Location

Liz and Alan Coxwell live near Wellman’s Corner in Stirling-Rawdon. Through the years Alan has always been a farmer. At one time he was a fulltime dairy farmer taking cream from his Jersey cows to the Stirling Creamery and providing milk for his family. Now, he has a small herd of red Limousin heifers and he is going to concentrate on producting top-quality organic beef. After 20 years running The Community Press newspaper, Alan is now running as the federal as the Green Party candidate for the Riding of Prince Edward-Hastings.

Liz Coxwell is musician, playing with Carpe Diem, the Stirling Citizens Band and the Donegal Fiddlers, an artist and a experienced and knowledgeale organic gardener. She doesn’t grow vegetables for sale, but she is part of the Great Canadian Garlic Collection.

Seeds of Diversity has accumulated a collection of over thirty varieties of garlic, and has recruited 52 volunteers to grow them across Canada. Canada could grow all the garlic we need but, at present, most is brought in from elsewhere. The project growers record detailed observations, which enhances knowledge of these varieties and their performance in different regions. All it takes is about 15 square feet of garden space and a commitment to grow two varieties of garlic for two years.

Alan is a charter member of the Stirling Rotary Club since 1996, and as president of the club in 2000-2001, he initiated the relocation and renovation of the historic CN Station in Stirling (circa 1879). This was completed and open to the public in August, 2008, just in time for Stirling to celebrate its 150th Anniversary.

“If you consider the irrefutable evidence that human activity is having some rather dramatic impacts on our global climate and that we are not going to sidestep those impacts here in Ontario, as the recent advance of the West Nile Virus into our region proves, it is obvious we need to take action now,” said Alan.

Alan sees there are great, future, economic advantages to be gained from redeploying our tax dollars into research and development projects, which can solve the problems we face. He asks, “Why is Denmark one of the world leaders in wind power generation? Why is Germany, where Greens have prominent elected members in government, leading the world in solar cell development? Canada should be there. Canada can be there.”