Could really feel the tranquility from your words and photographs... We have a gravel road or two like this even in built up suburban NJ, but there will be many many more like this when we move to Western Massachusetts soon. Looking forward to them now!
I bet it was beautiful. Shelter Valley Road long attracted me well before I moved to the area. Just looking north from the 401 was always very enticing.
It was at the corner of Craig Road and Northumberland heights drive. There was a huge hill with panoramic views of Lake Ontario. The whole area is beautiful
Thank you for reading. Writing is quite new for me. I mean, I know how to write, but I have had little opportunity to do it like this so your comment means a lot to me. Thank You.
Yes, a driving force in our plans to leave the city. Another would be Going Up The Country by Canned Heat. And as I think I've mentioned before.,We Gotta Get Out Of This Place by The Animals.
John, This is a wonderful essay on country living. It is a shame, though, that the small farms have been overtaken by large industrial concerns.
I just posted something that another Substacker wrote on Permaculture. I also posted on the 1970 book, The Greening of America? Do you remember it?
We had gravel roads where we lived in NH; yeah, they were a nuisance during mud season and sometimes dusty during the summer. But now I miss the dirt and gravel roads. We also had a family nearby, Rastafarians, who had a tiny farm and where we got fresh unpasteurized nonhomogenized milk and cheese. Best I ever tasted. He was a harp maker. Cheers to you, John.
We did a little animal hubandry when we moved here. We had chickens and goats for a while. The goats were an interesting experience and quite an eye opener. Most people have never thought about where milk comes from. What the sacrifices are to make it. I don't know how you can be a vegitatrian and drink milk, but I don't know how you can be a vegitarian anyways. People are so disconnected from how their food is made. EAting at restaurants and shopping at grocery stores tells you nothing. Growing your own is a great way to connect you again even if you only do it for a while.
Unlike you, I was never much of a reader. Not back then. I read more now, but I've never been much of a bookworm. I understand the appeal and the benefits. I just never gave it the time it deserved. I never had the patience and always considered myself a slow reader. Books were too much work and took too long. I have heard of the Greening of America as a cultural reference but don't know it from first hand experience. I just read an article revisiting the book and interviewing the author on CBC on its 40th Anniversary that is quite interesting. https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/the-greening-of-america-turns-40-1.913853
I'm glad our gravel road got paved. One of the worst things about gravel roads, in this area in particular, was the annual laying down of dust suppressant, a byproduct of the pulp and paper industry that saw black tar being spread on the roads. We called it 'squirrel piss 'and lobbied hard against it to no avail. It was cheap and helped out the Domtar plant in Trenton by getting rid of their sludge. Eventually, council capitulated and stopped using it but it took years for them to even consider not using it. There were many fears for what it was doing to our wells and wildlife. It was likely carcinogenic.
There are still some family farms in the area. Some of them are quite unique, raising organic products and selling from the farmgate. https://www.ontarioculinary.com/meet-laura-easter-of-roaming-valley-farms/ is a good example. This is the same farmer who last year we gave access to reach the property behind us by crossing our land. As with any industry there are good and bad apples. The Glovers are among the good guys and they are not alone in our area. But you will note if you go to that article that their small farm has 900 acres. This is not a small scale operation. They use big tractors and are involved in the little side of the big business of agriculture. But they buck the trends and are largely organic.
Then there are ventures like Artfarm. https://artfarmproduce.ca/ - Community supported agriculture. Lenni and Brad are also a full time artists. A good example of how small scale farming needs to be creative these days to survive.
Beautiful post, John. This is a great tribute to letting the land and natural environments heal themselves.
Thank you Heidi. And you’re right. I hadn’t thought of it that way.
Exploring…one of my favourite things to do!
Could really feel the tranquility from your words and photographs... We have a gravel road or two like this even in built up suburban NJ, but there will be many many more like this when we move to Western Massachusetts soon. Looking forward to them now!
I am so looking forward to how it changes you and how it will influence you. It's gonna be G-R-E-A-T! as the breakfast mascot says.
Very enjoyable read, John. Loved the photos too.
Thank you so much Mark. I appreciate you visit and kind remark.
Reminds me of the property I owned north of Grafton…
I bet it was beautiful. Shelter Valley Road long attracted me well before I moved to the area. Just looking north from the 401 was always very enticing.
It was at the corner of Craig Road and Northumberland heights drive. There was a huge hill with panoramic views of Lake Ontario. The whole area is beautiful
Now I’m going to have to go looking. Time for a topographic.
Lovely piece of writing. Thank you for sharing this world
Thank you for reading. Writing is quite new for me. I mean, I know how to write, but I have had little opportunity to do it like this so your comment means a lot to me. Thank You.
I forgot to memtion. Great song. I have not heard Out in the Country in decades.
Yes, a driving force in our plans to leave the city. Another would be Going Up The Country by Canned Heat. And as I think I've mentioned before.,We Gotta Get Out Of This Place by The Animals.
John, This is a wonderful essay on country living. It is a shame, though, that the small farms have been overtaken by large industrial concerns.
I just posted something that another Substacker wrote on Permaculture. I also posted on the 1970 book, The Greening of America? Do you remember it?
We had gravel roads where we lived in NH; yeah, they were a nuisance during mud season and sometimes dusty during the summer. But now I miss the dirt and gravel roads. We also had a family nearby, Rastafarians, who had a tiny farm and where we got fresh unpasteurized nonhomogenized milk and cheese. Best I ever tasted. He was a harp maker. Cheers to you, John.
We did a little animal hubandry when we moved here. We had chickens and goats for a while. The goats were an interesting experience and quite an eye opener. Most people have never thought about where milk comes from. What the sacrifices are to make it. I don't know how you can be a vegitatrian and drink milk, but I don't know how you can be a vegitarian anyways. People are so disconnected from how their food is made. EAting at restaurants and shopping at grocery stores tells you nothing. Growing your own is a great way to connect you again even if you only do it for a while.
Unlike you, I was never much of a reader. Not back then. I read more now, but I've never been much of a bookworm. I understand the appeal and the benefits. I just never gave it the time it deserved. I never had the patience and always considered myself a slow reader. Books were too much work and took too long. I have heard of the Greening of America as a cultural reference but don't know it from first hand experience. I just read an article revisiting the book and interviewing the author on CBC on its 40th Anniversary that is quite interesting. https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/the-greening-of-america-turns-40-1.913853
I'm glad our gravel road got paved. One of the worst things about gravel roads, in this area in particular, was the annual laying down of dust suppressant, a byproduct of the pulp and paper industry that saw black tar being spread on the roads. We called it 'squirrel piss 'and lobbied hard against it to no avail. It was cheap and helped out the Domtar plant in Trenton by getting rid of their sludge. Eventually, council capitulated and stopped using it but it took years for them to even consider not using it. There were many fears for what it was doing to our wells and wildlife. It was likely carcinogenic.
There are still some family farms in the area. Some of them are quite unique, raising organic products and selling from the farmgate. https://www.ontarioculinary.com/meet-laura-easter-of-roaming-valley-farms/ is a good example. This is the same farmer who last year we gave access to reach the property behind us by crossing our land. As with any industry there are good and bad apples. The Glovers are among the good guys and they are not alone in our area. But you will note if you go to that article that their small farm has 900 acres. This is not a small scale operation. They use big tractors and are involved in the little side of the big business of agriculture. But they buck the trends and are largely organic.
Then there are ventures like Artfarm. https://artfarmproduce.ca/ - Community supported agriculture. Lenni and Brad are also a full time artists. A good example of how small scale farming needs to be creative these days to survive.
Yes, city people tend to not know where our food comes from. I forgot about the dust supressant; nasty stuff.