Footnotes to a Conversation, April 26, 2021
Women
In 19th century Great Britain, the artists and scientists were expected to be men. And yet, women found a way to contribute. Margaret Rebecca Dickinson produced a remarkable collection of dried plants and detailed wildflower watercolours that became a valuable addition to a natural history museum’s collection. Do take a look at her work as we wait impatiently for spring flowers in Saskatoon!
Our Bodies, Ourselves was first published 50 years ago. It was influential in the lives of so many women, myself included.
Food Equality
Reinventing Food Banks and Pantries: New Tools to End Hunger by Katie Martin is aimed at people working in food banks who want to improve the system: “What if our success is measured not simply by the pounds of food we distribute but by the reduction in people who need our services? Or the number of people who are connected to additional services? Or the number of people who make fewer trade-off decisions between paying for food, rent, or medicine. Or the number of people who have improved health outcomes based on the food and services they receive?” [book review]
Wine
From day one, BC’s Burrowing Owl Winery has made a huge effort to grow and produce environmentally sustainable wine. They’ve donated over $1 million to the Burrowing Owl Conservation Society of BC, installed bird houses and bat boxes as well as solar panelling on every possible surface. Many other BC wineries are following in their footsteps with a new association, Sustainable Winegrowing BC, certifying wineries.
Employment & Immigration
Unlike many other countries, Canada’s immigration system is highly decentralized with provincial governments, community groups, and employers playing a role in selecting economic migrants. “There are pathways to permanent residency and citizenship designed specifically for butchers, mushroom harvesters, and greenhouse workers; one that includes cleaners in Sudbury; one for long-haul truckers in British Columbia; others for international students who want to start businesses in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, or Saskatchewan; and still more for dozens of other tightly defined groups of workers in specific parts of the country.” It may be inefficient and susceptible to fraud, but it’s also the reason Canada is “winning a global competition for labour” and has the “highest public support for immigration of any country in the world.”
Lazy Gardening & Avocados
I’m a lazy houseplant gardener. I have 11 pots of amaryllis because they bloom beautifully in the spring, require no care, and reproduce with no help from me. I’m always reluctant to throw away the avocado seed when I’ve finished eating it. Now, Google it and you’ll get all sorts of instructions on how to start an avocado plant. My method is much simpler! Bury the bottom third in the dirt around another houseplant. Try and remember to water frequently. Be very patient, and voilà! A sprout emerges (sometimes).
Footnotes to a Conversation is a weekly Monday feature covering an assortment of topics that I’ve come across in the preceding week – books, art, travel, food, and whatever else strikes my fancy. If you share my love of nature, I suggest you also read EcoFriendly Sask that I publish in collaboration with my brother, Andrew.
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