Inverness County Cares

By John Gillies and Colleen MacDonald MacLeod

This June, the Inverness County Cares’ hard-neck garlic produced its curly central flower stalks, known as “scapes.” Once they formed their loops, the scapes were cut off at the base. This encourages the plant to send its energy back down into producing a larger garlic bulb. Garlic scapes are delicious, but when you have more than 1,000 of them, it is quite a lot of garlic scapes! Fortunately, friends were happy to take them off our hands for stir fries, pesto, pickling or perhaps warding off vampires.
By July and August, it was time to harvest the garlic bulbs. We know the garlic is ready when the bottom three or four leaves have turned brown and dry, while five or six leaves are still green. This year we were rewarded with an abundant harvest. Garlic has a different growing cycle than most other Nova Scotia crops, and because it needs well drained soil, our garlic plot is planted on a slope with full sun.
Once the current season’s crop is harvested in August, it is already time to begin preparing for next year’s garlic. The first step is to roto-till the oat straw that served as a winter cover and mulch during the growing season. The straw has been threshed and the grain seeds have been removed. As mulch, it helps retain moisture and discourage weeds. We use our Troy-Bilt Horse tiller, a true workhorse, to shred the straw and incorporate it into the soil. Many light layers of grass clippings from our neighbor’s, Hughie, Janet and Jonathan’s lawns and our own lawn are added and mixed thoroughly into the soil. Many thanks to the best neighbors. Grass clippings make wonderful green manure and best of all, contain no seeds or weeds. As the clippings decompose, they feed beneficial soil microbes and earthworms. This organic material improves the soil structure, reduces compaction, helps retain water and allows sandy or clay soils to hold nutrients more effectively. Our garlic is completely organic. No commercial fertilizers have ever been used on this plot of land.
After harvesting, the hard-neck garlic bulbs are hung in our shed where there is plenty of ventilation. After three or four weeks of drying, the stalks are clipped, the roots are snipped and the bulbs are stored in ventilated baskets until they are ready for sale. The largest bulbs are saved for seed for the following year. Big cloves generally produce big bulbs, so we keep the best of the harvest for planting. We use our own garlic rather than supermarket garlic because it is not always a Canadian product, is usually soft-neck garlic and may have been treated to prevent sprouting. At present, the garlic plot is still receiving additions of grass clippings and will soon be ready for a load of composted manure from our Garden Angels. Thank you, Melissa, Troy, Justin and Alex! This will be the top layer and won’t be tilled in very deep.
We plant our garlic cloves in late November. If planted too early, they may begin growing before winter arrives, when we would rather see that growth waiting until spring. Just before planting, we gently break the largest bulbs into individual cloves, leaving the papery skins intact. The cloves are planted about two inches deep with the pointed end facing up. They are spaced four to six inches apart, with approximately six inches between the rows. To keep everything neat and properly spaced, we use snow fence as a planting grid. It works wonderfully for making sure each clove is planted in the right spot. We also try to have the ground prepared as early as possible because by November the soil can be muddy and messy. Once the cloves are planted, they are covered with a generous layer of straw. Straw is preferable to grass clippings because it does not form a heavy mat and allows the garlic shoots to easily make their way toward the sun in the spring. The straw is then covered with spruce branches to hold it in place and catch the snow. The snow provides an additional layer of insulation against the freeze and thaw cycles we now experience each winter.
Think of garlic as a tiny natural powerhouse. When a clove is crushed or chopped, it releases compounds that are believed to offer a number of health benefits. Garlic has long been valued for its role in supporting the immune system and may help the body fight off illness. It is also associated with heart health and may help support healthy blood pressure and cholesterol levels. Garlic contains natural compounds with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties and has been used for centuries as part of a healthy diet.
Inverness County Cares chose garlic as a fundraiser because it produces a dependable crop, is fairly easy to care for, is popular with cooks and provides a good source of revenue for the schools for the blind in Zambia. This year we are selling our garlic for $30 a pound. Think of it as making a donation with some very healthy benefits included. All of our garlic sold out before Christmas last year and we are hoping for another successful season. Thank you to all our generous customers for your continued support. Every bulb purchased helps Inverness County Cares continue supporting schools for blind and visually impaired students in Zambia.
Inverness County Cares (ICC) is a local charitable organization, founded in 2012 and based in Inverness County, NS, Canada. ICC works in partnership with Chalice.ca, a Canadian charity, based in Bedford, Nova Scotia. Chalice provides guidance and assistance through site visits, audits and accounting. The Kawambwa Project supports two schools for blind, albino and visually impaired students in Northern Zambia. Inverness County Cares always welcomes new members. Individuals who wish to donate, can use the donate button on our website   https://invernesscountycares.com When using E-transfer, please include your mailing address for CRA tax receipts and a thank you message.   E-transfer address:  invernesscountycares@gmail.com or send a cheque to Inverness County Cares, 5414 Route 19, Judique, NS, Canada, B0E1P0. Taxation receipts provided.

Garlic will be available after September 28th. For pre orders or orders contact Colleen MacLeod, 119 Lower Shore Road, Judique.
902-227-5425.     Email: colmac27@gmail.com

Charlotte’s Third Trip to Zambia

Retired teacher Charlotte Rankin made her third trip to Zambia in February and March of 2026. Drawing on her many years of teaching experience, Charlotte spent much of her time working with students at St Odilia and St Mary’s schools. At St Odilia, Charlotte taught Grade 6 English grammar to approximately 43 students. With such a large class of students with varying abilities and visual capacities; in a classroom designed for about half that number, getting the lesson to everyone was quite a challenge. Three to five students shared each seat, even though the benches were intended for a maximum of two. Despite the cramped conditions, the students listened attentively and carefully copied their notes. Among them were blind and very visually impaired students who took their notes on braille slates using a stylus. Charlotte was amazed at the speed with which they could write. Their main accommodation in the classroom was to sit closer to the teacher so they could hear clearly without the surrounding classroom noise drowning out her voice. Without visual cues, being able to hear the teacher is especially important. With virtually no teaching aids available other than a well-worn blackboard, the most practical method of teaching in a classroom like this is the lecture method. This style of teaching has its roots in the British colonial education system and continues to be widely used.

At St Mary’s, Charlotte worked with Mr. Chisimbe, a blind teacher who taught a Grade 7 class of approximately 12 students. Most of the students were blind or had very limited vision. Charlotte’s role was to read literary texts to the students and then engage them in discussion about what they had heard. Braille copies of the texts were scarce, so the students listened carefully and responded to the discussion. Charlotte assumed that Mr. Chisimbe had another goal in mind as well. He wanted his students to become familiar with different English accents, including the accents of their Canadian visitors. Charlotte was impressed by how in tune he was with his students. Although he could not see them, he could recognize each student by their voice.

Charlotte also spent time working with student mentors who were teaching their peers how to play the games introduced by the Canadian visitors. This was one of the most enjoyable parts of her visit. The informal setting gave her an opportunity to interact with both the students and staff in a relaxed and fun way. She noticed that the Canadian volunteers were most needed at the beginning, when the games were introduced and explained. After that, the student mentors took over and taught their classmates almost entirely on their own. The maturity, confidence and sense of responsibility shown by these young mentors was remarkable. Charlotte felt their wisdom and leadership were far beyond what one might expect from students their age.

Like many of the Inverness County Cares volunteers, Charlotte was also given many items to take to the schools. As a member of the Monday Crafters at the Story Teller’s Gallery in Judique, she was delighted to bring 43 beautifully made children’s dresses. The younger girls were absolutely thrilled with their new dresses. The Hope Chest in Mabou, along with other generous donors, also provided a large collection of books for students who have some sight. These gifts, both practical and thoughtful, added another dimension to the visit and brought plenty of smiles.

A particularly special part of Charlotte’s trip was the opportunity to visit with her sponsored child, Charity Katai. Spending time together allowed Charlotte to get to know her better and made an already meaningful visit even more memorable. Charlotte returned home with many stories and a deeper appreciation for the students and teachers she had met. Her third trip to Zambia once again showed how much can be accomplished through sharing skills, encouragement and a willingness to learn from one another.

Inverness County Cares (ICC) is a local charitable organization, founded in 2012 and based in Inverness County, NS, Canada. ICC works in partnership with Chalice.ca, a Canadian charity, based in Bedford, Nova Scotia. Chalice provides guidance and assistance to help ICC provide a better life for the children at the Kawambwa schools. The Kawambwa Project involves supporting two schools for albino and visually impaired students, in Northern Zambia. Inverness County Cares always welcomes new members. Individuals who wish to donate, can use the donate button on our website   https://invernesscountycares.com When using E-transfer, please include your mailing address for CRA tax receipts and a thank you message.   E-transfer address:  invernesscountycares@gmail.com or send a cheque to Inverness County Cares, 5414 Route 19, Judique, NS, Canada, B0E1P0. Taxation receipts provided.

 Garlic time! Inverness County Cares has harvested more that 1,000 cloves of organic garlic. It is presently hanging to cure and will be ready for sale in a few weeks.

Call/text 902 227 5425 to order. This delicious organic garlic is a fundraiser for the Kawambwa schools in Zambia.

By Colleen MacDonald MacLeod

When six members of Inverness County Cares (ICC) travelled to Zambia last February and March of 2026, every suitcase carried more than clothes and supplies. Tucked among the luggage were decks of cards, dominoes, chess boards, checkers, dice and other familiar games that many Canadians remember from their childhood. At first glance they seemed like simple games. Before long they became some of the most valuable teaching tools in two schools serving children who are blind, visually impaired or living with albinism.

Each member of the ICC team contributed different skills. Betty Jane Cameron shared her experience as a nurse, midwife and music teacher. Charlotte worked with classroom teachers. Winnie shared her talents as a chef. John MacInnis tackled electrical repairs and maintenance projects. John Gillies brought his experience as a teacher and guidance counsellor, while Colleen MacDonald MacLeod focused on elementary education and teacher training.

Having worked in Zambia before, the team already understood many of the challenges facing the schools. The classrooms are beyond basic. Teaching materials are scarce and assistive learning resources are almost nonexistent. Schools simply do not have the funds to purchase the educational materials that Canadian teachers use every day. Lessons are often taught through lectures, repetition and memorization because there are few resources to make learning interactive.

One thing became obvious during an earlier visit. When classes ended and the children returned to their dormitories, there were very few indoor activities to occupy their spare time. Most recreation centred around outdoor ball games. It seemed like an opportunity waiting to happen. Before leaving Canada, ICC appealed for donations of games and playing cards. Regular visits to Value Village produced checkers, Chinese checkers, chess, Snakes and Ladders, dominoes, dice and many of the games that once filled cupboards in Canadian homes before electronic entertainment became part of everyday life. A handbook explaining the rules of every game was also prepared so teachers and students could continue using them long after the Canadian volunteers returned home.

The first stop was St. Mary’s School in Kawambwa. Six senior middle school students, chosen for their leadership abilities, became game mentors. Each morning they gathered to learn another game. Go Fish, Crazy Eights and Uno quickly became favourites. Dominoes, dice games and Scrabble followed close behind. It didn’t take long before something remarkable happened. Within days, the student mentors were teaching their classmates and younger children. Those students, in turn, passed the games along to others. Learning spread naturally throughout the school. By the end of the three weeks, school administrator Sr. Agnes organized an afternoon where the student mentors taught the games to teachers, school staff and members of the school board. Watching the students confidently explain the rules and coach the adults was a proud moment. Their confidence had grown with every lesson they taught.

The same approach was introduced at St. Odilia School. This time 12 Grade Ten students became the mentors. Their maturity and leadership skills allowed them to master the games quickly. Before the second week was over, they had taken over the teaching themselves. The Canadian volunteers were no longer needed at the game tables because the students had become the teachers. Although many of the children are blind or visually impaired, very few games were beyond their reach. Braille playing cards, Braille Scrabble, raised dot dice and tactile dominoes allowed students to play entirely by touch. Other games were easily adapted so everyone could participate. Sometimes the games moved a little more slowly, but no one seemed to notice. The laughter around the tables said it all. Students who are blind also benefited from innovative teaching materials produced by a generous ICC supporter using a Bambu 3D printer. Braille manipulatives gave students another opportunity to learn by touch, making lessons more personal, practical and engaging.

To ensure the program continued after the Canadians returned home, Sr. Agnes took responsibility for the games at St. Mary’s while Mr. Miller coordinated the program at St. Odilia. The games were carefully stored, organized and regularly brought out for students to enjoy. Since returning to Canada, ICC has continued to receive photographs and updates showing that the games remain an important part of school life. Anyone walking past a classroom during those weeks would likely have stopped to listen. The sounds coming through the windows were not of children repeating lessons in unison, but of laughter, cheering and excited conversations. The classrooms were filled with enthusiasm. There were no discipline problems because every student wanted to participate. The excitement didn’t end with the students. Evenings at the convent often became spirited competitions as sisters and ICC members challenged one another to games of cards, Chinese Checkers and Scrabble. It quickly became clear that these timeless games appealed to every generation.

These games are much more than entertainment. Every game encourages children to think, solve problems, recognize patterns, count, remember strategies and make decisions. Card and dice games strengthen early numeracy and memory. Dominoes improve pattern recognition and spatial reasoning. Scrabble builds vocabulary and language skills. At the same time, children learn patience, cooperation, communication and how to accept both winning and losing with grace. Perhaps most importantly, these games bring people together. Around one table sit children with different abilities, teachers, sisters and visitors, all laughing together and learning from one another. A simple deck of cards or a game of dominoes becomes a bridge between cultures, generations and abilities.

Months later, the games are still being played. Students continue teaching younger students. Teachers continue using them in their classrooms. Families have joined in as well. The games have become part of everyday life in both schools. Sometimes the greatest gifts are not the most expensive or the most complicated. Sometimes they come packed in a small cardboard box filled with playing cards or dominoes, bringing learning, laughter and friendships that continue long after the visitors have gone home. Inverness County Cares is deeply grateful to the many Canadians who donated games, playing cards and financial support. Every single donation, made this project a reality.

Inverness County Cares (ICC) is a local charitable organization, founded in 2012 and based in Inverness County, NS, Canada. ICC works in partnership with Chalice.ca, a Canadian charity, based in Bedford, Nova Scotia. Chalice provides guidance and assistance to help ICC provide a better life for the children at the Kawambwa schools. The Kawambwa Project involves supporting two schools for albino and visually impaired students, in Northern Zambia. Inverness County Cares always welcomes new members. Individuals who wish to donate, can use the donate button on our website   https://invernesscountycares.com When using E-transfer, please include your mailing address for CRA tax receipts and a thank you message.   E-transfer address:  invernesscountycares@gmail.com or send a cheque to Inverness County Cares, 5414 Route 19, Judique, NS, Canada, B0E1P0. Taxation receipts provided.

John Gillies and John MacInnis

St. Mary and St. Odilia schools were established in the 1950’s by Dutch missionaries in Zambia to cater to the needs of students who were blind, visually impaired or dealing with albinism. The buildings were solidly built on good foundations. Eventually both schools were placed in the hands of a Zambian indigenous order, the Sisters of the Child Jesus. They have continued to operate the schools in an efficient manner.

 Zambia is a country with an average annual income of slightly more than $400 Canadian. Money is not readily available for the continued maintenance of the school buildings so upkeep is not regularly attended to. Priority is given to the purchase of food and clothing and necessary educational textbooks.

In the recent Inverness County Cares (ICC) trip to Zambia, John MacInnis and John Gillies did an inventory of maintenance needs for classroom, dormitory and institutional buildings. Priorities were established by the administrators of both schools in consultation with staff and students. With funds supplied by the supporters of ICC in Inverness County and beyond, work then began to renovate and improve both schools.

The work was carried out by local trades people from the villages of Kawambwa and Mporokoso. All the materials needed for repairs were bought at local businesses in both villages or in the nearest larger towns. Both these measures serve to help the trades people and local business economies of Zambia. More work was able to be accomplished with our budget, as both wages and material costs are considerably lower in Zambia than in Canada.

Glaziers were hired to replace broken and cracked window panes. 170 panes were installed thus improving classroom conditions. At St. Odilia School the glazier replaced outdated and broken window hardware to keep the window frames anchored in place on windy days.

Painters were employed to re-do six classrooms, three kitchen rooms and a four-room henhouse as well as some newly installed ceiling panels and classroom cupboards. A number of black boards were painted.

Carpenters were engaged to build shelves and cupboards in four classrooms and replaced rotting fascia on two buildings. Wooden doors were repaired and one new door constructed for the henhouse. New ceiling panels were put in place where needed, and door locks replaced. Doors were planed so as to shut properly. A ceiling was put in a convent dining area. A sagging carport was refurbished. Eighteen picture frames were made to hold photos of historical persons important to the two schools. Lumber and materials were provided.

Welders were hired to repair broken metal security doors for two rooms. A new metal security gate was created for the henhouse yard. Five large window frames were created and installed in buildings. Angle iron was welded to create a tower to hold two 5,000-liter tanks to provide gravity fed water to St. Mary’s School buildings. A welder is currently constructing metal bunk beds for dormitories at St. Odilia and ICC funds have been used to purchase thirty 6” thick foam mattresses.

Masons were employed to do major work at the Central Square of St. Odilia school which is surrounded by all the classroom blocks. They increased the height of the curbs in the six sections making up the Square, by adding one additional brick and mortared over their new construction. Painters then painted the curbs in a two-colour alternating pattern. These curbs are important to provide directional guidance for the blind students. This work also improved the general appearance where school assemblies, celebrations and events take place. A room was re-modelled in St. Odilia convent to provide for an elderly Sister with an enclosed bathroom and washroom.

Electricians replaced one hundred fifty light bulbs and repaired an electric cooking pot. Switches, sockets and electric stove plates were replaced where needed. Electricity was brought from the main administration building to the henhouse where ICC had provided funding for the purchase of 200 broiler chicks (meat hens) and six weeks of feed. ICC provided all the materials.

Plumbers replaced valves, taps, drain caps, flush handles, shower heads, toilet bowls and tanks in the bathrooms and wash rooms of student dormitories. Leaks were fixed and drainage systems were cleared. A new eight-foot-deep septic system was installed at St. Mary’s School for the teacher and girls’ washroom/bathroom buildings. Materials were supplied by ICC funds.

A professional well driller dug a three hundred foot well at St. Mary’s School to supplement a previous well to increase water pressure to buildings. Water will now be brought to the Multi-Purpose-Hall where all main student indoor gatherings are held. An electric pump was purchased to pump the water from the new well to the two 5,000 litre tanks and some new distribution piping has been installed.

Much was accomplished at both schools to improve the facilities available for the students. The children, school administrators, and community members continually expressed their heartfelt gratitude for the upgrades to their living conditions, made possible by the generosity of people from Inverness County, Nova Scotia, and across Canada.

All this work achieved during this trip was directly funded by monetary contributions from Canadians and your local donations of refundable bottles and cans. While we are well aware of how much more work remains to be done, it was with great satisfaction for what was accomplished, that we said our goodbyes to our friends in Zambia. 

Inverness County Cares (ICC), founded in 2012 in Inverness County, Nova Scotia, works in partnership with Chalice.ca to support these two schools for blind, visually impaired, and albino students in northern Zambia. ICC welcomes new members and donors. Contributions can be made through the ICC website, by e‑transfer to invernesscountycares@gmail.com with a mailing address for tax receipts, or by mailing a cheque to Inverness County Cares, 5414 Route 19, Judique, NS, B0E 1P0.