Labrador.  The Big Land.  The 3rd word in the official title of this province, even though its territory constitutes over 70% of the land mass of said province.  The name “Labrador” was bestowed by a Portuguese explorer, João Fernandes Lavrador. Lavrador, in Portuguese means “farmer” or “labourer.”  So it makes sense that on today’s show, we head to central Labrador, the Happy Valley Goose Bay area, where you will find a pocket of farms – sandy soil, no rocks, long days, but a short season.  Farmers here have their own special challenges, but the produce from these farms is highly valued by local folks.  It is estimated that there are only about 200 acres of cleared agricultural land in Labrador, though there is a great deal of potential.  This acreage comes with a small number of farmers.  On this episode of "Fit to Eat," we talk to one of them.

Today we meet Des Sellars.  He operates Nature’s Best Farm just outside of Happy Valley.  He produces vegetables, and is one of the “diehards” – as he calls it.  He’s been farming there for over 2 decades now.  C’mon along.  The weather is grand.  Don’t mind the occasional mosquito or black fly or midge… they only bite once – each.

Fit To Eat S2E16 Des Sellars

and i think he is gone

You may not be aware, but there is a keen competition underway at this time of the spring that your usual media outlets have likely ignored.  Of course, I'm referring to the annual Fool's Gambit - the race to plant a garden!  This is the struggle to be the first in your township to get your garden in, no matter what the experts say (because you know better, right?).  You watch the sky like a sailor, looking for clues to next week's weather.  You create shelters from pop bottles and plastic and 1x2s to protect the tender seedlings from the elements.  You coax the seeds from the soil, spending hours hunched over recently-planted rows, pleading with the goddesses of unreasonably-early fertility.  You are engaging in ritual dances to assuage the frost spirits.  And of course, you end up replanting whole sections three weeks later...!  Oh, and it can be called a Fool's Gambit, because by the end of June all of the plants in all the gardens are at about the same state of maturation, no matter when they were planted.  Though that doesn't keep me from engaging in the race every year!

For a respite from this stress, this week we have the last of the series on Celtic Spring here on Routes & Branches & Beyond.  We have songs and tunes about wing commanders, peculiar ferrets, green bushes, shoals, skylarks, merry sisters, hash (not the expensive kind), false young men, good beer, speedy ploughs and a mess of feathers.  From bands such as Nomos, Nightingale, Siobhan Miller, Ceolbeg, Kenneth & Angus MacKenzie, Mackeel, Dallahan, Malinky, Lúnasa, Allison Lupton, Donal Lunny, Matt Molloy & Paul Brady & Tommy Peoples, and Aiden Coffey et al.  Put down that packet of seeds and join me.

Routes & Branches & Beyond show #322 2024 04 18

This is the April 21, 2024 edition of Georgian Bay Roots Radio, hosted by Lloyd Lemon. 
In this episode Lloyd presents music inspired by live shows by RPR, Sue Foley, Colin Linden, and Shawn Kellerman.  These experiences are supplemented by connections with other summerfolk artists, new music, and new to him music that he’s experienced over the past few months.  Artists featured include: Fred Penner; RPR, Lucy MacNeil, Sue Foley, Ruthie Foster, Colin Linden, Harrison Kennedy, Blackie and the Rodeo Kings, Jay Linden, Adrian Sutherland, Shawn Kellerman and Carlos Del Junco with honorable mention of Terra Lightfoot. 
#summerfolk  #podcast  #georgianbayroots  #georgianbayrootsradio;  #fredpenner; #rpr, #lucymacneil, #suefoley, #ruthiefoster, #colinlinden, #harrisonkennedy, #blackieandtherodeokings, #jaylinden, #adriansutherland,  #shawnkellerman, #carlosdeljunco, and #terralightfoot

Episode #392 Apr 21 2024 (With Lloyd)

some gin and some coca cola

to see night become day

never too late to change

if we were loved from birth

and i'm wearing a false fur white coat like Ken from Barbie

which way now

"There is nothing new under the sun."  "And behold, all things shall be made new."  I read these competing visions in some sacred scripture somewhere - maybe the Upanishads, or the Qur'an, or the Ghagavad Gita, or the Tripitaka, or maybe the slimmed-down Bible after they banished the apocrypha.  Who knows?  That's the trouble when you get very ecumenical in your sources of inspiration - the scattered bits of wisdom all start to look alike - often because they are constantly borrowing from each other.

"What does this have to do with music," you ask?  Well, today on Routes & Branches & Beyond I'm playing a set of music that is relatively new to this world.  Yes, it is all new, but it often borrows from the past and from other traditions.  So it is new, but it is not new.  OK?  Got that, Grasshopper?  

We'll hear about dewy dells of Yarrow, fire walking, new jackets, yacht money, flying beetles, torn calico (there's a story there...), lonely roads, and advice for the wicked.  From musicians like Rum Ragged, Sultans of String, Wayne Muggridge, David Francey, James Gordon & his Exceptional Ensemble, and Reverie Road.  Turn off that canned muzak and join me.

Fit To Eat S2E16 Des Sellars

Ivan Emke

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