The Cluck Is On: Of Eggs and Hens

Our laying hens, which are producing eggs at half-capacity at this point.

There were a few weeks there when things were tough. We knew we’d be getting our laying hens soon so we didn’t want to buy too many eggs, and of course we ran out before our chickens arrived, being the egg-lovers that we are. When our chickens finally arrived, we felt life was good again. We made sure […]

Paddling Dreams: A Beginner’s Bucket List

View of the French River Gorge from the bridge at the Visitors Centre

It’s not like we haven’t paddled before, but we certainly aren’t paddlers. Still, we’d like to incorporate more paddling into our hiking routes. Some trips just can’t be done on foot alone, and others would be more enjoyable with a little less foot mileage. Here are some of the paddling dreams — er, potential trips — which are […]

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 […]

Hiking Along the French River on Dokis First Nation’s Papase Trail

A silvery piece of deadwood juts out towards a small lake along Dokis First Nation's Papase Trail.

We did things a bit differently this past Canada Day long weekend. We usually take advantage of the extended break to hike a longer trail or go somewhere further away, but we always miss a lot of stuff going on around French River while we’re gone. So this year, with a couple of family gatherings going on that […]

French River Area Outdoor Summer Events

French River area outdoor summer events include the Dokis First Nation Powwow, where this wood-carved eagle was seen.

With all the tempting French River area outdoor summer events going on all the time, it can be tough deciding what to do on a summer weekend, especially if you’re like me and want to do it all. How to choose between the plethora of activities and events happening in the area and our usual backcountry trip? Well, […]

Outdoor Recreation in the French River and Lake Nipissing Area

Rocky shoreline of winding waters at Grundy Lake Provincial Park.

There really is quite a lot to do around here, but it’s not always evident. Sure, there are the usual tourist attractions, like the lodges that offer boat rentals and access to fishing to their guests. But there are also inexpensive adventures for the independent explorer. By no means an exhaustive list, here are a few of my […]

Visiting Mashkinonje Provincial Park: A Guide [with Photos]

A view of the Lapin Beach bay while visiting Mashkinonje Provincial Park.

[Mass-kin-onj] People who spend time within the boundaries of Mashkinonje are very lucky to have beautiful, natural, well-maintained trails to hike. And unlike regular operating parks, visiting Mashkinonje Provincial Park is free. With about 35 kmkilometres of hiking and snowshoeing trails in various loops, a canoe route, barrier-free access, two beaches, and an observation tower, visiting Mashkinonje Provincial […]

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 […]

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