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HOME a COUNTRY is published quarterly by the Federated Women‘s Institutes of Ontario (FWIO). It has two objectives: I. To provide educational material which cultivates more knowledgeable and re- sponsible citizens and promolcs good family life skills. lcadersltipdevcloprnenl and community :clion. . To provide a “communications link" among all members of the Federated Women's Institutes of Ontario and other related organizations, EDITOR Janine Realms-Grant GRAPHICS Debbie Thompson Wilson ‘9 Willurlrulirm I993 EDITORIAL COMMITTEE liaran Pinkney. Peggy McLeod (Co-Chair) Margaret Atkins. Margaret Ebcrlei Put Orsvnri. Cindy Ashton Janine Roclensflmnt (Secretary) Dendllnw: Springlssue: Dec. IS Summer Issue: Mm. IS Please uddress all correspondence to: Janine Roclens-Gmrtt Editort Home & Country FWIO Guelph Agriculture Centre I'D. Box 1030 Guelph, Ontario NIH 6Nl PHONE N0 - (5l9) 836-3078 FAX v (5 l9) 8311049 Copyright O I993 FWIO Copyrighted material (including graphics) may be reproduced as long as it remains in context. its source is mcogniud and it is not used for monetary gain To reprint copy» rightcd material under any circumstances pit:th contact the Editor. ISSN OTUI-S'IRX ® Pnnled on Rzryded Paper Printed on recycled paper by Mainland Printing. Publishing and Dimrihuting . Willowdalc, Ontario, 2 Home 6- Counlry. Winter '93 Letter to the Editor: What does the Women’s Institute mean to me?. By Regina Wagter he first time I went to a Women's Institute meeting it Win held in a log cabin. The only light was from lanterns and the fire in the fireplace, and members came dressed in |9th century style dresses. No. this was not I00 years ago. It was only |4 years ago and l was so impressed that I began attending the meetings faithfully and soon became a member. Women's Institute is where I met the wives of the farmers that my husband knew. l discovered these woan had the same interests. Through the different pro- grams that were presented at the monthly meetings. I learned many interesting things about Canada. and also other countries and their peoples; things that are not in the history or geography books. I developed creative talents I did not know l but]. such as crcwcl embroidery and 30 Pounds of " Institute Potatoes" Bi Jain K ulnar/u At our lunc meeting. each member was given :1 seed polttto. and our “Institute Potato“ Competition was un- derway. Each member was to produce as many potatoes Ll\ possible. The tubers \vcrc Red Norlunds. so only red potatoes would be weighed ut the con- text close in September. Mcmhcrs could cut out the lntllVlLlUIll ‘cyes' lllILl plillll th‘lll. cut the \L'L'LI potato Into scvcral huge pieces. or plttnt it whole. They could water it. t'crtili/c it. or ignore itr At our September meeting the hatrvcst was brought forth to be quilting. I learned shortcuts in preparing meals and how to cook a variety of foods and make decorative items for the home. I learned how to “Reduce. Re-use. and Reâ€" cycle" to help preserve our environment, And it was through the Women’s Institute that I got involved in leading 4â€"H Clubs. another privilege I enjoyed for a few years. Even though I can‘t visit a third world country. I can still help the women there better their lives. through Pennies for Friendship and our annual Harvest Lunch» eon which raise money for such projects as Water for All. I am glad Ijoined the Canâ€" boro Women's Institute It has become an important part of my life. and I look for- ward to the 100th anniversary in 1997! Regina Wagler is (he Secretary-Treasurer of III? C unborn Women 'r Inrtt'tute. judged. What funny stories were told. One member lost some of her pieces of potato to a racoon; another‘s was pil- Icred by a crow One member â€" having a bedrock yard - planted hers in some soil contained in a couple of used tires. Another member's husband had cut hers off with the lawn mower! Betsy Little won the contest ‘hands down.‘ with not only the largest vol- ume. but the largest individual "Institute Potato.“ Even taking into ac- count the poor yields (one member de- scribed hers as “five golf balls"). the Branch had 30 pounds of potatoes which were gratefully reâ€" ceived at the Salvation Army SoupKitchenin Sudburyt Jean Kulrnala is a member of the Penage Rnad WI.