The Rural Voice, 1978-07, Page 6children spent summers on the farm, until her husband's death.
Then in 1974 Mrs. Draper and her four children decided to sell
their home in Hamilton and try to run the farm. Now "none of us
would go back to the city on a bet."
Worm Farm
The Drapers switched from a cow -calf operation and are now
fattening 110 stockers on their feed lot. Last year, Mrs. Draper
decided to supplement her beef operation by opening a worm
farm. using the manure from her barn, and selling the red
wrigglers to organic farmers and bait dealers.
Today. although she also works as the editor of Canadian
Farming. the trade publication of International Harvester, Mrs.
Draper says, with the rising beef prices. "it is certainly possible
for someone to make a good living from beef today."
Two other women who decided to farm are Bev Brown and
Jean Moorby. single women who gave up management careers
with firms in Toronto to start pig farming in north Huron
County.
Both women were raised in the city. but after years of camping
holidays. decided they wanted to escape from Toronto on a
permanent basis. Originally they made plans to purchase a
fishing lodge in northern Ontario but time and the economy were
against them - the 1967 mercury scare surfaced and with the
uncertain state of the economy. vacations became a luxury for
many.
Have to eat
Then the two women looked at the food industry. rationalized
everyone has to eat. and after a visit to Connaught Labs. decided
to raise pigs. After spending a weekend with George and
Elizabeth Proctor on their pig farm. and not seeing anything they
didn't think they could handle. the two women gave up their jobs
in Toronto and "sunk all our money into the farm."
The fact they are both women. and single women from an
urban background. hasn't created any prejudice in the farming
community. As a matter of fact. Miss Brown says. there's far
less prejudice in the farming community than there is in industry
where they'll cheerfully "pay you $10.000 a year less because
you're a woman."
Today the women are raising York-Landrace hybrid gilts in a
breeding stock operation.
What are some of the challenges the women have faced?
First, although physical strength isn't a prerequisite for
farming, the women are perhaps more conscious of the physical
side of their business.
Bev Brown and Jean Moorby both went to doctors to get a
clean bill of health before making the final decision to farm.
Before 40
Even then, Bev said. "1 did exercises for the first four years to
strenghthen my legs and arms and build up stamina." Her
advice to others is "try to do it (go into farming) before you're
40."
Also, since they don't have the same physical stamina as men.
the two women spend time re -thinking how to do things around
the farm.
"Two women on a farm do not equal a man and a woman on
the farm," says Miss Brown.
Mrs. Pullen says one reason she chose to go into sheep
farming, and a reason a lot of women are taking The same step. is
the fact sheep are relatively easy for a woman to handle.
Mrs. Pullen also admits she is fairly dependent on custom
work, since she purchased only a minimum of equipment for her
operation. She buys her feed since "it wouldn't be economic to
grow my own grain."
Mrs. Draper says she was an outdoors woman anyway. and has
found her strength increases as she goes along. Her 18 year old
son Peter however, handles the major part of the land operation,
although Mrs. Draper does harrowing, plowing and feeds the
steers.
Mrs. de Vos, who says she couldn't put in the crops or operate
the heavy machinery, emphasizes that running the milking
PG. 6 THE RURAL VOICE/JULY 1978.
parlour is "simple". When there are heavy chores to be done,
Mrs.De Vos relies on her in-laws nearby. but adds, "1 pretty
well run the operation when Aart isn't here."
Citv,friegds
If Bev Brown and Jean Maorby's ability to tarm was
questioned, it was more often by their city friends
than their rural neighbotdrs.
Bev says some friends gave them six months on the farm and
others a year - "they didn't see how we'd do it or why we would
want to do it."
But, the two partners have discovered, women do have a way
with animals - in China, they've learned, all the pigs are raised
by women.
The women are unanimous that the fact they're female hasn't
roused any particular resentment in the farming community.
No Discrimination
Mrs. Draper says. "1 have never in my life faced any
discrimination in a job I wanted because 1 was a woman" and
says this is proving true in farming as well.
Florence Pullen admits "a lot of people think I'm a bit odd"
but said the main reaction to her decision to farm came from her
neighbors in 'town.
During lambing season, Mrs. Pullen spent many of her nights
out at their rented farm, and her neighbours thought she was
"absolutely crazy".
Mrs. Pullen, who started her business earlier than the other
women. found one problem in the first years she raised sheep.
Feed mills and other dealers would write up her bills under her
husband's name - "a nuisance as far as my income tax was
concerned and a bit aggravating" since the farming operation is
hers.
Greta de Vos thinks the days of women experiencing prejudice
are "over with" and that other farniers and the general
community "think more of you when they realize what you do."
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