Friday, June 20, 2008
It is the evening before Soulstice, the biggest annual celebration of the Slocan Valley. I can hear drummers practicing a distance up the hill. Soulstice just happens to be hosted by Ricardo, my dear WWOOFing host. Danielle, a longtime Winlover ("Winlove" being this village's nickname) I recently met, pointed out to me how fortunate I am to have gotten the opportunity to WWOOF for the man she dubbed the "Wonderful Wizard of Winlaw". I'm probably getting the best possible first experience of Winlaw that this village has to offer.
Ricardo and I wandered through Nelson yesterday to do a few errands. It seemed as if almost every other person we passed knew Ricardo, offering anything from a friendly greeting to an ecstatic gabfest. From the various people he met, Ricardo gathered that Soulstice is the talk of the town. He didn't even advertise this event. I guess he is a wizard.
In preparation for the visiting masses, I've been helping Ricardo get the garden looking its most fab. One thing that I've been doing is scything his cooch grass, bracken ferns and thimbleberries surrounding the fruit trees, and I daresay I like the work. I think it does my body much good. Ricardo has quite the experience using a scythe. He used to have a job bushwhacking paths through the forest using a scythe. I found a file to sharpen the blade yesterday, which probably doubled my productivity. I will have a scythe on my farm.
I posted more photos...
Ricardo and I wandered through Nelson yesterday to do a few errands. It seemed as if almost every other person we passed knew Ricardo, offering anything from a friendly greeting to an ecstatic gabfest. From the various people he met, Ricardo gathered that Soulstice is the talk of the town. He didn't even advertise this event. I guess he is a wizard.
In preparation for the visiting masses, I've been helping Ricardo get the garden looking its most fab. One thing that I've been doing is scything his cooch grass, bracken ferns and thimbleberries surrounding the fruit trees, and I daresay I like the work. I think it does my body much good. Ricardo has quite the experience using a scythe. He used to have a job bushwhacking paths through the forest using a scythe. I found a file to sharpen the blade yesterday, which probably doubled my productivity. I will have a scythe on my farm.
I posted more photos...
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| BC 2008 |
Thursday, March 15, 2007
I just have to tell y'all about Kumar. He is a very friendly businessman who recently opened an Internet cafe on Bloor. Somehow he found out what I do through Meta and Chris, who stopped by his place one day. He called me up out of the blue, sounding as if he was in desperate need of my technological abilities. Of course, I couldn't refuse, despite my packed schedule. We met up late that night at a Coffee Time in the crack-head part of town, and talked about everything from Eastern spirituality and vegetarianism to German industriousness and Internet-based phone. Kumar has endless anecdotes to tell. He kind of acts them out when he tells them, in an endearing way that reminds me a lot of my Oma.
Then yesterday I came to his place to set up some software for him and show him how to use it. We went to the Urban Herbivore for lunch (a great vegan place in Kensington). He was so in awe by the place and the food (which he said was exactly his ideal type of food). He had to get the manager's contact information. He said he wanted to serve that type of food at his cafe. I couldn't help being amused by his endless enthusiasm for things. Maybe he's a gemini. It was not my intention to spend the whole day with him, but listening to Kumar's and his wife's many stories and points of view is surprisingly time-consuming. But I'm really glad to have met such sweet people.
Then yesterday I came to his place to set up some software for him and show him how to use it. We went to the Urban Herbivore for lunch (a great vegan place in Kensington). He was so in awe by the place and the food (which he said was exactly his ideal type of food). He had to get the manager's contact information. He said he wanted to serve that type of food at his cafe. I couldn't help being amused by his endless enthusiasm for things. Maybe he's a gemini. It was not my intention to spend the whole day with him, but listening to Kumar's and his wife's many stories and points of view is surprisingly time-consuming. But I'm really glad to have met such sweet people.
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