Zoë’s zoo: A tale of becoming a small business owner at age 11

Zoë and one of her Geckos perched atop her head with its tail in her face.

I have always been interested in math and science experiments (that one was unfortunate for my parents). But one thing that I have always loved is animals. Lately I have been interested in Crested Geckos! I convinced my parents to get me one as an early birthday present. Then I got a second one and then it kind of, somehow turned into 7. Gradually, 3 of them got pregnant and now I have several babies!

At the moment I have 15 crested geckos in total!

Why I love Crested Geckos

Two geckos, one in a child’s hand that is larger (Dad) and one that is much smaller on a child’s arm (hatchling)

Let me tell you why I love Crested Geckos so much! They are amazing pets for many reasons. For example, they are easy to feed and take care of, they do not require much attention AND geckos are absolutely adorable! I love their sticky feet and how they lick their eyeballs (because they don’t have eyelids and lick the eyes to keep them moist).

Crested Geckos are one of the easiest geckos to care for.

Let me tell you what you would need:

First, a habitat! Obviously they can't just roam around in your room, so you will have to buy a terrarium. A baby (up to approx 30 grams), can live in a 10 gallon terrarium. An adult crested gecko will need a 20 gallon tank. For decor, they will need a hide (like a rock cave, for example), some branches for climbing and real or fake foliage. You can decorate as much as you like. Be creative!

Brown gecko upside down in its habitat perched on a log in the middle of shedding its skin

Secondly, Crested Geckos don’t get lonely. That means you can handle them, but you don’t have to. Also, they are happy to live alone. If you decide to cohabitate them, make sure you don’t house 2 males together or they will fight.

Interesting fact, Crested Geckos will shed every month or so and they eat their own shed!!

Lastly, let’s talk food! Crested Geckos enjoy live crickets as a treat, but don’t worry, if that’s not your thing, they can live entirely on powdered gecko food. Spray the tank with water twice a day, and that’s it!

My geckos mean the world to me, but as much as I would like to, I can’t keep them all. I started selling some of the babies, and that is how Zoë's Zoo was created! Now, I even have my own website www.zoeszooreptiles.com

Tiny brown gecko perched on an index finger

So what’s it like being a small business owner at age 11?

Well…

It can be stressful at times but overall being a business owner is fun,  exhilarating and just pure awesome!

If you are interested in owning your own Crested Gecko, do your research, ask your parents and feel free to visit my website! There are also many other reputable breeders around the country that can be found online.

3 photo collage of a brown gecko climbing over the top of the terrarium with the words “Yes! A chance to escape!” a second image still peaking over the side with the words “Don’t even think of stopping me!” and a final photo with the gecko perched to the outside of the terrarium with the words “FREEDOM!”

Keep Calm and Game On with the Ottawa Public Library

The Ottawa Public Library is back to share some of their favourite books for ages 3 to 13. This month’s post was submitted by Sarah Godding and Kristina Roudiy, Children’s Program Assistants at the Alta Vista Branch.

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Games can bring us together. They can unite us with a common goal: VICTORY! They can open our world, bringing in new skills, habits, people and places. Games can encourage us to be better than we were yesterday; to jump higher and run faster. We can even escape into games at times when other areas of our lives may be challenging. But the most important part about games is that we PLAY them. When we play a game, we are moving beyond an outcome and we allow ourselves to enjoy the moment. Below are some stories about games; how to play them, how they’re created, and how they have shaped the lives of those who play them. GAME ON!

1- Picture book : Fun and games : everyday play / Celeste Cortright. Published in 2020. For ages 3-6

In this colorful rhyming picture book, we meet a group of children playing games from around the world. Each double page features a game or a toy, for example: a dollhouse, dominos, a tangram (a 7-piece square puzzle) and spinning tops. Children might recognize a familiar game (hide-and-seek!) and/or (re)discover an activity they’re less familiar with. The end of the book provides a bit more information about the cultural origins of the games. This book will inspire children to have fun on their own or with friends!

2- Picture book : We all play : Kimêtawânaw / Julie Flett. Published in 2021. For ages 2-7

Julie Flett is a Cree-Métis author and illustrator, known for her works in children’s literature centered around the life and cultures of Indigenous Canadians. The Ottawa Public Library has her children’s books in English, in French and in Cree. This is her latest title. It shows beautiful illustrations of animals at play: velvety brown rabbits jumping across the page; chirping birds; a fox approaching a turtle near the edge of the page; swimming whales... And then a group of small children appears, leaping, jumping and lying on their backs in tall grass. "We play too! kimêtawânaw mîna" they say. Which is based on the Cree teaching of wahkohtowin, interconnectedness and play. The book shows animals and humans embracing play in similar ways (snakes slide, while children slide... down a snowhill!) and ends with everyone “slowly, side by side” falling asleep. Also includes a glossary at the end, with the Cree names of the animals, all of whom are from “Turtle Island” (North America).

*This title is also available at the Ottawa Public Library as an e-book.

3- Early Reader : Splat the cat : the name of the game / Amy Hsu Lin. Published in 2012. For ages 5-7

Splat the Cat is a well-loved children’s book character. He appears in 18 different Early Reader books, enabling children to read about his adventures all by themselves! In this book, Splat the Cat has planned a really fun playdate with his friends Spike and Plank. Except that things start to go wrong for him! He loses every single game... and can’t seem to find a good hide-and-seek spot in the house. How will the playdate end? Will Splat end up having fun with the others or remain cranky? Read the book to find out!

*This title is also available at the Ottawa Public Library as an e-audiobook, and as a French Early Reader called : Je lis avec Splat : On joue?

4- Illustrated book : Unbeatable Betty : the first female Olympic track & field gold medalist / Allison Crotzer Kimmel. Published in 2020. For ages 5-9

This picture book makes you travel back in time and meet the first woman to win an Olympic gold medal in track and field. Betty Robinson was only 16 years old, in 1911, when she won the gold in Amsterdam for the 100-yard dash. But a few years later, while training for the 1932 Olympics, a plane crash left her in a wheelchair with a crushed left leg that was shorter than the right. Doctors told her she would never walk again... What they didn’t know was that Betty had great determination, not only to walk but to run again. Read this book to find out if she eventually healed, competed in other Olympic games or won more gold! A great story of athletics, feminism, resilience and teamwork. Young readers intrigued by the Summer Olympics in Tokyo (launching July 23rd, 2021!) will be inspired by this biography and will feel encouraged to also pursue their dreams. In the same style, we also recommend this brand new picture book biography about tennis players Serena and Venus Williams.

5- Illustrated book : The boy who thought outside the box / Marcie Wessels. Published in 2020. For ages 6-10

This is the story of “The Father of videogames”, Ralph Baer, who was born in 1922 and began playing with electronics as a child. His Jewish family lived in Nazi-controlled Germany and eventually emigrated to the United States. There, Ralph pursued his passion for learning, building and inventing. He built radios out of spare parts while doing his military service, and then started working for NASA.  In this book, you’ll learn what inventions Ralph contributed to over the years. He did face rejection and meet people who did not believe in his inventions, but that didn’t prevent this passionate inventor from eventually releasing the first ever home game console. A fun portrait of a lesser-known inventor whose work has had a tremendous influence on our modern-day world. We recommend it to young (and older!) video game fans.   

6- Into the game / Miguel Diaz Rivas. Published in 2020. For ages 9-12

7- FGTeeV saves the world! / Miguel Diaz Rivas. Published in 2021. For ages 9-12

This is a new graphic novel series based a real gaming family YouTube channel. In these two volumes, you get to know the whole family through their videogame adventures: Duddy, Moomy, Lexi, Mike, Chase, and Shawn. In the first volume, the parents get accidentally sucked into a video game, so the four children jump into the console to rescue them. Except that a giant crab seems to follow them everywhere... What is the link between a crab and their missing parents?! In the second volume, the family brings their game controller to the store to get it fixed, after the game they were playing froze. What they didn’t expect was that a wrong click on the controller would cause all the characters from the Zombie Battles game to show up in the real world! The family will now have to fight villains and their own avatars in order to save the world.

8- Non-fiction book : The book of dares : 100 ways for boys to be kind, bold, and brave / Ted Bunch & Anna Marie Johnson Teague. Published in 2021. For ages 9-12

This book is a collection of 100 original dares that will help boys expand their worldview, inspire more respect toward girls and non-binary kids, and generally develop a healthier idea of manhood. The introduction does specify not to try and do the dares all at once, but to work through them slowly! Here are a few examples:

·       Dare to include girls in sports

·       Dare to ask a friend to teach you something they're good at

·       Dare to watch a movie about someone who's different from you

·       Dare to be a leader

Being a boy isn't just about building forts or beating the high score on a video game or being tough. It's about being true to yourself, treating everyone fairly, and helping those around you. The text thus covers a wide range of topics, such as toxic masculinity, stereotypes, emotions and media consumption. The book wraps up with a glossary and a resource page for parents entitled “Letter to friends & family.”

9- Chapter book : One last shot / John David Anderson. Published in 2020. For ages 8-12

For as long as he can remember, Malcolm has never felt like he was good enough. Not for his parents, who have always seemed at odds with each other, with Malcolm caught in between. And especially not for his dad, whose love for competitive sports Malcolm has never shared. That is, until twelve-year-old Malcolm discovers miniature golf. Maybe it's the way in which every hole is a puzzle to be solved... or the windmills and waterfalls that decorate the course... or maybe the slushies at the snack bar? But whatever the reason, something about mini golf just clicks for Malcolm. And best of all, it's a sport his dad can't possibly obsess over. Or so Malcolm thinks! Soon, he is signed up for lessons and entered in tournaments. Malcom hopes that if he can win the tournament, his parents might reconcile. Along the way, he finds unexpected friends at the local course, including Lex who helps him navigate the ache of divorced parents. The book is divided into 18 chapters, one for each hole of the championship game. As in his previous books, the author chose to blend a tough topic with humour, so you’ll find yourself cheering and laughing along with Malcom. An excellent story for middle school readers.

*This title is also available at the Ottawa Public Library as an e-book and an e-audiobook. Enjoy!

10- Non-fiction book :  A kid’s guide to fandom : exploring fan-fic, cosplay, gaming, podcasting, and more in the geek world! / Amy Ratcliffe. Published in 2021. For ages 10-13 

Our love of games can really take hold of us. It can usher in feelings of passion and devotion. It can become a source of culture and community! Simply put, being a fan can be a big deal! This is a lovely guide to help young enthusiasts navigate and understand the role of the fan. Just as being a player of a game teaches you and helps you grow, so too can our appreciation for a game and its players. This passion can expand our world and challenge us. From comic book collecting to video games, there are so many ways to share and celebrate with the things that you love.

By the way, did you know that July-August 2021 is all about Summer Reading Club (SRC) Fun? View the Library’s promotional video. Visit this OPL blog post to find out about the Youth Library Programs being offered, as well as ways to participate in TD SRC. Visit your local OPL Branch to receive a free Summer Reading Club Kit. Have a great Summer!

Ottawa Travel: A trip to Cornwall

KITC would like to welcome back guest blogger, Stephen Johnson. Stephen Johnson is an Ottawa writer who loves to write about family travel. During the summer, you will most likely find him and his family at a local fair or festival. During a non-pandemic winter, a beach in Mexico is a likely bet.

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I have always liked visiting Cornwall. Lamoureux Park with the St. Lawrence River as a backdrop is, in my opinion, one of the best parks in Ontario. Also, the fact that Cornwall has one of the highest ratios of pizza joints doesn’t hurt either.

For our most recent trip to Cornwall, we decided to try out a few new activities. In recent years, Cornwall has made major improvements in their cycling infrastructure. This has included the City of Cornwall bike rentals.

We arrived in the city and headed down to Marina 200. Besides doubling as the city marina, it was also the location of the bike rentals. Cornwall has an extensive network of bike paths along its waterfront. We picked up our bikes and headed west along the trail to Lamoureux Park.  

The park seems to be the meeting place for all Cornwallians. We came across a huge playground and splash pad that would have been perfect for our son, David, a few years ago. We also saw a group of high school seniors having an impromptu graduation celebration.    

Biking further west, we were treated to spectacular views of the Cornwall canal and the St. Lawrence River. There were information plaques explaining the history of the region. We also saw abundant wildlife including a Great Blue Heron.

We were starting to get hungry so we headed back to return our bikes. Since the pandemic started, our family has tried to support local restaurants and businesses. I was happy to see Cornwall has a vibrant downtown with many locally owned stores and restaurants.    

We had read great things online about the Truffles Burger Bar so we decided to check it out.  It was our first time sitting outside on a patio in a year and a half. The restaurant did not disappoint. We started off with a delicious plate of calamari. Staying true to the name of the restaurant, we all ordered hamburgers and loved them. It felt good to be enjoying the simple pleasure in life of going to a restaurant and having a great meal.  

After finishing our meal, we took a stroll down main street. We came across a store that looked too delicious to pass up. Happy Popcorn had an array of different flavors of popcorn. They also had a display of retro candies - some that I had not seen since my childhood.  

I had the chance to speak to the co-owner of Happy Popcorn,  Bill Halman. “We started the Happy Popcorn company because our son, Jack, was diagnosed on the autism spectrum,” said Halman. “We wanted a place for him to work in the future.  We also employ four other individuals who have recognized disabilities. We want to be a place of inclusion and most importantly, fun!”

We could not leave without getting a bag of movie theatre and cheddar-flavoured popcorn.

For our final activity, we checked out Archies Family Golf Centre. From friends,  I had heard Archies was an institution in Cornwall. It is well-known for its golf course, driving range and mini-putt. Perhaps even more so than golf, Archies is famous for it’s ice cream shop. We played a round of mini-golf then headed over for an ice cream. David and Sandy chose the Moose Tracks while I got a bit funky and opted for the coconut.

Cycling, hamburgers, popcorn and ice cream - not a bad way to start the summer.  

As restrictions are lifted,  further attractions will open. These include the Cornwall Community museum,  Rush Hour escapes,  Cornwall Food Tours, and Boatingery (kayak and stand-up paddleboard rental). It’s best to check their website for full hours and opening details.  

For further tourism information about Cornwall, visit www.cornwalltourism.com

Disclaimer: Stephen’s bike rentals and meal at Truffles were covered by Cornwall Tourism. All opinions are his own.

Fishing at Countryside Adventures

I love Father’s Day. Besides being so grateful for my son, David, it is also the one day of the year I can pick our activity. If I wanted to listen to bad hair metal from the 80’s, no problem. Binge watch pro wrestling: it’s your special day!!

Luckily, those are not activities we have ever done on Father’s Day. This year, I decided I wanted to go fishing as a family activity.

Rather than finding a river or lake where success was not guaranteed, I decided to up the odds and check out Countryside Adventures stocked fish pond.

We arrived on-site and made our way to the fishing pond. I was glad to see that Countryside Adventures rents out fishing rods and provided a net and bucket free of charge. My small fishing rod would have been no match for the large size rainbow trout found in the pond.

It was still early in the day so we had our pick of location on the pond shore. We chose to stay in the shade as the temperature was warm even at 9:30 am. I had the privilege of doing the first cast-offs. David was stationed with net in hand and my wife, Sandy, was on photo duty. After about ten minutes, I still did not have any success. I handed the fishing rod to Sandy, and, of course, she caught a huge fish on her first cast. She reeled it in like a pro and David scooped it up in the net.

It was my turn again, and this time I was able to catch a fair-sized trout. Truth be told, it probably wasn’t quite as big as Sandy’s but who was keeping score? Again, David caught the fish in the net and we took a photo of him holding the fish.

We decided to try for one more fish since we were having so much fun. It took a bit of time and a few tangled lines but we finally snagged our third fish. We thought three was perfect and went to go get them cleaned.

The fish were weighed and Sandy did officially beat me for largest fish by 0.2 kilograms. Countryside Adventures cleaned the fish and put them on ice for us. The price per pound is twelve dollars and no catch and release is allowed. It’s important to remember that you’ll be keeping the fish you catch.

I found the price to be fair considering the unique and fun experience we had. It was very close to the price paid in grocery stores, where you get the fish without any of the fun.

We paid for our fish and headed back to Ottawa. We had one of the most memorable Father’s Day suppers ever in that we had caught the food. There’s a good chance we’ll be eating fish for Father’s Day 2022!

Countryside Adventures is about forty-five minutes east of Ottawa. They will also have kayaks, pedal boats and paddle boards to rent for use on a larger pond. Fishing will also be offered on the big pond by boat.

For more information about Countryside Adventures, visit www.countrysideadventures.ca

Strawberry Season in Ottawa 2021

Every year my mother-in-law takes my daughter strawberry picking. It's a yearly tradition for them. My mother-in-law loves to pick multiple baskets of fresh, local strawberries and make jam, muffins and strawberry shortcakes with them. She even freezes them by the pound and uses them throughout the winter months for smoothies. Ottawa is lucky to have many nearby strawberry farms to both purchase and pick delicious local strawberries from.

Here is a list of some tried and true Ottawa strawberry farms with details as to whether or not they allow "pick your own" (of course this could change as the crop diminishes, so again, always best to check with the farm). 

Ottawa Strawberry Farms: 

Acorn Creek Garden Farm
928 Acorn Creek Road
Carp, Ontario
613-836-2613
http://www.acorncreek.com
Pick your own? No.

Avanmore Berry Farm
16365 4 Road,
Avomore
613-346-2336
http://www.avonmoreberryfarm.com
Pick your own? Yes!

Beckwith Berries
9961 Cavanagh Road
Carleton Place, Ontario
(613)  253-4171
http://www.beckwithberries.com/
Pick your own? Yes!

Duquette Strawberries
2236 Champlain
Clarence Creek
613-488-3284
http://www.duquettestrawberries.com
Pick your own? Yes!

Orleans Fruit Farm
1399 St. Joseph Blvd.
Orleans, Ontario
http://www.fermedorleans.com/wpferme/
Pick your own? Closed for 2021.

Miller’s Berry Farm
6158 Rideau Valley Drive
Ottawa, Ontario
613-692-2380
http://www.millersfarmandmarket.ca/
Can you pick your own? Yes, but contact them for details.

Proulx Berry Farm
1865 O'Toole Rd. 
Cumberland (Ottawa), ON K4C 1N2
613-833-2417
https://proulxfarm.com/berries-veggies/strawberries/
Can you pick your own: Yes

Purple Cow Strawberry Farm
1439 Sale Barn Road
Greely, Ontario
613-821-1345
Can you pick your own? Best to call to make sure.

Richmond Nursery Strawberry Farm
5740 Old Richmond Road
Richmond, ON
613-838-2282
http://www.richmondnursery.com/
Can you pick your own? Pre-picked only for 2021

Rideau Pines Farm
5714 Fourth Line Rd
North Gower ON
(613) 489-3601
http://www.rideaupinesfarm.com/
Can you pick your own? Best to call ahead.

Shouldice Berry Farm
Three locations in Bells Corners, Barrhaven and Nepean
http://www.shouldicefarm.com/pick-your-own-strawberries.html
Can you pick your own? Yes!

What you need to know about strawberry picking

·      COVID-19 restrictions are in place. Remember to social distance and bring masks!

·      It’s always best to call ahead to make sure they are still open for picking or if they are pick-up only.

·      Dress for the weather! There isn’t a lot of shade at most strawberry patches so don’t forget your hat, sunscreen and a bottle of water.

·       Local strawberries need to be cooled as soon as possible (so try not to leave them in a hot car all day or they may turn to mush) and plan on washing and consuming them within three to four days – maybe less if the weather is hot!

My favourite strawberry recipe

When I think of local strawberries I also think of rhubarb! Every June and July I bake this tried and true Strawberry-Rhubarb Cobbler Cake recipe from Dinner with Julie. It makes a large pan so it’s great for summer BBQs! I guarantee it will become a family favourite! Click here to get the recipe!

Did we miss a great Ottawa strawberry farm? Let us know in the comments below and we'll add it to the list!