In a nutshell...
Today I'm introducing my second main theme of the blog, 'The Avenues', which relates to my life in Nogojiwanong / Peterborough, Ontario.
I moved here in August 2020. Yes I know! Right in the middle of the Covid pandemic. It wasn't the best of times to have to relocate but circumstances dictated it to me. And yes there was a lot of paperwork involved. And yes it was difficult! And yes I had to quarantine. In a tent, In the garden of where I currently live. For two weeks! Fortunately, for me, the weather was mostly pleasant and warm and I got to sit in shorts and a t-shirt and read.
Nogojiwanong / Peterborugh
Nogojiwanong / Peterborough is a small city of about 85,000 about an hour and a half away from Toronto. The Ojibway langugage name for the spot, Nogojiwanong, means, ‘place at the foot of the rapids’. Its English name, Peterborough, comes from Peter Robinson, a member of the Legislative Assembly of Upper Canada. The city was the first place in Canada to have electric trams (now gone) and is home to a large Quaker Oats factory. It's also the home to Trent University, so it has a sizeable student presence, and, for a place of its size, it contains a lively arts scene. Despite being here for a year I'm still settling into the place, as the pandemic has limited my ability to meet people and get involved in the community. However, with things starting to reopen, I'm looking forward to learning and posting about the city.
What are the Avenues?
The Avenues is the part of the city that I live in. It's a small neighbourhood of red brick houses, with everyone having access to a yard, front and back. I used a stylised drawing of the street layout of the neighbourhood as the picture for posts in theme. The avenues contain a number of lanes, that were designed to try and keep the streets clutter free. Increasing level of car ownership has impacted a bit on that ideal, but it's still a warm and welcoming neighbourhood with a strong sense of community. The number of pride flags alone tells you that you are in a socially liberal bastion.
What is 'The Avenues' about?
So, what is the The Avenues theme itself about? Well it's about sustainability efforts taking place in where I currently live. And also my efforts to try and live a more sustainable life here.
I've already got a number of things I want to talk about or share with readers! As I am now living in a place with a huge yard I have started growing my own food. So that'll be one thing. Also I am really interested in how many people in the avenues are growing some of their own food. I am curious as to why they grow food, and how we as a collective can increase food production locally. Another thing that has greatly interested me is the strong sense of community in the Avenues with little libraries and several highly used and positive google and facebook groups. These too are something that I wish to explore further and learn why they are so successful.
Finally, I'll leave you with a couple of pictures of the Avenues itself. Such a beautiful district to be living in!
