The post Sun-Mar Composting Toilets Are Designed For Off-Grid Living appeared first on Muskoka411.

The Dock Ledge is a proprietary aluminum platform that attaches quickly and
securely to any existing wooden dock, acting as an in-water extension. It creates a
comfortable space that allows users to relax, stand, or play without having to leave
the water entirely. This patented design elegantly solves common waterfront
frustrations, including docks that are too high for easy access to your paddleboard,
mucky or rocky lake bottoms, and water that is too deep for comfortable standing.

“We believe every moment spent at the dock should be effortless and enjoyable, not
a choice between a mucky bottom or constantly treading water,” said Joe Jarvis,
Inventor of The Dock Ledge.

“We developed The Dock Ledge to give people a stable, comfortable, and adjustable
in-water space for their docks. Whether you’re setting up a swim-up bar for relaxing
with friends or giving kids a safer, lower platform to launch their water sports
adventures, this product is a game-changer for dockside living.”

The platform boasts several key features aimed at maximizing convenience and
durability. Installation is quick, requiring only a screwdriver, wrench and a measuring
tape. Assembly and installation takes approximately 15-20 minutes. Its adjustable
height allows it to adapt to various dock heights and water levels, and the entire unit
is designed to fold up easily for convenient off-season storage.

The Dock Ledge is proudly designed and manufactured in Ontario, Canada,
supporting local production in Gravenhurst and Etobicoke. The company is
launching two versions: The Dock Ledge, perfect for typical cottage use, and The
Dock Ledge Pro, which features additional supports and beefier materials for
continual active use at camps, resorts, or high-traffic properties.

The Dock Ledge is currently running a special introductory price until December 31,
2025. While it’s cold outside now, it’s never too early to start planning your next
summer season. Visit our website to learn more or order your
Dock Ledge today.

*This Article Is Sponsored By: The Dock Ledge

The post The Dock Ledge: From Swim-Up Bar To Water Sports Launchpad, The Versatile New Platform For Every Dock appeared first on Muskoka411.

When it comes to sustainable living and eco-friendly innovation, Sun-Mar composting toilets lead the way. Built in Burlington, ON for locations without conventional plumbing, these toilets offer a revolutionary alternative to traditional flush systems and eliminate the need for water, sewer connections, or harmful chemicals. Whether you’re outfitting a seasonal cottage, remote cabin, off-grid home, or even an RV or boat, Sun-Mar has a composting toilet that fits your needs.

Why Sun-Mar is Ideal for Cottage Applications
Cottages often lack municipal sewer access, have limited water supply, or water access
restrictions, making waste management a challenge. With a Sun-Mar composting toilet, you can install a fully functional, low-water or waterless toilet without the need for septic tanks or electricity (in the case of non-electric models). This makes them perfect for remote or seasonal properties, particularly those where infrastructure is costly or not possible.

Importantly, Sun-Mar composting toilets, certified to Standard 41 by the NSF, are permitted for use under the Ontario Building Code (OBC), making them a reliable and compliant solution for cottages and homes throughout the province.

Plus, Sun-Mar composting toilets are readily available across Ontario, including from RONA,
Home Hardware, Home Depot, Amazon, and through a wide network of independent dealers.

Whether you’re in cottage country or shopping locally, expert advice and support are never far away.  Eco-Friendly, Waterless Technology

Traditional toilets use up to 6 gallons of water per flush, which is a major issue for off-grid
properties. Sun-Mar composting toilets operate with either an ultra-low water flush toilet or
entirely without water, saving thousands of gallons each year. For cottages relying on rainwater or shallow wells, this isn’t just sustainable — it’s essential. Innovative Composting System: Bio-drum™ Technology

At the heart of every Sun-Mar composting toilet is the patented Bio-drum™, a rotating
composting chamber that ensures aerobic decomposition. With the right balance of oxygen,
moisture, and organic bulking material, waste breaks down quickly and odorlessly into nutrient rich compost.

For cottage use, where occupancy is often part-time or seasonal, the system is designed to
handle intermittent use with ease. Under typical cottage conditions, the finished compost usually needs to be removed just once or twice per season, making it an extremely low-maintenance option.

A Composting Toilet for Every Need
Sun-Mar offers a range of models to suit any type of cottage or off-grid setup:
• Sun-Mar Self-Contained (Excel, Excel NE, Compact, SpaceSaver): Ideal for family cottages with regular use.
• Sun-Mar GTG: A lightweight, lower cost urine-diverting portable toilet great for minimalist
installs.
• Sun-Mar CENTREX Series: Central composting systems designed for larger or multi
bathroom cottages.

Odor-Free and Easy to Maintain
Concerned about odors? You don’t have to be. The aerobic composting process ensures that SunMar toilets operate odor-free. Plus, there’s no blackwater or septic waste to manage, which means no costly pump-outs or risk of system failure. With over 40 years of innovation, Sun-Mar is trusted by cottage owners, municipalities, parks departments, and off-grid communities across North America.

Make the Sustainable Choice for Your Cottage
With a range of composting toilets beginning at just over $600 and topping out around $2,500, there is a Sun-Mar composting toilet for wherever a bathroom is needed. Whether you’re reducing your environmental footprint, avoiding the high cost of septic systems, or building an off-grid retreat, Sun-Mar composting toilets offer a clean, proven, and eco-responsible solution for cottage life.

Join thousands of Ontario cottage and off-grid home owners who’ve already made the switch and discover just how easy, effective, and maintenance-friendly composting toilets can be. It all sounds too good to be true? It is true.

Contact Sun-Mar at 1.905.332.1314 ext 1032 for more information and reference MSK25 for special offers, or visit the website

*This Article Is Sponsored By: Sun-Mar

The post Revolutionize Your Waste Management With Sun-Mar Composting Toilets appeared first on Muskoka411.

Enter above-floor plumbing.

These smart systems offer a fast, flexible way to modernize summer homes—no jackhammers or trenches required. Whether adding a bathroom to a bunkie, a wet bar to a boathouse, or a kitchenette to an outbuilding, above-floor plumbing makes it possible to install water fixtures almost anywhere, without tearing up floors, breaking concrete, or digging trenches. Just electricity and a water supply – leaving less time dealing with construction and more time relaxing at the lakeside.

Worried about smaller spaces? Saniflo Sanicompact is a tried and tested solution that offers a sleek, all-in-one macerating toilet system that connects to a sink and is compact enough for tight spaces like bunkies or boathouses. It requires no traditional drainage and can be installed almost anywhere with access to electricity and a water supply.

For more complex setups, products like the Saniflo Sanibest Pro can handle full bathrooms, including showers and bathtubs, making them ideal for guest suites or converting detached structures into comfortable accommodations.

It’s a game-changer for seasonal properties.

Why It’s Trending:

• Cottage Renovation Boom: The post-pandemic shift toward remote work and local leisure has fueled a surge in cottage upgrades, especially bathrooms in outbuildings and guest cabins.
• Weekend-Friendly Installation: Installation is quick, letting homeowners modernize their space without surrendering precious summer weekends to lengthy renovations.
• Preserve the Natural Landscape: No need for excavation, so existing terrain and structures stay intact–a key consideration for eco-conscious owners.
• Design Freedom: As open-concept bunkies, luxury outhouses, and multi-use sheds grow in popularity, these systems enable flexible layouts untethered from traditional drainage constraints.

“Cottage owners want a quick fix that is convenient without the added headache of having to dig up their floors or disturb the environment,” says Phil Warren, Managing Director of SFA Saniflo Canada. “We’re seeing increasing demand from both DIY homeowners and contractors looking for clean, fast, and flexible and reliable options that don’t require major construction and lengthy timeframes.”

With comfort now rivaling character as a top priority, especially for families spending longer stretches at the cottage, above-floor plumbing is helping bring modern convenience to even the most rural and rustic retreats.

*This Article Is Sponsored By: Saniflo Canada

The post From Toilets To Tranquility: How Cottagers Are Upgrading Comfort Without Major Renovations appeared first on Muskoka411.

Ingredients

• 8 large ears sweet corn in husks
• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 1-1/2 teaspoons grated lime zest
• 1 teaspoon minced fresh cilantro
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon ground chipotle pepper
• Coarse sea salt, optional

The post Try This Easy Grilled Corn With Chipotle-Lime Butter appeared first on Muskoka411.

The post Capital Gains Tax Changes Threaten Middle Class Families In Ontario’s Rural Communities: FOCA Says appeared first on Muskoka411.

FOCA represents 250,000 families that live at the waterfront across Ontario, either seasonally or year-round.

The new Canadian capital gains tax rate announced by the federal government on April 16th raises significant concerns for many Canadians who have dedicated their lives to maintaining family properties.

In particular, FOCA is concerned because this tax will negatively impact 150,000 seasonal cottage owners in Ontario alone, when it comes time for them to transfer the cottage to the next generation. “It is important to recognize that these individuals are not the wealthiest 0.13% of Canadians as described by the government last week,” said FOCA’s CEO, Lesley Lavender, “but rather middle-class families who have cherished these properties as part of their heritage and family legacy, in many cases for multiple generations and over several decades.”

A couple who inherited their waterfront property from parents in the early 1980s when the average cost of a home was around $75,000, could have a property with a fair market value today of over $1,000,000 – according to Royal LePage’s 2024 Spring Recreational Property Report. That would represent a $925,000 capital gain upon disposition of the cottage in a sale or even by gifting the cottage to the kids, of which $425,000 would be taxed at the new higher rate (the amount above the $250,000 threshold for each person).

“This tax change will have a devastating effect on families’ ability to keep the next generation in the cottage, which could have a profound cultural impact on our heritage and way of life as Canadians,” said Lavender. “It’s crucial that any tax measures consider the unique circumstances of cottage owners and preserve their ability to maintain these treasured properties within their families.” Otherwise, this tax could result in the premature sale of tens of thousands of Ontario cottage properties which would open the door to speculators, the proliferation of absentee landlords, and more short-term rentals in rural waterfront communities.

Rather, FOCA hopes the government will amend the application of this new tax to mitigate its impact on middle-class families, and ensure the traditional stewards of these cottage properties can continue to enjoy the waterfront for generations to come.

The post New Canadian Capital Gains Tax Rate Negatively Impacts Middle Class Families That Own Cottages appeared first on Muskoka411.

You don’t have to own a cottage to enjoy Cottagefest. Sponsored by Muskoka Brewery the event features live bands, chainsaw log carving by Kennedy Carvings, complimentary axe throwing by Upper Canada Axe Throwing, food trucks, catering by Pub Fiction, Canadian Raptor Conservancy’s live birds of prey, HGTV’s Paul  Lafrance “The Deck Guy” on Saturday, live woodturners, Confederation Marine Modellers, free cottage building related seminars by Lakeside Architecture Inc. and much more.

Located at the entrance be sure to enter the Cottagefest Contest for a chance to win a Weber Genesis EX-325 smart gas barbeque from Muskoka BBQ & Outdoor Kitchen Centre. Other prizes include a Muskoka Brewery Dockside Party Package, Kawartha Dairy $100. gift card and a Weber Burgers $100 gift card.

Cottage country is coming to the city and features great exhibitors and displays including Trailerworld’s Princecraft pontoon boats, cottage builders like Discovery Dream Homes, Muskoka BBQ & Outdoor Kitchen Center, architects and renovators, log home wood restorers, routered signs, kitchen designers, Cambridge Nostalgia cottage antiques, decking experts, craftsmen, cottages security, Telus, Poynt360 by Shaw, internet providers, Summer Accents huge deck umbrellas, barbeques, pizza ovens, roofers, cottagerental.com, realtors, insurance, vacation destinations, Mosquito Buzz, eavestrough filters, replacement windows, Garage King flooring, a Cottage Crafters Marketplace, Incinerating Toilets, and even dock shade by Aquadome.

Live on the Cottagefest Music Stage enjoy several well know bands including The Dirty Pioneers – Southern Ontario’s premium party band all 3 days, and each morning features up and coming song writer/musician Leah Holtom.  Friday night and late afternoon Saturday local singer, songwriter and award winning recording artist Caroline Wiles & Band entertain with songs from some of their five albums.

Other featured exhibitors include Timberlite barn beams, Beautiful Floors, Weeds B’ Gone, Omni basement foundation repairs, financial experts, large storage containers, photographers, Jelly Labels & Cottagefest shirts,

And there is lots to shop for and buy at Cottagefest as well. It features local honey products, imported meats and cheeses by Superior Meats, Organic Chef foods, curries by Eastern Blue, Sizzle Sauces, delicious food by Ancaster’s own Pub Ficton.RestoBar, as well the Twisted Tomato & other food trucks out front. There is even casual jewelery, cottage lounging clothing, the Jewel Tree, Qwick Wick Fire Starters, natural skincare products, Knitting Boutique, Lampe Berger, Springwater Natural fragrant soaps, ebikes by Solorock Sports and even live-edge one of a kind furniture by Golden Lake Rustic.

Cottagefest is sponsored by Muskoka Brewery and media partners include CHCH TV, Bell Media, Bounce Radio, Move Radio, The Hamilton Spectator, Muskoka411, Barrie 411,Toronto Star, Metroland Media newspapers, CHFI, City News, Zoomer Radio and Classical 96.3FM.

The Cottagefest Show is running at new Ancaster Event Centre building at the Ancaster Fairgrounds (630 Trinity Rd. at Hwy., March 10 to 12..  Companies interested in exhibiting can contact Jenkins Show Productions at 1-800-465-1073.  Admission is $12 single or two for $20. at the door!  Tickets can be purchased in advance at Cottagefest.com. Show hours are: Friday 1 pm to 8 pm, Saturday 10 am to 6 pm and Sunday 11 am to 5 pm.  There is lots of FREE parking too!

The post CottageFest Coming To Hamilton This Weekend appeared first on Muskoka411.

“Second home owners make up over half of Muskoka’s households” said Arfona Zwiers, Commissioner of Community and Planning Services. “To better understand the role these homes and their residents play in our communities, we are asking second home owners to share their feedback and provide the District with vital information used to plan for Muskoka’s future”.

The Second Home Survey captures important information to inform key District initiatives such as the Growth Strategy and the Development Charges Background Study, which are scheduled to be updated in 2023-2024.  The Survey also serves to provide Muskoka District Council with information about second homeowners, their plans, and how they participate in our local economy.   

“We know Muskoka is changing. We recognize many second home residents have transitioned to become permanent residents or are making plans to do so in the future – that’s why it’s so important to understand the needs of all Muskoka’s residents. To identify their priorities and needs, we rely on the Second Home Survey to inform future plans and Muskoka District Council on how to plan for the future” said District Chair Jeff Lehman.

The Second Home Survey can be completed anywhere, anytime! 

Residents who own a second home in Muskoka are encouraged to share their voice – the Second Home Survey is open until February 27, 2023.

A link to the survey can be found online at www.muskoka.on.ca/SHS and can be completed at any time by the second-home owner, on behalf of all who experience the second home.

Second home owners may have also received an invitation in the mail from the District with more information about the study and its purpose – it’s not too late to share your feedback.

For more information and to launch the survey, please visit www.muskoka.on.ca/SHS

The post Feedback Requested From Second Home Owners In Muskoka appeared first on Muskoka411.

It was determined that between June 3, 2022, and June 17, 2022, a resident responded to an ad on the internet for a cottage that was for rent in Bracebridge, Ontario. Both began to correspond at which time a down payment of $4,200 was agreed and subsequently e-transferred to the renter.

The victim contacted police after the renter requesting an additional $250. When the funds were not sent, the suspect ceased all contact with the victim.

The Elgin County OPP is continuing to investigate and is asking anyone with information to contact police at 1-888-310-1122. Should you wish to remain anonymous, you may call St. Thomas-Elgin Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) where you may be eligible to receive a cash reward of up to $2000.

The investigation is continuing.

The post $4,200 Lost To Rental Cottage Scam Connected To Bracebridge appeared first on Muskoka411.