Dust-free Seaway

 

Although Paul Beckstead at Smyth’s Apple Orchard on County Road 18, west of Williamsburg, says 2012 isn’t the worst apple season, it certainly ranks a very close second.

Beckstead, whose Smyth’s Orchard is the largest in South Dundas with over 25,000 trees offering 54 apple varieties, recalls 1981, when whole trees were lost.

That year a mild winter was followed by a very late spring cold snap. “The sap was up and the leaves were out, and it literally froze the sap and the bark,” says Beckstead.

This year the three local apple producers, Smyth’s, Dentz Orchard and Berry Farm on the Brinston Road and Barkley’s Apple Orchard north of Morrisburg, are reporting a better than hoped for apple harvest, but one that falls well short of even an average season.

The poor season got its start back in March when the area experienced unusually mild temperatures, well into the 80s for an extended number of days, which sent the trees into early bud production.

Then in late April, we experienced several days of cold weather with heavy frost which damaged the tender blossoms that were one to two weeks ahead of schedule.

With all of the growers hopeful that enough blossoms were spared for a reasonable harvest, the area then experienced a summer-long drought.

“It’s been so hot and dry which added to more stress on the trees,” says Paul Dentz. 

Dentz explains that the size of apples is relative to the amount of apples on the tree. In other words a smaller crop (which it was heading into the summer) would normally mean bigger apples.

However, because of the drought, the trees were using what moisture they could to stay alive and as a result the apples, with the exception of a handful of varieties, did not develop to be as large as was initially expected.

“It did not turn out as good as we had hoped for,” said PaulDentz. Although Paul and his brother Calvin had brought in a helicopter to fly over their orchards during the frosty April night, and blow the warmer air back down to the ground, “we knew at the time the helicopter was here that the temperatures it was bringing down were not adequate.”

At Smyth’s Orchards, “it’s a touch better than we had anticipated,” says Beckstead. “It was so dry that the apples didn’t size up, so it is by no means a big crop or a bumper crop.”

The Macs are generally down in size as are the Spartans. The Empire and the Delicious, which like more heat, fared slightly better, and it was a good year for the Honey Crisp.”

“We have enough to do the local stores, and we will have apples available all winter for our customers,” says Beckstead.

At the Barkley Orchard, north of Morrisburg, Bill Barkley reports a reasonably good crop.

Barkley says his trees didn’t suffer as much from the drought as might be expected. He owes this to the clay soil which holds moisture better and the fact that, “we probably aren’t tile drained as much a some other producers.”

He also allows natural grass cover to grow up under his trees, which he says also helps to hold the moisture.

“Things are dry, but hopefully we will get a good cover of snow this winter.”

Barkley is selling his apples at local fruit stands, at McHaffie’s Flea Market and at Ottawa Markets.

Smyth’s Orchards will sell from their home location all winter and have their products in various stores in the area. The Dentz farm facility on the Brinston Road will soon close for the season.

The three Orchards are now wrapping up this year’s harvest. Beckstead reports his trees are looking good and are now producing their buds for next year.

Apple lovers can expect to pay a bit more for their favourite fruit this winter, with prices up about 30 percent.

[…]

Across South Dundas hundreds of traffic signs are out of compliance with the Ontario Traffic manual which sets the standards for sign condition, mounting heights and proper placement at intersections.

This finding and a summary of the work that needs to be done to bring the signs into compliance was reported to South Dundas council at their December 16 meeting by Chris Bazinet, manager of public works.

“Signs are one of the most proactive safety measures we can take,” said South Dundas councillor Archie Mellan, who lives in the Matilda ward where most of the signage deficiencies were found.

To rectify the sign situation, South Dundas council agreed to hiring a contractor, Advantage Data, to install 180 new signs at uncontrolled intersections, at a cost of about $35,000.

The replacement of non compliant signs, 354 of them, will be done over time,  in house by South Dundas staff at a capital cost of about $17,000.

[…]

 

Every year, the Seaway Valley Model Railroad club comes together to showcase some of their model railroad scenes for the community and to collect donations for the local food bank. 

On April 28th, at Upper Canada Motors in Morrisburg, the group once again “opened their doors” to the public. From 10 a.m. until 3 p.m., members of the club were on hand to share their passion for building model railroads. 

According to club president, Steve Skerry, each eight foot section of the display is owned and maintained by a different club member. They maintain their section and transport it to events such as this one.

In addition to the section they maintain for the group’s showcase events, these members also have their own model stations and villages at home.

The group, which has close to 30 members both male and female, meets the first Thursday of the month from September to June at the McIntosh Country Inn and Conference Centre in Morrisburg.

The group was initially formed by Steve Skerry and Sheldon Oglestone, both residents of Morrisburg.

In a recent story for the Leader, Oglestone announced the opening of his model town and railroad to the public as the “Ontario Northland Museum.”

For those interested in the hobby, Skerry revealed that “we’re always open to having more members. We would like to see the club get more younger members.”

Skerry explained that the monthly meeting is an opportunity for members to share and learn different techniques and ideas.

With no entrance fee to Saturday’s model railroad exhibit, visitors were simply invited to contribute to the club’s collection of food and money to be donated to the Dundas County Food Bank.

Several members of the food bank’s board were on hand to appreciated the exhibit and to thank those in attendance for their generosity. On hand were, board chair Alvin Runnals, vice-chair Terry Triskle, as well as board members Sue McCullough and Brian Cox.

 In light of the day’s event, Upper Canada Motors also decided to donate $100 to the food bank. On hand to present the cheque was Christopher Goupil, grandson to owner Paul Goupil.

[…]