Colourful Berries in Red, Blue, and Black [Photo Album]

Two large red wintergreen berries hang from a leafy stem.

We take a lot of pictures of berries when we’re berry picking, and a lot of them are really nice! The following photos are mostly from this year, though I couldn’t help including a few older ones to round off the album. Strawberries Some of these photos of strawberries were taken last year at Leisure Farms in Sturgeon […]

Season’s Pickings: The Cranberries and Apples of Fall

Wild cranberries in wet moss.

For the second year in a row, we’ve had a tough time finding a good spot for cranberries. We didn’t even get any at all last year! This autumn, the search seemed rather fruitless (pardon the pun). We went to Theodore Fouriezos Wetlands Park in Sturgeon Falls, but nada! When we had called for information, we’d been told […]

Certified Organic Beauty From The Green Beaver Company: Personal Care Made Safe

Green Beaver toothpaste (green apple and frosty mint flavours)

Some time ago, I wrote about Plain Jane Soap, the Azilda-based company that hand makes most of the beauty products I like to use. Afterwards, I was asked about certain items which hadn’t made the list at all, especially those I use in liquid form. Admittedly, I prefer to use solid products whenever possible for water conservation reasons, […]

Keeping Honey Bees At Creekbend Farm

Bee carrying pollen in the center amid other bees.

The beekeepers of Creekbend Farm are perhaps better-known for their maple syrup operation, Sucrerie Séguin SugarBush, but they’re just as passionate for and knowledgeable about their bee colonies. Dan and Tracy Séguin partner with Michel and Louise Demers to manage the sugar bush, but they operate the bee business on their own. While the sugar bush has been […]

Berrylicious Reds and Blues Picked Just For You!

Eighteen baskets of strawberries lined up one behind the other in an aisle between two rows of strawberries at Leisure Farms.

Berry season’s back and it looks like it’s going to be a good one! Strawberries are in full swing, blueberries are making their first appearances, and raspberries should be ready within a week. We’ve already been out a couple of times and have been hard at work freezing and dehydrating our year’s supply of strawberries. I can’t believe […]

Beat the Heat with Local Craft Beer: Five Ontarian Microbreweries

Glass of beer

With summer heat coming on full force and Canada Day weekend approaching, many of us have started thinking about stocking up on refreshments, and a stop at the LCBO or The Beer Store is on most of our lists. We think about buying our food locally at the grocery store because we’re conscious of health and nutrition, but […]

Picking Berries: A Virtual Fruit Stand in French River

Picking berries and holding blueberries in my hand

Last weekend, Marc and I traded in our hiking boots for rubber ones during the Land of the Voyageurs Rubber Boots Festival. Amazing as it was, we’re ready for different footwear. That can pose a dilemma. We’ll soon be debating whether it’s a hiking weekend or a berry picking weekend. Either way, a happy ending. Though it wasn’t […]