Columnists

Hybrid grapes

Posted: Jul 24, 2025 at 9:46 am   /   Columnists

The grape species that is used to produce most of the wine you consume is called vitis vinifera. The grapes originate from Europe and include most of the varieties you already know: chardoanny, sauvignon blanc, riesling, cabernet sauvignon, etc. These species of vines don’t much care for cold weather. At minus 25 degrees celsius, they […]

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Cheers!

Posted: Jul 24, 2025 at 9:42 am   /   Columnists

Half-past July and finally the rain is falling on the day after my birthday. Today, Sunday the 20th of July, I am one day older and officially an old person. I know I’m old because recently I looked at an empty cardboard box and seriously wondered if it was good enough to keep because “you […]

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Mowing

Posted: Jul 24, 2025 at 9:41 am   /   Columnists

For the last few articles I’ve been trying to help you grow a better lawn. In this last piece, I am wrapping it up with mowing. Growing a good lawn means nothing if you don’t know how to care for it. When cutting your grass, there are a few things to know. First, we generally […]

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Labracadabra-dor and Newfoundland

Posted: Jul 17, 2025 at 12:39 pm   /   Columnists

What if? What if the entire, thinking world stopped reacting to what DJT says or does? What if we just stopped listening to him ramble on incoherently? What if the big corporations and the governments around the globe simply tuned him out? Would he go away? Speaking of going away and tuning out. LOML and […]

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Wines of Ontario

Posted: Jul 17, 2025 at 12:37 pm   /   Columnists

There are three main regions where grapes are grown to produce wines in Ontario: Lake Erie North Shore, Niagara Peninsula and Prince Edward County. Each is different and within each appellation there are countless variations on a theme. For example, The north shore of Lake Erie is much further south than the others and has […]

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Careful what you watch for

Posted: Jul 17, 2025 at 12:33 pm   /   Columnists

There seems to be a lot of negativity out there. But not for me. I’m kind of an optimist, and find the good in the middle of bad. For example, when I blew a tire, which pulled me off the road, I was thankful I didn’t roll into the ditch. While changing the tire, it […]

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Wines of Nova Scotia

Posted: Jul 10, 2025 at 9:55 am   /   Columnists

Many might be surprised to learn that there are wine grapes grown on the east coast of our country in Nova Scotia. It is even home to Canada’s only appellation wine, Tidal Bay. Tidal Bay is the first and only wine appellation in North America that specifically designates a wine style based on a region’s […]

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Let’s talk about grass

Posted: Jul 10, 2025 at 9:53 am   /   Columnists

It’s that time of year when we all become a little obsessed about our lawns. This also happens to be the time that I start getting thousands of questions about grass. So for my next few articles, I think its about time to put all of my knowledge out there so that you can grow […]

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My old friends

Posted: Jul 10, 2025 at 9:51 am   /   Columnists

Old friends are the best, aren’t they!? I am blessed with a few old friends. People I met when we first came to The County in the 70s I consider Old County Friends. But I have several friends I’ve know for sixty-five years and one I’ve know for over seventy years. Do any of us […]

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BC wines

Posted: Jul 3, 2025 at 10:23 am   /   Columnists

I hope that everyone had a wonderful Canada Day celebration and gave pause to reflect on the diversity that in so many ways defines this country. From ocean to ocean to ocean the breadth of offerings, experiences and people in Canada is unparalleled elsewhere in the world. That unique diversity is a magical feature about […]

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