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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2008-08-21, Page 6The Ausable BayfieldConservation Authority (ABCA)hosted a tour of six farm sites last week, demonstrating recentenvironmental projects in action andgood practises for the future.On the schedule were stops atMurray Scott’s demonstration site,the municipal drain that runs through his property, Carol Leeming’s farmin Tuckersmith, and the Stute farm inBrussels to name a few.The idea behind the tour, said TimCumming of ABCA was toshowcase some of the programs available to farmers that can helpfrom a financial and environmentalstandpoint. With a tight schedule, Cummingadmitted that it would not allow forvery in-depth tours, spending justover 30 minutes at each site. Leeming, who works for Huron County, in addition to being the chair of the stewardship council, has several projects in the works at her home. She and her husband Bob, have lived at the farm since 1987, and have been working on it every since. Work has come gradually, but over the years, they have planted hundreds of trees at the site that also houses a 36,000-hen poultry farm. There is also a new manure storage building and a windmill in addition to several other projects in the works. Leeming said that funding from government agencies can be sporadic, which makes it hard to add on projects like she has. When funding is available, she said, landowners jump at the chance and do as much work as they can. With her years of experience and time with Huron County, Leeming has accrued substantial knowledge when it comes to grants and application processes, something that has helped her with these projects over the years. For example, she said, the windmill the Leemings have was installed in 2006 and required a near $200,000 capital investment, but now, between that and other energy projects she has taken on, her house and farm is very close to being self- sufficient. This energy is all put back into the grid and then credited back, as she has strived not to use batteries. Murray and Wilma Scott’s municipal drain, an area that often takes 90 minutes to tour, was one of the busier stops. Scott’s property involves so many projects, with the University of Waterloo working with the Maitland Valley Conservation Authority to construct wetlands and build berms to increase precipitation storage and improve drainage and a new project involving nitrate filters that the surface was simply scratched on Scott’s project. Scott said that the project has helped to retain water during dry periods and drain and store water over wet periods. He concedes that not every farmer would have thefunds to put all of the work into theirproperty that he has with his, but hesays that even one or two of the ideasexplored at his demonstration sitecould provide near-immediatebenefits for many area farmers. Rob Stute of Brussels, was one of the first farmers to take advantage of the Huron County Clean Water Project PEGS program, meaning Payment for Ecological Goods and Services. Stute essentially leases ten acres of his land to the conservation authority for ecological reasons, to plant trees and the farmer retires the land and has to leave the trees to grow for five years and is paid for the land. Stute stands by the project and says he has liked working with the conservation authorities over the years. Other stops on the tour included the Klaver farm in Brucefield, which demonstrated a fire recovery and how rebuilding can be an environmentally-friendly opportunity. John Klaver is also enrolled in the Huron County Stewardship program, protecting drinking water sources and his wellhead. Councillor Jim Ginn and Ashfield- Colborne-Wawanosh reeve Ben Van Diepenbeek were on hand at Ginn’s farm to discuss the success of the Huron County Clean Water Project, which recently surpassed $2 million in project value. PAGE 6. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, AUGUST 21, 2008. Demonstration Murray and Wilma Scott have seen nearly 200 people come through their property to view their demonstration project and the municipal drain that runs through the property. They were one of six farms available on a tour conducted by the Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority on Aug. 13 and they hosted nearly 30 local dignitaries and politicians on Friday. (Shawn Loughlin photo) ABCA leads tour of environmental projects Continued from page 1 water flow and temperature adjustments, he has been seeing more fish coming through the waterways. Scott remembers decades ago when adjacent properties, specifically a fishery to the west of his land had a large number of trout swimming, something that stopped a long time ago. However, in recent months, he says, fish have been slowly making their way back. In addition to improving the fisheries, the project has reduced sediment that had been blocking the municipal drain. It was when Scott first called MVCA for this concern that this demonstration project idea was discussed. Since then, the property has seen between 10 and 15 official tours (not including many unofficial ones and people stopping by) with approximately 200 people coming through. Scott said he has always had a keen interest in things like this, experimentation and trying things just to see if they can be done. With several arms of local politics in attendance, Scott took the opportunity to say that if there was one thing that would have made his project, and others like it, easier, it would be better communication between different branches of government. Right now, he is working with the University of Waterloo on a nitrate filter project, but there have been some hurdles with the Ministry of Environment. “I have seen some not so great communication between different departments of government, which can make something like this rather difficult,” Scott said. “If I was to suggest anything it would be for the politicians and departments to have a big picnic and co-ordinate their efforts and feed more down to local authorities, because they have a pretty good handle on the issues their area faces every day.” The Scott Municipal Drain has been a tour hotspot as of late. The Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority included it as one of six farms that were toured on Aug. 13 and Phil Beard of MVCA hosted a tour with local landowners on Tuesday to highlight some areas that can be done simply and the benefits that can be seen from such a project. Trout returning to waterway SHEAR TALENT HHaaiirr DDeessiiggnn && TTaannnniinngg ffoorr mmeenn && wwoommeenn 34 Newgate St. (Rear) GGOODDEERRIICCHH 551199--552244--66555555 Walk-Ins Welcome Remember that School and learning should be fun. Good luck in the upcoming school year from 36 North St. — Just off the Square in Goderich Fall Hrs. start Sept. 2nd Tues. - Fri. 10-6, Sat. 10-5 519-524-1024 By Shawn LoughlinThe Citizen ON $5.00 THURSDAYS Drop into either of our offices any Thursday with your word classified (maximum 20 words) and pay only $5.00 + GST (paid in advance). That’s $1.00 off regular rates. 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