First meeting with the new youth council tonight. Pretty cool. It is exciting to have the energy and great ideas coming from this group of teens. Especially since they know Ross Creek better than anyone other than me, and I think they've got as much ownership over it, which is really gratifying. I am so hopeful about the world sitting and talking to this group of intelligent, curious and engaged teens and so grateful that they want to share their passion and their energy with the Creek.

We meet again in a month, but already they have given us new program ideas, and new ways of thinking about how the Creek should work with teens - the promises we need to make and how we need to keep them to their peers. I was stunned that they are so willing to go out and speak to other people - to be ambassadors - I was sheepish about proposing it, but they all seized on it and understand how important peer to peer is.

On another note, I am like a silly fool in love every time I look at the garden. We have started a potager, and I have designed it to be like an expanded Mi'kmaq star so it reflects not only French and English tradition but honours the first people here. Brad Wilkinson has been working like a fiend in the garden and putting up with my meanderings - I find it therapeutic to go out and walk the paths, even though some beds still aren't planted. I keep picking up transplants, putting them first here, then there, trying to find the right balance of colour and height, along with what will grow best. The days have been hot and the nights strangely cold with the wind and we've lost a few veggies, but nothing too major. Strawberries have been rescued from the ditches and replanted as borders, and the peas are coming up.

Right now the lovely ladies from bluegrass group Grand Sass are in residence along with visual artist Ella Tetrault and Toronto writer Anne Theriault. Anne and Grand Sass have been weeding and planting, and Ella has been teaching for us at Kingston Elementary along with working in her studio.

Unfortunate thing about the creek if you have dogs - PORCUPINES! Poor Tanya of Grand Sass has spent way too much time and money at the vets taking her beautiful dogs to have quills removed - last night and then again this morning...