THE HOSTA - ONTARIO'S NEW PROVINCIAL FLOWER?

DO YOU GROW HOSTAS?

Dusty's Digital Digest Gardening Page | September 2013

Hosta

You may have something funky growing in your garden right now! 'Funkia', or more commonly known as Hosta is a plant that even non-gardeners will know. A recent survey of Ontario households showed that a whopping 92.7% of respondents have, or had at one time, Hostas growing in their garden - which is no surprise to one North York resident, Louise Blyn-McMaster.
Louise is gathering signatures by the hundreds to petition the Ontario government to change the official provincial flower from the Trillium to the Hosta. This may sound ludicrous, as the Hosta is not even native to Ontario, but, she does bring up some good arguments in favour of the change. Being both trained in botany and working for the province's land survey ministry she has a very unique perspective on the current plant situation. Her research has shown that as more and more of the countryside is being developed, urbanize, sub-urbanized, which is causing the local flora to be replaced with its domesticated cousins. Trilliums are being replaced by Hostas at an alarming rate.

Trilliums in their ideal habitat

Louise, although a lover of the Trillium, is of the view that we need to move with the times and embrace the new 'plantscape', as she calls it. She argues that Ontario is not the wild mature forests (the ideal growing grounds of Trilliums) that it used to be, but, it is now an urban sprawl of close cut lawns and Hosta filled gardens. As well, the make up of Ontario's human population is changing. Where once almost everyone was a White Anglo Saxon, that is not the case anymore. What would be more fitting, Blyn-Master argues, than having the official flower be an imported plant? And she is not the only one who believes this. Thousands of virtual signatures adorn her online petition and are increasing daily.
Blyn-Master's campaign has almost reached enough signature to take some action and when it does she plans on having her Member of Provincal Parliament make an official motion in the legislature.

Add your opinion to this growing debate - comment below.

COUNTRY'S QUIETEST TOWN

THIS TOWN IS AS QUIET AS A MOUSE

Dusty's Digest | September 2013

Silver Creek is a probably a place you've never heard, or heard of, seeing as it is remote, tiny, and the self proclaimed 'Quietest town in Canada'. Their claim to fame, the lack of noise, was put into place about a decade ago when the Town Council passed a noise bylaw, essentially adding a curfew on loud noises. Since that time six additional amendments have been added making this the strictest noise bylaw in the land.
This is not such a bad thing most residents say. They enjoy their quiet. Many claim the lack of 'noise pollution' has made them healthier and less prone to everything from colds to cancer. There has not been a study conducted to confirm this claim, but, ask anyone living in Silver Creek and they will confirm it.
With this broad support, the newly elected Council Chair Eve Adams, has put forth a proposal to further restrict noise. Her proposal is massive in scale and cost in relation to the village's small size and some have argued it may even be unlawful. Even with these doubts her P&Q (Peace and Quiet) plan has passed the first round of voting with an 8 to 1 majority. First order of business is to put up signs on the edge of town.
As you drive into this picturesque village you will see the "Silver Creek Welcomes You!" sign, and right below that a sign listing certain vehicles that are not allowed to enter the town due to the sound restrictions. It is an extensive listing containing such things as Motor Cycles, ATVs, Snow Mobiles, Vehicles containing 'sub woofers', Riding Lawn Mowers, Tractor Trailers, Hover Craft, even Vehicles with Sirens. Council Chair Adams has sketched out a plan to build a roundabout road that will circumvent the town to allow these offending vehicles to continue down the highway and avoid the streets of Silver Creek.
All bells, from the church tower right down to the bells on the children's bicycles will be disabled. Whistles of all varieties, including the local hockey referee's, will no longer be blown. The upcoming Great Big Sea concert has been relocated to a neighboring town. There is even a request for a study into the feasibility of year round slipper wearing. In addition all resident's must install mufflers on their lawn mowers and refrain from using loud equipment such as chainsaws and jackhammers.
The only section of her proposal that is not receiving massive support is the plan to run a laser light show on Canada Day in place of the traditional fireworks display.
One outspoken critic, the owner of a local ice cream truck, has filed a complaint on the grounds that this bill will devastate the local economy, citing his business as the prime example. His house is currently for sale and he plans on leaving the community in search of a noise friendly city that will allow him the right to tingle his bells to sell his ice cream.
But, by and large, the people of Silver Creek like their peace and quiet and will most likely allow this plan to go through without a peep.

LIGHTBULB IDEA

THERE IS A LIGHTBULB ABOVE THIS GUY'S HEAD

DUSTY DIGEST | SEPTEMBER 2013

This new business could revolutionize the way we see the light.

Bob Sullivan had the bright idea to start providing his community with a service that had gone unfilled since the dark ages - changing lightbulbs. With an average of thirty two lightbulbs per household lasting between two to five years a piece, there are a lot of lights that need to be changed. As with most things in modern society we are outsourcing, finding a pro to do our dirty work. And, that is where Bob comes in. He's found a niche where he can fulfill his passion and make people's lives just a little bit brighter at the same time.
I sat down with Bob to chat, let him shine a little light on this complicated subject.


What made you think changing a few lightbulbs could turn into a business?
Well, Dusty, I had one of those life changing experiences a couple years back. Walked into my elderly Grandmother's home to find her sitting, alone, in the dark. Turns out her lightbulbs had blown and she couldn't reach up to replace them. That got me thinking, how many other elderly folk are out there sitting in the dark? For that matter, how many other people are out there who lack the knowledge and expertise to change a lightbulb? How about those that just don't have the time to go out and get a new bulb, take the old one out, and screw the new one in. I'm thinking busy business  people or single mothers with a gaggle of kids to look after. There are lots of people out there that need my help.
You know those jokes that start out, how many whatever does it take to screw in a lightbulb? Well, in some cases nobody can screw in the lightbulb. And, I personally find that sad. Made me want to help.

What kind of services do you provide?
I offer a variety of plans, as I call them. Your basic plan, the bread and butter of my business, I'll come through your house on a monthly basis, check every lightbulb and replace the ones that need replacing. The Deluxe plan is where I come more often, every day or two, and again, go through the house checking for burnt out bulbs. Oh, and the Deluxe plan includes those specialty bulbs. What I mean by that is the bulbs in your oven, in the dryer, any outside lighting. I also do a Christmas special, where I'll come in and check your tree and your outdoor string of lights, that type of thing.
With every plan I do an initial consult with the client, going over the different options of bulbs. I have to point out here, the feedback I've gotten on this is amazing. If you've ever gone and looked down the lightbulb aisle at the Home Depot you'll know the massive variety of bulbs out there is, for some, overwhelming. You have the choice of incandescent, CFLs, flourescent, big, medium, small, dim, blue light, sun ray, soft. You can see by my examples that modern lightbulbs are not as simple as they used to be. In many cases you do need a pro, like me, to help guide you through all of the choices.

I read you offer a 24 hour emergency service. What exactly does that entail?
You can call me anytime, I mean anytime, and I'll rush over and change a bulb. This happens a lot at night. You'll be sitting there reading and all the sudden the light goes out. Well, what do you do? Call me. I'll bring over my van, full of every type of bulb you'd ever need, and I bring the lights back on.

Do you get many emergency calls?
You'd be surprised Dusty. Seems that if a light is going to go, it'll go when you need it - at night! I've had a few sleepless nights, I can tell ya. But, it's worth it. When you save someone's night like that, see the look on their face, it's worthwhile.

Future Plans?
I'm planning on hiring an employee in the near future. It's tough though, it takes a certain person to be able to really shine. You need to have a bright personality, extensive knowledge of lightbulbs, and it doesn't hurt if you are tall.
I'm also putting together a back to school package aimed at the parents of College and University kids. I know if my child were away, living on their own for the first time, it would be nice to have the piece of mind that someone is looking out for their lighting needs. Especially, if you have one of those kids that sleep the daylight hours away.

As the lightbulb industry becomes ever more complicated we will be in need of people like Bob.

For more info see Bob's website