HomeMy WebLinkAboutLakeshore Advance, 2013-10-16, Page 5Wednesday, October 16, 2013 • Lakeshore Advance 5
Comrnunity
Thank goodness
This is the season for 'giving Thanks'
and Canadians are celebrating in a vari-
ety of ways. For the most part we are tak-
ing stock of our great country and our
bounty.
Thank goodness, 1 say, for family,
health, quality food sources, and, of
course, for my pet duck, Clark. 1 le makes
me laugh out loud every day. Put all of
that aside and a gardener in this country
has to be grateful for a lot of things.
I lere is my short list:
Rain. It spoiled a few weddings
and picnics this season but I ask you,
where would we be without it? From
early spring to recent weeks we have
had regular rainfall.
Pungi. My friend Lorraine Johnston, the environ-
mentalist/gardener/activist stated in her treatise on
gardening that if we did not have fungus to break
down the organic material that is produced natu-
rally most everywhere (including fallen leaves this
time of year) we would be up to our necks in un-
decomposed stuff.
Frogs. We have recently learned that one of the
most accurate litmus tests of a healthy ecosystem is
the presence of frogs in a neighbourhood. Frogs are
very sensitive to changes in the environment, espe-
cially where toxic chemicals are to be found. 'their
presence in your yard is an indication of it healthy
natural balance - you are making a valuable contri-
bution to the biodiversity in your community.
Worms. I am often asked if soil tests are a good
idea. My response is, "Yes, by all means test your
Column
Mark Cullen
www.markcullen.com
garden soil," 1 recommend that you do
this by digging a hole about 30 cm deep
with a sharp shovel. Save the contents of
the soil: sift through it until you have
encountered the earth worms there and
count them up. 'Then place them gently
back where they came from. Every cou-
ple of months dig a holt' in the sante area
and repeat the process. Keep a mental
tally of the worms that you fluid and he
sure to (10 this at the sane time of
year to he consistent. As time passes,
note whether the worth population is
growing or regressing. Population
growth is an indication that your gar-
den soil Is improving in health. Keep
adding lots of organic natter each year --spring OR
fall. 1 add about 4 cm of finished compost to my
entire garden each year.
A green lawn. My lawn has never looked better.
This year the cool evening temperatures and the
regular rain fall has made for great looking lawns
without the extra work. lien. is a reminder that you
should apply a fall lawn food any time now. It is the
most important application of the year.
Blight -free tomatoes. 1 grow 200 tomato plants
each season. 1 know, sanity isn't a strong point.
t lowever growing thein is my idea of 'fun' and the
local food bank appreciates it. 'this year was excep
tional not just for the wide variety of tomato seeds
that I was able to acquire through various sources,
but the fact that early blight was kept at hay all sea-
son. 1t helped that 1 applied Bordo copper spray
every two %yel'ks beginning itt late June, but I must
Grand Bend & Area Horticultural Society
Members appreciate the change of
season with a special presentation
on Fall Colours!
The Grand Bend & Area I lorticultural
Society (GBAI IS) is active all year long.
With the change of season into Fall, the
recently held General Membership Meet-
j�,Ing had more than 40 members and
,-guests in attendance. They were treated
to a spectacular slldeshow of breathtak-
ing views of the Halliburton Region which
was accompanied by an array of beautiful
and soothing music.
Guest Presenter, Pierre St Laurent, one
of GBAHS own members is a terrific land-
scape and nature photographer. Ile is
self-taught with his interest in photogra-
phy starting in 1960. By using a tripod
and a lot of patience, he has captured
some amazing pictures of nature in all its
glory.
The meeting part of the evening gave
an overview of the Society's finances and
strategic planning sessions. Garden Team
Captains were asked to go ahead and
organize the fall clean-up of the gardens
maintained by the Mort. Society. The (:113
colours for next season were shared along
with encouragement for everyone to be
thinking of a red and white thane for
their spring planting. Preparations for the
upcoming Annual General meeting to be
held on November 25th were discussed.
This will he a Christmas Dinner and
Annual General Meeting. It will consist of
a full -course turkey dinner, a short busi-
ness meeting and review of our accom-
plishments, a guest presenter will stake a
seasonal planter which will then he avail-
able for a draw. Tickets are now available
and cost $20.(X). 'they can be obtained at
our next meeting which is to be held on
the last Monday of this month, October
2tIth at 7pm. Attendees will have the
chance to hear Rose McCallum speak
about I lorticulture'lherapy.
'the (;BAILS welcomes everyone front
the community to join us at the Grand
Bend Legion for timely information along
with some fun and fellowship with other
garden enthusiasts. Doors open at 6:30
pm. Annual Membership is available for
purchase for only $10.00, Along with the
many perks of membership, it also offers
discounts from local growers which add
up to huge saving over the year.
!lope to see you October 28th,
Anne Wilson
Program Committee Chair,
say, all 20 varieties were clean and
healthy up to the end. Which will come
with the first 'hard' frost. Again, 1 tun
thankful for the rain and cool evening
temperatures.
Which brings me nicely hack to
'thanksgiving. It seems to me no coinci •
deuce that we stop to give thanks the
second full weekend of each October.
I'Ve have it magnificent harvest to
Grand Bend Chamber of Commerce
celebrate, fresh air, green s1)tt('t's, and all
of the wildlife that supports 1t to be
thankful for.
Mark Cullen appears on (afnada AIM
every tt'rllrresdl(y morning at 11:J0. Ill' is
spokesperson.lin. Home Ilard: vary fawn
and Garden. Sign ill) /or hisfree monthly
newsletter at N't('i(trrll(r'k('Nllen.eoni.
Call For Nominations
"Business of the Year;
"Entrepreneur of the Year"
and the "David Scatcherd
Community Spirit Award"
Grand Bend: 'the (rand Bend & Area (:hamher
of Commerce is now accepting nominations for
Business of the Year Award, Entrepreneur of the
Year Award and the David Scatcherd Community
Spirit Award to be presented at its Celebrate the
Season Business Awards Night on 'Thursday,
November 21, 2013 at I lessenlattd Country Inn,
72981 111uewater 11lghway, St. Joseph/Zurich,
Ontario.
Anyone In the Lampton Shores or surrounding
communities of South Huron, Bluewater or North
Middlesex may nominate a local business or entre-
preneur who is a (rand Bend & Area Chamber of
Commerce Member (directory of members:
Grandllend'Touristn.c'om/directory-of-chtunber-
members). Nominees for the David Scatcherd
Community Spirit Award must be a volunteer
active in the (rand Bend Area with any of the
local community groups, service ('Tubs or area
events.
Nomination Forms, with complete award crite-
ria, may be picked up from the Welcome Centre in
(rand Bend (1 Eighty One Crescent St.), Monday
to Saturday, noun to •Ipin or downloaded from the
website at Grand Bent1Tourism.com/tionlinitte• a
business and must be submitted b\' November 1,
2013.
(:eiebrate the Season liusi►e'ss Awards Night is
an opportunity to celebrate and recognize busi -
rtess savvy, creativity, customer service and the
business contributions to otir community along
%vial the opportunity to thank atter recognize an
outstanding volunteer.
For more information about Celebrate the Sea-
son Business Awards Night, contact Chamber
Manager Susan Mills at 519-23H-2001 or entail
htfo(/Pgrandhendtourisnt.com.
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