A trilogy of stories by the Edwards family about their fascinating life in the Bella Coola area. Trudy, daughter of Ralph Edwards, continues the Lonesome Lake story. She, her husband and daughter carried on the work with the trumpeter swans that Ralph had begun. The book tells of their life on the isolated farm they built for themselves in the Chilcotin wilderness of the BC coast. Trudy's father is Ralph Edwards, a pioneer settler, who came to public attention in the early 20's when he spotlighted the plight of the Trumpeter Swans which were then in danger of extinction. He was appointed bird warden by the Canadian Wildlife Service. This work is now carried on by his daughter, Trudy. The lives of Trudy, her husband Jack, and their daughter Susan, now 17, complete the trio whose adventures and experiences are recounted in this fascinating story. A visit to Fogswamp Farm by co-author Ruth M. McVeigh provides the perspective of an outsider as she marvels at the surprisingly high standard of living the family has achieved and the prodigious amount of work and courage it represents.
Trudy Turner was born in a remote homestead at Lonesome Lake in southwest British Columbia in the 1920s and raised in true pioneer fashion, without running water, electricity or cars. In fact, Trudy learned to fly a plane in her twenties, but didn't obtain her motor vehicle driver's license until she was in her sixties. In 1939, as a young girl of 10, Trudy's father gave her the job of feeding the near-extinct trumpeter swans that wintered in the region. Trudy's story was first told in 'Fogswamp: Living with Swans in the Wilderness,' which outlined the lives of the Edwards and Turner families and their experiences with the trumpeter swans. Now in her eighties, Trudy reflects on her unusual life and describes her experiences growing up in a world that others may view as isolated and lonely, but to her was a complete and satisfying existence. Her strong personal viewpoint is a positive reflection of her character, and countered by her deep appreciation for nature and what it has taught her.
Halifax born Ruth M (Jones) McVeigh lives in Black Creek on Vancouver Island. She began her career in writing as a cub reporter with the Halifax Mail and Herald. In 1960 while living in Orillia, Ontario, she and her first husband founded the Mariposa Folk Festival which is now in its 16th year.
