The Lucknow Sentinel, 1993-03-17, Page 58Page 2A—Farm Progress '93
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John and Michelle Drummond
This Mitchell couple's
diversification was
0
extremely successful
By Andy Bader bilitating a gravel pit for farmland
Diversity is a key in maintaining-: and re -forestation. He estimated that
and even surviving --in today's farm
environment. John and Michelle
Drummond of RR.5 Mitchell are
prime examples of this successful
diversity. •
The 150 acres of fertile land in
Logan Township has been in the
Drummond family for three gener-
ations, but as the 34 -year-old John
noted recently in an interview, it's
undergone a dramatic change over
the years:
"It's certainly a different farm
now than when I was here growing
up," he said from the desk at the
centre of his 175 -year-old office.
The family farm, originally in the
Drummond family in 1915 and one.
which he took over from his father
Arthur in 1988, includes agriculture
crops 'such as wheat, barley, oats,
alfalfa and soy beans as well as. 20
acres set aside for a nursery (which
he plans to expand by 15 acres this
year), and a garden centre with
6,000 square -feet of container stock
and perennials.
Known as Greenbelt Farm, at Lot
13, Concession 8 of Logan Town-
ship, the farm also is home to a
thriving landscape business 'John
operates, although he concedes their
prime concern now is in an advis-
ory capacity since they'd like to
spend as much time at home grow-
ing: • "
Drummond remembers the time
he decided to take over his father's
farm when he was a .sprightly six-
year-old. The third of four. children,.
John is the oldest son; and he
he planted 10,000 trees, and the
landscaping aspect of his life, along
with the environmental side, prog-
ressed from there.
"It captured my heart," he said
simply,
A seven-year job with a pro-
fessional nursery from 1983-1989
not only gave him more experience
in the field, but introduced him to
his wife. Today, the pair have four
children: Kollene, 5; Jennifer, 4;
and twin two-year-old sons David
and Garnet.
The workload with the nursery,.
which would take him all across the'
province plus running a 40. sow
farrow to finish operation at his
previous 'farm in Milverton, was
extremely hectic, and by his own
admission, "not much of a life."
That's when John and Michelle
began their own nursery at the
home farm --and it's grown ever
since.
"I would guess that the business
has seen a 50 per cent growth every
year," he said.
Today, the Drummonds publish
their own nursery catalogue with
700 different entries; completes
orders from six provinces • and
employs • 10 people during their
busy season which begins in May.
The nursery provides seedling
trees for farm windbreak purposes,
but lately their "pet project" is
trying to plant various.types of trees
to reinforce woodlot generations.
Environmental aspects of their
operation are a key, Drummond
recalls listening to a banker ask his emphasizes, noting that the Town of
father if he would someday take it " Mitchell transports their leaves in
over. the fall to the farm east of
Back then, the farm consisted of Bornholm to use as mulch. Christ -
more traditional farming practises • mas trees; delivered by the Mitchell
.of cropsand livestock' such as cattle & District Kinsmen, are also
—duo--zsff-for-tharpurpose--The
An agriculture graduate of the farm was also the first in Ontario to
University of Guelph, Drummond reimburse their customers for
said his evolvement into landscap- returning •plastic pots, and is also
ing was a "fluke." He said . he one of the leaders in using as many .
thought he'd be farming just like, natural sources as possible when
everybody else once school was growing their products.
finished, but his love of trees led Bare root planting is also stressed,
him to summer employment reha- .turn to page 3a