March 10, 2009

ince I have moved, I have been able to get involved in (and actually have time to participate in) a wonderful agricultural community. In the last two months I have been working with Agriculture Canada who teamed up with me on a project, which has now grow to 4 of us putting on an event; working with a food security group, a local community root cellar, as well as the Farmer's Market and a community operated business. Today I was at a meeting all day for one of those groups and it was very informative. There were 30-some people present and all from the agricultural sector. It is nice making so many wonderful contacts. I even found someone who is as gung-ho about minority livestock as I am and they very well may be my new source for seedstock for purebred hogs. I am going to out to visit their ranch when the weather gets a little warmer. Currently it is -14C out and the pellet stove died yet again while I was out. Did I mention I hate the thing and will fight tooth and nail to never have another one? I am sitting here typing at you in a parka. Really.

While I was at the meeting, I found out that Dawson Creek, BC, where one of my friends lives, they are getting a co-operative wind generator for their power needs. I need to look into that a little more, but evidently it is community owned.

Evening Update: Warm again. Bren finally admitted he liked a woodstove better too, but he had no choice about putting one in here. He said he liked the technology of the pellet stove, the ambience with the flame and he liked that it used reclaimed materials which would have otherwise gone to waste. When it runs it runs and when it doesn't it doesn't. "B" came over for dinner last night, walked in the door, said "OMG" and pretty much everyone wore their jackets until the second course. Ah well, keeps life interesting and at least all the plants are upright still.