The source of seeds
RD: Has Rural Delivery thought of doing a story on the seed business, both international and local? Apparently there are two or three companies in the world which own most of the seed businesses. Seeds are grown in large acreages all over the world, maybe South Africa, maybe Israel, depending on climate for maximum production. Seed companies large and small order from these sources, then grow the seeds out in trials to see which ones work best in our climate. 
    To make ends meet, some small local seed companies may also be ordering some of their seeds from the same sources, repackaging, and not saying much about it. If you go to a Seedy Saturday event assuming that all seeds on offer are grown locally, you may be wrong. Some are and some aren’t. Apparently there’s more money in merchandising than in growing seed. 
Catherine Pross
Indian Path, Lunenburg, N.S.

(Catherine: A good suggestion. I am reminded of an account in a recent issue of Farming magazine (Mount Hope, Ohio) from a young intern on an organic farm in the U.S. who had to quit his good job when he was expected to repackage produce from far off places to look as if it was local farm-grown.  It may be worth simply looking the purveyor in the eye and asking, where was this grown? Where does this seed come from? DvL)

Getting rid of voles
RD: Does any reader have a suggestion for removing voles from a garden? We do not have, nor do we wish to have, a cat. We do not wish to use poison. We would like our share of the potato crop, which the voles put a considerable dent in last summer. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Bruce Blakemore
Purgatory Point, N.S.

(Bruce, I think of the late Arthur Vesey, founder of Vesey’s Seeds, who, when I asked what to do to about Corn ear worms, replied, “Grow more corn.” That way there would be enough to go around. I look forward to reading about what others do. DvL)

Taking time
RD: What an excellent article “Efficient enough” (RD Dec. 2015). Right on, extremely important to remember. It goes along with making time to sit and stare with mouth open in appreciation of a rainy day during haying, or a snow day when all the kids stayed home.
Marty Alpert
Antigonish, N.S.

Pleasure to read
RD: I just have to tell you that Gary L. Saunders’ article “Mars, anyone” (RD Nov. 2015) is about the best I’ve read on our collective situation on planet earth. It was so well-written, informative without ranting, and a pleasure to read and to contemplate. Rural Delivery continues to surprise and delight this Alberta subscriber (married to a Cape Bretoner). Thank You!  
“Bob’n the dogs” Chelmick
Onoway, Alta.

What comes around gets around
RD: This is a super magazine and when I am finished reading it from cover to cover – my brother is eagerly waiting for it. He enjoys it as much as I do! Many thanks and keep up the good work!
L. Robertson
Antigonish, N.S.

Dear L. Robertson, so very pleased you share your magazine with your brother. It would be fun to hear from other subscribers who share their copy around, and see if we can find the one copy that goes to the most households. DvL

Tenant farming returns?
RD: An issue plaguing agriculture today is how to encourage new and/or young people to become involved within the industry, and how can they be helped to succeed. A scheme that has been quite successful in the UK is “farm letting,” or “tenant farming.” For example, the UK National Trust, which owns 255,000 hectares in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, lets out 60 percent of their land to farmers, with the goal of supporting sustainable agriculture and to ensure that there are enthusiastic and skilled people involved with farming for generations to come.

Boring worm

RD: With reference to Patricia Thornley’s letter (“What’s killing apple trees?” Sept. RD), it sounds like she has a case of Apple tree borer, of which there are several, but most common around Nova Scotia.

    What you need to is get your trusty pocketknife sharp and put your Sherlock hat on. Take the top of the knife and cut away at the hole where the sawdust-like stuff is coming out. Remove the bark and follow the mined holes until you find the grub at the end. (The borer eats away at the cambium layer at will, eventually choking the tree to death.) 

Rural schools clobbered
    Chignecto Central Regional School Board’s closure of Maitland, Wentworth, and River John schools (as of June 10) caused resignation and anger: resignation because N.S. Education Minister Karen Casey stated there was no appeal process, although communities were told otherwise; and anger at the betrayal of rural communities.
    Essentially committees of volunteers did the heavy lifting to develop rural hub schools that the board and the department should have done – with all its professional and highly-paid resources, and with information that it gave up only through a freedom of information application. Community volunteers tried to raise funds to repair and operate the schools, although they already pay taxes and the board deliberately delayed building maintenance for years while costs increased.

Who’s got the fat bean?
RD: In the May 2015 issue the Marrowfat bean is mentioned on pages 42 and 43 (photo). I am wondering if you know of anyone who can supply the seed for this bean. We have been talking with folks who say this is the best for baking and would like to be able to supply them with it and also try it ourselves.
Darlene Sutherland
Dover, N.B.

(Darlene,  Bruce Partidge who wrote “Beans are everywhere. .  .” found the Marrowfat bean at Hope Seeds in Granville Ferry, N.S., last year but not this. In reply to your question he writes, “I discovered that the Marrowfat bean is sold by the Victory seed Co. In Molalla, Oregon, 503-829-3126, and by the Vermont Bean Seed Co. in Randolph, Wisconsin, 1-800-349-1071. Hope Seeds could well have them again next year.”  DvL

Well circulated
RD: Please find enclosed a cheque for a three year subscription to Rural Delivery. I pass each issue on to my mother, who says it reminds her of the Family Herald. It next goes to a lady who is in a seniors’ home so each issue is enjoyed by many. My mother is 92 and often remarks that old habits (composting, canning, recycling) are coming back, giving her hope for generations to come. Continued success to all.
Thelma Phillips
Ellerslie, P.E.I.

(Thelma, we like to hear about copies of Rural Delivery getting passed around. I wonder what individual subscriber copy gets handed off to the greatest number of readers. DvL) 

A favorite tool
RD:  Please thank Hélène Redden for continuing with handmowing (see photo RD Nov.14), and yourselves for pursuing handmowing (a favorite small farm tool of mine – the scythe). For this reason I will renew my subscription. I know the publishing game is tough.
Rusty Ephemeris
Cheltenham, Ont.

(Rusty: Thank you for writing, and for your renewal. Maybe you can help satisfy a question Peter Redden has raised. That is if our annual Maritime Handmowing Championships is the one and only event of its kind in Canada. We know of two in New England, and of several in the U.K. and Europe, but no others this side of the border. DvL)

A winning way of life
RD: We have been receiving your magazine for about 20 years and we keep every one. I find them to be a great resource and cannot bring myself to throw any of them out. My husband, Russell, and I raised our four boys on my husband’s ancestral home in Copper Lake, Antigonish County. 
    We gave up the sheep in 1994. He is 77 and I am 68 and we still run a cow-calf and small blueberry operation. Our lovely silver Charolais are our pride and joy and we love our way of life, labor intensive though it is. It is so good to have a publication that we can relate to.
Keep up the great work.
Marjorie MacHattie
Goshen, N.S.

Easy on fuel
RD: This tractor I took a picture of on a rural drive in New Brunswick is made entirely of bales of hay with steering wheel and hubcaps added on. I love your paper and when I move in the spring I shall continue to get it.
Esther Bradley
Cherry Burton, N.B.

Another fool?
RD: We moved to Annapolis Royal from Southern Saskatchewan just over two years ago and live across Hwy. 201 from neighbors Ron and Rosalind Purdy who graciously allow my Standard poodle “Dancer” and me to walk up the mountains on their woodlot road. 

Mowing in style
RD: I built a tractor from a heap of parts from a 1941 Willys jeep – crank, radiator, carburetor, coil, steering system including steering wheel, water pump, shifting lever, and head with original spark plugs. Its gas tank, fenders, and air filter are from Allis Chalmers tractors. 
    The brake and clutch peddles, draw bar, hydraulic levers, and gas control are off I.H. tractors, plus lots of chain drivers from an I.H. grain drill. There’s an “ooga” horn also on it. 

Key to good cheese
RD: A couple of years ago I got interested in making my own cheese. After reading several books on the subject I tried my hand using store-bought liquid, and even powdered milk, often mixed with cream. The resultant cheeses varied from passable to quite good but I’m convinced that my success is severely limited by the milk.

Big trees, butt

RD: I was visiting some old friends in Jolicure, N.B., and found a copy of RD. I was struck by the great articles about fracking and egg production (Jan.-Feb. RD). I was also prompted to measure my apple trees when I got home after reading the letters describing large old apple trees.

Expert Panel seeks input

RD: As an active opponent to fracking, I very much appreciated Jack MacAndrew’s recent article, “A Fracking Mess” (Jan-Feb 2014). Unfortunately, MacAndrew did not mention the Expert Panel on Hydraulic Fracturing in Nova Scotia. All citizens, termed stakeholders of N.S., but from outside N.S. as well, are asked to submit their concerns about – or interest in – fracking by the end of March 2014.