Hello, kind krafters,

We Haligonians are a lucky bunch. Not only do we have three large farmers’ markets to choose from across our municipality, but the Halifax Seaport Market will be celebrating its 270th birthday next year. This makes Halifax, Nova Scotia, home to the oldest farmers’ market in North America. Our somewhat mild seasons sustain many long-established farms and their farmers in Nova Scotia, especially along the fertile Annapolis Valley. 

Over the years, like many of us, I visited the market. These markets seemed like ivory towers: inaccessible and expensive for a student. I saw these visits as a treat and wandered around wistfully. But in 2018, I became engaged in sustainability efforts. The further I delved into the subject of community sustainability, the further I began to realize how deep and misinformed our cultural perceptions of farmers’ markets are. That’s how my New Years’ resolution came to be: I challenged myself to shop exclusively at farmers’ markets from January 1, 2019 to April 30, 2019. So, today, I wanted to share a couple of things I’ve learned and unlearned.

1. Fresh produce at farmers’ markets is expensive.

I agree – no matter what someone on the internet argues, for most people, food prices at markets match supermarket prices or are much higher. During this challenge, I had the privileged opportunity to not think about food vs. rent, and so I was able to dedicate my monthly budget to food purchases. If you’re purchasing food from a vendor at a farmer’s market or an independent store, you will not be seeing sales on onions or cucumbers or the same prices a corporation can set with their buying power. That said, a lot of this has come down to how we view food and our ability to purchase it. We all expect food not to take up too much of our budget. This expectation has only grown with the amount of convenience food and the globalization of mono-cropped produce. It’s also grown due to rising housing costs and expenses. We now pay for cell phones, wifi, transportation, and frequent social outings. As students, many of us leave school burdened with tens of thousands of debt. We all want to eat well, but when you’re stressed over bills or over life in general, stopping by the supermarket sale can take a little bit off your plate. In fact, that brings me to my next point.

2. There’s nothing fresh at the farmers’ market between December and May.

I don’t agree with this. There may not be the same selection as the summer months, but there’s still plenty, just not what we think of as ‘plenty’. I think part of this stems from how globalization has transformed our perception of food. When we walk into the supermarket, we expect to see plenty. That’s part of the consumer psychology that corporations spend millions to get us to keep going back – which I did! (More on that in my next point.) Seeing tomatoes, blueberries and corn in store all year round can disconnect us from understanding what food is. Yes, it may be disappointing to see that all that’s in season is leeks, cabbage, and carrots, but it makes seeing the first new vegetables of spring that much more exciting. Importantly, that excitement can be a grounding experience. Just as establishing relationships with farmers and vendors at markets can strengthen our sense of community, an awareness of the seasonality of food can ground us in the present and create a future we can look forward to. Here’s a handy guide to Nova Scotian seasonality: https://www.selectnovascotia.ca/seasonal-availability 

​3. If you shop at a farmers market, you’re cheating if you drop by the supermarket.

I don’t agree with this either. Because a few weeks into my challenge to eat exclusively from the market, I failed. I hadn’t had any fruit for weeks. A few friends of mine had brought fruit for lunch. The supermarket was having a sale. And so, I bought some strawberries at the beginning of February. I spent my time at the market the following weekend anxious and paranoid, like the strawberries had stained my hands berry red for all to see. There’s a certain cultural cache to being a farmers’ market frequenter: you care about the environment, sustainability, and ethics. For some, being a frequenter signals that you want everyone to know that you care. I’ll admit I felt like I was finally doing something for sustainability by eating asparagus only come late April, when it’s one of my favourite vegetables. That was a victory! But that fleeting moment of moral superiority was nothing compared to the guilt I felt over a few strawberries. My friends influenced me into buying them. It was a moment we bonded over food that would look similar to how a few friends might have bonded over the first strawberries of spring a hundred years ago. We’re social creatures. We don’t want to pay more for our food, but it’s still a massive aspect of our social life. My challenge never felt as though I had deprived myself, but it was restrictive at times, in that sense. What’s more relatable than bonding over super sales while miserably grocery shopping? Not to mention, I bought strawberries for cheaper than I have from the market in July. Even at that price they were a treat, as strawberries are now. So, I froze them, and they kept me going through that long winter.

When possible, when able, I believe shopping at farmers market should be first on everyone’s list. It’s still a far off world for me. In an ideal world, there would be no massive corporations running supermarkets. Our food system would be one with our growing seasons, and our new scale of relatability revolves around over upcoming produce – the first Valley peaches! The tomatoes, sun-grown vs. hothouse! Winter greens vs. spring greens! But for now, and as always, we work with what we’ve got. 

What are your thoughts on accessibility and farmers markets, Kind Krafters? 

Kindly,

H.T.

I can’t get mad at anyone for their actions before I was born because no one knew any better. But today in 2019, I am mad. We have known better for at least thirty-years and very little people have cared to make a difference or change their ways. So many people understand the implications of their actions on the earth but think it’s too much of a hardship to switch them up. Because of that, we now have the younger generations trying to fight a battle on behalf of all ages. Youth activists like Greta Thunberg, Xiuhtezcatl Martinez, and Timoci Naulusala are trying to influence the population to listen to them and the earth and not enough people are listening. I always say that I agree with saying that we don’t need 10 people doing zero waste perfectly, we need 1000000 people attempting it. But how do we get people acting on it with governments and authoritative figures not setting good examples? ​

Xiuhtezcatl says that we (the younger generations) are the generations with the most to lose. And that’s true. We haven’t even lived yet! We will be losing our earth, but also our opportunities. It is estimated that we have just another 31 years before 90% of mankind is annihilated by climate change (Breakthrough National Centre for Climate Restoration). This will happen due to climate catastrophes like floods due to rising sea levels, hurricanes, and other natural disasters. I will be 52.


Living in Nova Scotia makes it easy to ignore these warnings and global disasters. I can go to any beach and swim without having to navigate around plastic in the water. I can drink as much clean water as I like and not worry about droughts. One of the easiest things to notice for me are the rising gas prices. It’s easy to remain oblivious to the bigger issues facing our Earth when they’re not right on your doorstep. ​

Hi kind krafters,

I recently shared a post on facebook about how I celebrating (sounds strange but I think it’s fitting) my seven year anniversary of being hospitalized. At this time seven years ago, my mental health was at an all-time low. I was struggling with depression and suicidal thoughts and was in a very dark place. I had no regard for my future and very little hope. Tuesday May 22nd I was admitted to 4 South in the IWK after talking to health professionals for hours throughout the day. I was involved in therapy leading up to the day and lots of therapy sessions after. There was lots to overcome and I am proud to say that I am now a stronger woman because of my struggles with mental health.

In my post, I talked about how being able to reflect at the seven-year mark is such a gift. I never thought that I would be here seven years later, and definitely not living the life that I am now!! I am about to head into my final year of a Bachelor of Music degree, I have a black belt in karate, I have an amazing job at the Wolfville Farmers’ Market, I am a Youth Ambassador for this lovely non-profit, I am going to the President of the School of Music student society, I have friends and family who I love with all my heart and that - I can now say and believe – love me back! I have been able to figure out who I am, as well as learn how to recognize and acknowledge my strengths, and work on my weaknesses. ​

A main message that I want to try and communicate to anyone reading this, not to be cliché, is that it does get better! The hospital wasn’t a magic fix for me. I tried different anti-depressants that caused some issues for me and it definitely wasn’t a fun time. I had years of therapy and my road of recovery was NOT smooth sailing. I thought when I first entered university I was all good again, but my first year was actually a complete mess! I am not trying to make anyone nervous or upset, I just want to enforce that it will take time and a lot of hard work. Lean on your support systems! You may feel like a burden – you’re not- but you will appreciate everything in the end.
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Another key thing for me, was getting involved with groups that made me feel happy. School was okay for me, but definitely not my happy place. My favourite spots were the dojo and choir rooms. These two activities helped me more than I can explain. Music speaks when words can’t and was an outlet for me to express my emotions through singing. Karate was a place I could release stress and calm my mind while practicing the 5 parts of the Dojo Kun. I think it is essential for people to find these outlets in their lives. I encourage people to try these new skills and take the risk of finding something that you love to do!

Hey kind krafters,

I recently started a student summer intern position in Wolfville where I am constantly learning about food production within Canada/Nova Scotia and ways that I can do better when purchasing food, creating food waste, and producing food. I thought I might share a few of my new findings with any of you reading this today in hopes that all of us can try to be a little bit better ☺ ​

The picture above was shared over 500,000 times through just one Facebook page – I was one of those people that shared it! I believe that if the money spent to rebuild the cathedral was instead given to corporations that help our planet, a much smarter decision would have been made. There was a post circulating on the days following the fire that stated that the money donated to rebuild Notre Dame would have been enough to clean up the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. I’m not sure how this was measured and if it is even correct, but I’m sure that 750 Euros could definitely go a long way with helping our environment. So, as I said before I was upset and my heart hurt for the people whose lives had been effected by the fire at Notre Dame, but I was disappointed with how quickly people were willing to leap to action for a building and how long it is taking for people to take any action at all to help our planet. A building is beautiful but only serves a select amount of people, whereas our Earth serves us all. ​

At this time, (and in any time!!!!) we must be kind to each other. We have to recognize our own feelings and validate them, but we must do the same for others. I’m not sure if this article has really shared a specific point, or has allowed me to write out some of my thoughts and frustration surrounding all of the posts I have seen on social media recently. Either way, thank you for listening to me this week kind krafters!


Lots of love,
Rhi xoxo

Thanks for reading!
Rhi xoxo

Hey kind krafters!


Over the last few months I have been watching an extremely powerful young female create change globally. I have slowly been learning more and more about her and I’m sure that many of you have seen her online or in the news. She is so influential to younger advocates as well as older populations as we all have so much to take from the knowledge she shares with us. Her name is Greta Thunberg.

Greta was born in 2003 in Sweden and has lived there her whole life. She comes from a family of artists which I found particularly interesting! Her mother is an opera singer and her father is an actor. In 2018, when Greta was just about to start grade nine, she decided that she was going to stop attending school until the Swedish government promised to reduce carbon emissions as they had announced by signing the Paris Agreement. Under the Paris Agreement, each country must figure out how they will contribute in reducing their contribution to global warming and give regular reports on their progress. The long-term goal of the agreement is to keep the increase of the global average temperature below two degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.

Greta’s idea to strike for climate came to her after she heard of the teen activists at Parkland School who did the March For Our Lives – she saw other youths trying to create change and so she decided to also. During the first part of her strike she would sit outside Sweden’s national legislature with a sign until the general elections commenced. After the elctions, she chose to only strike on Fridays but her story has travelled far and wide. By December 2018, over twenty-thousand students held strikes in over 250 cities. These cities include both Wolfville and Halifax.


In November, Greta did a TEDxStockholm talk where she discussed her story and what she is trying to do through her strike and other climate activism. Here is the link to her talk – ​

At the very beginning of her video, she mentions that she first heard of global warming at the age of eight. Personally, I can’t even think of the first time I heard about greenhouse-gasses, my carbon footprint, and ways that I could reduce my impact on the planet. While I was a child, being taught how to recycle seemed like another thing that I had to learn similar to my times tables. It seems so crazy to me, that we teach all of these rules about how long to shower for, how long to brush your teeth for, how to compost, how walking is better than driving, etc. but it was never done with any urgency. But now that the time has pretty much run out, people are still treating these rules with the same lack of panic.


In December 2019, Greta addressed United Nations at their climate change summit about her school strike. She spoke honestly and has been described as being ‘the only adult in the room’. Many people were upset with how a youth had to speak up and stop fully attending school because of the lack of changes being made by the adults in authority and positions of power that would allow for these large changes to be made. A quote that hit me while watching her speech goes as follows, “You say you love your children above all else, and yet you are stealing their future in front of their very eyes”. ​

There is so much to learn from Greta and there is so much change that we all need to make as global citizens. If you are interested in finding new ways to better the environment, please look at my previous blog posts
https://www.kindkrafts.com/blog/ocean-cleanup, https://www.kindkrafts.com/blog/go-green-this-holiday,
and
https://www.kindkrafts.com/blog/seasick.

Also, please feel free to share more tips/facts/comments/questions about how we can all take the necessary steps to protect our planet!


Lots of love,
Rhi xoxo

Hey kind krafters!​

Happy Almost Spring!! I am loving the change in the weather and seeing the ice melt off my driveway! March 20th can’t come soon enough.

This year has definitely been my busiest yet. I’ve taken lots of work-heavy courses and have participated in several extra-curricular activities. A lot of this year has seemed like a complete blur with just trying to get through one day at a time and keep up with all of my commitments. I’ve always been bad at saying no to opportunities and people, and this became very obvious this year. Acadia recently had its February reading week and I didn’t stop once. The next week was my recital and then the following week I had several large papers due. I have found this year to be a tough one for sure. ​

However, things are looking up! Classes are almost finished, my recital is over and went really well, I got to watch all of my friends do their third-year recitals, and now get to watch fourth-year friends do theirs too! Despite all the work due around recital season, nothing beats getting to watch my friends do what they love! I was so happy to be able to sing for my family and friends that don’t usually get to hear me sing. It was also an awesome accomplishment for Brent and I and it’s a shame that it’s finally over.

I am so thankful to have the friends that I have made while being at Acadia. They always help to de-stress me and get me through the day. Wolfville really has been the best place for me to be during my university years. Every week, I look forward to going on walks with friends around the town, going to choir on Thursdays, and working at the markets on Saturdays. Another favourite thing to do is drive around the valley and visit the farm. As cliché and cheesy as this sounds, it’s always fun to chase the sunset in the valley. ​

With the school year coming to a close, I am doing a little self-check. Over the past month or so, a lot of my selfcare habits have had to take the backseat. Now it’s time for me to take a quick look at what I need and what I have to bring back into my life to make sure that I’m feeling my best. I need to start meal prepping again and spend less money on buying wraps and tea from the SUB, I have to get back to going for walks every day to clear my mind and get some sun, and I also really need to start using my agenda again because without it my life is getting quite unorganized! My other thing that I’ve started to do in my room, is a good spring cleaning! I didn’t realize how much this was helping until I saw my closet looking fresher and my drawers starting to get more organized after a few months of clutter.

I hope this post makes you want to check in with yourself too as we enter exam season and make sure that you’re giving yourself appropriate time and love! ​

With love,
Rhi xoxo   

Becoming a beekeeper is a challenging yet rewarding experience. With an increase in demand for natural household goods, homeowners across the U.S continue to pursue beekeeping for natural alternatives. Whether your beekeeping is a profession or hobby, you can do it in your own backyard.

An ancestor of wasps and ants, the bee is a prehistoric insect that has evolved and divided into approximately 30,000 different species over the years. The first beehives kept by people were called skeps. The problem was that extracting the honey destroyed the skeps. Lorenzo Langstroth developed a new system that is similar to what is used now.
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The Pilgrims brought honeybees to North America in order to have beeswax and honey. These bees live in a hive that can produce up to 100,000 bees that not only provide honey and beeswax but also pollinate flowers, vegetables, and fruits.

The Benefits of Beekeeping and Conservation
While many people associate the word “bee” with getting stung, these insects are essential to human life on this earth. They pollinate the crops and initiate the reproduction of many plants as they move pollen from stamens to pistils. Unfortunately, the pesticides used on crops can either kill bees or render them incapable of doing the job we depend on for our food.

Even though states like California are still able to produce 13,000 pounds of honey each year, there are several issues impacting the decreasing the bee population. Environmental concerns, such as pollution, can be a serious detriment to an entire colony of bees. Another danger to the bee population are parasites that can maim or kill both young and adult bees.

Improving the longevity of the bee population isn’t the only benefit of beekeeping.

Here are a few additional advantages:

• Pollination – improves the biodiversity of the environment for more bountiful gardens, prosperous orchards, and allergy remedies
• Honey – often referred to as “liquid gold”, honey offers many health and wellness benefits such as rich antioxidants, antibacterial properties, and natural sweetening capabilities
• Beeswax – not only is beeswax highly beeswax highly moisturizing, but it can also be used around the house for natural alternatives to deodorant, candles, baby products, and hinge lubrication.

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Now that you know why you should pursue beekeeping, here are five steps to get started:

1. Check Local Beekeeping Laws and Regulations
Research what is required before you take another step toward becoming a beekeeper. Here are a few things to look into:

• Find out whether or not your location allows it and if you are required to get a permit.
• Check if your county or city requires registration for beehives.
• There may be some land requirements that you’ll have to meet before you can move forward with beekeeping.

2. Find the Ideal Beekeeping Location
You’ll need to consider your location and whether or not it is conducive to beekeeping. Bees need hives that get plenty of sun and shelter from high winds. During the winter, you’ll need to have easy access so you can clear the snow away from the hive entrances.
If there are other houses nearby, check with other folks in the neighborhood to make sure you don’t cause a problem. You don’t want to become a nuisance to families with small children who play outdoors or seniors who may have a bad reaction to a couple of bee stings. If you live in a neighborhood, you may want to offer some bee education to the people around you.
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3. Gather Your Beekeeping Supplies
Some of the basic items you need include:

• Bee suit with a veil
• A smoker that calms bees and enables you to get into the hive
• Hive tool to pry off the frames
• Uncapping knife for cutting wax off the frame of honey
• Honey extractor to collect your “liquid gold”
• Bee gloves to protect your hands and the bees
• Brush to swipe the bees off the comb

You’ll also need to purchase at least one hive, but many bee experts recommend starting with two hives. And of course, you’ll need some bee swarms. Since you don’t want your hives on the ground, you should get a hive stand to keep the bees off the ground and protect them from other insects.
Purchase your beekeeping supplies from a reputable dealer. Some of the places you can look include Dadant, Mann Lake, Bailey Bee Supply, and Western Bee Supplies.

4. Get the Proper Beekeeping Protection
Protecting yourself is essential if you want to be a beekeeper. You may choose a beekeeper’s suit when you first get started and wear it until you become more comfortable as you get to know your bees. Bees can sense fear and tension, and they’re likelier to sting if they feel that they’re in danger. You still might get stung, so you may want to invest in an EpiPen if you’re concerned about a possible allergic reaction.
Even if you choose not to wear full protective gear, make sure you wear a veil. A bee sting to the eye can produce long-term swelling and may possibly cause permanent vision loss. Stings on the lips or other parts of the face can be excruciating. There are different styles of veils and hoods, so choose the one that is most comfortable for you.

5. Build Your Beehive
Many people prefer to purchase ready-made beehives when they first get started. However, you may want to save some money and build your own.
Start with any type of solid wood that doesn’t have cracks. You’ll need these items to get started:

• Hammer
• Nails
• Clamps
• Non-toxic wood glue
• Exterior paint
• Paintbrush

You can build one without the glue, but it provides a better seal, so it’s recommended.
The ideal beehive is a box built from finger-jointed wooden pieces. However, you can also use flat-edged wood, as long as you can create a square box that is secure and sealed. If you choose to use wood glue, apply that before nailing the box, making sure the handle is on the outside and easily accessible. You’ll want to paint the hive with exterior paint to prevent the wood from rotting.

Maintaining and Benefiting from Your Beehive
As a beekeeper, you have ready access to honey and beeswax for a variety of uses. Honey is not only a delicious way to sweeten foods it provides some protection from allergies. Many people use honey to suppress coughs, and it’s delicious on peanut butter sandwiches. Substitute honey for sugar in some of your recipes for a deeper, richer flavor.
You can use beeswax in a vast number of ways. Some of the personal uses include lip balm and skin moisturizers. Mix it with chickweed powder, comfrey powder, and olive oil for itch relief.
There are also quite a few things you can do with beeswax around the house. Rub a little of it on the rails of a stuck drawer, and you’ll be able to open and close it with no problem. Wax your wooden furniture and exposed beams with beeswax. You can also lubricate screws, nuts, and bolts with it. Before exposing leather shoes or handbags to the elements, rub a little beeswax on them for protection.

What If I have to Move My Beehive?
As a dedicated beekeeper, you may have to move the hive if you are relocating or the natural environment surrounding the hive is no longer ideal. The idea of moving a beehive can be intimidating for newer beekeepers but can be accomplished under the right conditions.
Typically, most experienced beekeepers believe that you should only move your hive “3 feet or 3 miles.” If you stay within the three-foot radius, the colony will be able to reorientate on their own. On the other hand, three miles is enough for the colony to recognize the new location of their home.
Don’t fret though – transferring a beehive can be done in a few simple steps.

1. Wait until dusk to ensure the colony is back from their daily worker bee routines. It’s important to get started before it’s too dark to have proper visibility.
2. Tape the front of the beehive with breathable material such as screen wire or tulle.
3. Carefully lift the beehive, trying to remain as level as possible, and walk to the new location or the vehicle for transport.
4. Place the hive in the new location.
5. Wait fifteen minutes before opening the block to give the colony time to reorientate.

Keeping Your Bees Healthy
If you want your bees to continue producing honey and beeswax, you need to take care of them. Here are a few final tips to keep your hive buzzing:

• The hives and beekeeping supplies need to be clean and well maintained.
• Only purchase the bees from reputable people who check for diseases and pests.
• Clean your equipment on a regular schedule to prevent fungus.
• Change out the queen every couple of years with a young, healthy queen bee.