Endless Turn of Day Into Night

Lucky Star

Tom Luck

Rise Again

One More

After Dark

Sounds Like Heaven

Today we are visiting the Pye Centre for Northern Boreal Food Systems, here on Mud Lake Road, just outside of Happy Valley Goose Bay, Labrador.  It started out as the farm of Frank and Joyce Pye – though the Pye’s original farm was on the other side of town and across from the DND Air Base, but the soil on the base was found to be contaminated, so all of the farms there were moved to other locations.   Frank and Joyce were some of the early farmers in this area, showing what could be grown and sold in the region – though they supported their farming through being teachers and United Church Ministers.  Alas, that is often the case with food producers – they have to find other financial support for their farming "hobby!"  I don’t hear of financial advisors who have to take in washing on the side to make ends meet.  Or corporate lawyers who work on the snow ploughs during the winter to pay their mortgages.  But I digress.

The Pye farm is now the Pye Centre for Northern Boreal Food Systems, operated by the Labrador Campus of Memorial University of Newfoundland and Labrador, but in active collaboration with the local community, farmers in the region, and the indigenous groups who originally thrived on this territory.  This is our second show from the Pye Centre, to learn about its broad range of outreach, research, community engagement, and education.  Today we talk with Lem Seaward, who helps to operate the agricultural work of the Centre, a farmer who is employed by the University.  Imagine that!  Be sure to buckle in for the conversation as we tour the farm.  We’ll hop from one topic to another as we round a corner and see something new.   In the background are the sounds of tramping, wind, a few birds, and the promising sun of early May.  We’ll chat about cover crops, insects, potato trials, composting, homesteaders, appropriate technology, geodesic domes, liming, ploughing versus no-till and, of course, weeds.  And much more.  

For an old guy like me who spent much of his life in the wilds of academia, the Pye Centre is an example of one way that a University can be useful in rural communities.    And that, alone, is something to celebrate.Welcome to Labrador.


Fit to Eat S4E2 Lem Seaward at the Pye Centre in Labrador

Welcome to Routes & Branches & Beyond and to a show with the Almost Nearly Perfect People.  Of course, I'm referring here to the Nordic nations of Sweden, Iceland, Denmark, Finland and Norway.  A British journalist wrote a fine book about this region and its people, who he called "the almost nearly perfect people."  It is a clear-headed view of why this area of the world is so highly desireable, at the same time as pointing out some of the downsides of life in these modern nations of nirvana.  But on this show, we won't talk about the wisdom of Nordic politics, but just listen to some fine music from that area of the world.  Oh, and there could be a bit of Estonian and Greenlandic music that ends up on the show as well.  That's how things roll in the Nordic world.

You'll hear Danish chain dances, intoxicating post-classical folk, grunge Klezmer, Humppa music for pensioners, Swedish wedding marches, whimsical yet earnest blonde singer-songwriters, nordgrass, and wistful country songs with fierce guitars.  From musicians such as De Fries & D. Beck, Klezmofobia, Afenginn, Eläkeläiset, Hoven Droven, Tallari, Väsen, Louis Andreasen, Icelandic Symphony Orchestra & Langholt Church Choir, Ingólfur Steinsson & Friends, Frigg, Trad Attack!, Svavar Knutur, and Annbjørg Lien & the Brazz Brothers.  Grab a hunk of licorice and join me.

Routes & Branches & Beyond show # 366 2025 04 10

OK, quick - for extra points, and to win the sterling silver salad spinner set, name the five Nordic countries.  Go.  [insert pause here while you think].  What's that you said?  Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Finland?  Well, you are right.  Now, sing their national anthems in alphabetical order.  Just kidding...  Today on Routes & Branches & Beyond I have another show of music from this area of the world - the one that tends to be at the top of the world Happiness charts.  Is it because of their climate?  Because of their diverse political system (with multiple parties that have to learn to work together)?  Is it their economic system of democratic socialism, with high taxes but equally high public services?  Maybe it is the music?  Well, on this show we'll see if the latter is the case.  

I have round dance polkas, Finnish heathen forest maidens, polonaises (not the kind you eat), Arctic ethno-tekno, transcendent free-bass button accordions, Norwegian gospel blues, ladies with dark soul voices, enigmatic kanteles, and anthemic folk singalongs from Greenland.  From musicians such as P.A Røstads Orkester, Hedningarna, Bäsk, Fromseier & Hockings, Suistamon Säkhö, Maria Kalaniemi & Aldargaz, Marianne Antonsen, Knut Reiersrud, KK & Maggi, Brimkló, Vilma Timonen Quartet, Rasmus Lyberth, and Sarah-Jane Summers & Juhani Silovla.  Take off those skis and join me.


Routes & Branches & Beyond show # 367 2025 04 17

It is not uncommon to hear people talk about the important relationships that can be built between humans and non-human animals – often they are mammals, but there are a few fish fanciers and bird lovers out there as well.  And that isn’t even taking into consideration the folks who have developed endearing connections to plants.  The argument is that we clearly benefit from close relationships with non-humans.  It isn’t just pets, but there are a host of businesses doing horseback riding for folks with particular challenges, or goat yoga for those who find such things calming.  And I’ve also heard about tourist farms that let you hang out with a cow for awhile, just to get the blood pressure down.  Yours, that is.  Can’t tell about the cow, exactly.  Well, my guest today understands all about that.  He finds great comfort in being around his cattle.  As he told me at one point “cows just live in the moment; we all need to be just like cows; they don’t worry about where their food’s coming from tomorrow; they just eat the grass in front of them, and lay down.”

Today we are in Central Labrador, at Aldercroft Farm.  If you take Highway 520 out of Happy Valley Goose Bay, heading toward Sheshatshiu and North West River, and you take the correct turnoff, you may come across a herd of Scottish Highland Cattle.  You’ll want to get your camera out for that.  They are very photogenic.  I meet up with Darren Dinsmore.  He loves farming, and especially appreciates cattle, and has made it his mission to build a farm, and a herd of cattle, here in Labrador.  And speaking of missions, he is also a Pastor.  At some point, I’ll likely ask him about the connection between those two roles.  Here, put on some bear grease for the bugs, and join us.


Fit to Eat S4E2 Lem Seaward at the Pye Centre in Labrador

Ivan Emke

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