Bibs and Bobs from Newfoundland

If you’ve ever had the pleasure of speaking to someone from Newfoundland, you know they love quirky expressions and colorful sayings.  “Waddaya at?”, for instance, is a general greeting similar to “How’s it going?” or “What’s up?”.  The most common response seems to be “This is it!”.
“Bibs and bobs” , meaning odds and ends, is my favorite new Newfoundland slang expression.
We first spotted “Bibs and Bobs” on a restaurant menu board in St. John’s.  When we asked our server what it meant, she explained she might say she’d eaten bibs and bobs for dinner when she’d eaten a little of this and little of that.  My friend Ted who knows such things, elaborated “Bibs and bobs for odds and ends is an old Britishism… bits and bobs were coins, a three-penny bit and 12 pennies in a shilling, or bob. Over time, and over here [in Newfoundland], bits because bibs and bobs remained bobs.”
Today’s blog post includes a few bibs and bobs from my recent trip to Newfoundland.  Check out Postcards from Newfoundland #1 or Postcards from Newfound #2 if you missed these earlier posts.

The Root Cellar Capital of the World is in Newfoundland
Traditionally, a root cellar is an underground structure used to store root vegetables such as potatoes, turnips and carrots.  Root cellars naturally control temperature and humidity thus preserving the food stored inside.  Various forms of root cellars exist around the globe but only one place, Elliston Newfoundland, claims the title The Root Cellar Capital of the World.
“Elliston has more than 130 documented root cellars in the small town and surrounding area. Of those, half are still in working condition and used today” reports the Newfoundland and Labrador Tourism website.  These root cellars were used by the local residents as far back as 1839.
The below photo shows how well the Elliston root cellars blend into the natural landscape—only the wooden door and the front stone wall are visible.
As explained at the Elliston Root Cellar site: “The geological history of an area greatly defines the landscapes we see, and how people live.  The rocks shape the soil above them, and in turn the soil controls what can be grown.  In this region the soils tend to be stony and not very fertile.  Families in the area would grow crops in their own gardens, enriching the soils with what could be found locally.
Kelp, a type of seaweed, would be added in the fall, and mixed into the soil the following spring.  Fish bones, offal, and capelin fish would also be added.  Together these provide a vital source of phosphorous and nitrogen–essential plant nutrients.  The harvest could be stored in local root cellars, made of the local ‘flagstone’, to last them through the long winters.”
There are two doors in an Elliston root cellar, an outer door and an inner door, which create a double seal to maintain the desired temperature in the storage area of the cellar.

Several Elliston root cellars can be seen close to the fabulous Elliston Puffin Viewing Site.   They may appear to be outhouses at first glance, but they’re not!  As encouraged by this warning sign, please plan to “do your business” at the Elliston Municipal Park which is about a 2-minute drive away.

Newfoundland’s Floral Emblem is a Meat-Eating Plant
Most provinces, states and countries select a native plant or flower as their floral emblem.  Roses, irises, lilies, and orchids are popular choices but only Newfoundland has a carnivorous plant—the flamboyant Purple Pitcher Plant (Sarracenia purpurea).  Here’s the flowering bloom of a Purple Pitcher Plant which I spotted on our hike to Western Brook Pond in Gros Morne National Park.

There was also a fine clump of Purple Pitcher Plants in full bloom at the Memorial University Botanical Garden in St. John’s.

According to the Canadian Encyclopedia, these fascinating plants “can be found in bogs and fens all across Canada. They are native to North America and have adapted to growing in thin, nutrient deficient soils. They absorb nutrients derived from their prey to supplement those lacking in the soil to thrive.”  Their prey, insects which are attracted by the plant’s colorful foliage and sweet-smelling nectar, fall into the plant’s tubular leaves.  The leaves, which resemble small pitchers, fill with rainwater.
“Once an insect falls into this pitcher, it is almost impossible to get out.  The slippery rim … of the pitcher prevent insects from gaining the traction needed to escape. It is also lined with downward-pointing hairs that help trap them. Even flying insects are no match for the pitcher plant. The water within is a pool of sugars and digestive enzymes to dissolve the prey almost immediately.”

Paper Bags Keep Flies Away in Newfoundland
While we’re on the subject of insects, I wasn’t surprised to find lots of flies, mosquitos and other bugs in Newfoundland.  But I was definitely surprised to see the front door standing wide open at a Rocky Harbour restaurant we visited.  Even more surprising, there didn’t seem to be any bugs inside the restaurant.  How could that be?  Upon closer examination, I noticed a brown paper bag hanging inside the frame of the open door.
Turns out, “flies were discouraged by the simple, but remarkably effective, device of hanging a blown-up brown paper bag in the doorway, which supposedly looked like a predatory wasp’s nest to incoming flies.” reports Robert Finch in his book The Iambics of Newfoundland.  I haven’t tested this strategy but, while taking this photo, I did witness a few flies turn away rather than enter the restaurant.

One of the Four Corners of the Flat World is Located in Newfoundland
A huge rocky outcrop looms over the town of Fogo on Fogo Island.  It’s called Brimstone Head and it’s considered by the Canadian Flat Earth Society to be one of the four corners of the flat world.
According to a 2016 interview with Iris Taylor, the performance persona of Kay Burns, who was the curator for Fogo Island’s Museum of the Flat Earth at that time, “there are several other corners of the world, including, but not limited to, Easter Island, the Bermuda Triangle, and Tasmania.”  The Museum of the Flat Earth is currently closed but it does maintain a website about the lore and culture of flat earth philosophies.

Newfoundland has Community Pastures
The concept of common land dates back to medieval England when the lord of the manor owned the land but manorial tenants had certain common rights such as allowing their livestock to graze upon it.  Common land is not, however, all that common any more.  Thus, it’s intriguing to learn that regional pastures are an area of focus in Newfoundland.
In 2019, the Provincial Fisheries and Land Resources Department reported it had “put more than 26,000 acres of otherwise marginal land to good use as forage for livestock in 22 regional pastures across the island portion of the province” under the Newfoundland and Labrador Regional Pastures Program.  The objective was to provide “grazing land and enable livestock farmers to produce winter forage and increase herd sizes”.
We came across a community pasture on the way to Dungeon Provincial Park on the Bonavista Peninsula.  It’s unclear if this community pasture is part of the Regional Pastures program but I assume the community benefits from sharing this resource.

A cattle grid/grate at the entrance of the gravel road keeps the livestock safely inside the fenced area while allowing vehicles to enter and exit the park area.  My farmer’s daughter roots were thrilled to wander among these gentle animals.

It’s important to point out, as one TripAdvisor reviewer did, “This is the community pasture, not a petting zoo. Do not feed the horses and cattle on the Bonavista Pasture!   … We, livestock owners, do not want to contend with sick animals and an emergency vet visit.”

Newfoundland Moose can be Elusive
The mighty moose (Alces alces americana) is the first animal that comes to mind when I think of Newfoundland.  These majestic mammals, weighing up to 1,200 lbs (544 kg) and sporting up to 50-inch (127-cm) antler spreads, are a big deal!
I expected to see lots of moose during our visit.  But, alas, we saw only one and it was a mere glimpse as we traveled on the Trans Canada highway.  Thankfully, the moose was well back from the road and standing very still.
Our moose sighting was early in our road trip and I assumed we’d see lots more over the next week especially in Gros Morne National Park.  After all, experts like Shawn Gerrow, ecologist for Parks Canada’s Western Newfoundland and Labrador Field Unit, “estimate the park now [as of January 2021] has about 2,000 moose, or about two per square kilometre (0.4 square mile).”
But we didn’t see another moose during our entire trip!  One local suggested the unseasonably high temperatures were forcing the moose to retreat deeper into the woods to seek shade and cool water.  “They’re just like us”, she said, “they’re looking for relief from this heat”.
I fully expected to see moose in settings like this one near Grand Falls.

I’m grateful, of course, that we didn’t encounter any moose on the highways.  Moose-vehicle collisions are a serious concern on Newfoundland’s highways.  According to the Newfoundland and Labrador 2022-2026 Moose Management Plan, “Moose vehicle collisions have occurred at a rate of 422 to 641 per year over the past decade. The rate of collisions is closely linked to traffic volumes… , but is also influenced by moose densities and vehicle speeds. As a proportion of total motor vehicle collisions, moose vehicle collisions have remained relatively constant over the past decade at about six per cent.”  Sadly, the report shows 1 or 2 fatalities per year.
You can’t travel far in Newfoundland without seeing a sign warning you to watch for moose.  Being “Moose Alert!” is serious business.
You might be surprised to learn moose are not native to Newfoundland.  In fact, they were imported from Labrador—the first two in 1878 and another four in 1904.
UPDATE August 13, 2023:  Correction:  The moose were not imported from Labrador as previously stated.  Two moose were introduced in 1878 to Gander Bay, Newfoundland likely from Nova Scotia (although there is some reason to believe they came from Maine).  Four additional moose were introduced in 1904 to Howley, Newfoundland from New Brunswick.  You can learn more in this 2012 research paper by Allan Byrne.  I apologize for any confusion this discrepancy may have caused.  Special thanks to reader, Don Daigle, for bringing it to my attention!
According to the article Gros Morne National Park Forest Growing Back After Decade Of Moose Hunt, they were imported “in a government bid to develop the island’s interior, attract big game hunters, sustain mining and forestry workers, provide a fresh meat source and create recreational and economic opportunities.”  The plan was a resounding success.  The moose population has flourished and experts monitor and manage the moose population carefully to ensure it doesn’t outgrow its habitat.
It’s (obviously) not the real thing but this driftwood moose sculpture adds artistic drama at the Memorial University Botanical Garden in St. John’s.

There’s no Shortage of Wishing Stones in Newfoundland
While sandy beaches are a rarity in Newfoundland, we saw numerous beaches with small stones and pebbles.  Pretty, sea-polished stones can be seen along the water’s edge in the below photo of Dungeon Provincial Park.
Middle Cove Beach, which is an astonishingly short drive from St. John’s, provided endless beachcombing fun.
One of the items we sought was small stones with unbroken white lines around them.  Commonly called wishing stones or wishing rocks, these treasures are believed to bring the finder good luck.
There are differing opinions on how best to use a wishing stone.  Some say you should trace the line around the wishing stone while saying your wish out loud and then return the stone to the beach or surface where it was found.  For an added bonus, making a wish for someone else will grant all your wishes.  Others say you should keep the wishing stone in your pocket to make your wishes come true.  Alternatively, you should place your wishing stone in a special area to meditate upon it while thinking about your wish.

Regardless of how you make your wish, searching for wishing stones can be quite addictive.  Here are a few of my favorite finds.

More Info

This is the third blog post about my recent trip to Newfoundland, Canada:
. Postcards from Newfoundland #1
. Postcards from Newfoundland #2
. Bibs and Bobs from Newfoundland (this post).
To learn more about Elliston Newfoundland, The Root Cellar Capital of the World, check out the story on the Newfoundland and Labrador Tourism website.
To learn more about Western Brook Pond and other areas in Gros Morne National Park, check out Gros Morne National Park on the Parks Canada website.
The Memorial University Botanical Garden website provides information about this great garden.
To learn more about the fascinating Pitcher Plant, see the Pitcher Plant listing in The Canadian Encyclopedia.
In Robert Finch’s 2007 book, The Iamibics of Newfoundland, he “chronicles the people, geography, and wildlife of this remote and lovely place”.   The book can be found here on Internet Archive.
The Museum of the Flat Earth, on Fogo Island Newfoundland, is currently closed but it does maintain a website with lots of interesting info.  A May 2016 CBC News article, Museum of the Flat Earth opens on (where else?) Fogo Island, provides some background.
To learn more about the community pasture program in Newfoundland, see the Fisheries and Land Resources press release, Community Pastures Furthering Province’s Way Forward Commitment from April 2019 or Regional Pastures Program Providing More Forage for Livestock from November 2019.
To learn more about the Dungeon Provincial Park on Bonavista Penisula, see the Discovery GeoPark article.
To learn more about moose in Newfoundland, check out Gros Morne National Park Forest Growing Back After Decade Of Moose Hunt, a January 2021 National Parks Traveler article by Jennifer Bain;  The Introduction of Moose to the Island of Newfoundland A Research Paper by Allan Byrne September 2012; or the Newfoundland and Labrador 2022-2026 Moose Management Plan.

Today’s Takeaways

1. Traveling to a new destination can lead to big discoveries and little surprises.
2. Find joy in the details.
3. Give yourself time to savor your travel experiences after the fact.