By Savayda Jarone

Or at least nibble on it! Spruce, fir, and pine tree branches can be much more than festive decorations. Cultures around the world, including the Mi’kmaq, have long used greens from these evergreen trees for food and medicine. 

By Elizabeth MacKinnon

In the increased amount of attention being given to mental health across the country, farmers’ mental health is easily overlooked. Often working alone, being at the whim of the weather, and on the job 24/7, farmers are highly susceptible to mental health issues as an occupational hazard. Farmers as a community face some specific challenges, such as machinery breakdowns, inclement weather, volatile markets, livestock well-being, and a large administrative burden.

By Jennifer Deacon

More than ever, we’ve come to appreciate the importance of “self care” as we’ve progressed through COVID-19.

By Patricia Richards

The Gaetz Brook Greenway (GBG) was a hub of activity on a beautiful sunny, Saturday, October 30, especially on the section from East Chezzetcook to Pine Hill Drive, the location of the “Trick or Treat Trail Walk” hosted by the SATA Trails Society, which is responsible for maintaining and promoting the GBG.

By Jude Major

After watching what the recent disaster of floods, landslides, and broken roads has done to food supplies in British Columbia, we in Nova Scotia need to do some serious thinking and planning about food security here at home.

By John English

In the book, Gravel Heart by Abdulrazak Gurnah, the main character’s father reveals to his son the secret that destroyed the parents’ marriage and brought about the father’s self-isolation and estrangement from his son. When father and son finally reconcile, the father says, “Listen to me. Open your eyes in the dark and recollect your blessings. Don’t fear the dark places in your mind, otherwise, rage will blacken your sight.”

By Kaylee Conrod

Lisa Pettipas’s Pettitpaw Designs Florist was the first store to open up in the new strip mall located in Porters Lake this summer.

By Cassandra Grosse

The air was crisp on sunny November 11th morning as community members from the Preston area, military representatives, supporters, and organizational heads gathered for the 12th annual Cenotaph Remembrance Day ceremony in North Preston.

By Francine Dulong

A small but mighty event took place at the Deanery Project October 30th that left participants with a sense of renewed energy to fight for climate justice …. and an appreciation for fresh-pressed apple cider.

By Bethana Sullivan

There are so many books of Christmas stories, from the Bible to The Grinch Who Stole Christmas! I was flummoxed by the choices until, by happenstance, I stumbled upon three wonderful collections of Christmas tales.

By Dee Dwyer

On a warm November day, I visited with Carolyn Mitchell, sitting in her dining room while she told me about her childhood in East Jeddore and her experiences as a drummer.

On November 22, Halifax Transit launched service changes on bus routes serving several Eastern Shore communities, cutting back service in some places, and adding service in others.

By Marike Finlay-de-Monchy

(Part 6 of a series about a sailing come-from-away learning from an old salt in her family’s new home on West Quoddy Bay.)

By Kelly Corkery

Q:  What advice would you give to someone wanting to be organized for gift giving this holiday season?

Jolly in Jeddore 

By Cassandra Grosse

There was an air of excitement as folks trickled in to participate in an official Meet and Greet with Liberal MLA Angela Simmonds, who was elected this summer in the new Preston riding. From the comments I heard in the room, folks could not recall the last time they were invited to a meet-and-greet session with their provincial MLA.

By Cassandra Grosse

In today's fast paced environment, it seems to me as if folks are still very much on the go even during a pandemic. Business offices once filled with cubicles, water coolers, conference rooms and a common kitchen area has been replaced with Microsoft MS Teams and Zoom video calls.

By Mary Elizabeth O’Toole

Harbour Retreat is a vacation destination located on picturesque East Petpeswick Road, just minutes from Martinique Beach.

By Elizabeth MacKinnon

Last January, right before the start of maple syrup season, robbers broke into Danny Lemmon and Kathy Spearing’s sugar shack in Bass River and stole all of their equipment-- a generator, sap lines, tap-line hardware, bottles, filter press, propane tanks, tools, plumbing, electrical items, food, and clothing.

I urge Premier Houston to rescind the sale of Owl’s Head Provincial Park, the
coastal park reserve that the Liberal government secretly offered to sell for $306
per acre ($216,000 for 705 acres). 

By John English

Libraries and bookstores abound with titles that purport to show me how to determine my life purpose
– “Discovering Your Soul’s Purpose”, “Pathway to Purpose”, “The Meaningful Life”, etc. I have also noted
that there are many “life coaches” and self-styled gurus who are prepared to guide me to a life of
greater fulfillment and happiness. The surfeit of these offerings suggests that meaning and purpose are
important components of life, and that if I’m not trying to determine what my life purpose is, I should
be. The cynic in me also recognizes the cash value of my search for meaning for the many spiritual
counselors waiting to assist in my search, for a price.