Originally posted as a short newsletter for Ontario Barn Preservation, Christmas 2024. The first year I did not send out real (not just email) Christmas cards to the members. Kind of sad. Now they are just sending an email each year. The print card was something I started. I'm not sure why it was discontinued after this year. At this time there was a Canada post strike. The next year there was not. But just an email was sent. Cheaper of course. But, people really noticed getting a print card. It was a much better promotion than just another email, probably not opened.

Dear Members,

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, Season's Greetings, and all the other ways to wish you a wonderful winter holiday.

I'm sorry not to send out the printed Christmas cards this year. It just hasn't worked out due to the Canada Post strike. 

This year I asked my niece, Emma-Jeanne Brown, to create a Christmas card for us. She did! I hope you enjoy it. Emma-Jeanne works as a Pastry Chef, starting a new job at The Watering Can, Vineland, Ontario in January. 

Can a Barn Become an Event Venue?

Location, location, location... as the real estate people would say. Barns are not usually in areas with a lot of local traffic, but people will come to an event. A location might not be on main street but it could still be a place people can come to for a good evening out. Symphony in the Barn and Ontario Festival of Small Halls have concerts in rural Ontario. Could your old barn be restored and become a host to concerts, weddings, and other private, public, or corporate events? 

I thought the idea was interesting. Note, I'm not an architect, city planner, political analyst, or anything with professional knowledge. Just an Electrical Engineer's daughter with an interest in old buildings, art, and history. The following information is what I have found searching online for Ontario based/ relevant resources. 

TVO Today - Rescue mission: Fighting to save historical buildings in rural Ontario

Laura

Originally posted as part of the Ontario Barn Preservation newsletter, March 2025.

Here in Barrie, the masses of snow piles are starting to melt away. I miss the white snow. The in between seasons dirty snow is not pretty. I guess that's why I started thinking about gardens and gardening. (Also, my Mother is 80+ and still spends most of the Spring, Summer and Fall in her gardens which surround her little yellow house).

Thinking about gardens led me to a group planting trees and I discovered the grants they have available for people planting edible trees (fruits and nuts) in particular. That led me to community gardens, finding more grant money available and then, of course, I wanted to know who can start a community garden, how it works, and would it be practical for an old barn...? Read more about it below.

Laura

What About a Community Garden?

A community garden is garden space for local people to plant flowers, vegetables, fruit, maintain their garden space while paying a fee for the space and resources (water especially). The host for the community garden makes the rules for how it works, but that is the basic plan. 

What does that have to do with your old barn? 

If you have enough available land around the barn, a community garden with a barn to store: tools, seeds, plants and soil could be a great thing. If you are a gardener yourself you could offer seeds, starters for tomatoes and so on. 

A barn which is not near your home would work better for giving public access to the garden space. Of course, there would be a schedule for people, times and dates for access. I have seen local community gardens which are on properties with old farm houses, being planted on either side of the driveway to the house. So, it has been done. 

A community garden gets grant money. I found a few sources for you to take a look at. I think the edible trees were the most interesting prospect. I've looked at ideas like this before, for my brother. 

Tree Canada - Edible tree grants

Garden Ontario - Community Gardening

Garden Ontario - Grants

Sustain Ontario - Community Garden Network

A community garden isn't a project to suit everyone, or every barn. But, maybe this will give someone an idea that will work for them, or a starting place for something else. 

Posted by Laura

I read this post today, from a Facebook person in Ohio. What I didn't include in my comment below is the irony that America is short for North America so Lake Ontario would be renamed Lake North America. Not what Trump intended and still not a good name for a lake that is only a smaller part of the whole of North America.

The Trump era continues and is just getting worse. I hope the people of Canada never forget any of this, far into our history. Never consider the US a real neighbour or friend. Being a good neighbour or friend isn't something you put on and take off like a mask. Know always that they are a selfish and ignorant country, and in general, proud of it.

The 50% tariffs hit Saturday after talks collapsed, on about $20 billion of Canadian goods. Carney announced Canada matches dollar for dollar starting September 8th. Monday, Trump told Canadian leaders to "fall in line" or face consequences "far WORSE," and threatened to take tariffs on Canadian cars, trucks, auto parts and steel to 50% on January 1st. Then this morning he posted that the United States is giving "serious consideration to changing the name of Lake Ontario to Lake America in that we don't expect to doing much business with Ontario any longer." Same play as the Gulf of Mexico. A lake we share, half of which isn't ours.

I posted about "Lake America" last year when the propaganda started about the "Gulf of America". I sometimes struggle to feel sympathy for the people and businesses of the US. After all your political party chose him and then the people of your country voted for him - twice. Why is a man, found guilty of crimes in your country, showing signs of mental unwellness, and unable to work well with others (to say the least) why is this man allowed to be the head of your country? Its like something out of a bad science fiction movie, made in the US, of course. Yes, I feel something for the plight of the US people who regret(?) their choices, but I will never ever forget this.