You Can Airbnb It At An Awesome Geo Dome On A Farm Near Peterborough Overlooking A Pond

With staycations now becoming the It thing in this pandemic era, Millen + Smith Acres farm in Keene, Ontario near Peterborough is delivering on that in a beautiful way, bringing you back to nature with farm animals grazing near you while you chillax in their just launched Geo dome.

The Geo dome, which includes a king size bed, love seat and wood stove, is nestled right over a pond that’s perfect for bird watching and canoeing in the summer, and skating in the winter months. In true rustic fashion, there is no bathroom but there is an outhouse close by.

Owners Matt Smith and Jenn Austin-Driver have created quite the utopian-like getaway. Imagine staying in a Geo dome in the great Canadian outdoors with its own pond, while nearby you are sheep, alpacas, chickens, geese, ducks, goats, cows, horses and two pot belly pigs (Billy Ray and Jolene) that you can visit by hiking around acres and acres at the farm. Pretty idyllic, eh?

At night, you can rock your best Canadian plaid while strumming your guitar and singing along to Gordon Lightfoot songs in the private campfire area, with your cooler stocked full of say, Bobcaygeon beer, while you view the constellations. It’s magical stuff.

Jenn Austin-Driver tells PTBOCanada that the inspiration for the farm and Geo dome came from the growing trend of staycations and farm stays the couple were seeing and partaking in themselves on Airbnb.

“We wanted to incorporate additional options for Agri tourism on our farm and thought this would be a really cool and modern attraction,” says. “We started doing farm tours on Airbnb this summer and it’s been amazing—we’ve hosted over 150 guests for tours since August!”

Owners Matt Smith and Jenn Austin-Driver at the farm

The couple has had such amazing feedback from the day trippers and are seeing first hand the increase in people wanting to connect with nature and farm animals, and learn about the local food cycle.

“We want make connections with as many folks as possible through as many diverse avenues as possible,” Austin-Driver tells PTBOCanada. “The more time we spend connecting and talking about the farm and sustainable farming practices, the more people think about incorporating better food choices into their day to day, and in turn farmers are highlighted more and more—which only helps our local agricultural industry. Farmers feed cities.”

The Geo dome just opened overnight last week, and has already started to fill their remaining 2020 fall/winter dates. This thing is sure to be a hit right into 2021 and beyond.

“The Geo dome is a year-round stay, with tons of seasonal activities to partake in on and locally off the farm,” Austin-Driver tells PTBOCanada. For those concerned with Covid cleaning, the couple adheres to rigid Covid cleaning policies and procedures to protect hosts and guests alike.

For more on the farm, check out the Airbnb listing here, the Instagram page here (this farm is so gram worthy), and Facebook here.

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Local High School Students Just Planted 350 Native Trees & Shrubs At Marsdale Drive Stormwater Management Pond

On Friday (October 23rd), Otonabee Conservation and local secondary school students from the Youth Leadership in Sustainability (YLS) program planted a variety of trees and shrubs along the shoreline of the stormwater management pond on Marsdale Drive in Peterborough. 

The variety of native trees and shrubs selected for this shoreline naturalization project include fragrant sumac, red osier dogwood, elderberry, snowberry, serviceberry, black chokeberry, and silky dogwood. These species provide a number of benefits including habitat for wildlife and stabilization of the shoreline around the pond. 

YLS Lead teacher and Coordinator, Cam Douglas, inspects the roots of a red osier dogwood with student Kaitlin Potter before planting at the Marsdale Drive Stormwater Management Pond in Peterborough. (photo courtesy Otonabee Conservation)

“We are pleased to collaborate with the City of Peterborough, who is responsible for the ongoing vegetation management and operation of the stormwater management pond, to engage local youth in naturalization projects like this,” says Dan Marinigh, Otonabee Conservation’s CAO. “These types of opportunities allow students to participate in positive, meaningful actions to mitigate climate change in our watershed.”

The YLS program is an experiential-learning program based in Peterborough that prepares grade 11 and 12 students for leadership roles in sustainability initiatives at the local and global levels.

“One of the goals of YLS is to connect students to the organizations that are doing important community work,” says YLS Lead Teacher and Coordinator, Cam Douglas. “It’s important for students to learn about the work itself, and also to see the faces of organizations like Otonabee Conservation, so they can begin to understand what people do and the educational pathways people follow to get into this kind of work.”

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Peterborough’s Eastgate Memorial Park COVID-19 Testing Site Relocating Back To Northcrest Arena For Testing Inside

The COVID-19 testing centre currently located at Eastgate Memorial Park will relocate to Northcrest Arena at 100 Marina Blvd. effective Monday, October 26th to accommodate colder weather through the fall and winter seasons.

Once relocated, this site will no longer offer drive-through testing; individuals with appointments will be asked to come inside the arena for their test.

Operating hours will continue to be 10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday to Friday and testing is available by appointment only. The final day of operations at Eastgate Memorial Park will be on Friday, October 23.

The link to the booking tool is available through the PRHC website and on the Peterborough Public Health website. If you are looking to book an appointment for the Northcrest Arena site, you must meet at least one of the following screening criteria: 

• You are showing mild symptoms of COVID-19 

• Peterborough Public Health has informed you that you have been exposed to a confirmed case of COVID-19

• You have received a notification through the COVID-19 Alert App 

• You are part of an outbreak investigation as informed by Peterborough Public Health

• You are required to be tested routinely, such as staff at long-term care and retirement homes

• You are planning an indoor visit with a loved one at a long-term care home

• You are a traveler without symptoms and require a test to confirm you do not have COVID-19 before travelling internationally

• You have been advised by a medical professional that testing is required prior to a procedure

• You are required to be tested before admission to a congregate setting or other facility
  

HOW IT WORKS WHEN ARRIVING AT NORTHCREST ARENA FOR TESTING

-> Arrive inside the main entrance at Northcrest Arena five minutes in advance of your booked appointment. 

-> Clean your hands as you enter the arena and wear a mask inside at all times except when you are being tested. Please also keep a physical distance of two metres between yourself and other people. Remember to bring your Ontario Health Card and driver’s licence with you.

-> With the new, appointment-based system in place, traffic issues are not expected to be a concern as the COVID-19 testing service returns to the Northcrest site.

You can access your test results online using your Ontario Health Card number at https://covid-19.ontario.ca/  or by calling your healthcare provider.

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Otonabee Conservation & TD Collaborate With PRHC To Plant Trees In Honour Of Frontline Healthcare Workers

On Wednesday (October 21st), 78 native trees and shrubs were planted near the staff entrance at Peterborough Regional Health Centre (PRHC). TD provided funding for the planting, as part of their commitment to supporting those who are most impacted by COVID-19. The City of Peterborough generously supported the planting by providing compost and mulch to promote tree health and growth.

The native species planted included white spruce (which provides excellent shelter for wildlife) and fragrant sumac (a drought-tolerant shrub boasting beautiful red foliage in fall). Both species will support natural diversity and wildlife habitat on the PRHC property, and in time, will create shelter and a windbreak for employees accessing the staff entrance.

Gord Mackay, Groundskeeper at PRHC, plants a fragrant sumac alongside the staff entrance at PRHC. (Photo courtesy Otonabee Conservation)

“Trees provide countless benefits from filtering the air we breathe, to regulating temperatures and providing shelter for wildlife,” says Dan Marinigh, CAO for Otonabee Conservation.

“Planting trees, which are symbols of life and growth, is an ideal way to acknowledge front line health care workers who are working tirelessly to care for our community during the pandemic, and always,” he adds.

Paul Finigan (front) and Pat Kramer (back) from Otonabee Conservation, plant native shrubs at PRHC (Photo courtesy Otonabee Conservation)

“Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the generosity of our community has been overwhelming,” says Brenda Weir, VP and Chief Nursing Executive at PRHC. “Planting these new trees outside the Health Centre will be appreciated by our healthcare professionals, support staff and volunteers, and also by the patients and visitors who are here at the hospital every day.”

Otonabee Conservation is organizing several native tree plantings that will take place throughout the fall, planting 5,690 trees that will sequester over 1.2 million kg of Carbon over their lifetime. To learn more about the organizaton, click here.

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100 Women Peterborough Raise Vital Funds For Kawartha Sexual Assault Centre

On October 13th, the 100 Women Peterborough group came together for their second virtual meeting during the pandemic to raise funds for an organization in need.

Kawartha Sexual Assault Centre was chosen by majority vote (also presenting were Peterborough Pregnancy Support Services and Kawartha Youth Orchestra) to receive the funds, and 100 Women Peterborough is anticipating the total donation to be upwards of $5,000 based on feedback from the membership. 

“Kawartha Sexual Assault Centre is a feminist, not-for-profit, charitable organization dedicated to supporting those affected by sexual and gender-based violence and harm,” says Executive Director Lisa Clarke, who presented at the meeting.

Photo of 100 Women Peterborough meeting courtesy 100 Women Peterborough

At the Centre in Peterborough, Kawartha Sexual Assault Centre offers individual clinical counselling, psychoeducational and therapeutic groups and workshops, advocacy and accompaniment services, 24/7 crisis support, peer supports, prevention education and professional training.

“With the incredible support of 100 Women of Peterborough, we will be building the sustainability of our new 24/7 crisis support text line that we launched this summer in response to the COVID-19 pandemic,” adds Clarke. “We are so grateful to this group of committed, empowering women leaders in our community to invest in the healing of survivors of sexual and gender based violence.”

To learn more about the impact of the powerful, inspiring “100 Women Peterborough”, click here.

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Otonabee Conservation Just Planted 600 Native Trees At Harold Town Conservation Area

On Tuesday (October 20th), Otonabee Conservation planted 600 trees at the Harold Town Conservation Area on Old Norwood Road in the Township of Otonabee South Monaghan, just outside of the City of Peterborough.

Staff from Otonabee Conservation (see pics below) planted red pine and white cedar trees, which will provide habitat for wildlife and increase biodiversity in the area adjacent to the parking lot at the conservation area.

“Each year, we plant trees at several of our Conservation Areas,” says Dan Marinigh, Otonabee Conservation’s CAO. “Trees provide multiple benefits including mitigating the impacts of climate change and enhancing watershed health. We are pleased to have the support of many partners to enhance the area near the road and parking area at Harold Town Conservation Area.”  

Otonabee Conservation’s CAO, Dan Marinigh spreads mulch around a red pine tree he planted at Harold Town Conservation Area on October 20th. (Photo courtesy Karen Halley, Otonabee ConSERVATION)

The Harold Town Conservation Area is named after the Canadian painter who owned the property from the mid 1970s until the early 1990s.

Harold Town enjoyed this property as his personal retreat until he passed away in 1990. On April 11th, 1994, The Harold Town estate donated the property to Otonabee Conservation. It was then named in his memory and was dedicated as a park for public purposes.

Otonabee Conservation’s Kerry Norman plants a white cedar tree at the Harold Town Conservation Area. (Photo courtesy Karen Halley, Otonabee CONSERVATION)

Harold Town Conservation Area has become the area’s premier mountain biking area with an extensive trail system designed for off-road cycling and hiking. Trail building and maintenance is conducted in partnership with the Peterborough Trailbuilder’s Association and with generous support from Wild Rock Outfitters and an anonymous donor.

This Fall, Otonabee Conservation is planting 5,690 trees with the generous support from community partners, including City of Peterborough, Selwyn Township, Siemens Canada, Brock Mission, and Peterborough Regional Health Centre, and with generous financial support from Tree Canada, Forests Ontario, TD Canada Trust, and One Tree Planted.

For more information about Harold Town Conservation Area, visit otonabeeconservation.com.

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Spare-A-Square #2: Porch Food Drive For Kawartha Food Share Takes Place October 24th

Following on the heels of a successful Spare-A-Square food-raiser earlier this year in March that collected 23,000 pounds of food, another vital citywide food drive to restock the dwindling shelves at Kawartha Food Share has begun.

On Saturday, October 24th by 9 a.m., anyone who is not ill or in self-isolation is being asked to leave a bag of non-perishable food items on your front porch to be picked up by volunteers. The porch food drive takes place across the city of Peterborough, and will help restock the empty shelves at Kawartha Food Share.

File photo

Starting at 9 am, volunteers will drive around the city and collect the items and deliver them to the Kawartha Food Share warehouse.

HELPFUL ITEMS THEY NEED INCLUDE:

-> Canned tuna
-> Pasta and pasta sauce
-> Alpha-getti, Kraft Dinner and Chef Boyardee, (things that are easy and that kids like)
-> Breakfast cereal 
-> Peanut Butter 
-> Any non-perishable fruit and vegetable items
-> Rice
-> Canned soup/stew
-> Feminine hygiene products
-> Baby formula
-> Diapers

Monetary Donations are also helpful. For every $1 donated, KFS can purchase up to $6 worth of food. Volunteers will be able to collect cheques or cash on October 24th. Or donations can be made online here.

File photo

All COVID-19 safety precautions are being taken. Organizers say there will be no face-to-face contact between those donating and those picking up. Volunteers will be in their own vehicles, and they will be wearing masks and will observe all necessary and suggested safety protocols.

If you are ill, do not leave a bag outside of your home. If you are self-isolating meaning you can’t make a food donation, you are asked to consider making a donation online here—every dollar counts in large amounts.

If you’re a business that wants to help, email organizer Megan Murphy here or call 416.459.8630.

For more information on the event, click here.

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StoosNews Spotlight: Check Out The Business Beat This Week Featuring The Hard Winter Bakery & More!

PTBOCanada is delighted to to be running StooNews columns each week here, spotlighting new businesses and startups in Peterborough and the Kawarthas. Here is this week’s edition…

The Hard Winter Bakery has just opened its new East City production facility and storefront at 133 Hunter Street East. Hard Winter is a popular stop at the Thursday Lakefield Farmers Market, and the Saturday Regional Farmers Market. Owners Jessica and Graham make a variety of rustic, handcrafted breads and pastries, wood fired bagels and breads, cookies, granola, scones, brownies, biscotti and more. They also do catering. Check out hardwinterbreadco.com for more info.

Farmcrest Marketplace is hosting “Food Truck Wars” this Saturday (October 24th). Located at 264 Lansdowne St. E. in the former Trentwinds Convention Centre location, the Food Trucks will offer tasty menus for both breakfast and lunch from 8 - 1 and patrons will vote for the best Food Truck Food. It’s a fundraiser for the YWCA. Details are farmcrestmarketplaceptbo.com.

The Regional Farmers Market moves indoors at Peterborough Square this Saturday, and the Wednesday Market is outside at Peterborough Square until the end of the month.

The Workforce Development Board is hosting information sessions on October 29th and November 12th that will look at the latest local labour market data, the Top 10 jobs and skills in demand for our region, and multiple resources for job seekers and employers. Running from 2 – 3 p.m, you can register at wdb.ca.

On the topic of workforce, the Ontario Chamber of Commerce and Ryerson University - Future Skills Centre are looking for local businesses to help them examine the workforce skills needed for small businesses in Ontario. If you are interested in participating, please email Sandra Dueck at sandra@peterboroughchamber.ca.

And don’t forget to check out the annual business Excellence Awards ceremony this Wednesday (October 21st) at 7 p.m. on the Peterborough Chamber Facebook and YouTube channels.

“Like” StoosNews page on Facebook here!

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The Beer Store's Local Community Fundraiser Raises $56,000 For PRHC Foundation

On Wednesday (October 14th), the staff at PRHC Foundation made a trip to The Beer Store—not to pick up beer but to pick up a big cheque due to community efforts.

Indeed, The Beer Store's local community fundraiser in support of Peterborough Regional Health Centre over the past six months at six locations in Peterborough, Lakefield and Bridgenorth raised a whopping $56,296.68 as customers donated the proceeds of their empties.

Photo via PRHC Foundation Facebook page

The funds will be used to support front line healthcare professionals in their delivery of world-class patient care at our hospital.

To learn more about the PRHC Foundation or donate, click here.

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Peterborough Humane Society Launches Commemorative Animals In War Pin Campaign

The Peterborough Humane Society alongside the Ontario SPCA and Humane Society has launched its annual Animals in War pin campaign, leading up to Remembrance Day.

The commemorative Animals in War pins feature a dog and horse as symbols to honour the wartime contributions of animals. The pin is intended to be worn as a complement to the poppy in remembrance of our veterans and the animals who bravely served by their side.

Photo courtesy Peterborough Humane Society

Funds from the sale of these pins help provide care for animals in need, as well as support our veterans. Due to the global pandemic, the Peterborough Humane Society has increased its commitment to veterans in 2020 by donating $2.50 from each pin sold to Royal Canadian Legion branches across Ontario.

“We must always remember the sacrifice of the people and animals who have served our country,” says Shawn Morey, Executive Director at Peterborough Humane Society. “We will proudly wear a poppy and Animals in War pin this Remembrance Day as a visible reminder of the courage shown by our veterans and the animals that have always been by their side in times of conflict and times of peace.”

Photo courtesy Peterborough Humane Society

The animal on the pin symbolizes the wartime contributions of all animals. Mules carried artillery, horses transported troops and hauled field guns, pigeons delivered crucial messages, cats served as companions and kept ships free of vermin, and dogs have served as messengers, medical assistants, bomb detectors and search and rescue workers.

To get your pin, contact the Peterborough Humane Society at (705) 745-4722 to make an appointment to come into the office to purchase.

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