LOG BARN 1912
4782 Hwy 97A V0E 1B8 Armstrong, BC, Canada

BREAKING NEWS: The BC SPCA is caring for 119 small dogs surrendered into care from a property near Fort Nelson on March 12. To add to the strain of this massiv...e intake of animals, the BC SPCA website is experiencing technical issues, so we are unable to send people there for more information, or fundraise for this huge undertaking. Below is the news update from the site and we will be taking all questions and comments (and hopefully donations) here at this time. Thank you so much to everyone for their kindness at this challenging time! The owners found themselves in an overwhelming situation and reached out for help, says Marcie Moriarty, chief enforcement and prevention officer for the BC SPCA. They did the right thing in asking for assistance and the SPCA was happy to support them. The mix-breed dogs included Terriers, Shih Tzus, Papillions and other small-breed crosses. Moriarty says there is no evidence that the individuals were breeding dogs for sale and no animal cruelty charges are being recommended in the case at this time. The 103 adult dogs and 16 puppies were transferred to BC SPCA facilities in Fort St. John and Dawson Creek for initial intake, assessment and treatment. Our staff in Fort St. John and Dawson Creek did an outstanding job in caring for this unexpected surge of animals they worked around the clock to ensure the animals had everything they needed, says Moriarty. The dogs are now being moved to other SPCA locations to relieve the pressure on these two shelters. Moriarty says the SPCA provided grooming and nail trims for the dogs, many of whom were severely matted, and has begun treatment for dental issues, hernias, nose abrasions, eye issues, nutritional needs and other concerns. Some of the surrendered dogs are pregnant and many of them are fearful of human handling and will require ongoing behavioural support. We initially were prepared for the surrender of 22 dogs as this was the number given by the owners, says Moriarty. But as the numbers crept up it was incredible to see our constable on site think creatively and how the fire department and RCMP rallied, even sourcing out additional crates and transporting dogs in fire trucks so that no dog was left behind. I can’t think of a case in recent memory that comes close to this one. Moriarty says the BC SPCA is hoping animal lovers will rally to help with the ongoing care the dogs will require. Managing an unexpected intake of 119 dogs has put a huge strain on our financial resources and, as a non-profit organization, we are very grateful for the public’s support, she says. In the first three days veterinary costs are already over $14,000. The dogs are not currently available for adoption while we tend to their medical needs first.

About local history

Dear customers... we are closed for the season. Many thanks to you, We look forward to seeing you next spring! Cheers & Happy New Year!

Why is the cornucopia a symbol of Thanksgiving? And was there a cornucopia at the first Thanksgiving Thanksgiving has always been an ode to harvest time. It's always taken place in the fallso it's natural that the holiday would feature the cornucopia, which historically embodies all of those things. Beyond that hypothesis, though, it's unknown when or why the cornucopia became associated with the American holiday. Historians have long surmised that it may have been a nod back to those European harvest festivals, but that must have happened sometime after the first Thanksgiving. There's no formal record of a cornucopia appearing there. Of course, we can also find many different symbols of Thanksgiving, such as pumpkin pie, turkey, maple leaf, etc. The cornucopia is more like a rich combination with the meaning of harvest.

Why Honeycrisp? The Honeycrisp Apple is an agricultural phenomenon. Consumers are paying double, sometimes triple, the price of more traditional varieties for the crunchy, sweet-tart fruit. While many think the apple’s high price is driven by its high demand, that’s not the case. It turns out that Honeycrisps are just really difficult to get from seed to shelf. When it comes to the growing process, Honeycrisps require lots of attention. Flaws in the apple trees can lead to ca...lcium deficits in the fruit, and blocked sunlight from massive branches can stunt fruit growth. Plus, their crisp, juicy skin makes them vulnerable to sunburn (and an enjoyable snack for birds.) If an apple makes it to the ripening stage, stems have to be delicately removed, and the apples must be stored tempered at a mild temperature for 5-10 days, instead of going straight to cold storage like most other varieties. That being said, farmers aren’t making more money off of Honeycrisp enthusiasts; consumers are simply paying for the apples that didn’t make it to the grocery store or farmer’s market. These apple farmers are in a tight spot, as much of their time and resources are dedicated to the Honeycrisp, but the high demand means they can’t afford to lower production. Orchards around the country are attempting to introduce or promote other apple varieties with a similar flavour profile and crispness that require less work and are less vulnerable to consumers. While the Honeycrisp is still far from disappearing, there are several other apple varieties out there that can be a more economical purchase while still providing you with the crunch and sweet-tart flavour you love.

Eat the fruits when it Softer, Sweeter and Nicer to smell. Fruit ripening is all about plants getting animals to eat the seeds that are inside their fruits. Whe...n the animals have finished eating, they move around and drop the seeds in a different place when they do a poo. This helps the plants get their seeds to somewhere new where they can grow into a new plant. A fruit wants to be eaten, but only when the time is right, But plants need to make sure that their fruits are only eaten when their seeds are ready to be spread around. So before the seeds are ready, the plants make sure that the fruits are not easy to see and are horrible to eat. This means the fruits may stay green and may stay hidden among the leaves, so it’s harder to pick them. They are also very hard and bitter to taste, so animals (including humans) don’t like eating them. When the seeds are ready, the fruit becomes ripe and good-looking, making animals keen to eat them. When the fruits are ripe they become brightly coloured. Apples, strawberries and peaches become red, peaches become yellow, and of course, oranges become orange. Look at the beautiful colours of the fruit in there and see how many different colours you can find. In plants, each cell has a wall. There is stuff in the cells’ walls that changes to make the fruit soft, and it is this softening that makes them juicy. I bet the thing you most like about fruit is that they are sweet and yummy to eat. When the fruits ripen, the plant cleverly removes all of the bad-tasting stuff from the fruit and replaces them with sugars. That, of course, makes the fruit sweet and nice to eat. The last thing that changes when the fruit ripens is that they make stuff that helps them smell really nice, which makes animals and people want to eat them. The good news is that there are other merits to ripe fruit. There are a number of antioxidants present in the fruit. For those of you who need a reminder of chemistry, antioxidants combat oxidation reactions, which create cell-damaging molecules called free radicals. An exciting study has found that, in apples and pears, the ripening process creates colourless decomposition products that are highly active antioxidants. Another benefit of ripe fruit are anthocyanins found in fruits that have deep reds, blues, and purples. For example, as berries ripen, these anti-inflammatory pigments are more present and help protect brain function and protect against CVD and cancer. If that's the case, then I can forgive blueberries for heavily staining my fingers whenever I eat them. Different fruits have different stuff in them that makes them smell the way they do. That is why we can tell a pear from a strawberry, just by smell alone. These changes happen when the fruit ripens (the change in colour, smell, sweetness and softness) all happen at the same time. To make this happen, many fruit use another special thing called ethylene. This ethylene is helpful. The most important thing about all fruits is that they are very good for us. The sugars inside them are a great way to get the energy that helps us work and play all day. It's obvious to anyone who has eaten fruit that they are sweeter when ripe, but now you know there's even more reason to wait for them to ripen than just taste bud satisfaction. They are also full of vitamins that help us become big and strong. So it’s important that we eat lots of fruit. But don’t forget your veggies, as they are also very good for us!

Why Should We Wash Fruits and Vegetables Before Eating? The fruits and vegetables you eat are loaded with pesticides and chemicals, making it harmful to human health. Pesticides are primarily used for the cultivation of crops and in some cases as residues. Pesticides and chemicals keep the food items safe from mildew,insects and pests. However, the residue of these pesticides and chemicals stay on the produce, which can be life-threatening at times. Even if you buy organic p...roduce, make sure you wash them before consumption. Organic produce has pathogens, which is the reason why you need to wash the organic produce with Vegetable and Fruit Cleaner, as it helps remove pathogens from the surface of food items easily. Homegrown veggies also need to be washed with care. If you have livestock, pets or have the garden in an open area, you need to be extra careful with cleaning homegrown produce. The risk factors make it necessary to wash vegetables in the right way to stay safe from diseases.

Wow, look, the queen is very relaxed