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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2000-01419N r, rn cc w m w U w 0 -cc 0 r) i 50d EDITORIAL Long, long ago, Christmas and New Year's were the same holiday. They celebrated an event far older than history, which we scarcely notice at all today. It is the Winter Solstice, the shortest day of the year, December 22. The month January is named after the old god Janus, who is depicted with two faces, one looking backwards and one looking ahead. Our present ritual of New Year's resolutions invokes the spirit of this ancient deity as we review the old year and prepare for the next. Our history and traditions have many sources, and the calenders of various ancestors often differed in their ways of marking time. Thus, three different days mark the same event with belief and ceremony as different as the different peoples who celebrated the event. In our Christian heritage, the cycle of time has been exalted into a larger reality — the moment of the New Year's birth spans into the Millenium. When the people of early Europe were converted they brought their custom of gift -giving to celebrate this birth. Before the coming of Christianity they believed in a figure very like our Father Time who brought the gift of return — in the bleak European winter people in those days reinforced their vigour by the custom of giving small gifts as a joyful reminder of the large gift of yet another season of growth and harvest to come. The tradition came into Christianity through the personage of Saint Nicholas, who practiced a generosity which matched the spirit of the old ways. As we approach Christmas and New Year's once again we observe that the spirit of it seems Dear Editor— do not live in your area. I have no talents whatever for handicrafts, art, etc. But I rejoice in the fact that an area adjacent to Toronto has people who appreciate the value (therapeutic, artistic and community -building) of such projects as the Claremont School of Crafts is going to foster. In my mind they appeal to the genuine, the honest, the fundamental, in man's spirit -They teach us the true values of our pioneer heritage. May your efforts succeed in bringing the neighbourhood together in an interwoven pattern of arts, crafts, understanding and friendship. I do hope to be lost in the advertisements, the bewildering array of gifts and the competition for our money. The temptation is to curse the grQed and callousness of it all. Be of good cheer. Everything has its season, from year to year, from lifetime to lifetime. In this winter of commerce and exploitation, celebrate the coming season; your gift can be in your preparation for it. Q...,.,. 12--,.er fle I shall have the opportunity of some day visiting your School of Crafts. Sincerely, Heidi Vockeroth PS. May you be able to avoid commercialism! Dear Editor — I found out about your School from a friend and upon reading your paper (Ploughshare) I was very impressed. I would therefore like a one year subscription and if in any way I can help with your School, I would love to. Yours respectfully, Gary Eisenhammer Claremont School of Crafts The Claremont School of Crafts is coming along fine! This month we got organized and appointed a board of directors and some more staff. On the board are Steve Doyle, who is also our Business Manager and runs Steve's Red Barn at the Stouffville Barn Sale on Highway 47. Also Carol Yawney who is a social scientist; she's doing fund-raising and organizing the various proposals we are making to other groups and associations. Then there's Wendy Wurtele who runs her own typesetting business and is one of the editors of Ploughshare and Bruce Becker, the other editor. Robin Gallagher, master puppeteer, is in charge of representing the School to the public. Abby Becker is the main co-ordinator of the school as well as its driving force. Helping her are Bevin Hall, alternate co-ordinator and Chris Wadley, assistant co-ordinator. Fran Howard is looking after procurement of goods for the various courses and also runs the Windy Ridge Riding School in Claremont. We have put high on the list of priorities to get a building in the area for the Inn, as wel I as space for offices. We've located several possibilities so far, but each one has some difficulties. If you know of any place which we could use, let us know — it's going to be a lot easier when we have offices and space to work in. Classes in folk guitar, puppetry, dance, weaving, spinning, woodwork, batik, natural dyeing, nature lore, horsemanship, metal -working, herbs, drawing and macrame are going on now; some still have openings. In a couple of weeks a full-scale photography work shop will be set up and we'll be ready for students in that area too. As it stands now it looks like the Claremont School of Crafts is well on its way — but there is a tremendous amount yet to do to make it really work in the long term. It's coming together, but it needs your help to make it go. Let us know what you like to do, what you'd enjoy learning, what ideas you have — in short, your support is needed to help a wonderful idea grow. Contact us at: Claremont School of Crafts RR3 Claremont, Ontario Or come visit us. Call 649-5636 for directions to our temporary headquarters. Best Wishes The Staff FIREWOOD Beechwood logs are bright and clear If the logs are kept a year. Chestnut only good they say, If for long it's laid away. Make a fire of Elder tree — Death within your house will be; But Ash new or Ash old Is fit for Queen with crown of gold. Birch and fir logs burn too fast; Blaze up bright and do not last; It is by the Irish said, Hawthorn bakes the sweetest bread. Elmwood burns like churchyard mold — E'en the very flames are cold; But Ash green or Ash brown Is fit for Queen with golden crown. Poplar gives a bitter smoke, Fills your eyes and makes you choke; Applewood will scent your room With an incense -like perfume. Oaken logs, if dry and old Keep away the winter's cold; But Ash wet or Ash dry, A King shall warm his slippers by. —Anonymous Once again it's time to pull upa rocking chair and warm your toes by a cheery red fire. Watching the ashes fall from the grate, we are reminded of the old Bible quote, "Ashes to ashes and dust to dust." But let us hasten to remember that in dead ashes lie new growth for the coming spring. Woodashes can be a wonderful fertilizer for your garden if properly used They contain a host of elements needed by plants, including calcium, potassium, sodium, magnesium, phosphorus, manganese, zinc, copper, iron and silicon. The potassium and calcium content of wood ashes will correct soil acidity and for this reason should be used only on acid soils. (25-50 lbs. per 1000 sq. ft.) Different woods produce different amounts and qualities of ash. Most conifers contain 2-3% ash while hardwoods contain up to 9%. Hickory yields the highest quality ash. In pioneer days an important use for wood ashes was in soap -making. Ashes, when mixed with water, form lye. Add tallow to this and you have soap. (Would any of our readers have an old, handed down recipe for soap -making? If so, send it in and share it with us.) Of course half the fun of having a fireplace is roasting chestnuts or popping popcorn or toasting marshmallows. It is important to position the logs correctly to preserve embers and retain heat. Standing logs on end will cause them to burn too rapidly. According to an old adage: One log can't burn, two logs won't burn, three logs may burn, four logs will burn, five logs make a good fire. And of course, let's not forget the most important use of a fireplace ... SANTA CLAUS! HONEY CAKE Cream together: '/2 cup shortening % cup sugar Add while beating: 4 well beaten eggs Add while beating: 1 cup honey Sift together: 3 cups flour '/2 tsp. baking soda 1 tsp. allspice 3 tsp. baking powder '/2 tsp. salt '/2 tsp. cinnamon Add and mix: 1 cup orange juice alternately with flour mixture. Add and mix: 1 orange rind '/4 cup raisins 1 cup walnuts or almonds which have been well dredged with flour mixture. Line a loaf pan with greased brown paper. Add mixture and bake at 300 degrees for 30 minutes, 325 degrees for 15 minutes 350 degrees for 15 minutes. PUMPKIN BREAD Mix together: 2 eggs beaten 1'/2 cups sugar 1 cup pumpkin '/2 cup oil '/4 cup water '/4 tsp. baking powder 1 tsp. baking soda % tsp. salt '/2 tsp. cloves '/2 tsp. cinnamon 1-2/3 cups flour Add: nuts and raisins to taste Pour into greased loaf pan and bake at 350 degrees approximately 60 minutes. s uwill sr POOR MAN'S FRUITCAKE Boil together until only a few (3) tbsp. of liquid remain: 3 cups raisins 2 cups boiling water. Add and boil 5 minutes: 1 cup molasses 2/3 cup shortening 1 cup honey 1 cup chopped nuts '/4 tsp nutmeg 1 tsp cinnamon 1 tsp cloves Sift together: 4 cups flour 1'/2 tsp salt 2 tsp soda 2 tbsp Brewers yeast Mix together: 2 tsp. vanilla 1 cup sour milk and add alternately with flour mixture. Pour mixture into two greased loaf pans and bake for 60-70 minutes at 325 degrees. YUMMY APPLE CAKE Sift together: 2'/2 cups whole wheat flour 2 tsp. baking soda '/2 tsp. salt 1 tsp. nutmeg 1 tsp. cinnamon Cream together: '/2 cup butter 1'/2 cups brown sugar Add: 2 eggs Add to: 3'/2 cups dried apples alternately with flour mixture. Grease a 9"x 13" pan. Bake 40-45 minutes at 350 degrees. POTATO PANCAKES Peel and place into cold water until they are chilled: 3 lbs. raw potatos Grate quickly and drain off any water that collects on the grated potatos. Add and mix: 2 eggs '/2 cup milk 1% cups flour 1 pinch pepper '/2 tsp salt '/2 tsp grated onion Form into pancakes. Heat shortening in a frying pan and fry 3-4 pancakes at a time. Fry brown and crisp, turn over and fry other side. Serving platter should be hot. Serve with apple- sauce or sour cream. 24 HOUR SLAW Shred and mix together: 1 head cabbage 1 large bermuda onion Sprinkle with: '/2—% cup sugar. Boil together: % cup vinegar 1 tsp celery seed 1 tsp mustard seed 1 % tsp salt Add: % cup salad oil and bring to boil again. Pour over cabbage mixture and marinate 24 hours. Serves 8-10. Send your favourite mixes and recipes to PLOUGHSHARE "Humble Pie" Stouffville, Ontario. We tried out some of these recipes and they were really good! We're looking forward to getting some more. SUBSCRIBE! • y z Subscriptions to PLOUGHSHARE are available at a cost of $5.00 per year (12 issues) Name Address No. of Years Amount Enclosed Make cheques and money orders payable to PLOUGHSHARE and mail to: PLOUGHSHARE Stouffville, Ontario. Give " A Friend A Ploughshare For Christmas! [BACK SSUES of. Ploughshare are available at a cost of 5W each. ❑ NOVEMBER 1972 — copies NAME ADDRESS AMOUNT ENCLOSED $ Mail to: PLOUGHSHARE Stouffville, Ontario. We Goofed! In our November issue, we forgot to mention that Bonnie Day wrote the poem "Dilemma", and that Peter Schuman wrote the article on the Bread and Puppet Theatre. Sorry folks. Hope you accept our appologies. THE JOINERY Custom Cabinet Shop Woodworking to order RR2 Claremont, Ontario 294-1768 Pam Keirstead Cabinet Maker PLANT POWER There is no human engineering which can compare in power with the silent machinery of a growing forest. It has been estimated that the physical energy of the sap in the plant is fourteen times that of the blood in man. Professor Clark, of the Massachusetts Agricultural College succeeded in measuring the power of growth in a squash. He harnessed it in iron, put it in prison, and gave it a weight to lift. The squash, thus harnessed, was placed in a box in such a way that it could only grow by pushing upward, and lifting the long lever with the weights suspended on it. The result was that the squash steadily pushed its way upward, carrying the bar and weight with it. On Aug. 21 it was lifting 60 pounds, Sept. 15 it was lifting 1,400 pounds, Oct. 18, 3.120 pounds, Oct. 31 5,000 pounds. How much more it could have carried is not known, for at this point the iron harness cut into the rind of the squash, thus putting an end to the experiment. There is, to our imagination, something grand in the thought of a force so vast, so almost incalculable, exerted without noise, and apparently far exceeding the ordinary exigencies of the plant. In every acre of well -cultivated ground a power is silently at work which transcends man's mightiest machines, by almost as much as the infinite transcends the finite. Lep Fi�om Lishman This is my first column — maybe my last. There are a multitude of things I'd like to write about, but one thing in particular bothered me the other day. I stopped at a store in the quiet country town of Omeemee (between Lindsay and Peter- borough). It was a Becker's store, and once inside I could have been in Whitby, Ottawa, Windsor or Toronto! There they were — the same fluorescent lights, chrome and Cheesies, with the same harassed -looking woman I've seen behind the counter in other Becker stores. Nervous about getting held up at night? Nervous that we might be one of those incognito Becker agents checking that you don't have your fingers in the till? Or perhaps just nervous because we're strangers. Anyway, where are all the country stores going? I often used to go to the Greenwood store. You could buy nails, bread, lye, cheese (good cheese) locally grown eggs and produce (in season), nuts and bolts, Christmas cards, and the Post Office was in the back. A Great Store! Also a village social centre — and Mrs. Clarke always smiled. Certainly a far cry from the cold Becker's atmosphere with its plastic wrapped deals and impersonal clerks. The impersonality of big business is invading us more than we realize. I don't know what to do about it — perhaps boycott Beckers's, Mac's Milk or any of those "little corner store chains", and get them back into the hands of the little people — who will at least give you credit. (I owe a great deal to credit in a small store. Mrs. Clarke once gave me over $500 worth of credit. Artists never starved in Green- wood!) Becker store — the crowning thing about it was the log sale. Here in the heart of (almost) backwoods Canada you can buy a genuine pressed sawdust Yule log, imported all the way from California, for only a dollar (990. At that rate you could heat your house for only eight dollars a day. Just imagine — they were probably air -freighted in costing their own heat content in fuel to transport them here from California. Very efficient when we only have limited fossil fuels left. Let's start some competition for them. More small-time country stores! I'd pay for the warm feeling any day! Anyway, back to the Omeemee —Bill Lishman A FAT ALBERT LAMP TO BUILD Go to your local hardware store. get a porcelain or white plastic lamp socket with a pull chain. Get a round conduit junction hnv rnvor i�— a NIuy .15 Get some lamp cord, about 8' long. I , i Get a large, round decorative lamp bulb which is silver on the outside (Fat Albert by Sylvannia) (including tax) $ 5.33 Now find a cork, and 2 bolts about'/2" long with No. 6 or No. 8 thread size, with nuts to fit them. Take the junction box cover and trace its outline onto a piece of cardboard (use the box the lamp socket came in) and cut it out. Take a penknife and one end of the lamp cord. Split the two wires about 2" down. Now carefully cut the insulation on each wire all the way around at a point about 3/4" from the end. Be careful not to nick the wire inside. Now you will be able to slip the insulation off the end of the wire. Twist the wire and form it into a loop. Put the wires over the screws in the lamp socket so that the loop is facing to the right. Tighten the screws. Now take the other end of the lamp cord and put it through the hole in the plug. Then split and strip it as shown above. Twist the wire ends and form a loop like you did for the lamp socket ends. Put the wire around the prongs and put the loop under the screw on each side, so that the hook is going clockwise around the screw. Tighten the screws down and make sure no strands of bare wire are sticking out anywhere. Put on the cardboard cover that came with the plug. (enlarged view of plug) Assemble the cover plate and the cardboard you cut out to the bottom of the lamp socket using the two'/z" bolts. Put the nut on top and the head of the bolt on the bottom. Screw them up fairly tightly, but be careful not to crack the plastic or porcelain. lamp si car Take the cork and cut three slices about 3/16" thick off the wide end. Sand the pieces smooth in order to make a flat surface and glue them to the bottom of the cover plate for feet that will not scratch your furniture. O Take the bulb out of its box, being careful not to get finger- prints on it. Screw it into the finished lamp socket assembly and plug it in! It makes a fine gift! Design And Paint Your Own Christmas Cookies! Here's a fun recipe to get the whole family in on! Turn your oven to 350 degrees Sift together: 4 cups flour 2 tsp baking powder 1 tsp salt Beat together: % cup butter 2 cups sugar until fluffy Beat in: 2 eggs 3 tsp vanilla 1 tsp lemon extract Stir in: flour mixture, a third at a time f7_111k1i Beat together: 5 egg yolks 2 tsp water Divide the mixture equally into five small bowls. Add a drop of food colouring to each bowl, a different colour to each one. red yellow green blue "black" (blue + green + red) Butter a piece of waxed paper. Place a piece of dough on it. Place another piece of buttered waxed paper on top of the dough (butter side against the dough) and roll out with a rolling pin to %- thick. Remove top piece of waxed paper. Using the "black" paint, draw the outline of the picture you wish to create. Draw in any other predominant features you wish to emphasize (arms, buttor etc.) Fill in the areas with different colours. NOTE: The paint must be applied very thickly, or it will crack when baked. When your painting is finished, take a paring knife and carefully cut away any excess dough (Return the excess dough to the bowl and re-use).Now, slip a cookie sheed under the cookie (waxed paper and all) and bake for 10 — 12 minutes. (Until the cookie is light brown around the edges). While it is baking, paint another one! This is a great project for kids on a cold December afternoon. Last year we made huge cookies with everyone's name on them and hung them on the Christmas tree. They were a great success. The following mitten pattern would make an excellent Christmas present to warm the fingers of a loved one all winter long. It uses an ingenious stitch which makes two layers of knitting at once. It's like wearing two pairs of mittens! The pattern is made in a ladies size small to medium. Yarn: 4 ozs. 2 ply Gobelin or equivalent Needles: 2, size 13 (Aero) or whatever necessary to obtain correct gauge. 2 st holders. Gauge: 1 "= 6 sts. and 8 rows Mitt: Cast on 48 sts. Work in ribbing of k 2, p 2 for 4'/2 ins. Inc Row: (Inc 1 st in each of 2ksts, p2)5times, (inc 1 st in each of 2 k sts, inc 1 st in each of 2 p sts) twice (inc 1 st in 2 k sts, p 2) 5 times. Total 76 sts. Double Knitting Pattern Row 1: *K 1, yarn in front of work, sl 1 as if to p allowing yarn to cross in front of st, repeat from * across. Repeat row 1 for pattern. This pattern forms a double thickness of knitting. Work in pattern for 10 rows (looks like 5 rows) First Inc for Thumb: Work in pat on 35 sts, put marker on needle, inc 1 st in each of next 2 sts, work in pat on 2 sts, inc 1 st in each of next 2 sts, put a marker on needle, work in pat on 35 sts. Work in pat for 3 rows, slipping markers. 2nd Inc for Thumb: Work in pat to marker, sl marker, inc 1 st in each of next 2 sts, work in pat on 6 sts, inc 1 st in each of next 2 sts, sl marker, work in pat to end. Work in pat for 3 rows, slipping markers. Continue in this manner, increasing 2 sts after first marker and 2 sts before 2nd marker every 4th row until there are 30 sts between markers for thumb. Work in pat for 3 rows. Thumb: Work in pat on 35 sts, place these sts on a holder. Inc mitten knittin 1 st in first st of thumb, work in pat to last st of thumb, inc 1 st — 32 sts for thumb. Place remaining 35 sts on a holder. Work even in pat on 32 thumb sts for 2" (or to length of thumb minus'/z" for cap of thumb) Cap of Thumb First Dec Row: * Work pat on 4 sts, k 2 tog twice, repeat from across. Work back in pat. 2nd Dec Row: * Work pat on 2 sts, k 2 tog twice, repeat from across. Work back. 3rd Dec Row: K 2 tog across row. Break yarn leaving end for sewing. Draw end through sts; fasten. Sew thumb seam. Hand: Place sts from first holder on needle, join yarn, pick up and k 6 sts under thumb, work pat on 35 sts of 2nd holder. Work even in pat on these 76 sts for 3'/z" (or to length between base of thumb and tip of longest finger minus 1'h" for cap of hand) Cap of Hand First Dec Row: * Work pat on 6 sts, k 2 tog twice, repeat from across, work pat on 6 sts. Work 3 rows in pat — 62 sts. 2nd Dec Row: * Work pat on 5 sts, k 2 tog twice, repeat from across to last 8 sts, work pat on 4 sts, k 2 tog twice. Work 3 rows in pat — 48 sts. 3rd Dec Row: * Work pat on 4 sts, k 2 tog twice, repeat from across. Work 3 rows in pat — 36 sts. 4th Dec Row: * Work pat on 3 sts, k 2 tog twice, repeat from across, sl last st. Work 1 row in pat — 26 sts. 5th Dec Row: * Work pat on 2 sts, k 2 tog twice, repeat from across, k 1, sl 1. Work 1 row in pat — 18 sts. K 2 tog across next row. Break yarn leaving end for sewing. Draw end through sts. Sew side seam. Done! Aren't they great! Now make a pair for yourself! HOME*BREW Five gallons of home-brew beer can be made for less then $2.95. Here's how: Into a clean plastic tub or crock pour the contents of one 2'/2 lb. can of hop -flavoured pale barley malt extract (about $1.15) Add 1 tsp. salt; 1 oz. gelatine; 2'/2 lbs. sugar, and add boiling water until you have 5 imperial gallons of mixture. Cover the crock with a piece of plastic to exclude wild yeasts and other airborne critters, and allow to cool to room temperature. This will take several hours and should not be rushed. When cool, add a packet of active brewer's yeast, obtainable at wine making shops and many large department stores (about 59d for 2 packs). Keep the crock off the floor to avoid chilling, which would slow fermentation. Skim off the foam, then stir each day. After about 5 days the fermentation will stop and the beer will start to clear. Now it's time for bottling. For 5 gallons, use 60 stubby beer bottles or 32 large pop bottles. Don't use other kinds of bottles since they aren't strong enough to take the pressure. The bottles must be thouroughly washed, rinsed in very hot water, and drained out before using. For sparkling beer, add '/4 tsp. of sugar (no more!) to the stubby bottles or tsp. to the large. Siphon in the beer to within one inch of the top, being very careful not to disturb the sediment in the bottom of the crock. Borrow a bottle capper and get some caps (where you got the beer yeast). Cap the bottles and shake them up a bit, then store in a moderately warm place, for a few days. The longer you store it, the better it tastes. To serve, chill the beer well and pour slowly without "chugging" into a glass. This method will avoid disturbing the yeast sediment on the bottom of the bottle. Cheers! This recipe courtesy of Mrs. Pat Dymond of Dymond's Health Centre in Mongolia, just south of Stouffville on the 10th line. She says that beer is a great tonic! Belcher and Smith MILLINERY SUPPLIES 844 Yonge Street (Upstairs) Toronto 922-4961 Fabrics at Rock Bottom Prices Great Big Floppy Hats and lots of patterns ..... ! OfnT TOYS Toys are constructed of white pine and hardwood dowels. Dowels and glue are used to secure all the pieces together so they will not come apart under normal play use. There are no screws or nails to rust or cut fingers or mark furniture. The wood is finely sanded with all corners and sharp edges removed. The toys are left unfinished so children will not accidently ingest toxic finishing materials. All these things make for a very safe and long lasting toy of the highest hand- made quality. For catalogue write to: G.M.T. Toys c/o James Cairns RR3 Embro Ontario, Canada. Now For The First Time Revealed At Long Last The True Story Of The Carden Of Eve (unexpergated version) by Pam Keirstead Once upon a time in a place just east of here, when the world was still very young and dreams more or less came true, there lived a little girl who loved to climb trees. There was a big maple at the bottom of the garden, the best tree in the world. It was all green and sweet smelling; it swayed and rustled in the wind till all its fiddles bowed together, all its hands applauded. Its limbs reached everywhere, even to the top of the sky. When the little girl reached out to a higher limb, it always held her. Her dreams soared to its top -most branches beyond her little arms: all summer she kept climbing. In the fall she watched how carelessly it dropped its catkins to take root at the will of the wind, and marvelled at how many were lost. Sometimes she's stick one on the tip of her nose and dance about like an elf. The winters were heavier months, laden with ice. The old maple bent and cracked. Yet the snow bound its wounds like a white bandage. Now without foliage, it was stark and splendid. It didn't invite her to play; its nobility was stiff with indiffer- ence. But its naked, weathered branches held her winters in awe. She knew it still kept growing; she could hear the eternal flow of sap within. One spring, not so long ago, she chose her place in the garden of trees. (It was winter that taught her to choose.) And if you look you'll see her — her orchards are growing everywhere. Some topics covered in the text are: Wild flowers, their names and lineage Wild flowers and cultivated flowers Where wild flowers grow Learning about wild flowers The influence of individual researchers The influence of horticulture and gardening The influence of specialist exploration The printing is excellent and the colour renditions are accurate (at least where we were able to recognize the species). If you are interested in the beauty of nature, or the study of flowering plants, or just like excellent artwork, buy this book. You will be well rewarded. JOY OF COOKING BOO Irma S. Rombauer Marion Rombauer Becker Bobbs-Merrill Company Inc. REV I E WR 1967, 849 pages, $7.95 WILD FLOWERS OF THE WORLD Paintings by Barbara Everard Text by Brian D. Morley Rainbird Reference Books Limited 1970; 9"x12" 432 pages, $9.95 This book is beautiful. It is a compilation of over 1000 water- colours of wild flowers from all reaches of the globe. It is also an excellent descriptive text on native flora of the major geographic regions and it contains an introduction which is, for once, just what it says. There is no way we could reproduce adequately the fine paintings by Barbara Everard. Suffice it to say that she is the Audobon of the wild flower world. This is by far the most comprehensive and useable cookbook we have ever seen. Sensitive to food value and nutrition, as well as having excellent recipes (over 4,000 we're told), this cookbook also has an extensive and interesting section on most of the basic ingredients used in food preparation. It also has a step-by-step section on canning, and many other types of food preserving. At each important point in the instructions an arrow is placed in the text to mark out important hints and directions. "To familiarize yourself with herb flavors, some 'lazy day' , when you feel experimental, blend % pound mild cheddar cheese with 2 table- spoons vodka. Divide the mixture into small portions and add herbs and herb combinations. Label the cheese samples as you mix them. Let them rest for about an hour to develop flavor. Then have a testing party with your husband, your wife or a friend." "Since vinegar and salt release juices and impair vitamin content, add them as close to serving time as possible." "Commercial jellies, according to the law, have at least 45% fruit and 55% sugar. The juice is extracted by pressure cooking, and although as much as'/o more juice can be extracted as in the open kettle method, the natural pectins in the fruit are destroyed by the higher heats and must be replaced. These added pectins demand a greater percentage of sugar to fruit, in order to make the fruit juices jell. " REPORT OF THE SELECT COMMITTEE ON CONSERVATION Province of Ontario Bookstore 1950; 188 pages, $1.00 On April 7, 1949, this resolution was passed in the Ontario legislature: "That a Select Committee of this House be appointed to study all aspects of conservation, notibly, (1) soil depletion, (2) drainage, (3) flood control, (4) reforestation, (5) local demonstration farms, (6) soil analysis ..." Study they did. In their report the men who sat on this committee documented concerns and made recommendations in 1950, most of which are as strong as any of the present-day ideas put forth by the ecology movement. Not only is this a government report, but something of a textbook. Each area of investigation is well defined, often detailed with historical perspec- tive. The material is never dry and dull, since it is written with obvious care and thoughtfullness. The facts are not "played -up" but are presented in a reasonable form so that their urgency speaks for itself. The committee visited a notable laboratory of conservation practices in the State of Ohio. This was the famous Malabar Farm and Pleasant Valley areas, written about by Louis Bromfield in his two excellent books. .. organic matter or humus is often referred to as the 'life of the soil.' All living things supported by the soil return to it in the end. There they are broken down by living microscopic organisms that swarm in the soil— 'micro-organisms' . In getting food for themselves these micro- organisms break down raw organic matter, such as stubble or leaves, into the complex substance called humus, and this again into simpler elements. In their turn the micro-organisms themselves die by the billion and add to the soil organic matter. The process of life, not all visible to the naked eye, are furiously active in every cubic foot of soil: birth, growth, death and decomposition. There is more drama in the soil than appears at a glance from the highway." This book is real. We recommend it. M-1 - t 1 11 T, The Cosmic Egg seems to be in a continual state of evolution, hope- fully reflecting the attitudes of service and love towards those who shop or browse in the store. We are all brothers and sisters on this planet; and if I bring you and you bring me, we can bring each other along on the way of peace and understanding. The Cosmic Egg came into existence when Kent found himself the surprised owner of $200 worth of army surplus clothing and suddenly without a job. So the store was born and the policy was then, and still is, to provide durable and inexpensive clothing to our customers. Time saw the usefulness of including camping equipment, fur coats, boots, and leather jackets to the stock. More recently we have added old-timey women's clothing, patchwork quilts, feather comforters, used jeans, cords and sweaters. The sweetest fruit of our labour is the smile and good word from someone who is glad to stop by. Karen Kennedy 25 Baldwin 367-0463 camping equipment government surplus 168 McCaul 536-4370 clothes and toys for the wee ones 31 Baldwin 864-9671 native clothing herbs and spices Aagnarohr 33 Baldwin 368-7769 hand -made leather goods 160 McCaul 364-0072 �eCloba Arb Eruck 39 Baldwin 341 Bloor W 368-7780 head and body supplies I&AWth 6treet 0airerp of Vbotograpbp 23 Baldwin 364-2630 CHRISTMAS TIME DYEING This being the Christmas season, you will probably be thinking of getting a Christmas tree. If you decide to purchase a live tree, you will ' ave a chance to do some experimental dyeing. It always seems a shame to have to throw out the tree after so short a use. Here is a way to use it for more than one purpose before discarding it. After you have had the tree a couple weeks, and the needles begin to drop, instead of chucking them out, use them for dyeing. Spruce bark for example, will give you a beautiful dark rose tan colour. The needles, cones and branches can also be used. Soak 1 peck (8 qts.) of needles, bark, cones or branches in 2 gallons of water overnight. Heat to boiling and boil for several hours until all the colour has come out of the material used. (be sure to add hot water occasionally to maintain the original water level). Strain the dye liquid through cheese cloth and add 2 gallons cold water. (Total of 4 gallons) When dye bath is lukewarm, immerse 1 lb. of wool or cotton that has been wet and squeezed damp. Heat the dye bath to boiling and boil for 30 minutes. Rinse and dry. PS— don't throw away your trees, cook them! Happy Christmas 'Ness 1. aardvark/drd, vdrk/a burrowing nocturnal African mammal that feeds on ants, has a long snout, a snakelike tongue, large ears, and a heavy tapering tail. 2. aardvark limited/ a store selling good aardvark (Orycteropus afer) things to live with, chairs, tables, books, fabrics, lighting, acces- sories, tableware, and a lot of interesting things from the Americas and around the world. 38 Wellington Street East, Toronto 1, Ontario, 368-2697 HowI ut it? Dear Sirs — Why tobacco in an otherwise excellent paper? Heidi Vockeroth. HERBAL TOBACCO This is a substitute for tobacco, not a cure. 1 lb. Coltsfoot leaves '/z Ib. Eyebright % lb. Buckbean 4 oz. Wood Betony 2 oz. Rosemary 1'/zoz. Thyme 1 oz. Lavender For extra flavour add Rose leaves and Chamomile flowers. The herbs should be rubbed to a coarse powder between the hands and rolled into cigarettes. (see Ploughshare, November 1972 issue). •;� �vrE CURB YOU > O�AII OsfrRE FCp TIf6At�0 sa.n oHcY By 3 � StARs RO[BUCK bC0•NC. nncAao n�. MOON SHINE The moon is the symbol of the attainable, and reflects the light of the sun to guide us in the night. Its rhythms are commemerated in the fertility of women and it controls the ebb and flow of the waters of the sea. When we look at the moon in the sky it is easy to imagine a face in the patterns of its surface. The Man in the Moon gazes down upon us as benevolently today as he ever has. Moon is companion to earth as earth is companion to sun. As a symbol for the top of a Christmas tree it crowns the aspirations of all living things as its soft light shines down on the boughs of evergreen. The face of the moon is lit by the sun; on the tree the moon is head to a body of evergreen. It is also the symbol of the heavens; the stars are lights, the moon is shown as the brightest object in the night sky. The Christmas tree so decorated becomes a symbol of the unity of man with the cosmos with the patterns of the heavens projected upon his perfect body: it merges with the symbol of Christ in this way. A5 y HOW TO MAKE A MOON FOR YOUR CHRISTMAS TREE You will need: a metal coat hanger a pair of pliers (preferably vise grip) a thin brown paper bag crayons scissors glue First make the frame. Take the coat hanger and bend it in the middle and fold it in half to look like this: Next bend out the inside frame on each side, about 3 inches down, to look like this: Now make another bend 1%" down farther on each side: And then another about'/2" in the opposite direction. Now shape the outside making a number of small bends into a curve. Finish shaping and making small adjustments until it looks like this: You now have a frame for the moon. Place the frame on the paper bag and trace its outline. Colour the face thickly with crayons, making a cheerful, wise old face. Then cover the rest with yellow crayon. Cut out the moon face leaving V of paper border all the way around. Put it near a stove or heater so that the crayon marks melt into the paper, and the wax in the crayons make it translucent. Cut a strip of paper about 18" long and about 2" wide. Take the moon face and cut the border about every '/2" all the way around, running the cuts right up to the outline of the face. Bend the tabs you have made over at right angles all the way around, and glue the paper strip to them. Form the paper strip so it takes the same shape as the moon. Now you should have a moon face which is 2" deep and will fit on the wire frame you have made. Slip it over the frame and make tabs on the bottom part of the strip Glue the tabs to the bottom wire of the frame by folding them over it. The moon is finished! Now take some cord and tie it to the top of the tree. Take one of of the lights in the string on your tree and tie it behind the moon to make it glow. Use a white or yellow bulb according to the feeling you want. 10 M_ Legend Of The Christmas Tree To -day the Christmas Tree is the centre of our festivities, topped with a star and glittering with ornaments, it is a part of the beauty and the meaning of the Christmas season. How the Christmas tree came to play such an important part in the observance of Christmas - well, there is a legend that comes down to us from the early days of Christianity in England. One of those helping to spread Christianity among the Druids was a monk named Wilfred (later St. Wilfred). One day, surrounded by a group of his converts, he struck down a huge oak tree, which in the Druids religion was an object of worship As the oak tree fell to the earth it split into four pieces, and from its centre grew a young fir tree, pointing its green spires toward the sky.The crowd gazed in amazement. Wilfred let his axe drop and turned to speak: This little tree shall be your holy tree tonight. It is the wood of peace, for your houses are built of Fir, it is the sign of an endless life for the leaves are evergreen, see howit points toward the Heavens. Let it be called the tree of the Christ Child. Gather about it, not in the wilderness, but in your own homes. There it will be surrounded by loving gifts and rites of kindness. And to this day, the Fir tree is one of our lovely symbols of Christmas. SNUGLI is a baby carrier designed to be worn on back or front. It is made of high quality, machine wash- able, two -layered corduroy, by a group of hardworking, proud farm- wives from Dunkard, Ohio. SNUGLI has a small, inner seat for the newborn, with special head sup- port. Darts, built into the seat, can be opened as the child grows. When too large for the inner seat, the child can use the large, outer seat, which also has darts that will enable you to adjust the seat to the baby's exact needs. SNUGLI is easily put on and off without assistance. It can be useful while doing housework, shopping, hiking or walking. It is adaptable in size both to the baby and the wearer, whether mother or father. SNUGLI is available in Beige, Royal Blue, Wildcat Red, Marigold Yellow, and Charcoal Green for $28,95. WRITE: Abby Becker RR3 Claremont, Ontario. Antiques and bygones Cotton tiffany lamps Hours daily 12-6 Proprietress Lynn Brown 75 Jarvis Street Toronto 2a 366-0078 salmagundi A collection of interesting things callass. ads ART SUPPLIES GWARTZMAN'S ART SUPPLIES - 448 Spadina (below College) Phone 922-5429 Paul and Bella Gwartzman, proprietors. "If fate gave you a lemon, squeeze it - and start a lemonade stand!" (Toronto) AUTO ACCESSOR 1 ES FOR SALE: 4 Firestone Champion Deluxe WW Tires with tubes, size 6.45-14. Almost new. $40.00. Also 2 sealbeatn headlamps. Phone Paul at 727-5254. CLAREMONT SCHOOL OF CRAFTS: COURSES BATIK. Teacher Mary Burdick - 649-5636 DANCE STUDIO. Teacher Diane Becraft. 10 lessons for $25. - 942-7354. DRUM LESSONS. Teacher Don Wherry Lessons at $10. per hour - 649-2036 EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN. Teacher Van- essa Perry - 649-5636. GUITAR (Classical). Teacher Chris Wadley $3. per lesson - 649-5636. GUITAR (Folk). Teacher Peter Carty, $3 per lesson - 649-5636. NATURAL DYEING. Teacher Vanessa Perry - 649-5636. NATURE LORE. Teachers John Hopkins, Roy Ness - 649-5636. PHOTOGRAPHY. Teacher Laura Jones - 364-2630 or 649-5636. PUPPETRY. Teacher Robin Gallagher - 294-1896. RIDING LESSONS. Teachers Fran Howard, Rick Howard - 649-2447. SEWING LESSONS. Teacher Jackie Findlay -649-5636. SPINNING LESSONS. Teacher Paula Lish- man. 5 lessons for $25. - 649-2918. WEAV ING LESSONS. Teacher Carol Wherry 5 lessons for $25. - 649-2036. WOODWORKING LESSONS. Teacher Pam Keirstead. - 294-1768. CRAFTS CRITTERS. Very small hand -dipped candles guaranteed to last one meal! $4.50 a dozen. Phone Abby 649-5636. CRITTER HOLDERS. Small wooden stands for critters. $1.00 each. Three of them make a beautiful gift with a few critters. Phone Abby 649-5636. HAND -DIPPED CANDLES. $2.00 a pair. These are not romantic candles. They burn too brightly! Phone Abby 649-5636. SILKSCREENING by Peter Carty. On the 3rd concession (Uxbridge) at Underhill, just north of the town line. EATS EIEIO FOOD CO-OP stocks dry goods, grains, nuts, honey etc. If you wish to join call 649-5636. HERBAL TEAS 250 a pack. Anise seed, Peppermint, Spearmint, Lemon Balm, Star Anise, Licorice Root, Buchu. Send orders to: Claremont School of Crafts, R.R. 3 Claremont, Ontario. WILD GINGER SYRUP, MAY APPLE JAM, CANDIED WILD GINGER ROOT. 500each Claremont School of Crafts, R. R.3 Clare- mont, Ontario. PERLMUTAR'S BAKERY 175 Baldwin St. in the Kensington market (Toronto). The small bakery with Jewish pizzas in the window! TEL AVIV RESTAURANT 440 Spadina Avenue (Toronto). Have a Fellafel and feel great! Moishe. DYMONDS HEALTH FOOD. Just off the 10th line in Mongolia, south of Stouffville. HOMEBAKED BREAD AND COOKIES Call Cindy and Deborah at 294-1473 in Whitevale. Also daycare available. I HOUSEHOLD NEEDED: A used oil stove or burner (pro- pane) to heat a garage 400 sq. ft. Phone Bill Saunders 924-3507 • MUSIC -� GITANE MUSIQUE Fine Instruments. 425 Queen Street East (Toronto) 364-9498. Now offering Piano Repair Service for Uprights and Spinets. Reasonable Prices. Free Esti- mates. No Piano is too old PETS FOR SALE: 8 puppies 8 weeks old, Hound mother and Doberman father. $20. each. Can be bought in matching pairs. Phone Lex 294-1896. POSITIONS ADVERTISING MANAGER needed for the Ploughshare. Applicant must have own veh- icle. Ploughshare has an unusual advertising policy that accepts goods and services in trade for advertising as well as cash. If you like people and can bargain for us, contact Bruce Becker 294-1896. CIRCULATION MANAGER needed for the Ploughshare. Applicant must have own veh- icle. Ploughshare needs to be in the hands of everyone interested in crafts, community and country life. Contact Bruce Becker at 294-1896. SEWERS are needed to make children's clothing for a Children's store in Toronto. Call Abby 649-5636. CRAFT TEACHERS are needed for the Claremont School of Crafts. Do you do anything well and like people? That makes you a teacher. Call Abby 649-5636. REAL ESTATE WANTED: 5-10 acres of rolling hills, with stream; with or without house, in the Stou- ffville-Uxbridge area. Contact Robert G. Mitchell RR1 Goodwood, 640-5320 after 8:00 p.m. WANTED: empty buildings, houses or rooms we could use for our School. Contact Claremont School of Crafts, RR3, Claremont Ontario 649-5636. WANTED: a building or house in a rural setting to be used as an Inn for the Claremont School of Crafts. Phone 649-5636. BULLETIN BOARD Crafts of of u oyjt gch° NTS! t areyo tt Clare E$D ST`�Dy ageaon ay�av st aboy,t WE d OtAt ,estea 1f vie Leary, lu ce to ,pas, y,ter l try ay,d rn batik to da call, vie 1 ts thiy,g fro ! Gti°e ay,y 0im,09 oodo636. 64q.5 11 P Zot,ZQ, a w a yO4 heed bar A ase�e nabr meant or°w an? 2g4 ��6 owse;n o4�r� 8 gn RHO 40 Make112 Yo pvT Pla �Swln s �e � WraPP112 have ho hlte tissue arker Pe 9 paper i A rtire fC7 .1 offun waPer. Ther�d o CliYo ualZed � cl inq the rlends and aPaper for tives , o Z, >� Y of 0• a Y�OS <oeeatorti � S o PF�SM`c e at �c\esa�e `�aoye �'��� a`sSo \\ -as hV poyouS-a <beatetia� o�t�{C`ar�s eve aoa o G oto�tio oot o.N otsc�o 6�9y6 ��VoltoQ0100°k ootal�o �eas`3eC.`atemoa School of Crafts m The Clareont S of all kinds, ontributions to fire wood needs coney to old yarn thing from m ust about any to probablhat isn't needed Give us you have e'll pick it up. a callandw 649-5636 PLOUGHSHARE welcomes all articles of community interest. If you know of an interesting event or person or idea, and can't write it up yourself, drop us a line and we'll come out and lend a hand! Ploughshare, Stouffville, Ontario. And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into ploughshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore. Isaiah 2:4