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The South Marysburgh Mirror Looking Out for PEC’s Farmland Heritage, One Farm at a Time (Continued from page 1) ry day in Ontario 175 acres of agricultural land are con- verted to non-agricultural use, a rate which the organi- zation says is unsustainable if future agricultural needs to produce food and contribute to employment opportuni- ties are to be met. The Hudson's children, grown and getting on with their lives, are currently es- tablished in other careers. But that’s okay with Deb and Don. Their shared love for nature and living close to the land includes keeping the farm as a natural habitat for wildlife and a critical part of a corridor that enables important wildlife move- ment patterns. “We also believe in keep- ing the cost of farmland low- er so that future farmers can afford to buy a farm. It helps to keep farms intact and farming viable for the fu- ture,” Deb said. Deb, whose maiden name is original 170-acre land in 1833. It is bounded by the Morrison Point Road to the south and by the boundary of North Marysburgh to the north. James married Mary Akerman of South Bay, an- other familiar name with deep roots in the County. Don has roots in the County, too, though not as deep. He moved to South Marysburgh when he was a youngster when his father bought a farm on South Bay. Active in 4-H with a keen interest in how things run, he took home a first prize trophy in tractor me- chanics diagnostics at an all Ontario 4-H contest. He pursued a career first in teaching before turning full time to farming when he and Deb married. After 10 or so years of dairy farming, the two saw an opportunity to turn to organic grain farming as the market for all things organic How to Protect Your Farm Grimmon, holds the lineage of the gen- erational farm. She and Don live in the house where her grandparents lived. She grew up in the small house next door. Her ancestor, James Grimmon, a descendent of a United Empire Loy- alist acquired the Ontario Farmland Trust says that every day in Ontario 175 acres of farmland is convert- ed to non-agricultural use. —Ontario Farm- land Trust postcard Sa See “We're strong believers in supporting the local |} @° food economy as much Don Hudson has charted a map of South Mc showing acreage protected Jrom development. —Don Hudson map bloomed. They started growing buckwheat, red fife wheat and rye in quantities sufficient to supply a com- enough to provide grain to a small selection of local bakers. as we can,” Don said, “especially in sup- organic.” Not ones to simply sit back on the deck ad- miring their heritage ine awe and the impressive === butternut tree in the side yard (although they clearly enjoy its 1 Vantages of protecting family heritage and investments in farmland, and sustaining farming in the community. Don has mapped out parcels of land in South Marysburgh that are now protected and he is enthusi- astic that more acreage is being considered for designa- tion. He sees this as insur- ance that the rural, farming community in Prince Edward County will survive as the demand for housing and a tourism economy grows. The South Marysburgh Mirror August 2021 Volume 35 Number 08 Published monthly by Barbara McConnell, 41 St. Philip Street, PO Box 131, Milford, ON KOK 2P0 T: 613.471.1816 E: themirror@kos.net W: www.southmarysburghmirror.com ISSN Number 1181-6333 (Print Edition) ISSN Number 2292-5708 (Online Edition) The South Marysburgh Mirror gratefully acknowledges the support of the South Marysburgh Recreation Committee, the South Marysburgh Fair Board, and St. Philips A.C.W.