Summer stories
We took a break from publishing updates during the Summer, but now it’s time to jump back into the saddle. We have lots to tell you!
Location reveal!
On June 27th we held a meeting of the full membership, to make the final decision on whether to go ahead and purchase the land we’d found. We obtained full consent in that meeting, and so we’re thrilled to be able to share our new site location on our home page at last.
Drum roll please…
Kawartha Commons Cohousing will be located at 736 Maryland Avenue, Peterborough, Ontario.
Welcome to our new Explorers
Our online information session on July 6th was a resounding success. The turnout exceeded our expectations, with a Zoom room filled with eager and curious individuals interested in learning about cohousing. We presented the vision and benefits of living in a cohousing community, and gave an overview of the current status of the KCC project.
Attendees actively participated, asking thoughtful questions and sometimes sharing their own experiences. We ran a poll at the end to gauge interest in moving forward, and no fewer than 9 people said they wanted to become Explorer members, with 6 more attendees still considering it. We left the session feeling inspired and hopeful, ready for the next step in this great adventure.
What a Superweekend!
KCC’s first Superweekend on July 21-23rd was so much fun! It was a real bonding experience that brought our community even closer together. From the moment we kicked off the event on Friday evening with a casual dinner at Cosmic Charlies, the energy was infectious. We engaged in a variety of activities throughout the weekend, including a walking tour of Peterborough, brunches hosted by local members, and plenty of other food-related opportunities. The highlight was undoubtedly the Saturday afternoon, which began with an Orientation session for our new Explorers, and continued with a potluck dinner and a relaxed social. We wrapped up the weekend on Sunday with a visit to our development site and a debrief afterwards. We couldn't help but reflect on the wonderful new connections we had made and the bonds that had been solidified during this Superweekend. It was a testament to the strength and spirit of our community, and we can't wait for the next one!
Next information session
If you’re curious about cohousing and haven’t attended one of our information sessions before, look out for a signup link to attend the next one. Sessions are held over Zoom and take roughly 1.5-2 hours, with plentry of time for questions.
Save the date for our next information session on Thursday October 12th at 6pm.
Introducing ourselves to the neighbours
At Kawartha Commons Cohousing, we believe in transparency and open communication. As we embark on our exciting new development project, we understand the significance of engaging with our neighbours and the community. That's why we're visiting all of our nearest neighbours to say hello and explain our plans. We’re in the process of calling at around 70 homes that will be directly affected by the construction.
We want to build genuine connections within our neighbourhood, which is why we’re dedicating this time to meeting with local residents. Through these interactions, we hope to be able to address any concerns or queries. We firmly believe that open dialogue is the foundation for a vibrant and inclusive community, and our neighbours’ thoughts and feelings matter to us as we strive to bring this project to life.
Whether you are a potential resident, a neighbour, or simply a curious individual with comments or concerns, we encourage you to reach out to us at info@kawarthacommons.ca.
Dipping all my toes in the water
by Therese
As some readers might know, Kris, Marc, Becky, and Mathew have a tradition of going on an annual 4-day canoe trip in the Ontario backcountry. When they began discussing their planned 2023 trip at the end of a circle meeting in May, Patrice and I hung around to listen, and before they knew what was happening, we’d invited ourselves along.
A canoe trip had been on my bucket list forever. The pull of the Ontario backcountry is irresistible, and I began preparing with an uncharacteristic girlish excitement. The fact that I had only been in a canoe once, and I’d managed to fall out twice, seemed a minor detail at the time.
But the day drew closer. As I lovingly checked all my camping gear (again), I found myself wondering if I’d Made A Huge Mistake. I’d learned one valuable tip from reading a couple of books lent to me by Marc: Don’t stand up. But there seemed to be so much more to it - at least 5 different paddle strokes, not to mention the whole business of steering. What if I became a liability and ruined everyone’s trip? What if I punctured the canoe? What if I lost the paddle? What if I drowned? But it was too late to back out, so I stayed calm by packing and repacking my backpack on a daily basis until August rolled around.
At The Farm
Kris and Marc have this trip planned like a military operation. They’ve kept meticulous records for years, and the food is itemized down to the last cracker (seriously). Patrice and I arrived at The Farm a couple of days early, to help with weighing and packaging breakfasts, lunches, dinners, and snacks. Beverages were also measured out to the last drop, with special consideration given to what seemed to be a full bar.
Even before we arrived, Marc and Kris had been busy cooking all the dinner items sous vide, so they could be portioned out and vacuum sealed and would only need reheating at our campsite. The menu included steak, smoked pork, fried potatoes, and home-grown beans. For breakfast there would be bacon, pancakes, maple syrup, eggs, biscuits… I don’t usually eat breakfast, but I decided to make an exception for this trip. As I saw it all being loaded up, I couldn’t quite believe we’d get through all that food. At one point, I threw caution to the winds and decided not to count the crackers, which almost derailed the whole expedition, but Kris managed to pull us back from the brink of anarchy. Did you know that one Mary’s Organic Cracker weighs 2.5 g?
Setting Off
The day dawned at last. With one canoe loaded and our gear packed, we set off in two cars for the Haliburton Water Trails check in. The weather was perfect, and as we drove, I could feel the weight of everyday life melting away. I was more excited than I’d been in years. Despite being a total novice at this paddling thing, I suddenly knew that everything was going to be fine. We checked in to pick up our two rental canoes, and the adventure began.
Putting in, my first portage, and setting up camp
Luckily I’ve never minded getting muddy or wet. Both were required as we got the canoes into the water and strapped all our gear in. As we pushed off from the shore, the rhythmic sound of paddles cutting through the water, and the soft whispers of the wind in the trees were the only sounds. Later on, in more challenging waters, I was to hear hearty shouts of encouragement along the lines of “Dig! Dig!” and “Not that way!”, but for now, all was tranquility.
As the journey went on, my focus turned to not drifting into reed beds or half-submerged tree trunks. I hadn’t realized that I wasn’t supposed to steer from the front, so that kept Patrice guessing - I’m sure she enjoyed it. It was interesting to see our efficiency as a paddling team develop over time, as we tuned into each other and learned how to work together.
All the portages were fairly short, and we didn’t have to navigate any beaver dams. I was determined to pull my weight by portaging a canoe at least once, and I’m very proud to say that I did it. It turned out that doing it once left me completely satisfied. Fortunately, Mathew and Marc seem to relish that kind of thing, so we left it all to them for the rest of the journey.
When we pulled into our campsite, we all set to work to turn a little scrap of land into a home. It really was perfection - a small piece of paradise. We swam in the lake while Marc produced our first delicious camp meal, then we settled down to enjoy the evening.
Evenings in the backcountry are very special. The call of a loon as the sun was setting is a sound I will never forget. S'mores around the campfire, the rustling of the trees, the sounds of turtles surfacing and plopping back underwater, the distant rushing sound of the falls… I can still hear it all when I close my eyes. And the skies, the wide, wide skies! Unforgettable.
Challenges and accidents
Our journey was not without its challenges. Guiding the canoe through narrow passages and around fallen logs called for communication and coordination. And the last day was windy, with the wind blowing against us, so it took determination to get across the lake and back to the put-in. But as Patrice and I worked together, we bonded, learning to trust each other's judgment and skill. The challenges we faced only deepened our appreciation for the untamed beauty around us.
While cutting wood, Mathew was so impressed at the sharpness of my camping saw that he tried to cut off his own finger. Not to be outdone, Patrice slashed hers open with a Leatherman which Marc had sharpened for the trip. And I managed to kick a cup of scalding tea over my foot, resulting in some magnificent blisters. But aside from these minor incidents, nobody even came close to drowning, nobody was eaten by a bear, and nobody got food poisoning (despite eating foraged mushrooms). That’s good enough for me.
Four days passed all too quickly. One moment we were alone in the wilderness, then suddenly we were paddling through cottage country and towards the sound of a busy road. It felt so strange taking the canoes out of the water for the last time and walking back to the car. We consoled ourselves by stopping off for ice cream at Kawartha Dairy on the way home.
I’ve spent a lot of time since then reflecting on my first canoe trip into the Ontario backcountry. It really was a transformative experience for me. I was able to reconnect with nature, form deeper connections with my fellow travellers, and discover more about myself. Since moving to Canada in 2011, I’ve been dreaming of doing something like this, and now I can’t wait to do it again.
On our journey, Patrice had remarked that she thought my soul was Canadian. I think she’s right.
Summer Adventures
by Arthur and Linda
We planned this exact trip for Summer 2022 in our 19’ travel trailer, but wound up instead in Montreal for a month caring for ourselves and Linda’s mom, as we all had Covid. This summer, after settling Linda’s mom in her new (retirement) home and emptying/selling her 2 properties, we were hankering for some couple outdoor time.
Our first destination was Fundy National Park, where the highlight was some excellent hiking trails through the lush bush, which is bathed in moisture most days by the fog rolling in from the bay. Also, the park itself is within walking distance of the fishing/tourist village of Alma, where we enjoyed an anniversary (47 th ) dinner featuring lobster, along with gin and elderberry-infused tonic.
The second featured destination was Prince Edward Island National Park, Cavendish, which has beautiful beaches and chilly-water swimming. Also, we loved the cycling along the paved Oceanview Trail. We then had a few days on the south side of the island, where the water was at least marginally warmer, at Red Point Provincial Park. We enjoyed exploring the small town of Souris and the bucolic, rural ambience of the east side of the island. Everything went smoothly, and Arthur is always happy when all the systems work well in the trailer!
Upon returning home, we had to hurry to get ready for our “pop-up commune” week at Sharbot Lake. This is an annual reunion with good friends we lived with for many years on the Canada Farm, then an intentional community near Lanark, Ontario. There’s a pot-luck dinner every night, and we like to have our contributions well planned, so the hurry part was getting some dishes made and frozen.
We are old timers, their children, grandchildren, and there is a central picnic shelter where much scrabble, bananagram and other games, jigsaw puzzling, schmoozing, eating and music playing are happening--also, swimming, paddleboarding, frisbee, felting, and volleyball. Arthur is still catching up on his sleep from all the late night jam sessions, a highlight for him. Great to see longtime friends and catch up on their news!
Thanks for reading!
We look forward to sharing more KCC news next time. Wishing you all a very happy September!