The Torbolton Times Published by The Torbolton Culture Centre, 3924 Woodkilton Rd, Ottawa, Ont.K0A 3M0 In the beautiful, hospitable, accessible, really rural western part of the Nation's Capital (Editor: Rosaleen Dickson, 812-920 Bank St, Ottawa, 613-232-1837 or Email ac174@ncf.ca) Workshops to learn the traditional skills         The latest new idea suggested for the centre is for re-skilling workshops and seminars on traditional skills that we are going to need again, including such things as various aspects of gardening, use of animals on the land, blacksmithing, etc.         This could be combined with new technology as well, such as energy conservation, renewable energy workshops, sustainable living, etc.         Readers' opinions will be appreciated. Send them to Hank Jones at acorn@treenuts.ca Enthusiastic visitors examine property       Twenty interested adherents to the Torbolton Culture Centre project spent about an hour on Tuesday, October 19, prowling around the decommissioned building and surrounding property; an exciting experience for all concerned.         Among active community workers elsewhere but new to the area, taking the tour, were Dave Smith, Patrick Meikle and Rosaleen Dickson, all of whom were amazed and energized by the broad possibilities for a wide spectrum of cultural activities. Steering Committee will be established       Within the next few weeks a meeting will be held at the Culture Centre to proceed wth plans for the realization of the project.       Heather Lucente-Griesser is organizing a Steering Committee. Heather states, "We need a few passionate individuals to help organize membership and set up terms of reference. . . . . we need to work quickly to establish these terms and get membership in place."       To contact Heather phone 613-832-9378. or send email to heatherlucente@yahoo.ca Our Torbolton Culture Centre Project Vision... by Hank Jones The future Torbolton Culture Centre, unique in Canada, will bring families in our region and its surroundings into fully sustainable 21st century living, with food security for all, and much more. Here's how we see the possibilties for centre activities so far... With environmental prognostications worsening, our agriculture is at risk and with it our food security for all of us here in the region. Its time to bring our food production back into our 100 mile circle. New methods of farming are tailor made for Ottawa and its surroundings. The City is 80% rural - ready for farming. Our Torbolton Centre could house Canada's first Eco-farmers Training School to ready hundreds of our young families who dream of becoming community shared farmers, and putting them onto the land. By 2020, Ottawa could be feeding itself! Advance everyones' personal fitness, health and wellbeing. How? The Village Fitness Studio, with its advanced programs and deep connections to the YM/YWCA, Public Health and Agroforests (proven vital to feelings of wellbeing), and possibly including Canada's very first 'Mobility Park' for training our mobility challenged of all ages; Onsite demonstrations of green country living such as solar/wind energy, geothermal, light pipes, planted edible landscape, edible nut grove, natural pollinator gardening stewardship , etc., with related information and instruction, applicable to rural, burbs and urbs alike; Ideal for the many and diverse art&craft activities of visual arts, fine arts, photography, arts & crafts and more, for sustainable culture; A large centre for amateur theatre, performing arts and the like (it has a stage); Well situated for regional special, occasional and seasonal events, meeting, smaller conference opportunities for local groups, either indoors or out; Museum, history and related programs; A slow food organic tea room offering local fare made from local produce in season, attracting its customers from far and wide; A variety of local crafts shops, retail outlets for local crafters; Occasional spring/summer/fall flea markets, garage sales and specialty fairs; Headquarters for the Pollinator Gardeners of Canada and other general and specialized gardening groups, such as the Eastern Chapter of the Ontario Nut Growers (ECSONG); A state-of-the-art Ottawa library branch and associated activities, both for centre tenants and visitors; Lectures, presentations and courses on rural green living and related matters (it has eight classrooms); Medical facilities and services of various kinds such as labs, clinics and personal services; A farmers market for local produce in season and cookery demonstrations/lessons in season, indoors or out; Adaptation Action Centre for the 21st century family, the headquarters/learning centre for aspiring family eco-farmers in a CSA Co-op placing newly graduated eco-farmers and recruiting their shareholders, a 100-mile circle of hundreds of new eco-farms earning upwards of a half billion dollars annually, while assuring local future food security for the city and its surroundings; A highly motivated and motivating Torbolton Centre website offering broad and profitable services to tenants and visitors both; A strong internet presence supporting tenants and visitors; and many more yet to be found...