There’s nothing quite as delicious as biting into an apple that you’ve grown in your own backyard. Something so satisfying about knowing exactly where it’s come from and how it’s been tended to. And although it would be nice if we could grow whatever we wanted; there are certain types of fruits that just don’t do well in our climate. You aren’t going to see a lot of mango trees here in Ontario. Now that you are starting to see the trees ripe with different fruits, ready for the picking, I thought I would take a moment to discuss what I consider to be the five best fruit trees to plant in Ontario. The ones that are likely to yield the best harvest for you.
Pears Pear trees fit nicely into any backyard, require little care, and their fruit is downright tasty. Pears generally have fewer pest issues than other sorts of fruit trees, and although they can take anywhere from 3-10 years to bear fruit once they start producing they have a very long lifespan. Pear trees should be planted in the early spring in a full-sun area of your yard and one that has decent airflow. One thing to keep in mind with pear trees however is that they are not self-pollinating so you would need two cultivators to make sure you yield fruit. Pears are at the peak for harvest in the early fall; from the end of August to October. Cherries Cherries are not only a delicious fruit, their trees are beautiful in the spring when they are covered in white or pink blossoms, adding a great aesthetic to anyone’s yard. There are two basic kinds of cherry trees, sweet and sour, so know which one you are planting since sour cherries are not meant to be eaten raw; although they can handle colder growing climates. Cherry trees don’t generally require much pruning as they tend to thin themselves out in the spring. They do however benefit from a lot of moisture so applying a mulch coating around the base in the spring is recommended. Cherries are ripe when they have turned a deep red color, typically in late June or early July. One thing to note about picking cherries, it is best to cut them from the tree with pruning scissors, as the stems that attach them to the tree are a bit fragile. Plums Less demanding than some other kinds of trees, plum trees are great for first-time planters. They don’t require a lot of upkeep and are a fairly hardy type of tree able to survive in even colder areas like Northern Ontario. When planting a plum tree look for a spot that gets at least six hours of sun during the day and does have well-draining soil with not too much clay. If you can find a sheltered spot to avoid significant wind it will also be beneficial. They do need some light thinning in the spring to avoid breakage from the weight of the fruit but other than that are a self-sustaining tree. And plums have a very long harvest season. You can expect to be able to be picking plums from your tree anywhere from May all the way to October. That’s a lot of plums. Peaches Delicious juicy peaches, their fragrance just fills the air. Peach trees are a great choice when looking to plant a fruit tree in your backyard. Depending on the type you choose they can handle climates as cold as -28 degrees Celsius. Peach trees are best planted in the early spring once the ground has thawed. You’ll want to select a sight with full sun, especially morning sun, that has decent drainage. The great part about peach trees is that they are self-fertilizing so most of the time you will not have to do anything extra for fruit to be produced. They do need regular pruning to stay healthy, but the crop they yield will be worth it. You would typically be able to pick your peaches from the tree in July or August. Apples Probably the very best fruit tree you could choose would be the apple. They are hardy trees designed to stand up to the elements of nature, can handle hot and cold temperatures, and there are over 100 different varieties; depending on whether you are looking for cooking apples, snacking on apples, sweet or sour, crunchy is a bit soft. Apple trees can grow in large yards or smaller spaces as well. And unlike other types of trees that should only be planted in the spring, you can plant apple trees in the fall. They do well in moderately rich soil that isn’t too wet, and they do best when they receive at least six hours of sun daily. Be sure to regularly water younger trees to make sure their roots grow deep. Apple trees don’t require a ton of pruning, but they are prone to pests; so it is worth looking into natural pesticides if you are hoping for a significant crop. They too have a decent harvest season, stretching anywhere from August into October. Hamilton, Ontario may not be the first city that comes to mind when thinking of great food destinations in Canada, but this industrial city is home to a burgeoning culinary scene that is sure to surprise and delight foodies of all kinds. With its diverse population and proximity to the rich agricultural regions of Southern Ontario, Hamilton boasts a unique culinary identity that draws from both local traditions and global influences.
One of the best ways to discover Hamilton's culinary scene is by exploring its vibrant farmers' markets. The Hamilton Farmers' Market, located in the heart of downtown, is a must-visit for anyone looking to experience the best of the city's local produce, meats, cheeses, and baked goods. The market has been in operation since 1837 and features over 60 vendors selling everything from fresh fruits and vegetables to artisanal chocolates and handcrafted breads. Be sure to stop by the Cheese Shoppe for a taste of the region's famous cheddars and blues, or grab a fresh juice or smoothie from the Juice Bar. Another great way to sample the flavors of Hamilton is by checking out the city's many eclectic eateries. For a taste of authentic Italian cuisine, head to Romano's Ristorante, a family-owned restaurant that has been serving up classic dishes like pasta carbonara and chicken parmigiana for over 40 years. For something a bit more contemporary, check out The Burnt Tongue, a cozy spot that specializes in gourmet soups and sandwiches. The menu changes daily, so you're always in for a surprise. If you're a fan of craft beer, be sure to visit Merit Brewing, which offers a rotating selection of house-brewed beers and delicious small plates like crispy fried chicken sandwiches and wood-fired pizzas. Hamilton is also known for its thriving food truck scene, which can be found at various locations throughout the city. One of the most popular trucks is Gorilla Cheese, which serves up a variety of gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches that are sure to satisfy even the most discerning cheese-lover. For something a bit more exotic, check out the MeatVentures food truck, which specializes in global street food like Korean fried chicken and Japanese-style ramen. Finally, no exploration of Hamilton's culinary scene would be complete without a visit to Cake and Loaf Bakery. This local favorite offers an array of delectable baked goods, from flaky croissants to savory meat pies to indulgent chocolate cakes. Everything is made from scratch using local, seasonal ingredients, so you know you're getting the freshest possible flavors. If you're looking for a food destination that offers something a bit different from the usual suspects, be sure to put Hamilton, Ontario on your list. With its diverse culinary offerings and passionate food community, this city is sure to leave you full and satisfied. If you’re going to take a crack at gardening and growing your own crops, start out with herbs! Herbs are a great reminder that it doesn’t take much to make a big and wonderful difference in your everyday life. They’re the MVPs of the garden. What’s more? You can even grow them inside.
You can use them in cooking, teas, aromatherapy, homemade skincare, and even as a key element in a pollinator garden. As a matter of fact, once you start growing and cooking with fresh herbs, you’ll never go back to their dry cousins. If you’re going to grow anything as a beginner, let it be herbs. They will most certainly change your life. Bring cuttings and divisions inside to grow on sunny windowsills throughout the season, or start a fresh batch of herbs in small containers from either seeds or starts. But here are some tips for success: Keep a few basic principles in mind when growing any plant, whether that’s inside or outside. Tip 1: Locate the sunniest window or area where grow lights can easily be placed, such as under existing kitchen cabinets perhaps. How much sun does your sunniest window receive on an average day? Plants requiring full sun need a minimum of 6-8 hours of sun a day in order to thrive, while plants that tolerate partial sun need a minimum of 4-6 hours of sun a day. Tip 2: Always plant in containers that have good drainage. It’s okay to use a decorative drain without holes. This will help protect indoor surfaces but plan to plant in containers with drainage that then fit inside said the chosen planter. This way water runs freely, ensuring your plants aren’t waterlogged. Tip 3: Work with the best possible potting soil you can find. An organic potting mix designed for containers high in organic matter and peat-free is ideal. Tip 4: Begin with a handful of plants, like the ones you cook with the most. If you find yourself reaching for parsley – grow parsley. If a dash of fresh cilantro is the flavour you like, grow cilantro. Start with two to five plants while working out your system and keep in mind, you don’t need to grow all the food you eat. Think of your indoor garden as a method of augmenting and inspiring your everyday cooking. 10 of the easiest herbs to grow indoors The list below is a great launchpad for beginners looking for herbs to grow. These are plants that have proven themselves to be easy growers. They’re tolerant of growing in confined spaces and variable conditions. My hope is that this list will narrow down your plant selection, providing immediate success and enjoyment.
Other edibles to consider growing indoors
It’s hard to keep up with all the outdoor gear these days.
Even the simplest of sports, like running, has expanded into a seemingly endless wealth of options including clothes, hats, hydration packs, socks and many more things I’m sure I don’t know about. And then there’s fly fishing, a sport that revels in the small details of lures and equipment. So in a way, the desire to always have more toys has a long pedigree with fly fishing. Add to that trend the explosion of modern technology — and you’ve got a recipe for lots of gear on a fly fisherman’s wish list. Here are some of the fly fishing gifts I would suggest checking out. Fly Tying Kit - Orvis Tying flies is easily one of the most attractive parts of the sport for many fishermen. Even for lifetime anglers, catching a fish with a fly you tied yourself brings a special satisfaction. But few kits for tying flies come with all the bells and whistles of the Orvis Fly Tying Kit. At nearly $200, this kit doesn’t come cheap, but it has everything you need to hit the streams with your own flies. Even veterans looking for a new kit will want to check this out. Tenkara Rod Co. - Beartooth Everybody needs to start somewhere, and few companies offer a better beginner fly fishing kit than Tenkara. In fact, the company is also beloved by pro-level fishermen, but the Beartooth kit doesn’t throw you in the deep end — it’s basic with the point of learning the fundamentals. At about $225, it’s reasonably priced and it won’t break in two weeks. You’ll get many hours of fun on the river out of this fly fishing kit. With a rod, fly, lures, and more, you get everything you need to hit the creek right in a condensed package. Wading Boots - Korkers If you’ve already been fly fishing for a while, and you feel like a small but significant upgrade, consider your boots. If you’re like lots of other fly fishing beginners, it’s very likely that you’re still wearing some DIY or secondhand version of actual wading boots. If so, Korkers brand wading boots are worth a look. They come with interchangeable soles for different water conditions. When the soles wear out, you simply replace them — not the boot. In the long run, this will save you money on boots, it’s environmentally conscious, and — most important — they’re some of the best boots a fly fisherman can use. They’re available in sizes for both men and women. Fishing Kayaks and Canoes - Old Town And finally we get to the gift that every fisherman, from raw beginner to seasoned veteran, would want to take on their next fishing trip. The answer is a fishing kayak. And not just any fishing kayak, but if you want to get the best, you should check out the kayaks from Old Town. The Sportsman line, which has several models ranging in price, is probably the best fly fishing kayak out there. But the most amazing model is the Sportsman AutoPilot, which won Best of Show at ICAST last year. It doesn’t require paddling or peddling — just a remote control and a small motor. If James Bond enjoyed fly fishing, I’m pretty sure he would be doing it with this boat. Stay tuned for more of my thoughts, suggestions — and possibly dubious anecdotes — on the beautiful sport of fly fishing. You know what your grandpa says about always having room in your stomach for dessert? I believe that to be true. As someone who loves food, and loves exposing my friends and family to new foods, dessert is just as important as all those savoury, meal-time dishes.
The best thing to do after a meal is find a good dessert place, and the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) has some of the best. From French to Japanese to fusion, these dessert places probably have what you’re looking for: sweet and decadent desserts to fulfil those cravings. 1. Bang Bang Ice Cream & Bakery | 93A Ossington Ave, Toronto, ON M6J 2Z2 Whether you’re looking to indulge in an ice cream sandwich, cookies or an entire pint of house-made ice cream, Bang Bang Ice Cream & Bakery has everything from baked goods to interesting flavours of ice cream. They offer flavours like “Golden Oreo” and “Burnt Toffee,” with the option of eating it from a cup, a waffle cone or in one of their fresh cookies as a sandwich. Not feeling ice cream? That’s totally fine, you can purchase their cookies by themselves or a cinnamon roll. Make sure you plan when you visit Bang Bang, the line to get your hands on their delicious desserts is usually around the block. 2. Daan Go Cake Lab | 241 Spadina Ave., Toronto, ON M5T 3A8 Opened by Canada’s 2021 Masterchef on season 7 of the show, Christopher Siu wanted to combine his East Asian Heritage with his upbringing in the west to create tasty desserts. Daan Go Cake Lab makes edible treats like macarons with faces, tiramisu, and different flavours of cakes, as well as drinks like Thai milk tea and a cold brew espresso: creamy Tira-Meow-Su. You can also buy entire cakes for special occasions and novelty treats like cake in the shape of a succulent plant or a bathtub. 3. Dainties Macaron | 235 Spadina Ave. Unit 2, Toronto, ON M5T 2E2 Unlike many other dessert places, Dainties Macaron focuses on one single food: macarons. With over 20 varieties of macarons, you can choose from East Asian-influenced treats like the Vietnamese Coffee and Hong Kong Milk Tea flavours, or pick a branded flavour like Oreo and Froot Loops Milk. What’s unique about Dainties Macaron is the macaron ice cream sandwich. They are constantly adding new flavours, so it’s worth going over there more than once. 4. Fugo Desserts | 265 Queen St W, Toronto, ON M5V 1Z4 To inspire their unique desserts, Fugo Desserts draws from flavours around the world to bring you a new experience with every taste. Originally Fugo served ice cream only, but has since expanded to a diverse range of treats. Among their ice creams are fruity and creamy options like Tropical Paradise, the classes Cookies N’ Cream or the Boba Flotea HK. Fugo also specialises in mini doughnuts with flavours like Cookie Monster, Strawberry Pocky and Creme Brulee. While you’re there, try one of their drinks, which include teas, coffees and juices. 5. Mon K Patisserie | 1040 Coxwell Ave, East York, ON M4C 3G5 Looking for more of a flour-based snack? Check out Mon K Pâtisserie located in East York. Mon K is changing their menu every season, so you never know what new pastry you’re going to find with each visit. You can expect dessert classics like buttery croissants flavoured with chocolate or powdered sugar, creamy eclairs and a variety of cakes. Scottish Highland cattle are a hardy breed of rustic that originated in the Scottish Highland the Outer Hebrides islands of Scotland. They are known for their long horns and shaggy coats, which help them to withstand cold temperatures in the region. The first Scottish Highland herd dates back to just 1885. This breed of cattle is descended from the Hamitic Longhorn, which was brought to Britain by Neolithic farmers before Christ was born. The 1885 herd book describes two distinct types of Scottish Highland cattle. One was known as the West Highland or Kyloe, which lived mostly in the Outer Hebrides. These cattle were smaller and had black coats. The other type of Scottish Highland cattle described in the original herd book was known as the mainland, which was larger and ranged in color, but most frequently were reddish. The two types of Scottish Highland cattle have been crossbred so much over the years that there really is no longer a difference between the two; there is just one variant of Scottish Highland cattle today. Canada’s Scottish Highland Cattle Scottish Highland Cattle were first imported to Canada in the 1880s, shortly after the breed’s origination. Donald A. Smith, the Lord Strathcona of Winnipeg, Manitoba, and Robert Campbell of Strathclair, Manitoba, each imported one bull. Scottish Highland cattle were also brought to Nova Scotia in the 1880s. But the cattle’s numbers were small until the 1920s, when large-scale breeding and more importing began. The Canadian Highland Cattle Society was registered in 1964; it currently registers all purebred cattle in Canada. Today, Scottish Highland cattle are primarily found in eastern Canada. There are an estimated 11,000 Scottish Highland cattle in Canada and the United States combined. Their specs Scottish Highland cattle have long, wide horns and long, wavy, wooly coats. About 60 percent of their population is reddish brown, 22 percent are yellow and the rest are silver, black or brindle/dun. Whatever their color, Scottish Highland cattle sport an unusual double coat of hair. On the outside, they have oily outer hair – the longest of any cattle breed, which covers a downy undercoat. This makes them comfortable in the Highlands, which sometimes have strong winds and a lot of rain each year. Bulls can weigh up to 800 kilograms and heifers can weigh up to 500 kilograms. They typically measure from 90 to 120 centimeters. Socially, the cattle have a hierarchy of dominance, which reduces aggression between cows. According to studies of Scottish Highland cattle, social standing within the herd depends on age and sex, with older, male cows being the most dominant. Commercial market The beef from Scottish Highland cattle is extremely tender, making it desirable. It is lean, but well marbled and usually rated as “premium beef.” But the market for high-quality meat is in decline. That’s due at least in part because pure Scottish Highland beef commands a premium price due to its fine texture, succulent flavor and high protein content. Studies in Scotland have found that Scottish Highland meat is lower in both fat and cholesterol than chicken. It’s also high in iron. Farming Scottish Highland cattle is not intensive. They usually graze on land that is not suitable for growing food. Thus, Scottish Highland cattle farming is considered to be highly environmentally sustainable. “Carolinian” is a term most commonly used in Canada to describe the deciduous or broad-leaf forests that span much of eastern North America, from the Carolinas in the United States northward to Southern Ontario.
Carolinian forests are lush, benefiting from wet summers and mild, snowy winters. They are home to the tulip poplar, a beautiful flower found only in these kinds of woods, as well as migratory birds, tropical cicadas and monarch butterflies, not to mention rare tree species. On the triangular peninsula south of Ontario, a haven for Carolinian forests, there are more rare or threatened species than in any other Canadian biozone. Carolinian Canada makes up only 1 percent of Canada’s total land area – but an estimated 2,200 species of herbaceous plants are found there, including 64 species of ferns, more than 130 sedge species at 110 species of grasses and 70 species of trees, like the American elm, the American chestnut, the red pine and scot pine. In all, the “Carolinian life zone,” contains one third of the rare, threatened and endangered species found in Canada. Some of the most rare species that live in the area include trees like the Pawpaw, Blue Ash, Tulip and the Kentucky Coffee Tree; herbaceous plants like the Green Dragon, Harbinger-of-Spring, Yellow Mandarin and Swamp Rose Mallow; shrubs such as the Burning Bush and the Rough-leaved Dogwood, Canada’s only cactus, the Eastern Prickly Pear; birds such as the Acadian Flycatcher, the Prothonotary and Hooded Warblers, Tufted Titmouse and Louisiana Watertrush; reptiles and amphibians like Blanchards’s Cricket Frog, the Lake Erie Water Snake and the Blue Racer snake; and the rare southern Flying Squirrel. For centuries, humans have inhabited this area and farmed it, including members of the Iroquois Confederacy, whose political philosophy influenced the drafting of the U.S. Constitution. When Europeans began to settle the region in the 19th Century, the forest and its unusual wildlife spooked the immigrants, who cleared the forest en masse, leading to its endangered status today. In the 1800s, hunters killed 400 black bears in the neighbourhood of Point Pelee in a single season! That’s why nature lovers like me have taken it upon ourselves to cultivate old Carolinian forests. I love trees; I maintain an orchard of plum, apple, pear and cherry trees on my 100-acre farm in Ancaster, a historic town in the city of Hamilton, Ontario. But there’s something special and satisfying about raising so-called “antique” trees like Tulip trees and Kentucky coffee trees. When I tend to them, it feels like I’m helping to regrow a part of our region’s past, a past that so desperately needs preserving. |
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AuthorStephen Gleave of Ancaster, Ontario is a lawyer and a nature lover. Archives
January 2023
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