West Moira Orchards
Location
Norm and Fred McCaw took over West Moira Orchards on the West Moira Street in October 2007 from Kurt and Karen Kaiser. The roadside store is on the south side of West Moira Road and the 100 acre farm is on the north side.
The Kaisers bought the farm in 1981 and opened the market garden for business in 1984. They opened the roadside store in 1993.
The farm is laid out with a number of different plots, which can be irrigated from a pond in the centre. There are apple trees, a large area of strawberries, high bush blueberries (ripe between July 15 – September 1), raspberries, purple raspberries and fall raspberries (ripe between September 1 – September 30 or first frost), tomatoes (ripe between August 15 – September 30), corn, peppers, beets, spring and fall wheat and a variety of different types of potatoes.
During the strawberry season, which runs approximately from June 21 – July 8 the farm is open seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Once the strawberries are finished, the farm closes on Sundays.
You can either pick your own at the farm or go to the roadside store. The store is open seven days a week from June to Hallowe’n, from 9.30 a.m. to 6 p.m. If you go regularly you will find vegetables in season.
West Moira Orchards
Location
Norm and Fred McCaw live at 1071 Harrington Road, R.R.#2, Frankford. They used to be dairy farmers but now rear beef cattle, cash crop and growing soft fruit, apples and vegetables. They took over West Moira Orchards on the 537 Moira Street West in October 2007 from Kurt and Karen Kaiser. The Roadside store is on the south side of West Moira Road and the 100 acre farm is on the north side.
Norm_McCaw
West Moira Orchards
Location
Norm and Fred McCaw live at 1071 Harrington Road, R.R.#2, Frankford. They used to be dairy farmers but now rear beef cattle, cash crop and growing soft fruit, apples and vegetables. They took over West Moira Orchards on the 537 Moira Street West in October 2007 from Kurt and Karen Kaiser. The Roadside store is on the south side of West Moira Road and the 100 acre farm is on the north side.
The Kaisers bought the farm in 1981 and opened the market garden for business in 1984. They opened the roadside store in 1993.
The farm is laid out with a number of different plots, which can be irrigated from a pond in the centre. There are apple trees, a large area of strawberries, high bush blueberries (ripe between July 15 – September 1), raspberries, purple raspberries and fall raspberries (ripe between September 1 – September 30 or first frost), tomatoes (ripe between August 15 – September 30), corn, peppers, beets, spring and fall wheat and a variety of different types of potatoes.
During the strawberry season, which runs approximately from June 21 – July 8 the farm is open seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Once the strawberries are finished, the farm closes on Sundays.
You can either pick your own at the farm or go to the roadside store. The store is open seven days a week from June to Hallowe’n, from 9.30 a.m. to 6 p.m. If you go regularly you will find vegetables in season.
They will have corn in the store from July 17 until October; raspberries for July 15 – August 1; yellow and green beans from July 20 – September; Spanish onions August 10 – October 31; watermelons and cantaloupe August – October, a variety of potatoes from July 10 – October; squash September and October; and sweet potatoes; September and October.
They will have apples from August 1 through until the end of October including Paula Red, McIntosh, Spartan, Empire and Macoun apples. Macoun are less common. They have green skin with dark red blushes and stripes and the crisp flesh is juicy and sweet.
You can buy fresh peas from Prince Edward County at the store, peaches delivered fresh from Niagara, and frozen fruits, vegetables, pies and desserts.
They also have local honey, fudge, maple syrup cheese curds cookies and tarts.
You don’t have to defrost the pies. Pre heat the oven to 400 F and bake for 40 – 50 minutes until the pastry is golden brown. Cool completely before slicing. Apple pies require 50 – 60 minutes for baking until tender.
537 Moira Street West Belleville, On K8N2Z
Blueberries, West Moira Orchards
There is a large field of high bush blueberries at West Moira Orchards. You can pick your own from the middle of July until the end of August. The Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs has information about blueberries.
Peppers, West Moira Orchards
You will be able to buy peppers at West Moira Orchards in August. Pepper need warm temperatures so many people plant the pepper plants through black plastic. This keeps the soil warm. It is important to keep the weeds down and this is what Curtis Bertelink is doing here.
Potatoes, West Moira Orchards
Norm and Fred McCaw run West Moira Orchards and are growing potatoes there as well as fruits and vegetables. They have different types of potatoes and should have new potatoes ready by mid July.
Raspberries, West Moira Orchards
West Moira Orchards has summer raspberries as well as purple raspberries and fall raspberries.
Hastings County Farm Show and Plowing Match
The Hastings County Farm Show and Plowing Match celebrate 20 years. The event is the biggest county agricultural show in Ontario and is a great opportunity for farming community to get together and the show case the diversity of agriculture in Hastings County.
You are invited to come and see what more than 250 exhibitors have to offer with their latest in agricultural equipment and services, as well as the plowing competitions, the antique display, the woodlot display and all the other great activities that the show is well known for.
Off grid living means solar-powered blogging, even with a lack of sunshine.
by Deane Brebner and Don Bissonnette, Sutton, Quebec on 06.27.08, Design and Architecture
Prepping for off-grid, locavore living Prior to the month of June, we had some preparations to make before we moved our home off the grid and became locavores. A hose was attached to the pond and brought downhill to the house. A small “room heater” wood stove with a precarious home-made chimney was erected near the house. A solar panel and back-up battery was ordered and on the way. The fridge was emptied; we ate the contents or gave them to friends.
We had decided that in preparing for the food it did not make any sense to drive miles out of our way to purchase staples prior to June but, if we were in the locality for another reason, we would travel a bit. In middle Vermont we went to a restaurant called The Farmer’s Diner recommended by Barbara Kingsolver in her book Animal, Vegetable, Miracle. This restaurant is an old fashioned diner that uses only local produce and meats. On the cover of the menu was a description of the Chapelles, who provided the potatoes to the retsuarant, so we visited them and purchased 50 pounds of potatoes. We were given a tour by the gracious Bob Chapelle. Part of the fun of this project is meeting all the people who are so invested in providing better food choices.
Where to find local strawberries.
June 29, 2008 - 20:44 — Louise LivingstoneThere are a growing number of farmers growing strawberries in Hastings County. We haven’t got everyone on the site yet but here is a preliminary list. You can either go and pick your own, buy them ready picked or go to the farmers markets. The raspberry season follows the strawberries.
Twiddy Farms, Twiddy Road, Centre Hastings and at Oak Lake Highway 14*, Henry and Janet Ellenberger, Coehill, Beckett Berries, Beckett Road, Stirling-Rawdon, Lost Road Gardens at Trent Farmers Market.
These farmers are not yet on ‘Who’s growing what’.
Roddy Moorcroft Frankford Road, Quinte West, Norm and Fred McCaw, West Moira Orchard on West Moira Street, 613 962-8228, Richters Gardens, 8786 Highway 62 613 477-1934.
Honey, Honey Oak Farm
The hard winter this year took its toil on Peter Bussell’s bees. He is having to re establish some of his hives. He uses an electric fence to prevent beers from getting at his bee hives.
Gooseberries, Lost Road Gardens
Gooseberries are wonderful in jam, in pies, and in fools. The Heisslers have a stall at the Trenton Farmers Market.
Raspberries, Honey Oak Farm
Peter and Claire Bussell grow a variety of raspberries at Honey Oak Farm at the west end of Oak Lake, Quinte West. You can buy them at the farm gate and at Belleville Farmers Market.
Native trees, Honey Oak Farm
Peter and Claire Bussell of Honey Oak Farm have a 50 acre wood lot they take wood for firewood. Oaks grow well and so do white pine, red pine and sugar maple, but they find black cherry does not thrive.
Peter Bussell has set up a small tree nursery growing oak trees from acorns from the woodlot He finds acorns from white oak germinate quickly if put in a moist environment but acorns from red oak have to over winter. He is interested in growing black locust trees as the blossom is good for bees. He plans sto expand the nursery.
The red oak seedlings have leaves with sharp points while the white oak seedlings have leaves with rounded points.
Honey Oak Farm
Location
Peter and Claire Bussell have lived at Honey Oak Berry Farm at the west end of Oak Lake in Quinte West for 20 years.
Back to the Land 2.0
This year, the intentional rural community called Dragonfly Farm marks its 30th anniversary. “Back to the Land 2.0” is a gathering celebrating this historic occasion and expanding on Dragonfly’s legacy.
At this gathering we’ll be reflecting on the ideals of the back-to-the-land movement of the 70s and 80s, and exploring how to make those ideals relevant and practical today.
Firewood, Springbrook Farm
As the cost of fossil fuels goes up more and more people are turning to renewable sources of energy. Jeff and Jen Ferguson harvest fire wood from their wood lot to heat their home and for sale.
Hay, Springbrook Farm
Jeff and Jen Ferguson sell small square bales of hay suitable for horses, sheep, goats and cattle.
Smoked ham and bacon, Springbrook Farm
Jeff and Jen Ferguson sell smoked ham, hocks, and bacon. The bacon is in one pound packages and the ham roasts range from three to five pounds.
Pork, Springbrook Farm
Jeff and Jen Ferguson sell pork shoulder and ham roasts 4-5 lbs, pork chops 1” thick with two to a pack, ground pork, ribs, and tenderloin roasts.
Pork sausages, Springbrook Farm
Jeff and Jen Ferguson sell lean pork sausages including Honey Garlic, Mild Italian, Hot Italian, Oktoberfest, Sundried Tomato, as well as Maple breakfast links.
Springbrook Farm
Location
Jeff and Jen Ferguson and their two small sons, Owen and Eric live at Springbrook Farm on Squire Road south of Springbrook in Stirling-Rawdon. The farm was owned by Jeff’s grandparents Ron and Ethel Rahm for 30 years. Jeff works as a driver with Campbellford Farm Supply.
They have a small herd of pigs and sell pork cuts and lean sausages at the local farmers’ markets. They also sell beef, free range chicken, and hay.
Jeff_Ferguson
Springbrook Farm
Location
Jeff and Jen Ferguson and their two small sons, Owen and Eric live at Springbrook Farm on Squire Road south of Springbrook in Stirling-Rawdon. The farm was owned by Jeff’s grandparents Ron and Ethel Rahm for 30 years. Jeff works as a driver with Campbellford Farm Supply.
They have a small herd of pigs and sell pork cuts and lean sausages at the local farmers’ markets. They also sell beef, free range chicken, and hay.
Firewood, Springbrook Farm
As the cost of fossil fuels goes up more and more people are turning to renewable sources of energy. Jeff and Jen Ferguson harvest fire wood from their wood lot to heat their home and for sale.
Buy your wood early so you have a good supply for winter and don’t run out in February.
Hay, Springbrook Farm
Jeff and Jen Ferguson sell small square bales of hay suitable for horses, sheep, goats and cattle.
Pork sausages, Springbrook Farm
Jeff and Jen Ferguson sell lean pork sausages including Honey Garlic, Mild Italian, Hot Italian, Oktoberfest, Sundried Tomato, as well as Maple breakfast links. Jen is at the Stirling Farmers Market and at the Marmora Farmers Market.
Pork, Springbrook Farm
Jeff and Jen Ferguson sell pork shoulder and ham roasts 4-5 lbs, pork chops 1” thick with two to a pack, ground pork, ribs, and tenderloin roasts.
Custom orders are available, and you can also buy whole or half pigs.
Call to reserve your pork.
Smoked ham and bacon, Springbrook Farm
Jeff and Jen Ferguson sell smoked ham, hocks, and bacon. The bacon is in one pound packages and the ham roasts range from three to five pounds.
Scientists make climate plea to Harper
Mike De Souza , Canwest News Service Published: Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Fairy-tale town of Marburg up in arms over decree on solar panels
By Tony Paterson in Berlin Friday, 27 June 2008
Sweet potatoes, Railway Creek
Elly Blanchard is experimenting with growing sweet potatoes. She grow them through plastic. This keeps the weeds down and warms the soil.
Beef sausages, Ellenberger Farm
The Ellenbergers have sausages for sale made from organically reared beef, at their farm in Coehill.
Beeswax candles, The Honey House
River Valley Apiaries is now making beeswax candles. Beeswax candles purify the air without adding artifical perfumes. Beeswax is made by bees and therefore it is renewable.
