By Heather Killen
Spectator
NovaNewsNow.com
A new workshop series promises to show people how they can attack one root of global warming without leaving their own backyards.
The Green Barn in Granville Centre is launching the first in a series of green living workshops this month with a look at root cellars. Running over three days on April 8th, 15 and 24, it will cover the traditional food storage systems from top to bottom. The discussions start with planning and building your own root cellar, to planning a garden of root cellar crops, through to preparing fruits and vegetables for storage.
“Planning and planting a root cellar garden is an excellent way to extend the season,” says Carla Emin, owner of The Green Barn. “A root cellar allows you to preserve your garden’s surplus and avoid the environmental costs of transporting produce long distances, slowing down that big boat from China, so to speak.”
Even those who don’t have a vegetable garden can benefit, as root cellars give people the option of stocking up on fresh produce at the farmers’ markets, according to Emin.
Sylvain Pilon and Bonnie Kerr-Pilon are leading the workshop. New to the Beaconsfield area, they have lived without refrigerators for more than a decade.
“More people are talking about global warming and want to do something about it,” according to Sylvain Pilon. “The cost of ‘cheap’ food is skyrocketing for the environment.”
Root cellars naturally extend the life of food for months by mimicking nature’s own cycles. Built properly, root cellars provide a dark moist place for produce to remain dormant for long periods of time.
While most of us have grown accustomed to the sound of the refrigerator humming in the background, Pilon said this machine is quietly draining the planet of energy and money from our pocket books.
“Everyone is looking for ways to save money,” he said. “The cost of fossil fuels is rising and will soon skyrocket to the point we can’t afford it.’
From an environmental perspective, we can no longer afford the cost of increasing greenhouse gases by transporting foods over distances and our best plan is to turn to our local economies and support our own communities.
“A root cellar is a simple low-tech low-energy solution that fits well with the ‘buy local’ philosophy,” says Pilon. “You can build it yourself with local materials and easily store several months’ worth of vegetables from your garden or local farmer’s market while avoiding the time-consuming task of canning.”
Moreover this simple traditional wisdom deepens your connection with the local environment and builds a stronger community through sharing common values.
Food is a basic need for everyone and buying local reconnects people with their sense of community, according to Emin’s partner Jim Dale.
“Root cellars are more than just a place to store food, there’s a lot of hope tied up there,” he said. “It’s the promise of another year.”
Carla Emin added that she plans to host more workshops in the Green Living series in the coming months and is looking for input on what types of workshops the community would be interested in attending.
“We want to offer workshops on preserving foods, alternative energy sources, and living sustainably, to name a few.”
Dale, adds, “In our own way we are trying to respect the Earth by walking with a smaller ecological footprint, and we want to support others along that path.”
The Green Barn is a promoter of sustainable living practices. The retail store has strict criteria ensuring that all products are recycled or made locally using recycled or renewable resources.
All food items are made with natural ingredients and garden produce is organically grown when available. The Green Barn is located at 5469 Hwy.1, Granville Centre. For more information visit www.thegreenbarn.ca, or call 902-532-3066.
