Finding a home for your tiny home Tiny homes are becoming a big deal in Atlantic Canada, but you can’t just plunk them down wherever you want

R

PHOTO: CONTRIBUTED

ed tape abounds when it comes to finding allowable locales for tiny homes, which are often built on flatbed trailers with wheels and run about 2.6 metres by 6.8 metres (anything wider requires a special permit to move on the roads). Restrictions and regulations vary from municipality to municipality, town to town, and, sometimes, from civil servant to civil servant.

Chadwick Dunsford says he and his girlfriend, Sarah Bulman, initially thought about building a tiny home on wheels (a THOW in tiny-house lingo) and parking it in a friend’s yard in or near Charlottetown. “We both work in town, so it would be convenient,” says the P.E.I. native.

“But bylaw officers will shoo you away pretty quick.”

Chadwick Dunsford and Sarah Bulman cleared the space for their 24ft tiny home by hand. They positioned the home south facing to make the most out of the sun for their solar panels and did their best not to interrupt the natural rhythm of the area.

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PHOTO: CONTRIBUTED

The couple opted instead to buy land out in the country, a half hour’s drive from Charlottetown, where, Dunsford says, “no one bugs you.”

They found a tiny home for sale, hauled it to the property and lived there off-grid—with solar power, a wood stove, propane range, and a compost toilet—for six months before deciding to rent in town for a few months to avoid the daily commute over winter roads.

“We’re now on a ‘convenience break,’” says Dunsford. “We still go out most weekends. We’ll be back out fulltime [soon]. We enjoy the country life.”

Tiny-house builders and owners recommend researching before choosing a location.

“People ask me that a lot,” says Saint John, N.B. contractor Leo Girouard, who started Wee Bitty Builders with his wife Karen in 2016. “Each municipality has a different set of rules. It can depend on the person you talk to. Like any civil servant, some are helpful, some are not.”

Opportunities are opening up, he adds. “Every year, it’s getting easier and easier. We’ve had pretty good luck. Once you get in a district, they can’t really turn away the next person.”

Jess Puddister and Tim Ward weren’t so lucky. After the couple parked their tiny home on a property they bought in Pouch Cove (about 30 kilometres north of St. John’s, N.L.), the town took them to court, saying the structure was too small to qualify as a house.

Two years later, in 2020, the couple gave up, sold the land and sold the tiny home to someone who wheeled it away to an unincorporated area of rural Newfoundland. “It was actually quite a traumatic time,” says Puddister. “I’ve had to really focus on letting go of that dream and moving on.”

Just over 750 kilometres away, on the opposite coast, Stephenville rolled out a welcome mat for tiny homes. After a pitch from a local developer looking to create a 13-lot tiny home subdivision, the town amended a bylaw to shrink the minimum dwelling size.

“Some people still want million-dollar mansions and that’s fine,” says Stephenville Mayor Tom Rose. “But for those who are trending towards tiny homes, we wanted to be innovative and leaders.”

There is a catch. The homes can’t be on wheels. The foundation requirement is for aesthetic reasons, says Rose. Tiny homes on wheels

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PHOTO: CONTRIBUTED

Above: Maria Churchill and her partner, Genny Duffenais, moved into the subdivision two years ago. Right: The couple’s home, which they designed themselves, is 580 square feet.

also are considered RVs, so not subject to the same tax code, and, in most jurisdictions, not permissible to live in year-round.

Stephenville Deputy Fire Chief Maria Churchill and her partner, Genny Duffenais, moved into the subdivision two years ago.

“Basically, over the last six or seven years we’ve been downsizing,” says Churchill. “We had a three-level home, then we built a 1,000-square-foot home and after the children got older and moved out, we decided to downsize even more.”

The couple’s home, which they designed themselves, is 580 square feet.

“I know it’s not for everybody, but for us we’re very pleased,” says Churchill.

Besides saving big on monthly bills, such as electricity and heat, the home is a significant timesaver too, she says. “It only takes 15 minutes to clean.”

The smaller footprint also meant they could splurge on custom cabinetry with locally sourced juniper wood and live birch shelving, as well as pricy composite decking for both their back and front porches to avoid the need for perennial paint jobs.

Kerry Roberts Keogh and her husband Bob Keogh are seeking permission to create an off-grid tiny house community on a 0.6-hectare plot they bought near Saint Ann, P.E.I. to build their retirement home.

They came up with the idea to rent out spots for eight tiny homes on the land after watching YouTube videos on the craze. “We were like, we’ve got land and there are no restrictions, so no reason it can’t happen,” she says.

But so far, regulations only permit one tiny home on the land, she says.

“No one wants to say yes. I’d understand if it was an eyesore. Tiny homes are so cute.”

Tim Schuit, owner of Halifax-based builder Nova Tiny Homes, has been getting a lot of interest in backyard suites in the city since regional council approved a bylaw for the separate dwellings. “There are a lot of rules in play,” he says. “Basically, it’s a mini house on a foundation.”

A test run Tiny home building hobbyist Nigel Mailman says TV shows and YouTube videos have glamourized tiny-house living.

PHOTO: CONTRIBUTED

PHOTO: CONTRIBUTED

IN DEPTH

Left: Tiny homes bring nature up close. This one boasts an outdoor firepit from Nova Tiny Homes. Above: A 5” x 6” window bathes the home in natural light.

“TV shows haven’t really painted a realistic picture of building budgets and living in them,” says Mailman, a Dartmouth, N.S. schoolteacher who spends weekends and summers with his wife and two kids at their tiny home, a 30-minute drive outside of Bridgewater on Molega Lake. “You see a lot of stuff on TV where people have built homes for $15,000 and live there with two or three kids. You never see how long that lasted for them.

And you can barely get a trailer for $15,000.”

Mailman, who builds tiny homes for fun with his retired contractor father in Boutiliers Point, says he and his wife could live quite comfortably year-round in a tiny home on their own, but not with two kids.

For those mulling the move, but not sure the 250-square-foot lifestyle is a good fit, testing out a tiny home is an option. Giouard says half the homes he’s built are being rented out on Airbnb.

How much The cost to buy a tiny home starts at about $50,000 and can run as high as $200,000, depending on finishes.

Wee Bitty Builders charges between $55,000 and $60,000 for a basic model that includes compost toilet, wood stove, and propane. “Where else can you get a starter home for that these days?” says Girouard.

Dunsford and Bulman bought their tiny home, cobbled together with second-hand materials, for $25,000. “Ours is pretty basic,” says Dunsford.

“It’s very simple and it’s amazing.”

Roger Gallant downsized to a tiny home six years ago and started building for others with a mission to show how simple, ecological and low-cost tiny home living can be.

With the price of flatbed trailers climbing, he shifted last year to building with shipping containers, selling his tiny home to Dunsford and Bulman.

“For $5,000 you can have something delivered with an outer shell done. All you have to do is frame the inside,” says the owner of Eco Enviro Builders on P.E.I. “I’m trying to get back to basics of what a tiny home was, not a $100,000 monster. It’s homes for people who maybe won’t ever be able to afford a regular home, or maybe don’t want one.” o

PHOTO: CONTRIBUTED

The next big thing in tiny houses

Smart ideas for storage make a big difference in a tiny space.

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The Future of Windows is Right Here in

Atlantic Canadians don’t need to look beyond their borders to find cutting-edge windows. Locally owned and operated Atlantic Windows has been a trailblazer since opening its doors in 1983.

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The business was the brainchild Alain Anctil, an industrial plumber in rural New Brunswick who noticed Europe’s burgeoning PVC window business and thought, “Why not here?” He bought the old community centre in Port Elgin, N.B. and became one of the first PVC window manufacturers in eastern North America.

The innovation hasn’t stopped there at the company’s window-manufacturing facility in Port Elgin, or, down the road in Amherst, Nova Scotia, where its entrance systems are made.

Atlantic Windows was the region’s first Energy Star-approved manufacturer and the winner of the “2010 Crystal Achievement Award” for most innovative plant in North America.

The company developed the first high-performance steel entrance system to be CSA tested in Atlantic Canada. Other ground-breaking products include the Bermuda all-PVC swing door, which has been tested and proven to withstand hurricanes, an Attic Access with a R50 rating and the Overture Folding Door, a fully retractable alternative to standard patio doors.

It’s latest evolution is the new Summit Collection. Designed and built by Maritimers, the windows maximize performance, efficiency and aesthetics – exceeding all Energy Star and building code performance requirements without compromising style.

Harsher climates, driving coastal winds and rain, cold winters, and hot summers have fueled the company’s push to create better-performing windows and doors.

“Our products are designed and built right here in Atlantic Canada to perform in our climate,” says Atlantic Windows president Greg Dickie. “We stand behind our products, backed by the best warranties in the market.”

the Maritimes

Owned by Antigonish building supply entrepreneur Steve Smith and his family since 1997, Atlantic Windows and its 275 employees believe in a greener future.

Beyond providing customers with top energy-performing products to help improve the efficiency of their homes, the company’s day-to-day operations reflect a sustainable manufacturing pledge. More than 500 tonnes of recycled materials such as PVC, wood, glass, cardboard, poly, aluminum, metal, and paper are diverted from landfill every year.

Atlantic Windows also partners with suppliers that use less or reusable packaging, have recycling programs or use recycled content in their raw materials.

“By adopting new policies and implementing energy efficient products in our factories, energy consumption has been reduced by 5% and heating costs are down 15%,” says Dickie.

Atlantic Windows is a proud participant in the Energy Star program, which reflects the aggressive aspirational goals for carbon reduction set forth in the Paris Accord.

“Homeowners who choose Atlantic Windows reap the financial and environmental benefits of our products,” says Dickie. “As well, our windows and all PVC doors will never rot nor allow for mold or mildew to develop, ensuring a safe and healthy environment inside the home.”

With 38 years under its belt, Atlantic Windows has perfected a weekly shipping schedule to distribute its products through its partner dealers throughout New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland. The focus on quality and special climate needs has also found markets for the company’s products in Ontario and Quebec, as well as internationally in Bermuda, Jamaica, Barbados, the Bahamas, Ireland, Iceland and Japan.

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“Our philosophy since day one is ‘We can always do better!’ which drives Atlantic Windows to continuously improve,” says Dickie. “Whether it is a vinyl window, a steel entrance system or any other products, Atlantic Windows continues to look for ways to manufacture more cost effectively with enhanced quality and shorter lead times while considering our impact on the environment.”

Open your senses to

East Coast wine Atlantic Canadian vintners have moved from frontier to frontline, blending traditional methods and innovations

LIBATIONS

BY SARA ERICSSON

W

PHOTO: STEVE SMITH/VISIONFIRE

ine is not just about savouring tastes for Moira Peters. The notes she looks for in her glass are not just flavour profiles or what’s on the nose, but also people and place–the toil and talent that came together to create what’s inside that glass. Each wine tells a story and Peters says the story told by East Coast wines is one of winemakers pairing a cold climate with novel ideas on how to capture landscape in a bottle.

“I tell people who are new to East Coast wines to use their senses, not biases, when approaching wine … and to come to table with open mind and open palate [to] see what the wine is telling us,” says Peters.

“Our wines continue to tell a story of excitement and struggle, of potential and success,” she says. It’s a story she and fellow sommelier Craig Pinhey captured within a story of their own, A Wine Lover’s Guide to Atlantic Canada, and one that’s evolved since the book’s 2016 publishing.

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Our products are sold using a network of dealers across Atlantic Canada.

Please visit our website to find the dealer nearest you or contact us for more information:

http://www.scotiastone.ca Holly Norman, General Manager (902) 440-2358 Genevieve Spavold, Sales (403) 369-7369

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PHOTO: CONTRIBUTED

LIBATIONS Pinhey says New Brunswick is following a similar path to the Annapolis Valley and is on the verge of its own boom and regional renown, while Newfoundland, at one time among the world’s largest blueberry wine producers, has been producing exciting wines from its unique berries like cloudberries, partridge berries, and crow berries. Prince Edward Island, which Pinhey says has a small but mighty wine industry, continues producing a strong offering of white wines that captures a lot of tourist attention.

Peters says the East Coast region’s most renowned wines­—whites, chief among them the Tidal Bay, and sparkling whites—are both part of the regional story of excitement and struggle, of breaking down barriers while convincing wine consumers with traditional tastes to try something new.

“Our winemakers are being really smart about the grapes they grow and figuring out what kind of style of winemaking uses them best,” says Peters.

“I’d be proud to pour a Tidal Bay or traditional method sparkling for any wine critic that came around.”

Peters says the region’s traditional method sparkling whites are making international waves and are her choice for wine connoisseurs, but she is equally as excited by the region’s aromatic cabernet franc wines, with aromas created as a direct result of this cool-climate region. Open the bottle, pour it in the glass, swirl, then sniff. Peters says this will reveal an aroma bomb unlike any other, one that’s sure to please wine experts and newcomers alike.

“I applaud the wineries’ embracing of our grapes that are able to fully ripen, which produces really great, light, fruity red wines that are pleasant, interesting and easy to drink. You won’t find aromas like these anywhere else,” she says.

VIRTUAL VINO

The COVID-19 pandemic has moved in-person events to virtual platforms, including wine tastings. New Brunswick wine writer, sommelier and tastings host Craig Pinhey has hosted virtual wine tastings, including his family’s annual Pinot Party. Pinhey says a virtual tasting may be different than in person but is still a great way to gather and enjoy wine together.

“I hosted our party through my Zoom account and gave each person a turn to do a blind wine tasting where they had to guess which kind of pinot it was. It was weird, but fun,” he laughs.

Bottles up

Throw a party with taste with these pro tips on how to host your own wine tasting

BY SARA ERICSSON ou don’t need to be a wine expert to host your own tasting, but tips from one could bring your do-it-yourself tasting party to the next level.

Nova Scotia wine writer, sommelier and Unwined tasting party host Moira Peters says that $200 will get you a great selection of wines – she recommends eight bottles, among them white wine, red wine, rosé and sparkling – for an eight-to-10-person tasting. But Peters says hosting a tasting is about more than just the wine. There are subtleties to consider, such as lighting.

“It’s so important to have decent light and that really surprises people. It’s really nice to appreciate how the glass of wine looks, especially with rosés, which sparkle, or sparklings. It’s nice to take a moment and enjoy the visual beauty of wine,” she says.

To capture that visual beauty, Peters says tasters should swirl their glasses. This means glasses should have a large bowl, with enough room for swirling without spilling. When it comes to food, Peters says hosts can plan some pairings or even a snack break in the middle of the tasting as a palate cleanser–crostinis or rice crackers–but should never overwhelm the tasting with too much food.

There is one non-negotiable element that all tasting parties must have, according to Peters: a pen and some paper, so guests can note down their tasting impressions. If people are wondering what to write down, Peters says to narrow it down to two factors: whether you liked the wine and whether it was good value for money, since good wine can be found at any price.

“Good wine doesn’t have to be expensive. I often bring a range of wines, including a boxed wine, a Nova Scotia wine and a sparkling, along with a good selection of whites, rosé and reds, including one pricey bottle. When people note down which is their favourite, you might be shocked–people are often surprised at what they ended up liking,” she says.

PHOTO: STEVE SMITH/VISIONFIRE

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‘We’ve proved it’s possible’ Motts Landing Vineyard and Winery a humble leader in soon-to-boom N.B. wine industry

BY SARA ERICSSON

NEW BRUNSWICK IS BOOMING

PHOTO: CONTRIBUTED

Saint John, N.B. sommelier and wine writer Craig Pinhey says white wines and traditional method sparklings are the province’s forte. He says while previously little acclaim existed for these wines internationally, they are now winning over wine critics around the world.

“New Brunswick has found the grapes that will allow them to move forward and make good wines. Now all it needs is the support to get them planted,” he says.

Other wines including a barrel-aged red are among those available at the winery.

W

hen David Craw purchased land in the Saint John River Valley, he bought it for the same reason a person buys their dream house– because it was beautiful. He may not have known it would soon be among the wineries leading New Brunswick’s burgeoning wine industry, but that makes this story even better.

David and his life and winemaker partner Sonia Craw were both new to wine when Motts Landing Vineyard and Winery first started: Sonia worked in agriculture as an environment technologist, David flew for an airline.

“I couldn’t even grow a radish when we started,” he laughs.

Stumbling across the site was a happy accident. David later learned the property sits on roughly the same latitude as France’s Bordeaux region and is part of the Saint John River Valley microclimate. With this information, Sonia began studying winemaking in New Zealand and later worked in the Annapolis Valley wine and vine industry.

She returned to New Brunswick and the pair began experimenting, growing the winery from a beautiful patch of waterside land into an intimate vineyard set up that seems beyond its years. Sonia’s wines, including her

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traditional method Brut Classic sparkling white wine, are making waves with wine enthusiasts.

“After many years of experimental grape growing and wine making, we know what grapes will finish and what wine styles to produce. Our sparkling is world class. It’s been an interesting journey with a lot of learning curves along the way,” says Sonia.

Rave reviews are pouring in, including from Nova Scotia wine writer and sommelier Moira Peters, who calls Sonia’s Brut Classic “hands down the best value traditional method sparkling wine in the entire east coast region.”

Even with such rave reviews, David and Sonia remain humble, keeping on with their wine production and vine experiments. They are proud of what they have produced so far and of where their hard work has taken them.

For David, the ultimate dream is to see the old farms lining the shores of their Washademoak Lake repurposed into vineyards and together creating a wine region that will help propel New Brunswick to the frontlines of Canada’s wine industry.

“I think what we have done is we’ve proved it’s possible,” he says. o

BUYING GUIDE

Buying guide Now that you’ve seen all the quality products and services available in Atlantic Canada, here’s a guide to help you access these products for your own home.

Abm Integrated Solutions (p. 3) abmis.ca

Forge Home and Garden (p. 15) 902-755-6140

Metro Building Supplies (p. 9) metropei.com

All Seasons Sunrooms (p. 6) allseasonsnrooms.ca

Glubes Sound Studio (p. 5) glubes.ca

Nimbus Publishing (p. 9, 15) nimbus.ca

Atlantic Windows (p. 23, 30) atlanticwindows.com

Interhab Homes (p. 8) interhabs.ns.ca

Attica (p. 34) attica.ca

Juniper Bbq Scraper Ltd (p. 8) juniperbbqscraper.com

Northern Watters Knitwear & Tartan Shop (p. 15) nwknitwear.com

Bosch/bsh Home Appliances Inc (p. 7) venmar.ca

Kubota (p. 40) kubota.ca

Canadian Beef (p. 39) canadabeef.ca

Lakecity Woodworkers (p. 20) lakecitywoodworkers.com

Carolyn Davis Stewart Team (p. 20) homesinhalifax.ca

Marvin Canada (p. 2) marvincanada.com

Red Door Realty (p. 6) reddoorrealty.ca Scotia Stone Ltd. (p. 34) scotiastone.ca Sunspace (p. 37) sunspacesunrooms.com TABITHA & CO (p. 9, 15) tabithaco.ca

800 - 755 - 3365

ENJOY THE OUTSIDE FROM INSIDE Sunrooms • Screen Rooms • Porch Enclosures • WeatherMaster • Patio Covers • Railing • Decking ©

SUNSPACESUNROOMS.COM

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LAST LOOK

Roped In East Coast creator Nadine Jewer makes pottery with rope

BY AMEETA VOHRA

Jewer’s designs are unique and multipurpose

A

fter graduating with her Masters of Health Administration in 2012, Nadine Jewer felt it was time for a change.

She opted to leave her career as an occupational therapist to stay at home with her two children, Ella and Ethan. During that time, she tapped into her creativity and unleashed a passion that would be the foundation for her new career direction.

“I’ve always been very creative, love to design and to try things,” Jewer says. “I’ve always been somebody who learned to knit as a young girl; I did needlepoint, cross-stitch, I love to make things [crafts] and other means of art, so I’ve always enjoyed doing things.”

While her children participated in sports, Jewer sat in the stands, knitting away to pass the time. While preparing for a marathon, she came across Patch, a local store in north-end Halifax, and a fluffed pillow in the window caught her attention and turned the wheels in motion.

“My son loves animals, so I went, ‘Oh, I should do this for him,’ so the story began,” she says. “We were in New York in December

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2016, and I went to a quilt store called Gotham Quilt, which is very well known. I told her I wanted to do this sloth; however, I said it has to have red, black, and grey.

She’s like ‘Oh,’ and I said, ‘I know that’s my son’s’ colours’ so I bought some of the material and came home.”

After taking a course in 2017, Jewer expanded her talents to quilting and joined the Maritime Quilt Guild. The next year, a demo inspired the creator to buy a spool of rope to create a bowl. It was the catalyst of her new business, Warm, Wooly and Woven.

“Warm is the quilts, Wooly is like the knitting, and Woven is the rope baskets,” she says of the name.

The most successful part of her business has been the Rope Home Collection, with every crafted piece made with Canadian sourced 100 percent cotton rope.

“I create them so that the rope is functional and stylistic that it can store anything from knitting to kid’s toys to towels to plants to jewellery, and it can be for home or the cottage,” Jewer says. “I do the best to make it high quality. It’s simple, and SPRING 2021

it adds my flair. I thoroughly enjoyed dying the ropes of a certain colour. I call it ‘pottery with a rope’ because you have to hold it a certain way as you work it through the sewing machine; how you get the shape.

No two pieces are alike.”

One of the most popular items has been bread baskets. While the purpose was to fit sourdough bread, customers have seen it as a multipurpose item for storage and gift baskets.

Jewer believes sustainability is the key to the future and does her part using cotton in her products. Overall, her goal is to ensure the cost of her goods is affordable but high quality.

“I want them to have joy; I want them to look at the product and be so happy with it.

‘I’m excited to have this product’ just like when I get excited,” she says. Supporting our local artisans and stores is important, and it has come to the forefront in the last year. I feel good when it’s from Canada, built in Canada, sustainable in Canada; that’s important.” o

Ask for the

Good Stuff

Look for Canadian beef that makes the grade for you.

canadabeef.ca

Grade Expectations

When you bite into a juicy steak or roast, you want to enjoy the highest quality beef. Canadian beef grades help ensure that your beef has been meticulously chosen to deliver a delicious experience every time. Here’s how to choose from Canada’s

CANADA AA GRADE

CANADA AAA GRADE

CANADA AAA GRADE (TOP TIER)

CANADA PRIME GRADE

A good value choice offering lower levels of *marbling and typically fewer calories than Canada AAA and Prime Grades. Canada AA beef can be tender and flavourful and performs well with all popular cooking methods.

Canadian beef brands that include only the most marbled (Top Tier) beef within the Canada AAA grade are an excellent choice for steakhouse-quality beef. These brands offer beef with the very best marbling, flavour and juiciness within the AAA grade.

A great choice for high-quality beef. Canada AAA offers higher levels of marbling than Canada AA and is well suited for all popular cooking methods. Canada AAA will become a delicious family favourite when grilled, broiled, simmered or roasted to perfection.

An extraordinary choice for exclusive steakhouses, hotels and serious home chefs. Canada Prime is selected for maximum marbling, flavour and juiciness and only available in limited supply.

* Marbling is the small flecks of white fat distributed throughout the meat. The amount of marbling influences beef juiciness, texture and flavour.

ALL OUT ADAPTABILITY AT AN AFFORDABLE PRICE. A do-it-all solution that fits your lifestyle. Providing the strength and adaptability of a compact utility tractor and the maneuverability of a garden tractor - you can count on the BX23S for incomparable versatility.

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