Letters – Our Readers Write: Summer 2023

We welcome your comments! For more reader commentary or to add your own thoughts to any of the stories, please add a comment or email [email protected]. Be sure to include your name, address and contact information.

Tree reverence

I found the 2011 article “Meetings with Remarkable Trees” [In Retrospect spring ’23] online. It includes a segment on a black walnut tree on Main Street in Alton. I am the current owner of the property and the tree. We had the tree pruned last spring and it’s still in good health – for 190 years old! I have attached a photo from roughly the same angle as was in the article. – Mike Reidy, Alton

A remarkable, 190-year-old black walnut in Alton.

I agree that trees are an essential resource [Country Living 101: “Tree Talk” spring ’23], and to back my opinion I’ve planted about 25,000 tree seedlings on a farm I bought for the purpose. They comprise over two dozen kinds, arranged in a managed forest of about 48 acres. Last fall I planted 100 American chestnut seedlings, and last spring 60 seedlings of four varieties. This spring I’ll plant another 60 seedlings, filling in spaces.

Credit Valley Conservation has been very helpful, planting about 1,600 seedlings for me at very low cost. I also bought seedlings from the Grand River Conservation Authority in Cambridge, Somerville Nursery in Everett and from my township, for genetic diversity. Forests Ontario were initially helpful with advice, until they advocated tree-cutting bylaws that are bad for both farmers and foresters.

Spring and fall are not just the best seasons in which to plant, they are the only seasons, as they offer damp, well-watered soil. As for care and maintenance, farmer services such as watering, mulching, watering, grass suppression, fertilizing and watering are essential labours for a large tree planting.  – Charles Hooker, East Garafraxa

Post office memories

I have just been fortunate to be handed a copy of your fall ’22 issue. Mention is made of the Amaranth Post Office [Historic Hills: “The Rise and Fall of the Rural Post Office”] in a lovely old brick farm house. My mother, then Lulu Cavell (m. Cain in 1927), taught at Amaranth College for several years up to 1927.

Teacher Lulu Cavell at Amaranth College in the 1920s.

Many years later she was still closely acquainted with Florence and May Torrance and their brother, Walter, who wrote A Land Called Amaranth. I lived in Bolton 20 years and now, at 94, live in Penetang. I have a news clipping of my mom standing on the steps of the college. – Ruth Sneath, Penetanguishene

Writerly kudos

Beautifully written article about my lifelong pal Glenn Carley [“Life is in the Details” spring ’23]. Writer Ellie Eberlee knows her craft! Glenn mentioned your magazine interview just now in an email, which has resulted in me subscribing to your newsletter. It has also ruined my morning plans as I cannot stop leafing through past articles – what a treasure of a magazine. – Joel Baker, Sherwood Park, AB

Happy 30th

I received the 30th anniversary issue earlier this week, and it is indeed a beautiful publication. The photography, particularly the front cover, is luminous. For those of us living in the Big Smoke, reading this chapter of In The Hills is a breath of fresh air, so compelling in this post-lockdown time. Congratulations to you and your staff for 30 years of good work. – Harry Lay, Toronto

I’ve been a reader of your magazine since your very first edition (I’ve lived in Orangeville for 34 years), and just wanted to congratulate you, your staff and your magazine. Always enjoy your editorials, and the spring edition’s entry [“A New Decade”] is spot on from my vantage point. – Peter Noce, Orangeville

The magazine always contains valuable content on important issues of interest to the Dufferin-Caledon community. The content is presented in a thoughtful, objective manner based on facts, with some backup of responsible opinions. This was the objective over 30 years ago and obviously remains so. – Joe Grogan, Bolton

A simple beauty from cover to cover. What can l say about the great stories and information about our community. Well done again. Thanks to you all. – Dori Ebel, Orangeville

Editor’s note: Thanks to these and all our readers who offered their congratulations. It’s your support that keeps us going.

Correction

Re: “Artistic Legacy” [spring ’23]. The image I sent was cropped, so it looks as though the glass house (inset) depicted in the article is my work, which it isn’t. It was made by and belongs to Islam Salamah (of Rasmi’s Falafel fame). It would be great if Islam could be credited for that work. My work was the community project and installation, bringing the individual parts together. – Debbie Ebanks, Mulmur

At bottom left, the glass house is made by Islam Salamah, and part of an installation called “The Dwelling Museum II”, a collaboration with members of the Syrian community.