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The Apple, and How it Gets That Way

Author: May 16, 2019

The Apple, and How it Gets That Way By Joan Hebb Have you ever really thought much about where apples come from? You might think that they are just like corn or flowers; plant a seed and you will have some apples. Well, apples are a little more interesting and complicated than that. Let’s explore the wild world of apples. Apples are part of the rose family and originated in Central Asia. They were brought to North America by European colonists hundreds of years ago. Apples have a purpose, beyond being a tasty snack for people and horses. Apples are…
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Grapevine on Government: Candidates and Nominees for Kings-Hants

Author: April 8, 2019

Grapevine on Government: Candidates and Nominees for Kings-Hants By Emily Kathan With a federal election on the horizon, and the February resignation of incumbent MP for Kings-Hants Scott Brison, there’s already a lot happening on the campaign trail in the Valley these days. We contacted all the candidates and nominees for Kings-Hants and asked them some questions about why they think they should be our next representative in Ottawa. While we made every effort to contact all those in the running, we were only able to include those who responded by press time. Responses appear in alphabetical order. Brogan Anderson,…
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Do you know my Country?

Author: April 8, 2019

Do you know my Country? By Alexandra López Yellow, blue, red The flag flutters in the wind That is my flag My people’s flag Do you know my country? Yellow for the sun, for the riches and the soil Blue is the courage, the water and the sky Red for the heroes who have fallen; red for freedom Do you know my country? My country is the beaches on the coast From the mountain range, Los Andes To the waterfall, Salto Angel Even the Amazon Rainforest Do you know my country? My country is the arepas And the hallacas for…
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Health, Wellness, and Libraries

Author: March 23, 2019

Health, Wellness, and Libraries By Angela J. Reynolds, AVRL Community Engagement Coordinator Research and old-fashioned common sense have conclusively determined that there is a direct correlation between the degree to which a person feels connected to others and their physical and mental health. There is a general feeling of increased happiness, vitality, energy, and satisfaction with life. When most people think of health and wellness, chances are the public library is not the first thing that comes to mind. However, over the past few years, public libraries have been playing an increasing role in supporting the physical, mental, and social…
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What’s Growing at the Harriet Irving Botanical Gardens: Coffee Bag Plants

Author: March 9, 2019

What’s Growing at the Harriet Irving Botanical Gardens: Coffee Bag Plants By Melanie Priesnitz, Conservation Horticulturist You can tell a lot about a person by looking at their recycling. If you’re a person who enjoys sampling local libations you will likely have a lot of glass bottles. If you’re a gardener, you’re apt to have an enormous pile of plastic plant pots. These are my guilty pleasures: brown glass bottles and small black and green thin plastic pots. I have made it my mission this year to only drink local beer that I can purchase in a refillable bottle and…
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Honouring Celtic Tradition with Local Materials

Author: March 9, 2019

Honouring Celtic Tradition with Local Materials By Anna Horsnell Judith Smith’s Celtic Goddess Jewellery is an expression of joy. A joyful passion she first discovered 23 years ago when she began studying Celtic spirituality. Judith was born in Windsor where her family has lived for seven generations. Thirty years ago she moved to Wolfville and worked as an assistant loans officer until a sudden environmental illness forced her into early retirement. It was a time to rethink her life, and her doctor recommended a book that might help. That book was Anam Cara, a classic of Celtic wisdom by the…
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Annapolis Valley Regional Library News

Author: January 12, 2019

Annapolis Valley Regional Library News The Best of Books for Kids and Teens Every year our resident expert in children’s books compiles “Best of” lists for children’s and teen books. Reading on her own, and recommending her favourites, as well as browsing the year-end booklists, Angela compiles lists for our Valley readers. Head to the library’s website at valleylibrary.ca, and click on “Book Room” on the toolbar. There you will find a drop down menu with links to booklists. Under “Kids’ Booklists” you’ll find lists of the best chapter books, picture books, and informational books of 2018. Under teen booklists,…
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The Box of Delights Presents: Ami McKay

Author: November 15, 2018

The Box of Delights Presents: Ami McKay By Desdemona Shaw In the Victorian tradition of Yuletide ghost stories, critically-acclaimed local author Ami McKay invites us to step back into the magical world of The Witches of New York in her newest book, Half Spent Was the Night. This enchanting tale is the perfect companion to the chill days and long nights of winter, reminding us of the hidden magic of the season. Set just after the events of the previous novel, mystery swirls around the three witches of New York as they contend with storms, demons, and the intrigue of…
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The Dome Chronicles: Apple Pie Time

Author: October 4, 2018

In 1972, a boxcar from Toronto containing a menagerie of farm animals and an eager young couple pulled into the station platform in Kingston, Nova Scotia. They were bound for a deserted hundred-acre farm on the South Mountain, determined to preserve the foundations of farmsteads past while constructing a geodesic dome. They were pioneers of the future, armed with respect for tradition and an irrepressible sense of humour. They didn’t call themselves farmers. They were back-to-the-landers. Farming was industry and their calling was sustainability. Over the next forty years, through flood and fire, triumph and catastrophe, they persevered, unwittingly sowing…
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The Dome Chronicles: Mr. Hill’s Opus

Author: September 26, 2018

The Dome Chronicles By Garry Leeson In 1972, a boxcar from Toronto containing a menagerie of farm animals and an eager young couple pulled into the station platform in Kingston, Nova Scotia. They were bound for a deserted hundred-acre farm on the South Mountain, determined to preserve the foundations of farmsteads past while constructing a geodesic dome. They were pioneers of the future, armed with respect for tradition and an irrepressible sense of humour. They didn’t call themselves farmers. They were back-to-the-landers. Farming was industry and their calling was sustainability. Over the next forty years, through flood and fire, triumph…
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