The farm

A rare sighting in Goderich- a family owned farm.     The tree farm- the old laneway

I was hoping to take our family wwoofing, farm work vacations, but it was hard to know what farm would be best for a family and not filled with young twenty year olds. So I will continue my research and figure that one out for next year. We did stay at my mother's tree farm, basically 80 acres of forest in their small loft above the garage. It has a composting toilet and we bring in water. We managed two nights before we hightailed it to their cottage. Sleeping and eating together in one room has its challenges but it was so much fun. The kids couldn't get to sleep with us reading. I would tell them to be quiet and go to sleep, there would be silence then a whisper," do you have a 4?", "No, fish. Do you have a 7?" They were playing cards!
The fireflies and the stars were worth every trip to the composting toilet; a sky you would never see in the city. We ate black raspberries and had wonderful hikes. We went to my favourite restaurant, the Port Albert Inn , we explored the jail, the museum and even a cemetary. Goderich is a really lovely town that makes you think, could I live here?
 

The Politics of farming in Goderich:

20 years ago we would have easily found a farm to have a family vacation but more and more of the farms have been bought up by Maple Leaf or other big food industries. The farmhouses are there but a manager lives there. Then there are the closed in pig and chicken barns that you can smell but you never see the livestock which always creeps me out  especially when I dip my toes into the clear, coolness of Lake Huron aware of the water run off from these farms. Despite this the Goderich business association is amazing. Goderich known for its hexagon town center is always hosting events. Every Saturday there is a market, there are antique car shows, kids fest, artist festivals and the huge Celtic Festival. The other amazing aspect of Goderich are its citizens. When the town wanted to open a YMCA they needed to fundraise additional cash and believe me individuals donated $10,000 towards it because they feel this is their town and they invest in it. The salt mine is another interesting feature. Currently they are a mining at depth that is equal to the CN tower. The water breakers to the harbour have sunk down quite a bit and according to locals it is the nature of salt mining. They mine 'streets' but eventually the pillars supporting it will collapse so naturally what is above must cave down.

Comments

[sue]

Re: woofing- Try Sunnivue Farms Give the location of the Farm: 27093 New Ontario Road. Our mailing address is Sunnivue Farm, RR #1, Ailsa Craig, Ontario, N0M 1A0, Canada. ...
www.sunnivue-farm.on.ca/visitors.html

What a lovely summer you folks have had!