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Home My WebLink AboutTimes-Advocate, 1986-05-14, Page 13DEZNED LANDSCAPING Kippen 262-2532 Spring Specials Flowering crabs, weeping crabs and magnolias. Specially priced and flowering Save up teS 100 on Honda Tillers - 2.5 hp - 7 h.p. - Front and rear tines - Easy start Landscape designer on staff. Nursery stock available. Wide selec- tion of perennials and bedding plants. Fresh produce Save -- up to 25O on a Honda Tractor or riding mower Save up to $ 100 on Honda Mowers We can redeem your cash receipt from Dezined Land- scaping in face value of up to $250 until June 30. Easy start - 4 stroke reliable - Fuel efficient 'I cutg4 Varna 262-3318 Call Teresa today for a Free Home Demonstration This offer void with all other offers x £ < Headed by area women ti Arb Form Ontario sector ofCanadian farm woes network ..k7i; .mrw,. that's happening in your province. I newsletter, with the first issue yt, For the pNk'time in IMI. oektury, a is convinced of the necessity for such national oetsierk has been formed a linkage, and excited about what it linking .far'n1 wivas Teem P.E.I. to . can accomplish. B.C. Tho (*Roan Forth Woman's "Unfortunately, this country has a Netwetrk/Le �tu Canadlen sea north -south mentality," Van Rommel Agrletltltrieee was forged during a observed, noting "we're talking free three-day conference inOttawa from trade with the U.S., and we haven't April 24 to 27 among 10 women even got in east -west." As examples, representing Canada's 10 provinces. she cited her discovery last year that Maria Van Rommel, RR1 P.E.I. potatoes can not be shipped Dashwood, was Ontario's represen- beyond the Ontario -Manitoba border, tative at last month's Ottawa and spoke from personal experience meeting. She had previously attend- of the nervousness with which Ontario ed the Second Annual Farm Women's and Quebec regard each other's pork Conference held last November in production. P.E.I., which recommended the for- "The network will give farm mation of a national network among women in Canada a picture of the farm women. total Canadian scene," Van Rommel Van Rommel, an -activist in . said. "When needs of east and west organizations such as Women for the differ, we're going to have to find a Support of Agriculture (WSA) and compromise we can all live with if organizer and/or participant in pro- we're going to make something like vincial and national rural women and this work. It's a terrific learning ex - farm women conferences, is Ontario perience just to know how the rest of coordinator of the new network. She Canada can be affected by something xo*Vm"' ^ > 6c'�;'fWrO�,a'£:04*f?r,liF;:f'v`:°.3E'{�:imemift00.' Imes-odvocate ,x. May 14, 1986 a North lima, Sion I ) • E n: Pagel A .rte w, Il<1`4.'r'*" r,.1 IT'S PLANTIN TIME — In the next few weeks the flower beds at most 'graves at Exeter Cemetery will take on a new look. Shown with 4,000 geraniums in the greenhouse are superintendent Harry Knip and board chairman Reg McDonald. T -A photo Geraniums galore The Exeter Cemetery will continue to be one of the most colourful of its kind in Ontario as the result of more than 15,000 plants riow growing in the greenhouse. Under the green thumb of superintendent Larry Knip 4,000 geranimums, 7,000 petunias, 2,000 marigolds and the same number of impatiens are about ready to be transplanted. These flowers willbe' utred9ii•thb" 1,100 beds surrounding individual graves and at several other town park locations. The transplanti : chore will occupy four persons for five to six days. When necessary watering of the beds and plants takes 3 days for three persons. Each grave flower bed will receive three gernaniums, four to six petunias and some marigolds. The charge for the flower beds at each monument is $40 or $375 on a perpetual basis. Cemetery board chairman Reg McDonald says Exeter i$, Qqg rofthe few commttitlties 1n provincethe.vi grow their own flowers. Superintendent Knip starts the geraniums from cuttings in mid- September. Van Bommel stated that some pro- vinces are much better prepared than others at present to support a farm women's nestles*. AoconliM to Van Rommel, women's organieutions in Quebec are going ahead "by leaps and Welds", ape are havipg a direct influence on legislatipb• Strong groups also exist in P.B.I., Alberta and Ontario. "We would like tp grow from the grass roots up, but *ill have to trickle down , from the top in some pro- vinces," • Van Rommel predicted, voicing her belief in the network will accelerate the growth of farm women's organizations in same areas. Although the network can't set policies or initiate lobbying, it can provide -the motivation for its members to become politically ac- tive. Network organizers had met for half a day with John Wise during the April' meeting in Ottawa, which had been funded by Agriculture Canada. Recommendations for a moratorium on all farm debt, establishment of a debt review board, improved credit, and an update of the Farm Credit Act were discussed with Wise, and formally proposed to pro- vincial and federal agricultural ministers. Van Rommel reported she, was pleased with Wise's candour and at- tentive attitude, and said she was much happier with this encounter than any in the past. When Wise said he had experienced difficulty in fin- ding women to serve with men on task forces and other farm -related boards, Van Rommel promised 'to comply with the minister ' s request to "send me a" list of capable women." Van Rommel said the network iS compiling a speakers' directory "because there are enough excellent Canadian speakers without having to go outside our boarders." Resources and information will be shared, to avoid duplication and con- tinual reinvention of the wheel. As one instance, Van Rommel said details of the Middlesex WSA's project "Agriculture in the Classroom", which provides instructive material to help teachers broaden their stu- dent's knowledge of farming, is available for other grams. Getting parliamentary wives, bankers and consumers to Unders- tand what is happening in the rural communities is another goal. The network hopes to hire an ex- ecutive secretary and open an office in Ottawa to act as research centre, clearing house and central con -pt' point for farm women fron1M1 provinces. An initial network project is a bil- scheduled for June. To become a subscriber, a woman must meet one of the following criteria: be sole owner, partner or snarenoiaer in a family farm; involved in the manage- ment or supplying labour on a fami- ly farm; deriving income from a farm, or be a fortner or retired farmer. Associated subscriber status can be ebtained by OMAF-personnel, those Working in agribusiness, or anyone OW, who 3s interested. However, on - 1y active members will be eligible to sit on the advisory board, or bring for- ward or vote on resolutions at future national conferences. l'he fee has not yet been set, but prospective subscribers may be put cq the list by contacting Van Rommel at RR1 Dashwood, NOM INO. Van Rommel has developed her .organizational skills in the last six years. Her zeal was first fired after hearing Dianne Harkin, co-founder of Women for . the Survival of Agriculture (the "mother" of On- tario's farm women's organizations) Speak at rural women's conferences in London and CCAT in 1980. She was a charter member of the southwestern Ontario WSA, original- ly comprised of women from Huron, Middlesex, Perth and Oxford coun- ties. Huron dropped out, and the name was changed to Women for the Support of Agriculture to counter rumours the', group was the ladies' auxiliary of the recently formed Sur- vivalists, which many farmers con- sidered too radical. While attending a rural women's conference in Orillia in 1984, Van Rommel was asked by the Ontario secretary of state's office to -be the Ontario coordinator of the national conference in P.E.I. In March of '85, she helped set up a "Masters of Our. Destiny" con- ference in London attended by a number of farm groups. This resulted in Liaison, a meld of eight farm organizations- the two WSA groups, Concern$d Farm Women, OFA, Farmers Union, the Christian Farmers, the Survivalist Association and Catholic Rural Life- resolved to work together .to ' find common grotilIi. Suiting the action to the word, they held a rally outside Wise's St. Thomas constituency office last .November. Van Rommel -maintains that pro- ;blems in the farm community rang- ing from alcohol abuse to suicide have 'their source in the financial problems ;affecting agriculture. The Van Bommels know first hand the trauma and pain of losing a farm. • ' Maris and husband Rene took over el family farm in 1971. They had a 150 -sow farrow to Mush tack into farming. In the meantime, operation, and rented an additional Maria is wonting diligently for long - 330 acres. They borrowed to build a term rather - than band-aid new house and barn in booming 1978, agricultural policies. and were in the midst of re"Though it sounds Masa contradic- tions with the bank when a buyer tion, we must do everything we can came along. They sold in January '85. to save the family farm, and to help By then both were working off the those who areiieaviog farming," Van farm, running faster and faster to Rommel said emphatically. stay in the same place. They "could Van Hommel is also expanding in - have spent the rest of their lives work- to book form a series of articles she ing for the bank", but decided to cut co-authored anonymously fora farm their losses and get out. paper. "After the Barn Door Closes" Last fall Maria was"elected direr- is based on the question "is there life tor at large d the Huron F of A. She after farming ." The answer is appreciates this confirniaUon that "Yes". The Van Bommels have come "whether farming or not, I still real- through their ordeal wiser and ly care about what's going on." stronger, and the book will counsel The Van Bommels intend to get others on how to do the same. MARIA VAN BOMMEL Victoria Weekend Specials Large Croissants c, 3/1.29 For your barbecue - we have p wide variety of rolls - bread - buns! Deluxe (with nuts, pkg. 6) Chocolate Brownies '1.99 Process (ideal for cheese burgers) Cheese slices lb. '2.99 Fine -Quality - Fresh baked! Donuts muffins -cookies = tarts - squares - pastries and more This week's features (in effect May 14 to 17) Havarti Cheese Ib. '3.39 "try our delicious donuts" TaSt4414 Bakery &Chasse Boise Open. dally 9 to 6 eacept Wed. & Sot t111 5:00 Exetor 2$5.0332 A MOMENT'S PAUSE — Stopping for a moment in the midst of help- ing with Exeter United Church's popular annual luncheon are con- vener Laurie Shapton (left), Ruth Anderson and Helen Floody. More than 525 diners were served altogether. The event raised $2,117.00, to be used for local and mission projects. • Moccasins • Woven Purse • Indian Prints' • Indian Dolls • Wood Carvings • Hooked Mat • Enamel Plaques • Men's. Mitts • Place Mats • Leather Jewellery • Silk Scarves • etc., etc. )0r. +1iI'4SU Trading Post * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *.* ***