A wealth of choice awaits you this spring in the Kawarthas

There’s lots to do in the Kawarthas in the spring. Here are three local businesses offering a chance to experience the best of the season in our region.

Whether you’d rather be discovering unique artisan goods while strolling through landscaped woodland, creating your own outdoor paradise in your garden, or sitting on a hammock looking out over a pink granite shoreline, read on for some of the wealth of choice the Kawarthas has to offer.

All three of the businesses profiled below — the Buckhorn Community Centre, Griffin’s Greenhouses, and Westwind Inn — are proud members of the Kawartha Chamber of Commerce & Tourism.

The chamber represents members in Curve Lake First Nation and the municipalities of Douro-Dummer, North Kawartha, Selwyn, and Trent Lakes. Visit kawarthachamber.ca for more information.

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100 Ontario artisans head to the Buckhorn Community Centre for the annual spring Craft Show

Diane Michell, Director of the Buckhorn Craft Show, is passionate about handmade items. The Buckhorn Craft Show has built a 100-vendor show of exclusively handmade goods.

“Everything is handmade,” she says. “The people who come to our show are looking for something that’s unique or different.”

The 35th annual Buckhorn Spring Show will be held on Saturday, May 20th and Sunday, May 21st at the Buckhorn Community Centre (1801 Lakehurst Road, Buckhorn, 705-657-8833). The show is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days, and admission is $5 (free for those 12 and under).

The Buckhorn Community Centre will be set up with crafters in the gymnasium and banquet room, and outdoor pavillions full of artisanal goods. You can wander through landscaped garden and sun dappled woodlands, taking in crafts from across Ontario.

This year’s show will feature 20 new exhibitors, as well as some old favourites.

“Some of these exhibitors have been in the show almost since day one,” Diane notes.

The show will feature candles, pottery, leather goods, gourmet foods, furniture, florals, wooden toys, children’s clothing, jewellery, designer clothing for the entire family, handmade soaps, blown glass and a wide variety of home décor items.

There will also be crafts for the garden: Stepping stones, birdhouses, garden sculptures and metalwork to enhance your flower beds, gardens and patios.

Diane says that the craft show is a rare experience in our modern age.

“In this day and age, when everything is mass manufactured, it is a pleasure to be able to find so many high quality, handmade and unique items under one roof.”

The Fenelon Falls group Grannies for Grannies will be selling handmade families of small dolls posed on sisal mats, usually featuring a baby, a grandmother, and a small child. Diane says that this is a particularly meaningful craft.

“They come with a scroll telling the story of the brave African grandmothers who care for their AIDS-affected grandchildren while at the same time suffering and grieving the loss of their own children.”

All proceeds from the sale of these dolls will go to the Stephen Lewis Foundation Grandmothers campaign.

The craft show, like many Buckhorn Community Centre events, is made possible by volunteers. About 400 community volunteers are on call throughout the year to make the Buckhorn Community Centre a vibrant hub.

Because the Buckhorn Community Centre isn’t owned by the township, it relies on volunteer support and fundraising events like the craft show to operate. Diane says that the Buckhorn Community Centre has always been a grassroots endeavour.

“About 16 families got together 40 years ago and said ‘We need a community centre.’ They put their homes up to stand the mortgage. At one time they would joke about which corner of the community centre they were going to live in.”

Supporting the Craft Show is a great way to get involved in the sense of community that brought those families together 40 years ago.

“You meet friends here. It’s an awesome place.”

For more information about the Craft Show visit the Community Centre’s website at www.buckhorncommunitycentre.com. You can also follow the Buckhorn Community Centre on Facebook and Twitter.

 

Spring planting with Griffin’s Greenhouses

Griffin’s Greenhouses (3026 Lakefield Road, Selwyn, 705-652-8638) has been a place for gardeners to get inspiration and find plants that thrive for 40 years. Their picturesque display garden, fun and informative workshops, and expert staff set them apart.

General Manager Vikki Whitney’s mother Ann Griffin started the greenhouse to stay home with her kids. Ann’s father was a nursery man from Holland, so he grew the plants that Ann sold at his Peterborough business. Soon the whole family was involved. Vikki remembers it as a way of life.

“When I met my husband when I was in university, he wanted to go camping on the long weekend and I said, ‘But on May long weekend you sell plants!’ He looked at me with this confused face and said ‘No, people generally go camping and party. What?!'”

Now Vikki works with her brother Kyle Griffin, the Greenhouse Manager, her parents Ann and Jack, and a staff of passionate gardeners.

Griffin’s Greenhouses is a place where you can get personalized service and great recommendations. Vikki says that their staff have firsthand knowledge.

“Our staff are really friendly and helpful, we have master gardeners on staff, and we’re really open to taking time and answering questions.”

Vikki is invested in her customers’ success, and she takes the time to make thoughtful decisions about what plants and products to offer.

“There’s a lot of thought behind what we decide to offer. We’ve thought it through very carefully. We really care about what we’re offering and we care about our customers being successful.”

Griffin’s also harden off their plants, in part because their greenhouse space is limited. Vikki points out that this means that plants are adjusted to life outdoors before you bring them home.

“They’re in their natural environment, so they’re not weak and wimpy when they leave here. A lot of people feel our plants are really hardy and well acclimatized so they’re getting more value.”

Griffin’s runs a popular series of BYOC workshops, which stands for “bring your own container”. Vikki takes the group on a tour first.

“I do a walk and talk tour of the greenhouse to show them plants that are good for sun or shade, plants that trail, and plants that are upright. Thriller, filler, and spiller.”

Then participants are invited to choose the plants that intrigue them and put them into pots.

“Even though people could do it on their own, they like to make the mess here. They like to have the camaraderie and the expertise: someone saying ‘No, no, no, that plant’s going to outgrow the other one, so let’s change it around.'”

Griffin’s offers spring workshops featuring hardy plants like pansies and summer workshops with fairer-weather plants.

Griffin’s Greenhouses is known for their display garden, a project created for the year 2000. With over 1,000 spring flowering bulbs, and thousands of summer annuals and perennials, trees, shrubs and accents, it’s a great place for photographers and artists, prayer groups, meditation groups and more.

“People come from all over Ontario to take a look at it. Bus tours come in. People really enjoy it. When they have family coming in from other places, they’ll often come to us and look at the gardens.”

What about those who are eager to get out in their own garden now? Vikki recommends starting with the soil.

“In early May, you have to be really cautious about what plant material you put out. It’s a great time to do a lot of the preparation. We don’t spend enough time thinking and caring for our soil. Every year we really should be supplementing the soil — adding compost, adding some triple mix.”

Vikki recommends sea soil, a compost sold at Griffin’s.

“It’s seaweed and shrimp crustacean shells all broken down. It’s fantastic. We put about 100 bags of it every year around our garden at the back. We top dress with it and it adds volume and nutrient. Every time it rains, it goes in there and feeds the roots. It’s fantastic.”

You can find Griffin’s Greenhouses online at www.griffinsgreenhouses.com. They are also on Facebook and they maintain a blog with their latest news — including workshops, special events, and in-store specials —at www.griffinsgreenhouses.com/blog/.

 

Westwind Inn provides a vacation destination close to home

Sneaking up on the otters on a standup paddleboard. Watching the sun set on a sand beach. Hot tubbing in the outdoors. A stay at Westwind Inn (37 Fire Route 21, Buckhorn, 705-657-8095), an adults-only resort, is an experience to remember.

Located three kilometers from the village of Buckhorn, Westwind Inn is a cozy cedar lodge nestled under tall pines on pink granite rock at the water’s edge in a spectacular natural wilderness setting.

Innkeeper Inga Gallacher’s parents bought the Inn just over 25 years ago.

“We moved from Toronto in 1991 and took over on April 1st. Now we’re third generation family owned and operated. Our Inn is very cozy, casual, and cottage-like.”

Broad range of amenities

The Westwind, however, offers amenities beyond a cottage experience. Bed sitting rooms are designed for two with air conditioning, sofas, a fireplace, one or two beds, a large private bathroom, many with air jet tub, and a balcony with view. There are also four honeymoon suites in a separate chalet on a private point.

Inga says that the Inn has been designed to make guests feel at home.

“We offer a casual relaxed adult atmosphere; comfortable, cozy, inviting, friendly. Lots of antiques, art, collectables and memorabilia. Guests often relax in the lobby with sofas, books, and a few friends.”

There is also a dining room overlooking the lake.

“Food is very important,” notes Inga. “We do everything from scratch on site.”

Room for adventure

There are a variety of activities to enjoy during your stay. You can spend the day paddling on the lake or at the nearby Mississauga River. The Westwind Inn offers complimentary use of canoes, kayaks, row boats, pedal boat, water bikes, sailboat, and stand up paddleboards. There are hammocks for two.

You can also bring your own boat: they have a launch ramp and free docking. There are also bicycles. You can enjoy an afternoon swimming or fishing. There is a bonfire pit, an outdoor hot tub, decks, a sand beach, lawn chairs to relax in, a golf putting green, nature hiking trails, and lovely gardens.

In the winter, ice fishing, skiing, skating and snowshoeing are popular pastimes, as is the indoor swimming pool, a seasonal 90-degree plunge pool for two. With 60 acres of property, many kilometers of trails and 400 meters of shoreline, there is lots of space to explore.

There is also plenty of wildlife to view, and the Inn is popular with photographers for that reason. Inga describes some of the more common sightings.

“We see beavers swimming from job to job, otters and mink frolicking near the docks, and sometimes a lone Great Blue Heron at the shore preparing to spear his next meal. We can also watch the ospreys diving for fish. You can wake to the call of the loon and be lulled to sleep by a chorus of tree frogs.”

Big days by the lake

Inga says that the Westwind Inn is a relaxing place to hold a wedding.

“It’s basically a family reunion for the whole weekend. Nobody will be late. It’s a vacation for everyone.”

It is possible for the bride and groom to have exclusive use of the entire resort for the weekend or week for their group.

“You can have a Friday rehearsal BBQ, photos by the lake, ceremony, dinner, reception, and dance all in one location. The next morning have breakfast with your friends and family. No driving home or to a motel — just walk to your room whenever you wish.”

Normally an adults-only resort, children are welcome at Westwind Inn for weddings at the bride’s request, and for other family reunions.

The Westwind Inn has 35 rooms for overnight guests. Inga and her team see a variety of groups, not just weddings.

“We offer a quiet small intimate getaway, yet large enough for groups such as retreats, conferences, reunions, weddings. It’s an ideal spot for yoga, reiki, meditation, workshops, banquets and other social events.”

There are several meeting rooms on site, as well as a banquet room with dance floor, bar, fireplace and large licensed lakefront deck. They also offer some pet friendly guest rooms.

You can book your vacation at Westwind Inn on their website at westwindinn.net. Use promo code KN1 for 10% off your overnight stay.

You can also find Westwind Inn on Facebook.