Author: Francis Siebert

  • From gluten-free to distraction-free

    From gluten-free to distraction-free

    Past the cold waters of the Thames River and its bordering parks, and past the Copps Buildall and the Yorkville Centre and the daring Renaissance II skyscrapers, there used to be a tiny vegan and gluten-free bakery at 82 York St. But last December, Romy Buchner closed shop. Her lease on the place was up…

  • Wigglers and worms: One woman’s work with worm compost

    Wigglers and worms: One woman’s work with worm compost

    In a small room of a small apartment located above a small convenience store, Erin Boynton snaps on a yellow rubber glove and thrusts her hand in a light blue plastic box filled with feces, decomposing food, newspapers and worms. She smiles as she raises a handful of feces and worms and explains how vermicomposting…

  • Knitting: Not just your grandma’s hobby

    Knitting: Not just your grandma’s hobby

    Every Wednesday evening, Jillian Dobbin grabs her bag of yarn and needles and meets up with a group of knitters. She likes to knit dishcloths, scarves and hats. Except Dobbin isn’t your traditional grey-haired granny — at 22, she is part of a growing trend of young adult knitters. “When I first started knitting and…