Great Canadian's book helped pioneers
- CA BWGPL PH26617
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Community : Ontario
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Description : Canada's history is a patchwork of many colourful characters. One of them was Catharine Parr Traill, who left England in 1832 with her husband to take on the adventure of settling in Upper Canada (Ontario). She was 30 years old and soon learned what a challenging adventure that would be! Building a log home, clearing land, growing food, keeping livestock and making pretty much everything yourself was enough to tire anybody out. But Catharine was energetic, optimistic, full of common sense and downright determined. Despite all the hardships, she created one heck of a smooth-running household while raising seven children and writing several children's books, as well as The Backwoods Of Canada, a collection of letters she had written home during her first three years as a settler. By 1854, with 20 years' experience under her belt, Catharine was a pioneer version of Martha Stewart. But she had seen many families who were overwhelmed and just couldn't make it in their new country. Catharine wrote a helpful handbook for anyone thinking of emigrating to Canada. She completed The Canadian Settler's Guide, which she wrote especially for wives and daughters. The book guided readers through almost every step of their journey from England to Canada, and even advising on what to bring and how to survive once in Canada. Soap making, candle dipping, dying wool and raising poultry were all carefully outlined and the climate, plants and animals of each month of the year beautifully described.