June 8 (Day 31) – Meet The Newfoundlanders!

As we leave Newfoundland’s western region and Northern peninsula behind, we wanted to share some cultural observations that we haven’t seen in other places.  This is a rugged and beautiful land, and it takes resourceful people to make it their home for generations. 

Roadside woodlots, a common site

Roadside woodlots are very common along the main highway – woodlots with VERY large stockpiles of firewood.  We learned people get wood cutting permits, and own or are otherwise allowed to stockpile their firewood in small lots next to the highway.  We frequently saw wooden sleighs which appear to be used to transport wood to their homes.  Wood piles close to homes were uncommon.

Community gardening, Newfoundland style!

Roadside gardens are also a common site, especially in the northern peninsula.  We learned that when the road was built, top soil was pushed to the side.  Since the soils are rocky and shallow, home gardens aren’t practical.  People are allowed to use the roadside soil to create their vegetable gardens.  Root crops and cabbages are common produce in these gardens, and people don’t mess with gardens or woodlots that belong to others.

Doors to nowhere

It's common to see ‘dead end’ front doors on homes, leading us to wonder ’‘what’s up with that?’ They are the main entry doors in these homes, but have no steps and are obviously not used.  Many are on the second floor with a long way down!  When asked, most people didn’t know why.  The funniest answer we heard was “that’s the in-law entry”.  A more practical answer was that friends and family always enter through the back door, and the front door is required by code (fire exit requirements).  No one seemed to know for sure.

Many homes have long laundry lines attached to the deck on one end and a distant solid object such as an electric pole on the other, with pulleys used to move the line as clothes are hung or removed.  Very practical and also made us wonder how they dry their laundry during their very long winters…